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Immediately after Oct. 7, Hezbollah began carrying out strikes in northern Israel in a show of solidarity with Hamas. Isolated and in hiding in Gaza, Mr. Sinwar’s communication with his organization has become strained. Image A poster of Mr. Sinwar at a Palestinian refugee camp in Beirut, Lebanon, in August. The failure of Hezbollah or Iran to meaningfully damage Israel is a telling sign of Mr. Sinwar’s miscalculation, American officials said. On Sept. 13, Hezbollah released a letter that Mr. Sinwar sent in support of Mr. Nasrallah.

Persons: Yahya Sinwar, Sinwar, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Mohammed Saber, Hassan Nasrallah, Mr, Nasrallah, Alkis Konstantinidis, Netanyahu, Ismail Haniyeh, Haniyeh, Arash Khamooshi, Yoav Gallant, ” Mr, Gallant, ”, Scott D, ” Julian E, Barnes, Adam Goldman, Edward Wong, Adam Rasgon, Aaron Boxerman, Ronen Bergman Organizations: Israel, U.S, Hezbollah, Hamas, Mr, Credit, The New York Times, U.S . Defense Intelligence Agency Locations: Gaza, Israel, U.S, Deir al, Lebanon, Iran, Palestinian, Beirut, Egypt, Qatar, Tehran, Rafah, Tel Sultan, Washington, New York, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv

More than two weeks into Ukraine’s incursion into western Russia, Ukrainian politicians have begun talking about establishing a buffer zone there. But how much farther Ukraine might try to advance into Russia, and how long it plans to stay, is unclear, U.S. officials said. After the first week of fighting, Ukraine claimed to control almost 400 square miles of Russian territory — an area roughly the size of Los Angeles. But American officials are not convinced that Ukraine intends to hold its position in Russia long term. They have not been laying minefields to slow down a counterattack, nor have they constructed barriers to slow down Russian tanks, the officials say.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky Locations: Russia, Ukraine, U.S, Los Angeles

☆ Blinken Says Gaza Cease-Fire Deal Is ‘Inside the 10-Yard Line’
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-19 | by ( David E. Sanger | Julian E. Barnes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and the national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said on Friday that an agreement to free hostages held in Gaza and establish a cease-fire was close, as administration officials prepared for what they expected to be a tense visit to Washington next week by Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Mr. Blinken, speaking at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado, said that the talks were “inside the 10-yard line.” Hours later at the same conference, Mr. Sullivan said there was no expectation that an agreement would be reached before Mr. Netanyahu addressed a joint session of Congress on Wednesday, a speech some American officials fear could throw up new obstacles to an agreement with Hamas. Mr. Sullivan said Mr. Biden would “focus his energy” in his meetings with Mr. Netanyahu “to get this deal done in the coming weeks.”“We are mindful that there remain obstacles in the way,” Mr. Sullivan said, “and let’s use next week to try to clear through those obstacles.”

Persons: Antony J, Blinken, Jake Sullivan, Israel’s, Benjamin Netanyahu, Sullivan, Netanyahu, Biden, Netanyahu “, ”, ” Mr Organizations: Aspen Security, Mr Locations: Gaza, Washington, Colorado

☆ Fact-Checking Day 3 of the Republican National Convention
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-18 | by ( Julian E. Barnes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Doug Burgum of North DakotaThis is false. The Biden administration has imposed regulations to cut planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels, but there has not been a war on energy. Oil production has hit record highs under the Biden presidency, and the administration has approved more drilling permits for wells on federal lands than under President Donald J. Trump. At the same time, it is pumping billions of federal dollars into developing new sources of power including wind, solar, geothermal, hydrogen and nuclear energy. But it is unclear how stark that impact would be.

Persons: Doug Burgum, Biden, Donald J Organizations: Gov, Trump, Resources Locations: North Dakota, Washington

☆ The End of a Strategic Deployment
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-16 | by ( Julian E. Barnes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

As the aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower sailed toward Norfolk Harbor, a small cargo plane landed on the flight deck amid swirling wind and rain. After the plane jerked to a halt, Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser, and top Navy officials disembarked. While the sailors cheered, the chief of naval operations recounted the strike group’s achievements. The Eisenhower set sail from Norfolk a week after the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks in Israel, and its six-month deployment had been extended three times. Image The national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, spoke to sailors aboard the Eisenhower on Saturday.

