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The number of dead and missing in massive flooding and landslides wrought by Tropical Storm Trami in the Philippines has reached nearly 130 and the president said Saturday that many areas remained isolated with people in need of rescue.

Trami blew away from the northwestern Philippines on Friday, leaving at least 85 people dead and 41 others missing in one of the Southeast Asian archipelago’s deadliest and most destructive storms so far this year, the government’s disaster-response agency said. The death toll was expected to rise as reports came in from previously isolated areas.

27 INJURED IN EXPLOSION AFTER PILE OF CONFISCATED ILLEGAL FIREWORKS IGNITE IN SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES

Dozens of police, firefighters and other emergency personnel, backed by three backhoes and sniffer dogs, dug up one of the last two missing villagers in the lakeside town of Talisay in Batangas province Saturday.

A father, who was waiting for word on his missing 14-year-old daughter, wept as rescuers placed the remains in a black body bag. Distraught, he followed police officers, who carried the body bag down a mud-strewn village alley to a police van when one weeping resident approached him to express her sympathies.

The man said he was sure it was his daughter, but authorities needed to do checks to confirm the identity of the villager dug up in the mound.

In a nearby basketball gym at the town center, more than a dozen white coffins were laid side by side, bearing the remains of those found in the heaps of mud, boulders and trees that cascaded Thursday afternoon down the steep slope of a wooded ridge in Talisay's Sampaloc village.

President Ferdinand Marcos, who inspected another hard-hit region southeast of Manila Saturday, said the unusually large volume of rainfall dumped by the storm — including in some areas that saw one to two months’ worth of rainfall in just 24 hours — overwhelmed flood controls in provinces lashed by Trami.

"The water was just too much," Marcos told reporters.

"We’re not done yet with our rescue work," he said. "Our problem here, there are still many areas that remained flooded and could not be accessed even big trucks."

His administration, Marcos said, would plan to start work on a major flood control project that could meet the unprecedented threats posed by climate change.

More than 5 million people were in the path of the storm, including nearly half a million who mostly fled to more than 6,300 emergency shelters in several provinces, the government agency said.

In an emergency Cabinet meeting, Marcos raised concerns over reports by government forecasters that the storm — the 11th to hit the Philippines this year — could make a U-turn next week as it is pushed back by high-pressure winds in the South China Sea.

The storm was forecast to batter Vietnam over the weekend if it did not veer off course.

The Philippine government shut down schools and government offices for the third day on Friday to keep millions of people safe on the main northern island of Luzon. Interisland ferry services were also suspended, stranding thousands.

The weather cleared in many areas on Saturday, allowing cleanup work in most areas.

Each year, about 20 storms and typhoons batter the Philippines, a Southeast Asian archipelago which lies between the Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea. In 2013, Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest recorded tropical cyclones, left more than 7,300 people dead or missing and flattened entire villages.

A "relentless and cruel" online predator who blackmailed girls around the world was sentenced to at least 20 years in prison on Friday after being convicted of the manslaughter of a victim who took her own life.

Prosecutors say 26-year-old Alexander McCartney, from Newry in Northern Ireland, pretended to be a teenage girl and carried out catfishing attacks on 3,500 female victims he contacted on platforms including Snapchat.

MASS RAPE TRIAL LAYS BARE FRANCE'S DISTURBING CULTURE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, CRITICS ALLEGE

Catfishing is using a fake online identity to deceive victims. Authorities said McCartney encouraged his victims to send intimate photos or engage in sex acts, then extorted them by threatening to share the images.

A 12-year-old in West Virginia killed herself in May 2018 during an online chat with McCartney as he demanded sex acts. The victim’s father died by suicide 18 months later.

Prosecutors said they believe this is the first time someone has been convicted of manslaughter in a case where victim and perpetrator never met.

"Working closely with police, the prosecution team was able to establish to the criminal standard that McCartney’s actions had caused the girl’s death, and he had a case to answer for manslaughter," said Catherine Kieran, acting Head of the Northern Ireland Public Prosecution Service Serious Crime Unit.

Police have identified victims in 30 countries, including Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

McCartney, who carried out his crimes from the bedroom of his childhood home, pleaded guilty to 185 charges involving 70 children, including the manslaughter charge. At Belfast Crown Court, judge John O’Hara sentenced him to life with no chance of parole for 20 years.

"To my knowledge there has not been a case such as the present where a defendant has used social media on an industrial scale to inflict such terrible and catastrophic damage," the judge said.

Detective Chief Superintendent Eamonn Corrigan of the Police Service of Northern Ireland said outside court that McCartney was a "relentless and cruel" pedophile.

"We cannot underestimate the devastation that he has caused and the childhoods he has stolen," the officer said. "There was nothing that was going to stop him, apart from putting him in jail."

JERUSALEM—After Israel’s daring aerial military strikes in Iran early Saturday, the Jewish state announced that it is prepared to continue to go on the "offense" against the world’s worst state-sponsor of terrorism, the Islamic Republic of Iran, if Tehran responds.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, said, "If the regime in Iran were to make the mistake of beginning a new round of escalation - we will be obligated to respond. Our message is clear: All those who threaten the State of Israel and seek to drag the region into a wider escalation — will pay a heavy price." 

He added, "We demonstrated today that we have both the capability and the resolve to act decisively — and we are prepared — on offense and defense — to defend the State of Israel and the people of Israel."

US MADE AWARE OF ISRAEL'S STRIKE ON IRAN DAYS IN ADVANCE; IDF SAYS MISSION COMPLETE

Israel dubbed its Saturday mission "Days of Repentance" as a response to Iran’s launch of its barrage of around 200 ballistic missiles on October 1 into the Holy Land. Iran said it attacked Israel as retaliation for the IDF’s elimination of the Tehran-backed global Hezbollah terrorist, Hassan Nasrallah, in Beirut. 

Pressure on Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from the Biden-Harris administration seems to have paid off on Jerusalem limiting its historic attack on Iran to purely military installations. Israel avoided knocking out Iran’s illicit nuclear weapons sites and its vast oil production enterprises.

"Israel opted for the least-aggressive response against the Islamic Republic by conducting precise strikes on military targets," noted Lisa Daftari, an Iran expert and editor-in-chief of The Foreign Desk. 

Daftari told Fox News Digita, "This approach raises questions about whether the U.S. influenced Israel to adopt a more restrained response, possibly to prevent further escalation. One could argue these strikes successfully reestablished deterrence, while it can also be said that Israel missed an opportunity to target more crucial sites. Many factors, including the timing, target selection, and strike intensity, were complicated by a U.S. leak and our upcoming elections. Despite these pressures, Israel appears prepared to change its approach if the Islamic Republic decides to escalate further."

