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Washington CNN —Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday appeared to reject the idea of creating a Palestinian state, a statement that could contribute to growing tensions between Washington and Jerusalem. “This conflict is not about the absence of a (Palestinian) state but about the existence of a state, the Jewish state,” Netanyahu also said. American officials said Thursday they would not allow Netanyahu’s apparent rejection of an eventual Palestinian state to stop them from pressing the matter with their Israeli counterparts. “But they underscored that this can only come through a regional approach that includes a pathway to a Palestinian state,” Blinken said. And this is this is not a new comment by Prime Minister Netanyahu,” he said.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, ” Netanyahu, Netanyahu’s, Joe Biden, Biden, Netanyahu, ”, he’s, Israel, ” Biden, Antony Blinken, ” Blinken, John Kirby, “ We’re Organizations: Washington CNN, Israeli, American, Israel, Biden, US National Security Council, Air Force Locations: Washington, Jerusalem, “, Israel, Jordan, Tel Aviv, Palestinian, Gaza

Biden said the U.S. would continue the strikes, even though so far they have not stopped the Houthis from continuing to harass commercial and military vessels. Saree said the attack took place in the Gulf of Aden, the waters just south of Yemen. The Pentagon was not immediately able to confirm the strikes but has cautioned that it anticipates the Houthis will continue their attacks. On Wednesday the U.S. military fired another wave of ship- and submarine-launch missile strikes against 14 Houthi-controlled sites. But the links to the ships targeted in the rebel assaults have grown more tenuous as the attacks continue.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Houthi, Yahya Saree, Saree, John Kirby, “ I’m, “, Sabrina Singh, ” Singh, Jon Gambrell, Jack Jeffrey, C, Sagar Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Iranian, ”, ” U.S . Central Command, Twitter, Navy, Pentagon, White, Marshall, Chem, Prosperity, U.S, Wednesday, U.S ., National Security, Hamas, Associated Press Locations: — U.S, Yemen, ” U.S, U.S, North Carolina, Houthi Brig, Gulf, Aden, Iran, Israel, Gaza, Palestinian, Jerusalem, London, Washington

☆ Jordan Says Southern Gaza Hospital Badly Damaged by Israeli Shelling Nearby
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +6 min

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. Palestinian health officials said seven people were killed by Israeli air strikes that damaged homes near the hospital. Explosions from shelling and air strikes sounded further west in Khan Younis as the Israeli tanks moved on, with lines of thick black smoke rising from bomb sites. Israel said it had killed six Palestinian fighters, including the southern district Hamas officer in charge of interrogating suspected spies. The Israeli military said its forces had eliminated a "terrorist cell" during a precise air strike on a car near the Balata camp in the city of Nablus.

Persons: Arafat Barbakh, Tyrone Siu, Nidal, Khan Younis, Nasser, Sean Casey, Israel, Bilal Nofal, Tahreer, Yoav Gallant, Gazans, there's, John Kirby, Abdullah Abu, Crescent, Nidal al, Dan Williams, Clauda, Philippa Fletcher, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Reuters, World Health, COMMUNICATIONS, Communications, Palestinian, U.S, House, WEST, West Bank, Israel Locations: GAZA, ISRAEL, DOHA, Israel, Gaza, Jordan, Jordanian, Khan, Rafah, Qatar, France, Egypt, Nablus, Tulkarm, Mughrabi, Doha, Jerusalem, Dubai

☆ Biden to meet with Speaker Johnson, Sen. Schumer on Ukraine, Israel aid as shutdown looms
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

President Joe Biden will host Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer at the White House Wednesday afternoon to discuss his deadlocked supplemental funding bill for aid to Israel and Ukraine. Other leaders on the invite list are Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. "I'm going to tell the President what I'm telling all of you and we've told the American people: border, border, border," Johnson told reporters Wednesday. Biden initially requested a $105 billion supplemental funding package from Congress in October to aid Israel and Ukraine in their respective wars, along with securing Taiwan's defense systems and the U.S. southern border. Recent congressional squabbles have led to a near government shutdown, the ousting of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Congress' holiday recess being cut short.

