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Top NewsA rocket attack targeting U.S. personnel housed at a base in Iraq’s western desert injured several American troops late on Monday, according to U.S. defense officials. Initial reports were that at least five people were injured in Monday’s attack and that the wounded included both U.S. troops and contractors. Those Iraqi militants have typically attacked U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria and targeted Israel using longer-range rockets. The chief goal of Iran-backed groups in Iraq is to force the U.S. troops to leave the country entirely. There are about 2,500 American troops in Iraq, as well as 900 in Syria, where the Islamic State has once again become active.

Persons: Ismail Haniyeh, Fuad Shukr, Israel, Haniyeh’s, Biden, Kamala D, Harris, Asad, — Organizations: Asad, Asad Air Base, U.S, Hamas, Mr, Iraqi, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps, Revolutionary Guard, Al Asad, Al Asad Air Base, Pentagon, Islamic Locations: Ain, Asad Air, Iran, Gaza, U.S, Syria, Israel, Tehran, Beirut, Yemen, Iraq, Damascus, Al Asad Air, Islamic State, Jurf al, Baghdad

Beirut, Lebanon CNN —Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said his group will respond to Israel “regardless of the consequences” to avenge the assassination of the group’s top commander a week ago, but keeping Israelis waiting is “part of the punishment.”“Their government, their army, their society, their settlements and their occupiers are all waiting,” Nasrallah said. Keeping Israel waiting is “part of the battle,” he added. The monthslong, cross-border exchange of fire intensified Tuesday morning after Hezbollah launched a “swarm” of drones towards what it said are military targets in northern Israeli cities. The Israeli military said the building was used by Hezbollah. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his Islamic Revolutionary Guard promised Israel a “painful” response for the killing of Haniyeh in Tehran.

Persons: Hassan Nasrallah, ” “, ” Nasrallah, ”, Fuad Shukr, Ismail Haniyeh, Ali Khamenei, Israel, Asad, Defense Lloyd Austin, Antony Blinken, Haniyeh Organizations: Lebanon CNN, CNN, Israel Defense Forces, Iran’s, Islamic Revolutionary Guard, Al, Pentagon, Defense, Officials, Organization of Islamic Cooperation Locations: Beirut, Lebanon, Israel, Nahariya, Iran, Shukr, Tehran, Haniyeh, Asad Airbase, Iraq, Jordanian, Jeddah

Several U.S. personnel are believed to be injured following a suspected rocket attack on U.S. and coalition forces at Al Asad Airbase in Iraq, a defense official confirmed to NBC News. Additional details are not currently available as base staff are conducting a post-attack damage assessment, according to the official. An Israeli official told NBC News on Sunday that officials were bracing for a potential retaliatory attack from both Hamas and Iran. Three American troops were killed in January after an attack on coalition forces at a base in Jordan. Biden blamed "radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq" for the attack at the time, responding with retaliatory strikes.

Persons: Joe Biden, Ismail Haniyeh, Matt Miller, Biden, Kamala Harris, Harris Organizations: U.S, NBC News, White, NBC, Iran . State Department Locations: Al Asad Airbase, Iraq, Israel, Beirut, Tehran, Lebanon, Iran, Gaza, Jordan, Syria

This came after the Israeli military said it had struck a “terrorist cell operating a drone” in southern Lebanon after “numerous projectiles” were fired at northern Israel. Rockets fired from southern Lebanon are intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome air defence system over the Upper Galilee region in northern Israel. The killing came a day after Shukr, a senior Hezbollah leader died in an Israel airstrike on Lebanon’s capital Beirut. Israel’s military said it struck a Hamas military compound embedded in the schools. It came after an Israeli airstrike hit a tent camp inside a hospital in central Gaza earlier in the day.

