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☆ The West urges China to intervene with Iran amid fears of a direct attack on Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Iranians attend a funeral procession in Tehran, held for seven Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps members killed in a strike in Syria. Western diplomats have mounted pressure on China to prevent Iran from escalating tensions in the Middle East with a direct retaliatory strike against Israel. U.S. Secretary Antony Blinken earlier this week spoke with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and other counterparts in Turkey and Saudi Arabia amid rising fears of retaliation by Tehran against Israel. Beijing is a critical trade partner of Russia and Iran as one of the last recipients of their oil exports. The three countries are also members of the China-led BRICS coalition of emerging markets.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Wang Yi, Blinken, Matthew Miller, it's, Olaf Scholz Organizations: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Israel, U.S, Chinese Foreign, U.S . State, BRICS Locations: Tehran, Syria, China, Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Israel, U.S, Germany, Beijing, Russia

☆ The US snatched thousands of illegal Iranian guns and gave them to Ukraine to repel the Russians
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The US has sent Ukraine guns and ammunition that were intercepted while being smuggled from Iran to Yemen. It's the second time Washington has given Kyiv weaponry that was bound for the Houthis. The haul is helpful for Ukraine, but its forces need more than small arms to fight Russia. AdvertisementThe US has sent Ukraine guns and ammunition that were intercepted over the past few years while being illegally smuggled from Iran to the Houthis in Yemen. AdvertisementIranian weaponry bound for Yemen after it was seized by US forces in January.

Persons: —, Biden, CENTCOM, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Organizations: US, Service, AK, US Central Command, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, United Nations Security, Coast Guard, Command, Russia, Republican, Washington, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Russian Aerospace Forces Locations: Ukraine, Iran, Yemen, Washington, Russia, Tehran, Kyiv

☆ Oil prices fall after Israel reduces troop presence in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-08 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Iranians attend the funeral procession for seven Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps members killed in a strike in Syria, which Iran blamed on Israel, in Tehran on April 5, 2024. U.S. crude oil futures fell Monday after Israel reduced its troop presence in Gaza. The West Texas Intermediate contract for May delivery fell 48 cents, or 0.55%, to settle at $86.43 a barrel. Israel withdrew forces from the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis over the weekend, bringing its troop levels in the enclave to one of the lowest levels since the war with Hamas began last October. Negotiations on a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas are ongoing in Cairo.

Persons: Israel, Brent, Khan Younis Organizations: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, The West Texas Intermediate, Hamas Locations: Syria, Iran, Israel, Tehran, Gaza, The, Khan, Cairo . U.S

U.S. officials in Washington and the Middle East said on Friday that they were bracing for possible Iranian retaliation for the Israeli airstrike on Monday in Damascus, Syria. U.S. military forces in the region have been placed on heightened alert. Israel has also placed its military on high alert, according to an Israeli official, canceled leave for combat units, recalled some reservists to air defense units and blocked GPS signals. Two Iranian officials who asked not to be named because they were not authorized to speak publicly said that Iran had placed all its armed forces on full high alert and that a decision had been made that Iran must respond directly to the Damascus attack to create deterrence. “We warn that no act by any enemy against our holy system will go unanswered and the art of the Iranian nation is to break the power of empires.”

Persons: Israel’s, Gen, Hossein Organizations: Quds Force, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Locations: Iran, Washington, Damascus, Syria, U.S, Israel, Tehran

☆ US awaits Netanyahu’s response after Biden’s ultimatum
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Despite repeatedly expressing its frustration with Israeli tactics, the White House has been unwilling or unable to impose any leverage on the prime minister. There was no immediate response from the prime minister, who held a cabinet meeting after the call that he used to warn that Israel will defend itself against Iran. The Israeli prime minister is a consummate Washington player and has been engaging with Biden’s Republican foes on Capitol Hill, in an alliance that could increase political complications for the president if he creates deeper fractures with the Israeli prime minister. If Biden eventually assesses his warnings are falling on deaf ears, his credibility will depend on him publicly imposing a cost on the Israeli prime minister. But Biden’s political imperatives and the increasing humanitarian price of the war in Gaza mean he’s approaching a fateful crossroads.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Biden, –, Antony Blinken, Delaware Sen, Chris Coons, Blinken, Israel, John Kirby, Israel –, fulsomely, Biden didn’t, Leon Panetta, CNN’s Jake Tapper, ”, Independent Sen, Bernie Sanders, Tapper, “, ” Sanders, ” Netanyahu’s, ” Netanyahu, ” Kirby, Mike Johnson Organizations: CNN, Arab, Israel, Israel Defense Forces, Democrat, White, Democratic, White House, National Security Communications, Independent, Hamas, Islamic, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, United, Washington, Republican, GOP Locations: Israel, Gaza, United States, Delaware, Palestinian American, Brussels, Washington, Vermont, Iran, Islamic Republic, Damascus, Rafah

