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☆ Israel-Hamas War in Gaza: Latest Updates
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Matt Surman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

The United States has repeatedly called on Israel not to launch a full-scale invasion of Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza. Credit... Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters Mr. Sullivan is expected to stress the need for a targeted approach to fighting Hamas in Gaza and to emphasize American opposition to a full-scale attack on Rafah. Mr. Sullivan traveled to Saudi Arabia on Saturday, a visit that had been slated for April originally but was delayed after the U.S. official cracked a rib. In the interim, tensions between the United States and Israel over the Rafah invasion and Israel’s conduct of the war have escalated. Mr. Sullivan is expected to try to advance the deal in his meeting with the Israeli leader.

Persons: Jake Sullivan, Benjamin Netanyahu, John Kirby, Sullivan, Netanyahu, Elizabeth Frantz, Biden, Lloyd Austin, Antony J, Blinken, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Organizations: U.S, Sunday, United, White House, Washington . Credit, Reuters, CNN, Senate, Crown Locations: United States, Israel, Rafah, Gaza, Washington ., Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Palestinian, U.S, Saudi

☆ Top U.S. Official Visits Israel as Allies Urge Limits on Rafah Incursion
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Matthew Mpoke Bigg | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

The United States has repeatedly called on Israel not to launch a full-scale invasion of Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza. Earlier this month, President Biden said in an interview with CNN that the United States would not supply weapons for a major Israeli offensive in Rafah. Hamas said its fighters had fired on Israeli troops in eastern Rafah and close to the Rafah border crossing with Egypt. In the interim, tensions between the United States and Israel over the Rafah invasion and Israel’s conduct of the war have escalated. Mr. Sullivan is expected to try to advance the deal in his meeting with the Israeli leader.

Persons: Jake Sullivan, Benjamin Netanyahu, John Kirby, Sullivan, Netanyahu, Elizabeth Frantz, Biden, Lloyd Austin, Antony J, Blinken, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prince Mohammed, Vivian Nereim Organizations: U.S, Sunday, United, White House, Washington . Credit, Reuters, CNN, Crown, Saudi Press Agency Locations: United States, Israel, Rafah, Gaza, Washington ., Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Palestinian, U.S, Saudi

☆ Withholding US weapons from Israel could force changes in how it fights but may not stop its devastating assault
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The US paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week amid rising concerns over a Rafah assault. Israeli soldiers work on armored military vehicles at a staging ground near the Israeli-Gaza border, in southern Israel on May 8, 2024. That would be a more difficult fight for the Israeli military, Byman said. A view shows Israeli F-16 fighter jets on a runway in an airbase in southern Israel on March 4, 2024. It is not necessarily an unprecedented move, as past US administrations have also threatened to withhold military support from Israel.

Persons: Joe Biden, —, Israel, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Daniel Byman, Byman, Israel's, CNN's Erin Burnett, We're, Raphael Cohen, Cohen, Hatem Khaled, John Kirby, Mohammed Salem, Netanyahu Organizations: US, Service, AP, State Department, Attack Munitions, Transnational, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Hezbollah, REUTERS, RAND Corporation, AIR FORCE, US Army Reserve, White House National Security Council Locations: Israel, Washington, Gaza, Rafah, I'm, Egypt

Washington CNN —President Joe Biden’s decision this week to make public his ultimatum that a major Israeli offensive in the city of Rafah would result in a shut-off of some US weapons did not come easily or lightly. Last week, Biden signed off on a pause of 3,500 bombs to Israel that administration officials feared would be dropped on Rafah. Aware or not of the president’s views, Israeli officials reacted with shock to the public announcement. Israeli officials also sought to downplay the significance of Biden’s announcement. It marked the clearest signal yet that six months into the war, Biden was starting to seriously consider conditioning US support for Israel.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden’s, Netanyahu, Biden, Still, CNN’s Erin Burnett, he’d, ” Biden, Burnett, wasn’t, “, Erin Burnett, ”, John Kirby, Kirby, Daniel Hagari, Israel, –, Jesus, Israel’s, ” Kirby, straightforwardly, pare, Donald Trump, Utah Sen, Mitt Romney, Mike Johnson, who’d, Pennsylvania Sen, John Fetterman, they’re, CNN’s Manu Raju, Sen, Jon Tester, Ben Cardin, “ I’m, I’ve, we’ve, ” Sen, Bernie Sanders Organizations: Washington CNN, Israel Defense Forces, White, National Security, CNN, Kitchen, Capitol, Israel, Biden’s CNN, GOP, Politico, Pennsylvania, Foreign Relations Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Israel, Wisconsin, I’m, Rafah Israel, “ Israel, Utah, Montana, Vermont