Persons: Charles Schumer, Mike Johnson, Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, Hakeem Jeffries, we've, Johnson, Biden, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Chip Roy, John Kirby, Antony Blinken Organizations: U.S, Capitol, White, Democratic, Congressional, Democrats, Conservative, National Security, Ukraine, Economic Locations: Israel, Ukraine, U.S, Russian, Texas, Davos, Switzerland

If so, U.S. military aid to Israel, long assured without question, could be quickly halted. Heading toward the vote, Sanders said senators are nervous because what he’s trying to do is unprecedented in procedure and essentially practice. The action comes as Biden's request for $106 billion supplemental national security aid for Israel as well as Ukraine and other military needs is at a standstill. Going further, Sanders had already announced his refusal to support more military aid to Israel in the package because of the war. It requires that any arms or military aid must be used in accordance with international human rights accords.

Persons: Sen, Bernie Sanders, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Antony Blinken, Sanders, Israel, ” Sanders, John Kirby, ” Kirby, Netanyahu, Nixon, it's, Ellen Knickmeyer Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S . State Department, Hamas, Israel, U.S, United, White House National Security, Foreign, State Department, Republicans, GOP, U.S . Associated Press Locations: Israel, Gaza, U.S, United States, Vermont, Ukraine, Mexico

☆ The 2 Navy SEALS lost at sea were reportedly conducting an operation to find smuggled Iranian weapons
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewThe two Navy SEALs who went missing off the coast of Somalia last week were conducting an operation to find smuggled Iranian weapons when the incident occurred, according to a report. US Central Command, or CENTCOM, said the pair were reported missing at sea on Thursday evening while "conducting operations" near Somalia and that a search-and-rescue mission was underway. White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby appeared to confirm on Sunday that the SEALs were involved in an operation of this type when they went missing last week. The Gulf of Aden, where the SEALs went missing, has warm but powerful waters.

Persons: —, CENTCOM, John Kirby, we've, Kirby Organizations: Service, Navy, Business, US Central Command, 5th Fleet, Washington Post, White, National Security, CBS Locations: Somalia, Strait of Hormuz, Yemen, Aden, Iran, Tehran, Gulf

☆ US 'Not Looking for War' With Houthis -White House
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. is not looking for a war with the Houthis, the White House said on Tuesday. The Houthis have a choice to make and they still have time to make the right choice, which is to stop these reckless attacks," White House spokesman John Kirby said. Attacks by the Houthis on ships in the Red Sea have affected companies and alarmed major world powers. The Houthis say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians. (Reporting by Steve Holland, Writing by Jasper Ward; Editing by Caitlin Webber)

Persons: John Kirby, Steve Holland, Jasper Ward, Caitlin Webber Organizations: WASHINGTON Locations: U.S

Video posted Monday to X by Al Jazeera showed hundreds of people rushing toward what appeared to be an aid truck in what the news outlet said was Gaza City. The Associated Press could not immediately independently verify the video and it was not clear when the video was filmed. Political Cartoons View All 253 Images“People in Gaza risk dying of hunger just miles from trucks filled with food,” said WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain. Israel blames Hamas for the high death toll, saying its fighters make use of civilian buildings and launch attacks from densely populated urban areas. The U.S., as well as the U.N., have continued to push Israel to ease the flow of aid.

Persons: Israel, Al Jazeera, ”, Cindy McCain, “, Khan Younis, Moshe Tetro, John Kirby, Israel “, “ We’re, Benjamin Netanyahu, ___ Magdy, ___ Organizations: Associated Press, Food Program, UNICEF, World Health Organization, Ministry, Hamas, White, National Security, CBS, ” Locations: RAFAH, Gaza, Israel, Gaza City, Egypt, Ashdod, Rafah, U.S, Cairo, Goldenberg, Tel Aviv, israel

That was apparent Monday, when a Houthi missile hit a US-owned cargo ship in the Red Sea, marking what appears to be the first time the militants have successfully struck a US-owned or operated ship. Senior Biden administration officials insist Friday’s operation against the Houthis was successful at its objective: degrading the group’s military capabilities. Houthi fighters and tribesmen stage a rally against the U.S. and the U.K. strikes on Houthi-run military sites near Sanaa, Yemen, on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024. US officials fear one side will miscalculate, even if none of the major parties – Iran, Israel and the United States – want a wider war. The Suez Canal accounts for 10% to 15% of world trade, which includes oil exports, and for 30% of global container shipping volumes.

