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☆ Iran launches missile strikes in northern Iraq and Syria, claims to destroy Israeli spy base
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Helen Regan | Hamdi Alkhshali | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

ISIS claimed responsibility for the deadly twin blasts near Soleimani’s burial site, in what was the deadliest attack in Iran since its 1979 revolution. Authorities and others gather near the site where missiles hit near the US consulate in Erbil, Iraq, on January 15, 2024. Rudaw TV/AP“Iran is claiming this is in response to the terrorist attacks in Kerman, Iran, and Rask, Iran, with a focus on ISIS. US troops in Iraq and Syria have repeatedly come under rocket and drone attacks from Tehran’s proxies. Last week, a senior Hezbollah commander was killed in an Israeli drone strike on his car in southern Lebanon, a Lebanese security source told CNN.

Persons: CNN —, Qasem Soleimani, “, ”, Masrour Barzani, ” Barzani, –, Washington, Hassan Nasrallah, Wissam Tawil, Saleh Al Organizations: CNN, CNN — Iran’s, Guards, Monday, Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Security, Quds Force, ISIS, Authorities, Rudaw, AP, US State Department, Erbil, New, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, of Health, United Nations ’, Israel, US, Sunday Locations: Iraq, Iran, Syria, United States, Israel, Erbil, Kurdistan, Kurdistan Region, ”, Kerman, Rask, Gaza, South Africa, Red, Houthi, Yemen, Baghdad, Lebanon, Lebanese, Beirut

☆ Iran's new jet-powered exploding drones in Russian hands could put even more stress on Ukraine's best air defenses
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Russia is suspected of having used a new Iranian exploding drone in Ukraine, though it's not confirmed. The weapon, Iran's jet-powered Shahed-238, is believed to offer a speed boost over the Shahed-136 loitering munition. With these new drones, Moscow could create more headaches for Ukraine's air defenses, experts say. Remain of a Russian-made Shahed 136 at an exhibition on May 12, 2023 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Bendett said Iran will likely be taking notes on how its drones are used on the battlefield in Ukraine.

Persons: it's, —, hWuxfEUzSV, lY3Js7yPH4, 🐈🇺, Ma, sy Organizations: Service, Kyiv Post, Zone, Business Locations: Russia, Iranian, Ukraine, Moscow, Iran, Tehran, Russian, Kyiv, Kherson, Ky

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

☆ Iran seizes oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-11 | by ( Mostafa Salem | Adam Pourahmadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Abu Dhabi CNN —Iran has seized an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman and is transferring it to an Iranian port in retaliation for the United States confiscating the same vessel and its oil last year, Tasnim News Agency reported Thursday. The Strait of Hormuz at the northern end of the Gulf of Oman is the biggest oil chokepoint in the world. A maritime monitoring website, Tanker Trackers, said the vessel seized Thursday was a Marshall Islands-flagged crude oil tanker named St Nikolas, formerly known as the Suez Rajan. Almost 1 million barrels of Iranian crude oil were seized by the US government at the time, the DOJ said. The Suez Rajan transported the contraband to the United States and “incurred the significant expenses associated with the vessel’s voyage to the United States,” according to the DOJ.

Persons: St Nicholas, ”, UKMTO, Nikolas, Suez Rajan, “ Organizations: Abu Dhabi CNN, Tasnim News Agency, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Navy, United Nations, CNN, United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, ship’s Company, Oil, Tanker, US Department of Justice, DOJ, Emergency Economic, Navigation Locations: Abu Dhabi, Iran, Gulf of Oman, Iranian, United States, Oman, Islamic Republic, Gulf, Yemen, Gaza, Africa, Israel, Hormuz, Marshall, Suez, China

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A small western Pennsylvania water authority was just one of multiple organizations breached in the United States by Iran-affiliated hackers who targeted a specific industrial control device because it is Israeli-made, U.S. and Israeli authorities say. The group targeted the Unitronics devices at least since Nov. 22, it said. The advisory notes that Unitronics devices ship with a default password, a practice experts discourage as it makes them more vulnerable to hacking. It says the hackers likely accessed affected devices by “exploiting cybersecurity weaknesses, including poor password security and exposure to the internet.”Experts say many water utilities have paid insufficient attention to cybersecurity. Americans must know their drinking water and other basic infrastructure is safe from “nation-state adversaries and terrorist organizations,” U.S. Sens.

