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☆ Exclusive-US-Backed Force in Syria: More Air Defence Needed After Deadly Drone Attack
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Maya Gebeily(Reuters) - A force that has been the backbone of the U.S.-led campaign against Islamic State said additional air defences should be deployed in northeast Syria after six of its fighters were killed in a drone attack it blamed on pro-Iran factions. Mazloum Abdi, commander of the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, said his force considered it "a dangerous development when our camps are targeted in drone attacks by factions backed by Iran." On Feb. 4, the SDF said an explosive drone attack by Iran-backed armed groups in eastern Syria killed six of their fighters. Asked whether he had requested additional military backing to fend off such attacks, Abdi said his Kurdish-led force would "require technical capabilities and an increase in the aerial defensive systems" deployed in northeast Syria. It holds a quarter of Syria, including oil fields and areas where some 900 U.S. troops are deployed.

Persons: Maya Gebeily, Mazloum Abdi, Jan, Abdi, That's, Bashar al, Assad, Phil Stewart, William Maclean Organizations: Islamic State, Syrian Democratic Forces, U.S, Hamas, SDF, Reuters, Pentagon, State Department, White, Islamic Locations: U.S, Syria, Iran, State, Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, Jordan, Kurdish, Washington, Islamic State, Turkey

☆ Pentagon Not Aware of Any Iranians Being Killed in Recent Strikes
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon said on Monday that it was not aware of any Iranian deaths in the recent U.S. strikes against Iran-linked targets in Iraq and Syria. Air Force Major General Patrick Ryder told reporters initial indications were that the strikes did not kill any Iranians. In Syria, the strikes killed 23 people who had been guarding the targeted locations, said Rami Abdulrahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which reports on war in Syria. War in Israel and Gaza View All 194 Images"It's fair to conclude that there likely were casualties associated with these strikes," Ryder told reporters, but said an assessment was ongoing. He added that there had been two attacks against U.S. troops in Syria since the Friday strikes, but there were no U.S. injuries.

Persons: Patrick Ryder, Rami Abdulrahman, Ryder, Joe Biden, Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, Chizu Nomiyama, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: WASHINGTON, Pentagon, United, Revolutionary Guard, Air Force, Popular Mobilization Forces, Syrian, Human Rights, U.S Locations: U.S, Iran, Iraq, Syria, United States, Israel, Gaza, Tehran

☆ Yemen's Houthis Vow Response After US, British Strikes
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +6 min

The group's military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said the U.S. strikes "will not pass without a response and consequences." HOUTHIS SAY WON'T BE DETERREDThe Houthis, who control swathes of Yemen, say their attacks are in solidarity with Palestinians as Israel strikes Gaza. The strategy blends limited military strikes and sanctions, and appears aimed at punishing the Houthis while attempting to limit the risk of a broad Middle East conflict. "We have already successfully targeted launchers and storage sites involved in Houthi attacks, and I am confident that our latest strikes have further degraded the Houthis’ capabilities." The United States said Sunday's strikes had support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and New Zealand.

Persons: Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, Mohammed Ghobari WASHINGTON, Yahya Sarea, Mahjoob Zweiri, Joe Biden, Sarea, Grant Shapps, Sunday's, Badr bin Hamad bin Hamoud, Busaidi, Andrew Mills, Tom Perry, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Reuters, Britain, Pentagon, Hamas, Residents, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Gulf Studies, Qatar University, U.S, Republicans, Democrat, U.S . military's Central Command, British Defence, U.S . Central Command, Oman Foreign, Tala Locations: ADEN, United States, Yemen, Iran, Palestinian, Israel, Gaza, Tehran, Houthi, U.S, Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Britain, Africa, Egypt, Suez, Red, States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sanaa Governorate, Taiz Governorate, Hodeidah Governorate, Oman, Doha, Dubai

☆ U.S. Carrying Out New Strikes in Yemen, US Officials Say
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

