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KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) — From Berlin to London and Limassol to Karachi, thousands of people took to the streets Sunday to mark the 100th day of Israel’s war with Hamas. Opposing demonstrations either demanded the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas or called for a cease-fire in Gaza. In the southern Pakistani city of Karachi, tens of thousands waved Palestinian flags or wore the keffiyeh, the traditional Palestinian scarf, to express their solidarity with Palestinians in a rally organized by the country’s largest religious political party, Jamaat-e-Islami. The party’s Karachi chief, Hafiz Naeem Ur Rehman, called on the U.S. to stop backing Israel and compensate Palestinians for their losses. Protesters in London held posters with photos and the words “100 days in hell” to express their solidarity with Israel.

Persons: Hafiz Naeem Ur Rehman, Israel, ” Rehman, Ishrat Zahid, ”, Ayelet Svatitzky, “, ’ ’, Nadav Popplewell, Channah Peri, Peri, Roi Popplewell, Akrotiri, Osman Delibas, Delibas, Pope Francis, ____, Hadjicostis, Christophe Ena, Andrew Wilks, Frances D'Emilio Organizations: Hamas, Islami, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Protesters, Israel, Palestine, ” Protesters, RAF, British, British Ministry of Defense, Turkey’s Humanitarian Relief Foundation, . Foundation, Anadolu, Associated, Associated Press Locations: KARACHI, Pakistan, Berlin, London, Limassol, Karachi, Gaza, Pakistani, Israel, Dublin, Edinburgh, Paris, ”, Cyprus, British, Yemen, Britain, Egypt, Turkey, Istanbul, Iraq, Kurdish, St, Ukraine, Palestine, Rome

☆ Why ISIS has unleashed its suicide bombers against Iran
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

By the day's end of the day, scores of supporters of the rulers of Iran were dead, and hundreds were injured in a twin suicide bombing. AdvertisementHe was considered a hero, she said, by many in Iran for driving ISIS out of Iraq and helping to defeat them in Syria. Stringer/Anadolu via Getty ImagesIt was the latest in a string of attacks by the ISIS affiliate that has been targeting Iran for five years. The Iranian intelligence ministry sought to blame its old enemy Israel for the atrocity and said one of the bombers had Israeli citizenship, the Times of Israel reported. AdvertisementThey will continue to attempt attacks against Iran "no matter what," Washington Institute for Near East Policy expert, Aaron Zelin, told the VoA.

Persons: Qassem, —, Qassem Soleimani, Kerman, Barbara Slavin, Soleimani, Stringer, Khomeini's, Abdollah Tajiki, Slavin, It's, it's, White, John Kirby, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Saudi King Salman, Prophet Mohammed, Salvin, Donald Trump, Aaron Zelin Organizations: Sunni, Service, Revolutionary, Reuters, The Stimson Center, Iran Initiative, Asia Center, ISIS, Anadolu, Getty, Iranian, Ministry of Intelligence, Revolutionary Guard, Saudi, US, UK, Red, Quds Force, The Stimson, Washington Institute for Near East, VoA Locations: Kerman, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Asia, Kerman City, Tehran, Tajik, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Hormuz, Soleimani, Iranian, Fars, Republic, Yemen, Iran's, United States, al Qaeda, American

For all the fears of an outbreak of fighting in the Middle East that could draw the United States, Israel and Iran into direct combat, a curious feature of the conflict so far is the care taken — in both Tehran and Washington — to avoid putting their forces into direct contact. No one knows how long that will last, American and European diplomats and other officials say. It is the most delicate of dances, rife with subtle signals, attacks and feints, and deniable action. The evidence of caution is piecemeal, but everywhere. That is considered the red line that could trigger military action against its underground nuclear complexes.

