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Attacks The map shows five of the seven sites that the U.S. hit with military strikes in Syria and Iraq. The strikes hit more than 85 targets at different locations using more than 125 precision-guided munitions, according to a statement by U.S. Central Command. Two American officials said the United States also conducted cyberoperations against Iranian targets on Friday but declined to provide details. It is clear from statements from the White House, and from Tehran, that neither the United States nor Iran wants a wider war. Striking sites in the Mideast with aircraft launched from the United States and refueled midair is a muscular show of global reach and capability, the official said.

Persons: Biden, Biden’s, Mr, “, ”, John F, Kirby, Douglas, Sims, Yahya Rasool, That’s, Iran’s, Jordan, Roger Wicker of, William Jerome Rivers, Kennedy Ladon Sanders, Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, Moffett, Sanders, Sergeant Rivers Organizations: Iranian, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Force, U.S . Central Command, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, ”, Jordan . Middle, Revolutionary Guards, National Security Council, White House, Central Command, White, Pentagon, Dyess Air Force Base, U.S, military’s Joint Staff, Air Force, Iraq’s Armed Forces, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps, Revolutionary Guards Corps, Administration, Capitol, Biden, Republican, Armed Services Committee, Dover Air Force Base, Army Reserve Locations: United States, Syria, Iraq, East, Jordan, Iran, U.S, Jordan ., Tehran, Texas, Yemen, Israel, Gen, Roger Wicker of Mississippi, Delaware

☆ US aircraft carriers lead ‘large deck’ exercises with Japan east of Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Seoul, South Korea CNN —A dozen United States and Japanese warships, including two US aircraft carriers, have been putting on a show of military might this week in the Philippine Sea east of Taiwan. The US Navy aircraft carriers USS Carl Vinson and USS Theodore Roosevelt were joined by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter destroyer JS Ise, seven US guided-missile destroyers and two US cruisers for what the Navy calls a Multi-Large Deck Event (MLDE). An F/A-18E Super Hornet takes off from the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson during exercises in the Philippine Sea on Jan. 31. Potential maritime flashpointsThat broad area reaches as far south as islands and reefs in the South China Sea, where Chinese and Philippine vessels have been in recent confrontations. “The coercive pressure campaign against Taiwan continues, and we’re watching it in the wake of the elections,” Aquilino told the Pacific Forum.

Persons: Carl Vinson, Theodore Roosevelt, ”, Carlos Sardiello, Vinson, Collin Koh, ” Koh, Ronald Reagan, Dwight D Eisenhower –, Carl Schuster, ” Schuster, Xi Jinping, John Aquilino, ” Aquilino, “ I’m Organizations: South Korea CNN, United, Analysts, US, US Navy, Japan, Self, Defense Force, Ise, Carrier Strike, Navy, Rajaratnam, of International Studies, CNN, USNI, Pacific Command’s Joint Intelligence Center, East China, Democratic Progressive Party, Communist Party, Clinton, Party, Taiwan, Pacific Command, Pacific Locations: Seoul, South Korea, United States, Philippine, Taiwan, China, U.S, Japan, Pacific, Singapore, Asia, Red, Yemen, Hawaii, South China, East, Senkaku, Beijing, fmr

☆ Iran Tries to Avoid War With U.S. After Stoking Mideast Conflicts
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Farnaz Fassihi | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council held an emergency meeting this week, deeply worried that the United States would retaliate after an Iran-aligned militia in Iraq killed three American soldiers and wounded more than 40 others in Jordan. The council, including the president, foreign minister, chiefs of the armed forces and two aides to the country’s supreme leader, debated how to respond to a range of possibilities, from a U.S. attack on Iran, itself, to strikes against the proxy militias that Iran backs in the region, according to three Iranians with knowledge of the council’s deliberations who were not authorized to speak publicly. They relayed the plans developed at the Monday meeting to the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the people familiar with the discussion said, and he responded with clear orders: avoid a direct war with the United States and distance Iran from the actions of proxies who had killed Americans — but prepare to hit back if the United States struck Iran.