On Saturday, Secretary of Defense Austin issued a statement on X noting that he had spoken with his Israeli counterpart where he "reaffirmed the ironclad commitment of the United States to Israel’s security and right to self-defense. I made it clear that the United States maintains an enhanced force posture to defend U.S. personnel, Israel, and partners across the region in the face of threats from Iran and Iran-backed terrorist organizations and is determined to prevent any actor from exploiting tensions or expanding the conflict in the region."

A senior U.S. official said on Friday that "Israel conducted precision airstrikes against multiple military targets across Iran and outside populated areas." The official added that the United States played no role in the mission and the "President and his national security team, of course, worked with the Israelis over recent weeks to encourage Israel to conduct it, to conduct a response that was targeted and proportional. A lower risk of civilian harm. And that appears to have been precisely what transpired this evening."

Mardo Soghom, the Chief Editor of Iran International English website, told Fox News Digital, "The regime and its media are downplaying the attack. They are saying it was ineffective, and the air defenses are wonderful. They claim Israel's attack had minimal damage. Some of the regime’s hardliners are openly urging a counter-attack. Iran’s foreign ministry is saying its right of response is still reserved." 

ISRAEL BEGINS RETALIATORY STRIKES AGAINST IRAN FOLLOWING MISSILE BARRAGE TARGETING ISRAELIS

He chalked up the foreign ministry response to cliché-like diplomatic language and noted that "No one witnessed the S-300" air defense system being fired, suggesting that Israel’s bypassed Iran’s vaunted Russian-made counter-missile apparatus.

"My analysis is the U.S. and Israel seem to have put Iran in a bind. The U.S. has warned Iran not to respond, so if Iran responds, it could warrant a U.S. response," said the Iran expert Soghom.

Israeli counterstrikes reportedly killed four Iranian soldiers, one of whom was an officer, according to the regime-controlled media. It is unclear whether Tehran will up the ante and launch new missile attacks against the Jewish state.

Fox News Digital approached an IDF spokesman about an Israeli news report saying Israel was preparing for retaliatory Iranian ballistic missile strikes. The IDF spokesman said, "It’s not anything special. We are always preparing."

Axios reported that Israel issued a pre-attack warning to Iran’s regime. "The Israelis made it clear to the Iranians in advance what they are going to attack in general and what they are not going to attack," a source told Axios. The IDF did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital on the report.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, leader of one of Israel's main opposition party's posted criticism of the attack on X, saying it was a wasted opportunity. A translation of his post read in part, "The decision not to attack strategic and economic targets in Iran was wrong. We could and should have exacted a much heavier price from Iran."

The Times of Israel reported that former Defense Minister and leader of the Yisrael Beytenu party, Avigdor Liberman, said Israel failed to "exact a real price" from the Islamic Republic, and criticized the government for its "showmanship."

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres is once again under fire for not speaking out against Francesca Albanese, the controversial U.N. special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, who has been condemned for being antisemitic.

Albanese is traveling to the U.S. to present her latest report, "Genocide as colonial erasure," before the Third Committee of the U.N. General Assembly, which oversees social, humanitarian and cultural issues. 

Albanese’s report, now widely circulated among member state representatives, shows "the masks are off," according to Anne Bayefsky, president of Human Rights Voices and director of the Touro University Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaust.

"Albanese's target is the destruction of the Jewish state, period," Bayefsky said, claiming Albanese’s report is "a new, unhinged rant — translated, reproduced and spread across the world by the United Nations — utterly ignorant of regional and religious history.

BIDEN-HARRIS ENVOY ACCUSED OF PRESSURING ISRAELI LAWMAKERS TO DROP BILL BANNING TERROR-LINKED UN AGENCY

"[Albanese] claims the Jewish people are colonists in Israel and have been engaged in a genocidal killing spree as part of ‘a century-long project.’ It would be laughable, if her hate-mongering and incitement to violence were not so deadly."

Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the U.N., told Fox News Digital Albanese "failed in her role as special rapporteur for the U.N. She has no interest in the welfare of Israelis or ordinary Gazans but has instead shown to favor spreading hate. Time and again, she has succeeded in continuing to peddle dangerous antisemitic tropes and openly supporting the Hamas terrorists occupying Gaza." 

He also had a warning to U.S. colleges, saying Albanese’s "latest reports show how deep her antisemitism runs," adding she "should not be allowed near any educational institutions where she can spread her vicious antisemitism under the flag of the U.N." 

On Oct. 17, Albanese retweeted a diatribe that accused the Jewish state of "blood lust," calling it a "must-read for the ages." 

Accompanying the article was a cartoon featuring a person in a respirator and hazmat suit bearing the Israeli flag and an American flag lapel pin with bloodied hands giving two thumbs up. Bayefsky said the image is "classic antisemitism." 

Fox News Digital asked Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, whether the secretary-general could censure Albanese for her antisemitic commentary and whether Guterres believes Albanese is acting in accordance with the U.N. Code of Conduct. 

Haq said "on principle" Guterres does not "comment on rapporteurs" and has no authority to terminate Albanese or reduce her salary. 

Asked about her antisemitic remarks, Haq said the U.N. Chief "is firmly opposed to antisemitism, from anyone."

Albanese’s critics say she is not abiding by the U.N. Code of Conduct for special procedures mandate holders of the Human Rights Councils, which states that "all human rights must be treated in a fair and equal manner," and that mandate holders must "uphold the highest standards of … probity, impartiality, equity, honesty and good faith."

ISRAEL BANS UN SECRETARY-GENERAL OVER ANTI-ISRAEL ACTIONS: ‘DOESN’T DESERVE TO SET FOOT ON ISRAELI SOIL’

Pascal Sim, U.N. Human Rights Council spokesperson, was asked by Fox News Digital whether the council might censure Albanese for her conduct and antisemitism or relieve her of her position. 

Sim said "the positions of the Human Rights Council are expressed in the decisions, resolutions and presidential statements its 47 member states adopt at the end of each of its sessions." He further explained that "as of now, I have no information about what the council may or may not do regarding any special procedures mandate holders beyond what was recently decided at the just concluded 57th session."

Bayefsky said the failure to address Albanese’s conduct is infuriating. 

"In one more scandal, U.N. Secretary-General Guterres is bending over backwards to protect Albanese rather than her victims," Bayefsky said.

Bayefsky said "absolutely nothing would prevent him from denouncing her antisemitic behavior, calling for her dismissal and submitting the case of her flagrant violation of U.N. codes of conduct to his own U.N. office of legal affairs for next steps."

Albanese did not respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment about allegations of antisemitism. 

Albanese tweeted Oct. 24 that she was "disappointed" by "spurious, recycled allegations against me," and she claimed to be "profoundly committed to human rights for all people." 