Persons: Biden, Israel simmers, John Kirby, Douglas Sims, ”, Mick Mulroy, Trump, Joe Biden, “ Organizations: CNN, US, Houthis, Biden, National Security, Pentagon, Joint Staff, New York Times, U.S, AP, United, Analysts, ABC News Locations: Yemen, Red, Sea, Gulf of Aden, Israel, Washington, Iran, Gaza, Africa, Suez, Red Sea, Gen, Sanaa, United States, Aden

☆ Could the lost Navy SEALs still be alive? It's unlikely, but their world-class training gives them a shot.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewTwo US Navy SEALs who went missing off the coast of Somalia have little chance of survival after four days, military experts said. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. But their world-class training in water survival give them better chances than most people. Reached by Business Insider early on Monday, a Pentagon spokesperson said they "have nothing new to provide." Advertisement"If they were alive, they would have found them," Inglis told Business Insider.

Persons: —, US Fleet Forces Command didn't, John Kirby, CBS's, Richard Kouyoumdjian Inglis, Inglis, Mark Cancian, CENTCOM, Sam Tangredi, Tangredi Organizations: Service, US Navy, Business, Associated Press, Navy, Central Command, Pentagon, US Fleet Forces Command, National Security, Sunday, Chilean Naval Reserve, US Marine, Center for Strategic, International Studies Locations: Somalia, Gulf, Aden

☆ Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin released from hospital
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Oren Liebermann | Haley Britzky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was released from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Monday, according to the Pentagon, two weeks after he was admitted for complications following prostate cancer surgery. Austin will work remotely “for a period of time” before returning to the Pentagon, the Pentagon statement said. His discharge comes after Austin was hospitalized on January 1 for complications from a prostate cancer procedure in December. But a little over a week later on January 1, Austin began experiencing severe pain and was taken back to the hospital in an ambulance. “The Department of Defense is the most vital element of the United States government,” Reed and Wicker said.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Austin, ”, John Maddox, Gregory Chesnut, ” Austin, Biden, Joe Biden, “, John Kirby, Pat Ryder, Jake Sullivan, CQ Brown, Erik Kurilla, ” Ryder, Austin’s, Walter Reed, Dr, Oliver Sartor, Otis Brawley, Sen, Jack Reed, Member Sen, Roger Wicker, ” Reed, Wicker Organizations: CNN, US, Walter Reed National Military Medical, Pentagon, Trauma, Center, Prostate Disease, Murtha Cancer, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, House, Defense, National Security, Air Force, Joint Chiefs, Staff, US Central Command, Central Command, Cancer Disease, Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, Senate Armed Services, Member, Department of Defense, United, Department Locations: Iraq, Syria, Yemen, United States

☆ Defense Secretary Austin is 'actively involved and engaged' while hospitalized
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is still hospitalized following doctors' advice, but he's "actively involved and engaged," according to national security spokesperson John Kirby. "A lot of the work that gets done in national security is done at the staff level." Austin has been treated at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center since Jan. 1, following complications from a surgery nearly two weeks earlier to treat prostate cancer. Kirby said Sunday that physical therapy is part of the reason doctors have kept Austin in the hospital. "The Pentagon's investigating this, and we'll see what comes out of that, but that is not the way that the process is supposed to work," Kirby said.