Persons: Joe Biden, Jordan, Jalaa Marey, Ismail Haniyeh, Fuad Shukr, Haniyeh, Masoud Pezeshkian, Israel “, ” Israel, Shukr, ”, Menahem Kahana, Burcu Ozcelik, Mahmoud Zayyat Organizations: NBC News, Rockets, Israel's, Getty, Iran’s Foreign Ministry, Israel, Pentagon, Navy, Royal United Services Institute, NBC, Diplomats, Health Locations: Israel, Gaza, United States, Australia, France, Canada, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Turkey, Lebanon, Beirut, Galilee, AFP, Iran, Tehran, Golan, Shams, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, U.S, Britain, Haniyeh’s, London, Lebanese, Sidon, Gaza City

The trip highlights the generational gap between Harris and President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, Democratic allies said. Noah Lyles wins gold in epic photo finishDimitar Dilkoff / AFP - Getty ImagesLyles earned his first gold medal in 9.79 seconds, which was a personal best. Lyles was still unconvinced he had won the gold medal after finishing and the scoreboard offered no indication of who had won gold, silver or bronze as officials processed a photo finish. Track and field holds four medal events and surfing will finally have its medal day. ▶️ Watch top highlightsDebby makes landfall in Florida as a Category 1 hurricaneHurricane Debby has made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend as a Category 1 hurricane.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Hurricane, Noah Lyles, Harris, John Bazemore, Harris ’, Andy Beshear, Pete Buttigieg, Sen, Mark Kelly of, JB Pritzker, Josh Shapiro, Tim Walz, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Biden, Trump, “, Nikki Haley, Dimitar Dilkoff, Lyles, Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson, Fred Kerley, Thompson, ” Lyles, Kerley, Peacock, Read, ste, Caro, Ron, Flor, rais e d fear, ron e, Rob e, Ari z, ena, go to a, ake is b, ✦, lea, ree Organizations: Kentucky, Mark Kelly of Arizona ,, Mark Kelly of Arizona , Illinois Gov, Minnesota Gov, Democratic, Trump, Republicans, Getty, Olympic, ust, NBC, POLI Locations: Florida, Mark Kelly of Arizona, Mark Kelly of Arizona , Illinois, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, AFP, bou, spee, sto

☆ Middle East tensions: Those leaving Lebanon hold their families extra tight as they say goodbye
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-05 | by ( Ivan Watson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Beirut, Lebanon CNN —When our plane finally took off from Beirut, it was nearly an hour late. Before departing for the airport, we held each other extra tight, not sure when we would see each other again. Moments later, the Israeli military carried out a “targeted strike” in southern Beirut, roughly 10 minutes’ drive away. The next day, the hills shook with the sound of sonic booms as Israeli war planes broke the sound barrier overhead. The CNN team in Beirut later confirmed reports that Israeli warplanes had broken the sound barrier in skies over Lebanon.

Persons: Angelina, Ghenwa, Hussein, Kayta, Ivan Watson, Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, Katya, Israel, Fu’ad Shukr, Ismail Haniyeh, hasn’t, Mayyas, Lebanon’s Virgin Radio haven’t, Jack Sleiman, Taym, It’s Organizations: Lebanon CNN, Airlines, Hezbollah, CNN, Israel’s, America’s, Lebanon’s Virgin Radio Locations: Beirut, Lebanon, Israel, Golan, Lebanese, Harat, Tehran . Iran, Gaza, Tel Aviv , Washington, Tehran, Beirut’s

Editor’s Note: A version of this story appears in CNN’s Meanwhile in the Middle East newsletter, a three-times-a-week look inside the region’s biggest stories. Such escalation could also jeopardize efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and release hostages, despite recent progress in negotiations. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin discussed comprehensive security strategies to protect Israel, according to a statement on Monday. Israel was considering its options to prepare for a regional attack over the weekend. The country braces for war in its own way and tends to pick up after itself.