☆ Biden to call for a fight against antisemitism at a precarious moment in Israel’s war in Gaza and amid protests on campus
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Betsy Klein | Mj Lee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Washington CNN —President Joe Biden on Tuesday aims to issue a clarion call to fight a swiftly rising tide of antisemitism amid a precarious moment in Israel’s war against Hamas and as protests have swept American college campuses, laying bare Biden’s trouble with some young voters. Biden’s longtime and stalwart support for Israel has come under intense pressure as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza grows. The president plans to address the long history of antisemitism and issue what one senior administration official familiar with the remarks described as a “call to action” on combatting antisemitism. The protests are not expected to be a major part of the speech, the official added. However, Biden does not intend to use his speech on Tuesday to delve into Middle East policy or the current situation in Israel or Gaza.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden’s, Israel, Biden, White, “ recommit, ” Biden, Karine Jean, Pierre, ” Jonathan Greenblatt, John Kirby, Biden “, Benjamin Netanyahu, it’s, Jean, ”, “, Miguel Cardona, Doug Emhoff, Yom HaShoah, Donald Trump’s, Trump, Adolf Hitler “, CNN’s Dana Bash Organizations: Washington CNN, US, White, CNN, Defamation League, ADL, Hamas, National Security, Qatari, White House, Education’s, Civil, Department of Homeland Security, DHS, Department’s Office, Institute of Politics, Harvard University’s Kennedy Locations: Israel, Gaza, Cairo, Doha, Qatar, Gazan, Rafah, America, Poland

☆ Israel's attack on Rafah shows the troubling limits of Biden's influence
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewEarly on Tuesday, Israeli tanks seized control of the vital Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt. But throughout its eight-month war, Israel has shown that it is willing to reject and ignore the advice of its most important international ally, the US. Israel on Monday warned civilians in eastern Rafah to evacuate, indicating that an attack may be imminent. His coalition is fragile, and he relies on the support of far-right lawmakers who are demanding an attack on Rafah. AdvertisementThe Gaza war has repeatedly threatened to spill into a wider regional conflict, and scenes of new civilian suffering in Rafah could intensify that threat.

Persons: —, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Matt Duss, Biden, John Kirby, Netanyahu, Israel Biden, Israel, JIM WATSON, He's, Aaron David Miller, Dave Harden Organizations: Service, Hamas, Israeli, Business, Washington, Center for International, House, Monday, Biden, Getty, US, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Wall Street, New York Times, US Agency for International Development, West Bank, BBC Locations: Gaza, Egypt, Israel, Rafah, Ukraine, Israel —, Qatar, New York City, Palestinian, Saudi Arabia

☆ US soldier was arrested in Russia last week
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Natasha Bertrand | Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —An American soldier was detained in Russia last week on suspicion of theft and is currently being held in pre-trial detention, according to two US officials. “The Army notified his family and the U.S. Department of State is providing appropriate consular support to the Soldier in Russia. The soldier was stationed in South Korea when he took leave to travel to Russia on his own, according to another US official. A State Department official confirmed that a US citizen had been detained in Russia but would not provide further details. Last July, another soldier stationed in South Korea willingly crossed into North Korea where he was immediately detained.

Persons: Gordon Black, ” “, ”, Cynthia Smith, “, Evan Gershkovich, Marine Paul Whelan, Ksenia Karelina, John Kirby, haven’t, ” Kirby, Travis King, King, CNN’s Jennifer Hansler, Kylie Atwood Organizations: CNN, US Army, Army, Russian Federation, U.S . Department of State, Vienna Convention, Consular Relations, Soldier, US State Department, Street, Marine, NBC News, State Department, US, National Security, Joint Security Area, Incheon International Locations: American, Russia, South Korea, Vladivostok “, Vienna, Ukraine, Cavazos, Texas, Moscow, North Korea, United States, Incheon, Seoul

☆ Hamas to consider ceasefire-hostage release proposal that Israeli sources say could avert Rafah invasion
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Becky Anderson | Jeremy Diamond | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

A working-level Israeli delegation of Mossad, Shin Bet and the Israeli military officials is expected to travel to Cairo on Tuesday, the Israeli source and another Israeli official said. Hamas has insisted that a permanent ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza should be part of the agreement. But Israeli sources have characterized the latest Egyptian effort to broker a deal as the last chance to avert that offensive. “The only chance to stop Rafah is a deal,” the Israeli source familiar with the negotiations said. Twenty people, including at least one infant and a toddler, died following an Israeli airstrike over Rafah, Gaza, overnight into Monday, according to hospital officials.

