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☆ Iran does not want Israel-Hamas conflict to spread, foreign minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian speaks to an emergency special session of the United Nations General Assembly on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas at U.N. headquarters in New York City, U.S., October 26, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian on Sunday said Iran does not want war to "spread out" following the Oct. 7 attack by Palestinian militants of Hamas on Israel that killed at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians. "We don't want this war to spread out," Amirabdollahian said during an appearance on CNN. Amirabdollahian on Sunday dismissed claims directly connecting Iran to the attacks, calling them "baseless." Amirabdollahian said linking Iran to any attack in the region, if U.S. interests are targeted, without providing proof, is "totally wrong."

Persons: Hossein Amirabdollahian, Mike Segar, Amirabdollahian, Al, Antony Blinken, Jasper Ward, Marguerita Choy, Grant McCool Organizations: Iranian, United Nations General Assembly, REUTERS, Rights, Palestinian, Hamas, CNN, United, United Nations, Pentagon, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Thomson Locations: Israel, U.N, New York City, U.S, Iran, Gaza, Palestine, Al Aqsa, Iraq, Syria, United States, Washington

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

LONDON (AP) —The United States on Friday expanded its effort to cut off funding for Hamas, announcing a second round of sanctions against people and organizations linked to the group since it launched an attack on Israel that killed more than 1,400 people. The new sanctions highlight Iran’s role in providing financial, logistical and operational support to Hamas, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control said in a statement. They include a Hamas representative in Iran and members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard. The U.S. also sanctioned a number of organizations, including the Iranian Bonyad Shahid, also known as the Martyrs Foundation. They also block financial transactions with those designated and prohibit the contribution of funds, goods and services to them.

Persons: Wally Adeyemo, America’s, “, ” Adeyemo, Khaled Qaddoumi, Ali Morshed Shirazi, Mostafa Mohammad Khani, Shahid Organizations: U.S . Treasury Department’s, Foreign, Control, Islamic Revolutionary Guard, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ’ Qods Force, Martyrs Foundation ., Palestinian, Charity Association Locations: United States, Israel, Iran, London, Britain, States, U.S, Gaza

SINGAPORE, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Oil prices rose by over $1 on Friday as reports that the U.S military struck Iranian targets in Syria raised concerns of a widening of the Israel-Hamas conflict that could impact supply from the key Middle East producing region. Though the strike did not directly impact supply, it increases fears that the conflict in the Gaza Strip between Israel, backed by the U.S., and Hamas may spread and disrupt supply from major crude producer Iran, which backs Hamas. A wider war could also impact shipments from Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter, and other large producers in the Gulf. Both Brent and WTI are on track to post their first weekly drop in three weeks as the geopolitical premium built on these fears has ebbed as there has been no disruption of oil supply outside of the immediate region of the fighting. Israeli forces carried out their biggest Gaza ground attack in their 20-day-old war with Hamas overnight, angering the Arab world.

Persons: Brent, WTI, Kelvin Yew, Benjamin Netanyahu, Helima Croft, Goldman Sachs, Florence Tan, Sam Holmes, Christian Organizations: U.S, Brent, U.S . West Texas Intermediate, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Pentagon, Ocean, Investments, RBC Capital, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, Syria, Israel, U.S, Iraq, Gaza, Iran, Saudi Arabia, United States, Hormuz, Russia

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

☆ U.S. Launches Strikes on Suspected Iranian-Supported Bases in Syria
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Nancy A. Youssef | Gordon Lubold | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The State Department said the U.S. is aware of the significant death toll of Palestinians, but there is no independent body making assessments to provide an exact number. Photo: Ahmad Hasaballah/Getty ImagesWASHINGTON—The U.S. said it launched strikes Thursday night on two bases in eastern Syria it believed were used by Iranian groups, the first U.S. offensive military response to a wave of drone and rocket attacks on troops based in Iraq and Syria, the Pentagon said. The strikes against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and affiliated groups were authorized by President Biden, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement.