Persons: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ismail Haniyeh, ”, Israel, Israel hasn’t, “, Yoav Gallant, Defense Lloyd Austin, Michael Kurilla, Kurilla, Ayman Safadi, Badr Abdelatti, Ali Bagheri Kani, ‘, Masoud Pezeshkian, Safadi, Nasser Kanaani, Fu’ad Shukr, Majdal Shams, Hassan Nasrallah, Benjamin Netanyahu, ” “, ” Netanyahu, Ali Bagheri, Netanyahu, Gallant, Daniel Hagari, Lebanon scrambledto, floaties, Samer Othman, Jalaa Marey, Othman, Liz Nicholas, David Adom, Be’er, Ivana Reiser, Zeev Jabotinsky, Naama, ” Be’er, ” Baer, Reiser, Roy Dror, Ron Heckmann, they’re, Dror, ” Heckmann, Uri Shacham, Shacham Organizations: Jerusalem CNN —, Iran’s, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Saturday, US, Israeli, Defense, US Central Command, Jordanian, Egypt’s, Zionist, Israel, Iran, Sunday, Getty Images Israel, Hezbollah, CNN, Mount, Mount Herzl Military, Getty, MDA Locations: Beirut, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Israel, Iran, Tehran, Lebanon, Gaza, United States, Syria, Majdal, Golan, ”, AFP, Cairo, Lebanese, Beirut’s, Mount Herzl, London, Nahariyah

☆ Why Is Iran Expected to Attack Israel? What to Know About the Crisis.
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-05 | by ( Hiba Yazbek | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Less than a week after the killing of a top Hamas leader in Tehran and a top Hezbollah commander in Beirut, the entire Middle East is on edge. Fears of a broader regional war have been mounting amid vows of revenge from Iranian leaders that have left Israel in a state of deep uncertainty. Israeli leaders would not confirm or deny whether their country was behind the breach of Iran’s defenses, but Iranian leaders and Hamas officials immediately blamed Israel and vowed retaliation. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, issued an order for Iran to strike Israel directly, according to three Iranian officials briefed on the order. And Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Nasser Kanaan, said on Monday that “Tehran is not interested in escalating the regional conflicts, but it is necessary to punish” Israel.

Persons: Ismail Haniyeh, Israel, Iran’s, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Nasser Kanaan, ” Israel Locations: Tehran, Beirut, Israel, Iranian, Iran

☆ ‘Several’ US personnel injured in rocket attack on Iraq base
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-05 | by ( Haley Britzky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Several US personnel were injured in a suspected rocket attack Monday against US and coalition forces at Al-Asad Airbase in Iraq, a US defense official said. “We can confirm that there was a suspected rocket attack today against US and Coalition forces at Al-Asad Airbase, Iraq,” the official said. While it’s unclear who carried out the rocket attack on Monday, US officials have long blamed attacks on troops in Iraq and Syria on Iran-backed militia groups. Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said last month after a drone attack on Al-Asad that it was “most likely” carried out by Iranian-supported groups. Between October 17 and January 29, there were more than 150 attacks on US personnel in Iraq and Syria.

Persons: Asad, Ismail Haniyeh, Haniyeh, Lloyd Austin, Sabrina Singh, ” Singh, ” Biden Organizations: CNN, US, Coalition, Base, Pentagon Locations: Al, Asad Airbase, Iraq, Israel, Tehran, Lebanon, Beirut, Syria, Iran, Jordan, United States

TEL AVIV — Israel is bracing for a potential multiday attack by Iran and its ally Hezbollah following the assassination of two senior militant leaders last week, an Israeli official told NBC News. Israel killed Shukr in a strike on the southern suburbs of Beirut last Tuesday. Hours later, news broke that Haniyeh was killed in Tehran in the early hours Wednesday morning. The call was “tense,” according to the Israeli official. This time, the Israeli official said the attacks could come over several days, with Hezbollah attacking Israel from the north while Iran’s longer-range weapons are fired from the east.

