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Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati attends a press conference in Paris, France, on October 24. “We are doing our best and are optimistic that within the next few hours or days we will have a ceasefire,” Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said Wednesday in an interview with Lebanese media outlet Al Jadeed. Any progress at lowering temperatures in the region will be considered a win inside the White House. CIA Director Bill Burns was in Cairo on Thursday for discussions on Gaza and Lebanon, including a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. Read more about the diplomatic push.

Persons: Najib Mikati, Sarah Meyssonnier, Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, Netanyahu, Biden, –, Bill Burns, Abdel Fattah El, Amos Hochstein, Brett McGurk, Hochstein Organizations: Reuters American, CIA, White Locations: Paris, France, Gaza, Lebanon, Israel, Cairo, Iran

U.S. officials expect that in the coming weeks, Iran is likely to contact individual Americans directly to try to influence how they vote, stir societal divide or incite violence, according to three sources with knowledge of U.S. intelligence reporting on the issue. The U.S. intelligence community noted this month that Iranian hackers appear to have gained access to some Americans’ voting records, as they did in 2020. Last week, U.S. intelligence officials told reporters that both Iran and Russia were continuing propaganda operations to influence American voters and society. A spokesperson for Iran’s mission to the United Nations didn’t respond to a request for comment, but officials for Tehran have routinely denied American accusations of election influence campaigns. In the leadup to the 2020 election, U.S. officials announced that Iran was behind an ambitious effort to sow election discord.

Persons: ”, John Hultquist, Donald Trump, ” Max Lesser, we’ve, IRGC, desecraters Organizations: Google’s Threat Intelligence Group, United Nations, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, NBC News, “, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Department, Trump militia, Google, Haaretz Locations: Iran, U.S, Sweden, Israel, Russia, Tehran, Florida, Swedish

Satellite imagery suggests that Israeli’s attack on Iran appears to have damaged a key element of Tehran’s ballistic missile production and air defense sites, potentially leaving it exposed to any future attacks, military analysts told NBC News. Israel appears to have targeted Iran’s missile production process instead of storage sites — thereby making it harder for Tehran to add to an already dwindling supply of missiles. “It was a very smart attack, targeting all the sensitive sites,” Hinz said in an interview. "The missiles are dispersed all over the country, some of them are deep inside Iran and deep underground. "But when you hit the missile production facilities, you can't produce them anymore."

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Fabian Hinz, ” Hinz Organizations: NBC, Planet Labs, International Institute for Strategic Studies Locations: Iran, Tehran, Israel, London

☆ One of Republicans’ biggest inflation cudgels against Democrats has evaporated
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-29 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

It’s a crucial trend that undercuts one of the biggest arguments Republicans have used to hammer Democrats over the cost of living. Although gas prices are down and the rate of inflation has cooled sharply, consumers are still hurting from years of price hikes. After Russia invaded Ukraine, oil prices skyrocketed due to fears of massive supply disruptions. Drivers rolling up to gas stations in some battleground states are enjoying significant price drops, including Nevada (79 cents cheaper than a year ago), Arizona (78 cents cheaper), Pennsylvania (36 cents cheaper) and Wisconsin (32 cents cheaper). But for now the markets appear to be bracing for muted prices, a situation that should keep a lid on gas prices.

Persons: Harris, ” Patrick De Haan, It’s, we’re, ”, De Haan, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, Biden, Trump, Tom Kloza, Kloza, Brent, “ Organizations: New, New York CNN, Biden, CNN, AAA, Drivers, Iran, Oil Price Information Service, Citigroup, ClearView Energy Partners Locations: New York, Nevada, Arizona, Russia, Ukraine, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Israel, Iran, Persian, China, United States

☆ Israel’s strikes on Iran shattered a forty-year taboo. Tehran may now be forced to rethink its defense strategy
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-29 | by ( Mostafa Salem | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Israel openly said it conducted “precise strikes” on military targets in Iran. “Israel now has broader aerial freedom of operation in Iran,” Israel’s military spokesman Daniel Hagari said, touting achievements in the attack. The idea was that if Israel were to strike Iran, Tehran would retaliate by unleashing its militias against Israel. Iranian officials have repeatedly stated that they have no intention of weaponizing the country’s nuclear program, while simultaneously using its potential as leverage in negotiations with the West. “Even the more hawkish American presidents have not favored taking military strikes because the most likely outcome is that, at some point, that will make Iran turn nuclear,” Parsi said.