By Phil Stewart and Idrees AliWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States launched a series of strikes against Iran-linked targets in Yemen on Saturday, three U.S. officials told Reuters, in what appeared to be a second day of retaliatory operations following a deadly attack on American troops last weekend. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, did not provide further details on the locations being struck, but two of them said there were dozens of targets. War in Israel and Gaza View All 194 ImagesThe Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen, say their attacks are in solidarity with Palestinians as Israel strikes Gaza. The United States has previously carried out more than 10 strikes against Houthi targets in the past several weeks, but they have failed to stop attacks by the group. (Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; editing by Jonathan Oatis)

Persons: Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali WASHINGTON, Idrees Ali, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: United, Reuters, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, U.S Locations: United States, Iran, Yemen, Al, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Yemen's Iran, Red, Israel, Gaza

☆ U.S. Launches Retaliatory Strikes in Iraq, Syria; Nearly 40 Reported Killed
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

The White House said the United States had informed Iraq ahead of strikes. Baghdad later accused the United States of deception, saying a U.S. claim of coordination with the Iraqi authorities was "unfounded". The Syrian foreign ministry said the United States was fuelling conflict in the region in a "very dangerous way". The United States has assessed that the drone that killed the three soldiers and wounded more than 40 other people in Jordan was made by Iran, U.S. officials have told Reuters. Iranian advisers assist armed groups in both Iraq, where the United States has around 2,500 troops, and Syria, where it has 900.

Persons: Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, Timour Azhari, Joe Biden's, Nasser Kanaani, Rami Abdulrahman, General Douglas Sims, Biden, Lloyd Austin, Austin, Ebrahim Raisi, Radek Sikorski, Jordan, Roger Wicker, Enas Alashray, Adam Makary, Andrew Gray, Sabine Siebold, Tom Perry, Frances Kerry Organizations: United, Revolutionary Guard, U.S, Syrian, Human Rights, Joint Staff, Pentagon, U.S . Defense, Reuters, Republican, Senate Armed Services Committee Locations: Timour Azhari WASHINGTON, BAGHDAD, United States, Iraq, Syria, U.S, Iran, Israel, Gaza, Tehran, Lebanon, Yemen, Iraqi, Baghdad, Washington, Britain, Polish, Brussels, Al, Jordan

☆ Pentagon Chief Says Should Have Handled Cancer Diagnosis Better
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Thursday that his recent cancer diagnosis shook him but he should have notified President Joe Biden and the public about it. "I did not handle this right," Austin said in his first press conference since his secret hospitalization. Austin said he had never directed anyone in his staff to keep his January hospitalization from the White House or the public. (Reporting by Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali and Doina Chiacu)

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Joe Biden, Austin, Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, Doina Organizations: WASHINGTON, . Defense

☆ Political Pressure Builds on Biden to Strike Iran After US Deaths
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

That allowed Biden the political space to mete out U.S. retaliation, inflicting costs on Iran-backed forces without risking a direct war with Tehran. Republicans accused Biden of letting American forces become sitting ducks, waiting for the day when a drone or missile would evade base defenses. In response, they say Biden must strike Iran. "The only answer to these attacks must be devastating military retaliation against Iran's terrorist forces, both in Iran and across the Middle East." "Unless the U.S. prepared for an all out war, what does attacking Iran get us," the official said.

Persons: Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali WASHINGTON, Joe Biden, he's, Biden, Tom Cotton, Mike Rogers, they've, Rogers, Donald Trump, Joe Biden's, Barbara Lee, Seth Moulton, —, Moulton, Jonathan Lord, Lord, Charles Lister, Lister, Israel, Qassem Soleimani, Simon Lewis, Paul Thomasch, Diane Craft Organizations: Republican U.S, Republican, U.S, Representatives, Tehran, Biden, Democratic, Iranian, Center, New, East Institute, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, United, Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps Locations: Iran, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Yemen, Israel, Jordan's, Tehran, United States, Gaza, New American, Washington, U.S, Damascus, Jan

☆ Youngest US Soldier Killed in Jordan Drone Attack Was 23
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military on Monday released the names of the three Army Reserve soldiers killed in Sunday's drone attack by Iran-backed militants in Jordan, with the youngest victim just 23 years old. The attack on Sunday also wounded more than 40 troops when the drone slammed into the housing units early in the morning. The United States is trying to determine exactly why the nearly 350 troops at the base in Jordan, known as Tower 22, were unable to stop the drone. Two officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a U.S. drone was approaching the base around the same time the attack drone was incoming. One of the officials said the attack drone was also flying low, factors that may have contributed to it being missed by base defenses.