Persons: Ismail Haniyeh, Fuad Shukr, “ They’ll, Shukr, ”, Haniyeh, Masoud Pezeshkian, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, “ Biden, Israel, Netanyahu, Raf Sanchez, Doha Madani Organizations: NBC News, Diplomats Locations: TEL AVIV, Israel, Iran, Beirut, Golan, Tehran, Gaza, U.S, Cairo, Damascus, Tel Aviv, Doha, New York City

CNN —The US, UK and France are among several countries urging their citizens to leave Lebanon as heightened tensions in the region spark fears of a widening Middle East conflict. Haniyeh’s death came just hours after an Israeli strike on the Lebanese capital Beirut killed Hezbollah’s most senior military commander, Fu’ad Shukr. Many countries already had travel warnings in place but have issued fresh advice in the wake of the latest developments. AFP/Getty ImagesFrance told its citizens to make arrangements to leave Lebanon “as soon as possible” in a statement from the Ministry for Europe and Foreign affairs on Sunday. Israel says it is ready for “range of scenarios” following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Iran.

Persons: ”, David Lammy, “, Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah’s, Fu’ad, Jordan Organizations: CNN, Saturday Hezbollah, AFP, Getty, France, Ministry for, Foreign, ” Airlines, Air France, Lufthansa, Kuwaiti Airlines, Saturday, Pentagon Locations: France, Lebanon, ” Britain’s, Iran, Israel, Tehran, Beirut, Gaza, Metullah, Ministry for Europe, Jerusalem

The Israeli military said its air force had struck what it described as Hezbollah targets in Kfar Kila and killed a Hezbollah leader in Deir Siriane. Hezbollah has fired thousands of rockets and drones at Israel, saying it was acting in solidarity with Hamas, which is also backed by Iran. Hamas and Iran have accused Israel of assassinating Mr. Haniyeh, but Israel has not publicly taken responsibility for that killing. Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas have vowed to retaliate against Israel. For now, the developments appear to have derailed any prospect, however remote, of a cease-fire between Hamas and Israel.

Persons: Beit Hillel, Deir, Fuad Shukr, Ismail Haniyeh, Shukr, Israel, Mr, Haniyeh Organizations: Hezbollah, Hamas, Sunday Locations: Israel, Iran, Lebanon, Beit, Kfar Kila, Deir Siriane, Beirut, Tehran, Golan

☆ Biden voices hope Iran will stand down but is uncertain
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-04 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. President Joe Biden expressed hope Iran would stand down despite its threat to avenge the assassination of Hamas' leader in Tehran, as fears mounted that Israel's war against Palestinian militants in Gaza could escalate into a wider Middle East conflict. Iran and Hamas have blamed Israel for Haniyeh's killing, and they, together with Hezbollah, have vowed revenge. Asked by reporters whether Iran would stand down, Biden said on Saturday in response to a shouted question, "I hope so. Seeking to bolster defenses in the Middle East in response to threats from Israel's foes, the Pentagon said on Friday it would deploy additional fighter jets and Navy warships to the region. Haniyeh's death was one in a series of killings of senior Hamas figures as the Gaza war nears its 11th month, and it fuelled concern that the conflict in Gaza was turning into a wider Middle East war.

Persons: Joe Biden, Ismail Haniyeh, Fuad Shukr, Israel, Biden, Haniyeh Organizations: Civil, LBJ Presidential, Palestinian, Hezbollah, Pentagon Locations: Austin , Texas, U.S, Iran, Tehran, Gaza, Beirut, Lebanese, Israel, France, Britain, Italy, Egypt, Lebanon, Canada

☆ Iran warns that Hezbollah will likely hit non-military targets in Israeli territory in response to Israel's strike on Beirut
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-03 | by ( Cameron Manley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Iran has warned that Hezbollah may hit "broader and deeper targets" in Israeli territory. Iran's Permanent Mission to the UN said Hezbollah may not "restrict itself solely to military targets." It comes in response to an Israeli strike on Beirut on Tuesday that killed a senior Hezbollah officer. Go to newsletter preferences Thanks for signing up! AdvertisementIran's Permanent Mission to the UN has said that Hezbollah will likely respond to Israel's assassination of one of its top military commanders with "broader and deeper targets" in Israeli territory.

