Understanding that there are iranian capabilities as far as time frame, i would never hang a time frame from our perspective. The commander chief sets the optempo and terms of this fight. As i said, it’s on his terms.And we’ll make sure that admiral cooper and his team have everything they need, not just to defend. I mean, the best defense is good offense.And so we are aggressively pushing into that air space over that southern flank to ensure that we control it and we destroy anything that moves that would attempt to shoot us.Think of it as […0.4s] shooting the archer instead of the arrows. That’s where we wanna be. And we have the kind of exquisite intelligence to get over the top, find that and destroy. It won’t happen overnight. This is a big battle space, […0.5s] uh, with a lot of capabilities.That’s part of the reason why it’s such a threat to us. That’s why i talk about conventional […0.5s] umbrella to blackmail nuclear ambitions. They were building up this […0.4s] conventional arsenal in order to ensure that no one would ever block them from their ability to get nuclear weapons.
Over four decades, the confrontation between Iran and Israel has shifted from indirect warfare to open exchanges. What began in the early 1980s with Iran’s IRGC helping build Hezbollah into a durable anti-Israel proxy expanded into global attacks on Israeli and Jewish targets in the 1990s, large-scale rocket warfare from Lebanon in 2006, and a steady Syria-front pressure campaign in the late 2010s. By the 2020s, the conflict broadened into maritime strikes and multi-front proxy fire from Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq—before culminating in 2024 with Iran’s first major direct missile-and-drone barrages on Israeli territory. The chronology below summarizes key, widely reported incidents—distinguishing between direct Iranian action and proxy attacks or contested attributions.
1980s
1982–1985 (Lebanon): Iran builds a proxy war capability against Israel via Hezbollah. Iran’s IRGC presence in Lebanon and the rise of Hezbollah created a long-term platform for attacks on Israel (rockets, raids, terrorism). (This is the strategic “practical step,” even if individual attack dates vary by source.)
1992
Mar 17, 1992 (Buenos Aires): Bombing of the Israeli Embassy (attributed to Iran/Hezbollah in later legal/prosecutorial findings). Not in Israel’s territory, but it is a major attack on an Israeli state target with responsibility often attributed to Hezbollah acting for Iran.
1994
Jul 18, 1994 (Buenos Aires): AMIA Jewish center bombing (attributed to Hezbollah with Iranian support; Iran denies).
2000s
2006 (Israel–Hezbollah War): Hezbollah conducts large-scale rocket attacks into Israel. This is widely understood as proxy warfare by an Iran-backed actor (financed/armed/trained via IRGC-QF over time).
2010s (Syria-front proxy/fire incidents become frequent)
May 10, 2018 (Golan Heights): Rockets fired at Israel from Syria; Israel says Iranian forces were responsible; Israel retaliates heavily.
Sep 9, 2019 (Syria): Israeli military says Iranian-backed Shi’ite militias fired rockets toward Israel (fell short).
Nov 19–20, 2019 (Syria): Israel says rockets were fired toward Israel; Israel strikes Iranian/Syrian targets in retaliation.
(These are illustrative of a broader pattern: “Iran-in-Syria” enabling launches/attempted launches toward Israel.)
2021
Jul 29, 2021 (Gulf of Oman): Attack on Mercer Street (Israeli-linked shipping); Israel/partners blamed Iran; Iran denied. This is a notable “shadow war” strike on Israeli-linked assets.
2023 (Gaza war opens multi-front proxy attacks)
Oct 7, 2023: Hamas-led attack on Israel triggers regional escalation. Iran’s direct operational control of Oct 7 is disputed; however, U.S. sanctions and official releases describe IRGC-QF mechanisms supporting Hamas/PIJ (funding, facilitation).
Oct 8, 2023 onward (Lebanon): Hezbollah begins sustained rocket/fire exchanges with Israel.
Oct 31, 2023 (Yemen → Israel): Iran-backed Houthis claim missile/drone launches toward Israel (Eilat area referenced).
Apr 1, 2024 (Eilat): “Islamic Resistance in Iraq” claims aerial strike on Eilat; Israel reports a strike from the east.
Apr 13–14, 2024 (Direct Iran → Israel): Iran launches its first large, direct barrage of drones and missiles at Israeli territory.