Persons: Washington — Locations: United States, Israel, Iran, Tehran, Washington, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon

☆ A wider war doesn’t suit Iran, even as it benefits from rising tensions
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Tamara Qiblawi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The strikes risk further fanning the flames of a wider regionaI conflict that neither the US nor the Houthis’ backers in Iran appear to want. Houthi rebels launched a series of attacks on commercial ships and Western military vessels in the Red Sea, a major artery for international trade. Houthi forces seize and board the cargo ship Galaxy Leader in the Red Sea on November 19, 2023. The clashes will also continue to give Tehran leverage, argues IISS’s Momtaz, as evidenced by the strikes in Yemen on Thursday. “They need to restore freedom of navigation and secure international trade in the Red Sea while continuing to make sure that the other fronts don’t escalate into a real war.”

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Israel, ” Biden, ”, Rym Momtaz, Amir Levy, Parsi, Benjamin ) Netanyahu, ” Parsi, Biden, IISS’s Momtaz Organizations: Lebanon CNN, US, United Nations ’, Galaxy, Houthi Media, European Foreign Policy, Security, Quincy Institute Locations: Beirut, Lebanon, Yemen, Red, Iran, Israel, Gaza, Iraq, Syria, Tehran, Saudi Arabia, Houthi, Israeli

☆ Turkey Destroys 25 Kurdish Militant Targets in Northern Syria, Iraq - Ministry
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey carried out air strikes in northern Syria and Iraq, hitting 25 Kurdish militant targets, the Turkish Defence Ministry said in a statement on Saturday. The operations were conducted in northern Syria and Metina, Hakurk and Qandil regions of northern Iraq at 9 p.m. (1800 GMT), the ministry said. The defence ministry said many militants were "neutralised" - a term mostly used to mean killed - in air strikes that destroyed 25 targets consisting of caves, shelters and depots. Nine Turkish soldiers were killed in a clash on Friday with members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). (Reporting by Burcu Karakas; Editing by Mark Potter and Mike Harrison)

Persons: Burcu Karakas, Mark Potter, Mike Harrison Organizations: Turkish Defence Ministry, Kurdistan Workers Party Locations: ISTANBUL, Turkey, Syria, Iraq

☆ U.S. crude oil tops $75 briefly then fades after strikes against Iran-backed Houthis
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

An oil tanker anchored in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen's contested western province of Hodeida on July 15, 2023. Oil prices rose after Britain and the United States carried out military strikes against targets in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, as tensions in the Red Sea mount further. U.S. crude oil jumped to $75.25 a barrel while the global benchmark touched $80.75. The benchmarks pulled back later in the session with U.S. crude settling at $72.68 a barrel and Brent settling at $78.29 a barrel. While the U.S. has carried out strikes on Iranian proxies in Syria and Iraq since the outbreak of the Gaza war, this would be the first known strike against the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen.

Persons: Brent, Joe Biden Organizations: West Texas Intermediate, Brent Locations: Red, Yemen's, Hodeida, Britain, United States, Houthi, Yemen, U.S, Syria, Iraq, Gaza, Iran

The US and UK launched retaliatory strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen on Thursday. The strikes come after the Iran-backed rebel group conducted dozens of attacks on commercial ships. But a military strategist said more strikes will likely be necessary to deter the Houthis. The large-scale strikes come after the Iran-backed rebel group conducted dozens of attacks against commercial ships sailing through the Red Sea and other key trade routes since November. After Thursday's strikes on the Houthis, the US said it would not hesitate to take more kinetic action against the rebels if needed.

Persons: —, Yemen's, Mick Ryan, Ryan, Biden, Joe Biden Organizations: US, UK, Service, BI, Australian Army, Pentagon, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Locations: Yemen, Iran, Gaza, Iraq, Syria, Tehran, United States

☆ Opinion: How did we get to this point in Yemen?
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Peter Bergen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

(Not a great time to have had an initially incommunicado, and still-hospitalized, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, who authorized the strikes in Yemen from his hospital bed on Thursday.) The Houthis, who were once a ragtag militia with the purely local aim of trying to overthrow the Yemen government, are now projecting Iranian power, not only in the Red Sea but across the region. In other words, just as Hezbollah in Lebanon, 1,500 miles to the north of Yemen, is effectively an arm of the Iranian government, so too now are the Houthis. Those weapons have also been used to attack oil facilities in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi, the capital of the Saudi-allied United Arab Emirates, and, more recently, have targeted Israel as well. Yet, Saudi Arabia is a key reason that the Houthis are now so closely allied to Iran and so well armed.

