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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Three American service members were killed and “many” were wounded in a drone strike in northeast Jordan near the Syrian border, President Joe Biden said in a statement Sunday. U.S. Central Command said 25 service members were injured the attack in addition to the three killed. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesSome 3,000 American troops typically are stationed in Jordan. The attack on Jordan marks the first targeting American troops in Jordan during the war and the first to result in the loss of American lives. ___Associated Press writers Bassem Mroue in Beirut, Omar Akour in Amman, Jordan and Jon Gambrell in Jerusalem contributed to this report.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Muhannad Mubaidin, Lloyd Austin, Jake Sullivan, Jon, Karine Jean, Pierre said, ”, Bassem Mroue, Omar Akour, Jon Gambrell Organizations: COLUMBIA, American, West Bank, . Central Command, Defense, White, Lebanese, Hezbollah, Hamas, Associated Press Locations: Jordan, Syrian, Iran, U.S, Iranian, Israel, Gaza, United States, Jordanian, Syria, Jordan . U.S, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Red, Columbia , South Carolina, Western, Jerusalem, Palestine, Beirut, Amman

BEIRUT (AP) — The United States and Iraq held a first session of formal talks Saturday in Baghdad aimed at winding down the mission of a U.S.-led military coalition formed to fight the Islamic State group in Iraq. Washington has had a continuous presence in Iraq since its 2003 invasion. Although all U.S. combat forces left in 2011, thousands of troops returned in 2014 to help the government of Iraq defeat IS. Those estimated 2,500 U.S. troops and the bases they serve on have drawn more than 150 missile and drone attacks fired by the militias. Iraqi officials have complained that the U.S. strikes are a violation of Iraq's sovereignty.

Persons: Mohammed Shia, Sudani, ”, Qassem Soleimani, Abu Mahdi al Organizations: Islamic, Coalition, Iranian, Israel, Popular Mobilization Forces Locations: BEIRUT, United States, Iraq, Baghdad, U.S, Iraqi, America, Syria, Iran, Israel, Washington, Gaza

☆ Gaza endgame: Inching toward a deal to end the war
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Elliott Gotkine | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

On Monday Axios reported Israel had proposed a two-month truce in exchange for the release of all the 100-plus hostages still held in Gaza. The sticking point there appears to be that Hamas wants a “package deal” which would include a second-phase agreement to end the war. For now, though, such talk remains moot, with an Israeli official telling CNN there’s no concrete deal on the table. “But at the same time we can’t gamble on the future of Israel [by leaving Hamas in control of Gaza]. Any deal Israel is looking to seal, says Ziv, would be more likely to come into effect once the Khan Younis operation is complete.

Persons: Ofer Shelah, Axios, Israel, David Barnea, Yahya, Shelah, ”, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Thani, Antony Blinken, it’s, wouldn’t, Yasser Arafat, Israel doesn’t, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Aviva Siegel, Netanyahu, Israel Ziv, there’s, ” Ziv, Khan Younis, Ziv, There’s, Israel’s, Gadi, “ Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies, Street Journal, Reuters, Qatari, ’, Israel, Israel Democracy Institute Locations: Gaza, Israel, Qatar, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al, Beirut, Tunis, United States, “ Israel

☆ Israel’s spy chief proposed letting Hamas leaders leave Gaza as part of broader ceasefire talks
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Alex Marquardt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Israel has proposed that Hamas senior leaders could leave Gaza as part of a broader ceasefire agreement, two officials familiar with the ongoing international discussions told CNN. Senior Hamas officials are known to live in Doha, Qatar, and the Lebanese capital Beirut, among other places outside the Palestinian territories. That, combined with the “enormous pressure” on Netanyahu and his government to bring hostages home, Miller said, has created a situation where Israel would be willing to propose having Hamas leaders leave Gaza. While it’s unclear whether in private discussions Israel has named which Hamas leaders they would hope to leave Gaza, there is no bigger target than Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’ top official in Gaza. Israel vows to hunt Hamas globallyIsrael has made no secret of its intention to continue hunting Hamas leaders long after the war is over.