Persons: Matthew Mottes, CISA, Unitronics —, John Fetterman, Bob Casey, Chris Deluzio, Av3ngers, Sergey Shykevich, Unitronics, Biden Organizations: FBI, Environmental Protection Agency, Infrastructure Security Agency, Directorate, Associated Press, Municipal Water Authority, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, ”, U.S . Justice Department, U.S . Rep Locations: HARRISBURG, Pa, Pennsylvania, United States, Iran, Israeli, Aliquippa, Israel, Gaza, U.S, Sens, Missouri , Arkansas, Iowa

☆ Trump’s avalanche of dishonesty: Fact-checking 102 of his false claims from this fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Daniel Dale | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +111 min

Below is a fact check of 102 of Trump’s false claims from the 12 speeches. But contrary to Trump’s claim, it’s not true that people had been attempting for decades to create such an initiative. Trump’s aid to farmersIn speech after speech, Trump claimed that he had given US farmers $28 billion from China. Even if the poll result is off, it’s clear that Trump’s claim that “nobody wants them” is not true. He said he was an airline pilot.”Facts First: Trump made a false claim while mocking Biden for making false claims.

Persons: Donald Trump, –, Trump, Joe Biden, Biden, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, “, ”, Mexico’s, ‘ Trump, Defense Department –, ” Theresa Cardinal Brown, CNN’s Priscilla Alvarez, ” Trump, I’ve, Todd Harrison, Harrison, It’s, Trump’s, ” Ben Cahill, Nobody, Jimmy Carter’s, Barack Obama, isn’t, El Salvador –, Obama, we’d, Obama’s, Webster, Covid, Wuhan ”, They’d, they’d, you’d, Scott Gottlieb, ” Gottlieb, Trump Trump, it’s, Abraham, Aaron David Miller, Miller, Dana El Kurd, Qasem Soleimani, they’ve, we’re, We’re, ’, Iran haven’t, ” Matt Smith, Biden’s, Smith, Ali Vaez, Kpler, Biden Trump, Iran “, Democrats ”, that’s, Jimmy Carter, Carter “, Carter, ‘, Hillary Clinton, Kari Lake, Bill Gates, Gates, ” Chris Wallace, Chris Wallace, Hunter Biden, “ Chris Wallace, ‘ He’s, ‘ ” Trump, Wallace, “ you’re, “ Biden, ‘ You’re, Wallace interjected, Rather, you’ve, ’ ” Pavel Molchanov, Raymond James &, ” Molchanov, Tim Woody, Woody, autoworkers, CNN’s Ella Nilsen, Joe Biden’s, Erin Mellon, Gavin Newsom, Mellon, ” Vonette Fontaine, Biden “, CNN’s Matt Egan, Egan, ” Biden, Europe Trump, United Kingdom “, Brent, Pavel Molchanov, Raymond James, Patrick De Haan, GasBuddy, De Haan, Matt Smith, Matt Egan, Afghanistan Trump, we’ve, Krista Wiegand, Wiegand, ” Netanyahu, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Qasem, Bibi, Netanyahu, Soleimani, Asad, Mark Milley, Hezbollah Trump, Steven Cheung, John Kirby, Cheung, Kirby, Iran’s, ” Ali Vaez, Joseph Amon, Washington –, Faiq Zidan, Zidan’s, Zidan, Abu Mahdi al, China Trump, Ukraine Trump, Letitia James, James, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Matthew Colangelo, You’re, Bragg, Colangelo, Tanya Chutkan, I’m, Jack Smith, Bill Clinton, That’s, everybody’s, Letitia James –, Al Capone’s, Al Capone, Capone, Brad Schwartz, CNN couldn’t, Schwartz, Eliot Ness, MAGA, “ MAGA, …, White, CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, Inflation Trump, Bacon, Joe, PolitiFact, Trump . Howard Gleckman Organizations: Washington CNN —, CNN, Republican, Trump Trump, Republican Jewish Coalition, Department, ISIS, Trump’s, Democratic, Congress, Defense Department, former Defense Department, Center, US Customs, Trump, American Enterprise Institute, Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Energy Security, Center for Strategic, International Studies, US, IHS, Islamic, The State Department, Customs Enforcement, Policy Institute, ICE, El Salvador, ”, Merriam, The New York Times, Food and Drug Administration, FDA, Abraham Accords, United Arab Emirates, West Bank, Hezbollah, State Department, Carnegie Endowment, International, Arab Center Washington DC, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Force, Obama, US International Trade Commission, Washington Post, U.S . International Trade Commission, New England lobstermen, England lobstermen, Americas, Crisis, government’s Energy, Administration, Washington Free Beacon, Energy Information Administration, Democrats, Biden, Electoral, Georgia, Michigan, Carter, Democrats can’t, Republicans, Alabama, Arizona, Fox News, ” Energy, Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, Wildlife, Alaska Industrial Development, Export Authority, Raymond James & Associates, Wilderness Society, Cox Automotive, Pew Research Center, New York Times, National Oceanic, California Gov, California, American Petroleum Institute, Union, West, Energy, American Automobile Association, AAA, GasBuddy, New Hampshire, Houston, Keystone XL, Obama administration’s State Department, –, Foreign, Military, DoD, Afghan, Defense, Policy, Taiwan News, “, University of Tennessee’s Center for National Security, Foreign Affairs, Israeli, NBC, Jerusalem Post, Yahoo, Pentagon, ” CNN, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Post, National Security, Group, US government’s Defense Intelligence Agency, Narcotics Bureau, Global Health, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Justice Department, Washington, Judicial, Popular Mobilization Forces, Customs and, Middle East, Customs, Protection, CBP, Border Protection, Kiel Institute, European Union, New York, New, ExxonMobil, Trump University, Trump Foundation, Manhattan, Attorney, federal Justice Department, Department of Justice, Washington DC, Presidential Records, Presidential, Mar, Biden White, MAGA Republicans, Inflation, Heritage Foundation, Trump ., Brookings Tax, Urban Institute Locations: New Hampshire, New York City, Saudi, Florida, al Qaeda, New York, Texas, Iowa, Mexico, “, U.S, Houston, Iraq, Israel, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Nord, Germany, Russian, Trump’s, Russia, Ukraine, Europe, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, El, Washington, ”, ” In Texas, Covid, China, Wuhan, Italy, France, Abraham, Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Yemen, Libya, Palestine, Afghanistan, Somalia, Pakistan, New England, England, Kpler, Malaysia, Oregon, Alabama, Maricopa County, Arizona, Arizona’s, Moscow, Alaska, East, South Carolina, California, “ California, West Virginia, Virginia, United Kingdom, West Texas, “ U.S, Los Angeles, Venezuela, Mississippi , Louisiana, Canada, United States, Paris, Taiwan, “ China, Iranian, that’s, –, Singapore, Iraqi, San Diego, Kiel, York, Manhattan, York’s, Chicago, Philadelphia, Georgia, Qaeda