Persons: Peter Bergen, Osama bin Laden, Joe Biden, Defense Lloyd Austin, Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, “, Biden Organizations: New, Arizona State University, Apple, Spotify, CNN, Defense, United Nations, United Locations: New America, Yemen, Israel, Red, Suez, Lebanon, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Riyadh, Gaza, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Iranian

☆ One of the most well-funded federal agencies has lost track of billions of dollars worth of military aid
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Pentagon hasn't kept proper tabs on $1 billion in weapons the US sent to Ukraine, a watchdog report found. More than $1 billion of a $1.69 billion worth of weapons sent to Ukraine remain "delinquent." The Defense Department inspector general's report comes as Republicans in Congress have been blocking new aid to Ukraine. Advertisement"Things are showing progress, but it's not enough," Defense Department Comptroller Mike McCord told reporters at the time, according to Reuters. Update January 12, 2024: This story has been updated with comments made by Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder at a press conference Thursday evening.

Persons: Pentagon hasn't, It's, —, General's, Vladimir Putin, general's, Patrick Ryder, Ryder, Mike McCord Organizations: Pentagon, Department of Defense, Service, Russian, Defense, Ukraine, The Defense, US, Department, Amnesty International, Office, Washington Post, Reuters Locations: Ukraine, States, Iraq, Kuwait, Yemen, Afghanistan

☆ Big Protests Break Out in Yemen After U.S.-British Attacks
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

The U.S. and Britain carried out dozens of air strikes on Houthi military targets overnight, widening a wave of regional conflict unleashed by Israel's war in Gaza. "Your strikes on Yemen are terrorism," said Mohammed Ali Al-Houthi, a member of the Houthi Supreme Political Council, referring to the United States. "The United States is the Devil." The groups hold the U.S., Israel's closest ally, partly responsible for the crisis and the scope of Israel's massive response. The United States has no plans to deploy more forces to the region, Pentagon spokesman Patrick Ryder said.

Persons: Yemenis, Houthi, Mohammed Ali Al, Houthis, Israel's, Patrick Ryder, Doina Chiacu, Ahmed Rasheed, Michael Georgy, Kevin Liffey Organizations: Reuters, Political, Iraqi, United, Pentagon Locations: DUBAI, Red, U.S, Gaza, Yemen, United States, Israel, Iran, America, Sanaa, Iraq, Syria, Washington

☆ US, Britain Carry Out Strikes Across Yemen in Retaliation for Houthi Attacks
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-11 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +6 min

A U.S. official said more than a dozen locations were targeted in strikes that were not just symbolic but intended to weaken the Houthis' military capabilities. The United States and allies had deployed a naval task force to the area in December, and the situation had escalated in recent days. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who is in hospital due to surgery complications, said in a statement that the strikes targeted Houthi drones, ballistic and cruise missiles, costal radar and air surveillance. The United States also accused Iran of being involved operationally in the Houthi attacks, providing the military capabilities and intelligence to carry them out. The United States has troops on the ground in Syria and Iraq, and has previously retaliated for attacks there by Iran-backed groups.

Persons: Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, Mohammed Ghobari WASHINGTON, Joe Biden, Houthis, Sanaa, Ali Ahmad, Mahmoud, James Heappey, Brent, Lloyd Austin, Tesla, Andreas Krieg, Andrew Mills, Maher Hatem, Jeff Mason, Kanishka Singh, Eric Beech, Peter Graff, Angus MacSwan Organizations: British, U.S, Hamas, U.S . Defense, Washington, King's College, United, West Bank Locations: ADEN, Yemen, Iran, Gaza, Sanaa, Taiz, Hodeidah, Hajjah governorate, United States, Israel, Europe, Asia, U.S, Britain, Africa, Germany, London . Saudi Arabia, U.N, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Washington, Doha, Dubai

☆ The US gave the Houthis a final warning. The Iran-backed rebels answered with their biggest-ever missile and drone attack.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-11 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. AdvertisementUS Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Carney defeats a combination of Houthi missiles and drones in the Red Sea on October 19, 2023. Advertisement"Ongoing Houthi attacks in the Red Sea are illegal, unacceptable, and profoundly destabilizing," the statement read. Retaliatory strikes against the Houthis would not be unprecedented — the Pentagon did so in 2016 following attacks by the rebels — but they would be escalatory. The Houthis, meanwhile, are not the only Iranian proxy group that has clashed with the US since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war.