UKRAINE, OTHERS FURIOUS AT UN CHIEF FOR MEETING PUTIN AT BRICS SUMMIT

Hillel Neuer, executive director of United Nations Watch, replied to her on X, claiming, "When we brought to the U.N. victims from Iran, China, Russia, Syria, & North Korea, you never said a word for them."

ISRAELI WOMAN BRAVELY DESCRIBES HORROR AS HAMAS HOSTAGE: 'THEY WERE TAKING PLEASURE IN HURTING ME'

Asked whether Albanese’s antisemitic statements are a concern as she prepares to tour U.S. colleges, a State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital "the U.S. firmly concludes that [Albanese] is unfit for her role or any role in the United Nations. Our commitment to upholding human rights for all is unwavering, and we will continue to stand against antisemitism."  

The spokesperson also described how U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Human Rights Council Michèle Taylor and U.S. Special Envoy on Antisemitism Deborah Lipstadt have recently expressed "strong disapproval" of Albanese.

Statements posted on X by both U.S. ambassadors condemned Albanese's antisemitism. Thomas-Greenfield wrote in part on X that, "There is no place for antisemitism from U.N. affiliated officials tasked with human rights," while the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Human Rights Council, Michèle Taylor, called the U.N. official's words when comparing Israel's prime minister to Hitler as, "Reprehensible and antisemitic."

Fox News Digital also asked whether the State Department intended to block Albanese’s travel or restrict her movements to the immediate vicinity around the U.N., an action it has previously taken with unfriendly foreign diplomats traveling on United Nations business. 

A State Department spokesperson said the department could not comment given that "visa records are confidential under U.S. law."

Bayefsky condemned the State Department’s refusal to limit Albanese’s travel, given that she "is in the business of promoting, spreading and inciting violent antisemitism. The State Department is supposed to be in the business of protecting Jewish Americans from the inflammatory hatred of an international visitor. 

"The United States is certainly under no obligation, as the U.N. host country, to facilitate her travel outside the U.N. as part of her treacherous effort to reach American campuses. If the State Department refuses to do its job and limit her visa accordingly, then they are aiding and abetting the spread of antisemitism across America."

The Anti-Defamation League reported that Albanese’s college tour would include visits to Georgetown University, Barnard College and Princeton. She is also reportedly due to speak at John Jay College in New York City during her U.S. visit.

The Biden administration was made aware of Israel’s plans to strike Iran in retaliation for the Oct. 1 ballistic missile attack days in advance of the strike Friday night. 

A source familiar with the proceeding confirmed to Fox News that multiple conversations were held between U.S. and Israeli officials, and the exact time of attack was communicated to Washington on Friday. 

Speculation surfaced earlier in the day that the long-awaited attack – which Israel vowed to hit Tehran with immediately following the Oct. 1 attack – was imminent given the announcement by U.S. Central Command confirming the deployment of more F-16’s to the region. 

ISRAEL BEGINS RETALIATORY STRIKES AGAINST IRAN FOLLOWING MISSILE BARRAGE TARGETING ISRAELIS

White House National Security Council (NSC) communications director John Kirby would not confirm whether the reinforcement of U.S. defenses in the region signified that an Israeli-led attack was forthcoming, but said it showed an "ironclad" commitment to Jerusalem. 

Following Israel’s strikes on Iran early Saturday morning local time under a mission dubbed "Days of Repentance," NSC spokesman Sean Savett confirmed the operation had begun "against military targets in Iran as an exercise of self-defense and in response to Iran’s ballistic missile attack against Israel on Oct. 1."

Roughly three hours after the Israeli attack started – in which some 140 Air Force planes were reportedly sent to the skies for the assault, according to Israeli local news outlet Channel 12 – the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the operation was "completed."

"The retaliatory strike has been completed and the mission was fulfilled," the IDF said in a statement." "Our planes have safely returned home." 

IDF Spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari addressed Iran directly in a statement once the mission was over. "If the regime in Iran were to make the mistake of beginning a new round of escalation — we will be obligated to respond."

He continued, "Our message is clear: All those who threaten the State of Israel and seek to drag the region into a wider escalation — will pay a heavy price.

We demonstrated today that we have both the capability and the resolve to act decisively — and we are prepared — on offense and defense — to defend the State of Israel and the people of Israel," Hagari concluded.

Strikes on military bases in Syria and Iraq were also reported Friday by Israeli news outlets, though the IDF did not mention these locations in their release. 

US REINFORCES CENTRAL COMMAND WITH FRESH SUPPLY OF F-16S IN 'IRONCLAD' COMMITMENT TO DEFEND ISRAEL

Senior Israeli defense source told Fox News Digital the targets of the attack were "solely military and intelligence targets."

Iranian news outlet Tasnim news agency, which has known ties to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), cited a senior source who said, "We reserve the right to respond to any attack."

"Israel will undoubtedly receive a proportional response to any action," the source added, suggesting the aggressive volley between Israel and Iran will continue. 

Neither U.S. nor Israeli officials have yet commented on the effectiveness of Israel’s strikes, though local Israeli news outlet Channel 12 reported that Iran’s air defense system had been damaged.

The IRGC headquarters in Tehran was also reported to have allegedly been hit by strikes, though Fox News has not been able to independently verify this. 

Al-Mayadeen channel, a Lebanese pro-Hezbollah and Iran-aligned network, claimed, "Air defense systems intercepted all hostile targets in Tehran. Israel’s attempt to strike air defense bases around Tehran has failed."

The IDF said its Air Force "struck missile manufacturing facilities used to produce the missiles that Iran fired at the State of Israel over the last year." 

"These missiles posed a direct and immediate threat to the citizens of the State of Israel," the IDF added. "Simultaneously, the IDF struck surface-to-air missile arrays and additional Iranian aerial capabilities, that were intended to restrict Israel's aerial freedom of operation in Iran." 

Archaeologists with Wessex Archaeology were working through an excavation ahead of a habitat project when they came across a wooden tool that turned out to be one of the oldest and most complete ever discovered in Britain.

Wessex Archaeology announced the ancient find in a news release published this week. 

During the early stages of the excavation near Poole Harbour at a construction site in a diverse wetlands habitat, there wasn't much to be found other than a few shards of pottery and some flint, Environment Agency archaeologist Greg Chuter said in a video posted by Wessex Archaeology. 

GROUP OF METAL DETECTORISTS UNCOVER HOARD OF COIN IN ENGLAND

The finds weren't of much significance until the wooden tool was uncovered. 

Preliminary scientific dating of the tool dated it to the Bronze Age, roughly between 1500 and 1400 B.C., according to Wessex Archaeology's Ed Treasure, who spoke about the find in the video posted by the archaeological company. Radiocarbon dating was used to date the tool to between 3,400 and 3,500 years old. 