☆ Biden and Netanyahu call comes amid extreme mutual tensions and political pressure
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

The conversation will also take place with both leaders under enormous domestic pressure and amid signs their political priorities are irreconcilable. Biden badly needs the war to end to ease anger among progressives that is threatening his weakened political coalition ahead of November’s election. The backdrop to the call is US fury over the killings of seven aid workers from World Central Kitchen in an Israeli strike in Gaza. And the killings of the aid workers threatens to halt a vital lifeline needed to mitigate famine in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip. The strike on Damascus also heaped more domestic political pressure on Biden from inside the Democratic Party.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Benjamin Netanyahu, ’, Biden, Netanyahu, It’s, Xi Jinping, Biden’s, ”, Israel, John Kirby, José Andrés, “, Rishi Sunak, Donald Trump, Thaer Ahmad, Nahreen Ahmed, ‘, Biden “, Benny Gantz, Ro Khanna, Mark Esper, ” Esper, CNN’s Jake Tapper, Netanyahu – Organizations: CNN, Israeli, National Security Communications, Hamas, World, Reuters, Navy, America, Gaza Health Ministry, Israel Defense Forces, Republicans, Capitol, British, Democratic, White, Black, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Democratic Party, ”, Democrats, California Democrat, Americans, Iranian Locations: Gaza, Israel, Rafah, Washington, Syria, China, America, Britain, Australia, Canada, Wisconsin, Michigan, Palestinian American, Palestine, Damascus, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Iranian, Damascus –, United States, Lebanon, California, Jordan

☆ Live updates: Israel-Hamas war, strike on Iran consulate in Syria
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Emergency and security personnel gather at the site of strikes, which hit a building next to the Iranian embassy, in Damascus, Syria, on Monday. Iranian authorities and state media named senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders Mohammed Reza Zahedi and Haji Rahimi among those killed. Israel's military said it does not comment on foreign reports, but its spokesperson said the consulate was a "military building of Quds forces disguised as a civilian building." The Quds Force is a unit of Iran's IRGC responsible for foreign operations. Here are the latest developments in the region:

Persons: Maher Al Mountes, Mohammed Reza Zahedi, Haji Rahimi Organizations: Getty, Islamic Revolutionary Guard, Quds Force Locations: Damascus, Syria, AFP, Iran, Gaza, Israel, Quds

☆ Fears Grow That Syria Strikes Could Spur Retaliatory Attacks on Israel and U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Eric Schmitt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Current and former U.S. officials expressed fears on Tuesday that Israel’s airstrikes on an Iranian embassy compound in Syria could escalate hostilities in the region, and prompt retaliatory strikes against Israel and its American ally. Indeed, after the Israeli strike in Damascus, Syria’s capital, on Monday, American troops based in southeastern Syria knocked down an attack drone, a Defense Department official said. It was unclear if the drone was aimed at the U.S. forces, the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss operational details. If it were, it would be the first attack by Iran-backed militias against American troops in Iraq or Syria in nearly two months. The official said there had been no further attacks overnight, but that Pentagon officials were monitoring the situation closely.

Persons: Ralph Goff, Goff Organizations: Israel, Iran’s Quds Force, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Defense Department, U.S ., Pentagon Locations: Syria, Iran’s Quds, Iran, Damascus, Syria’s, U.S, Iraq

☆ Iran says Israel bombs its embassy in Syria, kills commanders
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Emergency and security personnel gather at the site of strikes which hit a building next to the Iranian embassy in Syria's capital Damascus, on April 1, 2024. Suspected Israeli warplanes bombed Iran's embassy in Syria on Monday in a strike that Iran said killed seven of its military advisers, including three senior commanders, and that marked a major escalation in Israel's war with its regional adversaries. Reuters reporters at the site in the Mezzeh district of Damascus saw emergency workers clambering atop rubble of a destroyed building inside the diplomatic compound, adjacent to the main Iranian embassy building. Iran's ambassador to Syria said the strike hit a consular building in the embassy compound and that his residence was on the top two floors. Israel has long targeted Iran's military installations in Syria and those of its proxies, but Monday's attack was the first time Israel hit the vast embassy compound itself.