Persons: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Organizations: Iran’s, National Security Council Locations: United States, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, U.S

☆ Widening Mideast Crisis Militia Blamed for Attack on U.S. Forces Says It Will Halt Military Activity
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Alissa J. Rubin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

His comment raised fears in Iraq about a possibly retaliatory U.S. attack on its territory. The militia, Kata’ib Hezbollah, or Brigades of the Party of God, is the largest and most established of the Iran-linked groups operating in Iraq. (Kata’ib Hezbollah is separate from the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.) The other two Iraqi groups that are believed to have been involved in strikes U.S. targets — Harakat al Nujaba and Sayyid Shuhada — have not announced they will halt attacks. Kata’ib Hezbollah and other groups had ignored the Iraqi government’s request to stand down, but once the attack in Jordan on Sunday took American lives, Mr. Sudani demanded a complete halt from Kata’ib Hezbollah.

Persons: Biden, Israel, —, Nujaba, Sayyid Shuhada —, Kata’ib, Abu Hussein al, “, Pat Ryder, ”, Mohammed Shia, Sudani, Hisham al, Sudani’s, Nuri al, Qais, Hadi, Esmail Qaani, Falih Hassan, Farnaz, Eric Schmitt Organizations: Pentagon, Hezbollah, Party of, Iraqi Army, Kurdish Syrian Defense, Islamic, Kata’ib Hezbollah, Defense Department, U.S, Sunday, Revolutionary Guards, Maliki, Quds Force Locations: Iran, Iraq, U.S, Jordan, Syria, Gaza, The U.S, Islamic State, Lebanon, Yemen, Islamic Republic of Iran, United States, Iraqi, Baghdad, New York, Washington ,

Israel's military said Wednesday that its forces killed more than 15 Hamas militants in northern Gaza over the past day and targeted militant infrastructure in a school. The latest deaths bring the Palestinian death toll from Israel’s offensive to 26,900, according to the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry. Here's the latest:150 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN GAZA IN THE PAST 24 HOURS, HEALTH MINISTRY SAYSRAFAH, Gaza Strip — Gaza’s Health Ministry says 150 people have been killed in the last 24 hours and another 313 were wounded. The nearly four-month war began with Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack in Israel, in which Palestinian militants killed about 1,200 people and abducted another 250. The military said Wednesday that its forces killed more than 15 Hamas militants in northern Gaza over the past day and targeted militant infrastructure in a school.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, ‘, Biden, Jordan, — Biden, he’s, —, Khan Younis, “, Joe Biden’s, Jordan that’s, Yemen’s Houthi, U.N, Israel ”, Antonio Guterres, Houthi, Josep Borrell, Borrell, Arleigh Burke, Yahya Saree, ” Saree Organizations: Gaza’s Health Ministry, Gaza, Health Ministry, West Bank, MINISTRY, AS BIDEN, U.S . Navy, UN, GENEVA, UNRWA, Israel, World Health Organization, UNICEF, International Organization for Migration, Food, U.S . State Department, EU AIMS, The European Union, ’, SEA, U.S . military’s, Command Locations: Gaza, Israel, Iran, EU, Jordan, israel, GAZA, RAFAH, Hama, Gaza City, Khan, IRAN, JERUSALEM, Islamic Republic, Tehran, The U.S, Syria, Red, U.S, United States, ”, U.N, BRUSSELS, Yemen, Belgium, Germany, Iranian, British

Top US Diplomat Set to Return to the Mideast for 5th Time Since Gaza Conflict BeganSecretary of State Antony Blinken will return to the Middle East later this week on his fifth urgent diplomatic mission to the region since Israel's war with Hamas began in October

Persons: Antony Blinken Organizations: Mideast, Hamas Locations: Gaza

JERUSALEM (AP) — A U.S. Navy destroyer in the Red Sea shot down an anti-ship cruise missile launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels, the latest attack targeting American forces patrolling the key maritime route, officials said Wednesday. The attack late Tuesday night targeted the USS Gravely, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, the U.S. military's Central Command said in a statement. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesThe Houthis claimed without evidence on Monday to have targeted the USS Lewis B. Puller, a floating landing base used by the Navy SEALs and others. Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea over Israel’s offensive against Hamas in Gaza. The Houthis hit a commercial vessel with a missile on Friday, sparking a fire that burned for hours.