Persons: —, I'm, Antony Blinken, Carney, MCS2 Aaron Lau, Houthi, Mohammed Hamoud, HMS, Grant Shapps, Barbara Woodward, We've, John Kirby, CENTCOM, Biden Organizations: Service, Business, US, Navy, US Navy, Pentagon, Getty, Biden, US Central Command, British, Royal Navy, United Nations, National Security Locations: Yemen, Iran, Washington, Bahrain, American, Israel, Amran, Anadolu, Red, Suez, Tehran, Iraq, Syria

☆ The world’s most powerful passports for 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-10 | by ( Maureen O'Hare | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —In a big shakeup of a quarterly ranking of the world’s most powerful passports, an unprecedented six countries are tied in the top spot for the hottest travel documents for 2024. The United States and Canada, meanwhile, are tied in seventh place, along with Hungary, with visa-free access to 188 destinations. “The average number of destinations travelers are able to access visa-free has nearly doubled from 58 in 2006 to 111 in 2024,” says Kaelin. Portugal is at No.4 on the Henley Passport Index and Arton Capital's Passport Index. Arton’s Global Passport Power Rank 2024 puts the United Arab Emirates in the top spot, with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 180.

Persons: Christian, Kaelin, ”, Tamas Gabor, iStockphoto, It’s, Arton Capital’s, Armand Arton, that’s, Arton Organizations: CNN, Henley & Partners, International Air Transport Association, South Korea, United, United Arab Emirates, Henley, United Nations Locations: France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Spain, London, Europe, Finland, Sweden, –, Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, United Kingdom, Greece, Malta, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Czechia, Poland, United States, Canada, Hungary, United Arab, Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, Taiwan, Macao, Hong Kong, Kosovo, Palestinian, Territories, Monaco, Albania, South Korea, Czech Republic , New Zealand, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Iceland

☆ Oil slides as Saudi price cuts counter Middle East worries
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-08 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

In an aerial view, oil storage tanks at the Enterprise Sealy Station are seen on August 28, 2023 in Sealy, Texas. Oil prices fell by more than 3% on Monday on sharp price cuts by top exporter Saudi Arabia and a rise in OPEC output, offsetting supply concerns generated by escalating geopolitical tension in the Middle East. On Sunday rising supply and competition with rival producers prompted Saudi Arabia to cut the February official selling price (OSP) of its flagship Arab Light crude to Asia to the lowest level in 27 months. A Reuters survey on Friday found that OPEC oil output rose in December as increases in Iraq, Angola and Nigeria offset continuing cuts by Saudi Arabia and other members of the wider OPEC+ alliance. "However, that doesn't take into account the fact that geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are undeniably rising again, which will mean limited downside."

Persons: John Evans, Tony Sycamore, Antony Blinken, Vandana Hari Organizations: Enterprise, Brent, West Texas, PVM, Reuters, West, Vanda Insights, Libya's National Oil Corporation Locations: Sealy , Texas, Saudi Arabia, Yemeni, Red, Asia, Iraq, Angola, Nigeria, OPEC, Saudi, Gaza, West Bank, Lebanon, Syria

☆ These Middle East flashpoints could trigger regional conflict that impacts oil prices
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-03 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

There are several key flashpoints where the Israel-Hamas war could escalate into a regional conflict that has a material impact on oil, according to the firm. Those flashpoints are the Red Sea, Lebanon and Iraq, analyst Helima Croft wrote in a note to clients this week. Crude prices fell Tuesday despite renewed attacks by Houthi militants in the Red Sea over the weekend. Maersk stopped shipping through the Red Sea again and is rerouting vessels around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. Some 12% of global trade and about 3 million barrels of crude oil pass through the Red Sea per day, according to RBC Capital Markets.

