The US has moved 'additional assets' to the Middle East amid growing threats of an attack on Israel from Iran following the killing of a senior officer in Iran's embassy in Syria. Joe Biden has warned Iran against an attack, with fears of retaliation escalating. Countries like France, Russia, and India have updated travel advice due to the threat. Israel braces for a potential Iranian response, with concerns over direct attacks. Iran's supreme leader has vowed punishment for Israel, escalating tensions in the region.
The US State Department restricts travel for government employees and their families outside major cities in Israel due to fears of an imminent Iranian attack following the destruction of the Iranian consulate in Syria. Iran's Supreme Leader vows to retaliate against Israel, prompting US General Michael Kurilla to visit Israel and review military capabilities. Missiles are feared to be launched on Israeli territory within 48 hours, escalating tensions. Russian and German airlines suspend flights to Iran, and global leaders express concern over the potential for wider conflict in the Middle East.
The United States has restricted travel for its employees in Israel due to concerns of a potential attack by Iran. Iran has blamed Israel for a recent strike on its consulate in Syria, prompting fears of retaliation. UK's Foreign Secretary has urged Iran to avoid further escalation. The US President has expressed support for Israel, warning of a possible significant attack from Iran. Diplomatic efforts are ongoing to prevent conflicts in the region. US officials have engaged in talks with Israeli counterparts on security threats, amidst heightened tensions.
The US is actively preparing for a potential attack by Iran targeting Israeli or American assets in the region, following an Israeli strike in Damascus that killed Iranian commanders. Senior US officials believe an attack by Iran is inevitable, with discussions on the matter between the US and Israeli governments. The Biden administration is concerned about the possibility of a direct strike on Israel by Iran, fearing it could escalate into a wider conflict in the Middle East. Recent drone attacks near US facilities in Syria have heightened tensions and caution in the region.
President Joe Biden warned Iran against retaliating for an air raid on its consulate in Damascus, but analysts anticipate an Iranian attack, heightening fears of a regional war. The US faces tensions between fully backing Israel and preventing Gaza conflict escalation, critic Trita Parsi notes a flawed approach. Despite condemning the attack on the Iranian embassy, the US supports Israel, emphasizing not being involved. Diplomatic efforts aim to deter Iran while ensuring unwavering support for Israel, potentially risking direct confrontation with Tehran.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed dissatisfaction to his Israeli counterpart over Israel's lack of prior notification before carrying out a strike on an Iranian site in Syria, heightening risks for American forces in the Middle East. The ongoing Israel-Gaza war, escalating tensions in the region, and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip are major concerns. The US continues to support Israel despite tensions between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and some US politicians. The historical roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict fuel deep mistrust and complexity in the region.
Iran's foreign minister accused the United States of permitting Israel to strike its consulate in Syria, resulting in the death of seven Iranian military officials, including two generals. The attack, blamed on Israel, has heightened tensions in the region, with Iran and its allies vowing to respond. The strike, which killed Gen Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior official in the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Quds Force, has escalated fears of wider conflict in the Middle East.
US officials have briefed that Iran may launch a retaliatory attack on Israel following an Israeli strike on an Iranian consulate, potentially leading to a direct confrontation between Iran and Israel. The US also mentioned the possibility of intervening to help Israel defend itself and even join an Israeli counteroffensive. Iranian Foreign Minister has been engaging with regional counterparts and the UN, while tensions rise with warnings from both Iranian and Israeli leaders.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated that Israel would respond directly to any attack by Iran, emphasizing that they will not tolerate an Iranian attack on their territory. This comes amidst concerns of a possible Iranian retaliatory attack following the killing of seven Iranians in an Israeli airstrike on Iran's consulate in Syria. US officials, including Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Commander of the US Central Command Michael Kurilla, have been in talks with Israeli counterparts to coordinate responses to a potential Iranian attack.
President Biden reaffirmed US support for Israel amidst reports of an imminent Iranian attack following Israel's killing of a top Iranian commander in Syria. Fears of escalation in the Israel-Gaza conflict to a wider Middle East conflict persist. Israeli PM Netanyahu's statements added to concerns. General Michael 'Erik' Kurilla of US Central Command visited Israel to coordinate with defense officials after Iran threatened retaliation for an attack in Syria, where a top Iranian officer was killed. Iran's Supreme Leader called for punishment of Israel.