Persons: Yemen's Houthi, Arleigh Burke, Yahya Saree, ” Saree, Houthi, Lewis B, Puller Organizations: JERUSALEM, —, U.S . Navy, U.S . military's, Command, Navy, Hamas Locations: U.S, British, Red, Gaza, Israel, Asia, Europe

Nearly half the hostages were released during a weeklong November cease-fire in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners. In December, Israeli forces mistakenly killed three hostages who had escaped and were waving a white flag. HAMAS WANTS THE WAR TO ENDHamas has refused to release more hostages until Israel ends its offensive and withdraws from Gaza. The group's top political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, said Tuesday that its priority is the “full withdrawal” of Israeli forces from Gaza. These include high-profile militants involved in attacks that killed Israeli civilians.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, —, Israel, ISRAEL'S NETANYAHU, Netanyahu, “, Ismail Haniyeh, Biden Organizations: Health Ministry, Hamas, West Bank, Gaza, —, Democratic, Palestinian Authority Locations: Gaza, Israel, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, U.S, United States, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Palestinian

The Palestinian Health Ministry said Israeli forces opened fire inside the wards of the Ibn Sina Hospital in the town of Jenin. Most were killed in confrontations with Israeli forces during arrest raids or violent protests. The Israeli military says it has arrested nearly 3,000 Palestinians in the West Bank over the past four months. The military said Tuesday that forces killed Mohammed Jalamneh, 27, who it said was planning an imminent attack. Hospital spokesperson Tawfiq al-Shobaki said there was no exchange of fire and the three were killed by Israeli forces in a targeted killing.

Persons: Ibn, Mohammed Jalamneh, Basel, Mohammed Ghazawi, Jalamneh, Tawfiq, Shobaki, ”, Basel Ghazawi, Israel, Osama Hamdan, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, ___ Lidman Organizations: West Bank, —, Palestinian Health Ministry, Ibn Sina, Muslim, Israel, Health Ministry, Hamas, United Nations, Basel, hemiplegia, Palestinian Authority, Gaza, Atlantic Council, Palestinian Locations: JENIN, West, Gaza, Jenin, Israel, Jerusalem, Egypt, Qatar, United States, Beirut, Washington, Gaza City, israel

☆ Widening Mideast Crisis Qatar Is Expected to Present Hamas With Deal for Pause in Fighting
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Edward Wong | Julian E. Barnes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

Qatar is presenting the proposal to the political leaders of Hamas, who would convey it to the group’s military leaders, who would then send a response. During a seven-day pause in November, many people in those categories were among more than 100 hostages released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Hamas and other men from Gaza took about 240 people hostage in the terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, which also resulted in about 1,200 deaths, Israeli officials said. Hamas has tried to steer any diplomacy toward discussion of a permanent cease-fire, but Israeli leaders have balked at that. The Israeli officials were expected to speak to leaders in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv about the framework after returning there from Paris.

Persons: Antony J, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim, William J, Burns, Shin, Blinken, “, ” Sheikh Mohammed, Biden, Michael Crowley Organizations: Hamas, Central Intelligence Agency, Atlantic Council, New York Times, Palestinian Authority, West Bank, Israel Locations: Qatar, Thani, Washington ., Gaza, Israel, United States, Paris, Egypt, Shin Bet, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Washington, Palestinian, Saudi Arabia, Saudi

☆ Widening Mideast Crisis Mix-Up Preceded Deadly Drone Strike in Jordan, U.S. Officials Say
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Eric Schmitt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Air defenses failed to stop a deadly attack on a U.S. military outpost in Jordan on Sunday because the hostile drone homed in on its target at the same time an American drone was returning to the base, two U.S. officials said Monday. The attack on Sunday killed three U.S. service members, the first known American military fatalities from hostile fire in the turmoil spilling over from Israel’s war with Hamas. At least 34 others were injured in the strike, which Biden administration officials say used a drone launched by an Iran-backed militia in Iraq. The one-way attack drone hit near the outpost’s living quarters, causing injuries that ranged from minor cuts to brain trauma, a U.S. military official said. It serves as a logistics and resupply hub for the Al Tanf garrison nearby in southeastern Syria, where American troops work with local Syrian partners to fight remnants of the Islamic State.