Persons: — Organizations: UN, Service, Business Locations: Iran, Beirut

At least 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 others abducted to Gaza in Hamas’ October 7 assault, according to Israeli authorities. Israel’s military response in the strip has killed nearly 40,000 Palestinians and injured over 90,000, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. As of early July, nearly 2 million people had been displaced in Gaza – almost the entire population, according to UN figures. Ricardo Moraes/Reuters“Brief window”: There are 111 hostages still in Gaza, including 39 believed to be dead, according to data from Netanyahu’s office. Iran and Hamas have blamed the assassination on Israel, which has neither confirmed nor denied involvement in his killing.

Persons: Ricardo Moraes, Benjamin Netanyahu, “ Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, Nissan Kalderon, Ofer Kalderon, Anat Angrest, Matan Angrest, Ismail Haniyeh Organizations: Reuters, Gaza’s Ministry of Health Locations: Gaza, Tel Aviv, Israel, Iran

But although Mr. Nasrallah promised that Hezbollah would respond, he equivocated on the scope and nature of that retaliation. “We have entered a new phase,” he said, speaking in a televised address during the funeral for Mr. Shukr. “You do not realize the red lines you have crossed,” warned Mr. Nasrallah, addressing Israel directly. “The only things lying between us and you are the days, the nights and the battlefield,” said Mr. Nasrallah, again addressing Israel. Credit... Diego Ibarra Sanchez for The New York TimesAfter Mr. Nasrallah finished his speech, Mr. Shukr’s coffin was carried onto the street outside and met a sea of mourners.

Persons: Hassan Nasrallah, Fuad Shukr, Nasrallah, ”, Shukr, Mr, Diego Ibarra Sanchez, Fatima Nizan al, “, ” Aaron Boxerman, Hwaida Saad Organizations: The New York Locations: Lebanese, Beirut, Lebanon, Israel, Lebanon’s, Iran, Credit, Beirut’s, Jerusalem

☆ Opinion | The Gaza Conflict Enters ‘Uncharted Territory’
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-02 | by ( Serge Schmemann | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

He was right; war is never inevitable until it breaks out. He was killed by an explosive device planted in an Iranian guesthouse weeks earlier, and both Iran and Hamas accused Israel of doing it. For Iran, the killing of a senior Hamas leader while he was attending the inauguration of the new Iranian president was a humiliation that the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, declared it was “our duty” to avenge. Mr. Haniyeh, moreover, was a top Hamas negotiator in cease-fire talks, raising questions about whether those negotiations would be put on a long hold. Nonetheless, Mr. Austin, who was on a visit to the Philippines, went on to suggest that there was still room for diplomacy.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Israel, Fuad Shukr, Ismail Haniyeh, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, ”, Haniyeh, Austin, Antony Blinken Organizations: ”, Mr Locations: Beirut, Lebanon, Tehran, Israel, Iran, United States, Philippines, Asia

☆ Israel scored major intelligence wins in daring assassinations of Iranian proxy leaders
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-02 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

AdvertisementA photo taken on July 30 shows the destroyed top floors of an eight-story building following an Israeli military strike on Beirut's southern suburb. AdvertisementA man waves a Hezbollah and a Palestinian flag during the funeral procession of top Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut's southern suburbs on August 1. AdvertisementA man waves a Hezbollah and a Palestinian flag during the funeral procession of top Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut's southern suburbs on August 1. Photo by AFP via Getty ImagesYoav Gallant, Israel's defense minister, said Thursday that "the operation was conducted precisely and professionally" by the IDF and Israeli security forces. In April, Israel's military intelligence chief resigned and said his directorate "did not live up to the task we were entrusted with."