Jul 21, 2024 (Yemen → Israel): Israel says it intercepted a Houthi missile; Israel says Houthis launched ~200 attacks since the Gaza war began (many intercepted).
Oct 1, 2024 (Direct Iran → Israel): Israel reports missiles launched from Iran; IRGC says it fired missiles and warns against retaliation.
Oct 22–23, 2024 (Iraq proxy → Israel): Reuters reports Islamic Resistance in Iraq claims drone attacks toward Eilat; Israel reports interceptions/alerts.
Nov 5, 2024 (Iraq proxy → Israel): Israel says it intercepted a drone from the east; Iraq-based group claims responsibility.
The owner of two telemedicine companies was sentenced today to 7 years in prison and ordered to pay $27.9 million in restitution for his role in a scheme to fraudulently bill Medicare for unnecessary durable medical equipment.
“Instead of connecting patients with legitimate care, Reinaldo Wilson used his telemedicine companies to exploit Medicare and line his own pockets,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “He stole over $27.9 million by submitting false and fraudulent claims, robbing a program designed to provide medical care to America’s seniors. The Criminal Division will aggressively prosecute those who defraud Medicare and exploit taxpayer-funded programs meant to serve the people who have paid into the system.”
“Over the span of only two years, Wilson amassed over $56 million in fraudulent Medicare claims, through a cadre of crooked medical providers and co-conspirators, leveraging durable medical equipment for personal financial gain,” said Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy of the FBI’s Newark Field Office. “When criminals defraud Medicare, they undermine the U.S government. The FBI will always work to apprehend theses fraudsters and put an end to their schemes.”
“Today’s sentence underscores the serious consequences for those who exploit Medicare for personal gain,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS‑OIG). “This sentence reflects our commitment to holding individuals accountable when they manipulate providers, target vulnerable patients, and attempt to conceal fraud behind complex schemes. We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to ensure anyone who abuses federal health care programs is exposed and brought to justice.”
According to court documents and statements made in court, Reinaldo Wilson, 57, formerly of Richmond Hill, Georgia, owned and operated two telemedicine companies located in Bayonne, New Jersey between 2017 and 2019. Through these companies, Wilson and others paid illegal kickbacks to medical providers to sign orders for orthotic braces for Medicare beneficiaries, even though the beneficiaries did not need the braces. Wilson and others illegally sold the signed orders to purported marketing companies that often re-sold the orders to brace companies, which in turn submitted claims for the unnecessary braces to Medicare. Wilson and his co-conspirators at marketing companies cajoled beneficiaries into accepting as many braces as possible. Providers working for Wilson’s telemedicine companies signed orders for four or more orthotics a piece for over 3,000 beneficiaries, and more than 40 beneficiaries received orders for 10 or more orthotics. Wilson also attempted to conceal his crimes by creating a new telemedicine company and convincing a member of his church that it was an investment opportunity. He took $20k from this member and had her open the company and bank accounts in her name, which he then took control of.
During the conspiracy, Wilson and others submitted over $56 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare, of which Medicare paid over $27.9 million.
In March 2021, Wilson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud.
The FBI, IRS Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), and HHS-OIG investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Darren C. Halverson and Nicholas K. Peone of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of eight strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Thursday, February 26, 2026Share
For Immediate Release
Office of Public Affairs U.S. Department of Justice 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington DC 20530
Components Criminal Division Criminal – Criminal Fraud Section Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
The Department of Homeland Security marked its 23rd anniversary on March 1, 2026, during an ongoing government shutdown, with Secretary Kristi Noem thanking employees who are working without pay and arguing DHS remains central to national security “by air, land, sea, or in cyberspace.” In the anniversary statement, DHS credited the Trump administration with restoring “rule of law” and cited a series of enforcement and security metrics, including claims of nine months of “zero releases” at the border, roughly 3 million illegal aliens leaving the U.S. over 13 months (including self-deportations and deportations), thousands of gang-related arrests, arrests and removals of known or suspected terrorists, major drug seizures (including fentanyl and methamphetamine), billions of blocked malicious cyber connections by CISA, and reforms to FEMA aimed at faster state-led disaster recovery alongside multiple federal emergency disaster declarations.
Amid Shutdown, DHS Celebrates 23rd Anniversary
Since its creation following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, DHS has stood at the helm of our country’s national security, protecting the American people and our Homeland
WASHINGTON —Today marks the Department of Homeland Security’s 23rd anniversary. Less than two years after the devastating terror attacks of September 11, DHS was formed, and since then, DHS has stood at the helm of our country’s national security, protecting the American people and our Homeland.