Persons: CNN —, —, David Barnea, Antony Blinken, Brett McGurk, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, ”, Aaron David Miller, Netanyahu, Miller, Jack Guez, Biden, Barnea, Bill Burns, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Blinken, David Barnea Gil Cohen, al, Yahya Sinwar, ” Netanyahu, Sinwar, Khan Younis, Mohammed Deif, Deif’s, Marwan Issa, Sinwar’s, Mohammed, Yahya Sinwar Mahmud Hams, Ofer Shelah, ” Shelah, we’ve, Shin Bet, ” Bar, Kan, ” Miller, “ Weeks Organizations: CNN, Hamas, US, Carnegie Endowment, International, Getty, Gaza Health Ministry, US CIA, Qatari, Magen, US State Department, CIA, Prime Minister’s, Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies Locations: CNN — Israel, Gaza, Israel, Doha, Qatar, Beirut, Palestinian, Warsaw, Egypt, Israeli, AFP, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani, al Thani, Sinwar, Hamas, Lebanon, Turkey

WASHINGTON (AP) —The U.S. on Monday hit Iraqi airline Fly Baghdad and its CEO with sanctions, alleging assistance to Iran's military wing — and in addition, imposed a fifth round of sanctions on the militant group Hamas for abuse of cryptocurrency since the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel. In the new sanctions announced Monday, Treasury said Fly Baghdad and its CEO Basheer Abdulkadhim Alwan al-Shabbani have provided assistance to Iran's military wing and its proxy groups in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. In addition on Monday, the U.S. sanctioned a network of Hamas-affiliated financial exchanges in Gaza— including financial facilitators that transferred funds through cryptocurrency from Iran to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza. “Hamas has sought to leverage a variety of financial transfer mechanisms, including the exploitation of cryptocurrency, to channel funds to support the group’s terrorist activities,” Nelson said. “Treasury, in close coordination with our allies and partners, will continue to leverage our authorities to target Hamas, its financiers, and its international financial infrastructure.”___Associated Press reporter Sewell is located in Beirut, Lebanon.

Persons: Basheer Abdulkadhim Alwan, ”, Brian E, Nelson, Asad, ” Nelson, Sewell Organizations: WASHINGTON, Ministry, Treasury, Treasury's, Foreign, Control, Hezbollah, Popular Mobilization Forces, State, U.S, Hamas, “ Treasury, Associated Press Locations: Baghdad, Israel, Gaza, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, United States, U.S, cryptocurrency, Jihad, Australia, Beirut

☆ Israeli Strike on Damascus Kills Four Iranian Revolutionary Guards -Source
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-20 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Laila Bassam and Kinda MakiehBEIRUT/DAMASCUS (Reuters) -An Israeli missile strike on Syria's capital Damascus on Saturday killed four members of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, including the head of the force's information unit in Syria, a security source in the regional pro-Syria alliance told Reuters. Syrian state media said a building in the Mazzeh neighbourhood of Damascus was targeted in a likely Israeli attack, without giving further details. Iran's state-run Press TV said two Iranian Guards military advisers were killed in the Israeli strike on Damascus. Essam Al-Amin, head of the Al-Mowasat Hospital in Damascus, told Reuters that his hospital had received one corpse and three wounded people, including a woman, following Saturday's attack. In December, an Israeli strike killed two Guards members in Damascus, and another on Dec. 25 killed a senior adviser to the Guards who was overseeing military coordination between Syria and Iran.

Persons: Laila Bassam, Bashar al, Essam Al, Amin, Makdesi, Nayera Abdallah, Maya Gebeily, Mark Heinrich Organizations: Saturday, Iran's, Guards, Reuters, Hamas, Iranian Guards, Mowasat, Jihad Locations: BEIRUT, DAMASCUS, Israeli, Damascus, Syria, Israel, Iran, Gaza, Syrian, Mazzeh, Iran's, Beirut, Dubai

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — An Israeli strike on the Syrian capital, Damascus, destroyed Saturday a building used by Iranian paramilitary Revolutionary Guard killing and wounding 10 people, state media outlets and an official with an Iran-backed group said. State-TV reported that the “Israeli aggression” targeted a residential building in the tightly guarded western Damascus neighborhood of Mazzeh, home to several diplomatic missions, including the Lebanese and Iranian embassies. The strike came amid widening tensions in the region and the Israeli offensive on Gaza that has killed thousands. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesLast month, an Israeli airstrike on a suburb of Damascus killed Iranian general Seyed Razi Mousavi, a longtime adviser of the Iranian paramilitary Revolutionary Guard in Syria. Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes on targets inside government-controlled parts of war-torn Syria in recent years.

