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☆ Pentagon Not Aware of Any Iranians Being Killed in Recent Strikes
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon said on Monday that it was not aware of any Iranian deaths in the recent U.S. strikes against Iran-linked targets in Iraq and Syria. Air Force Major General Patrick Ryder told reporters initial indications were that the strikes did not kill any Iranians. In Syria, the strikes killed 23 people who had been guarding the targeted locations, said Rami Abdulrahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which reports on war in Syria. War in Israel and Gaza View All 194 Images"It's fair to conclude that there likely were casualties associated with these strikes," Ryder told reporters, but said an assessment was ongoing. He added that there had been two attacks against U.S. troops in Syria since the Friday strikes, but there were no U.S. injuries.

Persons: Patrick Ryder, Rami Abdulrahman, Ryder, Joe Biden, Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, Chizu Nomiyama, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: WASHINGTON, Pentagon, United, Revolutionary Guard, Air Force, Popular Mobilization Forces, Syrian, Human Rights, U.S Locations: U.S, Iran, Iraq, Syria, United States, Israel, Gaza, Tehran

Future Forward, the main Democratic super PAC supporting Mr. Biden’s bid, has a $250 million ad blitz planned. Mr. Trump still carried veterans, but his erosion of support followed an array of evidence that he had been disrespectful to military officials and families. Credit... Justin T. Gellerson for The New York Times“There’s political ramifications to all this,” Mr. Soltz said. VoteVets had $11 million in cash at the end of 2023, according to its filing with the Federal Election Commission. Mr. Soltz said VoteVets intended to conduct focus group research and polling of its network of families of veterans and active-duty service members.

Persons: Biden, Jon Soltz, VoteVets, Mr, Biden’s, MoveOn, Donald J, Trump, Hillary Clinton, Soltz, aren’t, ”, “ hasn’t, Justin T, “, Ruben Gallego, Elissa Slotkin of, Andy Kim of, Robert Menendez, Trump’s, Brian Mast Organizations: Democratic, Senate, PAC, Mr, Pew Research, “, Capitol, VoteVets, The New York Times, Gold Star, League of Conservation Voters, Federal, Commission, Democrats, Trump Locations: Iraq, Afghanistan, VoteVets ., Montana , Nevada , Pennsylvania, Ohio, Ruben Gallego of Arizona, Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, Andy Kim of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida

CNN —US officials said Monday that Iraq was not notified ahead of a series of strikes on Iran-linked targets in the country, contradicting earlier statements that the Iraqi government was notified before the strikes occurred. We informed the Iraqis immediately after the strikes occurred,” State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said at a briefing on Monday. “Iraq, like every country in the region, understood that there would be a response after the deaths of our soldiers,” he noted. In a statement to CNN, Kirby said he “responded with information that I had been provided at the time” after the strikes on Friday. “For operational security reasons, we did not provide any kind of official pre-notification with specific details on these strikes,” the spokesperson said.

Persons: Vedant Patel, ”, John Kirby, Kirby, “, Pat Ryder, ” Ryder, we’ll Organizations: CNN, ” State Department, National Security, State Department, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, United, Pentagon Locations: Iraq, Iran, “ Iraq, Syria, Jordan, United States, Anbar Governorate, Iranian

☆ Top US Diplomat Blinken Arrives in Saudi, First Stop on Mideast Trip
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday, his first stop in a wider tour of the Middle East as Washington tries to advance negotiations on a normalization deal between the Kingdom and Israel as well as make progress on talks for the governance of postwar Gaza. The top U.S. diplomat’s fifth trip to the region since Hamas’ deadly Oct. 7 attack comes at a perilous moment and amid retaliatory U.S. strikes on Iran-backed militia across Syria, Iraq and Yemen in response to a drone strike last week in Jordan that killed three American troops and wounded dozens. Blinken is also set to visit Egypt, Qatar and Israel later this week and push to advance the Egyptian- and Qatari-mediated conversations with Hamas to achieve a hostage deal. In Riyadh, Blinken was expected to meet with the Kingdom’s de-facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as well as his Saudi counterpart, foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. War in Israel and Gaza View All 194 Images(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by Doina Chiacu)

