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

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

Iran-backed militias have packed even larger loads of explosives — more than 80 pounds — onto drones launched at American bases, U.S. officials said. “The president has no higher priority than the safety of U.S. personnel, and he directed today’s action to make clear that the United States will defend itself, its personnel, and its interests.”“The United States is fully prepared to take further necessary measures to protect our people and our facilities,” he added. The United States has 2,500 troops in Iraq and 900 in Syria, mostly to help local forces fight remnants of the Islamic State. The Biden administration also uses a “deconfliction” line with Russia to try to manage escalation in Iraq and Syria, two officials said. Russia has troops in Syria, and American officials say they expect that telling Russia before a strike in Syria is the same as telling Iran, as Russian officials often inform Tehran of what is coming.

Persons: ratcheting, Biden, Lloyd J, Austin III, ”, Antony J, Blinken, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Mr, Khamenei, ” Christine S Organizations: Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, American, Air Force, Pentagon, U.S, Quds Force, ”, Palestinian, Biden, Sunday, United, Military, Pentagon’s Central Command, National Counterterrorism Center Locations: United States, Syria, Iraq, U.S, Iran, I.R.G.C, Yemen, Israel, Islamic State, Russia, Tehran, Lebanon, Persian, Gaza, Tehran , U.S

☆ Why oil is down since the Hamas-Israel conflict started and whether that can last
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

A risk premium should be present somewhere in oil prices, Papic wrote. "If the Hamas attack leads to a regional conflict in the world's most important oil producing geography, then oil prices should catch a bid… any bid. Beijing's crude oil imports rose in October, but the country's overall exports fell more than expected, indicating the global economy may be slowing. The biggest risk for oil prices is a decline in Iranian oil exports by 300,000 to 500,000 barrels per day, the bank cautioned. The U.S. House of Representatives last week passed a bill to harden sanctions on Tehran's crude exports in an overwhelming bipartisan vote following the Hamas' attacks.

Persons: Netanyahu, Marko Papic, Papic, Oil's, Ellen Wald, Wald, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Giovanni Staunovo, Staunovo, Joe Biden, Mike Rothman, Rothman Organizations: Brent, West Texas, Clocktower, U.S . Energy, UBS, OPEC, U.S . House, Iran's, Bank, World Bank, Gulf Cooperation Council, GCC, Washington, Cornerstone Analytics, JPMorgan Locations: Israel, @CL, Gaza, Yemen, Lebanon, Iran, Syria, China, U.S, Europe, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Strait, Hormuz, Ukraine, Riyadh, India, Japan, South Korea, Republic, Staunovo, Tehran, Gulf States

Israeli airstrikes hit two refugee camps in the central Gaza Strip on Sunday, killing scores of people, health officials said. The strikes came as the U.S. keeps urging Israel to take a humanitarian pause from its relentless bombardment of Gaza and rising civilian deaths. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to Ramallah in the West Bank for a previously unannounced meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Political Cartoons View All 1234 ImagesCurrently:— Gaza has lost telecom contact again, while Israel’s military announces it has surrounded Gaza City. — A U.N. official says the average Palestinian in Gaza is living on two pieces of bread a day.

Persons: Israel, Antony Blinken, Mahmoud Abbas, Blinken, Mohammed Shia, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, evacuee Sara El, Masry, –, JORDAN, Jordan, King Abdullah II, ”, Michael Hertzog, ” Hertzog, OBAMA, Barack Obama, “, he’s, ” Obama, I’ve, Alp Toker, Juliette Touma, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ismail Haniyeh, IRNA, Khamenei, Haniyeh, JERUSALEM —, Jacob Lew, Biden, ” Lew, Isaac Herzog, Lew, Antony Blinken’s Organizations: West Bank, Iraqi, Hamas, Ministry, WHO, GAZA, SYDNEY AIRPORT SYDNEY, Nine, Sydney Airport, Australian, United Arab Emirates, Mideast, Central Command, FIRE, NATIONS, Inter, Agency, UNRWA, United Nations, Jordanian, Twitter, ISRAEL, CBS, JERUSALEM, Paltel, Associated Press, Hezbollah, U.S, Israel, Embassy, . Riot Locations: Gaza, Ramallah, Baghdad, Jordan, Israel, United States, Egypt, Qatar, Gaza City, —, U.S, Berlin, israel, Sydney, Rafah, DUBAI, United Arab, Suez, ., Ohio, America's, Iran, UN, Palestinian Territory, GAZA AMMAN, Jordanian, GAZA, Palestinian, IRAN, TEHRAN, Lebanon, GAZA JERUSALEM, Beit Hanoun, TURKEY, ISTANBUL –, Ankara, Turkish