Persons: CNN —, Israel, Israel didn’t, “, ”, Daniel Hagari, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Benjamin Netanyahu, Nicole Grajewski, Hassan Nasrallah, ” Mohammad Ali Shabani, Amwaj.media, Trump, Fatemeh, Parsi, Grajewski Organizations: CNN, Schools, Iran’s, Quincy Institute, Responsible, Nuclear, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Israel, West, Bushehr Nuclear Power, Anadolu Agency, Getty Locations: CNN — Iran, Republic, Israel, Iran, Islamic Republic, Israeli, Damascus, “ Israel, Tehran, Washington, Syria, Israel’s, Gaza, Lebanon, London, Iraq, Bushehr

☆ Naim Qassem: Hezbollah names a new leader to replace Nasrallah. Here’s what we know about him
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-29 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Hezbollah has named Shiite cleric Naim Qassem as leader, over a month after his predecessor Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike. Not for long.”The cleric had long been the group’s second-in-command, serving as deputy chief to the late Nasrallah. The 71-year-old Shiite cleric helped found Hezbollah in 1982, and has served seven consecutive terms as deputy secretary-general since 1991. Before killing Nasrallah, Israel also targeted his predecessor Abbas al-Musawi, who was killed in an airstrike in 1992. Qassem represented “the lower middle class,” while Nasrallah “belonged to the impoverished class in Lebanon,” Ali said.

Persons: Naim Qassem, Hassan Nasrallah, Qassem, “, Israel –, Yoav Gallant, Nasrallah, ” Mohanad Hage Ali, Malcolm H, ” Hashem Safieddine, “ Harakat al, –, Amal, Nabih, Israel, Abbas, Ali, ”, Nasrallah “, ” Ali Organizations: CNN, group’s Senior, Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center, Lebanese Locations: group’s, Israel, Lebanon, Iran, Beirut, Lebanese, Kfar Kila, “, Nabih Berri, Gaza

☆ Iran says it has a ‘right to self-defense’ after Israel attack, as U.S. urges end to missile exchanges
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-26 | by ( Freddie Clayton | Freddie Clayton Is A Freelance Journalist Based In London. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

Iran responded to that attack with a drone and missile barrage on Israel that was at the time unprecedented. Israel retaliated with a limited strike on Iran which caused little damage. U.S. defense officials told NBC News that Israel had told their American counterparts about Saturday's strikes ahead of time, but that the U.S. was not involved in the attack. "The fact that Iran is downplaying the attack and what's been hit is good news," he told NBC News on the phone. "Whether Israel and Iran will think like this is a different matter," he added.

Persons: Biden, “ it’s, Masoud Pezeshkian, Abbas Araghchi, Pezeshkian, Israel, ” Jordan, “, Ismail Haniyeh, Hassan Nasrallah, Michael Milshtein, Yossi Mekelberg, what's Organizations: Israel Defense Forces, U.S, NBC News, IDF, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, American, Palestinian Studies, Tel Aviv University Dayan Center, Chatham House’s, North Africa Program Locations: Iran, Israel, America, Tehran, Khuzestan, Ilam, East, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, ”, Iraq, Beirut, Gaza, Lebanon, Damascus, Yemen, Syria, U.S

A general view of Tehran after several explosions were heard, in Tehran, Iran, on October 26, 2024. The Israeli military said the strikes, which have now concluded, were in retaliation for Iran’s ballistic missile barrages on Israel earlier this month and in April. The Israeli military said it struck manufacturing sites used to produce missiles that Iran has fired at Israel over the past year. “The Israel Defense Forces completed precise and targeted strikes against military targets in a number of areas in Iran. “This should be the end of this direct exchange of fire between Israel and Iran,” a senior US administration official said after the strikes.

Persons: Majid Asgaripour, ”, ” IRNA Organizations: Wana News Agency, Reuters, Israel Defense Forces, Islamic Republic News Agency Locations: Tehran, Iran, Israel, United States, Yemen, Gaza, Ilam, Khuzestan

The Israeli military said the strikes, which have now concluded, were in retaliation for Iran’s ballistic missile barrages on Israel earlier this month and in April. The Israeli military said it struck manufacturing sites used to produce missiles that Iran has fired at Israel over the past year. “The Israel Defense Forces completed precise and targeted strikes against military targets in a number of areas in Iran. Our planes have safely returned home,” an Israeli military statement said. “This should be the end of this direct exchange of fire between Israel and Iran,” a senior US administration official said after the strikes.