Persons: Dwight D, Eisenhower, Jake Sullivan, Julian E, Barnes, Sullivan, Biden Organizations: ., The New York Times, Oval Locations: Norfolk, Israel

☆ Hamas Official: ‘We’re Not Obstinate’ in Cease-Fire Talks on Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-12 | by ( Adam Rasgon | Julian E. Barnes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

For nearly two decades, Hamas has been in charge of governing Gaza, overseeing its border crossings, schools and hospitals. But after nine months of a ruinous war with Israel, the militant group is now expressing readiness to give up civilian governance in Gaza, albeit without dismantling its military wing. The overture by Hamas, while most likely a nonstarter for Israel, is meant to signal to the international community Hamas’s apparent readiness to make some concessions to enable the rebuilding of Gaza. It also arrives against the backdrop of ongoing cease-fire negotiations, in which Hamas has shown some flexibility on the language in a proposed deal. “First and foremost, we want the Palestinian people in Gaza to recover from this war,” Husam Badran, a senior Hamas official, said in an interview at an unmarked building in the Qatari capital, Doha.

Persons: Husam Organizations: Hamas Locations: Gaza, Israel, Doha

After two weeks of intense battles between Hamas militants and Israeli troops in the Gaza City neighborhood of Shajaiye, residents and rescue workers combed through the wreckage on Friday, a landscape of flattened buildings strewed with dozens of bodies. “The scale of destruction is immense.”More than nine months into the war in Gaza, Israeli troops are returning to areas they had previously conquered and encountering strong resistance from Hamas fighters. The offensive in Shajaiye was part of a wider Israeli effort to clamp down on a renewed Hamas insurgency in Gaza City, the military said. And Israel said on Friday that it had “eliminated” the deputy commander of Hamas’s Shajaiye Battalion, Ayman Showadeh. He had been “a key operative” at the group’s operations headquarters and had been involved in directing the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack that set off the war in Gaza, Israel said.

Persons: ”, Karam Hassan, Israel, Hamas’s, Ayman Showadeh Organizations: Hamas Locations: Gaza City, Shajaiye, Gaza, Israel

☆ U.S. Officials See Hopeful Signs in Gaza Cease-Fire Talks
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-12 | by ( Julian E. Barnes | Adam Rasgon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Some American officials have grown more optimistic that a deal to release Israeli hostages held in Gaza in return for a cease-fire is at hand. But people briefed on the talks say it will be days until it is clear whether a breakthrough has been achieved because of difficulties in communication between Hamas officials in Qatar and the group’s leaders in Gaza. Other officials said that previous moments of hope about an agreement had been dashed by both the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Hamas. “There’s still miles to go before we close if we are able to close,” Mr. Sullivan told reporters on Thursday. I’m determined to get this deal done and bring an end to this war which should end now.”

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Jake Sullivan, “, ” Mr, Sullivan, it’s, Biden, ” Organizations: White House, NATO, Washington , D.C Locations: Gaza, Qatar, Washington, Washington ,

☆ Israel-Hamas War: Cease-Fire Talks Latest Updates
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-12 | by ( Julian E. Barnes | Adam Rasgon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

Scientists say that this measurement, known as excess deaths, can provide a truer indication of the toll and scale of conflicts and other social upheaval. And Israel has not permitted researchers to enter the enclave since the start of the war last October. Credit... Bashar Taleb/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesIn an interview, Mr. Spagat cited other reasons to be cautious when discussing excess deaths in Gaza. Around 9,000 deaths have been directly attributed to the war since then by Gaza’s health ministry. The subject of excess deaths is sensitive because it touches on the collateral cost of Israel’s war against Hamas.

Persons: Elad Goren, Salim Yusuf, ”, Michael Spagat, Khan Younis, Bashar Taleb, Spagat, Zeina, Gabby Sobelman Organizations: Gaza Health Ministry, COGAT, Royal Holloway College, University of London, ., Agence France, Johns Hopkins University, London School of Hygiene, Medicine, Hamas Locations: Israel, Gaza, Britain, Canada, Khan, epidemiologists

American intelligence agencies uncovered a Russian plot to kill the chief executive of a German weapons manufacturer, according to multiple Western officials, as Moscow steps up a campaign to undermine support for Ukraine’s war effort. The United States warned Germany about the plot, and German officials increased protection for Armin Papperger, who leads Rheinmetall, which makes artillery shells and tanks that Ukraine has used in its war against Russia. The assassination plot is a significant escalation, officials said, representing a more concerted covert effort to deter Western companies from producing supplies for Ukraine. A senior Western intelligence official said that the threats were flagged this past spring. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the Russian operation.