Persons: ”, Seyed Razi Mousavi, Bashar Assad’s, Israel, Saleh Arouri, ____ Mroue Organizations: Revolutionary Guard, Syrian, Human Rights, Lebanese, East, Associated Press, Iranian Locations: DAMASCUS, Syria, Damascus, Iran, Mazzeh, Gaza, Israel, Beirut, Golan, Lebanon, Red

☆ An Israeli airstrike on the Syrian capital killed at least 4 Iranian advisers, state media say
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

An Israeli strike on the Syrian capital on Saturday destroyed a building used by the Iranian paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, killing at least four Iranians, Syrian and Iranian state media reported. Iranian state television said four advisers from the Revolutionary Guard had been killed in the strike in Damascus, without identifying them, adding that Israel was behind the strike. Last month, an Israeli airstrike on a suburb of Damascus killed Iranian general Seyed Razi Mousavi, a longtime adviser of the Iranian paramilitary Revolutionary Guard in Syria. Iranian and Syrian officials have long acknowledged Iran has advisers and military experts in Syria, but denied there were any ground troops. Earlier this month, a strike said to be carried out by Israel killed top Hamas commander Saleh Arouri in Beirut.

Persons: Israel, Nour, Sadegh Omidzadeh, Hajj Gholam, Rami Abdurrahman, Khaled Mawed, Seyed Razi Mousavi, Bashar Assad, Bashar Assad's, Saleh Arouri Organizations: Iranian, Revolutionary Guard, Quds Force, Hajj, Syrian, Human Rights, Security, Windows, Associated Press Locations: Wafideen, Damascus, Syria, Israeli, Syrian, Iran, Mazzeh, Venezuela, South Africa, Israel, Gaza, Beirut, Golan, Lebanon, Red

☆ Hezbollah Rejected US Overtures, Still Open to Diplomacy to Avoid Wider War
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +9 min

U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein has been leading a diplomatic outreach to restore security at the Israel-Lebanon frontier as the wider region teeters dangerously towards a major escalation of the conflict ignited by the Gaza war. Israel has also said it wants to avoid war, but both sides say they are ready to fight if necessary. Branded a terrorist organisation by Washington, Hezbollah has not been directly involved in talks, three Lebanese officials and a European diplomat said. Hezbollah has dismissed both ideas as unrealistic, the Lebanese officials and the diplomat said. Iran's foreign minister on Wednesday said attacks against Israel and its interests by the "Axis of Resistance" will stop if the Gaza war ends.

Persons: Laila Bassam, Maya Gebeily, Amos Hochstein, Hochstein, Israel, Spokespeople, Eylon Levy, Najib Mikati, Mikati, Hamas, Mohanad Hage Ali, Hage Ali, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Nasrallah, Gebeily, Dan Williams, Tom Perry, Steve Holland, Edtiing, Frank Jack Daniel Organizations: U.S, Yemen's, Reuters, Hezbollah, Lebanese, Iran's, Guards, Carnegie Middle East Center Locations: Maya, Maya Gebeily BEIRUT, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Gaza, Yemen's Iran, Red Sea, U.S, Lebanese, Beirut, Jan, Washington, European, Hochstein, United States, IRAN, Syria, Iraq, Tehran, France, Jerusalem

☆ Opinion: For the Houthis, war is a way of life
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Peter Bergen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

I think they’re probably ill-advised because I don’t think they’re going to do what they are intended to do. I don’t think they’ll deter the Houthis. This is such an unequal war because the whole character of war has changed. I don’t think it would make the slightest bit of difference whether the US designated them or not. I think they’re on the way to becoming Hezbollah.