Persons: William Jerome Rivers, Kennedy Ladon Sanders, Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, Jody Daniels, Daniels, Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, Sandra Maler Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S, Monday, Army Reserve, U.S . Army Reserve Command, Sunday Locations: Iran, Jordan, Carrollton , Georgia, Waycross , Georgia, Savannah , Georgia, Israel, United States, U.S

☆ Three US Service Members Killed, 34 Wounded in Jordan Drone Attack Linked to Iran
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

By Kanishka Singh and Phil StewartWASHINGTON (Reuters) -Three U.S. service members were killed and dozens wounded during an unmanned aerial drone attack on U.S. forces stationed in northeastern Jordan near the Syrian border, President Joe Biden and U.S. officials said on Sunday. Biden blamed Iran-backed groups for the attack. The deaths marked the first fatalities of U.S. troops in the region since war began in Gaza. Israel's subsequent assault on Gaza has killed over 26,000 Palestinians, according to the local health ministry. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh and Phil Stewart in WashingtonEditing by Heather Timmons and Matthew Lewis)

Persons: Kanishka Singh, Phil Stewart WASHINGTON, Joe Biden, Biden, Phil Stewart, Heather Timmons, Matthew Lewis Organizations: U.S, Sunday, Reuters, Hamas, White Locations: U.S, Jordan, Syrian, Iran, Syria, Iraq, Iranian, Gaza, Israel, United States, Washington, Red, WashingtonEditing

☆ NATO's Largest Exercise Since Cold War Kicks Off
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Navy dock landing ship Gunston Hall left port on Wednesday to mark the first movement for the largest NATO exercise since the Cold War, officials said. The drills will rehearse NATO's execution of its regional plans, the first defence plans the alliance has drawn up in decades, detailing how it would respond to a Russian attack. But its top strategic document identifies Russia as the most significant and direct threat to NATO members' security. The exercise comes at an important moment after Russia's invasion of Ukraine started the deadliest war on European soil in more than 70 years. RUSSIAN RESPONSEThe scale of NATO's Steadfast Defender 2024 exercises mark an "irrevocable return" of the alliance to Cold War schemes, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko told the state RIA news agency in remarks published on Sunday.

Persons: Matthias Eichenlaub, Alexander Grushko, Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S . Navy, Gunston Hall, NATO, Twitter Locations: United States, Russia, Ukraine, Atlantic, Europe, Norfolk

☆ US Military Strikes Two Houthi Anti-Ship Missiles in Yemen
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Phil StewartWASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. military carried out more strikes in Yemen early on Wednesday, destroying two Houthi anti-ship missiles that were aimed at the Red Sea and were preparing to launch, the U.S. military said in a statement. The Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen, have said their attacks are in solidarity with Palestinians as Israel strikes Gaza. Since the United States started striking Houthi military sites in Yemen on Jan. 11, the Pentagon says it has destroyed or degraded over 25 missile launch and deployment facilities and more than 20 missiles. Ryder noted that the last Houthi attack was Jan. 18, suggesting the strikes were having an impact. The strategy - a blend of limited military strikes and sanctions - appears aimed at punishing the Houthis while attempting to limit the danger of a wider Middle East conflict.

Persons: Phil Stewart WASHINGTON, Patrick Ryder, Ryder, Phil Stewart, Jacqueline Wong, Michael Perry Organizations: U.S, Red, U.S . Navy, . military's, Command, Pentagon Locations: Yemen, U.S, Iran, Israel, Gaza, United States

☆ US Defense Secretary Make First Public Appearance, Virtually, Since Hospitalization
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made his first public appearance, virtually and from home since his secret hospitalization, during a meeting on Ukraine's military needs on Tuesday. Austin, 70, was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland on Dec. 22 to treat prostate cancer. His hospitalization was not revealed until four days later, and the Pentagon did not specify why he was being treated until Jan. 9. Austin appeared on the live stream for a few minutes as he made his opening remarks. While there was a slight break in the live stream, Austin did not appear to mention his health, but called for additional air defense systems for Ukraine.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Walter, Joe Biden, Austin, Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart, Mark Porter Organizations: WASHINGTON, . Defense, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Pentagon, Department of Defense Locations: Austin, Maryland, U.S, Ukraine