Persons: Shin Bet, Yahya Sinwar, Antony Blinken, ”, Børge Brende, “, Sameh Shoukry, Israel, ” Shoukry, Blinken, John Kirby, Biden, we’ve, “ They’ve, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Mahmmoud Basal, Hijazi Organizations: Jerusalem CNN, CNN, Mossad, Hamas, Economic, White, National Security Council, US, ABC, Israeli, Gaza Civil Locations: Riyadh, Jerusalem, Egypt, Israel, Gaza, Rafah, United States, Cairo, Saudi, “, Israeli, Rafah “, Gaza City

☆ Biden speaks with Netanyahu as tensions over the Israel-Hamas war mount in the U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Megan Lebowitz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

President Joe Biden (L) listens to Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he joins a meeting of the Israeli war cabinet in Tel Aviv. President Joe Biden held a phone call on Sunday with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against the backdrop of growing U.S. college campus protests and a possibly imminent invasion of Rafah. Netanyahu shows no signs of backing away from a ground offensive there — a potential move that the U.S. publicly opposes. Sunday's conversation was Biden and Netanyahu's first phone call since April 4, when Biden spoke with Netanyahu after an Israeli airstrike killed seven World Central Kitchen humanitarian workers. Biden said in early April that he thinks Netanyahu is making a "mistake" with his handling of the war, adding, "I don't agree with his approach."

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, Netanyahu, John Kirby, we've, Netanyahu's Organizations: Tel Aviv . U.S, Israel's, National Security, ABC, Israel, Kitchen Locations: Tel Aviv, Rafah, Gaza, U.S, Israel

☆ The US says it won't shoot down drones over Ukraine, despite doing the same to protect Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The US helped shoot down Iranian drones and missiles fired at Israel over the weekend. But the White House said it wouldn't do the same for Ukraine, calling it a "different threat picture." AdvertisementThe White House said on Monday that it would not shoot down drones for Ukraine, despite having done so for Israel over the weekend. Israel said that Iran fired more than 300 drones and missiles at it on Saturday night. White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby was asked in a media briefing if the US could also help to shoot down drones over Ukraine.

Persons: —, Israel, Jordan, John Kirby Organizations: Service, White, National Security, Business Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Iran, France

☆ Speaker Johnson to advance separate Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan bills after Iran attack
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., makes his way to the House floor on Friday, March 22, 2024. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., filed a motion to vacate him from the speakership, later in the day. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., on Monday said he plans to move forward with four individual bills to fund Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, separating out key components of a foreign aid package that has been shelved in the House for months. In March, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., filed a motion to vacate Johnson, but did not force a vote on the motion. "He's definitely not going to be speaker next Congress if we're lucky enough to have the majority," Greene added.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Johnson, Iran's, Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, Hakeem Jeffries, John Kirby, Biden, Greene Organizations: House Republicans, Democratic, National Security, House Republican Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, Iran, U.S, Ky, D

☆ Israel’s military chief says that Israel will respond to Iran’s weekend missile attack
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Iran launched hundreds of drones, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles at Israel in the attack. Israeli military chief Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said Monday that Israel is considering its next steps but that the Iranian strike "will be met with a response." Both men spoke at the Nevatim air base in southern Israel, which Hagari said suffered only light damage in the Iranian attack. The Iranian weapons also flew through Saudi skies, according to a map released by the Israeli military. Throughout the war, Israel has traded fire across its northern border with Lebanon's Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group, while Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Yemen have also attacked Israel.

Persons: Herzi Halevi, Israel, Halevi, Daniel Hagari, Hagari, Benjamin Netanyahu, Steve Scalise, Netanyahu, Jordan —, Halevia, Rishi Sunak, Emmanuel Macron, John Kirby, Kirby, Antony Blinken Organizations: Staff, Palestinian, Hamas, U.S, Seven, U.S . Central Command, Islamic, Hezbollah, Washington , U.S . National Security Locations: Gaza, Syrian, Damascus, Iran, Israel, U.S, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Britain, American, France, Saudi, Iranian, Iraq, Yemen, British, Paris, Washington , U.S

☆ NSC’s John Kirby on Israel-Iran conflict
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailNSC’s John Kirby on Israel-Iran conflictThe National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby joins CNBC's 'Squawk Box' to discuss how the Biden administration is handling the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict and more.