“As the threat landscape continues to evolve, DHS is there. By air, land, sea, or in cyberspace, the DHS workforce boldly confronts the threats our nation faces every day,” said Secretary Kristi Noem. “We are working diligently to prevent cybersecurity and terror threats, safeguard the southern border, reform our broken immigration system, and help Americans in the face of natural disasters. Our mission could not be achieved without your extraordinary courage and commitment. I am especially grateful to those of you who are serving during the current shutdown without a paycheck.”
The mission of DHS today remains the same as it did at its inception 23 years ago: protect the homeland and keep Americans safe. Under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and Secretary Noem, DHS has fulfilled this mission. In one year, DHS has made America safe again by restoring the rule of law, securing our borders, removing dangerous criminal illegal aliens and national security threats, strengthening cyber defense, and reforming disaster response.
Under Secretary Noem’s leadership, some examples of the crucial work the men and women of DHS have achieved to keep Americans safe and protect the homeland include:
DHS has provided the most secure border in American history, with nine straight months of zero releases by Border Patrol at the border, ending the Biden Administration’s disastrous catch and release policy.
Total border apprehensions under the Trump Administration’s first year in office were lower than a single average month under the Biden Administration.
Over the last 13 months, nearly 3 million illegal aliens have left the U.S. because of the Trump Administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration, including an estimated 2.2 million self-deportations and more than 713,000 deportations.
These arrests include 7,808 gang arrests, including 1,232 individuals associated with Tren de Aragua and 1,271 individual MS-13 gang members.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been instrumental in preventing terror threats, with over 1,538 known or suspected terrorists (KSTs) being arrested, and 1,534 KSTs removed.
49,740 special interest aliens have been arrested.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has stopped 2.62 billion malicious connections on federal civilian networks and 371 million within critical infrastructure during the Trump Administration.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized 617,648 pounds of illicit drugs nationwide over the past year (January 21, 2025, to January 31, 2026) — an 8 percent increase over the previous year. This included 10,915 pounds of fentanyl, 186,359 pounds of methamphetamine, and significant quantities of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana, preventing deadly narcotics from reaching American streets.
Under President Trump, DHS and the Department of Health and Human Services have located 145,000 unaccompanied children that the Biden administration lost. Too many of these children were exploited and abused before, during, and after being trafficked over our borders. All told, the Biden administration lost more than 450,000 children because of its open border policies.
Within hours of the November 26 attack where an Afghan national murdered one National Guard member and severely wounded another in Washington, DC, Secretary Noem directed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to put asylum processing on hold for aliens from every country, implemented a full-scale reexamination of every green card for aliens from every presidentially designated high-risk country, and placed a hold on the processing of immigration applications and petitions for all Afghan nationals and aliens from those countries of concern.
The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) seized over 547,000 pounds of illegal narcotics – a record-setting amount nearly three times its normal annual average – worth more than $3.9 billion.
These USCG counter drug operations disrupted transnational criminal organizations and prevented more than 206 million lethal doses from reaching U.S. communities, saving taxpayers over $10 billion in avoided costs, including $2.27 billion in healthcare expenses.
Under the leadership of President Donald Trump and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been reformed to empower states and support state-led recoveries faster than ever.
President Trump approved a historic 12 federal emergency disaster declarations for Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia – unlocking FEMA resources and enabling states to access critical federal resources to supplement their response efforts.
In this address from White House , President Donald J. Trump announces the commencement of major combat operations in Iran (0:00-0:07), stating the objective is to eliminate threats from the Iranian regime (0:09-0:15). He characterizes the regime as a “vicious group” that has endangered the United States, its troops, and allies for 47 years (0:19-0:31).
The President outlines a history of Iranian aggression (0:31-1:57), including:
The 1979 US embassy takeover and hostage crisis (0:49-0:58).
The 1983 Marine barracks bombing in Beirut (1:04-1:10).
Involvement in the 2000 USS Cole attack (1:13-1:18).
Killing and maiming hundreds of American service members in Iraq (1:21-1:26).
Recent attacks against American forces and vessels in the Middle East (1:26-1:40).
