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The Pentagon building is seen in Arlington, Virginia, U.S. October 9, 2020. "We don't necessarily see that Iran has explicitly ordered them to take these kinds of attacks," Pentagon spokesperson Brigadier General Patrick Ryder told reporters. Pressed on the issue, Ryder added: "We haven't seen a direct order, for example, from the Supreme Leader saying: 'Go out and do this.'" Ryder, however, said that the United States ultimately holds Iran responsible for such attacks by militant groups "by virtue of the fact that they are supported by Iran." The United States has also sent warships and fighter aircraft to the region to try to deter Iran and Iran-backed groups from widening the conflict.

Persons: Carlos Barria, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Patrick Ryder, Ryder, Lloyd Austin, Austin, Asad, Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, Chizu Nomiyama, Howard Goller Organizations: Pentagon, REUTERS, Rights, United, Iran's, Reuters, Biden, Defense, Area Defense, Thomson Locations: Arlington , Virginia, U.S, United States, Iraq, Syria, Iran, Israel, Gaza, Tehran, Islamic Republic, Iranian, Yemen

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon has sent military advisers, including a Marine Corps general versed in urban warfare, to Israel to aid in its war planning and is speeding multiple sophisticated air defense systems to the Middle East days ahead of an anticipated ground assault into Gaza. Glynn will also be advising on how to mitigate civilian casualties in urban warfare, the official said. The advisers will not be engaged in the fighting, the unidentified U.S. official said. Last Thursday the destroyer USS Carney shot down four land-attack cruise missiles launched from Yemen that the Pentagon has said were potentially headed toward Israel. The official noted arranging for the release of the Raanans took longer to come together than many people realized.

Persons: James Glynn, Glynn, Israel “, John Kirby, Kirby, Carney, Israel —, Eisenhower, “ We’re, ” Ryder, “, ”, Biden, Natalie Raanan, —, Axios Organizations: WASHINGTON, Pentagon, Marine Corps, Marine, Islamic, U.S, National Security, Patriot, Defense, Eisenhower, U.S . Central Command, Navy, Ford, U.S . Locations: Israel, Gaza, Islamic State, Fallujah, Iraq, Iran, Syria, East, Yemen, of Oman, Qatar, U.S

☆ Opinion | Why the World Is Watching Iran
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Colin P. Clarke | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

Now, in the wake of Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack, Israel appears to be preparing to invade Gaza. At the center of these mounting tensions is Iran, which has been engaged in a shadow war with its chief regional rival, Israel, for years. It also gives Tehran leverage as its proxy groups develop political wings, helping Iran play kingmaker in local and national politics in Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen and elsewhere. As the conflict intensifies, there are growing concerns that Israel may be headed toward a more direct confrontation with Iran. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram.

Persons: Biden, Iran’s, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ismail Qaani, Khamenei, ”, “, —, Colin P, Clarke Organizations: United, Navy, Pentagon, U.S, Training, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Quds Force, Israel Defense, longtime, Israeli Defense Forces, Soufan Group, New York, Facebook, Twitter Locations: Saudi Arabia, Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, United States, Yemen, Iran, Tehran, Washington, Doha, Qatar, meddle, Iraq, Jerusalem, U.S, Amman, Jordan, Istanbul, New York City

☆ White House says Iran 'actively facilitating' some attacks on US military bases
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Steve Holland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Military vehicles of U.S. soldiers are seen at the al-Asad air base in Anbar province, Iraq, January 13, 2020. "We know that Iran is closely monitoring these events, and in some cases, actively facilitating these attacks and spurring on others who may want to exploit the conflict for their own good, or for that of Iran," he said. "We are deeply concerned about the potential for any significant escalation of these attacks in the days ahead," Kirby said. "We know Iran's goal is to maintain some level of deniability here, but we're not going to allow them to do that," Kirby said. "We also are not going to allow any threat to our interests in the region to go unchallenged."