Persons: Defense Lloyd J, Austin, Lloyd Austin, John Kirby, Kirby, It's, Joe Biden, Austin's Organizations: Defense, Armed, Office, Washington , DC, Walter Reed National Military Medical, Austin, Pentagon Locations: Afghanistan, Rayburn, Washington ,, Iran, Yemen, Austin

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

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

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

☆ Biden: US Delivered Private Message to Iran About Houthi Attacks
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

By Steve Holland and Nandita BoseWASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Joe Biden said on Saturday the United States had delivered a private message to Iran about Iran-backed Houthis responsible for attacking commercial shipping in the Red Sea. "We delivered it privately and we're confident we're well-prepared," Biden told reporters at the White House before departing to the Camp David presidential retreat for the weekend. The Houthi movement threatened a "strong and effective response" after the United States carried out another strike in Yemen overnight, further ratcheting up tensions as Washington vows to protect shipping from attacks by the Iran-aligned group. The latest strike, which the U.S. said hit a radar site, came a day after dozens of American and British strikes on Houthi facilities in Yemen. Biden, whose administration removed the Houthis from a State Department list of "foreign terrorist organizations" in 2021, was asked by reporters on Friday whether he felt the term "terrorist" described the movement now.

Persons: Steve Holland, Nandita Bose WASHINGTON, Joe Biden, Biden, Camp David, John Kirby, Washington, Daniel Wallis Organizations: United, White, Camp, State Department Locations: United States, Iran, Red, Yemen

☆ Russia's use of North Korean missiles in Ukraine will help the US figure out how effective they really are
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia fired North Korean missiles at Ukraine on December 30, January 2 and 4, per South Korea. AdvertisementRussia's use of North Korean missiles in Ukraine will help us figure out how effective they actually are on the battlefield, military analysts said. North Korea has been testing a wide range of ballistic and cruise missiles since 2017, launching 68 missiles in 2022, according to the North Korea Missile Test Tracker maintained by the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies. "If Ukraine, for example, proves more successful in shooting down North Korean missiles compared to Russian ones, then we can assume that North Korean technology is not as advanced," he said. Ukraine has already started analyzing what it believes to be debris from a North Korean missile.

Persons: —, Joonkook Hwang, John Kirby, Ramon Pacheco Pardo, Pardo, James Martin, David Albright, Fabian Hinz, Andriy Kostin Organizations: North Korean, Service, Korean, UN, National Security, Center for Strategic, International Studies, North Korea Missile, James, James Martin Center, Nonproliferation Studies, for Science, International Security, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Newsweek, Suspilne, Meduza Locations: Russia, Ukraine, South Korea, Korea, North Korea, Japan, Washington, Korean, Ukrainian, Kharkiv

☆ Oil prices rise as US-led strikes in Yemen raise fears of wider conflict
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —US-led airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen rattled energy markets on Friday, sending oil prices sharply higher. Oil prices rose sharply after US-led strikes on multiple Houthi targets in Yemen in response to repeated attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. Another concern is that oil facilities in Saudi Arabia could get hit by a retaliatory strike from the Houthis. In 2019, roughly 5% of world oil supply was briefly knocked offline in a large-scale drone attack on Saudi oil facilities. Despite Friday’s gains, oil prices remain lower than where they were before the October 7 attacks by Hamas against Israel due to concerns about oversupply.

Persons: Brent, “, ”, Robert Yawger, ” Yawger, John Kirby, CNN’s Becky Anderson, ” Kirby, ” Matt Smith, ” Helima Croft, Croft, ” Croft Organizations: New, New York CNN, Mizuho Securities, White House National Security Council, RBC Capital Markets, CIA Locations: New York, Yemen, East, Red, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Gulf of Oman, Hormuz

☆ Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered strikes on the Houthis from the hospital using a 'full suite of secure communications'
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered attacks on Houthis from the hospital, a defense official said. AdvertisementDefense Secretary Lloyd Austin gave the order to strike the Houthis in Yemen from the hospital on Thursday, using a "full suite of secure communication," CNN reported , quoting a senior defense official. "Secretary Austin gave CENTCOM the order today to execute the strikes and monitored real-time with a full suite of secure communications capabilities," the defense official said, per CNN. Brown, and the National Security Council "to discuss response options and execution following the President's authorization." AdvertisementThis culminated in Austin's strike order on Thursday and an "initial post-strike assessment" with the National Security Council and others, the official said.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Austin, —, John Kirby, Chris Deluzio, Joe Biden, Biden, Erik Kurilla, Staff Charles Q, Brown Organizations: CNN, Service, US Central Command, US, Defense Department, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, White, National Security, Pentagon, Department of Defense, Defense, Joint Chiefs, Staff, National Security Council Locations: Yemen, Red

