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☆ Rockets attack targets Iraqi base housing U.S. forces - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

ANBAR, Iraq, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Two rockets landed inside Iraq's Ain al-Asad air base, which hosts U.S. and other international forces west of Baghdad, two security sources told Reuters on Tuesday. One of the sources said the rockets were big, and the rocket launcher was found about 50 km southeast of the base. Ain al-Asad air base is located in the western Anbar province. Reporting by Kamal Ayash; Writing by Amina Ismail; Editing by Alison WilliamsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Asad, Kamal Ayash, Amina Ismail, Alison Williams Organizations: Reuters, Thomson Locations: ANBAR, Iraq, Iraq's Ain, Baghdad, Ain, Anbar

☆ US military advisers invoke lessons of Iraq in urging Israelis to avoid all-out ground assault in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Natasha Bertrand Oren Liebermann Mj Lee Katie Bo Lillis | Natasha Bertrand | Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“I don’t think Israel has a strategy for what they do next” in terms of executing a full-blown ground invasion, one source familiar with concerns within the Biden administration said. President Joe Biden greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Ben Gurion International Airport, Oct. 18, 2023, in Tel Aviv. “We stand before the next stage, it is coming,” Netanyahu told the Israel Defence Forces’ Yahalom unit on Tuesday, according to a press release from Netanyahu’s office. “We will not stop until we complete it, with your help.”Military to military channelsIn 2014, Netanyahu set out to debilitate Hamas with the last ground invasion into Gaza. Despite numerous rounds of escalation and conflict with Gaza, Israel hasn’t attempted another incursion since.

Persons: Biden, James Glynn, Israel, Joe Biden, Bill Burns, Benjamin Netanyahu, Evan Vucci, Netanyahu, enflamed, ” Netanyahu, “, ”, Israel hasn’t, Alexi J . Rosenfeld, Matthew Miller, “ We’ve, Defense Lloyd Austin, Yoav Gallant, ” Gallant, Emmanuel Macron, ” Macron, Obama, Gilad Erdan Organizations: Washington CNN — American, CNN, Israel Defense Forces, ISIS, Marine Corps, Marine Forces Special Operations Command, CIA, NATO, Israeli, Ben Gurion International Airport, Israel Defence Forces ’, ”, Pentagon, Defense, International Coalition Locations: Iraq, Gaza, Israel, Fallujah, US, Mosul, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, United Kingdom, Tel Aviv, United States, Western, Palestinian

Acquire Licensing RightsVILNIUS, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Estonia has contacted Chinese authorities as part of its investigation into how two Baltic Sea telecom cables were severed, the Estonian foreign ministry said on Monday. Early on Oct. 8, a gas pipeline and a telecoms cable connecting Finland and Estonia under the Baltic Sea were broken, in what Finnish investigators say may have been deliberate sabotage. The incidents have stoked concerns about energy security in the wider Nordic region, prompted NATO to increase patrols in the Baltic Sea and Helsinki to contact Moscow and Beijing via diplomatic channels about the incidents. Earlier on on Monday China called for an "objective, fair and professional" investigation into the gas pipeline damage. Any threats against Russia were "unacceptable", he said in response to Latvian President's Edgars Rinkevics call for NATO to shut the Baltic Sea to shipping if Moscow were found responsible.

Persons: Dmitry Peskov, Andrius Sytas, Terje Solsvik, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Navy, REUTERS, Rights, Baltic, Reuters, NATO, China, Thomson Locations: Gulf of Finland, Rights VILNIUS, Estonia, Estonian, Finland, Baltic, Sweden, Hong, Kong, Russia, MarineTraffic, Helsinki, Moscow, Beijing, Tallinn, Latvian, Latvia

☆ An Australian billionaire said Trump called him to say, 'I just bombed Iraq today': report
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Pratt revealed in a secret recording that Trump often shared sensitive information with him. AdvertisementAdvertisementPratt added that Trump also shared information about a private call with then-Iraqi President Barham Salih after the strikes. And the President of Iraq called me up and said, 'You just leveled my city,''" Pratt recalled Trump saying. According to Pratt, Trump responded to Salih, "OK what are you going to do about it?" The recording doesn't disclose which military operation in Iraq Trump and Pratt discussed.