☆ US, British Forces Carry Out New Strikes in Yemen-Officials
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and British forces carried out a fresh round of strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, three U.S. officials said on Monday, the latest move against the Iran-aligned group over its targeting of Red Sea shipping. In the past, the United States and British forces have mainly hit Houthi missiles and radar sites. The Houthi attacks have disrupted global shipping and stoked fears of global inflation. But multiple U.S. strikes over the past month have failed to stop Houthi attacks against shipping. Container vessels have been pausing or diverting from the Red Sea that leads to the Suez Canal, the fastest freight route from Asia to Europe.

Persons: Hope, Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: WASHINGTON, British, Red Locations: United States, Yemen, Iran, Israel, Gaza, Suez, Asia, Europe

☆ US, Britain Strike Underground Houthi Storage Site in Yemen
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and Britain carried out an additional round of strikes on Monday against Yemen's Houthis over their targeting of Red Sea shipping, the Pentagon said, targeting an underground storage site, missiles and other Houthi military capabilities. The Pentagon detailed the eight new strikes in a joint statement with Britain, as well as from Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands, which supported the latest military action, the statement said. "These precision strikes are intended to disrupt and degrade the capabilities that the Houthis use to threaten global trade and the lives of innocent mariners," the statement said. (Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; Editing by Chris Reese)

Persons: Yemen's Houthis, Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, Chris Reese Organizations: WASHINGTON, Red, Pentagon Locations: United States, Britain, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Netherlands

☆ US Personnel Suffer Minor Injuries in Iraq Base Attack: U.S. Official
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-20 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON/BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. personnel suffered minor injuries and a member of Iraq's security forces was seriously wounded in an attack on Iraq's Ain al-Asad air base on Saturday, a U.S. official said. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said initial reports indicated that the base was hit by ballistic missiles but he left open the possibility it was struck by rockets. Two security sources in Iraq and one government source said the base was hit by multiple rockets fired from inside Iraq. A second U.S. official said the attack was carried out by militants from inside Iraq. Iraq is deeply concerned about becoming a battleground between the United States, Israel and Iran.

Persons: Asad, Mohammed Shia, Phil Stewart, Timour, Alistair Bell Organizations: U.S, Hamas, U.S ., Iraq's, Pentagon, Monday Locations: WASHINGTON, BAGHDAD, Ain, Iraq, Israel, Syria, Iran, United States, U.S, State, Baghdad, Erbil, Iraq's, Kurdistan, Iraqi, Washington

☆ Indian Navy Rescues Crew After Attack on Ship off Coast of Yemen
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

The Houthi movement said its missiles had made a "direct hit" on the bulk carrier. U.S. officials said the move was aimed at cutting off funding and weapons the movement has used to attack or hijack ships. On Monday, Houthi forces had struck the U.S.-owned and operated dry bulk ship Gibraltar Eagle with an anti-ship ballistic missile. The alternative shipping route around South Africa's Cape of Good Hope can add 10-14 days to a journey compared to passage via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. Freight rates have more than doubled since early December, according to maritime consultancy Drewry's world container index, while insurance sources say war risk premiums for shipments through the Red Sea are also rising.

Persons: Krishn Kaushik, Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart NEW, Yemen's, Houthi, Denmark's, Shivam Patel, Simon Lewis, Pavel Polityuk, James Davey, Terje Solsvik, Keith Weir, Catherine Evans Organizations: Indian Navy, U.S, U.S . Navy, Shipping, Genco, Wednesday, Pepco, Denmark's Maersk, Maersk Locations: Phil Stewart NEW DELHI, WASHINGTON, U.S, Gulf, Aden, Genco Picardy, Iran, Asia, Europe, Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, India, Picardy, States, Yemen, South Africa's, Suez, Ukraine, Africa

☆ US Conducts Another Round of Strikes Against Houthi Targets in Yemen
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