Persons: Biden, Lloyd J, Austin III, ” Mr, Austin, Jens Stoltenberg, “, Al Organizations: Sunday, Street, Hamas, Senior U.S, ., Defense, Pentagon, U.S, Army, Air Force Locations: Jordan, American, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Israel, Gaza, U.S, Germany, Al Tanf, Islamic State

☆ Widening Mideast Crisis U.S. Blames Iran-Backed Militia for Deaths of 3 Soldiers in Jordan
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Eric Schmitt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

The attack happened at a remote logistics outpost in northeast Jordan called Tower 22 where the borders of Syria, Iraq and Jordan converge. The Pentagon declined to identify the service members who died or their units pending notification of family members. Central Command said it expected the number of injured to “fluctuate” as additional service members sought treatment. It was the latest in at least 164 strikes by Iran-backed militias against U.S. troops in Syria, Iraq and Jordan since the Oct. 7 attacks. It turned out to be a dud, but several service members would most likely have been injured or killed had it exploded, a senior military official said.

Persons: Biden, —, Mr, “, ”, Lloyd J, Austin III, ” Mr, Austin, Yemen —, Gen, Charles Q, Brown Jr, General Brown, Al, Charles Lister, Jordan, Al Tanf, Syria’s, Roger Wicker of Organizations: U.S, Hamas, ”, Pentagon, Command, Central Command, Resistance, Hezbollah, Joint Chiefs of Staff, ABC, Navy, Sunday, Army, Air Force, United, Operations, Middle East Institute, American, Troops, The Defense Department, Al Asad, Al Asad Air Base, Congressional Republicans, Republican, Armed Services Committee Locations: Jordan, Iran, Syria, Iraq, U.S, Israel, Columbia, United States, Lebanese, Yemen, Aden, Gaza, Erbil, Red, Al Tanf, Islamic State, Azraq, Washington, Jordanian, Baghdad, Damascus, Tehran, Lebanon, Al, Al Asad Air, Roger Wicker of Mississippi

☆ Widening Mideast Crisis Drone Strike Kills 3 U.S. Soldiers in Jordan, White House Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Eric Schmitt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

The allegation, made by Israel, is a serious blow to the reputation of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, generally known as UNRWA. The agency looms especially large in Gaza, where most of the population of more than two million people are registered as refugees. “Behind the scenes Israel has often favored UNRWA’s work,” said Anne Irfan, an expert on Palestinian refugee rights at University College London. Many settled in refugee camps that the agency helped create, which have since become built-up, mostly impoverished urban areas. Palestinians are the only refugee group whose support is not handled under the global mandate of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Persons: Here’s, —, “, ” Hector Sharp, Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, Ahron Bregman, Israel, Anne Irfan, Megan Specia, Ben Hubbard Organizations: United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, Israel, United Nations, UNRWA, West Bank, Palestinian Authority, Department, King’s College London, University College London, Refugees, European Union Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Israel, United States, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria

☆ Widening Mideast Crisis U.N. Aid Agency in Gaza Says Suspensions in Funding Threaten Crucial Humanitarian Work
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( Victoria Kim | Aaron Boxerman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +7 min

News AnalysisThe judges at the International Court of Justice in The Hague on Friday. A ruling on Friday by the International Court of Justice on charges of genocide against Israel had deep historical resonance for both Israelis and Palestinians. It was a topic that appeared to preoccupy the sole Israeli judge, Aharon Barak, among the 17 assessing the case on the World Court. He was among the 17 judges assessing the case on the World Court. “It talks like genocide & walks like genocide,” Muhammad Shehada, a rights activist from Gaza, wrote on social media.