Persons: Anthony Pratt, Donald Trump, Pratt, Trump, —, Barham Salih, Salih, Iraq Trump, John Bolton, Bolton, Jack Smith's, he's Organizations: Service, Visy Industries, Trump, Lago, Sydney Morning Herald, Hezbollah, Justice Department, Federal, ABC News Locations: Iraq, Syria, Russian

Biden administration officials insisted that the United States had not told Israel what to do and still supported the ground invasion. General Glynn, the official said, would not be on the ground in Israel if an incursion into Gaza begins. But on Sunday, a diplomat from the Israeli Embassy denied that the U.S. government was advising the Israelis to delay the ground invasion. In conversations with Israeli officials since the Hamas attacks on Oct. 7, American officials said they have not yet seen an achievable plan of action. Like U.S. officials, Mr. Reed said he also still supports the ground invasion to destroy Hamas.

Persons: Biden, Yoav Gallant, Lloyd J, Austin III, James Glynn, General Glynn, Axios, Gallant, Austin, “, Mr, ” Mr, Patrick S, Ryder, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, we’ve, Michael Knights, Knights, Jack Reed, Reed, ”, Michael Crowley Organizations: Israel Defense Forces, Biden, Pentagon, Israel, Embassy, Islamic, United States Central Command, ABC, American Marines, Associated Press, Islamic State, State, The Washington Institute, Hamas, Rhode Island Democrat, Armed Services Committee Locations: Israel, Gaza, United States, Washington, U.S, Mosul, Iraqi, Tel Aviv, Kurdish, Mosul —, British, Falluja, Iraq, Raqqa, Cairo, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, “, State

☆ 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

☆ Reports: Trump told Mar-a-Lago member about calls with foreign leaders
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Washington CNN —Mar-a-Lago member and Australian billionaire Anthony Pratt said then-President Donald Trump told him about his private calls with the leaders of Ukraine and Iraq, according to reports published Sunday about private recordings of Pratt, a key prosecution witness in Trump’s classified documents case. In the tapes, Pratt says Trump shared insider details about his phone calls with world leaders during his presidency. Past reports from ABC News said Trump discussed potentially sensitive information with Pratt about US nuclear submarines. According to Pratt, Trump said, “The president of Iraq called me up and said, ‘You just leveled my city. “That was nothing compared to what I usually do,” Trump told Pratt about the Zelensky call, according to the tape.

Persons: Washington CNN —, Anthony Pratt, Donald Trump, Pratt, ”, Trump, Jack Smith, ‘, ’ ” Pratt, Barham Salih, “, Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, Joe Biden, Trump’s, ” Trump, ” Pratt Organizations: Washington CNN, The New York Times, CNN, Trump, Mar, ABC News, New York Times Locations: Ukraine, Iraq, Lago, Florida, …, Australia

Palestinian media reported at least 11 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli strike in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, and that Israel was striking the southern city of Rafah. We will continue to attack in the area of Gaza City and increase attacks," Hagari told Israeli reporters on Saturday. Israel started its "total siege" of Gaza after an Oct. 7 cross-border attack on southern Israel by militants of the Islamist movement Hamas killed 1,400 people, mainly civilians, in a shock rampage that has traumatised Israel. [1/5]An Israeli soldier secures an area, following a deadly infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in Kibbutz Kissufim in southern Israel October 21, 2023. At least 84 Palestinians in the West Bank have been killed in clashes with Israeli forces since the Hamas rampage, Palestinian officials say.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Biden, Israel, Khan Younis, Daniel Hagari, Hagari, Joe, Washington, Amir Cohen, Rights Biden, General Herzi Halevi, Antony Blinken, Najib Mikati, Nidal al, Michelle Nichols, Phil Stewart, Lincoln, Daniel Wallis, William Mallard Organizations: US, Defense, Al, Gaza's Health, Area Defense, Drones, FIRST, Gaza, United Nations, Palestinian, REUTERS, Rights, United, Security, Canada's National Department of Defence, Canadian Forces Intelligence Command, Health Ministry, State Department, West Bank, Thomson Locations: U.S, Iran, Canada, Ahli, Gaza, GAZA, JERUSALEM, Israel, Washington, Khan, Rafah, Gaza City, Iraq, East, Israeli, Kibbutz Kissufim, United States, France, Tel Aviv, Lebanon, Jenin, New York, Jerusalem

