Same values, a lot to do together, said Israeli envoy says of Trump admin

Danny Danon, the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, prior to attending President Donald Trump’s inauguration “We are very excited today ... He’s a friend of Israel.” The members of the Trump administration with whom Danon met told him that “we are here to support Israel. Be strong.” Danon thinks that the new White House will focus largely on domestic issues in its opening days and weeks. But he believes that Trump understands what’s happening in Israel’s neighborhood and will be responsive (Read more at JNS).

Israel ambassador expects Trump to reverse hold on 2,000-pound bombs

President Biden's decision to halt the delivery of one shipment of 2,000-pound bombs last May triggered one of the biggest crises the U.S-Israel relationship has faced during the 15-month war in Gaza. Israel expects President Trump to lift the Biden administration's hold on the supply of 2,000-pound bombs in his first days in office, outgoing Israeli ambassador to the U.S. Mike Herzog said (Read more at Axios).

US partially lifts arms embargo on Israel

As part of ceasefire agreement, the U.S. began to partially lift the arms embargo it had imposed on Israel; As part of this, 70 D9 bulldozers will leave the United States for Israel in the coming days. These heavy engineering tools play a critical role on the battlefield, as they can open traffic routes, pave roads for the fighting forces, and expose explosives (Read more at JFeed).

Trump's Middle East envoy is considering a visit to the Gaza Strip

Steve Witkoff, Trump’s envoy to the Middle East, plans to be a near-constant presence in the region in an attempt to prevent the deal from unraveling. For now, a top concern for Trump’s envoy is a rogue incident sparked by inevitable day-to-day interfacing between Israelis and Palestinians on the ground in and near Gaza, even given the ceasefire agreement (Read more at NBCNews).

US Pledges $117M in Aid to Lebanon Military

The State Department said in a statement that it had convened a “virtual donors meeting” on Thursday “with partners and allies to discuss critical security assistance needed for Lebanon to fully implement the cessation of hostilities.” It said the new assistance to Beirut would support both the country’s armed forces and internal security forces “as they work to assert Lebanese sovereignty across the country.” Lebanon has struggled for years to finance its public institutions including the army following a 2019 economic crisis (Read more at Defense Post).

Hamas will never govern Gaza: Trump’s national security adviser

He also added that if Hamas rejects the Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal, the United States will support Israel "in what it has to do." (Read more at RBC-Ukraine)

Lindsey Graham wants military action against Iran’s nuclear program

He said, “There’s a one in trillion chance you’ll degrade the Iranian nuclear program through diplomacy...There’s a 90% chance you’ll degrade it through military action by Israel, supported by the United States. So the next topic I will be engaging in with President Trump is to take this moment in time to decimate the Iran nuclear program because they’re so exposed.” (Read more at Politico)

Rashida Tlaib joins Palestinian Americans celebrating Gaza ceasefire online

Palestinian Americans across the United States, including Rep. Rashida Tlaib, celebrated a ceasefire between Hamas and Israeli fighters in Gaza that went into effect Sunday. Tlaib, the only Palestinian American serving in the U.S. Congress, made a post on Sunday condemning the "genocide" in Gaza and noting that she voted against banning TikTok, a platform where users had shared strong support for Palestinians that went dark Sunday (Read more at Yahoo News).

Netanyahu: Israel has full Trump, Biden backing to resume war

Both President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump have given Israel full backing to resume the war in Gaza if Israel concludes that talks with Hamas on the second phase of the ceasefire agreement prove “futile,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday night. “As soon as he was elected, President Trump joined the mission of freeing the hostages. He talked to me on Wednesday night. He praised the agreement and rightly emphasized that the first step of the agreement is a temporary ceasefire. This is what he said—‘a temporary ceasefire,’” the prime minister continued (Read more at JNS).

Austin Tice’s mother, in Damascus, hopes to find son

The mother of American journalist Austin Tice, who was taken captive during a reporting trip to Syria in August 2012, arrived in Damascus on Saturday to step up the search for her son and said she hopes she can take him home with her (Read more at Arabnews).

Journalists berate Blinken over Gaza policy at his final press conference

Several journalists who are outspoken critics of American support for Israel loudly lambasted US Secretary of State Antony Blinken over the war in Gaza on Jan 16, repeatedly interrupting his final press conference as he sought to defend his handling of the 15-month-old conflict (Read more at Strait Times).

US settles anti-Muslim, anti-Palestinian bias complaint against Emory University

The U.S. Education Department on Thursday noted concerns about discrimination against Muslim, Arab and Palestinian students at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia and reached a settlement with the institution to resolve the issue. The university agreed to revise its nondiscrimination policies and procedures, including pertaining to protests and a definition of harassment that includes harassment based on actual or perceived shared ancestry (Read more at AOL).

Biden Says Netanyahu to Accommodate Palestinians Legitimate Concerns

Mr. Biden spoke with the MSNBC host Lawrence O’Donnell in his last television interview while in office and said, in the days after the war in Gaza began, He pushed Netanyahu to prevent civilian deaths during the Gaza war. He also defended his steadfast support for Israel (Read more at New York Times).

Another potential Trump nominee wants US out of Middle East

President-elect eyes Joe Kent, a right-wing former congressional candidate, to head the country's top counterterror agency. Kent has been publicly vocal about his views on foreign policy regarding the Middle East and has called on the US to withdraw its forces from the region. "We've gotta get serious, and we've gotta just get our troops out of there," Kent said in a podcast in response to a question about an attack on US forces at a base in Jordan (Read more at Middle East Eye).

‘Bye Genocide Joe’: Social media reflects on Biden’s legacy on Gaza

Biden’s last day as president, on 19 January, is also the first day of the planned Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal that was reportedly pushed to the finish line by the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump. This has raised more significant criticism of Biden’s role in Israel’s bombing campaign on Gaza, with the US providing $17.9bn in military aid since 7 October 2023 (Read more at Middle East Eye).

U.S. issues sanctions on Sudanese army chief Burhan

Washington announced the measures just a week after imposing sanctions on Burhan’s rival in the two-year-old civil war, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Two sources with knowledge of the action told Reuters one aim of Thursday’s sanctions was to show that Washington was not picking sides. Speaking earlier on Thursday, Burhan was defiant about the prospect that he might be targeted. Washington also issued sanctions over the supply of weapons to the army, targeting a Sudanese-Ukrainian national as well as a Hong Kong-based company (Read more at NBCNews).

US says Gaza ceasefire to start as planned despite loose end

The Gaza Strip ceasefire should begin on Sunday (Jan 19) as planned, despite the need for negotiators to tie up a "loose end" at the last minute, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said (Read more at CNA).

‘Not going to second guess Bibi’s support for deal,’ Lindsey Graham says

The South Carolina Republican added that “Israel has the right under this deal, as I understand it, to go back in if they need to.” “There’s no such thing as a perfect deal,” Graham said (Read more at JNS).

Former CIA employee pleads guilty to leaking files on Israel’s Iran strikes

He has pleaded guilty to leaking secret documents about Israel’s plans to strike Iran last year during a period of escalating regional tensions linked to Israel’s war on Gaza and Lebanon. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 15 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison (Read more at Aljazeera).

US Treasury Increases Financial Pressure on the Houthis

The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is sanctioning Yemen-based Yemen Kuwait Bank for Trade and Investment Y.S.C (Yemen Kuwait Bank) for its financial support to Ansarallah, commonly known as the Houthis. The designation builds on previous Treasury sanctions that have targeted Houthi-affiliated exchange houses and international finance networks (Read more at U.S. Department of the Treasury).

Musk played no part in release of journalist held in Iran, Italy says

Sala, 29, a freelance reporter for Il Foglio newspaper and a podcaster at Chora News, returned to Italy last week after being released by Iran following her arrest in Tehran on December 19 (Read more at ANSA).

U.S. Pushed to Keep Lebanese Militant in French Prison After 40 Years

The U.S. Department of Justice vigorously opposed at a French court hearing in December the release of a Lebanese militant jailed for attacks on American and Israeli diplomats in France more than 40 years ago, according to a letter seen by Reuters. The former head of the Lebanese Armed Revolutionary Brigade (LARB), Georges Ibrahim Abdallah was sentenced to life in 1987 for his role in the 1982 murders in Paris of U.S. military attache Charles Ray and Israeli diplomat Yacov Barsimantov, and the attempted murder of U.S. Consul General Robert Homme in Strasbourg in 1984 (Read more at USNews).

The PA's race to prove itself to Trump as rivals line up

There has been much shock and awe among many Arabs in recent weeks at the brutal repressive campaign dubbed "The Protection of the Homeland" that the Palestinian Authority (PA) has launched against Palestinian resisters to the Israeli occupation in the West Bank. The campaign's ultimate failure led the Israelis to intervene again this week by bombing the Jenin refugee camp, killing around 12 Palestinians (Read more at Middle East Eye).