Persons: Peter Bergen, CNN —, ”, Elisabeth Kendall, Kendall, PETER BERGEN, ELISABETH KENDALL, It’s, we’re, Elisabeth Kendall BERGEN, KENDALL, KENDALL, it’s, they’ve, didn’t, Abdul Malik al, I’m, Mohammed Hamoud, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Biden, Trump, They’re, don’t, Ali Abdullah Saleh, Saleh Organizations: New, Arizona State University, Apple, Spotify, CNN, US, Girton College, Cambridge University, Islam, Atlantic Council, Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, UN, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Foreign Terrorist Organization, United Nations, Hezbollah, United Arab Locations: New America, Yemeni, Red, Yemen, Sanaa, Saudi Arabia, Hudaydah, Suez, Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, Gaza, BERGEN, Israel, Islam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ”, fragmenting, Washington, America, Beirut, Lebanon, Lebanese, United Arab Emirates

☆ Iran launches missile strikes in northern Iraq and Syria, claims to destroy Israeli spy base
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Helen Regan | Hamdi Alkhshali | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

ISIS claimed responsibility for the deadly twin blasts near Soleimani’s burial site, in what was the deadliest attack in Iran since its 1979 revolution. Authorities and others gather near the site where missiles hit near the US consulate in Erbil, Iraq, on January 15, 2024. Rudaw TV/AP“Iran is claiming this is in response to the terrorist attacks in Kerman, Iran, and Rask, Iran, with a focus on ISIS. US troops in Iraq and Syria have repeatedly come under rocket and drone attacks from Tehran’s proxies. Last week, a senior Hezbollah commander was killed in an Israeli drone strike on his car in southern Lebanon, a Lebanese security source told CNN.

Persons: CNN —, Qasem Soleimani, “, ”, Masrour Barzani, ” Barzani, –, Washington, Hassan Nasrallah, Wissam Tawil, Saleh Al Organizations: CNN, CNN — Iran’s, Guards, Monday, Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Security, Quds Force, ISIS, Authorities, Rudaw, AP, US State Department, Erbil, New, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, of Health, United Nations ’, Israel, US, Sunday Locations: Iraq, Iran, Syria, United States, Israel, Erbil, Kurdistan, Kurdistan Region, ”, Kerman, Rask, Gaza, South Africa, Red, Houthi, Yemen, Baghdad, Lebanon, Lebanese, Beirut

☆ Turkish Strikes Hit Water, Power Infrastructure in Syria’s Kurdish-Held Northeast
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Turkey has carried out a wave of air strikes on electricity and oil infrastructure in Syria's Kurdish-held northeast that has put several power stations out of service, local sources and Syrian state media said on Monday. Hogir Najar, a media official at the Kurdish-run autonomous administration, told Reuters that at least 40 sites had been hit in Turkish shelling in the last two days, including power stations, water pumping stations and oil infrastructure. Syrian state television also reported the strikes on Monday, saying a Turkish drone had hit the Dirbasiyah power station and that Turkish air bombardment hit a power transfer station in the main town of Qamishli. Two water stations were also put out of service as Turkish strikes on Monday had cut off their electricity supply, Syria's state news agency SANA said. The air strikes destroyed targets consisting of caves, shelters and depots as well as a natural gas production facility, the ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

Persons: Hogir, Najar, SANA, Hussein Seifo, We're, Maya Gebeily, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Reuters, Kurdistan Workers Party, European Union, Turkey's National Intelligence Agency, MIT, Anadolu Agency Locations: BEIRUT, Turkey, Kurdish, Turkish, Qamishli, Syria, United States, Iraq, Anadolu

JERUSALEM (AP) — Houthi rebels fired a missile, striking a U.S.-owned ship Monday just off the coast of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden, less than a day after they launched an anti-ship cruise missile toward an American destroyer in the Red Sea. The attack on the Gibraltar Eagle, later claimed by the Houthis, further escalates tensions gripping the Red Sea after American-led strikes on the rebels. Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea, saying they were avenging Israel’s offensive in Gaza against Hamas. “The most dangerous thing is what the Americans did in the Red Sea, (it) will harm the security of all maritime navigation,” Nasrallah said. However, U.S. sailors have received combat ribbons for their actions in the Red Sea — something handed out only to those who face active hostilities with an enemy force.