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Humeyra Pamuk, Doina Chiacu Organizations: WASHINGTON, Washington, Saudi Locations: Saudi Arabia, East, Kingdom, Israel, Gaza, Iran, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, Riyadh

☆ US needs to signal to Iran it's a possible target so it doesn't get too comfortable, says former top general in the Middle East
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Ella Sherman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The retired general does not support attacks on Iran, but he says the country should be worried. Retaliatory US strikes have been focused on IRGC and Iran-backed militia targets outside Iran. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . "I am not advocating for striking Iran," McKenzie told Margaret Brennan on CBS News' Face the Nation on Sunday. For a time, US responses to the actions of Iran-backed militias were also limited.

Persons: Frank McKenzie, —, McKenzie, Margaret Brennan, Joe Biden, Joseph Votel, Biden Organizations: US Central Command, Service, CBS, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, CBS News Locations: Iran, IRGC, Syria, Iraq, Jordan

☆ Middle East Crisis Israel Awaits Hamas Response to Cease-Fire Plan as Blinken Returns to Mideast
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Aaron Boxerman | Michael D. Shear | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

A broadcaster affiliated with Hamas, Al-Aqsa, reported on Sunday that Hamas was still holding consultations on the proposal, a week after it was formulated. Leaders of the group had previously signaled that substantial gaps remained between the two sides, even as representatives from the United States, Egypt and Qatar sought common ground. Mr. Blinken, who was set to visit Saudi Arabia first, is hoping to advance talks on a series of interlocking deals to end the war in Gaza, and a deal for a hostage release will be central to that effort. Other Iran-backed militants have launched attacks against U.S. bases in the region, including one recently that killed three U.S. soldiers in Jordan. Top U.S. national security officials said on Sunday that further retaliation against Iran-backed militias was still planned.

Persons: Israel, Antony J, Blinken, Jake Sullivan, CBS’s, ”, “ We’re, Mr, Sullivan, Jordan, “, NBC’s “ Organizations: Hamas, U.S, United, Iranian, Top U.S, Press Locations: Gaza, Al, United States, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, court, Israel, East, Lebanon, Yemen, Suez, Iran, Jordan, Syria, Iraq

☆ U.S. Strikes Hit Most of Targets in Iraq and Syria, Pentagon Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Eric Schmitt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

American warplanes destroyed or severely damaged most of the Iranian and militia targets they struck in Syria and Iraq on Friday, according to the Pentagon, the first major salvos in what President Biden and his aides have said will be a sustained campaign. Maj. Gen. Patrick S. Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, said on Monday that “more than 80” of some 85 targets in Syria and Iraq were destroyed or rendered inoperable. The targets, he said, included command hubs; intelligence centers; depots for rockets, missiles and attack drones; as well as logistics and ammunition bunkers. “This is the start of our response, and there will be additional actions taken,” General Ryder told reporters without elaborating. “We do not seek conflict in the Middle East or anywhere else, but attacks on American forces will not be tolerated.”

Persons: Biden, Patrick S, Ryder, General Ryder, ” Organizations: Pentagon Locations: Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Iran

☆ Russia Accuses Biden of Seeking Election Boost With Syria, Iraq Strikes
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Michelle NicholsUNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Russia accused President Joe Biden on Monday of carrying out strikes in Iraq and Syria to boost his image as the presidential election campaign "is heating up" - not in retaliation for a deadly attack on U.S. soldiers. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia, at a meeting of the Security Council on the strikes which was requested by Moscow, said there was no justification for the U.S. action. And we are not seeking a direct conflict with Iran. He added that the strikes in Syria and Iraq were a "separate and distinct" operation from U.S. and British strikes against the Iran-aligned Houthi group in Yemen in response to the Houthi targeting of shipping in the Red Sea. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols in New York, Lidia Kelly in Melbourne and Nandita Bose in Washington; Editing by Stephen Coates)