Biden-Trump Teamwork Advanced Gaza Ceasefire, US Ambassador to Israel

In the wake of November’s election, the Trump and Biden teams began working together. “I think a lot of progress has been made. The fact that you have an outgoing and an incoming administration that have worked hand in hand to make the case for urgency, I think, has been noticed by all parties,” the ambassador said (Read more at The Hill).

Turkish Cyprus slams Greek ‘warmongering’ after US arms decree

Days before he handed over his duty to Donald Trump, U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday issued a directive to boost his country's aid to Greek Cypriots by issuing a memorandum that makes the southern side eligible to receive American defense articles, military sales and training (Read more at Daily Sabah).

Biden says Gaza deal based on his framework while Trump claims credit

Trump had dispatched his Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, to join the negotiations in Doha, and Witkoff was there for the last 96 hours of talks leading up to the deal. A senior Biden administration official, in a briefing with reporters, credited Witkoff with helping deliver the deal, working alongside Biden's envoy, Brett McGurk, who has been in Doha since 5 Jan (Read more at Business Standard).

Trump Administration Will Be Obliged to Probe of Israeli Actions in Gaza

Joe Biden will hand over to Trump. U.S. State Department officials have identified hundreds of potential incidents of civilian harm during Israel's military operations in Gaza involving U.S.-furnished weapons, but have not taken further action on them. the State Department spokesperson said, "But I can tell you that the obligation that the State Department has to investigate potential violations of international humanitarian law through the use of U.S. weapons are not obligations that expire on Jan. 20th. They are obligations that carry over from this administration into the next administration." (Read more at USNews)

US Reaction to Gaza Ceasefire Deal

Chuck Schumer: “It couldn’t have happened without steadfast diplomacy and until the potency of Hamas was radically reduced.” John Barrasso: “I think that the world is seeing Donald Trump coming into power in the United States, and we're seeing changes around the world to reflect a new strength in America." Hakeem Jeffries: “This long-overdue agreement will secure the release of many of those hostages, set the stage for others to come home.” Bernie Sanders: “Both sides must honor the deal and implement it as quickly as possible… The United Nations and other aid organizations must finally be allowed unfettered access to all areas of the Gaza.” Claudia Tenney: "After Biden's repeated failure to free the Israeli & American hostages being held by Hamas, President Trump has already negotiated a deal to release the hostages, & he hasn't even been sworn in yet. The world is a safer place with President Trump as America's Leader." (Read more at USNews)

Biden hails ceasefire; says American hostages to be freed in initial phase

Biden said. “I’ve worked on foreign policy for decades. This was one of the toughest negotiations I’ve ever experienced. We reached this point because to the pressure Israel built on Hamas, backed by the United States.” (Read more at The Hill)

Trump says he'll use Gaza deal momentum to expand Israel's regional ties

Trump, who repeatedly threatened there would be "hell to pay" if hostages were not released ahead of his Jan. 20 inauguration, said he was "thrilled American and Israeli hostages will be returning home". "With this deal in place, my National Security team, through the efforts of Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, will continue to work closely with Israel and our Allies to make sure Gaza NEVER again becomes a terrorist safe haven," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform (Read more at AOL).

Iran 'never' plotted to kill Trump during campaign

Asked whether Iran is willing to promise that there will be no attempt on Trump’s life, Pezeshkian said, “We have never attempted this to begin with, and we never will.” (Read more at NBC News).

Engineer could flee to Iran to avoid drone strike trial, US says

U.S. prosecutors argued on Tuesday that an engineer could flee to Iran if he was granted bail while awaiting trial on charges related to a deadly drone attack on a U.S. military base in Jordan carried out last year by Iran-backed militants (Read more at MSN).

Gantz Tells Faith Leaders at Mar-a-Lago: Trump Will Choose the Good

Member of the Knesset Benny Gantz, the former Israeli military chief of staff, and former defense minister praised President-elect Trump’s strategic approach to global challenges, expressing confidence in his leadership. “Now, President Trump has a very full metastrategic plate … but I know he will succeed. Why? Because he naturally differs between what’s good and what’s bad and he will choose the good.” (Read more at Media Line)

Blinken lays out post-war Gaza plan to be handed to Trump team

Speaking at the Atlantic Council in Washington in his final days as the U.S. top diplomat, Blinken said Washington envisioned a reformed Palestinian Authority leading Gaza and inviting international partners to help establish and run an interim administration for the enclave. A security force would be formed from forces from partner nations and vetted Palestinian personnel (Read more at AOL).

Israel faces 'generational' challenge with future US policymakers

Outgoing ambassador to Israel, Jack Lew says US public's pro-Israel views could change in coming years, with Israel facing a 'generational' problem. American public opinion “is still largely pro-Israel” but that could shift in the next decades as a result of the war in Gaza (Read more at Middle East Eye).

US says Hamas replaced all killed fighters with new recruits

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says Israel 'must accept' Gaza Strip and West Bank united under Palestinian Authority. Blinken’s remarks provide a rare window into US intelligence assessments of Hamas’s strength, which is likely to ruffle Israel’s positioning after a potential ceasefire, given its stated objective of “total victory and the eradication of Hamas” (Read more at Middle East Eye).

Presidents of Egypt, US urge 'flexibility' to finalize Gaza cease-fire deal

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and US President Joe Biden emphasized Tuesday the importance of overcoming obstacles and showing flexibility to secure a cease-fire agreement in Gaza. The remarks were made during a phone call between the two leaders (Read more at Anadolu Ajansı).

Head of hostage NGO believes US journalist Tice still in Syria

The head of an American organisation focused on hostage releases said on Monday he believes U.S. journalist Austin Tice was still being held in Syria by people loyal to toppled leader Bashar al-Assad in order to do an exchange or a deal (Read more at Reuters).

Sullivan Says There Could be a Gaza Deal This Week

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said there’s a “distinct possibility” that Israel and Hamas will be able to reach a ceasefire deal before President Joe Biden leaves office in a week. “The pressure is building for Hamas to come to yes,” (Watch more at Bloomberg).

Biden calls for immediate ceasefire in call with Netanyahu

Netanyahu updated Biden on progress in the talks and on the mandate he has given his top-level security delegation now in Doha in order to advance a hostage deal. During their call, Netanyahu also thanked Biden for his lifelong support of Israel and "the extraordinary support from the United States for Israel’s security and national defense" (Read more at Reuters).

Trump's Ukraine envoy says world must reinstate 'maximum pressure' on Iran

The world must return to a policy of "maximum pressure" against Iran to turn it into a more democratic country, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's incoming Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg told an Iranian opposition event in Paris on Saturday (Read more at MSN).

Sister of Israeli captive in Iraq hopeful Trump will help free her

“We are very hopeful that the incoming [U.S.] administration will put an end to the lack of accountability and lawlessness that the Iraqi government is allowed to get away with,” Emma Tsurkov told JNS on Saturday. Emma’s sister Elizabeth Tsurkov, a Princeton University researcher, has been held captive in Iraq by Shi’ite militia Kata’ib Hezbollah since 2023 (Read more at JNS).

US and France could secure Syria's border to mitigate the conflict with Turkey

A senior Syrian Kurdish official indicated that talks are underway on the possibility of US and French troops securing a border area in northern Syria. Ankara has warned it will carry out a cross-border offensive in northeast Syria against the Kurdish YPG militia if the group does not comply with Turkish demands (Read more at Atalayar).

Iran holding war games as it faces Israel tensions, Trump's return

The war games take place as Iranian leaders face the risk that Trump could empower Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to attack Iran's nuclear sites, while further tightening U.S. sanctions on its oil industry through his "maximum pressure" policy (Read more at Reuters).

Netanyahu hosts Trump envoy on Gaza hostage talks

He met with President-elect Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, in what was described as a “surprise visit” to discuss the multilateral negotiations with Hamas for the release of Israeli hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza. Channel 12 cited a “senior Israeli” saying that Trump has been personally involved in the matter over the last couple of days, expressing his desire to urgently cement a deal before he enters office on Jan. 20 (Read more at JNS).

Turkey sidelines France in favour of US partnership in northeast Syria

Turkey's chief diplomat has ruled out French military support in Syria after accusing France of ignoring Ankara’s security needs, saying it preferred partnering with the United States to diffuse Kurdish tensions in the country’s northeast (Read more at France 24).

US, Arab mediators make some progress in Gaza talks, no deal yet

But it is not enough to seal a deal.  "We're making some real progress," Biden told reporters at the White House. "I'm still hopeful that we'll be able to have a prisoner exchange," he said, adding Hamas was getting in the way of that. The president said he met with negotiators. a Palestinian official close to the mediation effort said the absence of a deal so far did not mean the talks were going nowhere and this was the most serious attempt so far. However, Israel still insists on keeping a 1 km landscape along the eastern and northern borders of the Gaza Strip, which will restrict the return of residents to their homes and represent a retreat from what it (Israel) had agreed upon in July (Read more at Reuters).

Japanese mafia leader caught in U.S. pleads guilty to traffic nuclear materials to Iran

Yakuza leader Takeshi Ebisawa and a co-defendant had previously been charged in April 2022 with drug trafficking and firearms offences, and both were remanded. The military weaponry to be part of the arms deal included surface-to-air missiles (Read more at Guardian).