"This is an incredibly exciting moment, and we’re looking forward to finding out more as the process unfolds," Treasure said of the find. 

The tool, made from just a single piece of wood, likely took many hours to create, according to Wessex Archaeology, and it was a valuable tool over 3,000 years ago. 

"We're working across a vast landscape that is dominated by nature with very little to suggest to the naked eye that much human activity has taken place here," Chuter said in a news release. 

THE HISTORY OF THE HOXNE HOARD, THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF ROMAN TREASURE FOUND IN BRITAIN

"However, just beneath the surface, we've uncovered evidence of the ways humans have cleverly adapted to the challenges presented by this particular environment for over 3,000 years. The spade is a fascinating part of the story and, as research continues, we're looking forward to exploring the relationship between the spade and the ditch and what else they can tell us about life at Arne Moors 3,000 years ago."

Ancient wooden tools like these aren't discovered often. Its age and preservation both play a role in its uniqueness. 

The last time a Bronze Age wooden tool was discovered in Britain with similar qualities was when the Brynlow shovel was found in a Cheshire mine in 1875. 

The wooden tool most recently unearthed by archaeologists is also rare in its well-kept condition. 

Tools made of organic material, like wood, don't often survive in the ground for so long, according to the news release from Wessex Archaeology. 

The reason this tool remained in such great condition was due to its waterlogged environment. 

The wooden tool remains under special care and is undergoing full conservation and further studies. 

Israel on Friday launched a wave of retaliatory airstrikes against Iran after the Islamic Republic fired a barrage of missiles toward Israelis earlier this month. 

Explosions were heard near Iran's capital of Tehran and nearby Karaj, Reuters reported, citing local media. 

The Israeli military action comes after Defense Minister Yoav Gallant vowed a "precise and deadly" response to the more than 180 missiles Iran targeted Israel with on Oct. 1, some of which were intercepted with the help of the U.S. 

Last week, during the leadup to the Israeli attack, reports emerged that the Israeli Defense Forces presented a list of potential targets to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Gallant as officials conducted "sensitive coordination" with other countries in the Middle East. 

ISRAEL'S UN AMBASSADOR: RESPONSE TO IRAN WILL BE ‘VERY PAINFUL’

"The regime is vulnerable, and it's up to us to decide which message we want to send to them," Israeli ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon also told Fox News Digital. "It will be very painful for the Iranian regime, and they will think twice in the future whether to attack Israel or not." 

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the barrage of missiles it fired at Israel on Oct. 1 was in retaliation for the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut, Lebanon, in an Israeli airstrike and the killing of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July. Israel later eliminated Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in a military operation in the Gaza Strip on Oct. 16.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has previously called Nasrallah "the flag-bearer of resistance" in the region. 

"The blood of the martyr shall not go unavenged," Khamenei said following Nasrallah’s death, according to Reuters. 

ISRAEL DECIDES ON POSSIBLE IRAN TARGETS: ‘PRECISE AND DEADLY'

During the Oct. 1 attack by Iran, no casualties were reported in Israel, though one Palestinian was killed in the West Bank. 

The U.S. Navy later released video showing the USS Cole and USS Bulkeley firing about a dozen ballistic missile interceptors to help thwart Iranian aggression. 

Iran also attacked Israel in April of this year, during which it levied some 300 missiles and drones. Jerusalem then responded to Western calls for restraint by hitting Iran’s air defenses and destroying part of an S-300 long-range air defense system. 

To bolster Israel's defenses against potential future attacks from Iran, a U.S. missile defense system is being sent to the Middle East.

Fox News’ Morgan Phillips, Caitlin McFall, Stephen Sorace and Liz Friden contributed to this report. 

American F-16 fighter jets have been deployed to the Middle East, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed on Friday, in a show of an "ironclad" commitment to Israel as tensions mount with Iran. 

CENTCOM did not detail how many F-16s had been sent to the "area of responsibility," but said they had been deployed from the 480th Fighter Squadron based at Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany.

When pressed by reporters about whether the move signaled Jerusalem was preparing to launch its promised retaliatory attack on Iran for the 180-missile strike it levied at Israel earlier this month, White House National Security Council communications director John Kirby said he could not go into any detail on the issue.

IDF KILLS HAMAS TERRORIST IT SAYS WORKED FOR UNRWA, LED CHARGE ON REIM BOMB SHELTER MASSACRE

"Our commitment to Israel's security remains ironclad," he said. "And that means, as appropriate, making force posture changes that we think need to be made to help Israel defend itself."

The U.S., which has been increasingly bolstering its regional defenses for months, has played a critical role in defending Israel from two substantial missile attacks, the first incident occurring in April when some 300 missiles and drones were fired and the second having played out earlier this month.

According to a report by Bloomberg on Friday, the U.S. has also signaled to Saudi Arabia that it will help defend the kingdom should it come under attack by Iran, once its chief adversary in the region, or its proxy forces. 

The promise allegedly served as some comfort to the U.S. partner as many Gulf states remain on high alert over concerns of a regional war. 

The international community has been anxiously watching Israel's fight against Iranian proxy forces, Hamas and Hezbollah, as the U.S., as well as other regional partners, hustle to de-escalate the situation from becoming an all-out war between Israel and Iran — both of which have sophisticated military capabilities. 

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was in the Middle East this week before traveling to London on Thursday, met with United Arab Emirates (UAE) Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Friday to discuss efforts to bring an end to the war in Gaza and to secure the release of the hostages who have been in Hamas captivity for more than a year. 

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Blinken and his UAE counterpart also discussed "the post-conflict period" and what a "vision for governance, security and reconstruction that establishes lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike" could look like.

US READINESS PLAYS 'SIGNIFICANT' ROLE IN FENDING OFF IRANIAN ATTACK ON ISRAEL

While the Biden administration holds tight to a two-state solution, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the idea long pushed by many in the international community. 

But the war in Gaza wasn’t the only issue up for discussion with the top regional ally. The pair also looked to Israel’s operations in Lebanon in its push to eradicate the threat Hezbollah poses there. 

"The Secretary underscored the importance of a diplomatic solution that fully implements United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701," Miller said, though he did not go into detail on how the U.S. and its allies will look to ensure Hezbollah, which has embedded itself in the everyday life of many in Lebanon, will be stamped out. 

While Blinken also spoke with Lebanese Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Friday, their discussions appeared to concentrate on the humanitarian toll Israel’s operations have taken, including mounting civilian casualties.

"He emphasized Iran and Hezbollah must not stand in the way of Lebanon’s security and stability," Miller said in a readout. "He also expressed support for the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon and underscored that the safety and security of their personnel is essential."