By Phil Stewart and Idrees AliWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States conducted another round of strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen on Wednesday, U.S. officials told Reuters. Attacks by the Iran-allied Houthi militia on ships in the region since November have slowed trade between Asia and Europe and alarmed major powers. The U.S. military said earlier on Wednesday that a drone launched from areas controlled by the Houthi rebels in Yemen had struck a U.S.-owned vessel in the Gulf of Aden. The United States on Wednesday returned the Yemen-based Houthi rebels to a list of terrorist groups, as the militants also claimed another attack this week on a U.S. operated vessel in the Red Sea region. (Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; writing by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Sandra Maler and Chris Reese)

Persons: Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali WASHINGTON, Idrees Ali, Kanishka Singh, Sandra Maler, Chris Reese Organizations: United, Reuters, U.S . Central Command, Marshall Islands, Wednesday Locations: United States, Yemen, Iran, Asia, Europe, Gaza, U.S, Gulf, Aden, Picardy, Washington

☆ US, Britain Carry Out Strikes Across Yemen in Retaliation for Houthi Attacks
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-11 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +6 min

A U.S. official said more than a dozen locations were targeted in strikes that were not just symbolic but intended to weaken the Houthis' military capabilities. The United States and allies had deployed a naval task force to the area in December, and the situation had escalated in recent days. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who is in hospital due to surgery complications, said in a statement that the strikes targeted Houthi drones, ballistic and cruise missiles, costal radar and air surveillance. The United States also accused Iran of being involved operationally in the Houthi attacks, providing the military capabilities and intelligence to carry them out. The United States has troops on the ground in Syria and Iraq, and has previously retaliated for attacks there by Iran-backed groups.

Persons: Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, Mohammed Ghobari WASHINGTON, Joe Biden, Houthis, Sanaa, Ali Ahmad, Mahmoud, James Heappey, Brent, Lloyd Austin, Tesla, Andreas Krieg, Andrew Mills, Maher Hatem, Jeff Mason, Kanishka Singh, Eric Beech, Peter Graff, Angus MacSwan Organizations: British, U.S, Hamas, U.S . Defense, Washington, King's College, United, West Bank Locations: ADEN, Yemen, Iran, Gaza, Sanaa, Taiz, Hodeidah, Hajjah governorate, United States, Israel, Europe, Asia, U.S, Britain, Africa, Germany, London . Saudi Arabia, U.N, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Washington, Doha, Dubai

JAKE SULLIVAN - THE LAST GUY IN THE ROOMBiden often turns to Sullivan, the White House national security adviser, when he is considering final options and looking for advice and counsel. "He develops and puts forward the policy options before the president for him to decide," said one U.S. official. Sullivan, 47, was national security adviser for Biden when he was vice president and deputy chief of staff to then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He gathers policy options from across government agencies and prepares them for Biden to consider, the traditional role of the national security adviser. JON FINER - ASKING QUESTIONSSullivan relies heavily on his deputy national security adviser, Jon Finer.

Persons: Joe Biden, Antony Blinken, Evelyn Hockstein, ANTONY BLINKEN, Biden, Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, JAKE SULLIVAN, Sullivan, Jake, Hillary Clinton, BRETT MCGURK, Brett McGurk, McGurk, George W, Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, BILL BURNS, spymaster, Bill Burns, It's, Burns, LLOYD AUSTIN, STARK, Lloyd Austin, Yoav Gallant, Israel, KAMALA HARRIS, Kamala Harris, Harris, ”, JON, Jon, John Kerry's, Kerry, Arshad Mohammed, Nandita Bose, Don Durfee, Heather Timmons, Deepa Babington Organizations: U.S, Hamas, REUTERS, Rights, Israeli, Biden, White House, National Security, U.S ., CIA, . Defense, Pentagon, Islamic State, U.S . Army, ISIS, Palestinian, West Bank, Palestinian Authority, Washington Post, Thomson Locations: Israel, Tel Aviv, Gaza, East, North Africa, Saudi Arabia, United States, Qatar, Doha, Iran, Moscow, Russia, Ukraine, Ankara, U.S, Austin, Dubai, West

Residents, many of whom had moved there to flee earlier attacks in the Israel-Palestinian conflict, said they could hear tank fire and feared a new Israeli ground offensive was building. The Israeli military earlier ordered people to evacuate some areas in and near the city, but made no announcement of any new southern ground assault. "The IDF (Israel Defence Forces) continues to extend its ground operation against Hamas centres in all of the Gaza Strip," spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told reporters in Tel Aviv. GROUND OFFENSIVE FEAREDGaza residents said earlier on Sunday they feared an Israeli ground offensive on the southern areas was imminent. Tanks had cut off the road between Khan Younis and Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza, effectively dividing the Gaza Strip into three.