☆ Iranian state media confirm meeting between Khamenei, Hamas' Haniyeh in Tehran
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei meets with Palestinian group Hamas' top leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran, Iran June 21, 2023. Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA/ File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDUBAI, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has met with the leader of Tehran-backed Palestinian group Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran, Iranian state media reported on Sunday, a day after a Hamas official said they held a meeting in recent days. The Islamic Republic says it supports Hamas but did not play any role in the militants' surprise attack on Israel last month. "Ayatollah Khamenei praised the steadfastness and resilience of the people of Gaza and expressed strong regret over the crimes of the Zionist regime, supported directly by Washington and some Western countries," Iran's state TV said. Iran's clerical establishment has warned Israel, which it refuses to recognise, of "harsh consequences" if attacks continue on the Gaza Strip.

Persons: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ismail Haniyeh, Haniyeh, Khamenei, Iran's, Israel, Parisa, David Evans Organizations: Iran's, Hamas, Iranian, Rights, Zionist, West Bank, Thomson Locations: Tehran, Iran, Rights DUBAI, Iranian, Qatar, Turkey, Gaza, Republic, Israel, Washington

The rally — which was called for by the state — came as the Israel-Hamas war entered its fourth week. About 1,400 people in Israel were killed and over 240 taken hostage after Hamas' surprise attack on Oct.7. People assembled outside the former U.S. embassy in Tehran, with some burning American and Israeli flags. “We consider the criminal U.S. a principal culprit in all these crimes,” in Gaza and against Palestinians, he said. On Wednesday Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei criticized the U.S. for its support of Israel, saying Israel would have been paralyzed without American support.

Persons: America, Israel ”, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, “, Qalibaf, Palestine “, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Organizations: U.S, Hamas, Protesters, Wednesday, Islamic Locations: TEHRAN, Iran, Tehran, Israel, Gaza, U.S, Britain, France, Palestine, Palestinian, Lebanese

☆ Oil prices edge higher Middle East conflict stokes supply concerns
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Oil wells are seen at an oil facility by the Highway 5 near Bakersfield in California, United States on November 27, 2022. Oil prices edged higher in early trade on Thursday as the conflict in the Middle East kept investors on edge about whether it could disrupt oil supplies around the region. Brent crude futures rose 38 cents at $85.01 a barrel by 0000 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures gained 46 cents at $80.90 a barrel. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called on Muslim states to cease oil and food exports to Israel, demanding an end to its bombardment of the Gaza Strip, state media reported. Iran, a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, produced around 2.5 million barrels per day of crude in 2022, according to U.S. energy data.

Persons: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Organizations: East, Brent, U.S, West Texas, Iran's, Organization of, Petroleum, Hamas, Bank of England, European Central Bank Locations: Bakersfield, California, United States, Israel, Gaza, Iran, Egypt, Europe

A view shows the crude oil terminal Kozmino on the shore of Nakhodka Bay near the port city of Nakhodka, Russia August 12, 2022. Oil's rally comes along with gains across financial assets after the Fed maintained its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 5.25%-5.50% at its latest meeting on Wednesday. Iran, a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), produced around 2.5 million barrels per day of crude in 2022, according to U.S. energy data. Data from U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed that the country's crude stocks increased as refiners undergoing seasonal maintenance restarted units more slowly than expected. But despite lower refining runs, U.S. gasoline stocks (USOILG=ECI) rose by 0.1 million barrels in the week to 223.5 million barrels, the EIA said.