☆ After years of building up its navy, Saudi Arabia is testing its new warships with real-world missions
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Paul Iddon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in its navy in recent years, buying a number of new warships. AdvertisementThe first of the Spanish-built corvettes, Al Jubail, arrived at the Saudi naval base in Jeddah in August 2022. Patrol boats for Saudi Arabia at a German shipyard in April 2019. During that decade, Saudi Arabia initiated the first Saudi Naval Enhancement Program, which equipped its navy with modern American, French, and British warships. The current buildup, called Saudi Naval Enhancement Program II, or SNEP II, is the most significant one since then.

Persons: —, Leonardo Jacopo Maria Mazzucco, MCS3 Louis Thompson Staats, Mazzucco, Al Jubail, Juan Carlos Toro, Lockheed Martin, Stefan Sauer, Nixon, Shah, HMS Badr, Paul Iddon Organizations: Service, Saudi, Royal Saudi Naval Forces, Combined Maritime Forces, International, Analytics, Stimson Center, US Navy, Royal Saudi Naval Force, Getty, RIM, Saudi Western Fleet, Saudi Eastern Fleet, Lockheed, Fleet, Saudi Naval Enhancement, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, IRGC Navy, SNEP Locations: Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Persian, Saudi, Iran, Yemen, Washington, Al, Madinah, Navantia's, Cádiz, Spain, Jeddah, East Africa, Iraq, Gulf

☆ Opinion | How to Kill a Palestinian State
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Bret Stephens | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

On Oct. 7, the axis of resistance became the face of the Palestinian movement. On Oct. 8, demonstrators around the world chose to embrace that axis. When Rashida Tlaib, the Michigan congresswoman, posted that “75 years later, the Nakba continues to this day” and declined to accept Israel as a Jewish state, she was embracing it. When Judith Butler, the Berkeley professor, told an interviewer that “the roots of the problem are in a state formation that depended on expulsions and land theft to establish its own ‘legitimacy’” and supported a binational state, she was embracing it. “A left that lauds intersectionality hasn’t noticed that Hamas’s axis of support consists of Iran, famous most recently for killing hundreds of protesters demanding women’s freedom.”