Persons: Michelle Nichols UNITED, Joe Biden, Washington, Russia's U.N, Vassily Nebenzia, Biden, Robert Wood, Wood, Iran's U.N, Amir Saeid Iravani, U.N, Michelle Nichols, Lidia Kelly, Nandita Bose, Stephen Coates Organizations: Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS, Reuters, United States, Revolutionary Guard, Security, U.S, Pentagon Locations: Russia, Iraq, Syria, U.S, Jordan, Moscow, America, Israel, Gaza, United States, Iran, Yemen, Red, New York, Melbourne, Washington

☆ Six US-Backed Kurdish Fighters Killed in Drone Attack on US Base in Syria
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

AMMAN (Reuters) - U.S.-backed Kurdish-led forces said on Monday that six of their fighters had been killed in an explosive drone attack by Iran-backed armed groups that came from areas of Syria's Deir al Zor under the control of the Syrian government. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq - an umbrella group of several Iran-backed Iraqi armed groups - on Monday claimed responsibility for a drone attack on Al-Omar field, saying it launched the attack on Feb. 4. Washington blames the group for a drone attack on a U.S. outpost in Jordan earlier this month that killed three U.S. forces. The U.S. launched dozens of strikes over the weekend against Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria, killing about 40 people, the vast majority reported to be militants. Iran-backed groups declaring support for the Palestinians have entered the fray across the region as the war between Israel and the militant Hamas group has intensified.

Persons: Syria's Deir al, Farhad Shami, Omar, Suleiman Al, Khalidi, Timour, Gareth Jones, William Maclean Organizations: Syrian Democratic Forces, SDF, Commando, Washington, Hamas, Lebanese Locations: AMMAN, Kurdish, Iran, Syria's Deir, Syria's Deir al Zor, U.S, Al, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, Israel, Gaza, Red

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Russia accused the United States on Monday of aggression against Iraq and Syria aimed at preserving its global dominance and salvaging the Biden administration’s “image” ahead of U.S. elections. Many council members expressed fears of a growing Mideast conflict and urged de-escalation and stepped-up peace efforts. Wood stressed that the United States doesn’t want more conflict in a region where it is “actively working to contain and deescalate the conflict in Gaza." "And we are not seeking a direct conflict with Iran,” Wood said “But we will continue to defend our personnel against unacceptable attacks. Ambassador Zhang Jun, a Russian ally, echoed her concerns about escalating tensions and actions, and pointed a finger at the United States.

Persons: Russia’s U.N, Vassily Nebenzia, ”, Robert Wood, Wood, ” Wood, “, Iran’s U.N, Amir Saeid Iravani, ” Iravani, ” U.N, Rosemary DiCarlo, Antonio Guterres, U.N, Zhang Jun, ” Zhang, Algeria’s U.N, Amar Bendjama, ” Bendjama Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, —, Biden, Security, U.S, . Army Locations: — Russia, United States, Iraq, Syria, U.S, Iranian, Russia, Syria’s, Israel, Lebanon, Sea, Yemen, Syrian Arab Republic, Russian, Iran, Jordanian, Monday’s, Gaza

BEIRUT (AP) — A drone attack on a base housing U.S. troops in eastern Syria killed six allied Kurdish fighters late Sunday, in the first significant attack in Syria or Iraq since the U.S. launched retaliatory strikes over the weekend against Iran-backed militias that have been targeting its forces in the region. The U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said Monday the attack hit a training ground at al-Omar base in Syria’s eastern province of Deir el-Zour and accused “Syrian regime-backed mercenaries” of carrying out the attack. In late January, a drone attack by the same group killed three U.S. troops and wounded dozens more at a desert base in Jordan. The U.S. military launched dozens of retaliatory strikes targeting Iran-backed militant groups in western Iraq and eastern Syria and also struck the Houthis in Yemen. The attack late Sunday came two days after the U.S. military carried out strikes against militant targets linked to Iran in Syria and Iraq.