Persons: Tatiana Meel, Jon Maier, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Stephanie Kelly, Muyu Xu, Lincoln Organizations: REUTERS, Oil, U.S . Federal Reserve, Brent, U.S, West Texas, Fed, Global, Iran's, Organization of, Petroleum, Bank of England, European Central Bank, U.S . Energy Information Administration, Thomson Locations: Nakhodka, Russia, Israel, Gaza, Iran, Europe, U.S

☆ Opinion | Seeing the Big Picture in Two Big Wars
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Thomas L. Friedman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +9 min

Step back far enough, and you can see exactly what is driving so much geopolitics today: Ukraine is trying to join the West. Or they would have agreed to Lend-Lease assistance for the allies only if President Franklin Roosevelt would eliminate the I.R.S. That’s why today America must help Israel and Ukraine to blunt the Russia-Iran axis in their theaters. But the morning after their wars, Israel and Ukraine are going to have to face some very hard choices. Because while we may write big checks to both today, they will not be blank checks.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Biden, Johnson, Franklin Roosevelt, G.O.P, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Leon Aron, Vladimir Putin’s, “, ”, gunning, ” Aron, Israel, Donald Trump, —, Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: Internal Revenue, Lease, Fox News, NATO, European, Palestinian Authority, “, West Bank, Hamas, Putin, Iran’s, U.S, Patriot, Republicans, Palestinian, European Union Locations: Ukraine, West, Israel, Russia, Iran, cheaters, Europe, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Tehran, Moscow, Vladimir Putin’s Russia, Belarus, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Gaza, It’s, Kyiv, Gaza City, U.S, Ramallah, America

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Iran is carrying out executions “at an alarming rate,” putting to death at least 419 people in the first seven months of the year, the United Nations chief said in a new report. That's a 30% increase from the same period in 2022. In all seven cases, information received by the U.N. human rights office “consistently indicated that the judicial proceedings did not fulfil the requirements for due process and a fair trial under international human rights law,” Guterres said. The government said “a minimum of” 22,000 people arrested during the protests were pardoned, but the secretary-general said it was difficult to verify the arrest and release numbers. Guterres expressed concern that a number of individuals who were pardoned then received summonses on new charges or were rearrested, including women activists, journalists and members of minority groups.

Persons: That's, Antonio Guterres, Amini, “, ” Guterres, ”, Guterres, Afsaneh Bayegan, Leila Bolukat —, Nahid Taghavi, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, United Nations, General Assembly, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Human Rights Locations: Iran

☆ After Years of Vowing to Destroy Israel, Iran Faces a Dilemma
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Farnaz Fassihi | More About Farnaz Fassihi | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

For more than four decades, Iran’s rulers have pledged to destroy Israel. Iranian military commanders gloat over training and arming groups across the region that are enemies of Israel, including Hezbollah and Hamas. And when Hamas conducted the Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel that killed 1,400 people, Iranian officials praised it as a momentous achievement, shattering the Jewish state’s sense of security. “I want to reiterate that we are not pursuing the spreading of this war,” Iran’s foreign minister, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, said in a recent interview at Iran’s mission to the United Nations. But, he added, “The region is at a boiling point and any moment it may explode and this may be unavoidable.

Persons: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, ”, Nasser Imani, Hossein Amir Abdollahian Organizations: Hamas, United Nations Locations: Israel, Iran, Gaza, Tehran, “, New York

☆ Iran's Khamenei urges Muslim countries to boycott Israel
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting with a group of students in Tehran, Iran November 2, 2022. Israel has launched an unprecedented bombardment of Gaza and imposed a siege of the enclave. Khamenei, Iran's top authority, said the United States was complicit in Israel's "recent crimes against Palestinians". Israel, which Tehran refuses to recognise, has long accused Iran's clerical rulers of stoking violence by supplying arms to Hamas. "One of the shameless acts of the West is accusing Palestinian fighters of terrorism," Khamenei said.

Persons: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Khamenei, Parisa, Andrew Cawthorne, William Maclean Organizations: Iran's, Iranian, West Asia News Agency, REUTERS, Rights, Palestinian, Dubai Newsroom, Thomson Locations: Tehran, Iran, Rights DUBAI, Israel, Gaza, Islamic Republic, United States, France, Britain, America

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

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

The American strikes on two Iranian military munitions stockpiles in Syria on Friday were carefully designed, President Biden’s aides said, to send two distinct messages to Tehran. It is the latest gamble by the United States to modify Iran’s behavior, few of which have worked in the past. He quickly added that the United States “has no intention nor desire to engage in further hostilities” if the Iranian-backed attacks stop. But the Iranians wanted to do something to pressure the United States to rein in Israel and to remind the Americans of Tehran’s power, U.S. officials said. When Mr. Biden came into office, he tried to restore the nuclear deal, which had largely contained Iran’s nuclear activity, international nuclear inspectors said, until Mr. Trump pulled out of it.