Funding terrorist militias in Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, and Iraq (1:47-1:57).
Iran’s proxy Hamas launching the October 7th attacks on Israel (2:00-2:14).
He emphasizes that Iran is the “world’s number one state sponsor of terror” (2:22-2:24) and highlights its suppression of its own citizens (2:27-2:31).
A key policy point is that the Iranian regime can never have a nuclear weapon (2:31-2:46). President Trump states that in “Operation Midnight Hammer” last June, the U.S. obliterated Iran’s nuclear program at Ford Natanz and Isfahan (2:48-2:59). Despite warnings and attempts to make a deal, Iran refused to renounce its nuclear ambitions and attempted to rebuild its program and develop long-range missiles (3:00-3:54).
The President then details the military’s ongoing operation (4:08-4:20) to:
Destroy their missiles and missile industry (4:23-4:28).
Annihilate their navy (4:32-4:35).
Ensure terrorist proxies no longer destabilize the region or attack U.S. forces (4:37-4:49).
Ensure Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon (4:57-5:01).
He asserts the unparalleled strength of the U.S. military (5:11-5:28) and acknowledges the potential for U.S. casualties (5:32-5:58). The President addresses members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard and police, urging them to “lay down your weapons and have complete immunity or…face certain death” (6:25-6:50). Finally, he speaks to the people of Iran, proclaiming “the hour of your freedom is at hand” (6:51-6:56), advising them to stay sheltered, and encouraging them to “take over your government” once the operation is finished (7:06-7:08). He pledges overwhelming U.S. support for their cause (7:30-7:33).
New York Governor Kathy Hochul says the state is taking “precautionary steps” after overnight U.S. military operations in Iran, directing State Police to increase patrols and visibility at religious, diplomatic, and cultural sites across New York in coordination with federal, state, and local partners. With the Jewish holiday of Purim approaching, State Police have also begun outreach to religious organizations to offer support. Hochul emphasized that officials have identified no specific, credible threats to New York so far, but authorities are monitoring online activity for potential risks and asking New Yorkers to remain vigilant and report suspicious
Statement from NY Governor Kathy Hochul
“Following the U.S. military operations in Iran overnight, we are taking precautionary steps to protect New Yorkers. State Police are increasing their presence at religious, diplomatic, and cultural sites statewide in coordination with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners. Additionally, in advance of the Jewish holiday of Purim, State Police remain alert and have already begun outreach to religious organizations to offer support.
“While there have been no specific, credible threats to New York identified, we continue to monitor online activity for any potential threats, and we encourage New Yorkers to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity.”
U.S. Moves to Forfeit “M/T Skipper” Oil Tanker and 1.8M Barrels of Venezuelan Crude in Iran Sanctions Case
The U.S. Department of Justice says it has filed a civil forfeiture complaint in federal court in Washington, D.C., seeking to forfeit the crude-oil tanker M/T Skipper and roughly 1.8 million barrels of crude oil allegedly tied to a sanctions-evasion network benefiting Iran’s IRGC (including the IRGC-Qods Force) and involving Venezuelan state oil company PdVSA. According to the DOJ, the vessel—described as part of a “ghost” or “shadow” fleet—used tactics such as spoofed locations and false flags to move oil from Iran and Venezuela through ship-to-ship transfers worldwide, and was seized on the high seas in December 2025 before being taken to waters off Texas; officials say the action underscores stepped-up enforcement against maritime sanctions evasion and terrorist financing, while noting the complaint’s allegations must be proven in court.
A complaint has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia seeking to forfeit the Motor Tanker Skipper – a crude oil tanker seized by the United States on the high seas in December 2025 – and approximately 1.8 million barrels of crude oil cargo supplied by Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA), the state-owned oil company of Venezuela. As alleged, the Skipper and its cargo are forfeitable as property affording a person a source of influence over the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including the IRGC-Qods Force (IRGC-QF), a designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO).
“Under President Trump’s leadership, the era of secretly bankrolling regimes that pose clear threats to the United States is over,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This Department of Justice will deploy every legal authority at our disposal to completely dismantle and permanently shutter any operation that defies our laws and fuels chaos across the globe.”