Persons: — Houthi, Yahya Saree, “, ”, Aden “, Arleigh Burke, Joe Biden, Hassan Nasrallah, ” Nasrallah, Biden, It's, Samy Magdy, Lolita C, Bassem, Danica Kirka Organizations: JERUSALEM, Eagle, Hamas, United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, Dryad Global, Associated Press, military's Central Command, Command, Eagle Bulk Shipping, New York Stock Exchange, AP, Eagle Bulk, Central Command, U.S . Maritime Administration, Transportation Department Locations: U.S, Yemen, Gulf, Aden, American, Red, Gaza, Suez, Europe, Eagle Gibraltar, Marshall, Stamford , Connecticut, “, America, Sea, Hodeida, Iranian, Israel, East, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Saudi, Cairo, Washington, Bassem Mroue, Beirut, London

Sunday's missile strike came a day after the Israeli army said it killed three militants who had crossed into Israel from Lebanon and attempted to carry out an attack. The latest attacks on Israel, including the deaths of two civilians on Sunday, raised the likelihood of new Israeli reprisals. More than 115,000 Israelis have evacuated from northern Israel due to the ongoing tensions. In Israel, 12 soldiers and seven civilians have died from rocket launches from Lebanon, and more than 170 were injured. Hezbollah has reported at least 150 fighters and 20 civilians have been killed in the near-daily exchanges of fire.

Persons: Yemen’s, Hassan Nasrallah, ” Nasrallah, Israel, Netanyahu, Yuval, SHIELDS, Joe Biden’s, Antony Blinken, Khan Younis, ”, Rami Abu Matouq, ___ Magdy, Chehayeb, Abby Sewell Organizations: JERUSALEM, Sunday, International Court of Justice, Hamas, Islamic Glory Brigades, Associated Press, Islamic, Dublin, White, U.S, Gaza Health Ministry Locations: Israel, Lebanon, Gaza, Iran, Syria, Iraq, U.S, South Africa, Hague, Tel Aviv, Beirut, Jan, Yuval, Israeli, Golan, Islamic Jihad, SHIELDS ISRAEL, Washington , London, Paris, Rome, Milan, ISRAEL, Egypt, United States, Rafah, U.N, Cairo, israel

The families of hostages held in the Gaza Strip kicked off a 24-hour rally in Tel Aviv Saturday night, calling on the government to bring their loved ones home after 100 days spent in Hamas captivity. Thousands of people poured into “Hostages Ssquare” in Tel Aviv — a central plaza opposite Israel's Defense Ministry that has served as a gathering point for the campaigners. More than 100 hostages were released during a temporary truce in November, but 132 remain held in Gaza including the remains of about two dozen who died or were killed. They are dying.”Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesThere has been little visible progress toward a new deal to release hostages. In Tel Aviv, many of the protesters were planning to stay out all night.

Persons: “, ”, Ronen Neutra, Omer Neutra, Israel, Osama Hamdan, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Emmanuel Macron, Jacob Lew, Lew, Macron, ” Lew Organizations: Gaza, Defense Ministry, Qatar, International Committee, “ Locations: Tel Aviv, Gaza, Israel, Beirut, Caesarea, U.S

☆ A wider war doesn’t suit Iran, even as it benefits from rising tensions
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Tamara Qiblawi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The strikes risk further fanning the flames of a wider regionaI conflict that neither the US nor the Houthis’ backers in Iran appear to want. Houthi rebels launched a series of attacks on commercial ships and Western military vessels in the Red Sea, a major artery for international trade. Houthi forces seize and board the cargo ship Galaxy Leader in the Red Sea on November 19, 2023. The clashes will also continue to give Tehran leverage, argues IISS’s Momtaz, as evidenced by the strikes in Yemen on Thursday. “They need to restore freedom of navigation and secure international trade in the Red Sea while continuing to make sure that the other fronts don’t escalate into a real war.”

