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CENTCOM commander meets with Israeli officials in strong show of 'support for Israel,' defense chief says
The commander of U.S. Central Command met with Israeli officials Monday as tensions in the region are heightened amid the belief Iran will soon attack Israel, or that the Jewish state may preemptively strike against Iran, either of which could ignite a wider regional conflict.
Army Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla met with Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi of the Israel Defense Forces in Tel Aviv.
"Your arrival in Israel at this time is a direct translation of U.S. support for Israel into action," said Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. "The relationship between Israel and the United States is unshakable."
BIDEN TO MEET WITH NATIONAL SECURITY TEAM AHEAD OF ANTICIPATED IRANIAN ATTACK AGAINST ISRAEL
During their meeting, Kurilla and Halevi discussed the coordination of defense cooperation between U.S. and Israeli forces. They also held a joint situational assessment on security and strategic issues, the IDF said.
Gallant also thanked Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and the Biden administration for military aid and support as Israeli forces continue to battle Hamas and Hezbollah on two fronts.
Monday's meeting came as officials are bracing for a possible Israeli strike on Iran as Israel stares down threats from all of its borders. Meanwhile, U.S. forces in the Mediterranean Sea have conducted air strikes against drones and other targets operated by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis for months.
Concerns over Israeli security have mounted after last week’s assassination of Hezbollah military chief Fuad Shukr in Beirut and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Israel has not claimed responsibility for the attacks, but Iran and Hamas have blamed the Jewish state and have vowed to retaliate.
BIDEN TO MEET WITH NATIONAL SECURITY TEAM AHEAD OF ANTICIPATED IRANIAN ATTACK AGAINST ISRAEL
Nasser Kanaani, the spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, said Monday that Iran has "the intrinsic right to provide for its own security and punish the aggressor" and "will definitely take serious deterrent action with power and decisiveness." He said it would be acting in accordance with international law and the right of self-defense.
The Biden administration is urging nations to tell Iran "that it is very much not in their interests to escalate this conflict," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Monday.
"So certainly I would expect that some of them would pass that message along and impress that point upon the government of Iran," Miller said. "But I'll let them, each individual country, speak to their particular conversations."
Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke to Qatar Prime Minister Al-Thani and Egyptian Foreign Minister Abdullah about tensions in the Middle East, Miller said. Biden also spoke with King Abdullah II of Jordan, stressing the need for de-escalation in the region and thanked him for his efforts to achieve peace and stability.
"The King called for ceasing all escalatory measures, as well as respecting and implementing international law according to unified standards," a readout of the call released by the Jordanians states. "His Majesty warned of extremist settler violence against Palestinians, as well as unilateral Israeli measures that undermine the prospects of peace and target the historical and legal status quo of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, which may fuel violence in the region."
Abdullah also said the U.S. was key in stopping the war in Gaza and reaching a permanent cease-fire.
Fox News Digital's Caitlin McFall contributed to this report.
Several U.S. personnel injured in suspected rocket attack at Al Asad air base: officials
Several U.S. personnel were injured in a suspected rocket attack at the Ain al-Asad air base in western Iraq, according to U.S. defense officials.
A U.S. defense official confirmed the suspected rocket attack to Fox News on Monday afternoon. According to Reuters, at least two Katyusha rockets were fired towards the base.
Speaking to Fox News, the official said that "several" U.S. personnel were injured during the incident.
"Base personnel are conducting a post-attack damage assessment," the official added. "We will provide updates as more information becomes available."
BIDEN TO MEET WITH NATIONAL SECURITY TEAM AHEAD OF ANTICIPATED IRANIAN ATTACK AGAINST ISRAEL
Officials have not released the exact number of injuries. A source told Reuters that the rockets fell inside the base.
The incident comes as tensions in the Middle East escalate amid the Israel-Hamas war. Last week, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran, causing the Iranian government to vow retribution against Israel.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has not claimed responsibility for the death of Haniyeh, but Iran reported plans to launch attacks against Israel soon.
HEZBOLLAH TERRORISTS HOLD ‘MASSIVE’ STOCKPILE OF IRANIAN ARMS, SECURITY EXPERTS WARN
"They will see the result of their mistake," Iranian General Hossein Salami said after the death of Haniyeh. "They will see when, how and where they will get their response."
On Sunday, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State Matthew Miller said that Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani "to discuss the latest developments in the region."
"The Secretary emphasized the importance of all parties taking steps to calm regional tensions, avoid further escalation, and advance stability," Millter said. "The Secretary underscored U.S. commitment to the Higher Military Commission process to determine how and when the D-ISIS Coalition’s military mission in Iraq will transition and the importance of force protection as we work toward that transition."
"The Secretary affirmed that we remain committed to the U.S.-Iraq 360-degree relationship to build economic opportunities and prosperity for all Iraqis."
Reuters contributed to this report.
Iraqi air base housing U.S. troops attacked with rockets amid escalating tensions in Middle East: report
The Ain al-Asad air base in Iraq, which houses U.S. troops, was reportedly attacked with rockets on Monday, according to sources.
The news was broken by Reuters, which was told about the situation by multiple security sources. At least two Katyusha rockets were fired towards the base.
The sources did not confirm if the attack caused any deaths or injuries, though one security source said that the rockets fell inside the base.
The incident comes as tensions in the Middle East escalate amid the Israel-Hamas war. Last week, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran, causing the Iranian government to vow retribution against Israel.
BIDEN TO MEET WITH NATIONAL SECURITY TEAM AHEAD OF ANTICIPATED IRANIAN ATTACK AGAINST ISRAEL
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has not claimed responsibility for the death of Haniyeh, but Iran reported plans to launch attacks against Israel soon.
"They will see the result of their mistake," Iranian General Hossein Salami said after the death of Haniyeh. "They will see when, how and where they will get their response."
HEZBOLLAH TERRORISTS HOLD ‘MASSIVE’ STOCKPILE OF IRANIAN ARMS, SECURITY EXPERTS WARN
On Sunday, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State Matthew Miller said that Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani "to discuss the latest developments in the region."
"The Secretary emphasized the importance of all parties taking steps to calm regional tensions, avoid further escalation, and advance stability," Millter said. "The Secretary underscored U.S. commitment to the Higher Military Commission process to determine how and when the D-ISIS Coalition’s military mission in Iraq will transition and the importance of force protection as we work toward that transition."
"The Secretary affirmed that we remain committed to the U.S.-Iraq 360-degree relationship to build economic opportunities and prosperity for all Iraqis."
Reuters contributed to this report.
UK riots plunge country into worst unrest in years, prime minister vows to apply 'full force of law'
Days of rioting across the United Kingdom over the stabbing deaths of three young girls last week has plunged the country into the worst unrest it has seen in years.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday said that a "standing army" of specialist police would be set up to deal with rioting and that the justice system would be ramped up to deal with hundreds of arrests after violent disorder rocked cities across the nation over the past week.
"Whatever the apparent motivation, this is not protest, it is pure violence and we will not tolerate attacks on mosques or our Muslim communities," Starmer said on Monday. "The full force of law will be visited on all those who are identified as having taken part."
Riots and protests involving hundreds of people have created chaos in towns and cities across the country.
RIOTS ERUPT IN UK AFTER STABBING SPREE FALSELY BLAMED ON ASYLUM SEEKER
Dozens of police officers have been hospitalized for injuries in the past six days after being struck with bricks, bottles, chairs and large wooden posts.
On Sunday, angry mobs attacked two hotels used to house asylum seekers, breaking windows and lighting fires before police dispersed the crowds and residents were evacuated.