Persons: Faisal Mekdad, Mohammad Reza Zahedi, Israel Organizations: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iranian, Syrian, Force, Hamas Locations: Syria's, Damascus, Iranian, Gaza, Syria, Iran, Mezzeh, Israel

☆ Middle East Crisis Iran Blames Israel for Deaths of Top Commanders in Syria
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Farnaz Fassihi | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

The covert war has previously included Israel’s targeted assassinations of Iranian military leaders and nuclear scientists, and Iran’s use of foreign proxies to strike Israeli interests. “For years, Israel and Iran have been engaged in what’s usually called a ‘shadow war,’” Ali Vaez, the Iran director for the International Crisis Group, said Monday in a social media post. Israel and Iran differed in their descriptions of the building that was hit. Iran described it as part of its diplomatic mission in Syria, but Israel said it was being used by the Revolutionary Guards, making it a legitimate military target. Mr. Akbari said among those killed were several Iranian military advisers deployed to Syria.

Persons: Israel, Israel’s, Mohamad Reza Zahedi, General Zahedi, Mohammad Hadi Haj Rahimi, Hossein Aman Allahi, ’ ” Ali Vaez, “, ” Nasser Kanaani, Mr, Kanaani, Daniel Hagari, ” Mr, Vaez, ”, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, Hossein Akbari, Akbari, Iran’s, Peyman Syed Taheri, Taheri Organizations: Iranian Embassy, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Iran’s Quds Force, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Corps, Hamas, Quds Force, Quds Forces, Quds, Guards, International Crisis, Iran’s, Palestinian, Revolutionary Guards, CNN Locations: Damascus, Syria, Iranian, Syrian, Iran’s Quds, Israel, Iran, Gaza, Lebanon, Quds, “ Iran, Jihad, ”, Tehran

CNN —A top commander in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard was killed among several others in an airstrike on the country’s consulate building in Damascus, Syria, according to Iranian officials and state-affiliated media, which blamed Israel for the attack. Iran’s Foreign Ministry said that senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRCG) commander Mohammed Reza Zahedi was killed in the attack. Footage of the aftermath of the blast, published by Iranian state media Press TV, showed extensive damage, fire and smoke at the scene. Iranian embassy staff and military advisers were among the dead, he said. Zahedi, the slain commander, was previously the commander of IRGC’s ground forces, the commander of IRGC’s air force, and the deputy commander of the IRGC’s operations.

Persons: Israel, Mohammed Reza Zahedi, Hossein Akbari, “, ” Akbari, Akbari, ”, Nasser Kanaani, ” Kanaani, Hossein Amir, Faisal Mekdad, Amir, Matthew Miller, ” Miller, we’re Organizations: CNN, Revolutionary Guard, Iran’s, Ministry, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp, Press, Zionist, Israel Defense Forces, Fars News, Iranian, Syrian Foreign, Diplomatic Relations, United States State Department Locations: Damascus, Syria, Iranian, Islamic Republic, Iran, Fars, Syrian, Vienna

☆ Pouria Zeraati: ‘Brutal stabbing’ of exiled Iranian journalist prompts counterterrorism investigation
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-30 | by ( Joshua Berlinger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A prominent exiled Iranian journalist was stabbed outside his home in London on Friday, prompting British police to launch a counterterrorism investigation. Pouria Zeraati, a television anchor at the UK-based channel Iran International, was reportedly attacked by a group of men outside his home in south-western Wimbledon. Iran has designated the television station a “terrorist entity.” Iranian state media has repeatedly accused the channel of fomenting unrest. Zeraati’s stabbing comes after an investigation by Britain’s ITV last year revealed that Iranian spies had attempted to pay a people smuggler $200,000 to assassinate two Iran International journalists. Kearns noted on Twitter that Iran International had only recently returned to the air from London after having to shut down in the UK.