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Israel, ” Biden, ”, Rym Momtaz, Amir Levy, Parsi, Benjamin ) Netanyahu, ” Parsi, Biden, IISS’s Momtaz Organizations: Lebanon CNN, US, United Nations ’, Galaxy, Houthi Media, European Foreign Policy, Security, Quincy Institute Locations: Beirut, Lebanon, Yemen, Red, Iran, Israel, Gaza, Iraq, Syria, Tehran, Saudi Arabia, Houthi, Israeli

The warning came as Yemen’s Houthis vowed retaliation, further raising the prospect of a wider conflict in a region already beset by Israel's war in Gaza. The U.S.-led bombardment came in response to a recent campaign of drone and missile attacks on commercial ships in the vital Red Sea. Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea, saying they were avenging Israel's offensive in Gaza against Hamas. The Houthis’ military spokesman, Brig. Tesla, meanwhile, said it would temporarily halt most production at its German factory because of attacks in the Red Sea.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, ”, Yemen’s Houthis, “, " Biden, Lloyd Austin, Donald Trump Lt, Douglas Sims, Yahya Saree, Nikolas, Iran’s, Hussein, George W, Bush, Friday's, Nasser Kanaani, Vassily Nebenzia, Linda Thomas, Ambassador Barbara Woodward, Thomas, Greenfield, ” ___ Gambrell, Ahmed Al, Haj, Bassem, Jill Lawless, Nasser Karimi, Fatima Hussein, Ellen Knickmeyer, Chris Megerian, Seung Min Kim, Edith M, Lederer Organizations: WASHINGTON, Britain, Associated Press, U.S . Central Command, Navy, White, Camp, U.S . Navy, Republicans, Pentagon, Joint Chiefs of Staff, . Air Forces Central Command, Tomahawk, Foreign Ministry, Brent, Food, U.S, U.S ., United Arab Emirates, . Security, Ambassador, United Nations Locations: Yemen, U.S, Sanaa, Iran, Aden, Gaza . U.S, Houthi, Gen, Red, Gaza, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, United Kingdom, Bani, Abbs, Gulf of Oman, Tehran, Washington, Suez, America, Britain, Houthis, Greenfield, U.K, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Beirut, London, Emmaus , Pennsylvania

☆ Blinken to meet with leaders of Saudi Arabia, UAE with aim to avert larger Middle East war
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-08 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken waves as he boards an aircraft during his departure from Washington to travel to the Middle East, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., January 4, 2024. This is a conflict that could easily metastasize, causing even more insecurity and suffering," Blinken told reporters in Doha after meeting with Qatar's leadership on Sunday. The Middle East trip follows the assassination by drone of deputy Hamas chief Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut, which Hamas has blamed on Israel. Many U.S. officials now fear that the fighting will draw Hezbollah and Lebanon into the war, a shift that could see Iran up its involvement as well. Hezbollah, the most powerful militant and political organization in Lebanon, has been described by analysts as having 10 times the power and military capabilities as Hamas.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, Saleh al Organizations: Joint Base Andrews, United Arab Emirates — U.S, United Arab, Sunday, Hamas, Palestinian, Many U.S Locations: Washington, Israel, Joint Base Andrews , Maryland, U.S, DUBAI, United Arab, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Doha, Arouri, Beirut, Iran, Lebanon, Many

☆ Supreme Court steps into a minefield
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-07 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

“First in war — first in peace — and first in the hearts of his countrymen,” Lee wrote of Washington. Joe Biden is 81, the oldest president ever and one who is struggling with John Adams-level unpopularity. On Friday afternoon the US Supreme Court announced it would hear arguments on the case February 8. Trump responded by accusing Biden of “pathetic fearmongering.”It’s been three years since Trump supporters stormed the Capitol on January 6. The name came from a letter Gordon sent to a friend explaining “how she, as a 350-pound woman, would like to be addressed.”“Just say fat,” Gordon reads from her essay in the film.