[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

The Biden administration has advised Israel to delay a ground invasion of Gaza, hoping to buy time for hostage negotiations and to allow more humanitarian aid to reach Palestinians in the sealed-off enclave, according to several U.S. officials. American officials also want more time to prepare for attacks on U.S. interests in the region from Iran-backed groups, which officials said are likely to intensify once Israel moves its forces fully into Gaza. Mr. Biden also spoke to the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Britain. When Mr. Biden met with the Israeli war cabinet during his trip to Tel Aviv last week, he avoided making requests of Mr. Netanyahu, officials said. Instead, the president offered a series of questions that should be answered before a ground invasion starts.

Persons: Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Lloyd J, Austin III, Austin, Yoav Gallant, Gallant, ”, Antony J, Blinken, “, Mr, Netanyahu Organizations: Sunday, U.S, Defense, Pentagon, Embassy, Hamas, CBS, Biden, Press, State Department, Consulate Locations: Israel, Gaza, Iran, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Britain, U.S, Washington, Qatar, United States, Baghdad, Erbil, Iraq, ”, Tel Aviv

☆ Opinion: Uncomfortable reality for Biden
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +18 min

We’re looking back at the strongest, smartest opinion takes of the week from CNN and other outlets. He didn’t live to see the allies’ victory in World War II that year or the conference in San Francisco that month that established the United Nations. But his diplomatic efforts to meet with Arab leaders came undone after a devastating explosion at a hospital in Gaza. Biden himself initially supported the US 2003 war in Iraq only to end up as the president who ordered the US pullout of Afghanistan. “This is the politics that Donald Trump’s rhetoric has wrought among his supporters in the Republican Party,” wrote Avlon.

Persons: Franklin D, Roosevelt, Joe Biden, FDR, “, ” Biden, Steve Breen, GoComics.com Biden, Seth Moulton, ”, David Petraeus, ‘, Petraeus, Moulton, Shmuel Rosner, “ Israel, Biden, David Mark, Donald Trump, Gaza Hani Almadhoun, ” Yasmine Mohammed, Will Heath, Pete Davidson, Dean Obeidallah, Davidson, ” Obeidallah, ” Wadea, Khaled, Wadea’s, Mukesh Kapila, Frida Ghitis, Nicole Hemmer, Michael, Peter Bergen, Israel, ” Bergen, “ Khaled Hroub, ’, ” Hroub, what’s, ” Jim Jordan flunks, Nick Anderson, Jim Jordan, Julian Zelizer, “ Jordan, MAGA, Trump, shutdowns, Jordan, —, ” Zelizer, ” John Avlon, Jake Tapper, Donald Trump’s, Utah Sen, Mitt Romney, Cupp, Bill Bramhall, Trump Sidney Powell, Powell “, Jennifer Rodgers, ” Clay Jones, Kenneth Chesebro, Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman, Jack Smith, Trump’s, Jill Filipovic, “ It’s, …, Don’t, Scott Stantis, David Goldblatt, Amy Bass, Mary Lou Retton, Amy Klein, Glock, homebuyers Holly Thomas, Frasier ’, Richie Hofmann, Lily Gladstone, Leonardo DiCaprio, Niro, DiCaprio, Scorsese, David Grann’s, White, Noah Berlatsky, “ Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro Organizations: CNN, United Nations, UN, Arab, Marine Corps, Democratic, Twitter, Facebook, Republican, Capitol, United Nations Relief, Works Agency, “, NBC, New York City, World Trade, Chicago, Hamas, Tribune, Trump, Tea Party, Republican Party, GOP, Utah, Republicans, Agency, White Locations: Warm Springs , Georgia, San Francisco, United, United States, Soviet Union, United Kingdom, China, Ukraine, Israel, America, Gaza, What’s, Massachusetts, Iraq, “ Israel, Afghanistan, Iraqi, Najaf, Iran, Lebanon, ”, New, Geneva, Palestinian, Fulton County , Georgia, Hollywood, Oklahoma