“This forfeiture complaint for the M/T Skipper and its oil cargo demonstrates the FBI’s unwavering commitment to enforcing U.S. sanctions and thwarting hostile regimes who exploit the global oil trade,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “The FBI, working alongside our interagency partners, will continue aggressively identifying, disrupting, and dismantling the financial networks used by our foreign adversaries to fund terrorist organizations and destabilize international security. We remain steadfast in safeguarding both the integrity of the international financial system and the security of the American people.”
“Because of the coordinated efforts of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners, a ghost tanker that for years secretly moved illicit oil from Iran and Venezuela around the globe has been taken off the seas,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s actions are an important step in making America and the world safer by disrupting the flow of millions of dollars to foreign terrorist organizations. The Criminal Division will continue to use every tool at our disposal to end to terrorist financing.”
“For too long, a shadow fleet of stateless and falsely registered vessels has operated with impunity while shuttling illicit oil around the world, generating billions in revenue for adversary regimes and foreign terrorist organizations,” said John A. Eisenberg, Assistant Attorney General for National Security. “This forfeiture complaint reflects the National Security Division’s commitment to shutting down those networks and enforcing U.S. sanctions.”
“We will aggressively enforce U.S. sanctions against Iran and relentlessly pursue ghost fleet vessels whose illicit oil shipments have served as revenue sources for the IRGC and its terrorist proxies,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia. “With the continued seizures and forfeitures of tankers and related profits, we are sending a clear message that there will be no safe harbor for sanctions evasion – and that we will deny Iran the ability to fund terrorism through its shadowy maritime networks.”
“Homeland Security Investigations played a critical role in the investigation that led to today’s forfeiture complaint against the Motor Tanker Skipper and its illicit cargo. By leveraging our expertise, partnerships, and unwavering commitment to protecting the homeland, HSI helped disrupt a complex sanctions-evasion and illicit finance network supporting designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations,” said HSI acting Executive Associate Director John Condon. “I am proud of the dedication and professionalism demonstrated by our special agents and law enforcement partners, whose collaborative efforts were instrumental in advancing this case. HSI remains committed to safeguarding national security and upholding the rule of law by targeting criminal organizations that threaten global stability.”
The forfeiture complaint alleges a scheme, between at least 2021 and the present, to facilitate the shipment and sale of petroleum products for the benefit of the IRGC, including the IRGC-QF. During this time, the Skipper moved crude oil from Iran and Venezuela and, through ship-to-ship transfers, delivered it to various locations around the world, including to other rogue regimes. The Skipper disguised its illicit activities by spoofing its locations, flying false flags and employing other tactics to obfuscate its routes and conceal its sanctions evasion. For example, as alleged in the complaint, in 2024, the Skipper delivered approximately three million barrels of crude oil from Iran to Syria. The Skipper continued to transport illicit oil from Iran and Venezuela into 2025, including loading oil from Iran at least twice in 2025. For its facilitation of illicit oil shipments, on Nov. 3, 2022, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned the Skipper (then named the Adisa).
The civil forfeiture complaint further alleges that the petroleum product, which was loaded onto the Skipper from Venezuela before it was seized, is part of the Skipper’s scheme to perpetuate its operations in support of the IRGC, including the IRGC-QF. As alleged, revenue from the sale of petroleum products supports the IRGC’s full range of malign activities, including the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, support for terrorism and both domestic and international human rights abuses. The ghost fleet, including the Skipper, plays an essential role in generating revenue for these regimes by moving Iranian and other illicit oil around the world.
Most recently, in November 2025, the Skipper loaded approximately 1.8 million barrels of Venezuelan-origin crude oil at the José Terminal in Venezuela. According to bills of lading, approximately 1.1 million barrels of the Skipper’s oil cargo were to be delivered to Cubametales, the Cuban state-run oil import and export company that was designated by OFAC in July 2019.
On Dec. 10, 2025, U.S. law enforcement seized the Skipper on the high seas pursuant to a judicially authorized seizure warrant. At that time, the Skipper was claiming a false Guyanese flag, rendering it stateless. The Skipper and its cargo were thereafter transported to the waters off the coast of Texas.
FBI Minneapolis Field Office and HSI Washington D.C. Field Office are investigating the case. Substantial assistance was provided by HSI New York Field Office.
Trial Attorney Josh Sohn of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Dilorenzo and Rajbir Datta of the District of Columbia and Acting Deputy Chief Sean Heiden of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are litigating the case.