Italy says no US extradition request for detained Iranian businessman so far

Abedini is wanted by the United States on suspicion of involvement in a drone strike against U.S. forces in Jordan. Iran has denied involvement and said last week the detention of the Iranian national amounted to hostage-taking (Read more at DeccanHerald).

Turkey to tell U.S. that Syria needs to be rid of terrorists

Turkish officials will tell U.S. Under Secretary of State John Bass during talks in Ankara this week that Syria needs to be rid of terrorist groups to achieve stability and security. The YPG spearheads the U.S.-allied Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which played an important role in defeating Islamic State in Syria (Read more at Reuters).

US House votes to advance bill to sanction ICC over Israel arrest warrants

Legislators in the lower chamber of the US Congress passed the “Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act” by an overwhelming margin, 243 to 140, on Thursday in a signal of strong support for Israel. 45 Democrats joined 198 Republicans in backing the bill. No Republicans voted against it. The legislation proposes sanctions for any foreigner who helps the ICC in its attempts to investigate, detain or prosecute a US citizen or citizen of an allied country that does not recognise the authority of the court. The bill now heads to the Senate, where a Republican majority was sworn in earlier this month (Read more at Aljazeera).

Trump's terror chief urges UK to bring its Islamic State members back from Syria

Sebastian Gorka, the president-elect's deputy assistant on national security, suggested the UK-US relationship had been weakened. It signals the incoming Trump administration aims to apply greater pressure on its allies. "Any nation which wishes to be seen as a serious ally and friend of the most powerful nation in the world should act in a fashion that reflects that serious commitment," he said. Around 70 Britons are thought to be held by US-backed Kurdish-led forces in detention camps - including 20 women and up to 40 children (Read more at Middle East Eye).

Quaker group halts New York Times ads over ‘Gaza genocide’

A prominent American Quaker organisation has cancelled its advertising with the New York Times (NYT) after the newspaper refused to allow an advertisement referring to Israel’s aggression in Gaza as genocide (Read more at Middle East Monitor).

US shifts some military aid from Israel and Egypt to Lebanon

In separate notices sent to Congress, the State Department said it was moving $95 million in military assistance intended for Egypt and $7.5 million for Israel toward supporting the Lebanese army and its government (Read more at AP).

After US Exemption, UN Says More Significant Syria Sanctions Work Needed

"I welcome the recent issuance of a new temporary General License by the United States government. But much more significant work in fully addressing sanctions and designations will inevitably be necessary," the U.N. special envoy on Syria, Geir Pedersen told the Security Council (Read more at USNews).

US Settles With Johns Hopkins Over Alleged Discrimination Against Arabs, Jews

The university has agreed to review its anti-harassment policies and to provide training to staff and students on addressing discrimination and harassment based on ancestry and ethnicity. The Education Department's Office for Civil Rights said Johns Hopkins University received 99 complaints of harassment based on shared ancestry from October 2023 through May 2024 (Read more at USNews).

Morocco become the first Arab nation to acquire US-made F-35

The U.S. Department of Defense is expected to finalize an agreement for the delivery of 32 F-35 Lightning IIs, at an estimated cost exceeding $17 billion over 45 years, covering both procurement and maintenance. If confirmed, this acquisition would expand the Royal Moroccan Air Force’s inventory, which is currently centered on fourth-generation F-16 aircraft (Read more at Army Recognition).

Trump announces $20B US investment by Emirati businessman

Emirati billionaire Hussain Sajwani promised a $20 billion investment in the booming U.S. data center industry in the coming years, he and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump announced on Tuesday at Trump's home in Palm Beach, Florida. The investment by DAMAC Properties in the United Arab Emirates is intended to highlight Trump’s personal ability to attract new money for big projects (Read more at AP).

Trump Middle East envoy: ‘good things’ on Gaza hostages before inauguration

“Well, I think we’re making a lot of progress, and I don’t want to say too much because I think they’re doing a really good job back in Doha,” Witkoff said at a Trump press conference in Palm Beach, Florida (Read more at Arabnews).

Hamas Wants an End to Gaza War Under Hostage Deal, as Trump Deadline Nears

Hamas says it will free its remaining hostages only if Israel agrees to end the war and withdraw all its troops from Gaza. Israel says it will not end the war until Hamas is dismantled and all hostages are free (Read more at Arabnews).

UAE in Talks With US, Israel About Provisional Government for Post-War Gaza

The United Arab Emirates has discussed with Israel and the United States participating in a provisional administration of post-war Gaza until a reformed Palestinian Authority is able to take charge (Read more at USNews).

US dramatically shrinks Guantanamo prisoner population to 15 men

U.S. President Joe Biden's administration slashed the prisoner population at Guantanamo Bay detention center in Cuba by nearly half on Monday, sending 11 detainees to Oman (Read more at AOL).

US allows transactions with governing institutions in Syria despite sanctions

it is issued for six months after the end of Bashar al-Assad's rule in an effort to ease the flow of humanitarian assistance. The exemption, known as a general license, also allows some energy transactions and personal remittances to Syria until July 7. The action did not remove any sanctions (Read more at Reuters).

US dangles Saudi Arabia's cash to push candidate for Lebanon's presidency

In Riyadh meeting, US and Saudi Arabia agreed they had 'once in thirty-year opportunity' to sideline Hezbollah with election of new president. The US has told Lebanese officials that Saudi Arabia is prepared to deploy hundreds of millions of dollars to reconstruct their war-torn country if Lebanese army commander Joseph Aoun is elected president (Read more at Middle East Eye).

US Says Anti-ISIS Operation in Iraq Kills Coalition Soldier

It led to the death of a non-U.S. coalition soldier and wounded two other non-U.S. personnel. U.S. officials have said Islamic State is hoping to stage a comeback in Syria following the fall in December of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (Read more at Reuters).

US envoy says Israeli army will withdraw completely from south Lebanon

Hochstein’s statement on Monday came as Israel was withdrawing its forces from Naqoura in the western sector of the border, with the Lebanese army deploying in the area. However, the US official did not specify a timetable for the Israeli withdrawal (Read more at Aljazeera).

Blinken Calls for Push to Get Gaza Truce Deal Over 'Finish Line'

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on Monday for a final push for a Gaza ceasefire before President Joe Biden leaves office, after a Hamas official told Reuters the group had cleared a list of 34 hostages as first to go free under a truce (Read more at Globe and Mail).

Palestinian Authority requests $680m in security assistance from US

The Palestinian Authority (PA) asked the United States to approve a four-year $680m plan to boost the training of its special forces and bolster its supply of ammunition and armoured vehicles. The US delegation expressed satisfaction with the campaign in Jenin and pledged to deliver armoured vehicles and ammunition (Read more at Middle East Eye).

U.S. raises concerns about attacks on minorities with new Syrian government

Armed clashes between militants affiliated with the Assad regime and policemen affiliated with the new administration took place last week in the city of Tartus. Fourteen policemen and several militants were killed, according to the Syrian Interior Ministry (Read more at Axios).

Houthis vow to defend after US strikes in Yemen

Huthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam called the strikes "an American aggression" and "a blatant violation of the sovereignty of an independent state and a blatant support for Israel." (Read more at Tribune)

US has spent $22B supporting Israel’s military since October 2023

The US supplied 78% of Israel's arms from 2019 to 2023, with deliveries totaling 50,000 tons of weapons by August 2024 (Read more at Anadolu Agency).

US releases one of longest-held Guantánamo Bay detainees to Tunisia

Ridah Bin Saleh al-Yazidi was transferred to his home country after being held without charge since the detention facility opened in January 2002. The 59-year-old appeared in one of the detention centre’s most iconic photographs, showing detainees kneeling in the open-air compound of Camp X-Ray (Read more at Guardian).

US hopes Syria elections will come as soon as possible

Official tells The National Washington wants to see new Syria rebuilt 'in spirit' of UN Security Council Resolution 2254 and Syria's elections “should be free and fair, and carried out in a transparent and inclusive manner”. The response comes after Mr Al Shara stoked concerns at the weekend when he told Al Arabiya that Syria would not hold elections for another four years, and that it may not ratify a constitution for three years (Read more at The National).

Herzog hails Carter for ‘historic’ 1979 Israel-Egypt peace treaty

“In recent years I had the pleasure of calling him and thanking him for his historic efforts to bring together two great leaders, [Menachem] Begin and [Anwar] Sadat, and forging a peace between Israel and Egypt that remains an anchor of stability throughout the Middle East and North Africa many decades later,” wrote Herzog on X (Read more at JNS).

El-Sisi expresses condolences to US over passing of former president Carter

“In this moment of sorrow, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the family of former American president Jimmy Carter, as well as to the president and the people of the United States of America,” El-Sisi wrote on his social media accounts (Read more at Al Ahram).