☆ Israel's ground invasion of Gaza will be way more deadly than the 'absolute hell' US Marines experienced in Fallujah, Iraq, geopolitical expert says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Israel has indicated it will soon begin a ground offensive into Gaza. A geopolitical expert who embedded with US Marines in Fallujah said it will be "absolute hell." AdvertisementAdvertisementIsrael's anticipated ground invasion of Gaza will be far more destructive and difficult than the "absolute hell" that US Marines experienced in Fallujah in Iraq, a geopolitical expert said. Kaplan noted that any ground invasion of Gaza will also likely to result in huge civilian casualties. "It was nothing like apartment houses right next to each other which you have in Gaza City.

Persons: Israel, —, Robert D, Kaplan Organizations: US Marines, Service, Marines, 1st Marine, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces Locations: Gaza, Fallujah, Hamas, Iraq, Iraqi, Gaza City, Israel, Stalingrad, US

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

☆ Captured Hamas weapons hint that if Israeli forces invade Gaza, they could face a deadly improvised bomb that US troops feared in Iraq
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

A video released by the IDF shows captured Hamas weapons from the October 7 terrorist attack in Israel. EFPs were some of the deadliest explosives US forces faced in Iraq, ripping through troops and armor. That could be a problem for IDF troops in a ground offensive in the strip. Israeli forces could still face EFPs hidden in the rubble, complex tunnel networks, or roads. That could spell trouble for IDF troops, of which hundreds of thousands have volunteered or been called up to serve over the past weeks.

Persons: —, John Spencer, Spencer, Qassem Soleimani, Benjamin Lowy, Israel Organizations: IDF, Service, Israel Defense Force, Israel Defense Forces, MSNBC, US Army, Urban Warfare, Modern, Twitter, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force, Pentagon, Quds Force, Air Force, Washington Post, Getty, United Nations Locations: Israel, Iraq, Gaza, Iranian, Iran, EFPs, Hawr Rajab, Lebanon

☆ Pro-Palestinian Militant Group Claims Attack on U.S. Bases
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Ghassan Adnan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

A pro-Palestinian militant group said it had carried out attacks on two U.S. bases in Syria, following a drone strike on two American military facilities in Iraq Wednesday. The group, known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, comprises several Iraqi militias that have claimed attacks in support of Palestinians. The U.S. said most devices were intercepted and caused little damage.

Locations: Syria, Iraq, U.S

☆ Rockets, drones hit Iraqi base housing U.S. forces -security sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Military vehicles of U.S. soldiers are seen at the al-Asad air base in Anbar province, Iraq, January 13, 2020. REUTERS/John Davison/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsANBAR, Iraq, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Drones and rockets targeted on Thursday evening the Ain al-Asad air base, which hosts U.S. and other international forces in western Iraq, and multiple blasts were heard inside the base, two security sources said. The Iraqi military said it closed the area around the base and started a search operation. Thursday's attack is the third in less than 24 hours against airbases which house U.S. troops in Iraq. Ain al-Asad air base is located in the western Anbar province.

Persons: Asad, John Davison, Kamal Ayash, Ahmed Rasheed, Chizu Nomiyama, Daniel Wallis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, ., United, Thomson Locations: U.S, Anbar province, Iraq, Rights ANBAR, Iran, Gaza, United States, Syria, State, Ain, Anbar