Persons: Ahmad Hasaballah, Biden, Lloyd Austin Organizations: State Department, Getty, WASHINGTON, Pentagon, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Locations: U.S, The U.S, Syria, Iraq

☆ 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

Washington CNN —The US carried out airstrikes targeting two facilities linked to Iranian-backed militias in eastern Syria on Thursday, according to a statement from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, following a series of drone and rocket attacks against US forces in the region. He directly accused Iran of having a role in the attacks on US forces, saying in the statement, “Iran wants to hide its hand and deny its role in these attacks against our forces. We will not let them.” Austin also promised further strikes if the attacks by Iran’s proxies continue. Earlier Thursday, the US announced it is deploying about 900 troops to the Middle East - with the potential for many more. The US strikes follow a growing number of attacks against US forces in Iraq and Syria since October 17.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Austin, Joe Biden, ” Austin, Biden, ” Biden, Hossein Amir, Abdollahian, Brig, Pat Ryder Organizations: Washington CNN, Defense, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, US, Pentagon, Wednesday, ISIS, UN, Assembly, Iranian, ”, Defense Department Locations: Iranian, Syria, Gaza, Iran, Israel, Iraq

☆ U.S. Strikes Iranian-Linked Targets in Syria
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Eric Schmitt | More About Eric Schmitt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

The targets represent a significant escalation in striking facilities used by Iran’s own forces in the region, not just the militias in Iraq and Syria that it helps arm and train. “These narrowly tailored strikes in self-defense were intended solely to protect and defend U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria,” Mr. Austin said. Since Oct. 17, Iran-backed militia have carried out at least 12 rocket or one-way attack drone strikes against U.S. troops in Iraq and at least four attacks in Syria, Brig. There are 2,500 troops in Iraq and 900 in Syria, mainly helping local allies conduct counterterrorism missions against the Islamic State. “I believe there is concern that our bases in Syria and Iraq, especially Syria, could be attacked by a wave of drones and it could overwhelm the defenses currently there,” Mick Mulroy, a former defense official and retired C.I.A.

Persons: Biden, Lloyd J, Austin III, Mr, Austin, ” Mr, “, Patrick S, Ryder, ” Mick Mulroy, General Ryder, Al Asad, we’ve, ” Organizations: Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, American, U.S, ”, Hamas, U.S ., Pentagon, Iran, The Defense Department, Al Asad, Al Asad Air Base, Islamic Locations: States, Syria, Iraq, Iran, East, U.S, Iranian, United States, Israel, Lebanon, Persian, Erbil, Al Asad Air, Brig, Islamic State

Beneath Gaza, a labyrinth of tunnels used by Hamas will complicate any potential Israeli ground offensive in the Palestinian enclave. WSJ’s Rory Jones—who visited the tunnels in 2014—explains the unique challenge they pose for Israel. Photo: Yousef Mohammed/Zuma PressTEL AVIV—In the weeks leading up to Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel, hundreds of the Palestinian Islamist militant group’s fighters received specialized combat training in Iran, according to people familiar with intelligence related to the assault. Roughly 500 militants from Hamas and an allied group, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, participated in the exercises in September, which were led by officers of the Quds Force, the foreign-operations arm of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the people said.

Persons: Rory Jones —, —, Yousef Mohammed Organizations: Zuma Press TEL, Quds Force, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Locations: Gaza, Israel, Zuma Press TEL AVIV, Iran, Jihad

“The United States does not seek conflict with Iran. We do not want this war to widen,” Blinken said at a convening of the U.N. Security Council in New York City. Do not attack Israel's partners.’”War in Israel and Gaza View All 69 Images“And we urge partners to go a step further,” Blinken added. “Make clear that if Iran or its proxies widen this conflict and put more civilians at risk, you – you – will hold them accountable. Act as if the security and stability of the entire region and beyond is on the line.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, ’, ”, John Kirby, Kirby, Carney, we're Organizations: . Security, Iran, Israel, White House, Defense Department, Navy, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Locations: Iran, U.S, Tehran, Israel, United States, New York City, Gaza, Iraq, Syria, Red, 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

☆ White House says Iran 'actively facilitating' some attacks on US military bases
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Steve Holland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Military vehicles of U.S. soldiers are seen at the al-Asad air base in Anbar province, Iraq, January 13, 2020. "We know that Iran is closely monitoring these events, and in some cases, actively facilitating these attacks and spurring on others who may want to exploit the conflict for their own good, or for that of Iran," he said. "We are deeply concerned about the potential for any significant escalation of these attacks in the days ahead," Kirby said. "We know Iran's goal is to maintain some level of deniability here, but we're not going to allow them to do that," Kirby said. "We also are not going to allow any threat to our interests in the region to go unchallenged."