Persons: Armin Papperger, Papperger Organizations: United, Rheinmetall, Russia, NATO Locations: Moscow, United States, Germany, Ukraine, Western

The United States and its NATO allies have agreed that Ukraine should have an “irreversible” path to membership in the alliance and are enshrining the phrase in a document to be released during this week’s summit in Washington, U.S. and allied officials say. While there is no consensus yet about Ukraine joining NATO, the strengthened language would show that there is movement in that direction. The United States was once deeply skeptical about whether Ukraine was ready to become a member, and while questions remain, more and more American and European officials believe that the country will eventually be able to join. Officials say there could always be a last-minute change before the document is released, but that the member nations had reached broad agreement in recent days. But it should be welcomed by Ukrainian officials who have been pushing for language along the lines of “irreversible,” they say.

Organizations: NATO Locations: States, Ukraine, Washington , U.S, United States

As NATO leaders gather in Washington starting Tuesday, they will celebrate the strength of their alliance on its 75th anniversary while confronting deep uncertainty about its future. In recent years, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has given NATO, founded after World War II to defend Europe from the Soviet Union, a renewed sense of purpose. But the alliance also faces grave threats, including from right-wing skeptics who are gaining power in nations such as Germany and France. Here’s what to watch for during the three days of NATO meetings in Washington this week. Staring Down PutinPerhaps the summit’s most important goal will be sending a signal of unity and strength to Moscow.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Down Putin Organizations: NATO, White Locations: Washington, Ukraine, Soviet Union, Germany, France, United States, Moscow

☆ U.S. Officials Say Russia Is Unlikely to Take Much More Ukrainian Territory
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-09 | by ( Julian E. Barnes | Eric Schmitt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Russia is unlikely to make significant territorial gains in Ukraine in the coming months as its poorly trained forces struggle to break through Ukrainian defenses that are now reinforced with Western munitions, U.S. officials say. Through the spring and early summer, Russian troops tried to take territory outside the city of Kharkiv and renew a push in eastern Ukraine, to capitalize on their seizure of Avdiivka. Russia has suffered thousands of casualties in the drive while gaining little new territory. Russia’s problems represent a significant change in the dynamic of the war, which had favored Moscow in recent months. Russian forces continue to inflict pain, but their incremental advances have been slowed by the Ukrainians’ hardened lines.

Organizations: North Atlantic Treaty Organization Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Kharkiv, Avdiivka, Moscow, Russian, Washington

☆ Ukraine’s President Pleads for More Weapons With Fewer Restrictions
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-09 | by ( Julian E. Barnes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine arrived in Washington on Tuesday with words of gratitude and praise for American support, and pleas for more weapons and fewer restrictions on using them in his country’s war against Russia. Mr. Zelensky credited American missiles — and permission to fire them across the border into Russia — with helping his forces hold off an attack on the city of Kharkiv, stopping a Russian offensive this spring. But he asked for other restrictions to be lifted, so that Ukraine could fire at Russian military bases hundreds of miles inside Russia to destroy aircraft that fire weapons and drop bombs that he said were killing civilians and children. With more American assistance, he said, Ukraine can continue to strike against Russian targets in Crimea and help “push the occupiers” out of the southern part of the country.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, ” Organizations: Russian Locations: Ukraine, Washington, Russia, Kharkiv, Crimea

☆ U.S. and Allies Target Russian Bots Working to Spread Propaganda
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-09 | by ( Steven Lee Myers | Julian E. Barnes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Justice Department said on Tuesday that it had moved to disrupt a covert Russian influence operation that used artificial intelligence to spread propaganda in the United States, Europe and Israel with the goal of undermining support for Ukraine and stoking internal political divisions. In affidavits released with the announcement, officials with the Justice Department, the F.B.I. and the Pentagon’s Cyber National Mission Force linked the effort to Russia’s Federal Security Service and RT, the state television network that has channels in English and several other languages. The disclosure of such a large, global network of bots confirmed widespread warnings that the popularization of rapidly developing A.I. tools would make it easier to produce and spread dubious content.