Persons: ”, Assad, Mohamed Khairullah, Rashida Tlaib, Judith Butler, ’ ”, ” Susie Linfield, “, hasn’t Organizations: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Israel, Los Locations: Syria, Prospect Park, N.J, Michigan, Berkeley, Los Angeles, ”, N.Y.U, Iran

☆ US fires on and kills hostile forces after attack in Iraq, US official says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Haley Britzky | Natasha Bertrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —A US military aircraft fired on a vehicle and killed hostile forces following an attack on US and coalition forces at Al-Asad Airbase in Iraq on Monday evening, a US official told CNN on Tuesday. It’s unclear how many hostiles were killed and whether US personnel were injured in the attack on Al-Asad. As of Monday afternoon, there had been at least 64 attacks on US and coalition forces in Iraq and Syria, including several on forces at Al-Asad. It’s unclear if an AC-130 has been used to respond to attacks in this way since October 17, though a US official said the US has returned fire on hostile forces multiple times. The US has also carried out three strikes in Syria in response to the continuous attacks on US troops.

Persons: Asad, Abu Kamal, Mayadin, Sabrina Singh Organizations: CNN, US, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Pentagon Locations: Al, Asad Airbase, Iraq, Syria, Abu, Iranian, Maysalun, Deir Ezzor, Israel, Gaza

☆ Yemen's Houthi capture ship on suspicion of Israeli connection
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Adnan Amin / 500Px | 500Px | Getty ImagesYemen's Iran-backed Houthi militants have captured what they called an Israeli ship in the Red Sea and taken it to the Yemeni coast, calling all Israeli vessels a "legitimate target." He urged the international community to avoid working with Israeli ships or owned by Israeli individuals. "Yemeni armed forces confirm that they will continue to carry out military operations against the Israeli enemy until the aggression against Gaza stops," the spokesperson said. On Monday, Japan's top government spokesperson confirmed the capture of the Nippon Yusen-operated ship, Galaxy Leader, according to Reuters. It is not an Israeli ship."

Persons: Adnan Amin, Houthi, Yahya Saree, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Netanyahu, Nasser Kanaani Organizations: Gaza, Nippon, Galaxy, Reuters, Google, Republic News Agency, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Locations: Iran, Yemeni, Tokyo, Saudi, Omani, Bahamas, Yemen, Turkey, India, Israeli, British, Israel, Straits, Hormuz, Tehran

With a power vacuum and years of civil conflict following the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, militias grew and multiplied in Iraq, some supported by Iran. While he came to power with the Iranian-backed groups' support, he also wants continued good relations with the U.S. and has backed the ongoing presence of American troops in his country. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a meeting with al-Sudani this month, warned of consequences if Iranian-backed militias continued to attack U.S. facilities in Iraq and Syria. An official with one of the Iranian-backed militias said al-Sudani put “great pressure” on the militias not to carry out attacks during Blinken's visit. But the U.S. military response to the attacks on its forces has been minimal.

Persons: Biden, Israel, Asad, Haq, Badr, Bashar Assad, Mohammed Shia, Antony Blinken, Sudani, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, —, Qassim Soleimani, Abu Mahdi al, Muhandis, Qassim Abdul Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S, Islamic, Hamas, Pentagon, Islamic Jihad, WHO, State, Popular Mobilization Forces, Hezbollah, Iran’s, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Officials, Quds Force, Military, Associated Press Locations: Iraq, Syria, Islamic State, skyrocket, U.S, The U.S, Baghdad, Israel, Gaza, Iran, Lebanon, Yemen, Al, Tehran, Boukamal, Maysulun, Deir el, Bulbul, Mayadin ., IRAQ, Zahra

☆ Found document suggests Iran sought to help Hamas make its own weapons ahead of attack, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Jake Tapper | Katie Bo Lillis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The Israeli government declined to comment on the document, though sources in the government confirmed its authenticity on background. Israeli officials say this is the first known instance of Iran attempting to fund this kind of university-hosted training for Hamas operatives, a claim US officials said they could not confirm. Current and former US officials say the program is part of a well-known training program Iran provides to students from allied countries and groups to project soft-power influence across the region. As of now, Israeli intelligence has identified only a few Hamas military operatives who have already arrived in Iran. One candidate is marked to study “technologies,” one to study “physics,” one to study engineering,” one to study “programming,” one to study “law” and two to study “management.”