Persons: Asad, John Davison, Biden, John Kirby, Kirby, we're, Steve Holland, Doina Chiacu, Andrea Shalal, Deepa Babington, Grant McCool Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Department of Defense, Islamic Revolutionary Guard, Hamas, Thomson Locations: U.S, Anbar province, Iraq, Iran, Iranian, Syria, United States, Israel

"We don't want to see our forces or our personnel come under fire. But Cindy McCain, executive director of the U.N. World Food Program, said the situation in Gaza remained “catastrophic." We need secure and sustainable access in there, in that region, so we can feed people.”Four hundred aid trucks were entering Gaza daily before the latest war, she said. Biden also discussed the situation during separate conversations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Pope Francis. In an updated message to Americans in Iraq, the department said the security situation in Iraq made it impossible to carry out normal operations.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Lloyd Austin, Biden, ” Blinken, ” Austin, Blinken, ”, Joe Biden, Cindy McCain, Benjamin Netanyahu, Pope Francis . Biden, Netanyahu, Israel, McCain Organizations: —, Sunday, West Bank, U.S, Press, Food, White, The State Department, Embassy Locations: REHOBOTH BEACH, Del, United, Israel, Iran, U.S, Gaza, Syria, East, Iraq, Egypt, Delaware, Irbil, Austin

☆ Cramer on 5 risks facing markets — and why it's not the 'most dangerous time'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Jim Cramer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

It is, however, by all appearances not a great time to be long stocks. But before that could happen, the markets would fall in response to Iran's actions and the U.S. commitment to defend Israel. All three enemies — Iran, Russia and China — are, indeed, being challenged by the U.S. in some capacity. But is it really too much to argue that multiple compression is not on par with "the most dangerous" of times? As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade.

Persons: Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan Chase, Ben Bernanke, Bernanke, I, Hamas, —, hasn't, bearish parry, Jingoism, Jerome Powell, Janet Yellen, infuses, Powell, We've, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim, Emily Elconin Organizations: JPMorgan, CBS, Israel, Fed, U.S ., Houston Astros, Jim Cramer's Charitable, CNBC, JPMorgan Chase &, Economic, of Detroit, Bloomberg, Getty Locations: Republic, Iran, Russia, China, Gaza, Israel, what's, U.S, East, Ukraine, Taiwan, Detroit , Michigan

[1/2] Iraqi students gather during a protest in support of Palestinians in Gaza as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, in Baghdad, Iraq, October 18, 2023. REUTERS/Ahmed Saad/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 22 (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department said on Sunday U.S. citizens should not travel to Iraq after recent attacks on American troops and personnel in the region. The travel advisory says, "Do not travel to Iraq due to terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict, civil unrest, and Mission Iraq’s limited capacity to provide support to U.S. There has been a spike in attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria since the conflict between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza broke out. "Because of security concerns, U.S. government personnel in Baghdad are instructed not to use Baghdad International Airport," the State Department said on Sunday.

Persons: Ahmed Saad, Antony Blinken, Lloyd Austin, Kanishka Singh, Josie Kao Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Rights, U.S . State Department, Sunday U.S, U.S, Embassy, Consulate, State Department, United, Area Defense, Pentagon, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Baghdad, Iraq, U.S, Syria, Iranian, Yemen, Embassy Baghdad, Erbil, Iran, Washington, United States

☆ Iran's Quandary: How to Stay Out of Israel's War on Hamas
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +9 min

Iran, a longtime backer of Gaza's rulers Hamas, finds itself in a quandary as it tries to manage the spiralling crisis, according to nine Iranian officials with direct knowledge of the thinking within the clerical establishment. "We are in contact with our friends Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah," Vahid Jalalzadeh, the head of parliament's National Security Committee said on Wednesday, according to Iranian state media. Iran's foreign ministry didn't respond to a request for comment about the country's response to the unfolding crisis, while Israeli military authorities declined to comment. Khamenei, the supreme leader, has denied Iran was involved in the attack, though he praised the damage inflicted on Israel. "Iran's nuanced position emphasizes the delicate balance it must maintain between regional interests and internal stability," said the former senior Iranian official.