Persons: Alexander Ermochenko, Khan Younis, Daniel Hagari, Eylon Levy, Younis, United States —, —, Kamala Harris, Isaac Herzog, Mahmoud Abbas, Harris, Israel, Osama Hamdan, Deir, Suhaib Salem, Nidal, Mohammed Salem, Maayan Lubell, Ari Rabinovich, Emily Rose, Maggie Fick, Andrew Mills, Nandita Bose, Idrees Ali, Steve Holland, Phil Stewart, David Lawder, Lincoln Organizations: Hamas, Pentagon, Palestinian, IDF, Israel Defence Forces, U.S . Defense Department, Yemen's, Reuters, United, Tanks, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, Khan, U.S, Sea, Pentagon Iran, GAZA, CAIRO, Tel Aviv, Gaza City, Yemen's Iran, Hamas, Rafah, Gaza's, Beit Lahiya, United States, Lebanon, Egypt, Cairo, Jerusalem, Beirut, Doha, Dubai, Washington

☆ Remains of five crew found after US Osprey aircraft crashes off Japan
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A floating object believed to belong to the U.S. military aircraft V-22 Osprey that crashed into the sea is seen off Yakushima Island, Kagoshima prefecture, western Japan November 30, 2023, in this photo taken by Kyodo. Mandatory credit Kyodo via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON/TOKYO, Dec 4 (Reuters) - U.S. and Japanese dive teams found the remains of five more crew members from a V-22 Osprey aircraft that crashed off western Japan last week, the Pentagon said on Monday. Two crew members remain unaccounted for. "There is an ongoing combined effort to recover the remaining crew members from the wreckage," Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said. Following the crash, the U.S. military unit that the V-22 Osprey aircraft belonged to suspended flight operations.

Persons: Sabrina Singh, Phil Stewart, Satoshi Sugiyama, Bernadette Baum, Alison Williams Organizations: Kyodo, REUTERS Acquire, WASHINGTON, Osprey, Pentagon, U.S ., ., U.S, Pacifist Japan, U.S . Marine Corps, Thomson Locations: Kagoshima prefecture, Japan, TOKYO, Yakushima, Tokyo, U.S, Washington

File photo: U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin looks on as he attends the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus in Jakarta, Indonesia, November 16, 2023. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan/Pool/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Dec 2 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin delivered perhaps his strongest remarks to date on Saturday over Israel's need to protect civilians in Gaza, calling them the center of gravity in Israel's war with Hamas and warning over the risks of their radicalization. "So I have repeatedly made clear to Israel's leaders that protecting Palestinian civilians in Gaza is both a moral responsibility and strategic imperative." The United States has rushed military assistance to Israel, including air defenses and other munitions. "The United States will remain Israel's closest friend in the world.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin, Willy Kurniawan, Lloyd Austin, he's, Austin, Israel, Austin's, Phil Stewart, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Defense, ASEAN Defense Ministers, REUTERS, Rights, . Defense, Reagan National Defense, West Bank, Islamic State, United, Palestinian, Pentagon, U.S, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, Gaza, Austin, Simi Valley , California, Israel, United States, U.S, Iran