Persons: George Washington, Henry “, Harry ” Lee, “, —, ” Lee, ”, John Adams, Adams, Joe Biden, Clay Jones, Donald Trump, George W, Bush, Biden, Trump, ” It’s, Harry Dunn, ” Dunn, Black, Cupp, won’t, Trump Lisa Benson, Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, Mary, DeSantis, Patrick T, Brown, “ Haley, Julian Zelizer, ” Zelizer, John Avlon, ” David Horsey, Laura Belin, Haley, Iowa David Mark, Rob Davidson, Peter Bergen, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Frida Ghitis, Benjamin Netanyahu “, ‘ We’re, ’, Netanyahu, Israel, ” Claudine Gay, Bill Bramhall, Claudine Gay, Jeremi Suri, Gay, ” Suri, Nick Anderson, OpenAI, Seán O’Connor, Mona Lisa ” —, O’Connor, ” “, ” Don’t, Dean Obeidallah, Dave Chappelle, J, Barber, Will Leitch, Sophia A, Nelson, Hollywood William Wallace, Tess Taylor, Jill Filipovic, Keir Giles, Aubrey Gordon, Sara Stewart, Gordon, Jeanie Finlay, ” Gordon, incredulously, ” Stewart Organizations: CNN, Washington, Supreme Court, Continental Army, Trump, Capitol, Capitol Police, Police, Biden, Republicans, New, GOP, Florida Gov, Twitter, Agency, ISIS, Hamas, New York Times, University of Texas, Ivy League, “, Harvard, MIT, University of Pennsylvania, Tribune, Microsoft Corp, West Locations: Washington, Florida, Valley Forge , Pennsylvania, Maryland, Iowa, New Hampshire, America, Beirut, Israel, Lebanese, Iran, Red, Sarajevo, Bergen, Gaza, Austin, Tokyo, Hollywood

☆ Oil prices could spike 20%, possibly double if Middle East conflict disrupts Strait of Hormuz
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-06 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Shipping can be rerouted away from the Red Sea, but crude would be essentially trapped if the strait is shut down, Struyven said. A prolonged disruption in the strait could eventually double oil prices, he said. McNally thinks the market should be factoring in a $12 geopolitical risk premium in oil prices right now. Wirth told CNBC's Sullivan that Chevron is currently working with the U.S. Navy to protect its vessels transiting the Red Sea. "Hopefully, if it doesn't escalate further, we'll be OK — even if there has to be a wholesale diversion of shipments around the Red Sea," Granholm said.

Persons: you've, Daan Struyven, Goldman Sachs, CNBC's Brian Sullivan, Struyven, Bob McNally, McNally, Bush, Antony Blinken, Daniel Yergin, Yergin, Michael Wirth, Tehran's, Wirth, CNBC's Sullivan, Joe Biden's, Jennifer Granholm, Granholm, Israel, Benny Gantz, Gantz, Biden's, Bob Yawger, Yawger, Brent Organizations: Shipping, Rapidan Energy Group, National Security Council, P Global, Brent, Chevron, U.S . Navy, NBC News . Energy, Mizuho, Energy Information Agency, Gulf Locations: Red, Iran, Hormuz, Persian, Israel, Strait, Yemen, Danish, U.S, Lebanon, Beirut, Lebanese, Islamic Republic, The U.S, Europe, South Africa, United States, East

☆ These Middle East flashpoints could trigger regional conflict that impacts oil prices
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-03 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

There are several key flashpoints where the Israel-Hamas war could escalate into a regional conflict that has a material impact on oil, according to the firm. Those flashpoints are the Red Sea, Lebanon and Iraq, analyst Helima Croft wrote in a note to clients this week. Crude prices fell Tuesday despite renewed attacks by Houthi militants in the Red Sea over the weekend. Maersk stopped shipping through the Red Sea again and is rerouting vessels around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. Some 12% of global trade and about 3 million barrels of crude oil pass through the Red Sea per day, according to RBC Capital Markets.

Persons: Helima Croft, Croft, Adi Imsirovic, Imsirovic, Steven Schoenfeld, Schoenfeld, Goldman Sachs, Tehran's Houthi, Donald Trump ratcheted, Biden, Benny Gantz, Israel, Saleh al, Joe Biden, Trump, Qasem Soleimani Organizations: RBC Capital Markets, Maersk, West Texas Intermediate, CNBC, Tuesday, Traders, Investors, Center for Strategic, International Studies, U.S, Prosperity, U.S . Navy, U.S . Central Command, JPMorgan, Israel Defense Forces, Three U.S, Washington Locations: Israel, Sea, Lebanon, Iraq, Red, Danish, Libya, Russia, Ukraine, Iran, U.S, Yemen, The U.S, Mandeb, Aden, Britain, Hangzhou, South Africa, Suez, Asia, Europe, Hormuz, Islamic Republic, Tehran, Beirut, Croft, Erbil, Three

☆ Killing of senior Hamas leader in Lebanon stokes fears of Gaza war spreading beyond enclave
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-03 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The destroyed Hamas' office that was attacked by Israel on 02 January killing Palestinian leader Saleh al-Arouri and six others pictured from shattered glass in Beirut southern suburb. The killing of senior Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri in Lebanon's capital of Beirut has sparked fears that the war in Gaza could spread beyond the Palestinian enclave. Lebanon has claimed Israel is responsible for the blast and accused Israel of trying to drag Beirut into a regional war. Israel has not claimed responsibility for the strike, while an advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described it as a "surgical" hit on Hamas, rather than an attack on Lebanon. A spokesperson for Israel's military has said it was "highly prepared for any scenario" after the assassination of al-Arouri.