NYT ‘investigates’ genocide, uncovers nothing but ‘loosened standards’

According to the US paper of record, Israel never intended to ‘erase the Gaza Strip from the face of Earth’ – it simply ‘weakened its [nonexistent] system of safeguards meant to protect civilians (Read more at Aljazeera).

De facto Syrian leader anticipates Trump era with well-choreographed media appearances

Syria’s de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa is using media appearances to spell out well-scripted scenarios ahead of US President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House. Sharaa seemed to be speaking from professionally-prepared talking points as he relaxedly answered even tough questions trying to reassure his domestic and foreign audiences while at the same time making no secret of his intent to cement his hold on power for the time being (Read more at Arab Weekly).

US military convoy arrives in Syria from Iraq amid ongoing tensions

The US military convoy, including 50 trucks carrying armored vehicles, military equipment, and logistics, is on its way to one of the US military bases in the east and north of Syria through the Al-Waleed border crossing (Read more at News.AZ).

Turkish FM discusses with Blinken need to cooperate with new Syrian administration

It is needed to ensure the completion of the transition period in an orderly manner, the ministry said. In a phone call, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told Blinken that Ankara would not allow Kurdish YPG militia to take shelter in Syria, the ministry spokesperson said (Read more at Reuters). 

Engineer pleads not guilty in US case over deadly Iran-linked drone strike

A former engineer at a semiconductor manufacturer pleaded not guilty on Friday to U.S. charges that he illegally procured technology for an Iranian firm that made a key component of a drone used in a January attack by Iran-backed militants in Jordan that killed three U.S. service members (Read more at Reuters).

Russia says UK, US planning ‘terrorist attacks’ to remove its forces from Syria

Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has accused the United States and the United Kingdom of plotting 'terrorist attacks' on Russian bases in Syria to remove its forces from the country. In a statement released on Saturday, the intelligence agency accused the UK's MI6 and US CIA are directing commanders of the Islamic State to carry out the attacks using drones (Read more at New Arab).

Yemen's Houthis shoot down 13th MQ-9 Reaper drone

The spokesman of the armed forces of the Houthi movement, officially known as Ansar Allah said that the drone was shot down while it was carrying out missions in the Bayda governorate, an area located between the cities of Sanaa and Aden. He added that the drone was shot down using a "locally-made surface-to-air missile". With each drone costing approximately $31m, that would mean that the total cost of the downed drones is more than $400m (Read more at Middle East Eye).

Saudi Finds Alternative To F-35

the cash-rich kingdom has encountered multiple impediments in purchasing the stealthy US combat aircraft. For one, Saudi Arabia has been accused of carrying out widespread human rights violations and civilian deaths through its intervention in Yemen’s civil war. Currently, only three countries have an operational fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, including the United States, China, and Russia. China has two fifth-generation stealth aircraft: the J-20 Mighty Dragon and the newly unveiled J-35. Since China is unlikely to export the J-20 for security reasons, the J-35A, designed with an eye on export, is the only available option for an interested buyer. Unlike the US and China, Russia has one stealth fighter to offer, Su-57 Felon. The latest reports in local Turkish media claim that Saudi Arabia is mulling the purchase of 100 KAAN fifth-generation stealth fighter jets from Turkey (Read more at Euroasiantimes).

US neutral on potential Turkey-Syria deal

The US called on all parties in the Eastern Mediterranean to avoid actions that could escalate tensions, emphasizing the need for regional resource development to foster collaboration, energy security, and economic stability (Read more at Ekathimerini).

US not ‘wiping every Houthi fighter off the map

U.S. airstrikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen will continue as long as the specially designated global terrorist group continues to pose a threat to Israel and international shipping, a White House adviser said. John Kirby, the White House national security communications advisor, said that the focus is on undermining the Houthis’ ability to launch attacks in the Red Sea (Read more at JNS).

US anti-missile THAAD system used to intercept projectile from Yemen

An advanced U.S. military anti-missile system was used in Israel to try to intercept a projectile for the first time since President Joe Biden placed the system in Israel in October (Read more at Reuters).

US, Britain launch fresh airstrike on Yemeni capital Sanaa, Houthis say

The attack targeted the September 21 Park in the Ma'ain district of Sanaa. The broadcaster, however, didn't provide details about injuries or damage from the strike. There was no immediate comment from Washington or London on the report. The attack came one day after Israeli warplanes launched airstrikes on Sanaa and the coastal province of Al-Hudaydah in western Yemen (Read more at Anadolu Ajansı).

US Greenlights $5.5b Arms Package for Egypt and Morocco

Under the deal, Egypt will acquire $630 million worth of Lockheed Martin Hellfire missiles, spare parts, and training, alongside $30 million worth of Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems (APKWS). Additionally, Egypt will acquire $4.69 billion worth of equipment to support its M1A1 Abrams tank fleet, which it co-produces with the US. Meanwhile, Morocco received approval to purchase 500 GBU-39B Small Diameter Bombs valued at $86 million and $88.4 million worth of AIM-120C-8 air-to-air missiles for its F-16V jets (Read more at Africa.com).

Another US Navy Jet Narrowly Missed ‘Friendly Fire’ Over Red Sea

An F/A-18 Super Hornet was forced to take “evasive maneuvers” after an SM-2 missile fired from the guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg passed within 100 feet (30 meters) of the aircraft (Read more at Defense Post).

Houthis threaten US targets in Middle East amid Israel's Yemen strikes

Houthi Supreme Political Council Member Mohammed Ali al-Houthi issued a stark warning to Washington in a video on X. "We caution Americans against targeting Yemen. If they do not stop, we will strike US interests in the region, ignoring any red lines," said al-Houthi. "Either Israel’s attacks on Gaza and Yemen will cease, or we will target sensitive American assets to deliver our message." (Read more at Anadolu Ajansı)

Trump’s nominee for top defence post thinks Middle East is ‘relatively unimportant’

Elbridge Colby has said the US should stop focusing on the Middle East, and turn its military's attention to China. Colby did, however, emphasise that the US priorities in the region include ensuring Israel's security, preventing the Gulf states from becoming hostile and lastly preventing transnational terrorism. But he argued that all three could be pursued without the expansive physical footprint that the US employs in the Middle East (Read more at Middle East Eye).

Students sue University of Michigan over pro-Palestinian protest crackdown

Six current and former students allege the school violated the students’ constitutional rights. The federal lawsuit was filed on Friday in the US District Court in Detroit. The plaintiffs allege that the school violated the students’ constitutional rights to free speech, due process and equal protection under the law (Read more at Middle East Eye).

Top US, Saudi military generals discuss situation in Syria and Lebanon

The Pentagon said that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. CQ Brown, and Chief of General Staff, Gen. Fayyad Al-Ruwaili, spoke about the importance of peacefully de-escalating tensions in the region. The two generals spoke about ways to increase the strength of the bilateral relationship between the US and Saudi Arabian militaries, including capacity building, military training, and exercises (Read more at Al Arabiya)

US fighter jet shot down in 'friendly fire' incident over Red Sea

The developments came hours after a rocket from Yemen struck Tel Aviv, prompting US air strikes in Houthi-controlled territory, which it claims were in response to attacks on US Navy ships and commercial vessels. Two US Navy pilots ejected safely after their F/A-18 fighter jet was downed (Read more at TRTWorld).

US Oks More Than $5B in Military Sales to Egypt

The equipment includes 555 US-made M1A1 Abrams tanks operated by Egypt, $630 million in 2,183 Hellfire air-to-surface missiles, and $30 million in precision-guided munitions. Egypt has become an increasingly close partner in mediating the Gaza crisis despite serious human rights concerns. US President Joe Biden took office in 2021 vowing a harder line on Egypt over human rights concerns under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, but his administration has repeatedly gone ahead with arms deals with Egypt. The US Congress can still block the sales, but such attempts are usually unsuccessful. Cairo is one of the largest recipients of US security aid since its peace treaty with Israel in 1979 (Read more at Defense Post).

US charges Russian-Israeli dual national tied to Lockbit ransomware group

Rostislav Panev, 51, was arrested in Israel in August and is awaiting extradition to the United States. Panev was a developer at Lockbit from its inception some time in 2019 through to at least February 2024, during which time the group grew into "what was, at times, the most active and destructive ransomware group in the world," the U.S. Department of Justice said (Read more at Reuters).

US, Israeli officials deny approving sale of Israeli spyware firm to US investors

Over the past week, Israeli news outlets reported that Paragon, which was founded by former Israeli intelligence officers and backed by ex-Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, had been bought by AE, an investment group focused on national security-related businesses (Read more at Reuters).

US senators seek Turkey sanctions, citing military action in Syria

Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham  introduced the "Countering Turkish Aggression Act of 2024" in the hope the sanctions threat would move the parties toward a ceasefire. But they said Washington should work with Turkey diplomatically to facilitate a sustained ceasefire and demilitarized zone between Turkey and Syria (Read more at Reuters).

US judge finds Israel's NSO Group liable for hacking in WhatsApp lawsuit

U.S. District Judge Phyllis Hamilton in Oakland, California, ruled on Friday in favor of Meta Platforms' (META.O), opens a new tab WhatsApp in a lawsuit accusing Israel's NSO Group of exploiting a bug in the messaging app to install spy software allowing unauthorized surveillance (Read more at Reuters).