Persons: Biden’s, Biden, John F, Kirby, ” Mr, Qassem, Lloyd J, Austin III, United States “, Mr, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Khamenei, Barack Obama, Donald J, Trump Organizations: Air Force, Pentagon, Iran’s Quds Force, U.S, ”, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Democratic Locations: Syria, Tehran, United States, Iran, East, U.S, Iraq, Iran’s Quds, Iranian, Israel, Lebanon, China

☆ EU calls for humanitarian pauses for Gaza aid as Israel raids enclave
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Israel's military, which has been carrying out limited raids into Gaza as it prepares for a ground incursion of the enclave, said early on Friday it was "currently conducting raids in the Gaza Strip as part of preparations for the next stage of the operation." Unlike in the Security Council where resolutions on Gaza aid failed this week, no country holds a veto in the General Assembly. Israel has bombarded the densely populated Gaza Strip following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israeli communities. EU COMPROMISEIn Brussels, the 27 leaders of the EU reached a compromise declaration after days of wrangling, expressing the "gravest concern for the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza". They called for "continued, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access and aid to reach those in need through all necessary measures including humanitarian corridors and pauses for humanitarian needs".

Persons: Khan Younis, Abu Mustafa, Joe Biden, Iran's, U.N, Mamadou Sow, Israel, Washington, Biden, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Hossein Amirabdollahian, Yoav Gallant, Nidal al, Tala Ramadan, Emily Rose, Adam Makary, Jeff Mason, Phil Stewart, Michelle Nichols, Gabriela Baczynska, Andrew Gray, Grant McCool, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: United Nations, Hamas, REUTERS, Gaza Biden, Union, Reuters, General, Security, EU, International Committee, Cross, UNRWA, United, Pentagon, Iran's, U.S, Iranian, Thomson Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, Al, Rafah, Brussels, Jeddah, West, Tehran, U.S, Iraq, Syria, Iran, Lebanon, United States

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei attends a graduation ceremony for armed forces officers at the Imam Ali academy in Tehran, Iran October 10, 2023. "There was a direct message relayed," White House spokesman John Kirby said at a news briefing, declining to elaborate. U.S. troops have been attacked at least 12 times in Iraq and four times in Syria in the past week, it added. On Wednesday, Biden said he had warned the ayatollah the United States would respond if U.S. forces continued to be targeted but did not say how the message was communicated. "My warning to the ayatollah was that if they continue to move against those troops, we will respond, and he should be prepared.

Persons: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ali, Joe Biden, John Kirby, Biden, Israel, Hossein Amirabdollahian, Steve Holland, Susan Heavey, Arshad Mohammed, Doina Chiacu, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Iran's, Iranian, West Asia News Agency, REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Hamas, Pentagon, Wednesday, United Nations, Palestinian, Thomson Locations: Tehran, Iran, Israel, U.S, Iraq, Syria, United States, Gaza, Iran's, Palestine, Lebanon, Hamas, Yemen

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

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

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

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

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

☆ Opinion | Why the World Is Watching Iran
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Colin P. Clarke | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

Now, in the wake of Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack, Israel appears to be preparing to invade Gaza. At the center of these mounting tensions is Iran, which has been engaged in a shadow war with its chief regional rival, Israel, for years. It also gives Tehran leverage as its proxy groups develop political wings, helping Iran play kingmaker in local and national politics in Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen and elsewhere. As the conflict intensifies, there are growing concerns that Israel may be headed toward a more direct confrontation with Iran. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram.

Persons: Biden, Iran’s, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ismail Qaani, Khamenei, ”, “, —, Colin P, Clarke Organizations: United, Navy, Pentagon, U.S, Training, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Quds Force, Israel Defense, longtime, Israeli Defense Forces, Soufan Group, New York, Facebook, Twitter Locations: Saudi Arabia, Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, United States, Yemen, Iran, Tehran, Washington, Doha, Qatar, meddle, Iraq, Jerusalem, U.S, Amman, Jordan, Istanbul, New York City

[1/4] A formation of Israeli tanks is positioned near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel October 21, 2023. Iran, a longtime backer of Gaza's rulers Hamas, finds itself in a quandary as it tries to manage the spiralling crisis, according to nine Iranian officials with direct knowledge of the thinking within the clerical establishment. "We are in contact with our friends Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah," Vahid Jalalzadeh, the head of parliament's National Security Committee said on Wednesday, according to Iranian state media. Iran's foreign ministry didn't respond to a request for comment about the country's response to the unfolding crisis, while Israeli military authorities declined to comment. "Iran's nuanced position emphasizes the delicate balance it must maintain between regional interests and internal stability," said the former senior Iranian official.