Starmer blamed the violence on misinformation spread on social media that sparked outrage over a stabbing that left three young girls dead and others wounded at a Taylor Swift-themed dance event in the town of Southport.
The false social media posts claimed that the suspected attacker was a radical Islamist who had recently arrived in Britain, Reuters reported. Police, however, identified the attacker as 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, who was born in Wales to Rwandan parents, and said authorities are not treating the incident as terror-related.
Suspects under 18 are typically not named in the U.K., but the judge in the case ordered the suspect to be identified to stop the spread of misinformation. The teen has been charged with three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder.
A spokesperson for Starmer said on Monday that social media companies have not done enough to prevent the spread of misinformation, and that some of that false and misleading information has come from foreign states.
"The disinformation that we’ve seen online attracts amplification from known bot activity, which, as I say, can be linked to state-backed activity," the spokesperson said.
Fox News' Bradford Betz and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Israelis remain calm and carry on in face of Iranian threat
Israelis remain determined to go about their ordinary lives even as the threat of an Iranian attack hangs over the Middle East.
Iran has vowed to avenge the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Tehran on Wednesday. The assassination has been widely attributed to Israel, though Jerusalem has neither confirmed nor denied this.
Potential missile and drone attacks from Iran and its proxies have prompted Israelis to stock up on food, water, batteries and more. The run on stores was reminiscent of the days leading up to Iran’s barrage of hundreds of missiles and drones in April.
"I know that if [Iranian leader Ali] Khamenei says he’s going to do something, he usually follows through," Yael Sasson, a 56-year-old homemaker from Ashkelon told The Press Service of Israel. "The question is just what form the attack will take, and in my opinion, the news channels have overreacted a bit to this whole situation."
IDF KILLS HEZBOLLAH COMMANDER BEHIND BRUTAL ATTACK ON CHILDREN'S SOCCER FIELD: OFFICIALS
A mother of two, she said her family is well-stocked. For now, Sasson notes, Ashkelon’s parks and beaches are still full of people.
"We’re trusting in the defensive abilities of the IDF, and God-willing everything will be fine," Sasson said.
HEZBOLLAH TERRORISTS HOLD ‘MASSIVE’ STOCKPILE OF IRANIAN ARMS, SECURITY EXPERTS WARN
Nick Gottlieb, a 26-year-old U.S. immigrant who works at a tech VC firm in Tel Aviv, told TPS-IL that life continues in Tel Aviv.
"If there’s a war, someone forgot to tell Tel Aviv. It’s business as normal — the beaches, shuck [marketplace], and bars are still full," he said.
BIDEN TO MEET WITH NATIONAL SECURITY TEAM AHEAD OF ANTICIPATED IRANIAN ATTACK AGAINST ISRAEL
"There’s definitely a low-level stress in the air, but people are still going about their lives. I’m not going to not show up to work over this."
Gottlieb told TPS-IL he is fully confident in Israel’s defensive abilities.
"I think that Iran is a house of cards resting entirely on income from oil and weapon sales to terrorists. If Israel gets the green light to attack them back, their regime is done," he said, emphatically. "To put it into just two words, ‘bring it.’"
TPS contributed to this report.
Israel considers preemptive strike on Iran as tensions escalate: report
Israeli officials are leaving no options off the table as they consider the possibility of hitting Iran with a preemptive strike while Jerusalem stares down threats in every direction.
Following a Sunday meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his chief security officials from the defense ministry, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Mossad and Israel’s internal security agency Shin Bet, local reporting said preparations were being made should an attack be launched by Iran or its proxy terrorist organizations.
Concerns over Israeli security have once again mounted following last week’s assassination of Hezbollah military chief Fuad Shukr in Beirut and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
BIDEN TO MEET WITH NATIONAL SECURITY TEAM AHEAD OF ANTICIPATED IRANIAN ATTACK AGAINST ISRAEL
Israel has not claimed credit for the killing of Haniyeh, though Iran and Hamas have both blamed Jerusalem for the attack and have vowed retaliation.
Israeli reports said there would need to be "airtight" proof that Iran was planning an attack before it would carry out a preemptive strike, though an additional meeting Monday between top defense officials signaled Jerusalem is on heightened alert.
Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant visited an Israeli Air Force (IAF) command center, where he met the commanding officer, Gen. Tomer Bar, and other top officials to go over Israel’s air defense readiness and its potential offensive capabilities, Israel’s Ministry of Defense confirmed to Fox News Digital.
"Our enemies are carefully considering their every move because of the capabilities you have demonstrated over the past year. Nevertheless, we must be prepared for anything – including a swift transition to offense," Gallant said.
Border towns in northern Israel have also been put on alert as officials also prepare for the potential of an all-out war with Hezbollah.
HEZBOLLAH TERRORISTS HOLD ‘MASSIVE’ STOCKPILE OF IRANIAN ARMS, SECURITY EXPERTS WARN
Mayors were reportedly issued an "Updated Scenario" by the IDF that broke down what the outbreak of war could look like, including a three-day-long power outage, days of unreliable water supply, disconnected landlines for up to eight hours, disrupted cellphone communications for up to 24 hours, and brief interrupted access to radio and internet connections, reported the Times of Israel.
The document also predicted that up to 40% of Israel’s workforce may be unable to work for the duration of the conflict and service providers from outside conflict areas are expected to become inaccessible.
The document did not appear to include an estimated timeline for how long such a conflict is expected to last.
Security officials have warned that heavy rocket fire is expected, with substantial payloads ranging from warheads containing roughly 100 pounds of explosives – like the rocket that killed 12 children after it hit a soccer field in Majdal Shams last month – to 10 times that amount.
Maj. Gen. Ori Gordin, the IDF commander of the Northern Command, also met with regional officials on Sunday to address troop preparedness in the north.
"I want you to know that our future offensive plans are ready, and we are prepared, across all units, including me down to the last soldier," he told local authorities, according to a statement provided by the IDF. "We have targeted and destroyed a lot in the last 10 months, but we still have work to do, we are determined and committed.
"We are determined to change the situation here in the north and bring our residents back home," he added.
It is unclear how many Israeli citizens have been evacuated from northern Israel, though some estimates range as high as nearly 80,000.
While some evacuees are reportedly being housed in hotels, plans are being made to shelter others in Jerusalem-based schools, while tent cities are also being erected in the south.
IDF officials reportedly said previously erected safe houses remain effective protective shelters from Hezbollah rocket fire and Shin Bet has prepared an underground shelter in Israel’s capital city for Netanyahu and other top officials.
The bunker, first built 20 years ago, has been made fully operational by the internal security agency, is capable of sustaining hits from a "range of existing weaponry," and has command and control capabilities, reported the Times of Israel Sunday.
The bunker – which has not been used in the previous 10 months since war broke out – is also connected to the Defense Ministry’s Tel Aviv headquarters.
Fox News Digital's Yonat Friling contributed to this report.
Iran issues chilling threat against Israel as Hezbollah drones preview larger attack
Hezbollah terrorists say they launched a drone attack against Israel Monday as the country braces amid Iranian threats of a much larger assault.
Tensions between Israel and Iran and its terrorist proxies have threatened to burst into all-out war for weeks. Iran has threatened a larger assault after Hamas' top political leader was killed within its borders last week.
Hezbollah attributed Monday's strike as a response to alleged "attacks and assassinations" by Israel.
Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed last week in Iran's capital and Hezbollah commander Fouad Shukur was killed in Beirut. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed killing Shukur, but has not claimed responsibility for the death of Haniyeh.
Iranian General Hossein Salami issued a stark threat to Israel following the killings.
BIDEN ADMIN UNDER PRESSURE TO STOP BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN SANCTIONS RELIEF TO IRAN
"They will see the result of their mistake. They will see when, how and where they will get their response," Salami said in a speech, adding that Israel was "digging its own grave."
Nasser Kanaani, the spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, said Monday that Iran has "the intrinsic right to provide for its own security and punish the aggressor," and "will definitely take serious deterrent action with power and decisiveness." He said it would be acting in accordance with international law and the right of self-defense.
He added that Iran "is not after intensifying tension in the region." He urged the international community to support Iran in punishing Israel.
Iran has also accused Israel of targeting Iranian nuclear scientists in a bid to hamper what Tehran claims is its peaceful nuclear research program.
ISRAEL'S ‘SWORN ENEMY’ HEZBOLLAH TELLS IRAN IT WOULD FIGHT ALONE IF CONFLICT ESCALATES
"Israel is the cradle of terrorism and it has been created out of killing and murder," Salami said. "They think they can kill the nuclear scientists of another country and impede that country’s path toward peaceful nuclear technology. They think that by killing the leader of a resistance group ... in another country will give them more time to live."
Israel says it is prepared to respond to any act of aggression from Iran or its terror proxies.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Bangladesh PM resigns, leaves country after residence is stormed by protesters, ending 15-year rule
Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned on Monday, ending 15 years in power as thousands of protesters defied a military curfew and stormed her official residence.
Shortly after local media showed the embattled leader boarding a military helicopter with her sister, Bangladesh’s military chief Gen. Waker-uz-Zaman announced plans to seek the president's guidance on forming interim government.
He promised that the military would stand down, and to launch an investigation into the deadly crackdowns that fueled outrage against the government, and asked citizens for time to restore peace.
BANGLADESH URGES UNIVERSITIES TO CLOSE AFTER 6 DIE IN PROTESTS, BOMBS AND WEAPONS FOUND
"Keep faith in the military, we will investigate all the killings and punish the responsible," he said. "I have ordered that no army and police will indulge in any kind of firing."
"Now, the students’ duty is to stay calm and help us," he added.
The protests began peacefully as frustrated students demanded an end to a quota system for government jobs, but the demonstrations have since morphed into an unprecedented challenge and uprising against Hasina and her ruling Awami League party.
The government attempted to quell the violence with force, leaving nearly 300 people dead and fueling further outrage and calls for Hasina to step down.
At least 95 people, including at least 14 police officers, died in clashes in the capital on Sunday, according to the country's leading Bengali-language daily newspaper, Prothom Alo. Hundreds more were injured in the violence.
At least 11,000 people have been arrested in recent weeks. The unrest has also resulted in the closure of schools and universities across the country, and authorities at one point imposed a shoot-on-sight curfew.
Over the weekend, protesters called for a "non-cooperation" effort, urging people not to pay taxes or utility bills and not to show up for work on Sunday, a working day in Bangladesh. Offices, banks and factories opened, but commuters in Dhaka and other cities faced challenges getting to their jobs.
Hasina offered to talk with student leaders on Saturday, but a coordinator refused and announced a one-point demand for her resignation. Hasina repeated her pledges to investigate the deaths and punish those responsible for the violence. She said she was ready to sit down whenever the protesters want.
Authorities shut off mobile internet on Sunday in an attempt to quell the unrest, while the broadband internet was cut off briefly Monday morning. It was the second internet blackout in the country after the protests turned deadly in July.
On Monday, after three hours of suspension of broadband services, both broadband and mobile internet returned.
Hasina had said protesters who engaged in "sabotage" and destruction were no longer students but criminals, and she said the people should deal with them with iron hands.
The 76-year-old was elected for a fourth consecutive term in a January vote that was boycotted by her main opponents, triggering questions over how free and fair the vote was. Thousands of opposition members were jailed in the lead-up to the polls, which the government defended as democratically held.
Today, she is the longest-serving leader in the history of Bangladesh, a predominantly Muslim nation of over 160 million people strategically located between India and Myanmar.
Her political opponents have previously accused her of growing increasingly autocratic and called her a threat to the country’s democracy, and many now say the unrest is a result of her authoritarian streak and hunger for control at all costs.
Iran’s foreign ministry says punishing Israel is 'necessary' after assassination of Hamas leader
Iran's foreign ministry said it believes it is "necessary" to retaliate against Israel for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
A spokesperson for the foreign ministry, Nasser Kanaani, said while Iran was not seeking to escalate tensions, it views punishment as a "necessary" response to the killing of Haniyeh in Tehran and to prevent further instability, according to Reuters and The Guardian.
Nobody has claimed responsibility for the attack on Haniyeh, but Iran and Hamas have accused Israel of carrying out the strike.
IRAN REJECTS PLEAS FROM US, ARABS TO SHOW RESTRAINT IN RESPONSE TO ASSASSINATION OF HAMAS LEADER
This comes after Iran rejected calls by the U.S. and Arabs to moderate its response to the killing of Haniyeh, with the U.S. warning that any significant strike would illicit a response and that new Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's efforts to improve engagement with the West would be better received if Iran shows restraint, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The U.S. also said it was urging Israel to deescalate tensions.
Iranian leaders told Arab diplomats on Saturday that it does not matter to them if their retaliation leads to a war.
Israel said it was prepared to defend against and respond to any retaliatory strike.
BIDEN TO MEET WITH NATIONAL SECURITY TEAM AHEAD OF ANTICIPATED IRANIAN ATTACK AGAINST ISRAEL
"Israel is now in a multifront war against the Iranian axis of evil," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday. "We are ready for any scenario, either defensive or offensive. I repeat to our enemies: We will respond and exact a heavy price for any act of aggression against us, from any arena."
Haniyeh, who was in Tehran to attend the inauguration of Iran's new president, was killed by a bomb while staying in an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps guesthouse, according to The Wall Street Journal, although Iran and Hamas have disputed that a bomb killed Haniyeh, claiming instead that he was struck by a missile.
Israel has not publicly commented on the killing.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Iran rejects pleas from US, Arabs to show restraint in response to assassination of Hamas leader
Iran rejected calls by the U.S. and Arabs to measure its response to the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
This comes after Iranian officials announced they were investigating the security breaches that led to the attack.
Iranian leaders have pledged to retaliate, telling Arab diplomats on Saturday that it does not matter to them if the response led to a war, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The U.S. requested that partner governments in Europe and elsewhere convey a message to Iran not to escalate tensions, stressing that any significant strike would illicit a response and that new Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's efforts to improve relations with the West would be better received if Iran shows restraint, according to the report.
IDF SAYS 'SUSPICIOUS AERIAL TARGETS' CROSSED FROM LEBANON BEFORE ISRAELI FORCES KNOCKED THEM DOWN
U.S. officials said in its message that they were also urging Israel to deescalate tensions.
Nobody has claimed responsibility for the attack on Haniyeh, but Iran and Hamas have accused Israel of carrying out the strike.
Jordan's foreign minister, Ayman Safadi, visited Tehran on Sunday to talk about how to scale back tensions, according to The Wall Street Journal report. In April, Jordan intercepted projectiles that had entered its airspace headed toward Israel during Iran's drone and missile attack on the Jewish State, and Jordan suggested it would do the same again.