Persons: Saleh al, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Sanam Vakil, Vakil, CNBC's Organizations: Chatham House Locations: Israel, Beirut, Lebanon's, Gaza, Al, Lebanon, East, North Africa, British

Israel largely captured the northern half of Gaza in November, and since a week-long truce collapsed on Friday they have swiftly pushed deep into the southern half. The Israeli military said the central road out of Khan Younis to the north "constitutes a battlefield" and was now shut. Desperate Gazans in Khan Younis packed their belongings and headed towards Rafah. U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Washington expected Israel to avoid attacking areas identified as "no-strike" zones in Gaza. Israel accuses Hamas of putting civilians in danger by operating from civilian areas, including in tunnels which can only be destroyed by large bombs.

Persons: Amir Cohen, Stephane Dujarric, Khan Younis, Antonio Guterres, Philippe Lazzarini, Lazzarini, Israel, Gazans, Jake Sullivan, Mohammed Salem, Maayan Lubell, Ari Rabinovich, Emily Rose, Maggie Fick, Andrew Mills, Humeyra Pamuk, Stephen Coates, Rosalba O'Brien, Lincoln Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, United Nations, Islamic, State Department, U.S . National, Street, U.S, Thomson Locations: Israeli, Israel, Palestinian, Israel's, Gaza, Khan, Khan Younis GAZA, United States, Gaza's, Rafah, Washington, U.S, Jerusalem, Beirut, Doha

☆ Gaza families flee again to shrinking, overcrowded pocket of land
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Bassam Masoud | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"We are getting ready to leave Khan Younis, heading to Rafah. But in Rafah, displaced people said their living conditions were horrible. Palestinians fleeing north Gaza walk towards the south, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in the central Gaza Strip, November 9, 2023. Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and kidnapping 240 hostages, according to Israel's tally. More than 15,800 Palestinians have been killed by Israel's military response in Gaza, according to figures from Gaza health officials deemed reliable by the United Nations.

Persons: Khan, KHAN YOUNIS, Khan Younis, Nasser, Abu Omar, Enas Mosleh, Mohammed Salem, Hassan al, Fadi Shana, Saleh, Maggie Fick, Estelle Shirbon, Timothy Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, United Nations, Nasser, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Khan Younis, Rafah, Gaza, Israel, Egypt, Palestinian, Beit Hanoun, Saleh Salem, Beirut

[1/2] Israeli soldiers stand in order, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, near Israel's border with Gaza, in southern Israel, December 4, 2023. The U.S. official spoke after three days of resumed aerial bombardments of southern Gaza left residents pulling the bodies of children and adults from the rubble. But the U.S. official said reducing military support to Israel would carry major risks. On Friday, Israel's military began posting grid-based maps online ordering Palestinians to leave parts of southern Gaza, directing them towards the Mediterranean coast and Rafah, near the Egyptian border. Residents and journalists on the ground said intense Israeli airstrikes hit southern Gaza on Monday, killing and wounding dozens of Palestinians.

Persons: Amir Cohen, Israel's, Biden, Kamala Harris, Antony Blinken, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Ophir Falk, Seth Binder, Binder, Eylon Levy, Jake Sullivan, Omar Shakir, Humeyra Pamuk, Jonathan Saul, Maggie Fick, James Mackenzie, Steve Holland, Don Durfee, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, U.S, Health Ministry, Washington, United, Reuters, Reuters Graphics, East Democracy, Biden, Democratic, Israel, . National, Palestine, Human Rights, Amnesty, Thomson Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Israel's, Gaza, LONDON, BEIRUT, U.S, United States, East, Gaza City, Rafah, Jerusalem, Washington

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