Persons: Violeta Santos Moura, wouldn't, Avi Melamed, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Israel, Israel didn't, Khamenei, Joe Biden, Biden, John Kirby, Washington, Jon Alterman, Parisa Hafezi, Jonathan Saul, Jerusalem, Arshad Mohammed, Laila Bassam, Samia Nakhoul, Michael Georgy, Pravin Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Islamic, parliament's National Security, Israel, Wednesday, Hezbollah, U.S, Germany's Ramstein Air Base, House, State Department, CSIS, Swiss, Iran, Iranian, Thomson Locations: Israel's, Gaza, Israel, Rights DUBAI, Iran, Tehran, U.S, Lebanon, Yemen, United States, Islamic Republic, Iranian, Lebanese, Syria, Iraq, Washington, America, GAZA, LEBANON, China, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Beirut, Paritosh, New York

☆ Iran's Quandary: How to Stay Out of Israel's War on Hamas
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +9 min

Iran, a longtime backer of Gaza's rulers Hamas, finds itself in a quandary as it tries to manage the spiralling crisis, according to nine Iranian officials with direct knowledge of the thinking within the clerical establishment. "We are in contact with our friends Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah," Vahid Jalalzadeh, the head of parliament's National Security Committee said on Wednesday, according to Iranian state media. Iran's foreign ministry didn't respond to a request for comment about the country's response to the unfolding crisis, while Israeli military authorities declined to comment. Khamenei, the supreme leader, has denied Iran was involved in the attack, though he praised the damage inflicted on Israel. "Iran's nuanced position emphasizes the delicate balance it must maintain between regional interests and internal stability," said the former senior Iranian official.

Persons: Parisa Hafezi, Jonathan Saul, Arshad Mohammed DUBAI, wouldn't, Avi Melamed, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Israel, Israel didn't, Khamenei, Joe Biden, Biden, John Kirby, Washington, Jon Alterman, Jerusalem, Arshad Mohammed, Laila Bassam, Samia Nakhoul, Michael Georgy, Pravin Char Organizations: Reuters, Islamic, parliament's National Security, Israel, Wednesday, Hezbollah, U.S, Germany's Ramstein Air Base, House, State Department, CSIS, Swiss, Iran, Iranian Locations: Iran, Israel, Gaza, Tehran, U.S, Lebanon, Yemen, United States, Islamic Republic, Iranian, Lebanese, Syria, Iraq, Washington, America, GAZA, LEBANON, China, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Beirut, Paritosh, New York

The incidents underscored the risks that the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas could spiral into a wider war. Israel has responded to the Hamas attacks with airstrikes and a “complete siege” of Gaza, which the group controls. About 200 American troops are stationed at Al Tanf, whose main role is training Syrian militias to fight the Islamic State. There were unconfirmed reports on social media of additional drone attacks in Syria late Thursday. “Clearly, this is an uptick in terms of the types of drone activity we’ve seen in Iraq and Syria,” General Ryder said.

Persons: “, ”, Patrick Ryder, General Ryder, Biden, Gholamhossein Gheybparvar, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, ” General Ryder, Al Tanf, Al Asad Organizations: U.S . Navy, Navy, Pentagon, Palestinian, Military, Senior Biden, American, Hamas, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Iran’s, Guards, Al, ”, Al Asad, Al Asad Air Base, military’s, Command Locations: U.S, Yemen, Israel, ” Brig, Iranian, Iraq, Syria, Iran, Gaza, United States, Lebanon, Houthis, Syrian, Al, State, Al Asad Air

☆ US troops attacked in Iraq, Syria and on alert for more strikes
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Idrees Ali | Thomson Reuters | National Security Correspondent Focusing On The Pentagon In Washington D.C. Reports On U.S. Military Activity | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

On Wednesday, a drone hit U.S. forces in Syria resulting in minor injuries, while another one was brought down. Earlier this week, U.S. forces thwarted multiple drones targeting troops in Iraq. At least 3,785 Palestinians have been killed and 12,493 wounded in Israeli strikes on Gaza, the health ministry in Gaza said. In past years, Iranian-backed militias in Iraq regularly targeted U.S. forces in Iraq and the U.S. embassy in Baghdad with rockets. Such attacks had abated under a truce in place since last year, and Iraq has had a period of relative calm.