Persons: Parisa Hafezi, Jonathan Saul, Arshad Mohammed DUBAI, wouldn't, Avi Melamed, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Israel, Israel didn't, Khamenei, Joe Biden, Biden, John Kirby, Washington, Jon Alterman, Jerusalem, Arshad Mohammed, Laila Bassam, Samia Nakhoul, Michael Georgy, Pravin Char Organizations: Reuters, Islamic, parliament's National Security, Israel, Wednesday, Hezbollah, U.S, Germany's Ramstein Air Base, House, State Department, CSIS, Swiss, Iran, Iranian Locations: Iran, Israel, Gaza, Tehran, U.S, Lebanon, Yemen, United States, Islamic Republic, Iranian, Lebanese, Syria, Iraq, Washington, America, GAZA, LEBANON, China, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Beirut, Paritosh, New York

[1/4] A formation of Israeli tanks is positioned near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel October 21, 2023. Iran, a longtime backer of Gaza's rulers Hamas, finds itself in a quandary as it tries to manage the spiralling crisis, according to nine Iranian officials with direct knowledge of the thinking within the clerical establishment. "We are in contact with our friends Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah," Vahid Jalalzadeh, the head of parliament's National Security Committee said on Wednesday, according to Iranian state media. Iran's foreign ministry didn't respond to a request for comment about the country's response to the unfolding crisis, while Israeli military authorities declined to comment. "Iran's nuanced position emphasizes the delicate balance it must maintain between regional interests and internal stability," said the former senior Iranian official.

Persons: Violeta Santos Moura, wouldn't, Avi Melamed, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Israel, Israel didn't, Khamenei, Joe Biden, Biden, John Kirby, Washington, Jon Alterman, Parisa Hafezi, Jonathan Saul, Jerusalem, Arshad Mohammed, Laila Bassam, Samia Nakhoul, Michael Georgy, Pravin Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Islamic, parliament's National Security, Israel, Wednesday, Hezbollah, U.S, Germany's Ramstein Air Base, House, State Department, CSIS, Swiss, Iran, Iranian, Thomson Locations: Israel's, Gaza, Israel, Rights DUBAI, Iran, Tehran, U.S, Lebanon, Yemen, United States, Islamic Republic, Iranian, Lebanese, Syria, Iraq, Washington, America, GAZA, LEBANON, China, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Beirut, Paritosh, New York

☆ The Goal for U.S. Diplomacy With Israel: First Calm, Then Peace
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Richard Haass | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

As recently as a few weeks ago, the Middle East seemed relatively calm. The principal story coming out of the long-troubled region was a positive one, the possible normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. All this and more is now among the many casualties of Oct. 7, when Hamas militants stormed an unprepared Israel, killing more than 1,300 people and taking several hundred hostages. Israel has responded with aerial strikes on Gaza meant to degrade Hamas’s military capability, as well as by cutting off supplies of electricity, food, water and fuel. Israel has called on the Palestinian population to relocate away from the north of Gaza, allowing its military to act against Hamas strongholds with greater freedom and fewer civilian casualties.

Locations: Israel, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Gaza

The incidents underscored the risks that the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas could spiral into a wider war. Israel has responded to the Hamas attacks with airstrikes and a “complete siege” of Gaza, which the group controls. About 200 American troops are stationed at Al Tanf, whose main role is training Syrian militias to fight the Islamic State. There were unconfirmed reports on social media of additional drone attacks in Syria late Thursday. “Clearly, this is an uptick in terms of the types of drone activity we’ve seen in Iraq and Syria,” General Ryder said.

Persons: “, ”, Patrick Ryder, General Ryder, Biden, Gholamhossein Gheybparvar, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, ” General Ryder, Al Tanf, Al Asad Organizations: U.S . Navy, Navy, Pentagon, Palestinian, Military, Senior Biden, American, Hamas, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Iran’s, Guards, Al, ”, Al Asad, Al Asad Air Base, military’s, Command Locations: U.S, Yemen, Israel, ” Brig, Iranian, Iraq, Syria, Iran, Gaza, United States, Lebanon, Houthis, Syrian, Al, State, Al Asad Air

Fluctuations since the attack pushed oil prices as high as $96. Until something like that happens, “the oil market is going to be like everyone else, monitoring the events in the Middle East,” Lipow said. One reason 1970s-style gas lines are unlikely: U.S. oil production is at an all-time high. Weekly domestic oil production has doubled from the first week in October 2012 to now. Lawmakers from both parties have urged Biden to block Iranian oil sales, seeking to dry up one of the regime’s key sources of funding.