Persons: ”, ” IRNA Organizations: Israel Defense Forces, Islamic Republic News Agency Locations: Iran, Israel, United States, Yemen, Gaza, Tehran, Ilam, Khuzestan

☆ Viral video of ripped-up Pennsylvania ballots is fake and Russian-made, intelligence agencies say
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-26 | by ( Zoë Richards | Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Brandy-Zadrozny-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Russian actors "manufactured and amplified" a recent viral video that falsely showed a person tearing up ballots in Pennsylvania, the FBI and two other federal agencies said Friday. In the video, a person is seen destroying what are purported to be filled-out ballots in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. “The Bucks County District Attorney’s Office will not tolerate any voter suppression, intimidation, or fraud,” the statement added. Darren Linvill, co-director at Clemson University’s Media Forensics Hub, attributed the viral video to the Russian disinformation production team known to researchers as Storm-1516. The video’s quality and the use of actors who appear to have West African accents to pose as Black Americans were characteristic of the Russian campaign, Linvill said.

Persons: ”, “, Darren Linvill, Linvill’s, Linvill, ” Linvill, CISA, Donald Trump, Sen, JD Vance, Ohio, Joe Biden's Organizations: FBI, National Intelligence, Infrastructure Security Agency, stoke, Attorney’s, Yardley Borough Police Department, Russian Embassy, Clemson University’s, Storm, NBC, United Nations Locations: Pennsylvania, U.S, Russia, Bucks County , Pennsylvania, Bucks County, Yardley, Russian, Washington, Iran, China

☆ Israel launched strikes on Iran in a retaliatory attack. Here’s what we know
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-26 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu monitors the attack on Iran from an undisclosed location. By about 6 a.m. local time, the Israeli military said it has concluded its operation, saying the “mission was fulfilled” and Israeli jets “have safely returned home.”How did we get here? That missile barrage came about 24 hours after Israel launched a ground war in Lebanon, opening a new front in its war against Iranian-backed militants. Israel and Iran have been fighting a shadow war through proxies and covert actions for decades. Following the October 7 attacks, Israel declared war on Hamas and launched military operations in Gaza that have killed more than 42,000 people.

Persons: CNN — Israel, “, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Ilam ”, Hassan Nasrallah, Nasrallah, Netanyahu, Biden, ” Netanyahu, ”, Daniel Hagari Organizations: CNN, Iranian, Israel Defense Forces, GPO, Reuters, Israel, Hamas, United Arab Locations: Iran, United States, Tehran, Ilam, Khuzestan, Israel, Yemen, Israeli, Tel Aviv, Lebanon, Iranian, Damascus, Syria, Beirut, Gaza, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Arab, “ Iran

☆ With worst-case scenario averted for now, White House and Harris campaign still face a serious liability in Middle East conflict
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-26 | by ( Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Still, if in Biden’s mind a worst-case scenario was prevented, the larger knot that is the Middle East conflict remains as firmly gnarled as ever. Biden and Harris joined a call Saturday with their national security team and were briefed on the the latest developments in the region according to the White House. But few believe there will be any resolution before the November 5 US presidential election, leaving Biden and Harris’ inability to bring stability to the region a serious political liability. Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty ImagesFor her part, Harris has offered little evidence she would adopt a different approach if elected. “As far as we’re concerned, that should close out the direct exchange between Israel and Iran,” the official went on.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Kamala Harris ’, ” Biden, Biden, Harris, ” Harris, ”, “, Yahya Sinwar, Israel isn’t, don’t, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Donald Trump —, Trump, Donald J, ” Trump, Eyad Baba, CNN’s Anderson Cooper, —, Abdullah Hammoud, Antony Blinken, He’s, Israel’s, Biden’s, — Netanyahu, Betsy Klein, Samantha Waldenberg Organizations: CNN, White House, Trump, Republican, Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, Getty, United, Arab, Democratic, Iran’s Locations: Delaware, Iran, Israel, Tehran, United States, Lebanon, Gaza, Qatar, Michigan, Al, Aqsa, Deir al, AFP, CNN’s, Pennsylvania, Dearborn , Michigan

