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☆ U.S. shoots down multiple drones launched from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Nov 22 (Reuters) - The United States shot down multiple one-way attack drones launched from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen on Thursday morning local time, U.S. Central Command said on X. "The drones were shot down while the U.S. warship was on patrol in the Red Sea. The ship and crew sustained no damage or injury," the post said. Reporting by Idrees Ali and Costas Pitas; Editing by Sandra MalerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Idrees Ali, Costas Pitas, Sandra Maler Organizations: United, U.S . Central Command, Thomson Locations: United States, Yemen, U.S, Red

BAGHDAD, Nov 21 (Reuters) - U.S. forces were attacked at an airbase west of Baghdad early on Tuesday and a U.S. military aircraft responded in self-defence, U.S. officials said, in the first U.S. retaliation on Iraqi territory to dozens of recent militant drone and missile attacks. Ain al-Asad airbase was attacked by a close-range ballistic missile which resulted in eight injuries and minor damage to infrastructure, two U.S. officials said. The U.S. had so far limited its response to numerous recent attacks against its forces in Iraq and neighbouring Syria, claimed by Iran-aligned Iraqi militia groups, to three separate sets of strikes in Syria. U.S. and international forces that make up the global coalition to fight the remnants of Islamic State have been targeted more than 60 times in Iraq and Syria since Oct. 17, U.S. officials say. Dozens of U.S. servicemen suffered minor injuries in the attacks but have all returned to duty, U.S. officials say.

Persons: Asad, Timour Azhari, Phil Stewart, Ali Idrees, Andrew Heavens, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: U.S, Israel, Hamas, Washington, Hezbollah, Thomson Locations: BAGHDAD, Baghdad, U.S, Ain, Iranian, Iraq, Syria, Iran, Gaza, Israel, State, Washington

The conflict is also testing the limits of the regional coalition whose members - which include the Syrian government, Hezbollah, Hamas and other militant groups from Iraq to Yemen - have differing priorities and domestic challenges. On Oct. 7, Hamas' military commander Mohammed Deif called on its axis allies to join the struggle. Yet, like its backer Iran, Hezbollah has avoided an all-out confrontation. Iran does not recognise Israel's existence, while Israel has long threatened military action against Iran if diplomacy fails to curb its disputed nuclear activity. "Iran has shown a four-decade commitment to fighting America and Israel without entering into direct conflict.

Persons: Ali Khamenei, Ismail Haniyeh, wouldn't, Yemen's Houthis, Mohanad Hage Ali, Israel, Mohammed Deif, Khaled Meshaal, Dennis Ross, Hamas didn't, didn't, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Joe Biden, Lloyd Austin, Yoav Gallant, Israel didn't, Karim Sadjadpour, Parisa Hafezi, Laila Bassam, Arshad Mohammed, Tom Perry, Jonathan Saul, Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart, Pravin Organizations: Israel, Reuters, Hezbollah, Carnegie Middle East Center, Hamas, Washington Institute for Near, Iran, AMERICA, United, U.S, Pentagon ., . Defense, NORTH Austin, Carnegie Endowment, International, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Tehran, Israel, Iran, Palestinian, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Beirut, Gaza, Lebanon, Palestine, United States, U.S, East, Iranian, Afghanistan, Seoul, ISRAEL, America, Dubai, Saint Paul, Jerusalem, Washington

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Thomas Hudner, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, took down the drone early morning local time. The officials did not say whether the drone was armed or how close it came to the ship before being shot down. Last month, another U.S. warship intercepted four cruise missiles and 15 drones launched by the Iran-aligned Houthi movement from Yemen towards Israel. Last week, the Houthis shot down a U.S. military MQ-9 drone while it was in international airspace. The measures include increasing U.S. military patrols, restricting access to base facilities and boosting intelligence collection, including through drone and other surveillance operations, officials say.