Persons: ” Fatih Birol, ”, Andrew Lipow, ” Lipow, Mike Sommers, Sommers, “ America’s, “, Joe Biden's, Israel, Biden, Sofia Guidi Di Sante, Wyoming Sen, John Barrasso, “ Joe, Barrasso, ____ McHugh, Choe Organizations: WASHINGTON, International Energy Agency, ”, Associated Press, Brent, Lipow Oil Associates, U.S . Energy Information Administration, Energy Department, American Petroleum Institute, Hudson Institute, Commerzbank, Oil, Rystad Energy, Republican, Senate Energy, Natural Resources Committee, Democratic, Keystone XL, Strategic Petroleum Reserve, The Energy Department, The Treasury Department, Treasury Locations: East, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Russia, China, Paris, Gaza, Iran, Houston, Hormuz, U.S, Europe, Washington, OPEC, Lebanon, Venezuela, The U.S, Wyoming, America, Frankfurt, Germany, New York

☆ Protests across Mideast as US’ Arab allies warn against pushing Palestinians out
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Protests erupted around the Arab world on Friday as the Gaza war raged and an Israeli ground operation with the potential to displace millions of Palestinians loomed. In a sign of the growing anger over the Israeli operation in Gaza, Egypt sanctioned its first major nationwide protest in a decade. Amman and Cairo have sounded alarms over what they perceive as a plan to transfer Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank to Egypt and Jordan. The West Bank, however, remains occupied and the previous right-wing government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it would advance plans to extend its jurisdiction to the West Bank. The Palestinians want to establish an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza.

Persons: Annie Sakkab, Antony Blinken, Azhar, Omar Zoheiry, Amal, Young, Joe Biden, ”, Israel, Abdel Fattah el, Ayman Mohsab, Sisi, ” Sisi, Ayman Safadi, Al Jazeera, ” Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Benny Gantz, Jordan, Olaf Scholz Organizations: CNN, West Bank, Palestinian Ministry of Health, Bloomberg, Getty, Louk, AP, United, Reuters, Israel, Arab Affairs Committee, Al, Israeli, National Unity Party, Palestinian Authority, Cairo Peace, United Arab, United Nations Locations: Gaza, Israeli, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, Israel, Amman , Jordan, Rafah, Cairo’s, Cairo, Bab el, Tahrir, al, Old Cairo, Beirut, Lebanese, Iran, Iraq’s, Baghdad, United States, Amman, ‘, Jordanian, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Italy, Greece

Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting at the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, China, October 18, 2023. "If the United States can effectively rally the world, it’s bad for them. SUPPORT FOR PALESTINEWhile the strategies of Russia and China in the Middle East are not fully aligned they have much in common. Russia said on Thursday it was coordinating Middle East policy with China. The United States has been trying, with limited success, to persuade the global south to rally behind Ukraine.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Sergei Guneev, Israel, Wang Yi, Putin, Xi, Jon Alterman, Bashar al, Assad, Jean, Loup Samaan, Carice Witte, Alterman, Ma Xiaolin, Ma, James Pomfret, Guy Faulconbridge, Don Durfee, Robert Birsel Organizations: Forum, Sputnik, Rights, Initiative, Palestinian, Middle, Center for Strategic, International Studies, PALESTINE, Middle East Institute of, National University of Singapore, United, Ukraine, Israel, Zhejiang International Studies University, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, WASHINGTON, Gaza, Russia, Moscow, United States, Israel, States, East, Africa, Latin America, Asia, Palestine, Washington, U.S, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Tel Aviv, Hong Kong

[1/3] Yemenis gather during a pro-Palestinian protest to express solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, in Sanaa, Yemen, October 20, 2023. Some demanded military action against Israel, others said Arab states should consider using other methods to stop the bombardment of Gaza. Egypt borders Gaza but has not been able to negotiate an opening of its crossing to allow in aid. Hundreds of people marched in central Tunis, a smaller protest than ones that have rallied there against Israel's Gaza campaign in recent days. On Iraq's border with Jordan, hundreds of supporters of Iran-backed paramilitary groups staged a sit-in to voice support for Gaza, brought in by bus.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Mohammed Gomaa, Souhail Ben Nasser, Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Marisa, Hussein Samir, Suleiman al, Nafisa Eltahir, Amina Ismail, Tarek Amara, Ali Kucukgocmen, Ahmed Eljechtimi, Angus McDowall, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Houthi Media, REUTERS, Israel, Gaza, U.S ., Indonesian, U.S, Iran, Bulent Usta, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Sanaa, Yemen, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, AMMAN, CAIRO, Jakarta, Tunis, Israel, Palestinian, Beyazit, Palestine, Cairo, Morocco, Western Sahara, America, Asia, U.S, Kuala Lumpur, Jaipur, Mumbai, Iraq, Tehran, Baghdad, Iran, Khalidi, Amman, Nafisa, Istanbul, Rabat