Persons: Jonathan Panikoff, ”, Panikoff, ” Panikoff Organizations: Washington CNN, CNN, Hamas, Lebanese, United Nations, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Locations: Gaza, Iran, Israel, East, Tehran, “

☆ U.S. Carries Out Another Round of Airstrikes on Iran-Linked Targets
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Eric Schmitt | More About Eric Schmitt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

The strikes came just four days after American warplanes hit a munitions warehouse in eastern Syria. Pentagon and other Biden administration officials rejected that criticism on Sunday, saying that the American airstrikes have been in self-defense, and in proportion to the attacks by Iran-backed militias. Unlike the two previous sets of strikes, the Pentagon did not make senior officials available after Sunday’s military response to discuss details. Pentagon officials said they were still analyzing the strikes and did not know if anyone on the ground was hurt or killed. The United States has 2,500 troops in Iraq and 900 in Syria, mostly to help local forces fight remnants of the Islamic State.

Persons: Abu Kamal, Biden, Lloyd J, Austin III, ” Dana Stroul Organizations: Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Pentagon, American, Syria . Air Force, U.S, ”, United Locations: States, Syria, Iraq, Abu, Mayadin, Iran, United States, Asia, U.S, Germany, Islamic State, Israel, Lebanon, Yemen, Persian

☆ US conducts more strikes in eastern Syria, defense secretary says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The US carried out another set of strikes against targets affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in eastern Syria, according to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, following continued attacks on US forces in the region. In total, there have been at least 46 attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria since October 17, and at least 56 troops have been injured. Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said Thursday the injuries were a combination of traumatic brain injuries and minor injuries. The strikes targeted a weapons storage facility and an ammunition storage facility. But the attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria have persisted, even as the US has tried to separate the conflict in Gaza from the rest of the region.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Austin, Joe Biden, Abu Kamal, Mayadin, Sabrina Singh, “, ” Austin, IRGC Organizations: CNN, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Pentagon, US Locations: Syria, Iraq, United States, Iran, Gaza

☆ Iran envoy says Tehran had no direct role in Hamas’ Israel rampage, or proxy attacks on US forces
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Jennifer Deaton | Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Iravani said there was cooperation and collaboration, but that Iran was not directing any of those operations. He likened Iran’s role to that of the US in providing assistance to Israel. Tehran has long been accused of arming Hamas and other Iran-aligned groups in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen, as regional attacks by its proxies have escalated and become increasingly frequent. CNN pressed Iravani as to whether Iran supported Hamas’ murder of women and children and its hostage-taking on October 7. Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Shi’a movement based in Lebanon with one of the most powerful paramilitary forces in the Middle East, has also said that Hamas’ attack was kept secret from them.

Persons: Amir Saeid Iravani, Iravani, “, ”, Defense Lloyd Austin, General Hassan Nasrallah, Nasrallah Organizations: CNN, Republic’s United Nations, UN, United States, Pentagon, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Defense, Quds Force, US, Hamas, Israel Locations: Iran, Lebanon, Israel, Houthis, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, IRGC, UN, Tehran, Gaza, East

☆ US strike on weapons facility in Syria a 'deterrent', White House says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The United States carried out strikes on Wednesday against a weapon storage facility in eastern Syria that the Pentagon said was used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and affiliated groups. President Joe Biden said the United States had to respond after U.S. troops were targeted and that the retaliatory strikes were working. White House spokesman John Kirby separately told CNN that the U.S. strikes "had a practical impact on their ability to arm these groups, but also to send a strong signal of deterrence." The United States has occasionally carried out retaliatory strikes against Iranian-backed forces in the region after they attack American forces, including one on Oct. 26. "He stands on a real, real, real fine little pin there when he talks about coordination and not directing," Kirby responded.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, John Kirby, they're, Kirby, Amir Saeid Iravani, Iravani, Doina Chiacu, Steve Holland, Susan Heavey, Toby Chopra, Alistair Bell Organizations: U.S, United, Pentagon, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, CNN, United Nations, House, Thomson Locations: Syria, Israel, United States, U.S, Iraq, Iran, Gaza