"They discussed Lebanon’s presidential vacancy and the need to empower leadership that reflects the will of the people," he added. Blinken also met with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi.

India and China have begun implementing an agreement to end a military standoff on their disputed Himalayan border, the two sides said on Friday, in the biggest thaw between the Asian giants since deadly clashes between their armies four years ago.

Troops who were eyeball-to-eyeball at two points on the frontier in India's Ladakh region in the western Himalayas had begun pulling back, an Indian government source said, heralding an end to the standoff.

INDIA ACCUSES CHINA OF VIOLATING BORDER AGREEMENTS

The process began on Wednesday and is expected to conclude by the end of the month, a senior Indian army official said.

The nuclear-armed neighbours struck a deal earlier this week on patrolling the frontier, which then paved the way for the first formal talks in five years between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Russia.

"According to the recently agreed solution between India and China ... their frontline armies are implementing relevant work, with smooth progress so far," Lin Jian, a spokesperson for China's foreign ministry said.

In New Delhi, a government official aware of the details said troops on both sides had started withdrawing from the areas of Depsang and Demchok, the last remaining points where they had stood face-to-face.

The source spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media on the issue.

The Indian army official said the returning troops would also remove structures such as huts and tents and take back vehicles they had brought to positions that existed before the conflict began in April 2020.

The two forces can then resume patrolling along the frontier as they did before the stand-off, the official added.

India's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

CAUTIOUS BUSINESS EASING

Neither side has made public details of the new pact, which is expected to help improve political and business ties damaged by a deadly military clash in 2020, when 20 Indian and four Chinese troops died in clashes in the Galwan Valley.

The two sides had earlier pulled back troops from five other face-off points, but the last such withdrawal took place over two years ago.

On Wednesday, Xi and Modi agreed to boost communication and co-operation in a bid to help resolve conflict.

But officials in India said that New Delhi would still be cautious and is ready to only take baby steps towards boosting economic ties with Beijing, given the trust deficit of the last four years.

India had severed direct air links with China, banned hundreds of Chinese mobile applications, and added layers of vetting on Chinese investments, virtually blocking all major proposals from the likes of BYD and Great Wall Motors.

Two Indian government sources said that India would now consider opening up the skies and fast tracking visa approvals to complement the recent easing of tensions, but New Delhi is not yet ready to reverse all the steps it took against Beijing any time soon.

The Asian giants went to war in 1962 over their undemarcated border, which has been a constant irritant in ties.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday clapped back at the decision by U.N. Secretary General António Guterres to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on United Nations Day — a day that officially solidified the body's dedication to the promotion of peace and to "uphold international law."

"On this United Nations Day, it’s crucial to emphasize that the world must not forget the goals and principles of the U.N. Charter and the reason this organization was created," he said. "Even though some of its officials may choose the temptations of Kazan over the substance of the U.N. Charter, the world remains structured in such a way that the rights of nations and the norms of international law will always matter." 

"I am grateful to everyone who supports Ukraine in this," Zelenskyy added.

UKRAINE BLASTS UN CHIEF OVER POTENTIAL MEETING WITH PUTIN AT BRICS, SAYS STAYED AWAY FROM KYIV'S PEACE SUMMIT

Zelenskyy’s comments were in direct response to Guterres' decision to meet with Putin on the sidelines of the international BRICS summit hosted by Russia in Kazan.

BRICS, which stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, is an intergovernmental body that was established in 2009 to counter Western influence and bolster economic partnerships, and it has increasingly become an alliance made up of authoritarian leaders.

Nations like Russia, China, Iran and potentially, North Korea, united under the alliance, not only sit as the West’s top adversaries, they are also all involved in international conflicts that violate the U.N. Charter — including Russia’s war in Ukraine. 

The U.N. has yet to respond to Fox News Digital’s repeated questions over the secretary general’s decision to meet with Putin for the first time since 2022 amid the deadly war in Ukraine. 

In response to reporters' questions over the merits of the meeting with Putin, just months after Ukraine held a peace summit in Switzerland that Guterres did not attend, U.N. deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq said, "The Secretary-General does look forward to visiting Ukraine at a mutually convenient time, as previously discussed with President Zelenskyy in September when they met."

A report by AFP on Friday suggested that Zelenskyy now has no intention of meeting with Guterres, though Fox News Digital could not independently verify this information. 

The Guterres-Putin meeting sparked outrage across Ukraine, and in a statement Friday, the Crimean Human Rights Group, which is based out of Kyiv, argued the secretary general’s decision to meet with Putin, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes relating to the illegal deportation of children from Ukraine, "undermines" the U.N. and the ICC.

"The visit of the U.N. Secretary-General to Russia is not only politically controversial but also devalues the fundamental principles that should guide the U.N., the organization that Mr. Guterres heads," the statement said. "This is especially true of Mr. Guterres’ personal meeting with Mr. Putin."

UKRAINE'S POPULATION HAS FALLEN BY 10 MILLION SINCE RUSSIA'S INVASION, UN SAYS

The statement pointed to U.N. guidelines that note "as a general rule, there should be no meetings between United Nations officials and persons who are the subject of warrants of arrest issued by the International Criminal Court". 

The guidelines further state that such a meeting should only be conducted when it is "imperative" for U.N. "mandated activities."

The body called on the ICC to demand Guterres hands over all information he obtained in speaking with Putin, as directed under "Article 18 of the Relationship Agreement between the United Nations and the ICC."

According to a read-out from the U.N. detailing Guterres’ visit, "The Secretary-General reiterated his position that the Russian invasion of Ukraine was in violation of the United Nations Charter and international law."

Guterres further emphasized the U.N.’s support for a "just peace" in Ukraine "in line with the U.N. Charter, international law, and [a U.N.] General Assembly resolution."  

But despite his words calling for an end to the war, his meeting with Putin, as well as his warm embrace with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko — an ardent supporter of the Kremlin chief — were a step too far for NATO ally Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis.

Landsbergis, a vocal supporter of Ukraine, suggested the meeting signified the fall of the top international body in a message posted to X that said, "This is the UeNd." 

"If [Guterres] decides to resign, Lithuania won't try to talk him out of it," Landsbergis added.

Fox News Digital could not immediately reach the State Department for reaction to the meeting between Guterres and Putin. 

Georgians go to the polls on Saturday in crucial parliamentary elections as the country struggles to move closer to the West, all while under the watchful eye of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The stakes could not be higher for the small nation that sits in the troubled Caucasus region. Georgia, once part of the Soviet Union, has been caught between heavy Russian influence since it declared independence in 1991 and trying to join the European Union and move closer to the West.

"It is within Russia’s interest to ensure Georgia’s alienation from its allies and halting of the EU integration process," Natia Seskuria, an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, told Fox News Digital.