"Anyone who wants to violate our skies, we will face that," Safadi said last week. "Jordan will not be a battlefield. We are exposed to many consequences."
Israel said it was prepared to defend against and respond to any retaliatory strike.
BIDEN TO MEET WITH NATIONAL SECURITY TEAM AHEAD OF ANTICIPATED IRANIAN ATTACK AGAINST ISRAEL
"Israel is now in a multifront war against the Iranian axis of evil," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday. "We are ready for any scenario, either defensive or offensive. I repeat to our enemies: We will respond and exact a heavy price for any act of aggression against us, from any arena."
Haniyeh, who was in Tehran to attend the inauguration of Iran's new president, was killed by a bomb while staying in an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps guesthouse, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Iran and Hamas have disputed that a bomb killed Haniyeh, claiming instead that he was struck by a missile. Israel has not publicly commented on the killing.
Iran's judiciary deputy chief, Sadeq Rahimi, said Saturday that the country’s public prosecutor opened an investigation into Haniyeh's assassination and ordered to identify and arrest anyone who was negligent or knowingly worked with Israel in the killing, according to the local Fars news agency, which is managed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
"Whether Israel has used infiltratory elements, human agents and spies, or it has committed this crime directly are under investigation," Rahimi said, according to Mehr news, which is also close to the IRGC.
Politicians in Tehran have said the attack exposed intelligence failures by Iran’s security agencies. "There are gaps and contaminations in the security information system of the country," Ahmad Bakhshaish Ardestani, a member of the foreign affairs and national security commission in Iran’s Parliament, told Iran's Didban news site.
Israel has put its military on high alert, as U.S. officials have worked to have military assets and regional partners prepared to stop an attack.
"We are preparing for every possibility, just as we did in advance of April 13 when Iran attacked Israel and the United States and a coalition of our partners and allies worked with Israel to defeat that attack," U.S. deputy national security adviser Jon Finer told ABC News on Sunday.
The Wall Street Journal contributed to this report.
IDF says 'suspicious aerial targets' crossed from Lebanon before Israeli forces knocked them down
The Israeli Defense Forces said Sunday that it located "numerous suspicious aerial targets" crossing from Lebanon, prompting Israel to launch multiple interceptors that knocked the targets to the ground.
According to a press release from the IDF, a fall was identified adjacent to the kibbutz Ayelet HaShahar. This came after sirens were heard in the upper Galilee.
The incident moderately injured an IDF officer and soldier, who were both transported to a hospital for treatment. The families of the injured have been notified, the IDF said.
Israel Fire Services are working to extinguish a fire that was ignited in the area during the attack.
BIDEN TO MEET WITH NATIONAL SECURITY TEAM AHEAD OF ANTICIPATED IRANIAN ATTACK AGAINST ISRAEL
The IDF said that, after the sirens that sounded in the areas of Kiryat Shmona and Kfar Giladi, it was determined to be false identification.
IDF Spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, said in a press briefing that troops are in several areas, including the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, Judea and Samaria, to thwart threats against Israel.
In Gaza, the IDF is focusing on locating and neutralizing underground infrastructure in the Rafah area and the Philadelphi Corridor, Hagari said, adding that dozens of tunnels have thus far been located and are being investigated, neutralized and destroyed by troops.
Hagari said not all of these tunnels are active, as some are old and the IDF has already dealt with them, but that all the tunnels are being neutralized.
On Sunday morning, two Israeli citizens were killed and two others were wounded in a stabbing attack in the city of Holon, according to Hagari. The terrorist was neutralized at the scene by a police officer.
On Saturday, the IDF and the Israeli Securities Authority prepared a response to an alert about a terrorist cell in the Tulkarm area in the West Bank, Hagari said. The cell was on its way to carry out a terror attack on an axis or in a community, but an aircraft eliminated the cell of five terrorists who were inside a vehicle, according to Hagari.
Later that day, a counter-terrorism operation was conducted by the IDF and ISA in Tulkarm, where an aircraft killed four terrorists who had opened fire at Israeli forces. Troops also assisted from the ground, Hagari said.
Following the operation, troops located large numbers of firearms, ammunition and military vests. Hagari said a lot of these weapons come to Judea and Samaria from Iran.
"For years, Iran has been arming and financing terrorist organizations across the Middle East, including smuggling explosives into Israeli territory for terror attacks against civilians," Hagari said. "The IDF and ISA have already thwarted numerous attacks in which Claymore type explosives were smuggled into the country’s territory. We are determined to continue acting against Iranian terrorism wherever it may be."
IDF UNCOVERS MASSIVE SMUGGLING TUNNEL FOR VEHICLES ON GAZA-EGYPT BORDER
This comes after Hamas terrorists' Oct. 7 attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 people and roughly 250 others were abducted. Many of the hostages are still being held by Hamas.
"This evening, we also remember the 115 hostages held by the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip," Hagari said. "We are committed to bringing them all home as soon as possible — those who are alive to their families, and those who are no longer alive to burial in Israel. This is our goal, and we will continue to act with great determination to achieve it."
More than 39,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 90,000 wounded in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, although the count does not differentiate between civilians and terrorists.
Biden to meet with national security team ahead of anticipated Iranian attack against Israel
President Biden will meet with his national security team in the Situation Room Monday ahead of an anticipated Iranian attack against Israel.
The meeting came a day after Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke with his counterpart in Israel Sunday to reiterate U.S. support for the Jewish state as tensions escalate with Iran and its proxies, threatening a wider regional war after 10 months of fighting Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.
Austin and Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant discussed U.S. force posture moves that the Defense Department is taking to bolster protection for U.S. forces in the region, support the defense of Israel, and deter and de-escalate broader tensions in the region, according to readout from the Pentagon.
That meeting came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a Cabinet meeting Sunday that Israel is already in a "multi-front war" with Iran and its proxies.
Tensions in the region are already at all-time highs after last week’s killing of a senior Hezbollah commander in Lebanon and Hamas' top political leader in Iran. Iran and its allies have blamed Israel and threatened retaliation. Hamas said it has begun discussions on choosing a new leader.
Netanyahu said Israel was ready for any scenario. Jordan's foreign minister was making a rare trip to Iran as part of diplomatic efforts — "We want the escalation to end," Ayman Safadi said.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Antony Blinken reportedly told his counterparts on Sunday that Iran and Hezbollah could attack Israel as early as Monday, per Axios.
Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, head of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) is expected to arrive in Israel Monday to coordinate preparations for the anticipated attack, according to the Times of Israel.
In Israel, some prepared bomb shelters and recalled Iran's unprecedented direct military assault in April following a suspected Israeli strike that killed two Iranian generals. Israel said almost all the drones and ballistic and cruise missiles were intercepted.
"For years, Iran has been arming and financing terrorist organizations across the Middle East, including smuggling explosives into Israeli territory for terror attacks against civilians," IDF Spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in a statement. "The IDF and ISA have already thwarted numerous attacks in which Claymore type explosives were smuggled into the country’s territory. We are determined to continue acting against Iranian terrorism wherever it may be."
The war in Gaza was triggered by Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel that killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took around 250 people hostage. Israel’s brutal retaliation has led to the deaths of nearly 40,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
Heavy airstrikes and ground operations have caused widespread destruction and displaced the vast majority of Gaza's 2.3 million people.
The militant group Hezbollah and Israel have continued to trade fire along the Lebanon border since the war began, with the severity growing in recent months. Hezbollah said it's aimed at relieving pressure on fellow Iran-backed ally Hamas.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Riots erupt in UK after stabbing spree falsely blamed on asylum seeker
Riots have broken out across the U.K. in recent days over false rumors spread online that an asylum seeker was responsible for a mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance event that left three girls dead and others wounded.