☆ US forces have been targeted in 4 more attacks since US strikes in Syria on Wednesday
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Haley Britzky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

On Wednesday evening, there were two multi-rocket attacks on US and coalition forces at Omar Oil Fields near Mission Support Site Green Village, Syria, and a one-way drone attack on forces at Mission Support Site Euphrates, Syria. One of the rocket attacks on Green Village resulted in three US troops suffering minor injuries, the official said. The fourth attack came on Thursday morning, when a one-way drone attack targeted forces at Al-Asad Airbase, Iraq. Before the US’ strike on an IRGC weapons facility on Wednesday, there were two attacks — multiple one-way drones targeting forces at Bashur, Iraq, and a previously reported rocket attack on forces at Shaddadi, Syria. In total, the recent attacks mark at least 46 on US and coalition forces since October 17.

Persons: Sabrina Singh, Asad, Singh, “ We’ve, ” Organizations: CNN, US, Oil, Pentagon, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Locations: Syria, Al, Asad Airbase, Iraq, Bashur, Shaddadi, Maysalun, Deir Ezzor

☆ American forces in the Middle East are constantly under attack, but they aren't really retaliating. Here's why the US holds its fire.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Iran-backed groups have launched dozens of attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria since October 17. Middle East security experts say there are a number of reasons why the US is holding its fire. Attacks on US forces by Iran-backed groups in the region are not a new phenomenon. The Pentagon has only publicly confirmed a single incident of retaliation against the Iran-backed militias. Right now, US officials stress that deterrence — signaled by the massive movement of American combat power into the region — is working, and the Iran-backed attacks on American forces have been unsuccessful.

Persons: there's, —, Jonathan Lord, Joe Biden's, Biden, Thaier, Sabrina Singh, What's, Lloyd Austin, Singh, it's, you've, we'd, Michael Knights, Baderkhan Ahmad, Weirdly, we're, Knights, doesn't, Washington isn't, Antony Blinken, Mohammed Shia, Al Sudani, Jonathan Ernst, Lord Organizations: Service, Pentagon, US Central Command, Hamas, Israel, US, Washington Institute for Near East, Institute for, REUTERS, Defense, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Militia, Washington Institute, Syrian Democratic Forces, AP, Knights, Middle East Security, Center, New, New American Security, Islamic, ISIS Locations: Iran, Iraq, Syria, Israel, Washington, Gaza, Baghdad, East, Deir Ezzor, Yemen, Iranian, New American, Islamic State

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

☆ US carries out new strikes against facility used by Iran in Syria
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | 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: +2 min

REUTERS/Ints Kalnins/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 8 (Reuters) - The United States, for the second time in recent weeks, carried out strikes on Wednesday against a weapon storage facility in eastern Syria that the Pentagon said was used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and affiliated groups. As tensions soar over the Israel-Hamas conflict, U.S. and coalition troops have been attacked at least 40 times in Iraq and Syria by Iran-backed forces since the start of October. The United States has occasionally carried out retaliatory strikes against Iranian-backed forces in the region after they attack American forces. On Oct. 26, U.S. forces attacked two facilities used by the IRGC and groups its backs. The United States has sent warships and fighter aircraft to the region since the Israel-Hamas conflict erupted on Oct. 7, including two aircraft carriers, to try to deter Iran and Iran-backed groups.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Ints, Austin, Idrees Ali, Chris Reese, Lisa Shumaker, Sandra Maler Organizations: Defense, REUTERS, Rights, Pentagon, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, . Defense, U.S, United, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Riga, Latvia, United States, Syria, Israel, U.S, Iraq, Iran, State, East, Yemen