Persons: John Kirby, Strategic Communications John Kirby, CNBC's, Biden Organizations: National Security, Strategic Communications Locations: Israel, Iran

☆ House Speaker Mike Johnson says he will push for aid to Israel and Ukraine this week
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

US Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Republican of Louisiana, waits to speak during a news conference after a closed-door House Republican caucus meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on February 29, 2024. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Sunday he will try to advance wartime aid for Israel this week as he attempts the difficult task of winning House approval for a national security package that also includes funding for Ukraine and allies in Asia. Johnson told Fox News Channel's "Sunday Morning Futures" that he and Republicans "understand the necessity of standing with Israel" and he would try this week to advance the aid. Meanwhile, senior GOP lawmakers who support aid to Ukraine are growing frustrated with the months-long wait to bring it to the House floor. "We pass the Senate bill, it goes straight to the president's desk and you start getting the aid to Ukraine immediately.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson, Israel, Mike Turner of Ohio, Biden, John Kirby, Kirby, Donald Trump, Trump, he's, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Greene, Turner, Gregory Meeks, Henry Cuellar Organizations: Republican, Capitol, Sunday, Fox, GOP, House Intelligence, Natural Gas, White House, NBC, Ukraine, White, Trump, Republicans, Washington, Senate, Democrats, House Foreign Affairs, Texas Democrat Locations: Louisiana, Washington , DC, Israel, Ukraine, Asia, U.S, Gaza, Taiwan, Iran, Mexico, White, Florida, Georgia, Russia, United States, Texas

☆ White House will ‘wait and see’ on Iran response after attempted Israel strike
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The White House is taking a "wait and see" approach in response to Iran's attempted strike on Israel, National Security spokesperson John Kirby said Sunday, as President Joe Biden aims to cool down the situation through diplomacy rather than military action. "President Biden, since the beginning of this conflict, has worked very hard to keep this from becoming a broader regional war, to keep the tensions from escalating." On Sunday, Biden convened G-7 leaders to discuss the Iran attack. "Should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran's response will be considerably more severe," the statement added. Israel, in turn, vowed to "react and attack" if Iran were to go through with those threats.

Persons: Joe Biden, Iran's, John Kirby, Kirby, Biden, Iran's U.N, Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: National Security, Fox, Sunday, White, Israeli, NBC Locations: Hiroshima, Japan, Israel, Iran, U.S, Tehran, Damascus

☆ John Bolton calls for a 'far stronger' response from Israel after Iran's missile and drone attack
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewFormer national security advisor John Bolton called for a "far stronger" response from Israel after Iran launched a missile and drone attack against the country. "A 200 ballistic missile, cruise missile, drone failure." Related story"I think that means by definition, Israel's response — and there should be a response — should not be proportionate," he told Blitzer. Bolton said on NewsNation's "The Hill Sunday," however, that the Iranian government looked "weak" after its attack.

Persons: —, John Bolton, George W, Bush, Donald Trump's, Wolf Blitzer, Bolton, Blitzer, Biden, John Kirby, Joe Biden, Kirby, Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: Service, Bolton, UN, CNN, Business, Trump, White House Locations: Israel, Iran, United States

☆ Iran's missile attacks showed some calculated restraint. Will Israel's response?
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Peter Gelling | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

It was a response to Israel's attack on an Iranian consulate building in Damascus on April 1, which killed multiple high-level Iranian commanders. But Iran knows all too well about Israel's Iron Dome and its other air defense systems, which intercepted many of the incoming projectiles. Iran also warned everyone for weeks that the attack was coming — giving Israel's allies time to prepare — and avoided targeting civilian locations. It was a response aimed at demonstrating its capabilities and saving face while — its government hopes — avoiding further escalation. On the day of the Iranian attack, thousands gathered in Tel Aviv to protest against Netanyahu's government.