Persons: ” Alon Pinkas, —, ”, Hanan Ashrawi, Hamas’s, Yoav Gallant, Gallant, “, Janina Dill, Dill, Khan Younis, Israel, Aharon Barak, Barak, ” Mr, Avishag Shaar, Israel “, ” Muhammad Shehada, Rawan Sheikh Ahmad, Johnatan Reiss Organizations: International Court of Justice, International Court, Palestinian, ., Agence France, United Nations, Israel, Oxford University, Court, Credit, Yashuv, The New York Times, Gazan Health Ministry Locations: The Hague, Israel, Gaza, South Africa, “, Israeli, Rafah, Lithuania, Tel Aviv, ”, Haifa

In the first phase, fighting would stop to allow for the remaining women, elderly and wounded hostages to be released by Hamas. Netanyahu has faced increasing pressure from the families of many hostages who are demanding a deal to win their loved ones’ release. The Oct. 7 attack killed some 1,200 people in Israel, and Hamas and other militants abducted around 250 people. Around 100 hostages were freed under a weeklong cease-fire deal in November in exchange for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Hamas has said it will free more captives only in exchange for an end to the war and the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners.

Persons: Bill Burns, David Barnea, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Abbas Kamel, Joe Biden, Abdel Fattah el, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al, “, ” Burns, Brett McGurk, Burns, Biden, McGurk, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, ___ Miller Organizations: WASHINGTON, — U.S, New York Times, Qatari, White, Israel Locations: Israel, Gaza, U.S, France, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Thani, Columbia , South Carolina

☆ Widening Mideast Crisis U.N.’s Highest Court Expected to Rule on Israel’s War in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Matthew Mpoke Bigg | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

Protesters gathering outside the International Court of Justice in The Hague this month. The International Court of Justice is set to rule on Friday on South Africa’s demand that Israel immediately suspend its military offensive in Gaza. Decisions by the court, the United Nations’ top judicial body, are binding, but the court has few means of enforcement. Still, a ruling against Israel would add to international pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government over the war. Image The judges of the International Court of Justice before the hearing of the genocide case against Israel in The Hague this month.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Israel, ”, Remko De, Yoav Gallant, Avishag Shaar, Khan Younis, Fatima Shbair Organizations: International Court of Justice, Court of Justice, United Nations, Israel, South, Shutterstock South, Yashuv, The New York Times, Hamas, ., Associated Press, . Security, West Bank Locations: The Hague, Israel, Gaza, Remko De Waal, Shutterstock, Shutterstock South Africa, Rafah, United States

JERUSALEM (AP) — Two missiles apparently targeting a ship off Yemen exploded Friday, though they caused no damage or injuries, the British military said. The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Operations, which oversees Mideast waterways, said the attack happened southwest of the Yemeni city of Aden, in the Gulf of Aden. No group immediately claimed responsibility. Suspicion immediately fell on Yemen’s Houthi rebels amid their campaign targeting shipping over Israel’s ongoing war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Persons: Suspicion, Yemen’s Organizations: JERUSALEM, United, Maritime Operations, Associated Press Locations: Yemen, British, Yemeni, Aden, Gulf, Gaza

U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Biden spoke with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and Qatar's ruling emir, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani. The meeting will focus on the release of hostages in exchange for a pause in hostilities. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesThe CIA and the White House National Security Council declined to comment on the meeting. Some 1,200 people were killed and Hamas and other militants abducted around 250 people during their Oct. 7 rampage in southern Israel. Around 100 hostages were freed under a weeklong cease-fire deal in November in exchange for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

Persons: Joe Biden, John Kirby, Biden, Abdel Fattah el, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al, ” Kirby, Bill Burns, David Barnea, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Abbas Kamel, Burns, Brett McGurk, McGurk, Antony Blinken Organizations: WASHINGTON, Qatari, Gaza . U.S . National Security, CIA, U.S, White House National Security, White House Locations: Israel, Gaza . U.S, Thani, Europe, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Gaza