Israel deployed forces in Gaza following a threat from Iran over a strike in Syria and ongoing ceasefire talks with Hamas. France warned citizens against travelling to the region. The conflict began with Hamas attacking Israel in October, resulting in numerous casualties on both sides. The US pledged support for Israel despite tensions. Truce talks in Cairo have not yielded results. The UN highlighted the urgent need for relief in Gaza as famine looms. Israel is preparing for operations in Rafah, and tensions remain high with Iran and Hezbollah.
Israel's Foreign Minister has warned that Israel would strike Iran directly if the Islamic Republic launched an attack from its territory. Tensions have risen following the killings of Iranian generals in a blast at the Iranian consulate in Syria, with Iran blaming Israel for the attack and vowing retaliation. Iran supports anti-Israeli militant groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, and its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has accused the West, especially the U.S. and Britain, of supporting Israel. Iran's Foreign Minister accused the U.S. of giving Israel the "green light" for the consulate strike.
Israel has threatened a direct attack on Iran if Iran uses its own territory to retaliate following tensions escalating from the killing of Iranian generals in a blast at the Iranian consulate in Syria. Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, condemned Israel and the West during an Eid al-Fitr speech, promising retaliation for the attack on the consulate. The threats and warnings from both sides have increased the likelihood of a direct confrontation, with Israel bolstering its defenses and Iran vowing to retaliate against Israel for the killings of its generals.
Iran's Foreign Minister accused the US of allowing Israel to strike its consulate in Syria, resulting in the death of seven Iranian military officials, including two generals. Iranian and Syrian officials discussed the incident during joint press conferences in Damascus. Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah paid tribute to a top Iranian general killed in the airstrike, highlighting the close ties between Hezbollah and Iran in the regional conflicts.
Iran's top military commander, Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, has renewed Iran's promise to retaliate after an Israeli airstrike destroyed Iran's consulate in Syria, killing 12 people, including two elite Iranian generals. The attack marks a significant escalation in the long-running conflict between Iran and Israel. Iranian officials have vowed to stage an operation to seek revenge, with Gen. Hossein Salami warning of retaliation against Israel. The airstrike has heightened tensions amidst the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza and raised fears of a broader regional conflict involving Iranian proxies like Hezbollah and the Houthis.
Iran promises a response following a suspected Israeli missile attack on its consulate in Damascus, killing seven people including top commanders Mohammad Reza Zahedi and Mohammad Hadi Hajriahimi of the IRGC's Quds Force. This attack marks the first targeting of the embassy compound itself by Israel, a country known for targeting Irans military installations and proxies in Syria. Iran's Ambassador to Syria mentioned that Tehrans response would be decisive, with Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian calling it a violation of international obligations and blaming Israel for the attack.
President Biden assured Israel of unwavering US support after fears of potential Iranian reprisals following an attack on Iranian officials in Syria. Iran's leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, vowed punishment, equating the attack on the consulate to an assault on Iran itself. The incident left 13 people dead, prompting heightened alerts for US and Israeli forces in the region. Biden's stance on Israel's security against Iranian threats remained firm, despite recent disagreements with Prime Minister Netanyahu over Gaza conflicts and war strategies.
An Israeli airstrike targeted Iran's consulate in Damascus, Syria, killing a senior Iranian military adviser and several others. The strike marks an escalation of Israel's ongoing targeting of Iranian military officials in Syria. Syrian state media reported the incident, while Israel made no comment. Iranian Ambassador condemned the attack and vowed revenge. Iran stated that the consulate building housed the ambassador's residence and was completely leveled by the strike. Israel has conducted numerous airstrikes in Syria recently, targeting Iran-allied militant groups like Hezbollah. Similar previous strikes have killed Iranian advisers in Syria.
Gunmen ambushed a police convoy in Iran's restive southeast, killing six policemen and wounding two. The attack was claimed by the Jaish al-Adl militant group, allegedly fighting for greater rights for the ethnic Baluch minority. This incident marks the second attack on security forces in as many weeks, indicating a worsening security situation in the region. Sistan and Baluchistan, bordering Afghanistan and Pakistan, has seen deadly clashes between militants, armed drug smugglers, and Iranian security forces.
Iranian protesters are seeking revenge against Israel following a missile strike that destroyed Iran's consulate in Syria's capital, resulting in the death of seven people, including two IRGC generals. Iranian Ambassador to Syria, Hossein Akbari, has vowed to respond with equal force to Israel's attack, stating that Iran will not let the actions go unanswered. Syria's Foreign Minister condemned the attack as unjustified, marking a notable heightening of tensions between Israel and Iran.