A civil forfeiture complaint is merely an allegation. The burden to prove forfeitability in a civil forfeiture proceeding is upon the government.
New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani met Thursday with President Donald Trump to press for federal support for a sweeping redevelopment of Sunnyside Yard,, the rail complex in Queens. The mayor’s team is seeking more than $21 billion in federal grants to finance what it calls the largest deck ever built over an active rail yard, a move that would open the site for 12,000 affordable apartments, including 6,000 Mitchell-Lama-style units, along with parks, schools and health clinics. City officials say the buildout would generate 30,000 union jobs and rank as New York’s biggest housing-and-infrastructure push in more than 50 years; the White House and City Hall agreed to continue discussions in the coming weeks.
Mayor Mamdani Meets With President Donald Trump to Advance Federal Investment in Affordable Housing
— New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani met with President Donald Trump to propose a historic investment in affordable housing at Sunnyside Yard, home to the busiest rail yard in North America. The proposal represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to confront the city’s housing crisis at the scale it demands.
At the center of the discussion: securing more than $21 billion in federal grants to construct the world’s largest deck over the site, allowing the City to build 12,000 new affordable homes, including 6,000 new Mitchell-Lama-style homes; create 30,000, good-paying union jobs; and deliver new parks, schools and health care clinics. If realized, the project would mark the largest housing and infrastructure investment in New York City in more than 50 years.
“New York City is facing a generational affordability challenge,” Mayor Mamdani said. “Working families are being priced out of the neighborhoods they built. To meet this moment, we need a true federal partner prepared to invest boldly and act urgently. I appreciated the opportunity to speak directly with President Trump about building more housing in any single project than our city has seen since 1973.”
Mayor Mamdani emphasized the need to strengthen financing tools that support affordable development, preserve public housing and modernize regulatory pathways to accelerate construction without sacrificing labor standards or community input.
He also underscored the city’s commitment to transparency, fiscal responsibility and collaboration in deploying federal funds – ensuring every dollar delivers safe, affordable housing for New Yorkers.
Both parties agreed to continue discussions in the weeks ahead.
NEW YORK CITY — The New York Police Department announced Thursday that it has arrested 27-year-old Gusmane Coulibaly in connection with an incident earlier this week where uniformed officers were struck with snowballs — including large chunks of ice — while responding to a disturbance in Washington Square Park in Manhattan.
Coulibaly was taken into custody early Thursday morning after investigators identified him in video footage circulating online of the event. Police say he is charged with assault on a police officer, obstruction of government administration, and disorderly conduct in connection with the episode.
What Happened in the Park
The incident occurred on Monday afternoon, following a major snowstorm that blanketed New York City and drew large crowds to public parks for informal snowball fights. According to NYPD accounts, officers entering Washington Square Park encountered a large crowd where some participants began throwing packed snow and ice at them. At least two officers were injured, suffering cuts and bruises to the face and neck that required hospital treatment.
Police describe the event as more than a playful snowball fight — saying some of the thrown objects were packed with ice and struck officers at close range. Authorities released images of four individuals allegedly involved and have been working to identify and locate them.
Previous Arrest Record
The NYPD noted that Coulibaly had been previously arrested less than three weeks ago on unrelated charges of attempted robbery inside the city’s transit system. Court records indicate he pleaded not guilty to those charges and was released without bail.
Response From Officials
The arrest has highlighted a growing divide in how city officials are publicizing and responding to the park incident:
NYPD leadership and police unions have praised the arrest, emphasizing that assaults on officers — even during public gatherings — constitute criminal behavior and should be treated seriously. The Police Benevolent Association released a statement calling the charged individual an adult, not a “kid,” and saying the arrest sends a message that attacks on police will not be tolerated.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani, however, has downplayed the incident, characterizing initial footage of the event as a snowball fight that “got out of hand,” and suggested that criminal charges may not be appropriate in every case. He has reaffirmed respect for law enforcement but maintained that the situation began as a casual winter gathering.
Meanwhile, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch and other law enforcement leaders have asserted the conduct captured in video was “criminal” and “disgraceful,” standing by the department’s efforts to hold perpetrators accountable.
Investigation Continues
Coulibaly’s arrest is the first in the ongoing investigation into the Washington Square Park conflict. Police continue to seek three other suspects believed to have participated in throwing objects at officers. Authorities are reviewing video footage and circulating images to locate and apprehend additional individuals.