☆ US carries out airstrikes in eastern Syria targeting IRGC and Iranian-backed groups weapons storage facility
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Haley Britzky | Natasha Bertrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Two US F-15 fighter jets conducted an airstrike on a weapons storage facility in eastern Syria used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and affiliated groups, the Pentagon announced Wednesday. “This precision self-defense strike is a response to a series of attacks against U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria by IRGC-Quds Force affiliates,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement. On October 26, a US F-15 and two F-16s used precision-guided munitions to strike two facilities linked to Iran-backed militias in eastern Syria. More than 40 troops sustained minor injuries in attacks before the US’ strike on October 26, including at least 20 traumatic brain injuries. The US strike comes the same day that an unmanned US MQ-9 Reaper drone was shot down off the coast of Yemen by Iran-backed Houthi forces.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, ”, Wednesday’s Organizations: CNN, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Pentagon, U.S, Quds Force, ”, US, Command, Hamas, Patriot, Area Defense Locations: Syria, Iraq, IRGC, United States, Iranian, Iran, US, Shaddadi, Yemen, East, Israel

☆ Israel’s cyber defense chief tells CNN he is concerned Iran could increase severity of its cyberattacks
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

So far, suspected Iranian hackers appear to have had minimal impact on their publicly claimed targets in Israel in the last month. But Portnoy said those hackers have been relatively quiet in the latest Israel-Hamas war (Israeli airstrikes have decimated internet infrastructure in Gaza.) “There is a gap between their [cyber] capabilities and their rhetoric,” the official told CNN, referring to Iran-backed hackers. “Even the successful, real cyberattacks are probably not going to be about the actual attack,” John Hultquist, Mandiant’s chief analyst, told CNN. This campaign is “maybe the most sophisticated we have seen from Iran on a technological level,” Sergey Shykevich, threat intelligence group manager at Check Point, told CNN.

Persons: “, ”, Gaby Portnoy, ” Portnoy, Portnoy, –, Christopher Wray, ” Wray, ” Eric Goldstein, CrowdStrike, ” John Hultquist, “ It’s, Solomon, Israel, Adam Meyers, CrowdStrike’s, ” Meyers, Sergey Shykevich Organizations: CNN, Israel National Cyber Directorate, Lebanese, Hezbollah, Palo Alto Networks, Hamas, Infrastructure Security Agency, FBI, Boston Children’s Hospital, ” CNN, Iranian, United Nations, “, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Locations: Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia, East, Iranian, Syria, Iraq, Tehran, –, Palo, Gaza, Palestine, China, Russia

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

☆ Video shows a US Navy drone boat firing off its own exploding drone in the Middle East, a first for the unmanned vessels
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The US Navy said its drone boats fired lethal weaponry for the first time in the Middle East. Footage of one of the engagements shows Navy personnel operating the drone boat in the open waters. The USV then fires one of the munitions, which includes a first-person view of its trajectory into the simulated target, causing it to detonate on impact. Navy officials said the exercise was designed to advance the lethality and combat potential of drone boats, and future events could broaden the arsenal of these unmanned systems. Beyond drone boats, the Pentagon has taken other measures in recent months to boost deterrence in the region like dispatching an assortment of fighter jets and warships to the area.

Persons: —, Ray USV, Devil Ray, NAVCENT, Brad Cooper, Cmdr, Dre Johnson, Jonathan Nye, Justin Stumberg Organizations: US Navy, Navy, Service, US Naval Forces Central Command, . Naval Forces Central Command’s, Digital, Missile System, U.S . Naval Forces Central Command’s, Mass, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, Pentagon Locations: Arabian, U.S, Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Persian, Iran, American

☆ Israel's missile ships are joining US combat power in the Red Sea as more Iran-backed militants fire weapons its way
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Israel said it deployed missile ships to the Red Sea, where they'll join US Navy vessels in the area. AdvertisementAdvertisementAfter a series of attacks from Iran-backed militants, Israel has deployed several ships capable of launching missiles to the Red Sea, where they will join US Navy vessels already there. The IDF said "all aerial threats were intercepted outside of Israeli territory," with some of them downed by Israeli fighter jets around the Red Sea to the south. Israel Defense ForcesIsraeli Navy ship in the Red Sea. US Missile Defense AgencyThe Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) transits the Suez Canal, Oct. 18.

Persons: Israel, they'll, —, Yemen's, Carney, Arleigh Burke, we've, Pat Ryder, Aaron Lau, Hezbollah —, Lloyd Austin Organizations: US Navy, Service, Navy, Israel Defense Forces, US, IDF, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces Israeli Navy, IAF, Aerial Defense, Pentagon, Air Force, Interceptor, US Missile Defense Agency, Hezbollah, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, U.S Locations: Yemen, Israel, Iran, Israeli, Israel's, Eilat, Red Sea, Red, Suez, Saudi, Tehran, Iraq, Syria

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