Organizations: Ukraine, Elon, Justice Department, Force, Federal Security Service Locations: Russian, United States, Europe, Israel, Canada, Netherlands, Ukraine

On Today’s Episode:U.S. Officials Say Russia Is Unlikely to Take Much More Ukrainian Territory, by Julian E. Barnes and Eric SchmittBiden Says He Is ‘Firmly Committed’ to Staying in the Race, by Michael D. ShearParkinson’s Expert Visited the White House Eight Times in Eight Months, by Emily Baumgaertner and Peter BakerFollowing Trump’s Lead, Republicans Adopt Platform That Softens Stance on Abortion, by Maggie Haberman, Shane Goldmacher and Jonathan Swan

Persons: Julian E, Barnes, Eric Schmitt Biden, ‘, ’, Michael D, Emily Baumgaertner, Peter Baker, Maggie Haberman, Shane Goldmacher, Jonathan Swan Organizations: Officials Locations: Ukrainian Territory

The United States is in the midst of an intense diplomatic push to prevent full-on war between Israel and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon, as the risks rise that either side could initiate a broader regional fight. Israel’s defense minister, Yoav Gallant, met with several Biden administration officials in Washington this week, in large measure to discuss the escalating tensions along Israel’s northern border with Lebanon. That visit followed one last week by Israel’s national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, and its minister of strategic affairs, Ron Dermer. Also last week, a senior White House official, Amos Hochstein, who has assumed an informal diplomatic role mediating between the two sides, visited Israel and Lebanon. Mr. Hochstein warned Hezbollah, which is supported by Iran, that the United States would not be able to restrain Israel should it commit to an all-out war with the militia group.

Persons: Yoav Gallant, Tzachi Hanegbi, Ron Dermer, Amos Hochstein, Hochstein Organizations: Biden, White House Locations: States, Israel, Lebanon, Iran, United States, Washington

President Biden has approved the deployment of another Patriot missile system to Ukraine, senior administration and military officials said, as the country struggles to fend off Russian attacks on its cities, infrastructure and electrical grid. Mr. Biden’s decision came last week, the officials said, after a series of high-level meetings and an internal debate over how to meet Ukraine’s pressing needs for bolstered air defenses without jeopardizing U.S. combat readiness. The new Patriot system — the second that the United States has sent to Ukraine — will come from Poland, where it has been protecting a rotational force of American troops who will be returning to the United States, officials said. The system could be deployed to Ukraine’s front lines in the next several days, U.S. officials said, depending on any maintenance or modifications it needs.

Persons: Biden, Biden’s, Ukraine — Organizations: Patriot Locations: Ukraine, United States, Poland

The hostages in Gaza are being moved around, with Hamas shuttling some from one apartment to another to obscure their whereabouts, while others are believed to be in tunnels underground. More than one war is being waged in the Gaza Strip. For the most part, the world sees the airstrikes and the ground invasion, which Israel says are aimed at dismantling Hamas and have reduced much of the territory to rubble, setting off a humanitarian crisis. But the rescue on Saturday of four hostages was a reminder that Israel and Hamas are engaged in another, less visible battle:The militants are determined to hold on to the hostages they seized during their deadly Oct. 7 attack on Israel, for use as human bargaining chips. The Israelis are determined to bring them home.

Locations: Gaza, Israel

☆ U.S. Officials Return to Mideast to Push for Cease-Fire
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( Adam Rasgon | Julian E. Barnes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Top NewsImage William J. Burns, the director of the C.I.A., was expected to arrive in Doha, Qatar, this week for talks about achieving a cease-fire in Gaza. But statements by Israeli and Hamas officials in recent days suggested that a breakthrough was still elusive. One of the biggest gaps between Israel and Hamas has been over whether a cease-fire deal would lead to a lasting truce. Mr. Biden said Israel’s proposal would ultimately lead to the “cessation of hostilities permanently,” comments that were welcomed by Hamas. Israel, Mr. Hamdan said, was interested in only a temporary cease-fire to free hostages, and would then resume the war.