American Strike Killed Islamic State Group Leader in Syria

Washington has stepped up military action against the jihadist group since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government earlier this month, hitting areas that were shielded by Syrian and Russian air defenses before a lightning offensive by rebels who now control the country. The strike took place Thursday in Deir Ezzor province in eastern Syria, killing IS leader “Abu Yusif” and another operative (Read more at Defense Post).

US State Department Approves $86M Sale of Small Diameter Bombs to Morocco

Morocco is set to acquire 500 GBU-39B Small Diameter Bombs (SDB-I) from the United States, marking another significant step in the country’s military modernization efforts. The package also includes two GBU-39 (T-1)/B inert practice bombs with fuze, along with tactical training rounds, support equipment, spare parts, technical data, and personnel training (Read more at Morocco World News).

US Strikes Houthi Targets in Yemen, Hours After Rebels Hit Israel

During the operation, American forces also shot down multiple Houthi drones and an anti-ship cruise missile over the Red Sea. The US attack on Sanaa came the same day that a Houthi missile struck Israel’s commercial hub Tel Aviv, wounding 16 people in the second such strike in days (Read more at Defense Post).

Houthis shouldn’t be surprised by Israeli response, Pentagon says

Given that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned this week the Houthis that they would pay a heavy price, a reporter asked the Pentagon if it assesses that Israel might target the Yemen-based group next, after Hezbollah and Hamas. “I won’t speak for Israel in terms of its operations. They certainly have a right to defend themselves, and as you know, the Houthis have launched missiles and drones toward Israel,” Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the U.S. Defense Department press secretary, told a reporter at the Pentagon’s Dec. 19 press briefing (Read more at JNS).

US disagrees with HRW ‘genocide’ accusation against Israel

US official: ‘When it comes to a determination of something like genocide, the legal standard is just incredibly high, and so the finding in this scenario we just disagree with ... That does not take away from the fact that there is a dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza’. (Read more at Arab News)

US exempts Turkey from Russian Gazprombank sanctions

Last month, the US Treasury said Gazprombank and its six foreign subsidiaries were subject to sanctions due to their involvement in the Ukraine war. US officials accuse the bank of facilitating payments to Russian soldiers. Turkey, which imported more than 40 percent of its natural gas from Russia last year, paid billions of dollars for these imports through the bank (Read more at Middle East Eye).

FBI arrests university student over alleged plot to attack Israeli consulate

The FBI has arrested an 18-year-old student from George Mason University (GMU), accusing him of being involved in a plot to attack the Israeli consulate in New York, in a case involving an undercover informant or agent who helped the teenager come up with the plan. Abdullah Ezzeldin Taha Mohamed Hassan, a first-year student and an Egyptian national, has been charged with one count of distributing information related to explosives that could be used to murder internationally protected persons (Read more at Middle East Eye).

US has twice as many troops in Syria than previously declared

The Pentagon claimed it had over 2,000 military personnel in Syria to target Islamist rebels before the fall of Bashar al-Assad. Washington has for years said it has some 900 military personnel in Syria as part of international efforts against Islamist groups, which seized swathes of territory there and in neighbouring Iraq before being defeated by local forces backed by a US-led air campaign (Read more at New Arab).

US to ‘hand over’ Saudi-Israel normalisation to Trump administration

“Now the opportunity is there, and I know this is something that the president (Trump) will be focused on, to broaden that out with the Saudis,” Blinken said (Read more at Arab Weekly).

US drops $10m reward for arrest of Syria’s new leader after Damascus talks

The US, however, had designated HTS a “terrorist” organisation in 2018. Al-Sharaa — also known as Abu Mohammed al-Julani — is the group’s leader and was once aligned with al-Qaeda. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf said “Based on our discussion, I told him we would not be pursuing the Rewards for Justice reward offer that has been in effect for some years” (Read more at Aljazeera).

US charges IRGC officer with killing of American citizen in Iraq

The United States has charged an alleged officer of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) with “terrorism and murder” over the killing of a US citizen in Iraq in 2022 (Read more at Aljazeera).

UAE Promises Not to Arm Sudan Paramilitaries as US Warns of Arms Export Ban

Two lawmakers said the United Arab Emirates made the promise to address their concerns and that as a result, they would drop their attempt to block $1.2 billion in arms sales to the Gulf power (Read more at Defense Post).

U.S. diplomats meet Syrian opposition leader in Damascus

They met with the leader of the opposition group Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) Ahmad al-Sharaa. A U.S. official said the meeting with al-Sharaa was "good and productive." U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs Barbara Leaf said al-Sharaa committed to not allowing terror groups to operate in Syria and threaten the U.S. or neighboring countries. Leaf said that as a result, the U.S. made clear it won't pursue the $10 million "reward for justice" on al-Sharaa (Read more at Axios).

Defense secretary had little scheduled access to Biden amid Israel’s war with Hamas

In the beginning of the current administration’s tenure, Lloyd Austin, the U.S. defense secretary, had regular access to U.S. President Joe Biden. But over the past two years, “a period when the wars in Ukraine and Gaza demanded the president’s attention,” Austin was rarely invited for scheduled briefings (Read more at JNS).

Israel isn't bombing area where Austin Tice may be located

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised the mother of U.S. journalist Austin Tice that the IDF isn't conducting airstrikes in areas in Syria where he might be located (Read more at Axios). 

CIA chief heads to Qatar amid renewed Gaza ceasefire hopes

Burns is due to meet Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, in Doha (Read more at Dohanews).

US warns of imminent Turkish offensive in Syria

Unnamed US officials have warned that Washington is increasingly concerned that Turkiye and its allied militias in northern Syria – predominantly under the umbrella of the Syrian National Army (SNA) – are preparing for a large-scale military incursion into Syrian territory controlled by US-backed Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Citing a reported significant Turkish military build-up and presence – including the deployment of uniformed Turkish commandos, artillery units and allied militias to strategic positions along the border – near the town of Kobani, or Ayn Al-Arab, the officials told the paper that the movements resembled those seen ahead of Turkiye’s 2019 incursion into northern Syria, with one warning that “a cross-border operation could be imminent” yet again (Read more at Middle East Monitor).

Palestinian families sue State Department over US support for Israeli military

The lawsuit, opens new tab filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia alleged that the State Department under Secretary of State Antony Blinken has deliberately circumvented a U.S. human rights law to continue funding and supporting Israeli military units accused of atrocities in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank (Read more at Rueters).

US lawmakers urge Biden to withhold offensive weapons to Israel

The letter comes after the Biden administration concluded Israel made efforts to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza, despite record-low aid deliveries. A group of 20 US members of Congress led by Congressman Greg Casar signed the letter (Read more Middle East Eye).

A US State Department worker resigned over Israel-Gaza policy

Mike Casey, one of only two people explicitly focused on Gaza, left over inaction and doing ‘what the Israelis want’. Mike Casey arrived in Jerusalem in 2020. “The more informed you become on this issue, you can’t avoid realizing how bad it is,” Casey said. Casey resigned in July after four years at the job, discreetly leaving the post unlike other recent high-profile government departures. Now Casey reflected on how, as one of only two people in the entire US government explicitly focused on Gaza, he became an unwilling chronicler of a humanitarian catastrophe (Read more at Guardian).

US expresses cautious optimism on Gaza ceasefire

However, Matthew Miller, the department's spokesperson, in Washington acknowledged that previous hopes for a ceasefire had ultimately been dashed, making the current outlook more tentative (Read more at Middle East Monitor).

US strikes Houthi command center in Yemen

Group used facility to coordinate its operations, including recent attacks on US Navy warships and merchant vessels, says CENTCOM (Read more at Anadolu Ajansı).

At his final presidential Chanukah party, Biden renews pledge to bring hostages home

"I know this year's Hanukkah falls on the hearts that are still very heavy. It's the second Hanukkah since the horrors of Oct. 7. Over 1,000 slaughtered, hundreds taken hostage, unspeakable sexual violence and so much more. The trauma of that day and its aftermath is still raw and ongoing," Biden said (Read more at ABCNews).

Netanyahu meets with Trump’s special envoy for hostage affairs

Adam Boehler is visiting Israel this week amid ongoing negotiations to secure the release of the remaining Hamas captives in Gaza. He also discreetly met with Defense Minister Israel Katz, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana. Trump said Monday he is working to secure the release of the hostages in Gaza, who number 100, according to the latest Israeli estimates. Thirty-six have been declared dead (Read more at New York Post).

US engaging with UN to ensure Syrians get answers for mass graves

An international war crimes prosecutor said on Tuesday that evidence emerging from mass grave sites in Syria has exposed a state-run "machinery of death" under toppled leader Bashar al-Assad in which he estimated more than 100,000 people were tortured and murdered since 2013 (Read more at Reuters).