At this time, it is not yet clear what specific court date Coulibaly will face for the new charges related to the assault allegations. Prosecutors in Manhattan’s District Attorney’s Office typically assess charges after police hand over their case file. Follow-up reporting may provide details on court proceedings as they unfold.
Official Quotes & Reactions
🚔 Police Leadership
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch: “The behavior depicted is disgraceful, and it is criminal.” Tisch publicly labeled the actions against officers as unlawful and emphasized detectives were actively investigating the incident.
Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry: “A 27-year-old with a recent attempted robbery arrest is not a ‘kid.’ This arrest sends a clear message that assaults on police officers cannot and will not be minimized or tolerated.” Hendry pushed back against early characterizations of the event as harmless, stressing the seriousness of attacking officers.
From earlier reactions by union leaders (prior to arrest): The PBA had called the attack “unacceptable and outrageous,” urging accountability for those who injured officers. The Detectives’ Endowment Association added it was “not harmless fun,” but a dangerous attack on uniformed officers.
🏛️ Mayor Zohran Mamdani
Regarding the incident before the arrest, Mayor Mamdani said: “From the videos that I’ve seen, it looks like a snowball fight.” He described the situation as having “gotten out of hand” rather than a criminal confrontation, and said it should be treated accordingly rather than automatically as a criminal assault.
The mayor also encouraged respectful treatment of city workers, including police, while continuing to downplay prosecution for participants.
Analysis of Charges & Potential Penalties
Because the NYPD’s announcement only stated that Coulibaly was arrested for “assaulting officers” without immediately specifying formal charges, this section explains what likely charges could be and what they mean under New York law:
1. Assault on a Police Officer
Category: This is commonly prosecuted as Assault in the Second or Third Degree, depending on severity.
**Assault **in the Second Degree (if serious physical injury is inflicted):
Class D felony in New York.
Potential penalties: Up to 2–7 years in prison plus possible fines.
**Assault in the Third Degree (if harm is less severe but still intentional):
Class A misdemeanor.
Potential penalties: Up to 1 year in jail and fines.
When victims are police officers performing official duties, courts often impose enhanced sentences within statutory ranges and prosecutors pursue serious charges. This is separate from political disagreement about how the event started.
(Note: Exact charges depend on prosecutor discretion based on evidence of harm and intent.)
2. Obstructing Government Administration
Throwing objects at responding officers can also lead to Obstructing Governmental Administration (misdemeanor) if it hindered their duties.
Penalties: Up to 30 days in jail and fines.
3. Disorderly Conduct & Related Counts
In large gatherings that turn chaotic, prosecutors often include disorderly conduct, reckless endangerment, or similar charges when behavior poses risks to public safety.
How Courts Treat Police Assault Cases
Attacks on officers — especially involving objects thrown at them (snowballs containing ice and debris can cause lacerations) — are rarely dismissed as simple mischief in New York.
The fact that two officers were hospitalized with facial injuries raises the likelihood that prosecutors will pursue serious felony counts rather than just misdemeanors.
Previous arrests and criminal history (like the earlier attempted robbery charge Coulibaly faced in February) can influence bail decisions and sentencing if convicted.
The commentary argues that ICE has arrested roughly 2,000 criminal migrants in Minnesota in recent weeks, but that national attention has been dominated by the fatal shooting of a woman during an operation in Minneapolis and the nationwide protests that followed.
In just a few weeks Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested around 2,000 dangerous criminal aliens in Minnesota, including murderers, pedophiles, rapists and gangbangers though you would never know it based on mainstream media coverage. That is because most news outlets are focusing exclusively on the ICE agent shooting of a woman who interfered with the federal deportation operation and the subsequent anti-ICE protests over the incident, which occurred last week in Minneapolis. “Anti-ICE Protests Spread Nationwide,” reads the headline of a major national newspaper story that says, “mounting outrage over an ICE agent’s killing of a woman in Minneapolis spilled into streets across the country on Saturday, as crowds of protesters mobilized against what they called the excesses of the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign.” Another national news network claims that outrage has grown following the woman’s death with more an 1,000 demonstrations planned across the U.S. Minnesota’s largest newspaper reports that thousands marched in south Minneapolis to protest the state’s ongoing immigration operation.