HISTORIC RUSSIAN ALLY SNUBS PUTIN IN GROWING SHIFT TO EUROPEAN UNION

For Russia, the upcoming elections present an opportunity for Putin to keep Georgia in its orbit. If Georgia manages to conduct free and fair elections and restore relations with the European Union (EU), Seskuria says, this will be a defeat for Russia.

A group of bipartisan senators, led by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and Jim Risch, R-Idaho, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, put forth legislation that would hold Georgian government officials and individuals responsible for corruption, human rights abuses and efforts to advance the foreign influence law or facilitate its passage. 

"The United States stands with the Georgian people and their pursuit of a Euro-Atlantic future. The Georgian government’s recent efforts to align with Russia reject the desires of Georgians and pose a significant threat," the bipartisan group of senators said in a press release.

Many observers of the region believe the parliamentary elections will be one of the closest and most significant elections since its independence. For Putin, it will be Russia’s first opportunity to exert influence in a Georgian election since his country's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. 

"What we see right now is that the Georgian government has made this election as a choice between war and peace. They have tried to say that casting a vote for the opposition would be casting a vote for the war with Russia," Ani Chkhikvadze, a journalist with Voice of America based in Tbilisi, told Fox News Digital.

Ivana Stradner, an expert on Russian disinformation with the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital that Putin is waging an ideological war against the West.

"He is trying to reshape the world order and in order to accomplish his goals he does not need to send tanks and jets in the West. He is using proxies, such as the Georgian Dream Party, to spoil Georgia's EU path and challenge the West," Stradner said.

ZELENSKYY WARNS RUSSIA WANTS TO CAUSE 'EXPLOSION' IN THE BALKANS

Fox News Digital also spoke with opposition politician and former secretary of the national security council, Giga Bokeria of Georgia’s pro-European Federalist Party. Bokeria said that Russia’s strategic interest is to keep the current Georgian Dream government led by the oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili in power.

"Ivanishvili’s government has embraced the Russian propaganda line that the U.S. is an ‘imperialist power’ and has instigated the war in Ukraine."

Bokeria also alleged that Ivanishvili facilitated the infiltration of Georgia's political system, economy and security structures by those sympathetic to Russia. 

Russia plans to use these close contacts to influence politics and society in Georgia. Statements from the Russian security services about Georgia are closely aligned with the narratives coming from Georgian Dream politicians. These entities praise the Georgian government and accuse the West and Europe of trying to drag Georgia into war with Ukraine.

While Georgia’s elite political class in the Georgian Dream Party want close ties with Russia, everyday Georgians know where they stand, firmly with the EU.

RUSSIAN INFLUENCE PEDDLING ADDS TO FEARS AFTER ELECTION OF UNTESTED PRESIDENT IN EUROPEAN NATION

Georgians have strong aspirations to join the EU, with polls showing up to 83% of Georgians in support. The Georgian Dream Party stalled Georgia’s efforts of joining the EU since it became a candidate member in 2023. The EU subsequently put Georgia’s process on hold after a controversial "foreign agent" law that required citizens, non-governmental organizations, media outlets and other civil society organizations that receive over 20% in funding from abroad to register as a foreign agent with the Justice Ministry.

If the Georgian Dream Party cements its hold on power, it could be catastrophic for its EU prospects. A Georgian Dream victory, FDD's Stradner says, would be a victory for Putin.

Civic IDEA, a pro-Western nonprofit in Georgia, released a report outlining the Georgia Dream party’s dependency on Russian money, including those coming from people connected to sanctioned businesses. The report notes that most of the party’s major donors are backed by Russian funds and individuals whose interests are closely aligned with the Kremlin. 

Civic IDEA also reveals that not only do individuals have socio-political ties with Russia, but some are listed as "international sponsors of war." 

A leading Iranian dissident group, the People’s Mojahedin of Iran (MEK), has provided Fox News Digital with information about a secret site where the Islamic Republic of Iran allegedly stores and prepares the missiles it uses against foes, sells to allies and provides to its proxies. 

Located in a mountainous region outside of Eshtehard City, northwest of Tehran in Alborz province, the camp, known as the Shahid (Martyr) Soltani Garrison, is heavily guarded and surrounded by two rows of barbed wire. It has purportedly seen increased activity in the latter part of 2024, with the MEK noting that "more than ten trailers carrying missile parts" passed into the camp in July. 

Among the weapons stored at the site are the Shahab-3, Qiam, Fateh and Fath series ballistic missiles, the MEK said. 

FROM CEASE-FIRE PUSH TO BOOTS ON THE GROUND IN ISRAEL: US SEEMINGLY ACCEPTS INVOLVEMENT IN ESCALATING WAR

Iran expert, Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said after its "layered attack" on Israel in April, which involved about 300 drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles, the Islamic Regime "got rid of the low- and slow-flying" assets and "doubled down on ballistic" weapons. Iran launched more than 180 ballistic missiles into Israeli airspace on Oct. 1. 

Taleblu noted that Iran utilized the same liquid-propellant systems from its April attack, the Emad and Ghadr ballistic missiles, which are evolutions of the Shahab-3. He said the October attack also involved the solid-propellant Kheibar Shekan and reportedly even the hypersonic Fattah-1 ballistic missile. An Israel Defense Forces spokesperson also confirmed to Fox News Digital that Iran’s recent attacks included Fattah-1 and Fattah-2 hypersonic ballistic missiles. 

During the larger Oct. 1 attack on Israel, two U.S. destroyers intercepted about a dozen Iranian missiles. Neither the Pentagon nor the Defense Intelligence Agency responded to Fox News Digital’s questions about whether American assets have been targeted by the varieties of Iranian ballistic missiles said to be housed at the Eshtehard site, or whether the U.S. has intercepted any of these missiles in the region. 

To protect Israel from further Iranian ballistic missile strikes, the U.S. sent its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system to Tel Aviv, along with a cadre of 100 U.S. soldiers to operate the system. Taleblu says THAAD will "function as a critical patch in Israel’s existing, already very well-layered air-missile defenses," though with just 48 interceptors, Taleblu says THAAD’s long-term suitability is "debatable."

IRAN’S NATIONAL AIRLINER ACCUSED OF FLYING WEAPONS TO BEIRUT AIRPORT FOR TERROR PROXY HEZBOLLAH: REPORT

It is unknown whether ballistic missiles targeting Israel were stored or prepared at the Shahid Soltani Garrison. It is also unknown whether the short-range ballistic missiles Iran provided to Russia, for which Iran was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury and State departments, were held at the location.