Ceasefire between Turkey and US-backed rebels extended

The ceasefire around the northern Syrian city of Manbij has been extended until the end of this week. Washington brokered an initial ceasefire last week after fighting that broke out earlier this month.  State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said, "We continue to engage with the SDF, with Turkey about a path forward." (read more at Reuters) 

Trump says Turkey is behind collapse of Assad

He added Turkey wanted control of Syria 'for thousands of years' and now they have it. "He's a very smart guy and he's very tough. But Turkey did an unfriendly takeover without a lot of lives being lost. I can say Assad was a butcher, what he did to children," Trump said during a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, adding that he didn't know what the outcome of Assad's collapse would be (Read more at Middle East Eye).

Netanyahu says he held ‘friendly’ talks with Trump over Syria and Gaza

He said they discussed the need to complete Israel’s victory. A Trump spokesperson on Sunday declined to give further details about the call (Read more at Guradian).

US seeks stronger UN powers to intercept Red Sea shipments to Houthis

The Pentagon is also considering redesignating Iranian-backed Houthis as a terrorist group. Tim Lenderking, the US special envoy for Yemen, last week visited Djibouti where the UN Verification and Inspection Mission for Yemen (UNVIM) is based on the opposite side of the Red Sea. UNVIM’s chief focus is on inspecting ships for armaments entering Houthi-controlled Red Sea ports (Read more at Guardian).

U.S. asks Israel to approve military aid to Palestinian security forces

The security operation to regain control in the city of Jenin and its refugee camp from militants is the largest conducted by Palestinian security forces in years. Palestinian and U.S. officials said Palestinian leadership launched the operation out of fear that Islamist militants — emboldened after armed rebels took control of Syria — could try to overthrow the Palestinian Authority (Read more at Axios).

Egypt's Sisi discusses Gaza ceasefire efforts, hostages with top US officials

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Brett McGurk, the US Middle East and North Africa Coordinator, in Cairo and attended by Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Egyptian Intelligence Chief Hassan Rashad, and US Ambassador to Egypt Herro Mustafa Garg, focused on recent regional developments and joint efforts to establish a cease-fire and facilitate the exchange of detainees in Gaza (Read more at Anadolu Ajansı)

Unchanged policy as US Senators remain unwilling to lift Syria sanctions

“The problem is, what comes next?”, said Senator Jim Risch, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Republican and Democratic US senators say it is too soon to consider lifting sanctions on Syria (Read more at Arab Weekly).

Trump Organisation plans new projects in Riyadh

The Trump Organisation plans to build a Trump Tower in the Saudi capital Riyadh as part of a real estate expansion in the region. London-listed Dar Global’s chief executive said the other new joint project planned in Riyadh is a Trump Golf community similar to one launched in Oman in 2022 (Read more at Arab Weekly).

US citizen imprisoned in Syria has been released and flown to Jordan

Travis Timmerman, 29, was imprisoned in Syria after crossing into the country on a Christian pilgrimage in June. United States officials have revealed that Travis Timmerman who disappeared into the Syrian prison system seven months ago, has been released and taken out of the country (Read more at Aljazeera).

Two NYU faculty members arrested at pro-Palestine protest

The arrests occurred during a sit-in at NYU, where students were nonviolently blocking access to the Bobst Library. According to the American Association of University Professors, the professors were not involved in the protest itself but were there to ensure the safety of the student demonstrators (Read more at Middle East Eye).

Blinken visits Iraq to discuss Syria’s post-Assad transition

Washington sees this moment as an opportunity to further push back Iran’s influence in the region. Blinken visited the US embassy in Baghdad and said he spoke to Sudani about the situation in Syria. Blinken and Sudani discussed “the conviction of so many countries in the region and beyond that, as Syria transitions from the Assad dictatorship to hopefully a democracy, it does so in a way that, of course, protects all of the minorities in Syria that produces an inclusive, non-sectarian government,” Blinken said, adding that Syria should not become a “platform for terrorism” (Read more at Arab Weekly).

Blinken meets Jordan's king in Syria diplomacy push

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Jordan’s King Abdullah in the Red Sea town of Aqaba on Thursday as he arrived in the region for talks on Syria following the ousting of Bashar Al-Assad, Reuters has reported. He will also meet Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi today before heading for Turkiye (Read more at Middle East Monitor).

US greenlights Foreign Military Sale worth $300 mln to Kuwait

Additionally, the package covers cables, wiring harnesses, hydraulics, fuel oil pumps, starters, generators, AGT1500 engine parts, testing and limited repair services for communication systems, fire control, night vision, and laser devices (Read more at Army Technology).

Palestinian American released to halfway house after two decades in prison

Mufid Abdulqader was convicted in a terrorism case civil liberties groups say highlights US's disproportionate targeting of Muslim charities. In 2020, Abdulqader had put in a plea for compassionate release on the grounds of the Covid-19 pandemic, which was tearing through the Seagoville federal prison in Texas where he was serving his sentence (Read more at Middle East Eye).

US security adviser Sullivan says Israel is acting in Syria for its own defence

"What Israel is doing is trying to identify potential threats, both conventional and weapons of mass destruction, that could threaten Israel, and, frankly threaten others as well," Sullivan told a press conference in Tel Aviv following a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Read more at Reuters).

Hostage Deal Possible by Month’s End, Says Jake Sullivan

“We’re now looking to close a hostage release deal and a cease-fire, which would stop the war and reunite hostages with their families,” Sullivan said. “Just over one year ago, we reached a deal that brought 78 hostages out of Gaza and home to their families. It’s time to finish the job and bring all of the hostages home.” Sullivan will travel to Doha and Cairo from Jerusalem to advance these negotiations (Read more at Media Line).

US urges Syrian rebels to form ‘inclusive’ government

The US is mounting a fresh diplomatic effort in the Middle East, hoping to end the war in Gaza and push rebels who have taken power in Syria to form a “credible, inclusive, and non-sectarian governance” (Read more at Guardian).

Kurdish-Led Force Announces US-Brokered Truce in Syria’s Manbij

The clashes in Manbij, an Arab-majority city, have killed 218 combatants since Turkish-backed groups launched offensives in the north following the ouster of Assad on Sunday. Syrian Democratic Forces commander Mazloum Abdi said, “Our goal is to reach a ceasefire across Syria and start a political process for the future of the country” (Read more at Defense Post).

Biden aides in Middle East in diplomatic push for Syria, Gaza

Two-pronged diplomatic push sees Blinken covering Jordan, Turkiye, while Sullivan holds talks in Israel, Qatar and Egypt. Washington has acknowledged Ankara’s right to defend itself from what it perceives as a security threat, but has also said it will continue working with the SDF (Read more at Aljazeera).

US again defeats Houthi attacks on American cargo, military ships

For the second time in 10 days, the U.S. military said it defeated attacks by Houthi militia. Destroyers USS Stockdale and USS O’Kane turned back a range of Houthi missiles and drones Dec. 9-10 in the Gulf of Aden (Read more at Freight Waves).

US troops to remain in Syria, White House says

U.S. troops will be staying in Syria after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad as part of a counter-terrorism mission focused on destroying Islamic State militants, a top White House official said on Tuesday (Read more at USNews).

US rushes to contain Turkey-backed offensive against SDF in Syria

Washington was caught off guard by the rapid overthrow of Assad by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)-aligned forces, which occurred in just 11 days. Reports suggest that US officials had been attempting to negotiate a deal with Assad that would have normalised his position in exchange for severing ties with Hezbollah and Iran. The US has expressed concern over Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) operations targeting the SDF, a US partner force (Read more at Middle East Eye).

Trump picks ambassadors to Turkey

Tom Barrack, the chair of his 2016 inaugural committee, has been chosen as the next ambassador to Turkey. He is a longtime friend of the Republican president-elect. He’s also a private equity executive and has previously been charged with unlawfully acting as an agent of the United Arab Emirates and was acquitted in 2022 of all nine counts he faced (Read more at Cyprus Mail).

Family of Turkish-American woman killed by Israel to meet Blinken

They call for an independent US-led probe into her killing. Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi, a 26-year-old Seattle resident and a new graduate of the University of Washington, was fatally shot by Israeli forces during a protest in the West Bank against illegal Israeli settlements on September 6 amid Israel’s war in Gaza. “For the last three months, Blinken and State Department officials have repeatedly told us to wait for Israel, the government whose army perpetrated the crime against Ayşenur, to investigate itself. This cannot stand,” Özden Bennett, Eygi’s sister, said in a statement (Read more at Turkish Minute).

Assad downfall was planned by US and Israel, claims Iran’s supreme leader

He also claimed Iranian intelligence had sent warnings to the Assad government about a possible attack for three months and predicted Syrian youth would eventually recapture the country, remarks that are unlikely to make it easier for Iran to build strong relations with the new leaders in Damascus (Read more at Guardian).

Biden pushes new Russia, Iran, N. Korea, China effort before Trump term

Biden’s new document orders various arms of the US government to restructure groups currently organised by region to better focus on issues linking the four countries that span Europe and Asia. The document’s strategies and policy suggestions could be implemented — or rejected altogether — by president-elect Trump (Read more at Selangor).