Persons: Omar, “, Sunday’s, Samy Magdy Organizations: Syrian Democratic Forces, Human Rights, SDF, Sunday, U.S, U.S . Central Command, U.S . Navy, Britain, Associated Press Locations: BEIRUT, Syria, Kurdish, Iraq, U.S, Iran, The U.S, al, Deir el, Jordan, Yemen, Israel, Britain, Red, Cairo

☆ Live updates: US airstrikes in Middle East, Israel-Hamas war, Gaza crisis
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Heather Chen | Andrew Raine | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

US-led coalition conducts airstrikes in Yemen in response to the Houthi aggression at the Red Sea on February 3. US Central CommandThe US and the United Kingdom have conducted strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen from air and surface platforms — including F/A-18s — on over 30 targets across 13 locations, according to officials. The US and UK carried out the strikes with the support of several other countries, according to a joint statement on Saturday. The Houthis said US and UK warplanes struck multiple provinces in Yemen, including the capital of Sanaa. The USS Gravely and USS Carney fired the land-attack cruise missiles and F/A-18 fighter jets from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier were also involved, officials said.

Persons: “, Carney, Dwight D, Joe Biden's, CNN's Eyad Kourdi Organizations: US Central Command, US, CNN, Eisenhower Locations: Yemen, United Kingdom, UK, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sanaa, Tehran, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Red

☆ Iraq Bans 8 Local Banks From US Dollar Transactions
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Timour AzhariBAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq has banned eight local commercial banks from engaging in U.S. dollar transactions, taking action to reduce fraud, money laundering and other illegal uses of U.S. currency days after a visit by a top U.S. Treasury official. The banks are banned from accessing the Iraqi central bank's daily dollar auction, a main source of hard currency in the import-dependent country that has become a focal point of a U.S. crackdown on currency smuggling to neighbouring Iran. A central bank document verified by an official at the bank listed the banned banks. War in Israel and Gaza View All 194 ImagesThey are: Ahsur International Bank for Investment; Investment Bank of Iraq; Union Bank of Iraq; Kurdistan International Islamic Bank for Investment and Development; Al Huda Bank; Al Janoob Islamic Bank for Investment and Finance; Arabia Islamic Bank and Hammurabi Commercial Bank. Banks banned from dollar transactions are allowed to continue operating and are allowed to engage in transactions in other currencies, the central bank says.

Persons: Timour Azhari, Al Huda, Ashur, Hammurabi, ”, Banks, Brian Nelson, Mohammed Shia, Giles Elgood Organizations: Treasury, Ahsur, Bank for Investment, Investment Bank of Iraq, Union Bank of, Kurdistan International Islamic Bank for Investment, Development, Al, Al Huda Bank, Islamic Bank for Investment, Finance, Arabia Islamic Bank, Hammurabi Commercial Bank, Central Bank of, U.S . Treasury, Huda Bank, Reuters, Iraqi Locations: Timour, Timour Azhari BAGHDAD, Iraq, U.S, Iran, United States, Israel, Gaza, Union Bank of Iraq, Kurdistan, Central Bank of Iraq, Washington, Baghdad

☆ US destroyed or damaged 84 of 85 targets in Iraq and Syria, officials say; no indications of Iranian casualties
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Oren Liebermann | Natasha Bertrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The US destroyed or damaged 84 out of 85 targets in its sweeping series of airstrikes on Friday in Syria and Iraq, according to two US defense officials, with no indications of Iranian casualties. All but one of the 85 targets were “destroyed or functionally damaged,” the officials said, citing a preliminary battlefield damage assessment. In Iraq, the US targeted al-Qaim and Akashat near the border with Syria. President Joe Biden and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the strikes, far larger than previous US operations in Iraq or Syria, were only the start of the US response. The attack consisted of two rockets launched against the site, with no injuries or damage reported.