☆ Biden’s Rule of Engagement: Don’t
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Lauren Camera | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +14 min

Leaders of Egypt and Jordan and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called off a planned summit with President Joe Biden. “Don’t,” he said, warning Iran as well as the U.S.-designated terror group Hezbollah that runs Lebanon and any others from intensifying the crisis by escalating their involvement. But perhaps most effective of all, experts say, is the single word Biden continues to repeat: Don’t. “When the president says, ‘Don't,’ and then moves an aircraft carrier, that looks good. Middle East analysts go back to the point that Hezbollah and Iran likely don’t want to escalate the war either.

Persons: Biden, Mahmoud Abbas, Joe Biden, ”, Mark Montgomery, –, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, ” Montgomery, “ Will, Matthew McInnis, “ That’s, ” McInnis, McInnis, Lloyd Austin, Gerald R, Ford, Dwight D, Antony Blinken, Israel, ” Biden, Barack Obama, Syria’s Bashar al, Assad, ‘, Alex Vatanka, Carney, Hashem Safieddine, Netanyahu, “ It’s Organizations: Hamas, Intelligence, Defense Department, Israel, U.S, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, organization’s, Technology, Institute for, Eisenhower, Israel Defense Forces, United Arab, West Bank, Treasury, Foreign Assets Control, Target, Middle, Middle East Institute, Navy, “ Locations: Gaza, Israel, U.S, Jihad, Hamas, Iran, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Jerusalem, Afghanistan, Syria, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, China, Sudan, Turkey, Algeria, Tel Aviv, United States, Iraq, Eastern, Yemen, Red, Ukraine

☆ Biden's pick for Israel envoy faces tough questions from senators on Iran
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Chelsey Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON — Jacob Lew, President Joe Biden's nominee for ambassador to Israel, defended his handling of Iran policy in the Obama administration on Wednesday at his Senate confirmation hearing. "This whole thing is about Iran," said Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee. As Treasury secretary under former President Barack Obama, Lew played a key role in formulating the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Several Republicans suggested that Lew had effectively opened the door to grant Iran access to the mainstream banking system. If he were confirmed, Lew said, he would uphold Biden's commitment to deny Iran a nuclear weapon.

Persons: Jack Lew, WASHINGTON — Jacob Lew, Joe Biden's, Obama, Sen, James Risch, Barack Obama, Lew, Donald Trump Organizations: U.S, Treasury, Foreign, Capitol, D.C, Foreign Relations, Republicans, Democratic, CNBC Locations: Israel, Capitol Hill, Washington, Iran, Idaho, U.S

☆ Opinion | To Win the War, Defeat Hamas and Stop Settlements
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Thomas L. Friedman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +11 min

After that rocket failed and fell on the Palestinian hospital in Gaza, killing scores of people, Hamas and the P.I.J. (Netanyahu’s coalition agreement actually vows to annex the whole of the West Bank.) I am well aware that Hamas has been committed to eliminating the Jewish state since its inception — not because Israel has expanded settlements in the West Bank. The Palestinian Authority, which is ready to coexist with the Jewish state, needs to be able to actually win a free and fair election against Hamas in the West Bank or Gaza. So no, we’re not telling Netanyahu what to do in Gaza — Israel is a sovereign country.