Persons: William J, Burns, Nathan Posner, Brett McGurk, Biden, Mr, Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, Majed al, Ansari, Osama Hamdan, Hamdan Organizations: Anadolu, Getty, U.S, Qatari Locations: Doha, Qatar, Gaza . Credit, Gaza, Cairo, U.S, Israel

☆ Allies Warn Former Fighter Pilots Not to Train Chinese Military Members
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( Julian E. Barnes | Helene Cooper | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

For years, U.S. officials have accused China of stealing American technology to design and build fighter planes. But while China learned how to build advanced fighters, its pilots could not fly them so well. U.S. and allied intelligence officials warned on Wednesday that Beijing was intensifying a campaign to entice former fighter pilots from Western nations to train Chinese pilots. “To overcome their shortcomings, China’s People’s Liberation Army has been aggressively recruiting Western military talent to train their aviators, using private firms around the globe that conceal their P.L.A. ties and offer recruits exorbitant salaries,” said Michael C. Casey, the director of the U.S. National Counterintelligence and Security Center.

Persons: —, “, ”, Michael C, Casey Organizations: Liberation Army, U.S . National Counterintelligence and Security Center Locations: China, Beijing, United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand

☆ Fake News Reports and Videos Seek to Undermine the Paris Olympics
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-03 | by ( Julian E. Barnes | Steven Lee Myers | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

With its athletes barred from competing in the Summer Olympics under the country’s flag, Russia has turned its fury on the Games and this year’s host, Paris. Russian propagandists have created an hourlong documentary, spoofed news reports and even mimicked French and American intelligence agencies to issue fake warnings urging people to avoid the Games, according to a report released on Sunday by Microsoft. The report details the disinformation campaign created by a group the company calls Storm-1679. The campaign appears to have accelerated since March, flooding social media with short videos raising alarms about possible terrorist attacks and stoking fears about safety. The operation, while aimed at the Games, is using various techniques to spread disinformation that could also be employed in European and U.S. elections.

Organizations: Games, Microsoft, Storm Locations: Russia, Paris, American

William J. Burns, the C.I.A. This month, frustration boiled over between officials from Hamas and Israel, and the countries mediating — the United States, Qatar and Egypt — put the talks on hold. Israeli officials were upset with what they saw as shifting negotiating stances by Hamas, including the number of hostages to be released in a first phase. Hamas was upset by Israel’s operations in Rafah, the southern Gazan city, which have been progressing since. But core to the dispute were disagreements over how to define a cessation of hostilities between Hamas and Israel, and how different stages of the cease-fire would be put into effect.

Persons: William J, Burns, Egypt — Organizations: U.S Locations: Gaza, Europe, Israel, United States, Qatar, Egypt, Rafah, Gazan

Ukraine has asked the Biden administration to provide more intelligence on the position of Russian forces and military targets inside Russia as Ukrainian troops struggle to hold ground in the war, according to U.S. and Ukrainian officials. A group of Ukrainian Parliament members also met with members of Congress in Washington to press for the United States to allow Kyiv to use American weapons in Russia. Ukraine’s requests have become more urgent in recent weeks as Russia has taken advantage of delays in shipments of American weapons and intensified military operations in the Kharkiv region of northeastern Ukraine. But White House officials said the administration’s longstanding policy remained unchanged: The United States is not encouraging or enabling attacks inside Russia. American officials, seeking to avoid escalating the war, have insisted they do not want U.S. weapons used in cross-border attacks or their intelligence reports used to target sites in Russia.

Persons: Biden Organizations: White Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Washington, United States, Kyiv, Kharkiv, U.S

NATO allies are inching closer to sending troops into Ukraine to train Ukrainian forces, a move that would be another blurring of a previous red line and could draw the United States and Europe more directly into the war. As a result, Ukrainian officials have asked their American and NATO counterparts to help train 150,000 new recruits closer to the front line for faster deployment. So far the United States has said no, but Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Thursday that a NATO deployment of trainers appeared inevitable. For now, he said, an effort inside Ukraine would put “a bunch of NATO trainers at risk” and would most likely mean deciding whether to use precious air defenses to protect the trainers instead of critical Ukrainian infrastructure near the battlefield.

Persons: Charles Q, Brown Jr, “ We’ll, ”, General Brown Organizations: NATO, Joint Chiefs of Staff Locations: Ukraine, United States, Europe, Russia, Brussels

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