Persons: Deir, Douglas Sims, ”, Biden, Sims, Joe Biden, Lloyd Austin, Jake Sullivan, CNN’s Dana, Sullivan Organizations: CNN, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Joint Staff, Defense, Union, US Locations: Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Iran, Akashat, al, Gen, “ State

☆ U.S. intends to take 'additional strikes' against Iran-backed groups, national security advisor says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Pia Singh | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan answers questions during the daily briefing at the White House on November 13, 2023 in Washington, DC. "We intend to take additional strikes and additional action to continue to send a clear message that the United States will respond when our forces are attacked or our people are killed." "What I will say is that the president is determined to respond forcefully to attacks on our people. A day after those strikes, the U.S. and Britain led attacks against 36 Houthi targets in Yemen, in a second effort to further destabilize Iran-backed groups. When asked how worried he is that Iranian-backed forces could again retaliate against U.S. forces, Sullivan responded: "That's always a risk...if we see more attacks, you'll see more responses."

Persons: Jake Sullivan, Sullivan, we've, I'm, Kristen Welker's, Biden Organizations: National, White House, NBC, Press, U.S ., Revolutionary Guard, U.S, CBS Locations: Washington , DC, United States, Iran, U.S, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Yemen, Red, Israel, Iranian

☆ Sullivan vows ‘further action’ after US carries out retaliatory strikes on Iranian-linked militia targets
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Natasha Bertrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —The US will take “further action” after conducting major airstrikes over the weekend against Iranian-backed militias who have carried out attacks on US troops in the Middle East, national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday. On Friday, the US hit 85 targets across seven locations in Iraq and Syria. The US strikes killed at least 16 people in Iraq, including civilians, and injured 25 others, the Iraqi government said Friday. The attacks hit areas close to the border with Syria and targeted facilities used by Iranian-linked al Hashd al Shabi — or Popular Mobilization Units — in the Iraqi city of Al-Qaim, Iraqi officials said. The next day, the US and UK conducted strikes on at least 30 Houthi targets in Yemen from air and surface platforms, including fighter jets, with the support of several other countries.

Persons: Jake Sullivan, “, ” Sullivan, CNN’s Dana, “ I’m, ”, Biden Organizations: CNN, Union, US Locations: East, “ State, Gaza, Iraq, Syria, Iraqi, Al, Yemen

☆ US Plans More Strikes in Middle East Against Iran-Backed Groups
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States plans to undertake further strikes after the killing of three U.S. troops by Iranian-backed militias last weekend, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Sunday. "We intend to take additional strikes, and additional action, to continue to send a clear message that the United States will respond when our forces are attacked, when our people are killed," he told NBC’s "Meet the Press" program. The United States and Britain launched strikes against 36 Houthi targets in Yemen on Saturday, in the second day of major U.S. operations against Iran-linked groups following a deadly attack that killed three American troops in Jordan last weekend. War in Israel and Gaza View All 194 Images"What happened on Friday was the beginning, not the end, of our response, and there will be more steps - some seen, some perhaps unseen," Sullivan told CBS' "Face the Nation" program. (Reporting by Doina Chiacu and Arshad Mohammed; Editing by Louise Heavens and Lisa Shumaker)

Persons: Jake Sullivan, NBC’s, Sullivan, Doina Chiacu, Arshad Mohammed, Louise Heavens, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: WASHINGTON, United, White, National, Press, Britain, Pentagon, U.S, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hamas, CBS Locations: United States, Iranian, Yemen, Iran, Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Palestinian, Israel, Gaza, Tehran