Persons: Biden, —, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Israel’s, Hassan Nasrallah, Nahum Barnea, beseeching Biden, beseech, it’s, “, Gazans, there’s, Bibi Netanyahu’s, Abraham, Netanyahu, Sam’s, we’re, Netanyahu’s, Dan Ben, David, ” Mr, Ben, Yuval Noah Harari, ” Organizations: West Bank . Settlers, Palestinian Authority, West Bank, U.S, U.S . Navy, Pentagon, Arab Hospital, United, Israel, Hamas, Peace Communications, Times, Abraham Accords, Ministry of Defense, Tel Aviv University, Technion, Israel’s Locations: Israel, Gaza, Iraq, Afghanistan, Jerusalem, —, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, United States, U.S, Tehran, Persian, Gaza ”, America, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Gaza — Israel, We’re, Israeli

☆ How Hezbollah could draw US troops into a wider war in the Middle East
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The Israel-Hamas war could spark a wider regional conflict in the Middle East. AdvertisementAdvertisementPresident Joe Biden this week touched down in Israel as the Middle East was engulfed in new turmoil. AdvertisementAdvertisementThey'd threatened to attack Israel in support of Hamas before the hospital attack, with clashes in recent days between Hezbollah and Israeli forces on Israel's northern border intensifying. AdvertisementAdvertisementIn Hezbollah, Israel faces an opponent that is better armed and trained than the Gaza-based Hamas militia. "They want to pressure Israel via Hezbollah when Israel is already stretched and distracted," said Burrows.

Persons: —, Joe Biden, Biden, Michael DiMino, Benjamin Netanyahu, BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI, Ebrahim Raisi, Israel, JOSEPH EID, Mat Burrows, Burrows, Robert Dover, Stimson Center's Burrows, Iran's, Clive Jones, DiMino Organizations: Service, Hezbollah, CIA, Israel, Tel Aviv's, Getty, Al, UN, West Bank, Embassy, Washington, Stimson Center, Missile, AFP, Kremlin, University of Hull, Institute for, Durham University Locations: Israel, East, Iran, Gaza, Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion, AFP, Ahli, Gaza City, — Iran, Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, DC, Russia, China, Ukraine, Taiwan, Syrian, Iraq, Yemen, United States

☆ What to know about Hezbollah, the powerful Iran-backed group on Israel’s border
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Cnn Staff | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Hezbollah is an Iran-backed Islamist movement with one of the most powerful paramilitary forces in the Middle East. The origins of the groupHezbollah emerged from the rubble of Israel’s 1982 invasion of Lebanon, when Israeli forces took almost half of Lebanon’s territory. This included Beirut, where Israeli forces, along with right-wing Israel-allied Christian Lebanese militias, laid siege to the western part of the capital to drive out Palestinian militants. A terror designationIn Lebanon, Hezbollah is officially considered a “resistance” group tasked with confronting Israel, which Beirut classifies as an enemy state. Hezbollah is a group from the Shia branch of Islam, while Hamas is Sunni.

Persons: Israel –, –, Sabra, Shatila, Hassan Nasrallah, Marwan Naamani, Israel, Mustafa Badreddine, Hamas haven’t, Bashar al, Assad, Nasrallah, Francesca Volpi, ’ Organizations: CNN, Commission, Christian Lebanese, Embassy, Hezbollah, Hamas, Gaza, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Israel’s Locations: Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Hamas, Gaza, Beirut, Lebanese, Palestinian, Islamic Republic, Tehran, Argentina, Buenos Aires, East, Syria, Iraq, Islam, Baalbek, Lebanon's Bekaa, Israel’s, Golan

☆ Mahsa Amini, Iran women's movement win Sakharov freedom prize
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BRUSSELS, Oct 19 (Reuters) - The European Union parliament awarded its annual Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to Iranian woman Mahsa Amini who died in police custody last year and the "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement in Iran, it said on Thursday. "On 16 September we marked one year since the murder of Jina Mahsa Amini in Iran. The European Parliament proudly stands with the brave and defiant who continue to fight for equality, dignity and freedom in Iran," EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola said in a statement. People take part in a protest against the Islamic regime of Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini, in Berlin, Germany, December 10, 2022. Under the banner "Woman, Life, Freedom", Iranian citizens have been protesting against laws obliging women to cover their hair and wear loose fitting clothing.