Persons: Asad, John Davison, Biden, John Kirby, Kirby, we're, Steve Holland, Doina Chiacu, Andrea Shalal, Deepa Babington, Grant McCool Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Department of Defense, Islamic Revolutionary Guard, Hamas, Thomson Locations: U.S, Anbar province, Iraq, Iran, Iranian, Syria, United States, Israel

☆ A Weak Response to Iran’s Attacks
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Speaking in Tel Aviv on Oct. 22, 2023, a bipartisan delegation of U.S. senators detailed how the elimination of islamic terrorist organization, Hamas, would lead to a more stable future in the region—not just for the Jewish people, but Palestinians too. Images: AP/Reuters Composite: Mark KellyThe U.S. late Thursday launched air strikes on Iranian proxies, which have spent the past week attacking American forces in the Middle East. The Pentagon says the U.S. hit two facilities in eastern Syria that are used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). But pinprick bombing of weapons and ammo lockers aren’t proportionate to the enemy attacks. Iran’s proxies have lobbed rockets or drones at U.S. positions at least 19 times since Oct. 17.

Persons: Mark Kelly The, Biden Organizations: Reuters, Mark Kelly The U.S, Pentagon, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Locations: Tel Aviv, Iran, U.S, Syria

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

☆ Analysis: The US is dangerously close to being pulled into a Middle East war as it supports Israel's campaign against Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Ben Wedeman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Editor’s Note: A version of this story appears in CNN’s Meanwhile in the Middle East newsletter, a three-times-a-week look inside the region’s biggest stories. Gaza may be where the war is happening now, but across the Middle East the warning lights of more trouble to come are blinking red. All the while the US is airlifting massive amounts of ammunition and equipment to help the Israeli war effort. Protests against Israel and USAs the war in Gaza rages, the Middle East is seething with anger. The American carrier groups just over the horizon are there to deter Iran, Hezbollah and others from going too far.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Miriam Alster, Antony Blinken, –, Saddam Hussein’s, Bashar al, Qasem Soleimani, Hossein Amir, Abdollahian, Israel, Israel’s, Jordan’s King Abdullah, Abdel Fattah el, Mahmoud Abbas, Sisi, King Abdullah, ” I’ve Organizations: Southern Lebanon CNN, Houthi, US, Israel, Gaza, White, Israeli, Hamas, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Islamic, Iranian, Ahli Baptist Hospital, Palestinian Locations: Southern Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Gaza, Iran, Israel, Tel Aviv, United States, Kuwait, Russia, Turkey, Islamic State, Aleppo, Damascus, Baghdad, it’s, Beirut, Vietnam, Afghanistan, East, Doha, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Egypt, Amman, Ahli, Al, Cairo

☆ What to know about Hezbollah, the powerful Iran-backed group on Israel’s border
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Cnn Staff | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Hezbollah is an Iran-backed Islamist movement with one of the most powerful paramilitary forces in the Middle East. The origins of the groupHezbollah emerged from the rubble of Israel’s 1982 invasion of Lebanon, when Israeli forces took almost half of Lebanon’s territory. This included Beirut, where Israeli forces, along with right-wing Israel-allied Christian Lebanese militias, laid siege to the western part of the capital to drive out Palestinian militants. A terror designationIn Lebanon, Hezbollah is officially considered a “resistance” group tasked with confronting Israel, which Beirut classifies as an enemy state. Hezbollah is a group from the Shia branch of Islam, while Hamas is Sunni.

Persons: Israel –, –, Sabra, Shatila, Hassan Nasrallah, Marwan Naamani, Israel, Mustafa Badreddine, Hamas haven’t, Bashar al, Assad, Nasrallah, Francesca Volpi, ’ Organizations: CNN, Commission, Christian Lebanese, Embassy, Hezbollah, Hamas, Gaza, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Israel’s Locations: Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Hamas, Gaza, Beirut, Lebanese, Palestinian, Islamic Republic, Tehran, Argentina, Buenos Aires, East, Syria, Iraq, Islam, Baalbek, Lebanon's Bekaa, Israel’s, Golan

☆ Captured Hamas weapons hint that if Israeli forces invade Gaza, they could face a deadly improvised bomb that US troops feared in Iraq
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

A video released by the IDF shows captured Hamas weapons from the October 7 terrorist attack in Israel. EFPs were some of the deadliest explosives US forces faced in Iraq, ripping through troops and armor. That could be a problem for IDF troops in a ground offensive in the strip. Israeli forces could still face EFPs hidden in the rubble, complex tunnel networks, or roads. That could spell trouble for IDF troops, of which hundreds of thousands have volunteered or been called up to serve over the past weeks.