☆ US-supplied ATACMS enter the Ukraine war
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Ukraine had repeatedly asked the U.S. for ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile Systems), which Kyiv has pledged not to use inside Russia's territory. The Biden administration may soon begin shipping to Ukraine several variants of Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), a long-range missile system that often carries varying amounts of cluster bomblets. There were about 1,650 made with several hundred used in conflicts such as Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to Army documents. There were 610 produced with about 74 used in Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to Army documents. There were about 513 made, with about 33 used in conflicts such as Operation Enduring Freedom, according to Army Documents.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Biden, Vladimir Putin, Mike Stone, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Korean, Army Tactical Missile, United States Army, REUTERS, Rights, ATACMS, Army Tactical Missile Systems, Kyiv, Senior, U.S, Army, Desert, Pentagon, GPS, Thomson Locations: United States, South Korea, Ukraine, Russia, Russian, Iraqi, Washington

☆ U.S. says it thwarted drone attack on its troops in Iraq
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

TEL AVIV, Oct 18 (Reuters) - The U.S. military thwarted an attack targeting its forces in Iraq early on Wednesday, intercepting two drones before they could strike, two U.S. officials said after the first such attack on U.S. forces in Iraq in more than a year. The one-way attack drones were intercepted as they attempted to strike Iraq's al Asad air base, which hosts American troops, the officials said. Last week he threatened to target U.S. interests if Washington intervened to support Israel. Dozens of members of the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), the state paramilitary organisation that contains many Iran-backed factions, took to the streets on Tuesday to condemn the hospital attack. Demonstrators chanted anti-U.S. and anti-Israeli slogans and said they wanted to storm the U.S. embassy for its support of Israel.

Persons: Iraq's al Asad, Joe Biden, Israel, Ali al, Hadi Al, Amiri, Washington, Kataib, Phil Stewart, Amina Ismail, Ahmed Rasheed, Ahmed Saad, Clarence Fernandez, Nick Macfie Organizations: U.S, Reuters, American, Hamas, Islamic, Israel, Hezbollah, United, Popular, Forces, ., Thomson Locations: TEL AVIV, Iraq, U.S, Washington, Iran, Israel, Gaza, Al, Ahli, Israeli, United States, Iraqi, Badr, America, Syria, State, Baghdad, Tel Aviv, Erbil

☆ Factbox-Iran's Middle East Allies Primed as Israel-Hamas War Rages
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

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. Israel has mounted airstrikes targeting Iranian and Iran-backed forces.

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 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

☆ 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

Several Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq issued statements condemning Israel and accusing its military of bombing the hospital. People gather in Tahrir Square to protest the Gaza hospital blast in Baghdad, Iraq, on October 17. One group made an attempt to “reach it,” but a security source told CNN that security forces dealt with them and pushed them away. Jordanian security forces also used tear gas to disperse the protesters, according to two activists and videos posted to social media. TAP said “mass protests were held on Tuesday night,” in several areas “in solidarity with the Palestinian people” and against Israeli bombardment of Gaza.

Persons: Israel, Jihad, Murtadha, CNN’s Ben Wedeman, Protesters, Zohra Bensemra, Tayyip Erdogan, Joe Biden, Ayman Safadi, Safadi, “ can’t Organizations: CNN, Al, Ahli Baptist Hospital, Israel Defense Forces, Palestinian Islamic, United Arab, West, Anadolu Agency, US State Department, Security, Reuters, TAP, Palestinian Authority, West Bank, Jordan’s Foreign Affairs, IDF, UN, Episcopal, Al Ahli Baptist Hospital Locations: Israel, East, North Africa, Gaza City, Ahli, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Lebanon, Kuwait, Tunisia, West Bank, Ramallah, Gaza, Tahrir, Baghdad, Amman , Jordan, Jordanian, Beirut, Iran, Tehran, France, England, America, Esfahan, Qom ., Tunis, Istanbul, Turkish, ”, Jerusalem, Al Ahli, Al

☆ Aftermath images from the Gaza hospital explosion are 'inconsistent' with an Israeli airstrike, former UN war crimes investigator says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Hamas blamed an Israeli airstrike for the deadly explosion at a hospital in Gaza on Tuesday. A former UN war crimes investigator says the visuals of the incident appear "inconsistent" with an Israeli strike. A former United Nations war crimes investigator said the visual evidence from the incident is "completely inconsistent" with what the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike would look like. "I can definitely rule out an airstrike, but looking at the various possibilities, I think that a failed rocket is the most likely." A view of the surroundings of Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital after it was hit in Gaza City, Gaza on October 18, 2023.