Persons: —, Ian Bremmer, Michael Horowitz, Will Israel, John Kirby, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden's, Biden, Netanyahu, Benny Gantz, Israel Organizations: Service, British, Business, Eurasia Group, Le Beck, NBC's, West Bank, Iranian Locations: Iran, Israel, Iranian, Damascus, Jordanian, States, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Lebanon, Syria

☆ Biden tells Netanyahu US will not support counter-strike against Iran
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Mj Lee | Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

In a conversation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu late Saturday, Biden sought to frame Israel’s successful interception of the Iranian onslaught as a major victory — with the suggestion that further Israeli response was unnecessary. Biden told the Israeli prime minister in his phone call that he should consider Saturday a win because Iran’s attacks had been largely unsuccessful and demonstrated Israel’s superior military capability, a senior administration official said. Even as American officials stressed to their counterparts that the final decision on how to respond to Iran is up to Israel, Biden has sought to prevent a wider escalation of the conflict. In this handout photo, released early Sunday local time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu talks on the phone with US President Joe Biden. “I told him that Israel demonstrated a remarkable capacity to defend against and defeat even unprecedented attacks — sending a clear message to its foes that they cannot effectively threaten the security of Israel,” Biden said in a statement following his conversation with Netanyahu.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, John Kirby, ” Kirby, CNN’s Jake Tapper, Lloyd Austin, Yoav Gallant, “, Israel, ” Biden, Netanyahu, Kirby, Israel —, ”, Tapper, Gallant, Hossein, CNN’s Catherine Nicholls, Tamar Michaelis Organizations: CNN, White House, Union . ”, Seven, Sunday, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Locations: Israel, Iran, “ State, Gaza, Tehran

☆ White House says it is watching Iranian threat ‘very, very closely’ and is in ‘constant communication’ with Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —There remains a “real,” “credible” and “viable” threat of Iranian retaliatory strikes against Israel, the White House said Friday, as President Joe Biden receives constant updates on the situation from his national security team. “We’re watching this very, very closely,” said John Kirby, the National Security Council spokesman, who declined to provide information about the expected timing of the threat. “We are certainly mindful of a very public and what we consider to be a very credible threat made by Iran in terms of potential attacks on Israel,” Kirby said Friday. “He has made it clear to the entire national security team that that we will take seriously our commitments to the defense, the self-defense of Israel,” Kirby said. The US is also assessing its own posture in the region ahead of the potential retaliatory attack.

Persons: Joe Biden, “, ”, John Kirby, ” Kirby, Erik Kurilla, ” Biden, Kirby Organizations: CNN, Israel, National Security Council, US Central Command, IDF Locations: Israel, Iran

The House has put a modified surveillance bill on track for final passage as soon as Friday, just days after an earlier version failed to advance in a public rebuke to GOP leadership. The House voted Friday morning to approve the rule governing debate surrounding the modified bill behind Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act reauthorization, a key step before final passage. Greene was seen on the House floor speaking to Johnson, who later told reporters the two spoke about “all sorts of things.”“Marjorie and I agree on our conservative philosophy,” Johnson said. Johnson organized a classified reading room off the House floor for members to view classified information ahead of Friday’s vote, according to a GOP leadership aide. White House National Security communications adviser John Kirby reiterated the White House’s support for the reauthorization ahead of the final House floor vote expected later Friday.

Persons: Mike Johnson –, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Johnson, Greene, ” “ Marjorie, ” Johnson, “, Donald Trump, ”, Joe Biden, John Kirby, ” Kirby, Kirby, CNN’s Aileen Graef Organizations: Foreign Intelligence, GOP, Louisiana Republican, FISA, Trump, House, FBI, Senate, reauthorization, White, National Security Locations: Louisiana, Georgia, Ukraine, Florida, Iran

☆ Biden says he expects Iranian strike on Israel 'sooner than later'
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Rebecca Shabad | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

President Joe Biden said Friday that he expects Iran will strike Israel soon, and reiterated that the U.S. would support and defend Israel if such an attack occurred. We will support Israel, we will help defend Israel and Iran will not succeed," he said. Iranian officials, including the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have vowed to retaliate against Israel over the attack on its consulate in Damascus. In response, Israel has threatened to launch a direct strike on Iran if it comes under attack. NBC News reported last week that an Iranian attack on Israel could focus on military or intelligence targets, rather than civilians, two U.S. officials said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Eisenhower, Israel, Biden, John Kirby, Kirby, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Quds Organizations: National Action Network Convention, White, National Security, NBC News, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Locations: Washington ,, Iran, U.S, Israel, Damascus

☆ A bloodthirsty ISIS branch is 'on the upswing' after the US left Afghanistan in a lurch, a former top commander says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

AdvertisementIn the years since the US and its NATO allies left Afghanistan, a particularly violent branch of the Islamic State terror group has grown stronger. During the first few years of its existence, ISIS-K attacks were mainly confined to Afghanistan and Pakistan. The first year under the Taliban's rule saw a sharp uptick in terror attacks inside Afghanistan. But that trend has changed in recent months; attacks inside the country declined while attacks beyond its borders have increased. Thus, the conditions inside Afghanistan have awarded the terror group space to develop a greater capacity to stage external attacks.