Persons: Alaa, Joe Biden, Al, Asad, I'm, Patrick Ryder, Ryder, Ali al, Israel, Idrees Ali, Grant McCool Organizations: U.S, Islamic, REUTERS, Rights, Pentagon, U.S . Navy, Thursday, ISRAEL, Gaza, United, Hezbollah, Thomson Locations: Makhmour, Mosul, Iraq, Syria, Washington, Iran, Israel, U.S, Al Asad, Yemen, Gaza, United States, State, Baghdad

☆ U.S. says it thwarted drone attack on its troops in Iraq
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

TEL AVIV, Oct 18 (Reuters) - The U.S. military thwarted an attack targeting its forces in Iraq early on Wednesday, intercepting two drones before they could strike, two U.S. officials said after the first such attack on U.S. forces in Iraq in more than a year. The one-way attack drones were intercepted as they attempted to strike Iraq's al Asad air base, which hosts American troops, the officials said. Last week he threatened to target U.S. interests if Washington intervened to support Israel. Dozens of members of the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), the state paramilitary organisation that contains many Iran-backed factions, took to the streets on Tuesday to condemn the hospital attack. Demonstrators chanted anti-U.S. and anti-Israeli slogans and said they wanted to storm the U.S. embassy for its support of Israel.

Persons: Iraq's al Asad, Joe Biden, Israel, Ali al, Hadi Al, Amiri, Washington, Kataib, Phil Stewart, Amina Ismail, Ahmed Rasheed, Ahmed Saad, Clarence Fernandez, Nick Macfie Organizations: U.S, Reuters, American, Hamas, Islamic, Israel, Hezbollah, United, Popular, Forces, ., Thomson Locations: TEL AVIV, Iraq, U.S, Washington, Iran, Israel, Gaza, Al, Ahli, Israeli, United States, Iraqi, Badr, America, Syria, State, Baghdad, Tel Aviv, Erbil

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — A massive blast rocked a Gaza City hospital packed with wounded and other Palestinians seeking shelter Tuesday, killing hundreds of people, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said. Hamas blamed an Israeli airstrike, while the Israeli military said the hospital was hit by a rocket misfired by Palestinian militants. Hamas' Oct. 7, attack in southern Israel killed more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and took some 200 captive into Gaza. In Gaza City, Israeli airstrikes also hit the house of Hamas’ top political official, Ismail Haniyeh, killing at least 14 people. Haniyeh is based in Doha, Qatar, but his family lives in Gaza City.

Persons: KHAN YOUNIS, Joe Biden, Mohammed Abu Selmia, ” Abu Selmia, “, Mahmoud Abbas, Biden, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Abbas, Richard Hecht, haven’t, Khan Younis, Deir al Balah, Witnesses, Ayman Nofal, Netanyahu, ”, Ismail Haniyeh, Antony Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, Tzahi Hanegbi, —, Israel's Karam, Israel, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Israel's, ” Khamenei, ___ Kullab, Nessman, Lee, Amy Teibel, Abby Sewell, Samy Magdy, Jack Jeffrey, Ashraf Sweilam Organizations: Ministry, Palestinian, Associated Press, Israel, “ Intelligence, Alhi, Gaza, Gaza Health Ministry, Abbas ’ Palestinian, West, Bank, Palestinian Authority, Embassy, Nasser Hospital, United Nations Palestinian, Israeli, Israel’s National Security Council, Food Program, Hamas, Iran’s, Amman . Associated Press Locations: Gaza, U.S, Israel, al, Ahli, Gaza City, Hamas, Amman, Jordan, Abbas ’, West Bank, Ramallah, Beirut, Khan, Deir al, Doha, Qatar, Rafah, Egypt, Lebanon, Iranian, Baghdad, Jerusalem, Amman ., Cairo, el, Arish

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