Persons: Thomas Hudner, Arleigh Burke, Yemen's, Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart, Bill Berkrot Organizations: U.S . Navy, Reuters, United, U.S, Pentagon, Israel, Thomson Locations: Yemen, United States, Israel, Washington, Iran, U.S, Mandeb, Saudi, Syria, Iraq, Gaza

[1/2] A view shows smoke in the Gaza Strip as seen from Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel October 18, 2023. REUTERS/Amir Cohen/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON/BAGHDAD, Nov 9 (Reuters) - A defective drone in Iraq may have helped keep America from being dragged deeper into a widening Middle East conflict. The possibility of a major strike that draws America into a conflict is "a very realistic concern," he said. "I think they are calibrating the attacks to harass rather than kill en masse U.S. troops," he said of Iraqi and Syrian militias. "We had rocket attacks, mortar attacks, before we got hit with the big bomb," he said.

Persons: Amir Cohen, David Schenker, Joe Biden, Biden, Antony Blinken, Mohammed Shia Al, Sudani, Ali Turki, Arif al, didn't, Saddam Hussein, it's, Blinken, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, isn't, Biden's, Lloyd Austin, hasn't, Tom Cotton, Austin, Lindsey Graham, Austin demurred, Graham, David Madaras, Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, Ahmed Rasheed, Amina Ismail, Parisa, Michael Georgy, Pravin Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, Israel, Pentagon, Washington Institute for Near, Sunday, Haq, IRAN Iraq's, U.S . Navy, Wednesday, U.S . Defense, Democrat, Senate Armed Services Committee, Republican, United, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, WASHINGTON, BAGHDAD, Iraq, America, Erbil, Iranian, Syria, U.S, Iran, Syrian, Sudani's, Baghdad, IRAQ, IRAN, Tehran, Iraqi, Lebanon, Russian, Washington, TEHRAN, Yemen, Ukraine, China, pullout, Afghanistan, Ohio, Beirut, United States

☆ U.S. Forces Under Fire in Middle East as America Slides Towards Brink
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +10 min

By Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali and Ahmed RasheedWASHINGTON/BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A defective drone in Iraq may have helped keep America from being dragged deeper into a widening Middle East conflict. The possibility of a major strike that draws America into a conflict is "a very realistic concern," he said. "I think they are calibrating the attacks to harass rather than kill en masse U.S. troops," he said of Iraqi and Syrian militias. Iran says it had no role in Hamas' Oct. 7 raid on Israel, though it has welcomed the attack. "We had rocket attacks, mortar attacks, before we got hit with the big bomb," he said.

Persons: Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, Ahmed Rasheed WASHINGTON, David Schenker, Joe Biden, Biden, Antony Blinken, Mohammed Shia Al, Sudani, Ali Turki, Arif al, didn't, Saddam Hussein, it's, Blinken, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, isn't, Biden's, Lloyd Austin, hasn't, Tom Cotton, Austin, Lindsey Graham, Austin demurred, Graham, David Madaras, Ahmed Rasheed, Amina Ismail, Parisa, Michael Georgy, Pravin Char Organizations: U.S, Israel, Pentagon, Washington Institute for Near, Sunday, Haq, IRAN Iraq's, U.S . Navy, Wednesday, U.S . Defense, Democrat, Senate Armed Services Committee, Republican, United Locations: BAGHDAD, Iraq, America, Erbil, Iranian, Syria, Gaza, U.S, Iran, Syrian, Israel, Sudani's, Baghdad, IRAQ, IRAN, Tehran, Iraqi, Lebanon, Russian, Washington, TEHRAN, Yemen, Ukraine, China, pullout, Afghanistan, Ohio, Beirut, United States

☆ Drone, explosive attacks target US forces across Iraq
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

There had been four attacks against U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria in the past 24 hours, a separate U.S. official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. The security sources said the patrol was accompanied by Iraqi counter-terrorism forces and that a vehicle in the patrol was damaged. A drone was also launched at al-Harir air base in Erbil which house U.S. and international forces but was downed before reaching its target, security sources said. It added that the base had been evacuated of U.S.-led coalition forces on Oct. 20. The U.S. military official said they "don't have any updates regarding adjustments in force posture throughout Iraq and Syria."