Persons: Sakharov, Mahsa Amini, Jina, Roberta Metsola, Mahsa, Michele Tantussi, Amini's, Julia Payne Organizations: European Union, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Iran, Amini, Iran's, Kurdistan, Berlin, Germany

☆ The Gaza Hospital and the Missing Aid
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Image: Ohad Zwigenberg/Associated PressOn Tuesday a blast at a hospital in Gaza City reportedly killed hundreds of people. About a quarter of Hamas and PIJ rockets fired in previous wars have fallen short and landed in Gaza. More details will come, but blowing up a hospital isn’t in Israel’s interest. Hamas shows such little concern for Gazans that it has long stolen their humanitarian aid. It’s another way the terrorist group uses Palestinian civilians, playing on Western sympathy to advance its jihadist brutality.

Persons: Israel Organizations: Israel Defense Forces Locations: Gaza City, Jihad, Iran, Gaza

☆ What is Islamic Jihad? The Hamas ally at war with Israel
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants participate in an anti-Israel military parade marking the 36th anniversary of the movement's foundation in Gaza City, October 4, 2023. Israel said Islamic Jihad was responsible, saying a failed rocket launch by the group hit the hospital. Islamic Jihad denied this, saying it did not have any activity in or around Gaza City at that time. * Islamic Jihad has the second-biggest armed network in Gaza after that of the enclave's governing militant group Hamas. * Islamic Jihad is designated a terrorist group by Israel, the United States and European countries.

Persons: Mohammed Salem, Israel, Islamic Jihad, Fathi Shiqaqi, Abdel, Aziz Odeh, Yasser Arafat's, Shiqaqi, Edmund Blair Organizations: Islamic, REUTERS, Al Ahli Arab Hospital, Islamic Jihad, Yasser Arafat's Palestine Liberation Organisation, PLO, West Bank, Hamas, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Israel, Gaza City, Palestinian, Gaza, Al Ahli, Yasser Arafat's Palestine, Malta, Palestine, Jihad, Beirut, Damascus, United States

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. on Wednesday imposed sanctions on a group of people and firms based in Iran, China, Hong Kong and Venezuela, tied to the development of Iran's ballistic missile and drone programs. The penalties come as the United Nations' restrictions on Iran missile-related activities under a Security Council Resolution are set to expire, as well as the E.U. A UAV is an unmanned aerial vehicle, commonly known as a drone. President Joe Biden's administration maintains that Iran is providing Russia with drones and materials to build a drone manufacturing plant east of Moscow as President Vladimir Putin's government invades Ukraine. Tensions between the U.S. and Iran remain high, despite the release of five American detainees from Iran in September in exchange for the release of nearly $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets.

Persons: Jaber Reihani, Brian Nelson, Joe Biden's, Vladimir Putin's, Raisi Organizations: WASHINGTON, United Nations, Treasury's, Foreign Assets, Islamic, Guard, Ministry of Defense, Armed Forces Logistics, Defense, General Assembly, U.S Locations: Iran, China, Hong Kong, Venezuela, United States, Treasury's, U.S, Russia, Moscow, Ukraine

☆ Iran's Middle East allies primed as Israel-Hamas war rages
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned on Oct. 17 of further action by Tehran's allies against Israel if it did not cease its attacks. Since the war erupted on Oct. 7, the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah has already mounted operations against Israel, while others have threatened U.S. interests. Hezbollah has trained paramilitary groups in Syria and Iraq and inspired other forces such as Yemen's Iran-allied Houthis. Other Iran-backed Shi'ite groups backed by Tehran have played a vital combat role in Syria, including groups from Afghanistan and Iraq. Iran-backed forces have deployed across much of government-held Syria during the war, including at the Iraqi border and near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

Persons: Israel, Bashar al, Assad, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, YEMEN Yemen's, Tom Perry, Edmund Blair Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, Hezbollah, Israel, Party, Iran's, Guards, United, . Marine, U.S, Popular, Forces, Reuters, SYRIA Iran's Revolutionary Guards, The U.S . Fifth Fleet, Revolutionary Guards, U.S . Navy, Thomson Locations: BEIRUT, Israel, Tehran, Iran, Lebanese, LEBANON, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, . Washington, United States, Beirut, IRAQ, U.S, State, SYRIA, Afghanistan, Golan Heights, YEMEN, Gaza, Saudi, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, The, Bahrain, Gulf of Oman

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