Persons: —, John Spencer, Spencer, Qassem Soleimani, Benjamin Lowy, Israel Organizations: IDF, Service, Israel Defense Force, Israel Defense Forces, MSNBC, US Army, Urban Warfare, Modern, Twitter, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force, Pentagon, Quds Force, Air Force, Washington Post, Getty, United Nations Locations: Israel, Iraq, Gaza, Iranian, Iran, EFPs, Hawr Rajab, Lebanon

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. on Wednesday imposed sanctions on a group of people and firms based in Iran, China, Hong Kong and Venezuela, tied to the development of Iran's ballistic missile and drone programs. The penalties come as the United Nations' restrictions on Iran missile-related activities under a Security Council Resolution are set to expire, as well as the E.U. A UAV is an unmanned aerial vehicle, commonly known as a drone. President Joe Biden's administration maintains that Iran is providing Russia with drones and materials to build a drone manufacturing plant east of Moscow as President Vladimir Putin's government invades Ukraine. Tensions between the U.S. and Iran remain high, despite the release of five American detainees from Iran in September in exchange for the release of nearly $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets.

Persons: Jaber Reihani, Brian Nelson, Joe Biden's, Vladimir Putin's, Raisi Organizations: WASHINGTON, United Nations, Treasury's, Foreign Assets, Islamic, Guard, Ministry of Defense, Armed Forces Logistics, Defense, General Assembly, U.S Locations: Iran, China, Hong Kong, Venezuela, United States, Treasury's, U.S, Russia, Moscow, Ukraine

☆ Iran's Revolutionary Guards Move Fighters Closer to Syrian Border With Israel
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is moving some of its members toward the Israeli border, sparking concerns a new front could open in the confrontation between Tel Aviv and its regional foes. The IRGC has been redeploying fighters from the eastern Syrian city of Deir ez-Zor southward to an area close to Damascus, according to a Syrian government adviser and a Deir ez-Zor activist. The Syrian government adviser said Iran’s aim remained largely defensive. “There is a big concern that if there was a war, there is a strong need to protect the regime,” he said. A spokesman for the Iranian delegation at the United Nations didn't return a request for comment.

Persons: Deir, Iran’s, ” Organizations: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iranian, United Nations Locations: Tel Aviv, Syrian, Deir, Damascus

☆ America’s Middle East Imperative: Contain Iran
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Reuel Marc Gerecht | Ray Takeyh | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

When the warriors of Hamas broke out of their fiefdom in Gaza to kill and kidnap Israelis, a historic failure of imagination came painfully into view. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’s government—and many in the country’s security and intelligence agencies—had seen the Palestinians as a manageable problem. Israelis were certainly aware of the growing missile threat from Gaza. The Israeli army and air force had ripped into Gaza in 2014 to destroy, among other things, missile factories. They knew that Hamas’s relations with Iran, which has developed great skill in missilery, had deepened.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu ’, —, Jerusalem, Ismail Qaani —, Iran’s, Islamic Revolutionary Guard — Organizations: Iran’s Quds Force, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Locations: Gaza, Iran, Beirut, Iran’s Quds

They’re opportunistic and adaptive,” said former CIA analyst Yaya Fanusie, now an adjunct senior fellow with the Center for a New American Security. It’s unclear how much money Hamas has received in cryptocurrency, but there’s evidence they have amassed significant amounts. Another $94 million was allegedly held by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a militant partner of Hamas, according to Elliptic, another analytics firm. Hamas additionally raises funds through informal taxes and smuggling, according to a Congressional Research Service report from May. Investigators were able to seize 150 cryptocurrency accounts “that laundered funds to and from” Hamas accounts, according to a DOJ news release.