The suspect has been identified as 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, who was born in Wales to Rwandan parents.
Suspects under 18 are typically not named in the U.K., but the judge in the case ordered the suspect to be identified to stop the spread of misinformation. The teen has been charged with three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder.
In the days since the stabbing spree, rioters have torched a library, attacked a mosque and thrown flares at a statue of wartime leader Winston Churchill as agitators tap into broader concerns about the scale of immigration in the U.K.
Hundreds of people have been arrested in connection with the disorder and many more are likely as police scour CCTV, social media and body-worn camera footage. However, police have also warned that with widespread security measures in place, with thousands of officers deployed, other crimes may not be investigated fully.
On Sunday, the violence was particularly acute in the north of England town of Rotherham where police struggled to hold back hundreds of rioters who sought to break into a Holiday Inn Express hotel being used as accommodation for asylum seekers.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowed Sunday afternoon that the authorities will "do whatever it takes to bring these thugs to justice."
"I guarantee you will regret taking part in this disorder, whether directly or those whipping up this action online and then running away themselves," he said. "This is not a protest. It is organized, violent thuggery, and it has no place on our streets or online."
Starmer deemed anyone targeting people for the color of their skin or their faith to be "far-right."
"People in this country have a right to be safe, and yet we've seen Muslim communities targeted, attacks on mosques, other minority communities singled out, Nazi salutes in the street, attacks on the police, wanton violence alongside racist rhetoric, so no, I won't shy away from calling it what it is: far-right thuggery," he said.
Before bringing the riot under some sort of control, police officers with shields faced a barrage of missiles, including bits of wood, chairs and fire extinguishers. A large bin close to a window of the hotel was also set alight. The small fire was extinguished.
South Yorkshire police, which is responsible for Rotherham, said at least 10 officers have been injured, including one who was left unconscious.
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"The behavior we witnessed has been nothing short of disgusting. While it was a smaller number of those in attendance who chose to commit violence and destruction, those who simply stood on and watched remain absolutely complicit in this," said Assistant Chief Constable Lindsey Butterfield. "We have officers working hard, reviewing the considerable online imagery and footage of those involved, and they should expect us to be at their doors very soon."
Tensions were also running high Sunday in the northeastern town of Middlesbrough, where some protesters broke free of a police guard. One group walked through a residential area, smashing the windows of houses and cars.
Hundreds of others clashed with police at the town's cenotaph, throwing bricks, cans and pots at officers.
Many of the demonstrations over the past week were organized online by groups that mobilized support with phrases like "enough is enough," "save our kids" and "stop the boats."
Rallying cries have come from a diffuse group of social media accounts, but a key player in amplifying them is Tommy Robinson, leader of the English Defense League (EDL). The Merseyside police has linked the EDL to the violent protest in Southport on Tuesday, near the scene of the stabbing attack.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
IDF uncovers massive smuggling tunnel for vehicles on Gaza-Egypt border
Israel Defense Forces discovered a large tunnel that is big enough to allow vehicles to pass through on the border between Gaza and Egypt, officials said Sunday.
The 10-foot-tall tunnel was found last week on the so-called Philadelphi Route as IDF troops were in the area to search for tunnel routes that Hamas terrorists were believed to be using to smuggle arms.
The IDF said their troops have eliminated dozens of such tunnels in the area and will continue to uncover and destroy others that they may find.
Tensions in the Middle East have soared following nearly 10 months of war in Gaza and the killing last week of a senior Hezbollah commander in Lebanon and Hamas’ top political leader in Iran. Iran and its allies have blamed Israel and threatened retaliation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a Cabinet meeting Sunday that the Jewish State is already in a "multi-front war" with Iran and its proxies and was ready for any scenario.
The U.S. has urged Israel to seize the chance for a ceasefire in the hopes of preventing a wider regional conflict.
The Pentagon said late Friday that the U.S. military will move a fighter jet squadron to the Middle East and maintain an aircraft carrier in the region.
The U.S. Embassy in Lebanon encouraged citizens who wish to leave to "book any ticket available," noting that several airlines have suspended or canceled flights.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Israel prepares for Iran attack amid warnings that regime is close to having nuclear weapon: 'Unnerving'
JERUSALEM – As Iran ramps up its threats to launch a massive attack against U.S. ally Israel and possibly American assets in the region, the rogue regime in Tehran is on the cusp of producing a nuclear bomb.
Late last month, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said after having reviewed a Director of National Intelligence report on Iran's atomic program, "I believe it is a certainty that if we do not change course, Iran will in the coming weeks or months possess a nuclear weapon." He added, "Iran will keep going until someone tells them to stop. It is time to put red lines on their nuclear program. The idea of ambiguity is not working."
Graham termed the findings in the DNI report "unnerving" and said Iran’s "ability to weaponize material has advanced" with respect to a nuclear weapons device.
Just weeks before Graham’s dramatic announcement about Iran being on the brink of nuclear-armed weapons status, he sent a strongly worded letter to DNI head Avril Haines, stating,"You are in violation of the law" over her vehement opposition to disclosing sensitive information to Congress on Iran's nuclear progress. In 2022, Congress passed a law requiring the government to provide updates on Iran's atomic program. Haines eventually complied after Graham went public in the media.
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Graham told Fox News' Sean Hannity on July 31 that there is no Hamas or Hezbollah without Iran’s regime. He urged Israel to launch attacks against Iran’s oil refineries, with the view toward stopping Iranian jingoism. In April, Iran launched over 300 missiles, drones and rockets into Israel.
A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department told Fox News Digital, "As the President and the Secretary have made clear, the United States will ensure one way or another that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon.
"We will continue working with Congress to use a variety of tools in pursuit of that goal and all options remain on the table."
The spokesperson added, "The intelligence community continues to assess that the Supreme Leader has not made any decision to restart the nuclear weapons program that Iran halted in 2003. That said, we remain deeply concerned with Iran’s continued expansion of nuclear activities in ways that have no credible civilian purpose and continue to vigilantly monitor them."
However, Fox News Digital reported in July 2023 that intelligence reports from European states contradict the Biden administration’s assertion that Iran’s regime has not restarted its atomic weapons program. Netherlands General and Intelligence Security Service (AIVD) assessed Tehran’s development of weapons-grade uranium "brings the option of a possible [Iranian] first nuclear test closer."
When asked about critics who claim Biden has not enforced oil and gas sanctions against Iran’s regime, the State Department spokesman said, "The Biden Administration has not lifted a single sanction on Iran. Rather, we continue to increase pressure. Our extensive sanctions on Iran remain in place, and we continue to enforce them. Over the last three years, the United States has sanctioned over 700 individuals and entities connected to the full range of Iran’s reckless and destabilizing behaviors."
Republican lawmakers and Iran experts have slammed the Biden administration for alleged appeasement toward the mullah regime with respect to unfreezing tens of billions of dollars in sanctions relief.
The State Department spokesperson said, "Since 2021, we have sanctioned dozens of individuals and entities across multiple jurisdictions, including the PRC, UAE, and Southeast Asia for roles in the production, sale, and shipment of hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian petrochemicals and petroleum products. And we have identified as blocked property numerous vessels involved in this trade. "
BIDEN ADMIN UNDER PRESSURE TO STOP BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN SANCTIONS RELIEF TO IRAN
David Albright, physicist and founder and president of the Institute for Science and International Security in Washington, D.C., told Fox News Digital, "Sen. Graham's statement of being unnerved is good to hear. The IC assessment has been flawed ever since its 2007 National Intelligence Estimate."