☆ The US wants this to be ‘the end’ of direct Israel-Iran fire. It may be too soon to tell
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-26 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —After Israel’s attack on Iran Saturday, US officials were quick to caution both countries against perpetuating the cycle of violence, but analysts say lasting de-escalation is not a foregone conclusion. The airstrikes “should be the end of this direct exchange of fire between Israel and Iran,” a senior US administration official said after the attacks. After reports emerged of explosions heard in Tehran, Israel in a statement said it launched what it described as “precise strikes on military targets in Iran” early Saturday. Iran said Israel “attacked parts of military centers” on Saturday in the provinces of Tehran, Khuzestan and Ilam, causing “limited damage” in some areas. A general view of Tehran after several explosions were heard, in Tehran, Iran on Saturday.

Persons: ”, Hassan Nasrallah, Israel “, Iran’s, Behnam Ben Taleblu, Israel, Majid Asgaripour, Sean Savett, “, Danny Citrinowicz, ” Citrinowicz, …, ” Parsi, Hellyer, CNN’s Paula Newton Organizations: CNN, Quincy Institute, Responsible, Foundation for Defense for Democracies, Wana News Agency, Reuters, Iran, National Security, White House, Institute for National Security, Israel Defense Intelligence, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Royal United Services Institute for Defense, Security Studies Locations: Iran, Israel, Tehran, Khuzestan, Ilam, Washington ,, DC, “ Iran, Gaza, Lebanon, Tel Aviv, “ Israel, Beirut, London

Israel is also heavily backed by the United States, which has supplied more than 29,000 guided bombs, artillery rockets and assorted missiles since 2009. A spiraling conflict between Iran and Israel, one of the United States’ closest allies, could pull U.S. forces positioned throughout the region into the fray. Israel has told the United States that it will not attack Iran’s nuclear or oil facilities in its expected attack. Though highly unlikely, an Israeli strike on Iran’s oil facilities could prompt Iran or its proxies to target refineries in Saudi Arabia or the U.A.E. This April, Iran’s attack involving more than 300 drones and missiles, in retaliation for Israel’s killing of seven Iranian officials in Syria, shattered that supposition.

Persons: Arash Khamooshi, Abbas Araghchi, Biden, emboldening Israel, Chang W, Lee, Yahya Sinwar, Israel Organizations: Iranian Revolutionary Guard, The New York Times, International Institute for Strategic Studies, United, Senior Pentagon, The Defense Department, Area Defense, Defense, New York Times, United Arab, United Nations Locations: Israel, Gaza, Yemen, Lebanon, Iran, United States, Tehran, U.S, Gulf States, Guam, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Hormuz, Persian, Palestine Square, Gaza . Credit, Syria

☆ The last time markets were this good was 20 years ago. Can we keep it up?
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-25 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Until this week’s pullback, the market’s recent performance told a remarkable story. The S&P 500 rose for 37 of the last 51 weeks, matching a record reached in both 1989 and 2004. Political uncertaintyWith polls showing a tight race for the White House, investors have been increasingly on edge about the prospect of former President Donald Trump winning the election. While polls remain effectively dead even, political betting markets have swung in Trump’s favor since the start of this month. Deutsche Bank analysts warn that the recent rally may be difficult to sustain given these historically high valuations.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, ” Steven Ricchiuto, Henry Allen, it’s Organizations: New, New York CNN, Dow, Nasdaq, White House, Mizuho Securities, –, Deutsche Bank, Apple, Microsoft, Presidential, Federal Locations: New York, Israel

☆ As North Korea, Iran and China support Russia’s war, is a ‘new axis’ emerging?
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-24 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

The remains of an unidentified missile, which Ukrainian authorities claimed to be made in North Korea, is seen at a site of a Russian strike in Kharkiv, Ukraine on January 2. China, Russia and Iran have also held four joint naval drills since 2019, and China is by far Iran’s largest energy buyer. Beijing also carefully manages its relationship with North Korea – which is almost wholly economically and diplomatically dependent on China. “Russia, North Korea, Iran is the type of grouping that China least wants to openly associate itself with,” said Tong Zhao, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. An Iranian military boat patrols ahead of the start of a joint naval drill of Iran, Russia and China in the Indian Ocean in May.