Persons: Kamal Ayash, Jamal al, Ahmed Rasheed, Timour, Idrees Ali, Timour Azhari, Mark Heinrich, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: U.S, Federal Iraqi, Pentagon, United, Thomson Locations: MOSUL, Iraq, U.S, Israel, Syria, Mosul, Ain, Asad, Baghdad, Erbil, Gaza, Iran, Tehran, Iranian, United States, Anbar, Badrani, Washington

☆ Houthis tried to recover U.S. drone they shot down, Pentagon says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Yemen's Houthis attempted to recover a U.S. drone they had shot down and that landed in the Red Sea, but it is unlikely they will recover anything of significance, the Pentagon said on Thursday. On Wednesday, the Iran-aligned Houthi movement and U.S. officials said a U.S. MQ-9 drone was shot down off the coast of Yemen. "We know that there was an attempt by Houthis to try and recover them MQ-9 but it is unlikely that they will be able to retrieve anything of significance," Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh told reporters. Singh added that the United States was not currently looking to recover the downed drone. While U.S. drones have been shot down by Houthis in the past, this incident comes at a particularly tense time in the region.

Persons: Yemen's Houthis, Houthis, Sabrina Singh, Singh, Idrees Ali, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Pentagon, Houthis, Thomson Locations: U.S, Red, Iran, Yemen, United States, Washington, Israel

☆ US drone shot down near Yemen -officials
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 8 (Reuters) - A U.S. military MQ-9 drone was shot down on Wednesday by Yemen's Houthis, two U.S. officials and the Iran-aligned Houthi movement said. While U.S. drones have been shot down by Houthis in the past, this incident comes at a particularly tense time in the region. The U.S. officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the drone, made by General Atomics, had been brought down off the coast of Yemen. In a statement, a Houthi military spokesperson said they shot down the drone in airspace over Yemeni territorial waters. Last month, a U.S. Navy warship intercepted four cruise missiles and more than a dozen drones launched by the Houthis from Yemen headed toward Israel.

Persons: Yemen's Houthis, General Atomics, Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart, Aziz El Yaakoubi, Chris Reese, Rod Nickel Organizations: Houthis, U.S, Pentagon, U.S . Navy, Base Elmendorf, Thomson Locations: U.S, Iran, Washington, Israel, Yemen, Red, Richardson , Alaska

Two sources in Lebanon familiar with the Iran-backed group's arsenal say he was referring to Hezbollah's greatly enhanced anti-ship missile capabilities, including the Russian-made Yakhont missile with a range of 300 km (186 miles). Hezbollah perceives the U.S. warships as a direct threat because of their ability to hit the group and its allies. PAYING ATTENTIONThree current and one former U.S. official said Hezbollah has built an impressive array of weapons, including anti-ship missiles. Asked about the sources' accounts of Hezbollah having acquired Yakhont missiles, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "First of all, this is news without any confirmation at all. Moscow said in 2010 it had signed a deal to send anti-ship cruise missiles including a version of the Yakhont to Damascus.

Persons: Aziz Taher, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Washington, Bashar al, Assad, Nasrallah, We're, Dmitry Peskov, Nasser Qandil, Qandil, Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart, John Davison, Maya Gebeily, Guy Faulconbridge, Tom Perry, Claudia Parsons Organizations: REUTERS, Group, U.S, Yakhont, Hamas, Hezbollah, Pentagon, Friday, Washington -, Strategic, International Studies, CSIS, Reuters, Marines, Thomson Locations: Aaramta, Lebanon, Russian, Syria, States, U.S, BEIRUT, Israel, Iran, Washington, Jihad, United States, Gaza, Lebanese, Iraq, Beirut, Russia, Hezbollah, Moscow, Damascus

☆ US carries out new strikes against facility used by Iran in Syria
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Idrees Ali | Thomson Reuters | National Security Correspondent Focusing On The Pentagon In Washington D.C. Reports On U.S. Military Activity | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Ints Kalnins/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 8 (Reuters) - The United States, for the second time in recent weeks, carried out strikes on Wednesday against a weapon storage facility in eastern Syria that the Pentagon said was used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and affiliated groups. As tensions soar over the Israel-Hamas conflict, U.S. and coalition troops have been attacked at least 40 times in Iraq and Syria by Iran-backed forces since the start of October. The United States has occasionally carried out retaliatory strikes against Iranian-backed forces in the region after they attack American forces. On Oct. 26, U.S. forces attacked two facilities used by the IRGC and groups its backs. The United States has sent warships and fighter aircraft to the region since the Israel-Hamas conflict erupted on Oct. 7, including two aircraft carriers, to try to deter Iran and Iran-backed groups.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Ints, Austin, Idrees Ali, Chris Reese, Lisa Shumaker, Sandra Maler Organizations: Defense, REUTERS, Rights, Pentagon, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, . Defense, U.S, United, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Riga, Latvia, United States, Syria, Israel, U.S, Iraq, Iran, State, East, Yemen