Persons: launderers, European Union –, “ There’s, ”, Yaya Fanusie, –, Dmitry Machikhin, Arda Akartuna, Akartuna, Jake Sullivan, Iran “, Sullivan, Asher Perlin, Yitzchak Weinstock, Weinstock, “, al, Perlin Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Justice, Justice Department, European Union, Center, New, New American Security, Department of Homeland Security, ’, Reuters, Wall Street, Brigades, Palestine Islamic, US State Department, US Treasury Department, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Treasury, US Treasury, White, National, Congressional Research Service, US Justice Department, ”, Investigators, DOJ Locations: Iran, cryptocurrency, Israel, Washington ,, United States, New American, New Jersey, bitcoin, Jihad, Palestine, Turkey, Lebanon, Lebanese, Syria, Tehran, Jerusalem

☆ Israel Gaza war: How goes Hamas get its weapons? A mix of ingenuity, tenacity, resourcefulness and a key mentor, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Said Khatib/AFP/Getty Images/FILEThe Iran factor“Hamas acquires its weapons through smuggling or local construction and receives some military support from Iran,” the CIA’s World Factbook says. Video Ad Feedback Retired general explains why he thinks Iran helped support Hamas attacks 01:08 - Source: CNNBut Iran has been a mentor, too, analysts say. A senior Hamas official based in Lebanon gave details of the Hamas’ weapons manufacturing in an edited interview with Russia Today’s Arabic-news channel RTArabic published on their website on Sunday. And Tehran keeps the training of Hamas’ weapons makers current, he added. Gaza has none of the heavy industry that would support weapons production in most of the world.

Persons: It’s, –, Said Khatib, ”, Bilal Saab, Daniel Byman, Charles Lister, Byman, “, ” Ali Baraka, Mahmud Hams, Lister, ” Lister, Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, what’s, Alkhatib, Aaron Pilkington, Baraka, ” Pilkington Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Brigades, Getty, ’, Defense and Security, Middle East Institute, Transnational, Center for Strategic, International Studies, MEI, CSIS, Hamas National Relations, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hamas ’, CIA, Washington Institute for Near, Fikra, US Air Force, Middle, University of Denver Locations: Israel, Gaza, Egypt, Palestinian, AFP, Iran, Islamic Republic, Hamas, Washington, “ Iran, Lebanon, Russia, Kalashnikovs, Tehran, Iran’s, Saudi

☆ 'This is Israel's 9/11': Why Israelis say Hamas' unprecedented assault will change their country forever
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Some are likening Saturday's attack on Israel by Hamas to the September 11, 2001, attacks on the US. The timing of the attack on Saturday morning "was a shock," Aisenberg told Insider on Sunday night from her home. Up and down the country, Israelis were angered by the lapses that enabled Hamas to evade the eyes of Jerusalem's military and intelligence services, Quinn added, calling the failures "incomprehensible." AdvertisementAdvertisementThere, close to the Gaza border, Aisenberg's mother- and father-in-law spent much of Saturday afternoon hiding in their home as Hamas fighters infiltrated their small town and wreaked havoc. 'We cannot afford to be divided'As the fighting continues, Aisenberg said Israelis are determined to prevail against Hamas and Hezbollah.

Persons: —, Aisenberg, they'd, — Aisenberg, I'm, Ian Bremmer, Jessica Cohen, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Iron, Netanyahu, Kenneth Quinn, who's, Quinn, Be'er Sheva, he'd, Quinn's, Cohen, Gilad Peretz, Mark, she'll Organizations: Service, Eurasia Group, Israel, West Bank, Street, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Palestinian Health Ministry, Soroka Hospital, Audi Locations: Israel, Tel Aviv, Israel's, United States, Gaza, Sderot, Pearl, Hawaii, Long Island , New York, Al, Aqsa, Jerusalem, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Iran, Afghanistan — Israel, New York, Be'er, Nova, revel, Lebanon

☆ US to send F-35 and F-15 jets to the Middle East to deter expansion of fighting beyond Israel's borders
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The US is sending squadrons of advanced fighter jets to prevent the war in Israel from escalating. US Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16, and A-10 jets will deploy in the region in a "deterrence posture." The US is also sending an advanced carrier and heavily armed strike group to Israel's coast. The jets will be deployed in addition to the US sending its most advanced aircraft carrier and heavily armed strike group to Israel's coast. The squadrons will be tasked with deterring the expansion of the war and preventing any potential Iranian aggression in the fighting.

Persons: —, Lloyd J, Austin III, Secretary Austin, Austin Organizations: US Air Force, Service, Israeli Defense Forces, Palestinian Health Ministry, West Bank, CNN, of Defense, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Lebanese, Hezbollah, Department of Defense Locations: Israel, Israel's, Palestinian, Iran

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