Albright is widely considered one of the world’s leading experts on Iran’s nuclear program. He said, "Sen. Graham mentioned that some advances had occurred in Iran's ability to make nuclear weapons, i.e. weaponize the weapon-grade uranium into a nuclear weapon, but his comment was sparse and devoid of substance. It is in this area, however, where new intelligence community assessments may or may not lurk. But I cannot weigh in on this based on what the senator said."
Albright worked closely with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Action Team from 1992 until 1997, focusing on Iraqi documents and past procurement activities. In 1996, he served as the first non-governmental inspector of the Iraqi nuclear program.
Albright said, "It is clear that the DNI report included a short timeframe for Iran to produce a significant quantity of weapon-grade uranium, but this is old news and well-established by the IAEA in its quarterly reports and some standard calculations. The new twist is Iran's recent expansion at the deeply buried Fordow site, which gives Iran a new ability to produce significant quantities of weapon-grade uranium in days at this site. But again, we have reported on this."
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in July about Iran’s quest to obtain a nuclear weapon, "Instead of being at least a year away from having the breakout capacity of producing fissile material for a nuclear weapon, (Iran) is now probably one or two weeks away from doing that."
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When asked about the breakout concept, Albright said, "Breakout is usually defined as the time for Iran to produce enough weapon-grade for a single nuclear weapon. It has been measured in days rather than months for many months, based on IAEA reporting in its quarterly reports and standard calculational methods, which we have regularly published and the studies are on our website."
He continued, "A common assessment, which we share, is that Iran has not made a formal decision to build nuclear weapons, so it has also not made a decision to breakout and produce weapon-grade uranium."
"Breakout is not typically used to discuss the entire time Iran would need to produce its first nuclear weapon," Albright noted. "This timeframe depends on the breakout above but also on what type of weapon would Iran build. Our assessment is that Iran could build a crude nuclear explosive, deliverable by truck, or able to be exploded underground in six months. It would need longer, perhaps six more months in a crash program to be able to mount a reliable nuclear warhead on a ballistic missile."
Gabriel Noronha, a former U.S. Department State adviser on Iran, told Fox News Digital, "Iran has been decreasing its nuclear enrichment breakout time over the past five years, but that’s different than them actually making the decision to go and rush toward a bomb. However, they love the flexibility and leverage that being this close brings them – especially now that they are under two weeks away from having enough enriched uranium, and haven’t suffered any significant consequences as a result."
He added, "However, it is much less clear how close Iran’s weaponization program has come to both building a weapon and being able to pair it on a missile that could reach Israel or other American allies. What’s clear from Sen. Graham’s press conference is that Iran keeps on getting closer and closer on this part of its nuclear program."
Noronha, who is also a fellow at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA), urged "Biden to have a clear and credible red line that further progress toward a nuclear weapon would be met with a military response. But he should only make a threat like that if he is willing to back it up with action. If President Biden really wants to avoid military action, then he needs to roll out every possible diplomatic and economic consequence in the interim to punish and deter Iran from proceeding any further."
How the US used AI to take on the Taliban amid drawdown
Many have questioned the lessons learned from the 20-year war in Afghanistan following the chaotic withdrawal and subsequent Taliban takeover, but one major accomplishment from the U.S.’s time fighting the Taliban has emerged – the use of Artificial Intelligence to track terrorist attacks.
In 2019, U.S. and coalition forces began drawing down their troop presence across the country, which left remaining forces strapped when it came to their ability to maintain human intelligence networks used to monitor Taliban movements.
By the end of 2019, the number of Taliban attacks levied at U.S. and coalition forces spiked to levels not seen since the decade prior, prompting security forces in Afghanistan to develop an AI program known as "Raven Sentry."
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In a report released earlier this year, U.S. Amy Colonel Thomas Spahr, chair of the Department of Military Strategy, Planning, and Operations at the U.S. Army War College, quoted A.J.P. Taylor and said, "War has always been the mother of invention." Spahr pointed to the development of tanks during World War I, the atomic weapon in World War II and the use of AI to track Open-Source Intelligence as the U.S.’s longest lasting war began to wind down.
Raven Sentry looked to take the load off human analysts by sorting through vast amounts of data that drew from "weather patterns, calendar events, increased activity around mosques or madrassas, and activity around historic staging areas."
Despite some initial challenges when the technology was first developed, a team of intelligence officers pulled together to form a group dubbed the "nerd locker" to develop a system that could "reliably predict" a terrorist attack.
"By 2019, the digital ecosystem’s infrastructure had progressed, and advances in sensors and prototype AI tools could detect and rapidly organize these dispersed indicators of insurgent attacks," Spahr, who was also involved with the program, first reported The Economist.
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Though the AI program was cut short by the withdrawal on Aug. 30, 2021, its success was attributed to a "culture" of tolerance for early failures and technological expertise.
Spahr said the team developing Raven Sentry "was aware of senior military and political leaders’ concerns about proper oversight and the relationship between humans and algorithms in combat systems."
He also pointed out that AI testing is "doomed" if leadership does not tolerate experimentation when programs are developing.
By October 2020, less than a year before the withdrawal, Raven Sentry had reached a 70% accuracy threshold in predicting when and where an attack would likely occur – technology that has proven critical in major wars today, both in the Middle East and Ukraine.
"Advances in generative AI and large language models are increasing AI capabilities, and the ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East demonstrate new advances," the U.S. Army colonel wrote.
Spahr also said that if the U.S. and its allies want to keep its AI technology competitive, it must "balance the tension between computer speed and human intuition" by educating leaders who remain skeptical of the ever-emerging technology.
Despite the success the AI program saw in Afghanistan, the Army colonel warned that "war is ultimately human, and the adversary will adapt to the most advanced technology, often with simple, common-sense solutions."
"Just as Iraqi insurgents learned that burning tires in the streets degraded US aircraft optics or as Vietnamese guerrillas dug tunnels to avoid overhead observation, America’s adversaries will learn to trick AI systems and corrupt data inputs," he added. "The Taliban, after all, prevailed against the United States and NATO’s advanced technology in Afghanistan."
Argentina's Milei rallies Venezuelan opposition despite Maduro's 'ugly' attacks
Argentinian President Javier Milei has emerged as a powerful ally of the Venezuelan anti-government protests as international pressure mounts to award the recent presidential election to the opposition.
Leaders from around the world, including the U.S., have cast doubt on Nicolas Maduro's claim that he won the election, and protesters have clashed with police in the streets of the embattled South American nation.
"He's been very, very helpful, and he has been kind of like a rallying voice in South America to allow him, along with the left, the opposition of healing work and kind of pushing other democracies to recognize Edmundo as president," Daniel Acosta Rivas, an OSINT Analyst, told Fox News Digital.
Rivas said that Milei’s vocal support has "been coming into Venezuela and especially in the diaspora."
Milei was among the first world leaders to speak out after the Maduro-controlled National Electoral Council handed victory to the incumbent with an alleged margin of 51%, compared to 44% support for the opposition. Pre-election polling (which is illegal in the country) indicated that opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez received double the votes of Maduro.
The U.S. eventually recognized Gonzalez as the winner after claiming to have reviewed tally sheets, but Milei had immediately blasted the election result as a "fraud carried out and perpetrated by the dictator Nicolás Maduro."