☆ U.S. flying drones over Gaza in search of hostages
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 2 (Reuters) - The United States has been flying surveillance drones over Gaza in search of hostages taken by Hamas when the Palestinian militant group attacked Israel on Oct. 7, two U.S. officials said on Thursday. The two U.S. officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the U.S was flying intelligence gathering drones over Gaza to assist with hostage location efforts. U.S. officials have said 10 Americans who remain unaccounted for may be among the more than 200 people taken as hostages into Gaza, where they are believed to be held in Hamas' extensive tunnel network. Israeli forces on Thursday encircled Gaza City - the Gaza Strip's main city - in their assault on Hamas, which resisted with hit-and-run attacks from underground tunnels. Israel's retaliation bombardment and ground offensive of the small Palestinian enclave of 2.3 million has killed at least 9,061 people, according to Gaza health authorities.

Persons: Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, Michael Perry Organizations: United, Thomson Locations: United States, Gaza, Palestinian, Israel, U.S

Gaza City - traditionally a Hamas stronghold - was surrounded, military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said. The Israeli military said its troops and tanks were encountering mines and booby traps as they advanced in Gaza. Those who live in Gaza City and the north will have to find shelter elsewhere as the Israeli forces have cut off roads. Israeli spokesperson Hagari said Israeli was also "highly prepared" on its northern border with Lebanon, where he said Iranian-backed militants were carrying out actions with the aim of diverting it from the war in Gaza. Palestinians trapped in Gaza City hoped that a truce could be reached soon.

Persons: Daniel Hagari, Leo Varadkar, Antony Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Mustafa Dalul, Khan Younis, Amir Cohen, Ayman Safadi, Safadi, Abu Ubaida, Gazans, Hagari, Nidal al, Ali Sawafta, Dan Williams, Emily Rose, Maytaal, Clauda, Patricia Zengerle, Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, Michael Perry, Angus MacSwan, Miral Fahmy, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: Ireland's, Palestinian, Palestine, United, Israel, REUTERS, Jordan's, Qatari, West Bank, Workers, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, GAZA, JERUSALEM, Gaza City, Blinken, Iran, United Arab Emirates, Amman, United States, Egypt, Rafah, Lebanon, Iranian, Ramallah, Jerusalem, Dubai, Washington

Witnesses said Israeli forces targeted Gaza's main north-south road on Monday and attacked Gaza City from two directions. Israel said its troops freed a soldier from Hamas captivity, one of 239 hostages who Israel says were captured on Oct. 7. Gaza health authorities say that 8,306 people, including 3,457 minors, have been killed in Israeli attacks since Oct. 7. Military specialists said Israeli forces are moving slowly in their ground offensive in part to keep open the possibility that Hamas militants will negotiate the release of the hostages. Netanyahu condemned the video as "cruel psychological propaganda" and said Israel's ground campaign created possibilities for rescuing the hostages.

Persons: Netanyahu, Benjamin Netanyahu, Witnesses, Israel, U.N, Amir Cohen, OCHA, Rick Brennan, Yelena Trupanob, Danielle Aloni, Rimon Kirsht, Aloni, Biden, Vladimir Putin, Nidal al, Yomna Ehab, Ali Swafta, James Mackenzie, Henriette Chacar, Dan Williams, Emma Farge, Jonathan Landay, Idrees Ali, Rami Ayyub, Stephen Coates Organizations: Reuters, REUTERS, United Nations, Health Organization, White, West, Thomson Locations: Gaza's, Gaza, GAZA, JERUSALEM, Israel, Gaza City, Yassin, U.S, Egypt, Rafah, Russia, Ukraine, Dagestan, Tel Aviv