Two U.S. lawmakers push for some Syria sanctions relief after Assad's fall

The lawmakers wrote that while keeping sanctions on former government officials was important, they believed "that other parts of the legislation - such as sectoral sanctions and sanctions related to reconstruction - should be suspended". The letter said the U.S. must issue waivers and general licenses to encourage economic development and foreign investment and "build good will" without impacting sanctions on designated terrorist groups (Read more at New Arab).

Israel Minister Tells US 'Currently A Chance' For Gaza Hostage Deal

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz told his US counterpart Lloyd Austin in a phone call, "We are hoping for the release of all the hostages, including US citizens." (Read more at Barrons)

Palestinian Authority fears being sidelined in Gaza by Trump and UAE

PA's Jenin offensive is driven by fear that Trump will be drawn to a plan floated by UAE to install a different ruling elite. Looming over the Palestinian Authority’s battle with anti-occupation armed groups in Jenin are fears that US President-elect Donald Trump is amenable to sidelining the PA’s current leaders in a future post-war Gaza Strip in favour of the United Arab Emirates and its Palestinian allies (Read more at Middle East Eye).

Blinken lays out US hopes for Syria's political transition

He said, the US would recognize a future Syrian government that amounts to a credible, inclusive and non-sectarian governing body. It is the clearest definition outlined by Washington since Syria's opposition militias overthrew President Bashar al-Assad. Blinken's statement did not mention HTS (Read more at Reuters).

US accuses 2 former Syrian intelligence officers with war crimes

The US Justice Department announced charges against two former Syrian intelligence officials, Jamil Hassan and Abdul Salam Mahmoud, for war crimes related to their roles in the torture of detainees during the Syrian civil war. The charges stem from their actions at Mezzeh Military Airport, near Damascus, where they oversaw brutal treatment of prisoners, including US citizens (Read more at Anadolu Agency).

US officials discussed merits of removing $10m bounty on HTS leader

Meanwhile, Jordan's King emphasised importance of covert US support for the Syrian Free Army during his Washington DC visit. Ahmed al-Sharaa, commonly known as Jolani, has been designated as a terrorist by the United States since 2013, whilst his organisation, HTS, was proscribed by the Trump administration in 2018 when a $10m bounty was placed on his head (Read more at Business Standard). 

US Seeking Ways to Engage With Syrian Rebel Groups After Assad Ouster

The Biden administration is reaching out to partners in the region such as Turkey to help kick start informal diplomacy. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been working the phones and speaking with regional leaders and has twice over the past four days spoken with Hakan Fidan, the foreign minister of Turkey, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said  (Read more at USNews).

Blinken Warns Islamic State Will Try to Re-Establish Capabilities in Syria

But he said the United States is determined not to let that happen. Mr Blinken said Syrians have to choose their future, adding that statements by rebel leaders towards building inclusive governance are welcome but that the real measure will be in the action they take, not just what they say (Read more at Strait Times).

US renews push to find Captive Journalist after al-Assad toppled

Just a day after opposition fighters led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group took control of Damascus, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Monday that finding missing journalist Austin Tice is a “top priority”, while State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that an envoy had been sent to Beirut as part of “intensive efforts” to find Tice. Austin Tice has been missing since 2012 when he was abducted in Damascus while reporting on the popular uprising against al-Assad (Read more at Aljazeera).

Trump’s Middle East envoy warns of consequences if Gaza hostages not released soon

Steve Witkoff, who will formally take up the position when Trump's administration starts, said he hoped and prayed there would be ceasefire in Gaza between Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel before Trump takes office on Jan. 20. "You heard what the president said, they better be released," he said, referring to Trump. "Listen to what the president has got to say. It's not a pretty day if they're not released," Witkoff added (Read more at ArabNews).

Rebels take Syrian city from U.S.-backed group after U.S.-Turkey deal

The United States and Turkey reached an agreement to ensure the safe withdrawal of U.S.-backed Kurdish Syrian forces (SDF) from the northern city of Manbij after an advance by Turkey-backed rebels. The Turkey-backed Syrian opposition groups had earlier taken control of Manbij from the SDF, a Turkish security source said, a day after rebels in the southern capital of Damascus declared Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's ouster (Read more at Reuters).

Trump family and allies to bask in Gulf crypto industry's euphoria

Speakers include the president-elect's son Eric and billionaire Steve Witkoff, the new White House envoy for the Middle East and co-founder of World Liberty Financial, a crypto platform launched in September that Donald Trump and his family helped form (Read more at MSN).

ََA US Asset Manager to Open Abu Dhabi Office

U.S. investment management firm Polen Capital said on Monday it has received preliminary approval for a license to operate from the ADGM, Abu Dhabi's financial centre, as it looks to capitalise on growth opportunities in the region. Rising company registrations, the appeal of sovereign wealth funds, and the relative ease of obtaining a license to operate compared with other financial centres have enhanced ADGM's attractiveness for global firms. Polen Capital, which had approximately $63 billion in assets under management as at Sept. 30, will join other global asset managers and hedge funds in setting up in the ADGM (Read more at USNews).

US Will Remain in Eastern Syria and Seek to Prevent IS Resurgence

"We are aware that the chaotic and dynamic circumstances on the ground in Syria could give ISIS space to find the ability to become active, to plan external operations, and we're determined to work with those partners to continue to degrade their capabilities," Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East Daniel Shapiro said (Read more at USNews)

Trump says Russia abandoned Syria's Assad, never should have been involved

"There was no reason for Russia to be there in the first place," Trump wrote. "They lost all interest in Syria because of Ukraine ... a war that should never have started, and could go on forever." (Read more at Daily Star)

Biden: U.S. will support Syria and its neighbors after Assad dynasty collapses

President Joe Biden called the toppling of Syria's dictatorship a "historic opportunity" for Syrian people. He also warned about some risks posed by the uncertainty, such as a resurgence of ISIS. The U.S. will support Syria's neighbors, including Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon and Israel, during the transition period and send senior officials to the region, Biden said (Read more at CNBS).

No concerns over Trump vow to lift LNG exports cap: Qatar minister

Asked about the impact of Trump’s return to the White House on Qatar-US relations, particularly in energy, Qatar’s Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi said oil and gas projects were multi-decade plans and “survive governments”, but later added he thought Trump was “good for business” (Read more at Business Recorder).

Turkey's Halkbank Loses Latest Bid to Avoid US Prosecution in Sanctions Case

A U.S. appeals court on Friday rejected a request by Türkiye’s Halkbank to reconsider a ruling that allows the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to prosecute the state-owned bank for allegedly helping Iran evade U.S. sanctions (Read more at Turkiyetoday).

Qatar PM sees 'momentum' on Gaza talks after US election

The Gulf emirate, along with the United States and Egypt, had been involved in months of unsuccessful negotiations for a Gaza truce and hostage release. But in November, Doha announced it had put its mediation on hold, saying it would resume when Hamas and Israel showed "willingness and seriousness". "We have sensed, after the election, that the momentum is coming back," Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani told the Doha Forum for political dialogue (Read more at France24).

Trump says US shouldn’t intervene in Syria as opposition forces gain ground

He argued that Syrian President Bashar Assad did not deserve U.S. support to stay in power. In his post, Trump said Russia “is so tied up in Ukraine” that it “seems incapable of stopping this literal march through Syria, a country they have protected for years.” He said rebels could possibly force Assad from power (Read more at AP).

Syria war to have ‘massive’ effect on Lebanon: US envoy Hochstein

The top Biden diplomat said a weakened Syrian government will make it difficult for Iran to transfer weapons to Hezbollah (Read more at Aljazeera).

US clears export of advanced AI chips to UAE under Microsoft deal

The US government has approved the export of advanced artificial intelligence chips to a Microsoft-operated facility in the United Arab Emirates as part of the company's highly-scrutinized partnership with Emirati AI firm G42. The approved export license requires Microsoft to prevent access to its facility in the UAE by personnel who are from nations under U.S. arms embargoes or who are on the U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security's Entity List (Read more at DecanHerald).

Syrian rebel advance poses risks for U.S. and others

Jeffrey, former U.S. Ambassador to the Coalition to Defeat Islamic State under the previous Trump Administration, said President-elect Donald Trump was likely to ramp up pressure on Syria's ally Iran both there and across the region. "Such a dramatic change in the balance of power in Syria makes everybody nervous because everybody has a chunk of Syria," (Read more at AOL).

US-Backed Syrian Kurds Seize Eastern City of Deir El-Zor

It is the main border crossing with Iraq on Friday, taking effective control of Syria's vast eastern desert in two rapid moves. SDF head Mazlum Abdi told reporters earlier on Friday at a press conference in Hasakeh city that his forces had "channels of communication with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)," particularly in order to protect Kurds living in Aleppo city (Read more at USNews).