Persons: Pouria, Dominic Murphy, Britain’s, Alicia Kearns, Michelle Stanistreet, ” Stanistreet, Kearns, ”, CNN’s Mostafa Salem, Atay Alam Organizations: CNN, British, Iran, London Metropolitan Police, Britain’s ITV, Iran International, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Foreign Affairs Committee, British National Union of Journalists, BBC Persian Service, UN, Twitter Locations: Iranian, London, Wimbledon, Tehran, Iran

☆ Syria Blames Israel for Deadly Attack in Aleppo
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Gaya Gupta | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

Israel’s military did not immediately comment on the strikes, but it has previously acknowledged carrying out hundreds of assaults on Iran-linked targets in Syria. Friday’s attack was at least the second deadly attack in Syria in less than a week. On Tuesday, airstrikes in eastern Syria killed several people. The Iranian state news media said that Israel was responsible, while the Syrian state news agency attributed it to American forces. The Tuesday strikes killed a member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, according to Iranian state news media reports.

Persons: —, SANA, Ali Abdulhassan Naim, Yoav Gallant, “, ”, Firas Makdesi, Saleh al, Bashar al, Assad, al, Benjamin Netanyahu, Vladimir V, Putin, Israel, Johnatan Reiss Organizations: Syrian Observatory, Human Rights, —, Lebanese, Hezbollah, Reuters, United Nations, Pentagon, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, World Health Organization Locations: Syrian, Aleppo, Britain, Syria, Lebanese, Iran, Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria’s, Israeli, Damascus, Beirut, United States, Russia

☆ Iran vote turnout hits historic low amid discontent
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Turnout for Iran's parliamentary election, seen as a test of the clerical establishment's legitimacy, appears to have hit an historic low of around 41%, according to unofficial reports quoted by state media on Saturday. Mohammad Khatami, Iran's first reformist president, was among critics who did not vote on Friday. State news agency IRNA said unofficial reports put turnout at more than 25 million, or about 41% of eligible voters. If the turnout figure is confirmed, it would be the lowest since Iran's Islamic revolution in 1979. Iran's turnout fell to 42.5% in 2020 parliamentary elections from about 62% in 2016.

Persons: Mohammad Khatami, Iran's, Narges Mohammadi, IRNA, Joe Biden, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ebrahim Raisi, Hassan Rouhani Organizations: Reuters, Iran's, Experts Locations: Tehran, State, United States, Israel, Ham Mihan

☆ Iran flaunts a new ship-fired missile, but analysts say it's no game-changer
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Paul Iddon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

It's the first time Iran has launched a ballistic missile from a ship. The launch from the Shahid Mahdavi was, however, the first time Iran launched a ballistic missile from a ship. "The other benefit to Iran of this kind of weapon is it could attack Israel from axes that are less well-protected by Israeli missile defenses." AdvertisementDeploying SRBMs instead of cruise missiles on the Shahid Mahdavi and similar vessels could also have advantages. For one, the ballistic missiles Iran test-fired on Feb. 12 appear relatively small, around the same size as a cruise missile.

Persons: —, Fateh, Shahid Mahdavi, Bryan Clark, Hossein, Shahid, Ryan Bohl, RANE, Clark, Bohl Organizations: Service, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hudson Institute, GCC, Gulf Cooperation, Iran, East Locations: Iran, Saudi Arabia, Israel, North Africa, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Tehran, Idlib, Russia

☆ Opinion | It’s Not Time for Our Troops to Leave the Middle East
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Kenneth F. Mckenzie Jr. | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The United States base at Tower 22 in Jordan is in the middle of a seemingly unending desert, astride the ancient Damascus-Baghdad Highway near the border with Syria. Last month three U.S. service members at Tower 22 were killed by a drone launched by an Iranian-backed militia. The Tower 22 attack ended that state of play and sparked fresh questions about the safety of thousands of U.S. military personnel stationed in Jordan, Syria and Iraq as the Middle East conflict widens. Last month, the United States and Iraq started talks that could lead to the withdrawal of U.S. troops. It gives hope to Tehran that it is succeeding in its long-term goal of ejecting the United States from the region through its proxy militias.