U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin speaks to the media during a NATO Defence Ministers' meeting at the Alliance's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium October 12, 2023. REUTERS/Johanna Geron/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 31 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Tuesday that Russia would be successful in Ukraine unless the United States kept up its support for Kyiv. "I can guarantee that without our support (Russian President Vladimir) Putin will be successful," Austin said during the hearing. Congress has already approved $113 billion for Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022. Democrats solidly back Biden's strategy of combining Ukraine aid with support for Israel, as do many Republicans in both the Senate and House of Representatives.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Johanna Geron, Antony Blinken, Joe Biden's, Vladimir, Putin, Austin, Biden, Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart, Chizu Nomiyama, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Defence, NATO Defence Ministers, REUTERS, Rights, . Defense, Kyiv, Israel, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, Russia, Ukraine, United States, Austin, Israel, U.S, Bakhmut

☆ Hamas Says It Fires on Israeli Troops Pressing Gaza Ground Assault
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

Israel has expanded ground operations in Gaza as it seeks to punish Hamas for a deadly gun rampage three weeks ago that Israeli authorities say killed over 1,400 people. Witnesses said Israeli forces targeted Gaza's main north-south road on Monday and attacked Gaza City from two directions. Gaza health authorities say that 8,306 people - including 3,457 minors - have been killed in Israeli air and ground attacks. Military specialists said Israeli forces are moving slowly in their ground offensive in Gaza in part to keep open the possibility that Hamas militants will negotiate the release of the hostages. Netanyahu condemned the video as "cruel psychological propaganda" and said Israel's ground campaign created possibilities for rescuing the hostages.

Persons: Nidal, Emily Rose, Witnesses, Israel, U.N, Rick Brennan, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Yelena Trupanob, Danielle Aloni, Rimon Kirsht, Aloni, Biden, Vladimir Putin, Nidal al, Yomna Ehab, Ali Swafta, James Mackenzie, Henriette Chacar, Dan Williams, Emma Farge, Jonathan Landay, Idrees Ali, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Reuters, United Nations, Health Organization, Israel's, Hamas, White, West Locations: Emily Rose GAZA, JERUSALEM, Gaza, Israel, Gaza City, Yassin, Egypt, Rafah, Russia, Ukraine, Dagestan, Tel Aviv

As tensions soar over the Israel-Hamas conflict, U.S. and coalition troops have been attacked at least 19 times in Iraq and in Syria by Iran-backed forces in the past week. The targets were weapons and munitions storage facilities, the official added, speaking late on Thursday to reporters in Washington. The United States has occasionally carried out retaliatory strikes against Iranian-backed forces in the region after they attack American forces. In March, the U.S. military carried out multiple air strikes in Syria against Iran-aligned groups that it blamed for a drone attack that killed an American contractor. There is growing concern that the Israel-Hamas conflict could spread through the Middle East and turn U.S. troops at isolated bases into targets.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin III, Olivier Matthys, Lloyd Austin, Joe Biden, Austin, Abu Kamal, Biden, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Asad, Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart, Jamie Freed, Michael Perry Organizations: Defense, Ukraine Defense Contact, NATO Defense, Rights, U.S, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Pentagon, . Defense, United, Iranian, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Brussels, Belgium, Syria, Iraq, Israel, U.S, Iran, Iranian, Syrian, Washington, United States, Tehran, State, East, Yemen

Jacquelyn... Acquire Licensing Rights Read moreWASHINGTON, Oct 26 (Reuters) - About 900 more U.S. troops have arrived in the Middle East or are heading there to bolster air defenses for U.S. personnel amid a surge in attacks by Iran-affiliated groups, the Pentagon said on Thursday. A total of 21 U.S. forces have suffered minor injuries, the vast majority of them traumatic brain injuries. The measures include increasing U.S. military patrols, restricting access to base facilities and boosting intelligence collection, including through drone and other surveillance operations, officials say. During a false alarm at Al-Asad air base in Iraq on Thursday, a civilian contractor died from cardiac arrest. Reporting by Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart; Editing by Chris Reese and Howard GollerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Joe Biden, Patrick Ryder, Ryder, I'm, Hossein Amirabdollahian, Asad, Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart, Chris Reese, Howard Goller Organizations: Ben Gurion, Hamas, Pentagon, United, U.S, Reuters, Area Defense, Patriot, Iranian, United Nations, Palestinian, Thomson Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, WASHINGTON, Iran, Iraq, Syria, U.S, United States, Gaza, Yemen, Iranian