"He may believe he has won a battle," Milei said. "However, the most important thing is that the Venezuelan lions have awakened, and sooner or later socialism will come to an end."
Milei stressed that Argentina "will not acknowledge a new fraud" and urged Venezuela’s armed forces to "defend democracy and popular will this time around." He pointed to "data" that showed a "crushing victory for the opposition."
Protesters took to the streets and met a violent crackdown from police as Maduro attempted to press his victory claim, drawing international condemnation. Milei continued to urge the protesters and support their fight against Maduro.
CHAVEZ STATUES TOPPLED ACROSS VENEZUELA AS ELECTION PROTESTS RAGE ON
Maduro lashed out at Milei earlier this week, taking several shots at the Argentinian. He referenced Milei’s "monster face" and called him "an ugly guy, too, and stupid."
He also labeled Milei a "Nazi, fascist guy" who demanded to know how anyone could take a "guy like that seriously," according to the Buenos Aires Herald. He also called Milei a "cowardly bug" and a "traitor to the homeland."
"These people have said no to wild capitalism and fascism," Maduro insisted during a rally outside his party headquarters. "From Caracas, Venezuela has said no to the Nazi fascist Milei. We are a country of warriors."
But Maduro’s response only seemed to have galvanized the protesters and strengthened Milei’s popularity among the opposition. Rivas noted that Maduro keeps commenting on the likes of Milei and Elon Musk - both prominent critics following the election result - in an effort to shift the focus away from the election, but the efforts have only highlighted him and his politics in a region that is increasingly unhappy with politics as normal in the region.
"He has pushed a right-wing movement or classical liberal movement throughout Latin America," Rivas said. "You see people being inspired by his message and his rise to the leadership … he was virtually unknown outside of libertarian circles before he ran for office, and he was dismissed by the other members of the opposition in Argentina during the Fernandez-Kirchner government. And look at him now."
Venezuelan activists living in exile spoke glowingly of Milei and his potential impact on the country as protesters continue seeking an end to the Maduro-Chavez system and a new way of life, possibly one that aligns more with the politics of Milei. Since taking office earlier this year, Milei, an economist, has tamed Argentina's runaway inflation, balanced the budget and pared the size of government.
"Young people tend to embrace socialist ideas; however, those who have lived under these political systems become their biggest adversaries," Esteban Hernández, a Venezuelan journalist in exile in Miami, told Fox News Digital.
"The Venezuelan youth, unlike in other countries, doesn't support these ideas," he said. "As a matter of fact, we have seen that in nations like the U.S. or even Argentina, they make efforts to get elected those who oppose socialism."
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"During the last election cycle in Argentina, for example, we saw many Venezuelans warning locals about voting for Sergio Massa, and many even volunteered to get Javier Milei elected," Hernández added.
Franklin Camargo, a Venezuelan activist in exile, told Fox News Digital that "Javier Milei is the best right-wing leader of our generation, since he refutes the socialists and the left with philosophical and moral arguments while continually offering the best defense of Individualism, Capitalism and Freedom."
VP short-lister Shapiro on defense over Israel after decades-old college paper surfaces
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, D-Penn., has had to defend his stance on Israel after an op-ed he penned more than three decades ago, in which he wrote of being an Israeli army volunteer and disparaged the Palestinian people, resurfaced.
"Since he wrote this piece as a 20-year-old student, Gov. Shapiro has built close, meaningful, informative relationships with many Muslim-American, Arab-American, Palestinian Christian, and Jewish community leaders all across Pennsylvania," Shapiro’s spokesman Manuel Bonder told Fox News Digital in a statement.
"The Governor greatly values their perspectives and the experiences he has learned from over the years – and as a result, as with many issues, his views on the Middle East have evolved into the position he holds today," Bonder continued.
The Philadelphia Inquirer uncovered the essay that Shapiro wrote for the Campus Times, the student newspaper of the University of Rochester, from which Shapiro graduated in 1995. In the article, Shapiro stressed his view that "Palestinians will not peacefully coexist," because "they do not have the capabilities to establish their own homelands and make it successful even with the aid of Israel and the United States."
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"They are too battle-minded to be able to establish a peaceful homeland of their own," Shapiro wrote, identifying himself as a "past volunteer in the Israeli army." He referred to the Arab world as divided and "belligerent."
The comments have resurfaced as part of a thorough review of Shapiro as he edges closer to a potential vice-presidential nod for the Democrat ticket topped by current Vice President Kamala Harris after she secured the nomination this week.
Shapiro's support for Israel has been controversial inside the Democratic Party due to the strong pro-Palestinian views of the party's far-left flank. Those who oppose his candidacy launched the "No Genocide Josh" campaign and continue to pressure Harris to pick another running mate.
Some Jewish members of Congress have said that criticism of Shapiro is unfair and assumes that Jewish politicians cannot be objective on Israel.
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"I think there is that sense that somehow we're not objective [on Israel] because we're Jewish, which is just not true or fair," Rep. Greg Landsman, D-Ohio, told Axios. "There are a lot of members who are pro-Israel who have been protested against — I think as Jews it feels particularly intense and personal."
Bonder pushed back on the idea that the newspaper op-ed, written decades ago, provides any indication of the governor’s current thinking regarding Israel.
"As the Governor has made clear for years, he supports a two-state solution where Israelis and Palestinians can live together peacefully – and he believes it is critical for leaders on both sides of this conflict to take meaningful, necessary steps towards a lasting peace," Bonder stressed.
"Governor Shapiro has worked hard to bring people together, listen, and keep our communities safe and heard – and he will always be a Governor for all Pennsylvanians," Bonder added.
Addressing the self-identification as a "past volunteer in the Israeli army," Bonder said, "While he was in high school, Josh Shapiro was required to do a service project, which he and several classmates completed through a program that took them to a kibbutz in Israel where he worked on a farm and at a fishery."
"The program also included volunteering on service projects on an Israeli army base. At no time was he engaged in any military activities," Bonder said.
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When asked about the article during a Friday press conference, the 51-year-old Shapiro stressed his age and the time that has passed since publishing the article. He reiterated his belief that the only way forward for the region is a two-state solution that allows both Israelis and Palestinians "to determine their own futures and their own destinies," the Times of Israel reported.
Shapiro also had earlier this year called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "one of the worst leaders of all time" and blasted him for steering Israel "in a wrong direction," according to the Times.
Venezuela Maduro's opposition are 'true patriots' but 'real change' won't come from 1 election, experts say
Venezuela's current political upheaval following an allegedly fraudulent presidential election will not be resolved simply by putting the opposition candidates in power, though it is a strong first step, experts told Fox News Digital.
"I certainly think that these are patriots," Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., told Fox News Digital during a digital press conference. "Maria Corina Machado is … one of the bravest people I've ever encountered and one of the greatest political figures in the world."
"She's remained in the country steadfast," Rubio continued. "She put aside any personal ambitions she may have had in her hand and allowed her to be the candidate for the opposition, and didn't let that get in the way."
"So these are extraordinary people, and the only reason you do that is because you love your country," he added.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro intervened in the November 2023 primaries to prevent the immensely popular Machado from standing against him, instead forcing her to stand aside and allow Edmundo Gonzalez to pick up the banner of the opposition.
Pre-election polling (which is illegal in the country) showed Gonzalez had double the support that Maduro and his United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) had, but the Maduro-controlled National Electoral Council handed to the incumbent with an alleged victory margin of 51%, compared to 44% support for the opposition.