☆ Widening Mideast Crisis Families of Israeli Hostages Plan Protest at Border Crossing Used for Aid to Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Victoria Kim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

Egypt, which borders the Gaza Strip, has also played a key role. Another key negotiating track involves the future of the Gaza Strip after the guns fall silent. Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007, expelling the rival Fatah party, which dominates the Palestinian Authority. Mr. Netanyahu has largely ruled out the return of the Palestinian Authority to ruling Gaza, at least in its present form. Complicating matters further, the Palestinian Authority, led by Mahmoud Abbas, faces severe internal challenges.

Persons: Brett McGurk, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s, Husam, Netanyahu, “, Mahmoud Abbas, Abbas Organizations: Wednesday, White, Gaza, Hamas, Biden, Palestinian Authority, West Bank, Fatah Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, Gaza, Qatar, Europe, Egypt, Western, U.S, Palestinian, Palestine

☆ Widening Mideast Crisis U.S. Strikes 3 Sites in Iraq After Attack on Base
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Eric Schmitt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

One of Israel’s war goals is to create conditions that will persuade Israeli evacuees that it is safe to return home. John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, repeated that objection on Tuesday, when asked at a White House news briefing about Israel’s moves to create a buffer zone. The majority of Gaza’s buildings have been damaged during the war, according to United Nations estimates, and more than 25,000 Gazans have been killed, according to Gazan officials. Israeli ministers have also hinted of plans to create such a buffer zone since the first weeks of the war. “No matter who you are, you will never be able to come close to the Israeli border,” Mr. Dichter said.

Persons: Israel, Gazan, Daniel Hagari, John Kirby, ” Mr, Kirby, Antony J, Mr, Blinken, we’ve, Balakrishnan Rajagopal, Rajagopal, “, Eli Cohen, Avi Dichter, Dichter, Gabby Sobelman, Rawan Sheikh Ahmad, Erica L, Green, Michael Crowley Organizations: State Department, National Security Council, White House, United Nations, Reuters Locations: Gaza, Israel, U.S, Nigeria, United States, ”, Palestinian, Geneva, “ Israel

☆ Widening Mideast Crisis Israel Says 2 Dozen Soldiers Killed as Pressure Grows on Netanyahu
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Adam Rasgon | Victoria Kim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

Those missiles were hit before they could be fired at ships in the Red Sea or the Gulf of Aden. That changed quickly after the Hamas attacks in Israel on Oct. 7, and the Houthi attacks on commercial ships a month later. U.S. analysts have been rushing to catalog more potential Houthi targets every day, the officials said. That effort yielded many of the targets hit on Jan. 11 and on Monday, officials said. Many Republicans in Congress and some former senior U.S. military officials say the approach is not working.

Persons: Biden, Poseidon Archer, Yahya Sarea, Mr, “, ”, Jon, ” Gen, Kenneth F, McKenzie Jr, ” Vivian Nereim Organizations: Houthi, British, American, Ocean Jazz, White House, Pentagon, U.S, ABC, Republicans, ”, military’s, Command Locations: United States, Britain, Yemen, Iran, Aden, East, Netherlands, Australia, Canada, Bahrain, U.S, Suez, Gaza, American, Gulf, Red, Israel, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

JERUSALEM (AP) — Saudi Arabia's foreign minister says the kingdom will not normalize relations with Israel or contribute to Gaza's reconstruction without a credible pathway to a Palestinian state. Prince Faisal bin Farhan's remarks in an interview with CNN broadcast late Sunday were some of the most direct yet from Saudi officials. It puts them at odds with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has rejected Palestinian statehood and described plans for open-ended military control over Gaza. In September, Netanyahu had said Israel was “at the cusp” of such a deal, which he said would transform the Middle East. Israel has only successfully rescued one hostage, while Hamas says several have been killed in Israeli airstrikes or during failed rescue operations.