☆ Maine shooting suspect is U.S. Army Reserve petroleum supply specialist, Army says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] A person of interest identified by police as Robert Card is seen in this handout image released October 25, 2023. Lewiston Maine Police Department via Facebook/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 26 (Reuters) - The person at the center of a police manhunt following a mass shooting in Maine, Robert Card, is a petroleum supply specialist in the U.S. Army Reserve with more than two decades in the service and no prior overseas deployments, the Army said on Thursday. Card, a sergeant 1st class, enlisted in Dec. 2002, the Army said. State and local police identified Card, who reportedly had been committed to a mental health facility over the summer, as a person of interest in Wednedsay's shooting. Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; Editing by Chizu NomiyamaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Robert Card, Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, Chizu Organizations: Lewiston, Lewiston Maine Police Department, Facebook, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, U.S . Army Reserve, Army, Thomson Locations: Lewiston Maine, Maine

☆ 900 US Troops Heading to Middle East to Bolster Defenses as Attacks Surge
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Idrees Ali and Phil StewartWASHINGTON (Reuters) - About 900 more U.S. troops have arrived in the Middle East or are heading there to bolster air defenses for U.S. personnel amid a surge in attacks by Iran-affiliated groups, the Pentagon said on Thursday. A total of 21 U.S. forces have suffered minor injuries, the vast majority of them traumatic brain injuries. Ryder said U.S. forces were again targeted earlier on Thursday in Iraq but the attack failed. The measures include increasing U.S. military patrols, restricting access to base facilities and boosting intelligence collection, including through drone and other surveillance operations, officials say. During a false alarm at Al-Asad air base in Iraq on Thursday, a civilian contractor died from cardiac arrest.

Persons: Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart WASHINGTON, Patrick Ryder, Ryder, I'm, Hossein Amirabdollahian, Asad, Phil Stewart, Chris Reese, Howard Goller Organizations: Pentagon, United, U.S, Reuters, Area Defense, Patriot, Iranian, United Nations, Palestinian Locations: Iran, Israel, Iraq, Syria, U.S, United States, Gaza, Yemen, Iranian

☆ US Strikes Iranian Targets in Syria -Pentagon
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

The targets were weapons and munitions storage facilities, the official added, speaking late on Thursday to reporters in Washington. The United States has occasionally carried out retaliatory strikes against Iranian-backed forces in the region after they attack American forces. In March, the U.S. military carried out multiple air strikes in Syria against Iran-aligned groups that it blamed for a drone attack that killed an American contractor. There is growing concern that the Israel-Hamas conflict could spread through the Middle East and turn U.S. troops at isolated bases into targets. The United States did not coordinate the strikes with Israel, the official added.

Persons: Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart WASHINGTON, Lloyd Austin, Joe Biden, Austin, Abu Kamal, Biden, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Asad, Phil Stewart, Jamie Freed, Michael Perry Organizations: U.S, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Pentagon, . Defense, United, Iranian, Reuters Locations: Syria, Iraq, Israel, U.S, Iran, Iranian, Syrian, Washington, United States, Tehran, State, East, Yemen

After Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7 and killed some 1,400 people, the United States stood by its ally and stressed that Israel has the right to defend itself. The priority is on working to get the hostages out step-by-step," said a source briefed on the hostage negotiations. The first U.S. official said that along with the hostage negotiations, advising Israel to hold off on its invasion could also give more time for humanitarian aid to be delivered to Gaza. U.S. officials have urged Israel to follow the laws of war in any invasion of Gaza, which is home to 2.3 million people. Israel would have a difficult time fighting a war on two fronts simultaneously if Hezbollah launches a full-scale fight in the north, U.S. officials say.