Persons: Israel, —, group's, Marc Garlasco, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, REUTERS Biden, ABC —, Adrienne Watson, Garlasco, Ali Jadallah, It's Organizations: UN, Service, Israel Defense Forces, United, Operation, Al, Islamic, Wednesday, Israeli, Maxar Technologies, REUTERS, Pentagon, NBC, CBS, ABC, National Security, Ahli Baptist Hospital, Getty, CNN Locations: Gaza, United Nations, Ahli, Gaza City, Israel, Palestinian, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, Al, Anadolu

☆ Opinion: What comes after Hamas?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Sheena Mckenzie | Opinion Seth Moulton | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Twenty years ago this month, I was a young Marine lieutenant marching down a California street in an Iraq War victory parade. It was the right decision to kill insurgents without losing more Marines, but leveling a school doesn’t win you a lot of hearts and minds. To be sure, there are some fundamental differences between Israel’s war with Hamas and America’s war in Iraq. Our First Marine Division motto in Iraq, under General Mattis, was “no better friend, no worse enemy.” I want Hamas to know no greater enemy than the Israeli Army, and I want to see every Hamas fighter defeated. There are a lot of peace-loving Palestinians in Gaza who loathe Hamas, but it’s up to the Israeli Army to prove themselves better friends.

Persons: Seth Moulton, Read, CNN —, Saddam Hussein, Seth Moulton Seth Moulton, David Petraeus, “, ”, Petraeus, Israel, Ahmad Hasaballah, Stan McChrystal, let’s, they’ve, hasn’t, Benjamin Netanyahu, General Mattis, Israel can’t, ” — Organizations: Democrat, Marine Corps, Massachusetts, Congressional District, CNN, Iraqi Army, Army Special Forces, Marines, Getty, Israeli Army, First, Hamas Locations: California, Iraq, Israel, Gaza, America, Afghanistan, Iraqi, Najaf

BRUSSELS (AP) — Sweden players were returning to their clubs Tuesday after taking an overnight flight home from Brussels following the suspension of their European Championship qualifier against Belgium at halftime because a gunman killed two Swedish nationals before kickoff. It was around 4 a.m. local time when the last of the Swedish supporters — totaling about 650, according to the Swedish Football Association — left the stadium under police surveillance, along with some staff from the federation. All hotels where Swedish supporters were staying were also guarded by police, the federation said. Political Cartoons View All 1211 ImagesThe Swedish FA confirmed to The Associated Press that the national-team players were now making their way back to their clubs. Brussels mayor Philippe Close told La Premiere radio that the game had not been regarded as a high-risk match.

Persons: Swedish Football Association —, “, Annelies Verlinden, Martin Fredman, ”, ” Fredman, Caroline, Philippe Close, Thomas Meunier, Meunier, ___ ___ Douglas, Sylvain Plazy, Raf Casert, Lorne Cook Organizations: —, European Championship, Belgium, UEFA, King Baudouin, Swedish Football Association, Swedish FA, Associated Press, Belgian, Belgian Red Devils, Swedish, Brussels, Premiere Locations: BRUSSELS, — Sweden, Brussels, Belgium, Austria, Germany, Sweden, Swedish, Antwerp, Sundsvall

☆ Why Invading Gaza Is a Mistake - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Farah Stockman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

That military operation against Hezbollah was seen as a success — so punishing that it bought 17 years of relative quiet. But it also nurtured resentments that could help turn an invasion of Gaza into a wider regional war. Hamas appears to want to lure Israelis into Gaza and has been preparing for this battle for years. Israel’s military is not a paper tiger; it is one of the most technologically sophisticated militaries in the world. Without power, many Gazans will lose the ability to pump water from wells or treat the wounded in hospitals.

Persons: Hassan Nasrallah, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, ”, Thanassis Cambanis, overreach, we’d, Israel Katz, — Israel, Israel Organizations: The Times Locations: Gaza, Iran, Israel, United States, Afghanistan, Gaza —

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