☆ Stock futures are little changed ahead of busy week of corporate earnings: Live updates
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Jesse Pound | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange during morning trading on January 31, 2024 in New York City. Stock futures were flat on Sunday evening as Wall Street looks to build on another positive week. Futures tied to the S&P 500 dipped less than 0.1%. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial average ticked down 17 points, or less than 0.1%, while Nasdaq 100 futures slipped 0.1%. This week has another full slate of earnings, including McDonald's on Monday and Ford on Tuesday.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Tony Pasquariello, Goldman Sachs, Jake Sullivan Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, Stock, Dow, Nasdaq, Microsoft, Meta, Goldman, Ford, Tuesday, Traders, NBC Locations: New York City, U.S, Iraq, Syria, Iran

The United States launched scores of strikes across the Middle East over the weekend as Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken set out for the region to push forward negotiations to secure the release of Israelis still held hostage in Gaza and get more humanitarian aid into the battered enclave. The latest strike came Sunday in Yemen, where the U.S. military said it had destroyed an anti-ship cruise missile that belonged to Houthi militants and posed “an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region.”It was the third American military action against Iranian-backed militias in as many days: The United States led strikes on Saturday against 36 Houthi targets in northern Yemen, and on Friday carried out airstrikes on more than 85 targets in Syria and Iraq. American officials insist that the strikes have been carefully calibrated to avoid setting off an open confrontation with Iran and say that they have degraded the ability of the militias to attack U.S. forces.

Persons: Antony J, Blinken Organizations: United, U.S . Navy Locations: United States, East, Gaza, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Iran, U.S

☆ Lindsey Graham blasts the timing of the Biden administration's retaliatory strikes on Iran-linked targets: 'They're not afraid of us'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Lindsey Graham called out Biden's strategy to deter Iran-linked groups in the Middle East. "If the goal is to deter Iran, you're failing miserably," Graham told Fox News on Sunday. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementSen. Lindsey Graham on Sunday criticized the timing of the Biden administration's retaliatory strikes in response to a January drone attack that killed three US service members in Jordan. "If the goal is to deter Iran, you're failing miserably.

Persons: Lindsey Graham, Graham, —, Sen, Donald, Trump, Biden, Mississippi Sen, Roger Wicker, Mike Johnson, Joe Biden Organizations: Fox News, Reuters, Service, Sunday, Biden, Fox, South Carolina Republican Locations: Iran, Jordan, United States, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Israel, Mississippi, Louisiana, Gaza

☆ Fact check: Trump makes false claims about Iraq, Iran and Nikki Haley in new Fox interview
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Daniel Dale | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Remember I used to say: ‘Don’t do it, but if you do it, keep the oil.’”Facts First: Trump’s claim that he said “Don’t do it” is false; the claim was debunked eight years ago. In reality, Trump did not publicly express opposition to the March 2003 invasion of Iraq before it occurred. In his 2000 book, “The America We Deserve,” Trump argued a military strike on Iraq might be necessary; when radio host Howard Stern asked Trump in September 2002 whether he is “for invading Iraq,” Trump responded, “Yeah, I guess so. Trump claimed on Fox, as he has before, that Iran “called me” to let him know of its plan to deliberately miss. Trump has provided no substantiation for the claim that Iran called him to telegraph the strike and offer reassurance.

Persons: Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, Mitch McConnell, Iraq Trump, “, Trump, ” Trump, Howard Stern, George W, Bush “, Qasem, Iran “, Asad, ”, Mark Milley, Haley, aren’t, That’s, We’ll, ” Haley, Olivia Perez, Cubas, … ” Mitch McConnell, McConnell, he’s, –, ” McConnell, CNN’s Priscilla Alvarez Organizations: CNN, Republican, Fox News, Fox, Trump, Washington Post, Pentagon, ” CNN, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Post, New, Green, Green New, Deal, Democratic, US Customs Locations: Iraq, Here’s, Iran, Iranian, New Hampshire, New, Indiana, Great, “

☆ Here’s How the Latest U.S.-Led Strikes Have Unfolded
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Shashank Bengali | More About Shashank Bengali | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The United States has led a major wave of retaliatory strikes in the Middle East, hitting scores of targets belonging to Iranian-backed armed groups since Friday. The strikes are a sharp escalation of hostilities in the region, one that President Biden had sought to avoid since the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza began in October. Here is how the latest strikes have unfolded. The Biden administration said the drone had been launched by an Iran-backed militia from Iraq, and President Biden pledged to respond. Jan. 30: President Biden said he had decided on a response to the attack in Jordan, but did not say what it would be.