Persons: Prince Faisal bin Farhan's, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Israel, “ CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, ”, ” Prince Faisal, “, Prince Faisal, we’re, NETANYAHU, —, ___ Shurafa Organizations: JERUSALEM, CNN, Israeli, Palestinian, West Bank, Hamas, Health Ministry Locations: Saudi, Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, United States, U.S, Saudi Arabia, Jerusalem, GAZA, U.N, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Deir, israel

☆ Widening Mideast Crisis Israel to Make Case for War Before E.U. Amid Growing Criticism
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Peter Baker | Adam Rasgon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

“My insistence is what has prevented — over the years — the establishment of a Palestinian state that would have constituted an existential danger to Israel,” Mr. Netanyahu said in a statement in Hebrew on Sunday. While there was no indication that Mr. Netanyahu would ease his strenuous opposition, which is popular with his fragile right-wing political coalition, Mr. Biden had expressed optimism that they might yet find consensus. President Biden and his top diplomat, Antony J. Blinken, have urged Israeli officials to move toward the eventual establishment of a Palestinian state. Mr. Netanyahu has rejected the idea of the authority returning to the enclave. Analysts pointed out that Mr. Netanyahu’s willingness to undermine his American counterpart was becoming routine.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Biden, “, —, ” Mr, Netanyahu, Mr, Netanyahu’s, ”, Grant Shapps, Shapps, ” António Guterres, Guterres, Antony J, Bezalel Smotrich, Itamar Ben, Gvir, ” Khaled Elgindy, Peter Baker Organizations: Mr, White House, Sky News, ” Palestinian Authority, West Bank, American, Middle East Institute Locations: Palestinian, Gaza, Israel, ”, Washington

JERUSALEM (AP) — Iran is “very directly involved” in ship attacks that Yemen's Houthi rebels have carried out during Israel's war against Hamas, the U.S. Navy's top Mideast commander told The Associated Press on Monday. The tempo of Houthi attacks on shipping appears to have slowed for the time being as the U.S. and its allies have increased their naval patrols in the region. A series of attacks blamed on Iran and ship seizures by Tehran followed the collapse of Iran's nuclear deal with world powers. However, Cooper maintained Iran had been directly fueling the Houthi attacks on shipping. There’s no secret there.”Cooper described the ship attacks striking the Mideast as the worst since the so-called Tanker War of the 1980s.

Persons: Yemen's, Adm, Brad Cooper, Cooper, ”, Houthi, that's, Israel —, they’re resourcing, ” Cooper, George Wikoff Organizations: JERUSALEM, Hamas, Associated Press, AP, United Nations, U.S ., Fleet, United, United Arab Emirates, 5th Fleet, Navy, military's, Command Locations: Iran, U.S, Tehran, Aden, Persian, Hormuz, Yemen's, Sanaa, Iranian, Suez, Asia, Europe, Saudi, Israel, Africa's, Egypt, Gulf, Gaza, Washington, America, American, Yemen, Abu Dhabi, United Arab, Bahrain

☆ Oil prices steady as investors weigh Libya oilfield restart, Mideast tensions
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A Repsol Oil Operations oil drilling rig pounds into the desert searching through thousands of feet for and oil reserve in El-Sharara, Libya. Oil prices were little changed on Monday as the market weighed the reopening of a key oilfield in Libya against ongoing tensions in the Middle East. Libya's National Oil Corporation resumed full production at the Sharara oilfield on Sunday after protests shut down output for two weeks. "The sentiment is sourer this morning because the force majeure on Libya's Sharara oil field has been lifted," Tamas Varga with PVM Oil Associates wrote in a note. OPEC, on the other hand, has presented a stronger outlook with oil demand forecast to grow by 2.2 million barrels per day, while production outside OPEC will grow by 1.3 million barrels per day.

Persons: Brent, Tamas Varga Organizations: Operations, The West Texas Intermediate, National Oil Corporation, PVM Oil Associates, U.S, U.S . Central Command, Houthi, International Energy Agency Locations: El, Sharara, Libya, The, Iran, Iraq, U.S, Syria, Gaza

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