Persons: Biden Organizations: United, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, U.S Locations: United States, Jordan, Damascus, Baghdad, Syria, Iranian, Iraq, Washington, U.S, Tehran

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. government has seized a Boeing 747 cargo plane that officials say was previously sold by a sanctioned Iranian airline to a state-owned Venezuelan firm in violation of American export control laws. The Justice Department said Monday that the American-built plane had arrived in Florida and would be disposed of. The plane was detained in June 2022 by Argentine law enforcement, and U.S. officials moved several weeks later to take possession of it. The Justice Department has identified the registered captain of the plane as an ex-commander for the Revolutionary Guard. Mahan Air has denied any ties to the aircraft, and Venezuela has demanded that Argentine authorities release the plane.

Persons: Mahan, Matthew Olsen, ”, Nicolas Maduro, Regina Garcia Cano Organizations: WASHINGTON, Boeing, Justice Department, Air, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Quds Force, Officials, Revolutionary Guard, Justice, Argentine, The, Mahan Air, Associated Press Locations: U.S, Iranian, Venezuelan, Florida, United States, Argentine, Argentina, Emtrasur, Moscow, Caracas, Tehran, Venezuela

Washington CNN —A US military strike on Wednesday in Baghdad killed a Kataib Hezbollah commander who was responsible for attacks on American forces in the region, according to US Central Command. A US official said the strike was part of the response President Joe Biden authorized last week in response to the Jordan attack. As of Tuesday, there had been at least 168 attacks on US and coalition forces in Iraq, Syria and Jordan. In addition to the three soldiers killed in the Jordan attack, three other service members were medically evacuated to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. The Iraqi government said the US’ strikes killed at least 16 people, including civilians.

Persons: Joe Biden, Jordan, Biden, –, Sabrina Singh, ”, “, CNN’s MJ Lee, Kevin Liptak Organizations: Washington CNN, US Central Command, Central Command, Command, Local, CNN, White, Iraqi Popular Mobilization, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Pentagon, Regional Medical Center, Iraq’s, US, United Locations: Baghdad, Iran, Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Germany, ”, United States, Anbar Governorate

☆ Oil prices steady on Gaza ceasefire talks even as US plans Middle East strikes
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Oil prices stabilized in early Asian trading on Monday after sharp falls last week, amid continued attempts to reach a ceasefire in the Israel-Palestinian conflict even as the U.S. planned new strikes on Iran-backed groups. Brent crude futures inched up 8 cents to $77.41 a barrel by 0131 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures were flat at $72.28 a barrel. However, investors remained wary of any escalation in the Middle East conflict, after the U.S. signaled further strikes on Iran-backed groups in the Middle East in response to a deadly attack on U.S. troops in Jordan. "Oil markets will likely respond by continuing to discount supply disruption risks in the Middle East," he said in a client note on Monday, adding that would likely keep Brent futures below $80 a barrel. Iran exported between 1.2 million and 1.6 million barrels per day of crude oil through most of 2023, representing 1%-1.5% of global oil supply.

Persons: Vivek Dhar, Brent Organizations: Brent, U.S, West Texas, Commonwealth Bank, U.S . Department of Justice, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Locations: Ras Behar, Egypt, Israel, Iran, U.S, Jordan, The U.S, Yemen, China

☆ 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

☆ Oil prices steady as Fed moves carefully on rate cuts, U.S. pushes for pause in Gaza war
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Oil prices were largely flat Monday as the Federal Reserve moves carefully on interest rates cuts, and the U.S. pushes for an extended pause in the Israel-Hamas War. The West Texas Intermediate contract for March dropped 31 cents, or 0.46%, to trade at $71.95 a barrel Monday morning. Powell's comments came after a much stronger jobs report than expected Friday, with the labor market adding 353,000 jobs compared to 185,000 expected. "With the economy strong like that, we feel like we can approach the question of when to begin to reduce interest rates carefully," Powell told CBS' "60 Minutes." Lower interest rates typically boost economic growth which would imply stronger crude oil demand.

Persons: Brent, Jerome Powell, Powell's, Powell, Antony Blinken, Blinken Organizations: Safeway, Federal Reserve, West Texas Intermediate, Federal, CBS, West Bank, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, U.S, Houthi Locations: Hercules , California, U.S, Israel, Gaza, East, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Iran, Strait, Hormuz, The U.S, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Red

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

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ 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

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