Persons: —, Joseph Votel, Hamid, Taylor Crul, Michael Kugelman, Kugelman, MARCUS YAM, Votel, that's, Doug Ellis, Qassem, STRINGER, Michael Kurilla, John Kirby, Biden, Kirby Organizations: Service, NATO, 82nd Airborne Division, U.S . Air Force, US Air Force, REUTERS ISIS, Islamic, ISIS, Department of Defense, Hamid, AP, South Asia Institute, Wilson, Kabul International Airport, ANGELES, US Central Command, Security Forces, Staff, Getty, White, National Security, Department, Defense Locations: Afghanistan, Moscow, Kabul, Handout, Khorasan Provence, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Washington, Darzab district, Jowzjan province, Mar, Iran, Central Asia, Iranian, Kerman, Europe, Russia, Islamic State, Crocus, American, Achin, Nangarhar Province

Where the border wall stops, smugglers see opportunity. Evelio Contreras/CNNBut now there are patrols from the Mexican Army and National Guard along with immigration officers, looking to stop the migrants from reaching the US. Tents at the border wall become temporary homes for those sent to patrol then land around Ejido Jacumé. These people were stopped before they reached the Mexico-US border, officials said. CNN witnessed the detention of mostly men, with some women and children, from Brazil and Guatemala this week, near one of the border wall gaps close to Ejido Jacumé.

Persons: Ejido, Evelio Contreras, David Pérez Tejada, ”, –, he’d, ” Pérez Tejada, Spikes, Pérez Tejada, “, Joe Biden, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, John Kirby, Antony Blinken, Liz Sherwood, Randall, Alejandro Majorkas Organizations: Mexico CNN, Border Patrol, CNN, Mexican Army, National Guard, Mexico’s Migration National Institute, Local, Customs, Border Protection, Spikes, ”, National Security, House Homeland, Homeland, Grupo Beta Locations: Baja California, Mexico, United States, San Diego, Ejido, Tijuana, California, Brazil, Guatemala, Mexican, Washington, Mexico City

☆ White House says Israeli troop reduction does not signal new strategy: 'They're tired'
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-07 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. national security spokesperson John Kirby speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., March 25, 2024. National Security Spokesman John Kirby on Sunday said that Israel's decision to pull some troops out of Southern Gaza does not appear to indicate a shift in military strategy. However, he added in a separate interview, that after the IDF forces leaving Khan Younis have finished its "rest and refit," the White House does not know what the next military step would be. "What they'll do with those troops after the rest and refit, I can't speak to," Kirby said on CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday. "All I can do is say what I said before: We don't support a major ground operation in Rafah.

Persons: John Kirby, Kirby, Khan Younis, Biden, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's, Michael Horowitz Organizations: White, National Security, Israel Defense Forces, Israeli, IDF, Le Beck, NBC News, CBS Locations: Washington , U.S, Southern Gaza, Gaza, Israel, Rafah

The 30-minute conversation was the two leaders’ first phone call since an Israeli strike killed seven aid workers from the World Central Kitchen in Gaza. The killings have set off a furor inside the White House and Biden has been described as reaching a new level of frustration with Israel’s campaign. “President Biden emphasized that the strikes on humanitarian workers and the overall humanitarian situation are unacceptable,” the White House said in a statement shortly after the call wrapped. Blinken said Israel should not stoop to the level of Hamas in its response to the group’s October 7 attacks. Blinken acknowledged the World Central Kitchen strike was not the first time Israel has killed aid workers in the conflict.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s, ’, Biden, “, ” Biden, Israel, Antony Blinken, ”, John Kirby, Kirby, Blinken, ” Blinken, haven’t, ” Kirby, Biden’s, Democratic Sen, Chris Coons –, CNN’s Sara Sidner, Netanyahu, Jennifer Hansler, Donald Judd Organizations: Washington CNN, Israeli, National Security, White House, Central Kitchen, Capitol Hill, Democratic, CNN, Israel, Hamas Locations: Gaza, Israel, Brussels, Blinken, United States, Rafah

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