Venezuelans took to the streets in peaceful protest following the decision, but Maduro sent out police to crack down on them and to clear the streets, leading to violent clashes and escalation.
Ultimately, the Biden administration on Thursday declared Gonzalez the rightful winner of the election, arguing, "Given the overwhelming evidence, it is clear to the United States and, most importantly, to the Venezuelan people that Edmundo González … won the most votes in Venezuela’s July 28 presidential election."
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Joseph Humire, the executive director of the Center for a Secure Free Society, stressed that "real change to Venezuela will not happen with one election, but it’s a starting point."
"After 25 years of autocratic, socialist rule, Venezuelans have lost most if not all of their freedoms," Humire told Fox News Digital.
"They have little to no economic freedom, political freedom, and even severely limited freedom of speech," Humire explained. "The main reason Venezuelans voted in such high numbers for Edmundo Gonzalez in this election (and de facto for Machado as well even though she was barred from being on the ballot) is because they want their freedoms back."
"Venezuela is run by a criminal system that is embedded with most state institutions and has an equal power network outside the government through armed non-state actors," Humire continued. "Maduro losing and leaving is a necessary but insufficient condition for real change in Venezuela."
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"But even if Maduro and his cohorts (regime leaders) leave Venezuela, the Chavista criminal system remains and will, no doubt, try to subvert and manipulate the transition process," he added, pointing to Bolivia as a nation where a leader resigned but returned because the country couldn’t dismantle the power structure he established.
Humire suggested that Machado and Gonzalez continue working to "delegitimize the Chavista regime," referring to Hugo Chavez and the government structure he established in Venezuela and Maduro inherited after taking office in 2013. He cautioned that the opposition may have "adaptive agents" within it that remain sympathetic to Maduro’s party.
"The opposition has always been filled with what the Venezuelans call "enchufados," which is a Spanish term for those who are "plugged into" the regime," Humire said. "These are fake opposition members that have back-door business and political deals with the Maduro regime."
"My concern is that these "enchufados" will either a) shift the narrative to one that legitimizes Maduro's electoral fraud; and/or b) subvert the transition process in Venezuela even if Edmundo Gonalez is accepted as the president-elect," he warned.
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Isaias Medina III, a former United Nations Security Council diplomat and Edward Mason Fellow at Harvard University, told Fox News Digital that the "massive marches" in Venezuela this week "reflect a grassroots demand for change," but he also acknowledged the steep challenge that comes with "challenging a cruel regime willing to use force against its population."
"Venezuelan politics requires profound renovation," Medina said. "Regrettably, an exit strategy for Venezuela is necessary. However, is it truly Maduro's decision to agree to any negotiation or amnesty proposal? Numerous dubious stakeholders manipulate Venezuela's lost sovereignty, turning the situation into a transnational crisis threatening regional peace and security."
"Venezuela needs a new political approach free from "politiqueros" who prioritize personal gain over national welfare and from governmental paternalistic policies: governments must serve its citizens not the other way around," he argued. "The focus must shift towards education, job opportunities, and a real representative congress to debate issues and find effective solutions."
"If Gonzalez and Machado cannot solve the "ousting" of the puppet usurper in "Miraflores" (the Venezuelan White House), they will struggle to rebuild the country," he insisted. "However, I hope they prove me wrong."
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"Venezuela needs more than messianic "Presidents"; it requires a transitional government with a strong purpose to restore the rule of law, reverse distorted governance, and evict illegal pirate occupants," Medina added.
"Real change requires integrating merit-based qualified individuals across sectors and transforming the state’s paternalistic socialist practices into self-development opportunities for a poverty-stricken nation with abundant resources," he stressed. "Venezuela needs a "New Way" away from 21st-century socialism that effectively combines citizen-public-private policies with economic development incentives."
Vital Western alliance countries' heavy dependence on China major problem: 'dangerously exposed'
A new report shows that countries within the Five Eyes intelligence partnership - the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand - heavily rely on China for rare earth elements (REEs), a set of metallic elements that play a crucial role in the mineral supply chain market.
The Five Eyes alliance has become an integral part of global intelligence and security operations. The group collaborates on intelligence matters and shares sensitive information to ensure collective security and thwart global threats.
Rare earth elements are necessary to produce military equipment, and the report notes that Western military supply chains are also highly vulnerable to Chinese decisions to limit REEs exports.
The report titled "Decreasing Rare Earths Dependency: How the Five Eyes Alliance can Minimize Rare Earths Trading Risk with China" argues that Five Eyes countries must diversify away from China for their supply of REEs.
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The U.S. had once been a key player in the rare earth elements market. Now, the U.S. is very dependent on China, importing as much as 80% of its REEs from China, according to the report.
"The Five Eyes countries are dangerously exposed to China when it comes to rare earth minerals, as they are all over reliant on China for this critical resource," Helena Ivanov, associate fellow at the Henry Jackson Society and author of the report, told Fox News Digital.
The report highlights that rare earth elements are used for defense technologies like fighter jets and that China can leverage its dominance of the industry for political purposes, using this advantage to project its influence on the global stage.
Speaking on background, a spokesperson for the House Select Committee on the CCP told Fox News Digital that "the CCP increasingly leverages its markets, technology, and control over critical minerals to pressure the United States and its allies and partners. To counter these predatory practices, the United States must enhance U.S. trade and technology collaboration with its allies and partners while decreasing dependence on the PRC in critical supply chains."
China overwhelmingly dominates the industry’s supply chain, accounting for 60% of global production and almost 90% of processing in the market.
CHINA'S BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE PLAGUED BY CORRUPTION AND POLITICAL BACKLASH: REPORT
In addition to being a valuable resource for military technology, rare earth elements are also critical in manufacturing smartphones, digital cameras, computer hard drives, fluorescent and LED lights, flat-screen TVs, computer monitors and electronic displays.
"If no alternatives are found, the report warns that North American producers of critical minerals estimate that should confrontation occur, China could cut short the supply of critical minerals to the U.S. in an event of war and exhaust the U.S. stock of minerals necessary for its defense apparatus in less than 90 days."
Admiral John Aquilino, leader of the Indo-Pacific Command, testified before the House Armed Services Committee in 2023 that China will meet President Xi’s goal to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027. Given recent tensions over Taiwan, the group’s overreliance on an adversarial China is worrisome.
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China is not shy about its willingness to exploit its market dominance by restricting exports when it suits its interests and has used its monopoly over the industry for political purposes in the past. In 2023, the report points out, China explored limiting the export of rare earth minerals that are critical to the manufacturing of the F-35 fighter jets and other weaponry.
The U.S. is keenly aware of its vulnerabilities to China's dominance of the market and has taken some measures to reduce its dependence on Beijing. The Department of Defense and other agencies are building programs to strengthen the domestic supply chain of REEs. In April, the Department of Energy announced $17.5 million as part of President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for four projects to help lower the cost and reduce the environmental impacts of extracting REEs.
Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said in a statement at the time that the investments announced "will increase our national security while helping rebuild America’s manufacturing sector and revitalize energy and mining communities across the country."
The vulnerabilities highlighted in the report shows the importance for the Western alliance to reduce its dependency on China overall. Without such risk reduction, the report argues that democratic countries may face a situation similar to Europe’s past reliance on Russian gas prior to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
The only way out of this situation, the report says, is collaboration within the Five Eyes Alliance, as countries like Canada, Australia and the U.S. can ramp up domestic production and decrease China’s influence in the market.
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"In the last few years, China has become a bad faith actor, and substantial issues and risks are involved with relying on China for REEs," the report said.
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