Persons: Helima Croft, Croft, Adi Imsirovic, Imsirovic, Steven Schoenfeld, Schoenfeld, Goldman Sachs, Tehran's Houthi, Donald Trump ratcheted, Biden, Benny Gantz, Israel, Saleh al, Joe Biden, Trump, Qasem Soleimani Organizations: RBC Capital Markets, Maersk, West Texas Intermediate, CNBC, Tuesday, Traders, Investors, Center for Strategic, International Studies, U.S, Prosperity, U.S . Navy, U.S . Central Command, JPMorgan, Israel Defense Forces, Three U.S, Washington Locations: Israel, Sea, Lebanon, Iraq, Red, Danish, Libya, Russia, Ukraine, Iran, U.S, Yemen, The U.S, Mandeb, Aden, Britain, Hangzhou, South Africa, Suez, Asia, Europe, Hormuz, Islamic Republic, Tehran, Beirut, Croft, Erbil, Three

☆ Houthi attacks and U.S. strikes add to concerns of broader conflict in the Middle East
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-27 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Houthi military helicopter flies over the Galaxy Leader cargo ship in the Red Sea in this photo released on Nov. 20, 2023. Yemen's Houthi rebels launched fresh attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea, while the U.S. carried out strikes against targets in Iraq, amid fears that the war in the Gaza Strip could engulf the Middle East. The U.S. military carried out retaliatory strikes against three installations in Iraq linked to Kataib Hezbollah on Monday, the Pentagon announced, after three American service personnel were injured in a one-way drone attack carried out by the Iran-aligned militant group. On Tuesday, Houthi militants, also backed by Iran, launched a fresh drone attack against a container ship operated by MSC that was heading for Pakistan. "The naval forces of the Yemeni Armed Forces carried out a targeting operation against the commercial ship, 'MSC UNITED,' with appropriate naval missiles," Yahya Sare'e, spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, said in a post on the X social media platform, formerly known as Twitter.

Persons: Yemen's Houthi, Defense Lloyd Austin, Austin, Yahya Sare'e Organizations: Galaxy Leader, Hezbollah, Pentagon, Defense, Reuters, stoke, Houthi, MSC, Yemeni Armed Forces, UNITED, Twitter Locations: Red, U.S, Iraq, Gaza, The U.S, Iran, Pakistan

☆ Iran vows revenge after Israel kills top military commander in Syria
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-26 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Israel killed Iranian general Seyed Razi Mousavi in Syria, where he coordinated Iran-backed forces. Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi vowed revenge on Israel. Iran-backed groups in Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq have launched attacks on Israel and its allies in support of Hamas. Hossein Akbari, Iran's ambassador to Syria, condemned the killing, saying that Mousavi was in Syria as a "formal military advisor." Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes on targets inside government-controlled parts of war-torn Syria in recent years.

Persons: Israel, Seyed Razi Mousavi, Ebrahim Raisi, —, Daniel Hagari, Mousavi, Bashar Assad's, Qassim Soleimani, Houthi, IRNA, Hossein Akbari, Akbari, IRNA didn't Organizations: Service, Iranian, Revolutionary Guard, Reuters, Quds Force, Hamas, Monday, Human Rights, Syrian Locations: Syria, Iran, Israel, Damascus, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Lebanon, Irbil, U.S, Britain, Lebanese, Russia

Almost 16,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel began its campaign in October, following Hamas’ terror attack on Israel on October 7, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health. Israel believes it has killed “several thousand” Hamas militants, an Israeli official said. Israeli officials have indicated that that is their intention, one of the officials said. Senior US officials have been careful not to publicly criticize Israel and are increasingly insisting that their strategy of counseling Israel to target Gaza more deliberately and surgically has delivered some results. “I do believe that they have listened,” Vice President Kamala Harris told reporters on Sunday when asked whether Israel is listening to the US.