☆ Opinion | Don’t Turn Away From the Charges of Genocide Against Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Megan K. Stack | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

With the question of whether Israel is committing genocide in Gaza now before the International Court of Justice, the Biden administration has struck a tone of glib dismissal. “Meritless” seems to be the agreed-upon term among U.S. officials. “The charge of genocide is meritless,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken intoned from a podium in Tel Aviv this week. “Meritless, counterproductive, and without any basis in fact whatsoever,” blustered the National Security Council spokesman John Kirby. Top Israeli political and military leaders have themselves helped to bolster the case against their government.

Persons: Biden, “ Meritless, Antony Blinken intoned, ”, John Kirby, Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, —, “ Organizations: International Court of Justice, National Security, Gaza Locations: Israel, Gaza, ”, Tel Aviv, South Africa

☆ White House says U.S. Ukraine assistance has 'ground to a halt'; UK announces increased drone funding
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

U.S. military assistance to Ukraine has "ground to a halt," with Congress yet to authorize the emergency spending requested by President Joe Biden's administration in late October. In a White House press briefing on Thursday, National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby said Washington had "issued the last drawdown package that we had funding to support." "And that's why it's critical that Congress move on that national security supplemental request and we get more funding. The assistance that we provided has now ground to a halt," he said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday thanked Estonia and Latvia after meeting with leaders of the two Baltic nations to discuss further military aid and Ukraine's path toward EU and NATO membership.

Persons: Joe Biden's, John Kirby, Washington, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Organizations: White House, National Security, NATO Locations: Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Baltic

☆ North Korea is using Ukraine as a test site for its nuclear-capable missiles, South Korea says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-11 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Read previewNorth Korea is using Ukraine as a test site for its nuclear-capable missiles, South Korea's ambassador to the UN said in a statement on Thursday. He pointed to Russia's use of KN-23 short-range ballistic missiles, which North Korea tested in 2018 and 2019. Russia is now benefiting from North Korea's missile expertise and is using it in its war of aggression against Ukraine, Hwang said. Ballistic missiles "appear to be more effective at penetrating or avoiding Ukrainian air defenses" than the cruise missiles Russia has used so far, the ISW concluded. The Washington DC-based think tank added that Russia is also likely looking to Iran when it comes to buying ballistic missiles.

Persons: —, Joonkook Hwang, Hwang, ramping, James Martin, John Kirby Organizations: Service, UN, Business, North, Missile Defense, Alliance, North Korea Missile, James Martin Center, Nonproliferation Studies, Ukraine, Korean, Security, Institute for, Russia, Washington DC Locations: Korea, Ukraine, North, North Korea, South Korea, Russia, Iran

☆ Red Sea crisis could jeopardize inflation fight as shipping costs spike globally
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-11 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

In this article HLAG-DEMAERSK.B-DK Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTA ship transits the Suez Canal towards the Red Sea on January 10, 2024 in Ismailia, Egypt. Sayed Hassan | Getty ImagesU.S. shipping costs are spiking as attacks in the Red Sea disrupt global trade, raising fears that inflation might pick up again if the disruption persists. But the Red Sea crisis is now having a significant impact further afield with shipping costs between Asia and the U.S also spiking. Shipping rates from North Asia to the U.S. East Coast have jumped 137% to $5,100 for a 40-foot container from early October, according to S&P Global. JPMorgan told clients on Tuesday that the fight against inflation could stall in the coming months if shipping costs push the price of goods higher.