Persons: Israel, Joe Biden, John Kirby, Lloyd Austin, Washington Eliav Benjamin, Lebanon's, Antony Blinken, Yoav Gallant, Washington, Matt Spetalnick Steve Holland, Humeyra Pamuk, Dan Williams, Andrew Mills, Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, Trevor Hunnicutt, Simon Lewis, Michelle Nichols, Grant McCool Organizations: United, Palestinian, Washington, House, Pentagon, State Department, Friday, U.S, United Nations, White House, Israel's Army, Hamas, NBC, Sunday, Sunday . Washington, Hezbollah, Thomson Locations: United States, Gaza, Qatar, Israel, U.S, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Britain, Egypt, White, Washington, Iran, Sunday ., Jerusalem, Doha

☆ US Advises Israel Hold off on Gaza Invasion, Keeps Hamas Mediator Qatar in Loop -Sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

After Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7 and killed some 1,400 people, the United States stood by its ally and stressed that Israel has the right to defend itself. The priority is on working to get the hostages out step-by-step," said a source briefed on the hostage negotiations. The first U.S. official said that along with the hostage negotiations, advising Israel to hold off on its invasion could also give more time for humanitarian aid to be delivered to Gaza. U.S. officials have urged Israel to follow the laws of war in any invasion of Gaza, which is home to 2.3 million people. US DEFENSEIsraeli officials have increasingly signaled in public that a Gaza invasion could be imminent.

Persons: Matt Spetalnick, Steve Holland, Humeyra Pamuk, Israel, Joe Biden, John Kirby, Lloyd Austin, Washington Eliav Benjamin, Lebanon's, Antony Blinken, Yoav Gallant, Washington, Matt Spetalnick Steve Holland, Dan Williams, Andrew Mills, Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, Trevor Hunnicutt, Simon Lewis, Michelle Nichols, Grant McCool Organizations: United, Palestinian, Washington, House, Pentagon, State Department, Friday, U.S, United Nations, White House, Israel's Army, Hamas, NBC, Sunday, Sunday . Washington, Hezbollah Locations: Humeyra Pamuk WASHINGTON, United States, Gaza, Qatar, Israel, U.S, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Britain, Egypt, White, Washington, Iran, Sunday ., Jerusalem, Doha

The Pentagon building is seen in Arlington, Virginia, U.S. October 9, 2020. "We don't necessarily see that Iran has explicitly ordered them to take these kinds of attacks," Pentagon spokesperson Brigadier General Patrick Ryder told reporters. Pressed on the issue, Ryder added: "We haven't seen a direct order, for example, from the Supreme Leader saying: 'Go out and do this.'" Ryder, however, said that the United States ultimately holds Iran responsible for such attacks by militant groups "by virtue of the fact that they are supported by Iran." The United States has also sent warships and fighter aircraft to the region to try to deter Iran and Iran-backed groups from widening the conflict.

Persons: Carlos Barria, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Patrick Ryder, Ryder, Lloyd Austin, Austin, Asad, Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, Chizu Nomiyama, Howard Goller Organizations: Pentagon, REUTERS, Rights, United, Iran's, Reuters, Biden, Defense, Area Defense, Thomson Locations: Arlington , Virginia, U.S, United States, Iraq, Syria, Iran, Israel, Gaza, Tehran, Islamic Republic, Iranian, Yemen

REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 21 (Reuters) - The U.S. will send a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system and additional Patriot air defense missile system battalions to the Middle East, the Pentagon said on Saturday, in response to recent attacks on U.S. troops in the region. The United States has sent a significant amount of naval power to the Middle East in recent weeks, including two aircraft carriers, their support ships and about 2,000 Marines. "Following detailed discussions with President (Joe) Biden on recent escalations by Iran and its proxy forces across the Middle East Region, today I directed a series of additional steps to further strengthen the Department of Defense posture in the region," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement. The deployments come two years after Biden's administration withdrew air defense systems from the Middle East, citing a reduction in tensions with Iran. The Patriot, considered one of the most advanced U.S. air defense systems, is usually in short supply, with allies around the world vying for it.

Persons: Khan Younis, Abu Mustafa, Joe, Biden, Lloyd Austin, Austin, Israel, Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart, William Mallard Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Area Defense, Pentagon, United, Defense, U.S, Gaza's Health, Thomson Locations: Gaza, U.S, United States, Washington, Iran, Israel, East, South Korea, China, Iraq, Syria, Iranian, Yemen

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