Persons: Israel, Lloyd Austin, Austin, ”, Israel can’t, Antony Blinken, Jake Sullivan, “, Kamala Harris, John Kirby Organizations: CNN, US, Israeli Defense Forces, Reagan National Defense Forum, Israel, Gaza Ministry, Health, Biden, National Security Council, Hezbollah, Senior, IDF, Israel Defense Forces, National Security Locations: Gaza, Israel, Lebanese, Iraq, Afghanistan

☆ Kuwait rings up small bill in tower merger
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A three-way partnership deal will enable Qatar’s Ooredoo (ORDS.QA) to offload capital-intensive infrastructure but only by offering Kuwait’s Zain (ZAIN.KW) favourable deal terms. Ooredoo and Zain are creating a regional powerhouse with an estimated enterprise value of $2.2 billion to be managed by Zain-backed TASC Towers Holding. The $8.9 billion Ooredoo and $6.9 billion Zain will own 49.3% each, with the rest going to TASC. But Zain is paying an average price of $73,000 per tower, 9.5% less than the average price per tower in previous deals, according to JPMorgan analysts. The Kuwaiti group will also call the shots as the founders of Dubai’s TASC Towers Holding – which Zain controls with an 83.47% stake – will manage the new entity.

Persons: Qatar’s, Kuwait’s Zain, Zain, Ooredoo, Dubai’s, Pamela Barbaglia, Neiman Marcus, Francesco Guerrera, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, TASC, Bloomberg, JPMorgan, X, Saks, Thomson Locations: Algeria, Tunisia, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi, Kuwaiti, Hong Kong

☆ Israel-Hamas War U.S. Pushes Israel and Hamas to Restart Talks
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Andrés R. Martínez | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

Israel has since resumed its attacks on Hamas, and Mr. Kirby urged it to avoid civilian casualties, while crediting its forces with making efforts to do so. “He’s so naïve; I mean I just lost all confidence in this guy,” Mr. Graham said. “Secretary Austin is telling Israel things that are impossible to achieve.”Mr. Graham said his solution to the hostage impasse would be to threaten Iran, the sponsor of Hamas. “I would go to Iran and say listen, you need to tell Hamas to let these hostages go,” he said. “Qatar has said that Hamas is still at the table,” she said, referring to the Persian Gulf emirate that has served as the intermediary for the talks.

Persons: Israel, “, John F, ”, Kirby, Osama Hamdan, There’s, Biden, Biden’s, Lindsey Graham, Lloyd J, Austin III, Austin, ” Mr, Graham, Mr, Al Qaeda, Pramila Jayapal, Jayapal, ” Hwaida Saad Organizations: Kirby, White House National Security Council, Press, Hamas, Republican, West Bank, CNN’s, Union, “ Locations: Gaza, Jerusalem, U.S, Lebanon, Israel, South Carolina, CNN’s “ State, Iraq, Al, we’d, Iran, Washington, United States, Qatar, Persian, “ Israel

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Air Force is expanding its study of whether service members who worked with nuclear missiles have had unusually high rates of cancer after a preliminary review determined that a deeper examination is needed. In response, medical teams went out to each nuclear missile base to conduct thousands of tests of the air, water, soil and surface areas inside and around each of its three nuclear missile bases; Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana, Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota and F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming. For years the missileers were told in multiple Air Force reviews that there was not cause for concern. While the Air Force review is looking at a broader set of cancers, the number of self-reported NHL cases is striking because the community of missile launch officers is very small.

Persons: We’ve, Keith Beam, missileers, ”, Tory Woodard, ” Woodard, “, Barry Little, We’re Organizations: WASHINGTON, Air Force, Malmstrom Air Force Base, Minot Air Force Base, Warren Air Force Base, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S . Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, DOD, Veterans Affairs, The Air Force, Torchlight, NHL, National Cancer Institute, Torchlight Initiative, Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, 341st Missile Locations: Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, Iraq, Afghanistan

☆ Islamic resistance vows retaliation after US airstrike killed 5 Iraqi militants
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The US conducted a "self-defense strike" against a target in Iraq on Sunday afternoon. The Islamic Resistance has vowed retaliation for the deaths, per Reuters. AdvertisementFive Iraqi militants were killed Sunday in an airstrike as they prepared to launch explosives toward American forces, according to multiple reports. US officials confirmed they'd carried out a "self-defense strike on an imminent threat" on Sunday afternoon, per Reuters. The outlet reported the Islamic Resistance, a conglomerate of militia groups with ties to Tehran, vowed retaliation for the deaths.