Israeli authorities are blocking GPS signals across Israel to disrupt incoming missiles and drones, following rising tensions with Iran after a strike on Iran's consulate in Syria. The Israel Defense Forces are on high alert, with soldiers serving in combat units having their leave halted. Iranian response is expected, possibly on Quds Day, leading to GPS disruptions in major cities like Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Iran has vowed to retaliate for the attack on its consulate, further escalating the conflict.
Airstrikes in Damascus, Syria, destroyed Iran's consulate, killing Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi and his deputy, Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi. Israel is believed to be behind the attack, which has been condemned as a violation of international law by Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad.
The Greater Middle East is a political term introduced in March 2004 in a paper published by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace as part of the U.S. administration's preparatory work for the Group of Eight summit of June 2004. The area denotes a vaguely defined region called the "Arab world" together with Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey with the speculation of including other Muslim-majority countries such as Indonesia, Bangladesh and the Central Asian countries of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. The paper presented a proposal for sweeping change in the way the West deals with the Middle East and North Africa.Adam Garfinkle of the Foreign Policy Research Institute defined the Greater Middle East as the MENA region together with the Caucasus and Central Asia.The future of the Greater Middle East has sometimes been referred to as the "new Middle East", first so by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who presented the second-term Bush administration's vision for the region's future in June 2006 in Dubai. Rice said would be achieved through "constructive chaos", a phrase she repeated a few weeks later during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert when the 2006 Lebanon War had broken out; the meaning of this phrase and the Bush administration's vision have been much debated since. The efforts to achieve this new Middle East are sometimes called "The Great Middle East Project".Former U.S. National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski stated that a "political awakening" is taking place in this region which may be an indicator of the multipolar world that is now developing. He alluded to the Greater Middle East as the "Global Balkans", and as a control lever on an area he refers to as Eurasia. According to Andrew Bacevich's book America's War for the Greater Middle East (2016), this region is the theater for a series of conflicts dating back to 1980, which heralded the start of the Iran–Iraq War.
Despite Israel's claims of a record number of aid trucks entering Gaza, UN and aid officials report little change on the ground as access to aid remains complicated and insufficient, with the majority of the population at risk of famine. Promised measures such as reopening crossings and coordinating with aid workers have yet to show significant results. The urgency for aid delivery is emphasized by the dire situation in Gaza, where over 33,500 people have been killed and 76,000 injured, with a majority of casualties being women and children.
At a rally in Dearborn, Michigan, activists chanted 'Death to America' and 'Death to Israel' during Al Quds Day, denouncing Israel. Video from the Middle East Media Research Institute shows speakers criticizing US support for Israel and calling for the end of the Jewish nation. Dearborn has seen a rise in anti-Israel sentiment, with efforts to vote uncommitted in protest of Biden's support for Israel. The city was labeled 'America's jihad capital' due to celebrations of Hamas attacks. Mayor Abdullah Hammoud increased police presence in response to anti-Muslim sentiment following the labeling by a Wall Street Journal columnist.
An armed conflict between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups has been taking place chiefly in and around the Gaza Strip since 7 October 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on southern Israel from the Gaza Strip. After clearing Hamas militants from its territory, the Israeli military embarked on an extensive aerial bombardment of the Gaza Strip followed by a large-scale ground invasion beginning on 27 October. Clashes have also occurred in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and with Hezbollah along the Israel–Lebanon border. The hostilities constitute the fifth war of the Gaza–Israel conflict since 2008 and are part of the broader Israeli–Palestinian conflict. They are considered to be the most significant military escalation in the region since the Yom Kippur War 50 years earlier.The Hamas offensive involved 3,000 militants breaching the Gaza–Israel barrier and attacking Israeli communities and military bases. During this attack, 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals were killed, while 253 Israelis and foreigners were taken captive to the Gaza Strip. The attack was proclaimed as a response to the continued Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements, the prospect of Arab–Israeli normalization, and the plight of Palestinian refugees and prisoners. In response, Israel declared a state of war, tightened its existing blockade of Gaza and launched one of the most severe bombing campaigns in history, before commencing the ground invasion on 27 October. Israeli forces laid siege to Gaza City on 2 November and moved south to attack Khan Yunis a month later on 3 December; both sieges remain ongoing. Israel's next objective is the capture of Rafah. An estimated 6,000-12,000 militants have been killed during the conflict, and Israel has lost over 200 soldiers during its invasion. A United Nations resolution calling for a humanitarian pause passed on 15 November; the seven-day truce took effect at the end of that month.A humanitarian crisis has developed in the Gaza Strip, with healthcare in a state of collapse, shortages of food, clean water, medicine and fuel due to the blockade, electricity and communications blackouts, and potential famine conditions. More than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza during the conflict, including over 12,300 children and 8,400 women. Nearly all of Gaza's 2.3 million population have been internally displaced. The widespread civilian deaths have led to accusations of war crimes against both Israel and Hamas. In February 2024 576,000 people were "facing catastrophic levels of deprivation and starvation", stated The United Nations. More than 100 Palestinians were killed by Israeli troops that opened fire when huge crowds raced to pull goods off an aid convoy.The war has had significant international repercussions. Popular protests that primarily call for a ceasefire have occurred across the world. Israel's actions have been denounced by the Islamic world and much of the Global South; South Africa launched an International Court of Justice case alleging that Israel committed genocide. Israel has however received significant support from its traditional Western allies, especially the United States, which vetoed multiple UN Security Council resolutions calling for an immediate ceasefire. In response, Iran-backed militias have attacked American military bases in the Middle East, while the Yemeni Houthi movement attacked commercial ships they alleged were linked to Israel, incurring a military response from a number of countries.
Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has raised concerns about an alliance of authoritarian powers comprising Russia, Iran, China, and North Korea aligning against Western democracies. Stoltenberg emphasized the need for Nato allies to reach a long-term funding agreement for Ukraine by July, while also urging increased support for Israel to protect civilians and aid workers in the Middle East conflict. He highlighted the growing alignment between these authoritarian powers and the strategic support they provide each other, calling for collective action with countries like Japan and South Korea to counter this alliance.
Iran has several research sites, two uranium mines, a research reactor, and uranium processing facilities that include three known uranium enrichment plants.Commencing in the 1950s with support from the United States (under the Atoms for Peace program), Iran's nuclear program was initially geared toward peaceful scientific exploration. In 1970, Iran ratified the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), subjecting its nuclear activities to IAEA inspections. After the 1979 Iranian Revolution, cooperation ceased and Iran pursued its nuclear program clandestinely.An investigation by the IAEA was launched as declarations by the National Council of Resistance of Iran in 2002 revealed undeclared Iranian nuclear activities. In 2006, Iran's noncompliance with its NPT obligations moved the United Nations Security Council to demand Iran suspend its programs.In 2007, the United States National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) stated Iran halted an alleged active nuclear weapons program in 2003. In November 2011, the IAEA reported credible evidence that Iran had been conducting experiments aimed at designing a nuclear bomb, and that research may have continued on a smaller scale after that time. On 1 May 2018 the IAEA reiterated its 2015 report, saying it had found no credible evidence of nuclear weapons activity after 2009.Operational since September 2011, the Bushehr I reactor marked Iran's entry into nuclear power with Russia's assistance. This became an important milestone for Rosatom to become the largest player in the world nuclear power market. Anticipated to reach full capacity by the end of 2012, Iran had also begun constructing a new 300 MW Darkhovin Nuclear Power Plant and expressed plans for additional medium-sized nuclear power plants and uranium mines in the future.Despite the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) aimed at addressing Iran's nuclear concerns, the U.S. withdrawal in 2018 prompted renewed sanctions, impacting diplomatic relations. The IAEA certified Iran's compliance up until 2019, but subsequent breaches strained the agreement. In a 2020 IAEA report, Iran was said to have breached the JCPOA and faced criticism from signatories.In 2021, Iran faced scrutiny regarding its assertion that the nuclear program was exclusively for peaceful purposes, especially with references to growth in satellites, missiles, and nuclear weapons.In April 2022, Atomic Energy Organization of Iran head Mohammad Eslami announced a strategic plan for 10 GWe of nuclear electricity generation.In October 2023, an IAEA report estimated Iran has increased its uranium stockpile twenty-two times over the 2015 agreed JCPOA limit.
Niger's military government agreed to increase military cooperation with Russia after expelling French forces. Russian military instructors and equipment, including an air defence system, have arrived in Niamey. Russia aims to ensure control of Niger's airspace. Niger turned to Russia following a coup and revoked its military accord with the United States. Russian President Putin discussed global strategic cooperation with Niger's military leader in March.
This is a list of modern conflicts in the Middle East ensuing in the geographic and political region known as the Middle East. The "Middle East" is traditionally defined as the Fertile Crescent (Mesopotamia), Levant, and Egypt and neighboring areas of Arabia, Anatolia and Iran. It currently encompasses the area from Egypt, Turkey and Cyprus in the west to Iran and the Persian Gulf in the east, and from Turkey and Iran in the north, to Yemen and Oman in the south.Conflicts are separate incidents with at least 100 casualties, and are listed by total deaths, including sub-conflicts.The term "modern" refers to the First World War and later period, in other words, since 1914.