Israel has sworn to annihilate Hamas following its Oct. 7 rampage in southern Israel in which it says 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 taken hostage. "Frankly, the scale of civilian suffering, and the images and videos coming from Gaza, are devastating," Harris told reporters. The United States has been increasingly vocal that Israel must narrow the combat zone during any offensive in southern Gaza and ensure safe zones for non-combatants. Gaza health officials said that in addition to the death toll, 650 people had been wounded since the truce collapsed. Gaza health officials said three Palestinians were killed in an Israeli air strike on a house in Rafah.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Lloyd Austin, Israel, Harris, Austin, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Wessam Farhat, Amir Cohen, Mark Regev, Robert Mardini, Emmanuel Macron, Saleh Al, Arouri, Yoav Gallant, Khan Younis, Suhaib, Nidal, Mohammed Salem, Ari Rabinovich, Emily Rose, Andrew Mills, Nandita Bose, Steve Holland, Phil Stewart, Matt Spetalnick, Nick Zieminski, Matt Lewis, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Hamas, U.S . Defense, Simi Valley , California ., U.S, REUTERS, International Committee, Reuters, Crescent, Palestinian, Al, Israeli, Palestinian News Agency, Tel, Thomson Locations: GAZA, CAIRO, Israel, Gaza, Washington, Egypt, Dubai, Simi Valley , California, Simi Valley , California . Austin, U.S, Tel Aviv, United States, Palestinian, Rafah, Qatar, Al Jazeera, Suhaib Salem, Cairo, Jerusalem, Doha

But the three men topping Israel's hit-list remain at large: Deif, the head of Hamas' military wing, the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades; his second in command, Marwan Issa; and Hamas' leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar. The three leaders are directing Hamas' military operations and led negotiations for a prisoner-hostage swaps, possibly from bunkers beneath Gaza, three Hamas sources say. The objective of the war remains to dismantle Hamas' military and government capabilities, Michael said, which could involve a turbulent period in Gaza after the war. An Israeli military officer, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity, said the IDF viewed the elimination of such combat-level commanders as essential to dismantling Hamas' military capabilities. Israel has killed Hamas' leaders in the past, including the group's founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and its former leader Abdel-Aziz al-Rantisi, assassinated in a 2004 air strike.

Persons: Ilan Rosenberg, Yoav Gallant, Mohammed Deif, Deen al, Marwan Issa, Yahya Sinwar, Issa, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Gallant, Sinwar, Michael Eisenstadt, we've, Eisenstadt, Osama Hamdan, Joe Biden's, al, Kobi Michael, Michael said, Michael, Gilad Shalit, Shalit, Gerhard Conrad, Conrad, Al, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, Abdel, Aziz, Rantisi, Sheikh Yassin, Hamdan, Dan Williams, Samia Nakhoul, Daniel Flynn Organizations: REUTERS, Israeli, Hamas, Brigades, Qatar, Reuters, Military and Security, Washington Institute for Near East, Israel Defense Forces, Israel, Islamic, Israel's Ministry, Strategic Affairs, IDF, German Intelligence Agency, politburo, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Kibbutz Beeri, Israel, Tel Aviv, Deif, Gaza City, Lebanon, East, U.S, States, al Qaeda, Islamic State, Iran, United States, Iraq, Syria, Palestinian, Israeli, Sinwar, Al Jazeera, Rantissi, Jerusalem

The U.S. military said the mishap occurred during a routine training mission off the shores of Yakushima Island, about 1,040 km (650 miles) southwest of the capital Tokyo. Another Osprey thought to have been travelling with the crashed aircraft landed safely at the island's airport on Wednesday afternoon, a spokesperson for the local government said. Japan, which also operates Osprey aircraft, said on Wednesday it had asked the U.S. military to investigate the crash. The deployment of the hybrid aircraft in Japan has been controversial, with critics saying it is prone to accidents. In August, a U.S. Osprey crashed off the coast of northern Australia while transporting troops during a routine military exercise, killing three U.S. Marines.

Persons: Kiyoshi Takenaka, Tim Kelly, Kantaro, Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart, John Geddie, David Dolan, Gerry Doyle, Nick Macfie, Deepa Babington Organizations: Japan Coast Guard, Yakushima Fisheries Cooperative, . Air Force Special, Command, United, ., Boeing, Bell Helicopter, U.S . Air Force, Marines, Navy, Japan Self - Defense Forces, Osprey, U.S, Thomson Locations: Kagoshima prefecture, Japan, TOKYO, U.S, Yakushima, Tokyo, Japan's, United States, Taiwan, Okinawa, Australia

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