Persons: —, they'd Organizations: US, Sunday, Reuters, Service, US Department of Defense, Business, American Locations: Iraq, Tehran, Israel, Kirkuk

☆ A US Navy warship had to gun down more threats as American forces get pulled deeper into fights being fueled by Israel's war with Hamas
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

A US Navy destroyer responding to the incidents had to battle off multiple drones during the day. It's the latest example of how American forces are increasingly engaging hostile Iran-backed groups. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. American destroyers like the Carney have shot down scores of drones and missiles launched from Houthi-controlled territory in recent weeks. "And so we will continue to focus on that mission, as well as ensuring that our forces are protected."

Persons: —, Carney, Arleigh Burke, CENTCOM, MCS2 Aaron Lau, Khaled Abdullah Analysts, Washington, Pat Ryder Organizations: US Navy, Service, Hamas, Central Command, Pentagon, Washington Institute for Near East, Missiles, REUTERS, Institute for, Business, Pentagon Press, Air Force Locations: Iran, Red, Yemen, Suez, Israel, Iran's, Tehran, Gaza, Hezbollah, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Sanaa, Washington ,, United States, American, Islamic State

JAKE SULLIVAN - THE LAST GUY IN THE ROOMBiden often turns to Sullivan, the White House national security adviser, when he is considering final options and looking for advice and counsel. "He develops and puts forward the policy options before the president for him to decide," said one U.S. official. Sullivan, 47, was national security adviser for Biden when he was vice president and deputy chief of staff to then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He gathers policy options from across government agencies and prepares them for Biden to consider, the traditional role of the national security adviser. JON FINER - ASKING QUESTIONSSullivan relies heavily on his deputy national security adviser, Jon Finer.

Persons: Joe Biden, Antony Blinken, Evelyn Hockstein, ANTONY BLINKEN, Biden, Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, JAKE SULLIVAN, Sullivan, Jake, Hillary Clinton, BRETT MCGURK, Brett McGurk, McGurk, George W, Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, BILL BURNS, spymaster, Bill Burns, It's, Burns, LLOYD AUSTIN, STARK, Lloyd Austin, Yoav Gallant, Israel, KAMALA HARRIS, Kamala Harris, Harris, ”, JON, Jon, John Kerry's, Kerry, Arshad Mohammed, Nandita Bose, Don Durfee, Heather Timmons, Deepa Babington Organizations: U.S, Hamas, REUTERS, Rights, Israeli, Biden, White House, National Security, U.S ., CIA, . Defense, Pentagon, Islamic State, U.S . Army, ISIS, Palestinian, West Bank, Palestinian Authority, Washington Post, Thomson Locations: Israel, Tel Aviv, Gaza, East, North Africa, Saudi Arabia, United States, Qatar, Doha, Iran, Moscow, Russia, Ukraine, Ankara, U.S, Austin, Dubai, West

☆ U.S. Navy Destroyer Shoots Down Three Drones in Red Sea, Pentagon Says
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Helene Cooper | More About Helene Cooper | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

A U.S. Navy destroyer shot down three drones during a sustained attack in the Red Sea on Sunday, the Pentagon said, in what could signal another escalation in the tit-for-tat attacks between the American military and Iranian-backed militants. The destroyer intercepted three drones during the attack, United States Central Command said in a statement, including one that was headed in the direction of the Carney. In the statement, Central Command said the attacks originated from areas in Yemen that are controlled by the Iranian-backed Houthi militia. In October, the Carney shot down three cruise missiles and several drones launched from Yemen that the Pentagon said might have been headed toward Israel. In its statement, Central Command said “we have every reason to believe that these attacks, while launched by the Houthis in Yemen, are fully enabled by Iran.

Persons: Carney, Yahya Sarea, Biden, “, ” Shuaib Almosawa Organizations: U.S . Navy, Pentagon, United States Central Command, Central Command, Hamas, Command Locations: Yemen, Iranian, Israel, Red, Gaza, Iran, Iraq, Syria, United States

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