Persons: Biden Organizations: Pentagon, Republican Locations: States, Iranian, Israel, Gaza, Jordan, Iran, Iraq, U.S

☆ Yemen's Houthis Vow Response After US, British Strikes
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +6 min

The group's military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said the U.S. strikes "will not pass without a response and consequences." HOUTHIS SAY WON'T BE DETERREDThe Houthis, who control swathes of Yemen, say their attacks are in solidarity with Palestinians as Israel strikes Gaza. The strategy blends limited military strikes and sanctions, and appears aimed at punishing the Houthis while attempting to limit the risk of a broad Middle East conflict. "We have already successfully targeted launchers and storage sites involved in Houthi attacks, and I am confident that our latest strikes have further degraded the Houthis’ capabilities." The United States said Sunday's strikes had support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and New Zealand.

Persons: Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, Mohammed Ghobari WASHINGTON, Yahya Sarea, Mahjoob Zweiri, Joe Biden, Sarea, Grant Shapps, Sunday's, Badr bin Hamad bin Hamoud, Busaidi, Andrew Mills, Tom Perry, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Reuters, Britain, Pentagon, Hamas, Residents, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Gulf Studies, Qatar University, U.S, Republicans, Democrat, U.S . military's Central Command, British Defence, U.S . Central Command, Oman Foreign, Tala Locations: ADEN, United States, Yemen, Iran, Palestinian, Israel, Gaza, Tehran, Houthi, U.S, Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Britain, Africa, Egypt, Suez, Red, States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sanaa Governorate, Taiz Governorate, Hodeidah Governorate, Oman, Doha, Dubai

A screengrab from a video, geolocated by CNN to the town of Qaim, Iraq, shows the aftermath of US military strikes in the area according to the Iraqi Military. US officials say the strikes hit four facilities in Syria and three in Iraq, where security officials reported damage in the city of Al-Qaim. The sites allegedly belonged to various Iran-backed militias, which the US blames for the strike in Jordan. The US does not plan to strike inside Iran: A senior official with the Biden administration told CNN the US will not strike inside Iran – only focusing on targets outside of the country. Striking inside Iran would have been a huge escalation, and officials have telegraphed that is unlikely to happen.

Persons: Joe Biden, Lloyd Austin, Biden, Jordan, Douglas Sims, Sims, John Kirby Organizations: CNN, White House, Pentagon, Defense, Air Force, National Security Locations: Qaim, Iraq, Iraqi, Jordan, Syria, Al, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Yemen, Gen

☆ U.S. Carrying Out New Strikes in Yemen, US Officials Say
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

By Phil Stewart and Idrees AliWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States launched a series of strikes against Iran-linked targets in Yemen on Saturday, three U.S. officials told Reuters, in what appeared to be a second day of retaliatory operations following a deadly attack on American troops last weekend. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, did not provide further details on the locations being struck, but two of them said there were dozens of targets. War in Israel and Gaza View All 194 ImagesThe Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen, say their attacks are in solidarity with Palestinians as Israel strikes Gaza. The United States has previously carried out more than 10 strikes against Houthi targets in the past several weeks, but they have failed to stop attacks by the group. (Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; editing by Jonathan Oatis)

Persons: Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali WASHINGTON, Idrees Ali, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: United, Reuters, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, U.S Locations: United States, Iran, Yemen, Al, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Yemen's Iran, Red, Israel, Gaza

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