House Speaker Mike Johnson is in talks with the White House to secure funding for Ukraine and Israel, diverging from the Senate's $95 billion foreign security package to include Republican demands. Johnson faces challenges within a divided Republican conference on supporting Ukraine, with President Biden criticizing those unwilling to help Kiev while Donald Trump leans towards a more isolationist approach. Johnson seeks agreement within his party and White House to move forward, consulting with Trump and seeking support ahead of a crucial political decision.
Progressive critics of Joe Biden's Israel policy plan to shift their pressure campaign from the ballot box to the Democratic Party platform at the upcoming nominating convention in Chicago. Issues targeted include filibuster reform, declaring a national climate emergency, and ending private election funding. The Gaza conflict and future U.S. military aid to Israel are expected to spark heated debate at the Aug 19-22 convention. Activists are prepared for potential disagreements but aim to resolve them beforehand.
The US and UK will restrict the trade of new Russian-origin metals like aluminum, copper, and nickel on global metal exchanges and derivatives trading to reduce Russia's revenues from metals due to its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF; Hebrew: צְבָא הַהֲגָנָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל , lit. 'The Army for the Defense of Israel'), alternatively referred to by the Hebrew-language acronym Tzahal (צה״ל), is the national military of the State of Israel. It consists of three service branches: the Israeli Ground Forces, the Israeli Air Force, and the Israeli Navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security apparatus. The IDF is headed by the Chief of the General Staff, who is subordinate to the Israeli Defense Minister.On the orders of David Ben-Gurion, the IDF was formed on 26 May 1948 and began to operate as a conscript military, drawing its initial recruits from the already-existing paramilitaries of the Yishuv—namely Haganah, the Irgun, and Lehi. It was formed shortly after the Israeli Declaration of Independence, and has participated in every armed conflict involving Israel. In the wake of the 1979 Egypt–Israel peace treaty and the 1994 Israel–Jordan peace treaty, the IDF underwent a significant strategic realignment. Previously spread across various fronts—Lebanon and Syria in the north, Jordan and Iraq in the east, and Egypt in the south—the IDF redirected its focus towards southern Lebanon and its occupation of the Palestinian territories, the Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. In 2000, the IDF withdrew from Southern Lebanon and in 2005 from Gaza. Conflict between Israel and Islamist groups based in Gaza, notably Hamas, has continued since then. Moreover, notable Israeli–Syrian border incidents have occurred frequently since 2011, due to regional instability caused by the Syrian civil war.Since 1967, the IDF maintains a close security relationship with the United States, including in research and development cooperation, with joint efforts on the F-15I, the Tactical High-Energy Laser, and the Arrow defense systen, among others. The IDF is believed to have maintained an operational nuclear weapons capability since 1967, possibly possessing between 80 and 400 nuclear warheads.
The Syrian civil war (Arabic: ٱلْحَرْبُ ٱلْأَهْلِيَّةُ ٱلسُّورِيَّةُ, romanized: al-ḥarb al-ʾahlīyah al-sūrīyah) is an ongoing multi-sided conflict in Syria involving various state-sponsored and non-state actors.In March 2011, popular discontent with the rule of Bashar al-Assad triggered large-scale protests and pro-democracy rallies across Syria, as part of the wider Arab Spring protests in the region. After months of crackdown by governments security apparatus, various armed rebel groups such as the Free Syrian Army began forming across the country, marking the beginning of the Syrian insurgency. By mid-2012, the crisis had escalated into a full-blown civil war.Receiving arms from NATO and GCC states, rebel forces initially made significant advances against the government forces, who were receiving arms from Iran and Russia. Rebels captured the regional capitals of Raqqa in 2013 and Idlib in 2015. Consequently, in September 2015, Russia launched a military intervention in support of the government, shifting the balance of the conflict. By late 2018, all rebel strongholds, except parts of Idlib region, had fallen to the government forces.In 2014, the Islamic State group seized control of large parts of Eastern Syria and Western Iraq, prompting the U.S.-led CJTF coalition to launch aerial bombing campaign against it, while providing ground support to the Kurdish-majority Syrian Democratic Forces. Culminating in the Battle of Raqqa, the Islamic State was territorially defeated by late 2017. In August 2016, Turkey launched a multi-pronged invasion of northern Syria, in response to the creation of Rojava, while also fighting Islamic State and government forces in the process. Since the March 2020 Idlib ceasefire, the frontline fighting during the conflict has mostly subsided, and has been characterized by regular skirmishes.
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