Persons: Sayed Hassan, John Kirby, Kirby, Biden, Chris Rogers, Mark Hopkins, we're, Hopkins, It's, Balika Sonthalia, Sonthalia Organizations: Getty, P Global Market Intelligence, P, U.S ., U.S . East Coast, U.S . West Coast, JPMorgan, Federal Reserve, . National Security, White, Moody's, CNBC, Kearney, The New, The New York Federal, HSBC Locations: Suez, Ismailia, Egypt, South Africa, Asia, Europe, North Asia, Israel, U.S, U.S . East, U.S . West, The New York, Panama

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

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

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

☆ Hospitalized defense secretary didn't tell the White House about his cancer for a month
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-10 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was quietly hospitalized without informing the White House. According to a new statement from officials, Lloyd hid his prostate cancer diagnosis for a month. AdvertisementDefense Secretary Lloyd Austin had been diagnosed with prostate cancer for a month before informing the White House, officials confirmed Tuesday. Prostate cancer is second to lung cancer as the most deadly form of cancer facing American men, per the American Cancer Society, with 1 in 43 men dying from the disease. However, when caught early, prostate cancer is treatable and has a 99% survival rate over five years, according to the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Lloyd, —, Austin, Patrick S, Ryder, John Kirby, Kathleen Hicks, Walter Reed, Jake Sullivan, Biden Organizations: White, Service, Defense Department, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Defense, National Security, American Cancer Society, Prostate Cancer Foundation, Business, Critics, Pentagon, Department of Defense Locations: US, Israel, Ukraine

☆ U.S. slams 'meritless' Israel genocide suit, reigniting tensions with South Africa
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-09 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The International Court of Justice, the U.N.'s highest legal body, will this week hear a case brought by South Africa that accuses Israel of committing genocide against Palestinian people during the assault on the Gaza Strip. Ambassador Reuben Brigety accused South Africa of running guns for Russia via a mystery merchant ship, a South African inquiry found no evidence of the alleged arms shipment, but ties between the two historical allies remained taut. "Over the past two years a succession of frustrations, including South Africa feeling it is being pushed on Russia-Ukraine, the U.S. Ambassador's statements on South African domestic security and on its relationship with Russia, and U.S. policy on China in Africa, have all contributed to the worsening of this relationship," Vandome said. 'Solidarity against apartheid oppression' South Africa's close relationship with Russia is based on a multitude of factors past and present.

Persons: John Kirby, Kevin Lamarque, Israel, Reuben Brigety, Cyril Ramaphosa, Chris Vandome, Vandome, Sergey Lavrov, Naledi Pandor Organizations: White, Reuters, U.S, Court of Justice, Palestinian, . National Security, Chatham, CNBC, South, Russian, African Foreign, Pretoria Ihsaan Haffejee, Anadolu Agency, Getty, United States Trade, Solidarity, Congress, ANC, Party Locations: Washington , U.S, South Africa, Gaza, Israel, Washington, Pretoria, Russia, China, African, Ukraine, Africa, U.S, Palestine, PRETORIA, Pretoria Ihsaan

☆ White House stands by Defense Secretary Austin as bipartisan furor grows over secret ICU stay
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-08 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said there are no plans other "than for Secretary Austin to stay in the job." He remains focused on conducting his duties as Secretary of Defense in defense of our nation." The Pentagon's lawyers were examining whether any laws were broken when Austin failed to report his medical condition. Austin's secret hospitalization came during a week when the U.S. was weighing several notable national security matters, including military action in the Middle East. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday that Biden maintains "complete confidence" in Austin.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin, Lloyd Austin, John Kirby, Austin, Elise Stefanik, Pat Ryder, Kirby, Staff Kelly Magsamen, Jake Sullivan, Kathleen Hicks, Jan, Joe Biden, Biden, Mike Rogers, Adam Smith, Sen, Jack Reed, Reed, Karine Jean, Pierre, Monday Organizations: Defense, Ukraine Defense Contact, Ramstein Air Base, White, National Security, Walter Reed National Military Medical, Congressional, Republican, Republicans, Pentagon, Staff, NSC, National, House, House Armed Services, Armed Services, Department, Department of Defense Locations: Ukraine, Ramstein, Miesenbach, Germany, Austin, U.S, Baghdad, Iran

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