Persons: —, Israel, Fuad Shukr, Shukr, Hasan Nasrallah, Jonathan Lord, KHALED DESOUKI, Bruce Hoffman, Ismail Haniyeh, Masoud, Axios, Hoffman, Mohammed Deif, Yoav Gallant, apparatuses Organizations: Service, Israel, Business, Getty, Jihad Council, US Marine Corps, Israel Defense Forces, Pentagon, Center, New, New American Security, Palestinian, Council, Foreign Relations, The New York Times, Getty Images Israel, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, AFP Locations: Lebanon, Iran, East, Beirut, Golan, New American, Beirut's, AFP, Tehran, Israel, Gaza, Hamas, Palestine

☆ Biden weighs more US defenses for Israel as the region prepares for Iranian retaliation
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —President Joe Biden is weighing more US defenses in the Middle East as the US prepares for an Iranian retaliation against Israel that officials say could include an attack on American forces. The statement did not detail what new deployments would occur ahead of an anticipated Iranian attack in response to the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. The officials said an Iranian response could occur in the coming days. Israel Defense Forces spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said that “international partners” have bolstered their forces in the region, though he did not specify which countries. The US is expecting the anticipated Iranian attack may be similar to the barrage of ballistic missiles and drones launched against Israel on April 13, officials said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu Thursday, Biden, Ismail Haniyeh, Theodore Roosevelt, “ We’re, Benjamin Netanyahu, ” Biden, Joint Base Andrews, Haniyah, ”, Daniel Hagari, Israel’s, Jordan, Hassan Nasrallah, Israel, Haniyeh Organizations: CNN, Israeli, Pentagon, US Central Command, Navy, USS, Marine, Joint Base, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Israel Defense Forces, Defense, Israel Locations: Israel, Tehran, Gulf of Oman, Aden, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Iranian, Jordan, Iran, Beirut, East

☆ Oil rises on risk of broadening Middle East conflict
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The most active contracts on both benchmarks jumped about 4% in the previous session. The killings fueled concern that the 10-month-old war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas was turning into a wider Middle East war, which could potentially lead to disruptions in oil supply from the region. Also pushing up oil prices was a set of data releases from the U.S., the world's top oil consumer, and a weaker dollar. U.S. oil demand was at a seasonal record in May as gasoline consumption surged to its highest since before the pandemic, a separate data release from the EIA showed on Wednesday. A weaker dollar can boost oil demand from investors holding other currencies.

Persons: Ismail Haniyeh, Shino Mitsuko Organizations: Global, Brent, U.S, West Texas, United Nations, U.S . Energy, Administration, Federal Reserve Locations: Iran, U.S, Tehran, Lebanon, Beirut, Gaza, Israel, . U.S

☆ The Threat of More War
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Vivian Nereim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Yesterday, Iran and Hamas accused Israel of killing Ismail Haniyeh, one of the most senior leaders of Hamas, while he was in Tehran. (Haniyeh was Hamas’s lead negotiator in cease-fire talks to end the Gaza war, which began with the Oct. 7 attacks.) And the groups themselves say they do not want a wider regional war. (Hamas has said it wants a wider war, but it is depleted from nearly 10 months of conflict in Gaza.) That’s why, in the span of a few months, Israeli bombs have hit Lebanon, Syria, Iran and Yemen.

Persons: amity, Israel, Ismail Haniyeh Organizations: United, Diplomats Locations: East, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Tehran, United Arab Emirates, Iranian, Gaza, Yesterday, Beirut, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, It’s

☆ Buy gold and oil for protection as Middle East tensions escalate, UBS says
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

As tensions escalate in the Middle East , investors should consider adding gold and oil as a hedge. "A wider regional war could affect oil supplies, which would likely lead to quick price spikes. Gold, meanwhile, should serve its role as a more conservative asset," UBS analysts led by Tilmann Kolb told clients in a Wednesday note. Gold has risen since the Beirut strike, "underlining its risk hedge characteristics," the analysts said. High demand from banks and a likely uptick in demand when the Federal Reserve lowers rates should also push gold prices higher, they said.