Persons: They’ve, Lloyd Austin, George W, Bush’s, ”, Kim Jong, Kim, there’s, what’s, Bashar al, Assad, Israel –, Xi Jinping, Putin, Alex Gabuev, Sofiia Gatilova, Xi, Loup, “, Tong Zhao, Zhao, Sydney Seiler Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Korean, Moscow’s, US, North, West, Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, China’s, National University of Singapore’s Middle East Institute, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Iranian Army, AP, UN, National Defense Strategy, NATO, Center for Strategic, International Studies Locations: Hong Kong, Russia, Ukraine, United States, Tehran, China, Iran, North Korea, Washington, Europe, Pacific, Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, Imperial Japan, Iraq, South Korea, Pyongyang, Syria, Beijing, Moscow, Berlin, Kharkiv, Kazan, Israel, Jean, South, Taiwan, “ Russia, ”, Iranian, Asia, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, North Asia, Sydney

☆ Nobody knows what Netanyahu’s endgame is
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-23 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

The Israeli military has already withdrawn from the area twice after saying, both times, that it had crushed Hamas there. A drone fired over the weekend slipped through Israeli air defenses and struck Netanyahu’s beach house some 50 miles from the Lebanese border. Netanyahu’s reluctance to strike a ceasefire deal, even now after securing several military victories, has angered many in Israel. “Ending the Gaza war and the Lebanon war is not an option for his political partners in the coalition. Mahmoud sleem/Anadolu/Getty Images“Netanyahu knows that there is no bigger picture of victory afterwards, because both Sinwar and Nasrallah are dead.

Persons: Yahya Sinwar, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Hassan Nasrallah, “, ’, ”, Bushinsky, Sinwar, …, ’ Netanyahu, Itamar Ben, Bezalel Smotrich, Gayil Talshir, we’ve, Talshir, Jack Gue3z, Biden, Israel, Antony Blinken, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris’s, what’s, ” Talshir, Mahmoud sleem, “ Netanyahu, Nasrallah, Donald, Trump, he’ll Organizations: Jerusalem CNN, Israel, Hamas, CNN, Finance, Hebrew University, Getty, State Locations: Jerusalem, Gaza, Israel, Iran, Hezbollah, Lebanon, Northern Gaza, Lebanese, Caesarea, Gaza . Aviv, Tel Aviv, AFP, Anadolu, Saudi, reemerge

KAZAN, Russia — Almost 700 miles east of Russia's war in Ukraine, the city of Kazan is a safe enough distance for President Vladimir Putin to try and reposition himself as an international ambassador. The countries gathering for the BRICS summit, where Gavrilov is helping to chaperone delegates, share a similar mix of apparently contradictory views. Russia and Iranian protocol teams huddled together in a Kazan hotel Sunday planning the arrival of Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian. Russian President Vladimir Putin and UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan sign a wall at newly opened education center in Moscow on Monday. While Ukraine is a “long, long way away, the modern ballistic missile can very easily come here,” Gavrilov said.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, Islam Gavrilov, Sergei Gavrilov, “, Gavrilov, ”, didn’t, —, it’s, Masoud Pezeshkian, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Mikhail Metzel, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, they’ve, ” David Lubin, you’re, ” Gavrilov, Keir Simmons, Natasha Lebedeva, Freddie Clayton Organizations: NBC, NASA, Harvard University, The, Putin, United Arab, European Union, Kremlin, Wednesday, Saudi Arabia’s Crown, Chatham House, NBC News, Inside Locations: KAZAN, Russia, Ukraine, Kazan, Kremlin, United States, Moscow, America, U.S, — Brazil, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, United Arab Emirates, UAE, London, Russian, Yelabuga, Nizhnekamsk, “

☆ Federal prosecutors charge Iranian Revolutionary Guards official in assassination plot on US soil
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-22 | by ( Hannah Rabinowitz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The charges made public Tuesday against the official, Ruhollah Bazghandi, are the first to accuse an Iranian government official by name in the alleged plot to kill journalist Masih Alinejad. Prosecutors allege they were enlisted to carry out the assassination of Alinejad in the United States. Bazghandi allegedly discussed the plot to murder Alinejad with a second defendant, Haj Taher. Taher, in turn, communicated about the plot defendants Hossein Sedighi and Mohammad Forouzan, prosecutors say, including about payment for the murder. Taher, Sedighi and Forouzan also have connections to the Iranian government, prosecutors allege.