Family of journalist missing in Syria since 2012 meets top US official

The mother of Austin Tice, a US journalist captured over 12 years ago in Syria, said on Friday that her family had information that he is still alive. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan met with Tice's family in the afternoon (Read more at NewArab)

Supreme Court agrees to weigh terrorist victims' bid to sue Palestinian entities

The Palestine Liberation Organization and Palestinian Authority argue that a law Congress enacted in 2019 to allow victims of terrorism to sue the authorities violates their due process rights (Read more at NBCNews).

Turkish competition body ends Meta probe over Threads data-sharing

Türkiye's competition authority said on Thursday that it has decided to terminate an investigation of Meta Platforms regarding data-sharing between its social media platforms Threads and Instagram (Read more at Daily Sabah).

Trump's pick for Middle East envoy in diplomatic push for Gaza ceasefire before inauguration

Steve Witkoff, who will officially take up the position under Trump’s administration, met separately in late November with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, said the source. Witkoff’s conversations appear to have been aimed at building on nearly 14 months of unsuccessful diplomacy by the Biden administration, Qatar and Egypt aimed at a lasting ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, in Gaza (Read more at Middle East Monitor).

Hezbollah aims to rebuild longer term despite Israeli blows, US intel says

U.S. intelligence agencies assessed in recent weeks that Hezbollah, even amid Israel's military campaign, had begun to recruit new fighters and was trying to find ways to rearm through domestic production and by smuggling materials through Syria, said a senior U.S. official, an Israeli official and two U.S. lawmakers briefed on the intelligence (Read more at AOL).

Trump announces Adam Boehler as special envoy for hostage affairs

Trump said Mr Boehler was a lead negotiator for him on his team that worked the Abraham Accords in 2020, a series of normalisation agreements between Israel and Arab nations. “He has negotiated with some of the toughest people in the World, including the Taliban, but Adam knows that NO ONE is tougher than the United States of America, at least when President Trump is its Leader (Read more at Strait Times).

Trump adviser Waltz to meet with Israel's Dermer

Waltz and Dermer are expected to discuss the efforts to reach a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal and the Iranian threat. The meeting comes just weeks before Trump takes office on Jan. 20 following campaign promises to end the wars in the Middle East and elsewhere, though he has offered scant details on how he plans to proceed (Read more at Middle East Eye).

Russia, US clash at UN over escalation in Syria fighting

They accused each other of supporting terrorism during a Security Council meeting convened over a sudden escalation of fighting in Syria. In remarks directed at Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Robert Wood, Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said: "You were unable to summon the courage to condemn a clear terrorist attack undertaken against peaceful civilians in peaceful Syrian cities." "There are no illusions that Washington will ever be willing to sincerely combat international terrorism," he said. "To be frank we are pleased that we are on opposite sides of the barricades right now from you." (Read more at Reuters)

Senior US Democrat mounts new push for peace in Sudan

The legislation would sanction leaders on both sides of Sudan’s civil war and prohibit the sale of American weapons to countries fueling the conflict. It would require the U.S. president to submit a strategy to Congress for ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid and establishing peace in Sudan. It also would establish a five-year term for a special presidential envoy for Sudan to coordinate U.S. policy and diplomatic efforts (Read more at MSN).

US deepens sanctions on Iran’s ‘shadow’ oil fleet

The Biden administration ramped up its sanctions on Iran, targeting 35 entities and vessels that it said transported illicit Iranian petroleum to foreign markets. The sanctions build on those previously imposed on Oct. 11 and come in response to Iran’s Oct. 1 attack on Israel and to its announced nuclear escalations (Read more at Boereport).

Israel leaders applaud Trump pledge on hostages, Gazans fear the worst

The reaction in Gaza was less enthusiastic. Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and many of his ministers publicly thanked Trump for his hard-hitting words. Writing on Truth Social, and without naming any group, Trump said the hostages had to be freed by the time he was sworn in. If his demand was not met, he said: “Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the United States of America.” (Read more at Middle East Monitor)

US beating weapons not Houthis, says former national security official

"Iran has never been weaker," Michael Doran wrote. "It’s a puffer fish. There’s no reason why the U.S. must tolerate these attacks." U.S. Central Command stated that the U.S. Navy destroyers USS Stockdale and USS O’Kane “successfully defeated a range of Houthi-launched weapons while transiting the Gulf of Aden,” on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 (Read more at JNS).

Top Turkish and American Diplomats Share Call Amid Major Escalation in Syria

A Turkish foreign ministry source with knowledge of the call stated that Fidan assured Blinken of Ankara’s opposition to developments that could destabilize the region. He expressed support for a “finalized” political solution to formally end hostilities between the different rebel factions and Assad’s government while also reiterating Turkey’s stance on concerns surrounding Kurdish terrorist threats (Read more at Media Line).

US-Israeli Cloud Security Firm Upwind Raises $100 Million

The conversations intensified in recent months, the sources said, driven by the possible expiry on Dec. 20 of sweeping U.S. sanctions on Syria and by Israel's campaign against Tehran's regional network, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza and Iranian assets in Syria (Read more at USNews).

US Led Coalition Planes Attack Iranian Militia Bases in Syria

International Coalition warplanes overnight Monday targeted sites belonging to the Iranian militias in Al-Quriyah and Al-Mayadeen in the countryside of Deir Ezzor in eastern Syria, using heavy machine guns, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported. There is no information about human losses so far (Read more at Jewish Press).

US Welcomes Israel Lifeline For Palestinian Banking

The United States on Monday welcomed Israel's one-year extension of a lifeline to Palestinian banks, after threats by the far-right finance minister to sever the connection amid the Gaza war. The United States had pressed Israel to maintain the waiver which allows Israeli banks to work with Palestinian ones, fearing otherwise that the comparatively stable West Bank would descend into economic havoc (Read more at Barron's).

US follows France in warning Israel over ceasefire violations

Washington has backed up Paris’s assertions that Israel is violating the terms of last week’s ceasefire agreement with Lebanon, that formally ended 14 months of hostilities with the Hezbollah terrorist group. U.S. presidential envoy Amos Hochstein, who played a pivotal role in brokering the deal, conveyed a message to officials in Jerusalem that they are not abiding by the truce terms (Read more at JNS).

Trump says ‘hell to pay’ if captives in Gaza not released

“Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that if the hostages are not released prior to January 20, 2025, the date that I proudly assume Office as President of the United States, there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against Humanity,” Trump said (Read more at Aljazeera).

US Says Lebanon 'Ceasefire Holding' Despite Incidents

"When we get reports of potential violations, we have a mechanism that we put in place with the government of France to look at those potential violations, determine if they are in fact, violations, and then engage with the parties to ensure that they aren't repeated," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said (Read more at Barron's).

American-Born Tank Commander’s Death Confirmed 14 Months After Hamas Abduction

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Monday that Captain Omer Maxim Neutra, a 21-year-old lone soldier from New York, was killed during Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack and that his body remains in Gaza. Neutra, a tank platoon commander in the IDF’s 7th Armored Brigade, was among four soldiers abducted during the assault near Nahal Oz (Read more at Media Line).

Biden in photo-op with book on Israel's ethnic cleansing of Palestine

Biden was snapped with a copy of the book The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine, written by renowned Palestinian American author Rashid Khalidi, which he seemingly purchased in a 'Black Friday' sale in a bookshop in Nantucket. Khalidi is a historian and expert on Middle Eastern affairs who teaches at Columbia University, and who is known for his opposition to US policies on Palestine and Israel (Read more at New Arab).

Hamas releases video of US-Israeli hostage in Gaza

 He pleaded for Trump to secure his release. Netanyahu calls video cruel psychological warfare, vows to bring hostages home. Biden administration is working to secure release before Trump's inauguration (Read more at Reuters).

US, France, Germany, UK Urge 'De-escalation' In Syria: Joint Statement

"The current escalation only underscores the urgent need for a Syrian-led political solution to the conflict, in line with UNSCR 2254," read a statement issued by the US State Department, referencing the 2015 UN resolution that endorsed a peace process in Syria (Read more at Barron's).

Trump Picks Massad Boulos to Serve as Adviser on Arab, Middle Eastern Affairs

In recent months, Boulos, the father-in-law of Trump's daughter Tiffany, campaigned for Trump to drum up Lebanese and Arab American support, even as the U.S.-backed Israel's military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Boulos has powerful roots in both countries. His father and grandfather were both figures in Lebanese politics and his father-in-law was a key funder of the Free Patriotic Movement, a Christian party aligned with Hezbollah (Read more at USNews).

Saudi Arabia abandons pursuit of U.S. defence treaty over Israel stalemate

Saudi Arabia is now pushing for a more modest military cooperation agreement. Riyadh also softened its position on Palestinian statehood, telling Washington that a public commitment from Israel to a two-state solution could be enough for the Gulf kingdom to normalise relations (Read more at MSN).

US Admiral Admits Ukraine, Israel Military Aid Affecting Readiness for China

Speaking at an event at the Brookings Institution, Adm. Samuel Paparo, the navy’s top commander in the Indo-Pacific, explained that transferring advanced weapons from US stockpiles is impacting Washington’s worldwide “high-end capability.” (Read more at Defense Post)