Persons: Tilmann Kolb, Ismail Haniyeh, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Fuad Shukr Organizations: UBS, New York Times, Federal Locations: East, Israel, Iran, Tehran, Lebanon, Golan Heights, Beirut

☆ Hezbollah Leader Threatens Retaliation Against Israel, Saying Conflict Is in ‘New Phase’
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Euan Ward | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The leader of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, said on Thursday that its conflict with Israel had entered a new phase after an Israeli strike in Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, this week. But although Mr. Nasrallah promised that Hezbollah would respond, he equivocated on the scope and nature of that retaliation. “We have entered a new phase,” he said, speaking in a televised address during the funeral for Mr. Shukr. “You do not realize the red lines you have crossed,” warned Mr. Nasrallah, addressing Israel directly. The speech by Mr. Nasrallah on Thursday appeared to straddle that line.

Persons: Hassan Nasrallah, Fuad Shukr, Nasrallah, ”, Shukr, Mr Locations: Lebanese, Israel, Lebanon’s, Beirut, Iran

The strike on Beirut was the first time during this war that Israel has targeted such an influential Hezbollah leader in Lebanon’s capital. Hours later, the killing in Iran of Hamas’s political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, was considered the most brazen breach of Iran’s defenses in years. Image A protests in Tehran on Wednesday after Ismail Haniyeh, a senior Hamas leader, was assassinated in Iran. Despite his title as Hamas’s political leader, Mr. Haniyeh is replaceable, said Joost Hiltermann, the Middle East and North Africa program director for the International Crisis Group. In January, Israeli strikes killed a senior Hamas leader in Hezbollah’s stronghold in Beirut, leading to fears that Hezbollah would mount a particularly fierce response on Hamas’s behalf.

Persons: Amira, Hassan Fadlallah, Fuad Shukr, Ismail Haniyeh, Diego Ibarra Sanchez, Iran —, Michael Stephens, Haniyeh’s, Stephens, Mr, Andreas Krieg, Arash Khamooshi, ” Mr, Krieg, ”, it’s, Haniyeh, Joost Hiltermann, “, Israel, Israel Katz, Katz, Itamar Rabinovich, Israel’s, Rabinovich, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Vivian Yee Organizations: Israel’s, The New York Times Iranian, Foreign Policy Research Institute, King’s College ,, The New York Times, International Crisis, United Nations, Hezbollah Locations: Dahiyeh, Beirut, Lebanon, Gaza, Israel, Iran, simultaneity, Yemen, Iraq, Credit, United States, Philadelphia, King’s College , London, Tehran, East, North Africa, Hezbollah’s, Syria, Bourj el Barajneh, U.S, Washington

☆ CNBC Daily Open: Fed signals possible rate cut; Wall Street soars; oil gains as Middle East tensions rise
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Kevin Lim | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Rate cut on horizonThe Federal Reserve expectedly kept its benchmark rate steady at 5.25% to 5.50% on Wednesday, but Chairman Jerome Powell signaled the U.S. central bank could cut the rate in its September meeting. U.S. stocks rallyU.S. stocks jumped after Powell said a rate cut in September was "on the table." Oil gainsU.S. crude oil futures rose 4% on Wednesday after Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran. Japan currency interventionJapanese authorities spent 5.53 trillion yen, or $36.8 billion, to support the yen in July, official data showed. [PRO] Rate cut beneficiariesCNBC Pro screened for stocks in the S&P 500 that tend to rise the most when short-term rates start to decline.

Persons: expectedly, Jerome Powell, Powell, Ismail Haniyeh, Israel, Oil Organizations: CNBC, Nasdaq, Dow Jones, Nvidia, Devices, Boeing, Treasury, Facebook, Google, Meta, Oil, West Texas Intermediate, U.S Locations: U.S, Tehran, Iran, Israel, Beirut, Japan

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