Persons: Ruhollah Bazghandi, Masih Alinejad, Bazghandi, Alinejad, General Merrick Garland, ” Alinejad, Ali Khamenei’s IRGC, “, ”, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Christopher Wray, ” Wray, General ”, Qasem Soleimani, Javad, Haj Taher, Taher, Hossein Sedighi, Mohammad Forouzan, Sedighi, Forouzan, Rafat Amirov, Amirov, Polad, Zailat, CNN’s Kara Scannell Organizations: CNN, Federal, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Eastern, ”, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Treasury Department, Qods Force, Amirov Locations: New York, Iran, United States, Iran’s, American, Iranian, New York City, IRGC, Syria, ”, France

☆ Washington’s Arab allies engage with Iran as US efforts to stem Middle East violence falter
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-22 | by ( Mostafa Salem | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Abu Dhabi, UAE CNN —Growing unease over the United States’ inability to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East is prompting some of Washington’s closest Arab allies to significantly increase engagement with its primary regional adversary: Iran. Arab nations that had spent decades brawling with Iran for regional influence are now opting to engage with it again. Despite seeing an opportunity to weaken Iran’s regional influence, Arab nations are now signaling neutrality. “The Gulf (Arab) monarchies’ priority is not to be directly involved in a proper regional conflagration. Still, regional states rely heavily on their military relationship with the US.

Persons: State Anthony Blinken, Yahya Sinwar, Israel, Blinken’s, Hassan Nasrallah, Ismail Haniyeh, Prince Mohamed bin Salman, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Hitler, ”, Abbas Araghchi, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Abdel Fattah Al, ” Araghchi, Crown Prince Sabah, Cinzia Bianco, ” Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh, ” Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al, Hamad Al, ” Hasan Alhasan, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, ” Anwar Gargash, Joe Biden’s, Abu, ” Bianco, Jake Sullivan Organizations: UAE CNN, State, Saudi Arabia’s, Iranian, Saudi, Bahraini, Crown, CNN, European Council, Foreign Relations, ” Kuwaiti Crown, Kuwait News Agency, Reuters, Middle, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Israeli, United Arab Emirates, US, US National, Atlantic Festival Locations: Abu Dhabi, UAE, United States, Washington’s, Iran, Republic, Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Tehran, Riyadh, Tehran’s, Amman, Egypt, Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, Cairo, Doha, Muscat, Manama, Crown Prince, Crown Prince Sabah Al, Sabah, Kuwait City, Islamic Republic, ” Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Washington, Yemen, China, Washington ,

Workers clean a street as smoke rises from a destroyed building that was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon on October 20. Here’s what happened this weekend:• Airstrikes hit Beirut: Israeli airstrikes hit multiple branches of a Hezbollah-linked financial institution in Beirut on Sunday. The Israeli military had warned it planned to strike locations belonging to the Al-Qard Al-Hassan Association to block Hezbollah’s access to financial resources. • Lebanon death toll keeps rising: The death toll from Israeli strikes in Lebanon since September 16 has passed 1,800, according to a CNN tally of ministry figures. • Devastation in northern Gaza: An Israeli strike on northern Gaza killed at least 87 people, the enclave’s health ministry said, with graphic footage showing children among the dead.

Persons: Hussein Malla, Qard Al, Israel’s, Netanyahu’s, • Israel, Yoav Gallant, ” Organizations: Hassan Association, CNN, • Locations: Dahiyeh, Beirut, Lebanon, Iran, Israel, Gaza

☆ BRICS: The West wants Putin isolated. A major summit he’s hosting shows he’s far from alone
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-21 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was expected to join but canceled his trip after suffering an injury at home. “This BRICS summit is really a gift (for Putin),” said Alex Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center in Berlin. Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese leader Xi Jinping, then-Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pose as they arrive for the BRICS summit in Brasilia in November 2019. While BRICS is primarily geared toward economic collaboration, its meeting last year took place in the shadow of the war in Ukraine. The gathering in Kazan also gives Putin ample opportunity for one-on-one facetime with his fellow BRICS leaders and other friendly dignitaries in attendance.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, –, Xi, India’s Narendra Modi, Iran’s Masoud, Cyril Ramaphosa, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Putin –, Xi –, Putin, BRICS, Donald Trump, ”, Alex Gabuev, …, BRICS “, ” Gabuev, Xi Jinping, Jair Bolsonaro, Narendra Modi, Adriano Machado, Mahmoud Abbas, Israel –, Jonathan Fulton, Volodymyr Zelensky, Yevhen Titov, they’ll, Manoj Kewalramani Organizations: CNN, Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, Indian, Reuters, International, Israel, Atlantic Council, United Nations General Assembly, US, New Development Bank, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, BRICS, Kremlin, Takshashila Locations: Ukraine, Moscow, Russian, Kazan, Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Iran, Beijing, Tehran, United States, Berlin, Brasilia, Johannesburg, Israel, Gaza, Hezbollah, Lebanon, Abu Dhabi, “, Gabuev, BRICS, Kharkiv, Indian, Bangalore

☆ Leaked documents show US intelligence on Israel’s plans to attack Iran, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-19 | by ( Natasha Bertrand | Alex Marquardt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The US is investigating a leak of highly classified US intelligence about Israel’s plans for retaliation against Iran, according to three people familiar with the matter. One of the documents, which says it was compiled by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, says the plans involve Israel moving munitions around. Any such leak would automatically trigger an investigation by the FBI alongside the Pentagon and US intelligence agencies. The US is already on high alert about Iranian hacking campaigns — US intelligence agencies said in August that Iran had hacked documents belonging to Donald Trump’s campaign. Axios first reported on the leaked documents Saturday.

Persons: ”, Mick Mulroy, Mulroy, Donald Trump’s, Axios, CNN’s Evan Perez, Katie Bo Lillis Organizations: CNN, East Spectator, US, Iran, National Geospatial - Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, FBI, Pentagon, CIA, National Security Council, National Intelligence, National Locations: Iran, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Israel, South Korea, Ukraine

☆ Khashayar Javanmardi documents environmental decay on Caspian Sea
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-18 | by ( Zoe Whitfield | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Moving from Tehran to the more northerly lakeside city of Rasht aged 13, Khashayar Javanmardi’s youth was punctuated by weekends and extended holidays on the Iranian coastline of the Caspian Sea. “As an artist, I’ve always wanted to be an honest witness.”Locals call it the lake "Mother Caspian." Khashayar Javanmardi 2024 courtesy Loose JointsThe book oscillates between landscapes, portraits and the quiet scenes that fit somewhere in the middle. Khashayar Javanmardi 2024 courtesy Loose Joints“A question that I asked people was, ‘what is the role of the Caspian in your life?’,” said Javanmardi, who began working on the project at Iran’s Anzali Lagoon. Khashayar Javanmardi 2024 courtesy Loose JointsDespite the recklessness of higher political powers, during his travels Javanmardi found a sense of community in the people he met.

Persons: Khashayar, reminisced, Javanmardi, ”, I’ve, Nathalie Herschdorfer, Caspian, ‘, ’, “, ” Javanmardi, “ I’ve, — Organizations: CNN, UN, Elysée Museum, Environment Department Locations: Tehran, Rasht, Europe, Asia, Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Lausanne, Switzerland, Ukraine, Kiashahr Port

☆ What do we know about Israeli killing of Hamas mastermind and what happens next?
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-18 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The Israeli military previously surrounded Sinwar’s house and carried out an intensive assault on his hometown of Khan Younis, but could not find him. The troops returned fire with a tank, then flew a drone into the heavily damaged building, according to the Israeli military. Sinwar had been trying to escape to the north when he was killed, said another Israeli military spokesperson on Thursday. The talks involved senior figures from Israel, Hamas, the United States, Qatar and Egypt. Mohammed Sinwar recently took over as Hamas’ military commander, a senior Israeli official told CNN last month.

Persons: Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh, Benjamin Netanyahu, Sinwar’s, Khan Younis, Sinwar, biometrics, Mohammed Salem, Majdal –, ”, Israel, ’, it’s, Mohammed Deif, Joe Biden, Netanyahu, Mohammed Sinwar, Mohammed, Hassan Nasrallah, “ Sinwar, Mumen Khalili Organizations: CNN, Hezbollah, Sinwar, REUTERS, US Department of State, European Union Locations: Israel, Lebanon, Hamas, Iran, Gaza, Rafah, Jerusalem's Al, Gaza City, Al, Ashkelon –, United Kingdom, France, bunkering, United States, Qatar, Egypt

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