The MEK provided satellite imagery showing two distinct sections of the Shahid Soltani Garrison. Above-ground storage sites "were established at least 15 years ago" and include a segment of one-floor warehouses and one three-floor warehouse that offer a combined 6,500 square meters of storage space. Around 10 buildings in another segment of the garrison offer up an additional 3,000 square meters of space. Underground tunnels constructed on the site between 2017 and 2021 offer more storage locations. 

According to the report, the Al-Ghadir Missile Command, an element of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Aerospace Force, is responsible for the camp. IRGC Brig. Gen. Partovi was the last known commander of the site. The MEK stated that Col. Mohammad Reza Hakimzadeh and Col. Barati of the Eshtehard Corps of the IRGC are responsible for administrative affairs related to the camp.

ISRAELI FORCES SEIZE DOCUMENTS THAT REVEAL HAMAS PLAN FOR MORE ELABORATE ATTACKS: REPORT

In 2010, the Al-Ghadir Missile Command was sanctioned by the U.S. as well as by the EU. Commanders within Al-Ghadir Missile Command, including Mahmoud Bagheri Kazemabad and Mohammad Agha Jafari, have also been subject to U.S. sanctions.

Ballistic missiles of likely and certain Iranian origin have previously targeted U.S. forces. Iran-backed militias fired an unknown close-range ballistic missile at Al Asad Air Base on Nov. 21, 2023, resulting in eight injuries and damage to infrastructure. 

On Jan. 8, 2020, Iran launched 27 theater ballistic missiles toward Al Asad Air Base. Of these, 11 Fateh and Qiam missiles landed inside the U.S. base, according to a medical study of the attack’s effects. The missiles’ impact resulted in around 35 cases of traumatic brain injury or concussion.

Taleblu noted that countering Iran’s ballistic missile program will require several lines of effort. On the economic and political end of the spectrum, they are taking on Iran’s trade with China, going after Iran’s domestic and foreign supply chain "for the whole ballistic life cycle" and exposing the rotating array of individuals involved with the ballistic missile program to travel bans and sanctions. In tandem with covert or kinetic operations, the aforementioned efforts "can really handcuff this missile program," Taleblu explained.

Taleblu said the importance of maintaining advanced missile defense systems in order to deter Iranian weapons, hardening U.S. bases,and ensuring "the elements of deterrence by punishment are not only present, but are understood and are credible."

Alireza Jafarzadeh, deputy director of the National Council of Resistance of Iran’s Washington office, shared a different approach with Fox News Digital. He explained that "true democracy in Iran and peace and tranquility in the region depend on the regime's downfall, a responsibility that lies with the Iranian people and their organized resistance."

"The Iranian regime's survival depends on exporting terrorism and belligerence while brutally oppressing the Iranian people," Jafarzadeh said. Given that "decades of appeasement have emboldened this dictatorship," he called for enforcement of "the terror designation of the IRGC and Ministry of Intelligence and Security" and recommended that "supporting the Iranian youth and Resistance Units to confront the IRGC are crucial steps that the United States and European nations must adopt."

A massive fire broke out at a U.S. Army storage center in Busan, South Korea, on Thursday evening, U.S. Army Garrison Daegu confirmed to Fox News Digital. 

A fire of unknown origin was reported shortly after 6:30 p.m. local time at a warehouse in the Beomil-dong section of Busan. 

NORTH KOREA HAS SENT TROOPS TO RUSSIA, PENTAGON CONFIRMS

U.S. Army Garrison Daegu activated mutual aid agreements with the Busan Fire Department in response to the blaze. 

Public Affairs Officer Phil Molter said the depot was under renovation and was not occupied when the fire broke out. 

The fire was under control around 10:45 p.m. It took several more hours to put out hot spots, Molter said. It has not been extinguished. 

"We have not been able to enter the building due to residual heat and structural integrity of the building, so the cause is yet to be determined," Molter said. 

The U.S. Army built the site as a supply depot in 1950, at the beginning of the Korean War. 

Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) on Thursday confirmed that they have "eliminated" a Hamas commander who not only was involved in the Oct. 7 attacks – including the assault on the Reim bomb shelter where U.S. citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin was abducted – but who they also claimed "simultaneously" worked for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

Mohammad Abu Itiwi, a commander in Hamas’ elite Nukhba force, was killed by the Israeli Airforce on Wednesday, during a joint operation by the IDF and the Israeli Security Agency.

The controversial United Nations agency did not immediately return Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

BIDEN-HARRIS ENVOY ACCUSED OF PRESSURING ISRAELI LAWMAKERS TO DROP BILL BANNING TERROR-LINKED UN AGENCY

According to images supplied by the IDF, Abu Itiwi had been in the employ of the UNRWA since July 2022, and he was also photographed at the Reim bomb shelter near the Tribe of Nova music festival, where attendees ran for cover as Hamas terrorists attacked. 

The Reim bomb shelter has become a symbol of the Oct. 7th massacre and was where Goldberg-Polin, his best friend Aner Shapira, and 25 others attempted to hide from Hamas attackers. 

Abu Itiwi allegedly led the attack on the shelter, according to the IDF, and upon finding dozens hidden in the shelter on Route 232 in southern Israel, Hamas terrorists repeatedly pelted them with grenades. 

Accounts of what happened next depict Shapira, 22 years old and an IDF soldier, attempting to calm the already 20-or-so people hiding in the shelter and promised to protect them.

"I’ll catch the grenades and throw them back – and if I miss any, you throw them back," one account of the horrific event described for the Times of Israel.

Shapira managed to throw seven of the grenades back out before he was killed. 

During the attack on the shelter, Goldberg-Polin's arm was blown off from the elbow down. He was able to tie himself a tourniquet before he and others from the shelter were abducted by Hamas and taken into Gaza, where he was killed by Hamas terrorists 11 months later. 

Twenty-seven people were in that shelter, 16 were killed, four were kidnapped, and seven survived.

UN CHIEF DEFENDS UNRWA, SAYS ONLY 'A FEW ELEMENTS' PARTICIPATED IN OCT. 7

Abu Itiwi reportedly directed and carried out numerous attacks on IDF troops operating in the Gaza Strip.

Representatives from Israel’s Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories – an agency under the Israeli Ministry of Defense – reached out to senior officials in the United Nations and the international community to request an urgent investigation into the involvement of UNRWA employees in the Oct. 7th Massacre.

The U.N. agency has previously been slapped with similar allegations involving ties to Hamas, though it has flatly rejected many of the claims. 

In recent months, the U.N. has fired at least 12 staffers after finding they potentially had been involved in the Oct. 7 attacks."

NATO member Turkey on Thursday carried out a second day of aerial attacks on what it said are Kurdish militant positions in Iraq and Syria, following a terrorist attack on a state-run defense agency this week in which five people were killed.

Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization reportedly targeted numerous "strategic locations" allegedly used by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) – which was deemed a terrorist organization in the U.S. in 1997 – as well as targets used by Syrian Kurdish militia affiliated with the militant group.

Armed drones were used to hit military, intelligence, energy and infrastructure facilities and ammunition depots, The Associated Press reported.

EXPLOSION AT TURKISH AEROSPACE FACILITY RULED A TERROR ATTACK

However, according to General Commander Mazloum Abdi of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), who is Kurdish, the Turkish attacks have been "indiscriminate" and have targeted civilian areas and health centers.

"Turkey indiscriminately and unjustifiably bombards our areas, targeting civilian, service, and health centers," he said in a message posted to X. "This is a war crime. 

"We have repeatedly shown our readiness for dialogue. Meanwhile, we affirm that our forces are ready to defend our people and land," he added. 

In a statement released by the SDF on Thursday, 12 people were killed during Turkey’s aerial bombardment, including two children, and 25 others were wounded.

"In addition to populated areas, Turkish warplanes and UAVs targeted bakeries, power stations, oil facilities, and Internal Security Force checkpoints. These essential civic facilities were among the 42 civic sites struck by Turkish artillery shelling," the statement said. 

It is unclear if any casualties have been confirmed in Iraq. One source on the ground in the region hit, who heard fighter jets and "loud explosions," told Fox News Digital that the mountainous area that was bombed had already largely been depopulated due to previous Turkish military operations there. 

Fox News Digital could not immediately reach the State Department for comment in response to the attacks and civilian deaths reported by the SDF – who have long stood as allies to the U.S. in the war against ISIS.

TURKISH DRONE STRIKES IN SYRIA KILL 4 U.S.-BACKED FIGHTERS, WOUND 11 CIVILIANS, KURDISH GROUP SAYS

Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler said that 47 alleged PKK targets were destroyed in Wednesday’s airstrikes, including 29 in Iraq and 18 in Syria.

"Our noble nation should rest assured that we will continue with increasing determination our struggle to eliminate the evil forces that threaten the security and peace of our country and people, until the last terrorist disappears from this geography," Guler said.

The strikes in Iraq and Syria began Wednesday after two suspected Kurdish assailants carried out an attack on an aerospace and defense company, dubbed TUSAS, in the Turkish capital of Ankara earlier that day. 

A man and a woman reportedly arrived at the TUSAS premises armed with assault rifles in a taxi they stole after killing the driver. 

They then set off explosives and opened fire, killing five people and injuring another 22 before they themselves were killed by responding security forces, in what Turkish officials have deemed a "terrorist attack."

The PKK does not appear to have yet claimed credit for the attack. 

The U.S. Embassy in Turkey on Wednesday said Washington "strongly condemns" the "terrorist attack."

The Turkish Embassy in Washington, D.C., could not immediately be reached for comment by Fox News Digital.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is warning Israel on Thursday not to lead a "protracted campaign" against the terrorist group Hezbollah in Lebanon. 

Blinken, who is visiting Qatar for talks to end the war in Gaza, said, "as Israel conducts operations to remove the threat to Israel and its people along the border, with Lebanon, we have been very clear that this cannot lead, should not lead to a protracted campaign and that Israel must take the necessary steps to avoid civilian casualties and not endanger U.N. peacekeepers or the Lebanese Armed Forces. 

"Right now, we're working intensely to reach a diplomatic resolution . . . [that] allows civilians on both sides of the border to return to their homes and to be able to live there in peace and security," Blinken added. "We're also committed to building up and supporting Lebanese efforts to build up their own institutions free from the grip of Hezbollah, so that the people of Lebanon have more security, more opportunity, more prosperity." 

Blinken’s comments come nearly a month after the Israeli military began its limited ground operation inside Lebanon. The Israel Defense Forces revealed Thursday that it has found another hideout where Hezbollah’s special forces unit was allegedly planning an Oct. 7-style attack on Israel. 

BLINKEN ARRIVES IN ISRAEL AS BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION FACES SCRUTINY OVER COMPROMISING JERUSALEM’S SECURITY 

The IDF says its troops discovered "bunk beds, storage cabinets, food supplies, infrastructure for long-term stay, a large amount of equipment, weapons and launch positions" in the underground facility. 

"During these limited and localized ground operations in southern Lebanon, our troops also located 4 weapons storage facilities with rockets, mortars, RPGs and more," it added. 

ISRAELI WOMAN BRAVELY DESCRIBES HORROR AS HAMAS HOSTAGE: ‘THEY WERE TAKING PLEASURE IN HURTING ME’ 

The U.S. State Department said Thursday that Blinken "met with Qatari Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani today in Doha," where they "discussed renewed efforts to secure the release of the hostages and end the war in Gaza, as well as ongoing work to provide for security, governance, and reconstruction in Gaza after the war." 

The visit comes after Blinken was in Israel earlier this week, just days after Hezbollah launched a drone strike to assassinate Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his private residence in Caesarea. 

Fox News’ Benjamin Weinthal contributed to this report. 

"My life, once simple and quiet, was shattered when I was taken hostage by this ruthless terror group."

Amit Soussana, who became the first Israeli woman to speak publicly about the sexual violence she endured during her 55 days in captivity in Gaza after Hamas terrorists abducted her on Oct. 7, spoke before the United Nations (U.N.) on Wednesday at an event to mark the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the mandate on sexual violence in conflicts.

Soussana described her life before the Hamas attack, explaining, "I worked as an attorney in an office that I truly loved, rented a small house in the kibbutz, and my biggest concern, like most people, was deciding what to have for dinner." She emphasized her commitment to privacy, saying, "I stayed away from social media and was a very private person. My privacy was and still is very important to me."

Soussana was abducted from her home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza by a group of at least 10 men and forcibly taken to Gaza, where she was subjected to horrifying experiences. She was released in late November 2023 as part of the first and only hostage deal with Hamas.

HAMAS TERRORISTS 'SYSTEMATICALLY AND INTENTIONALLY' COMMITTED SEXUAL VIOLENCE DURING OCT. 7 ATTACK: REPORT

She recounted the day of her abduction, vividly remembering the peaceful Saturday morning that was a Jewish holiday, "Simchat Torah," exactly a year before today - which is again the same holiday in Israel on Thursday. 

"The tranquility was shattered by the sound of thousands of missiles launching from Gaza, followed by the terrifying approach of gunfire," she recalled. Soussana barricaded herself in her safe room, her body trembling from fear, until a hand grenade exploded in her living room. "My home was invaded by heavily armed men in civilian clothing," she said, detailing her shock and vulnerability.

In a state of distress, she described her abduction. "I was in my pajamas, barefoot, and decided to take the blanket from my bed to cover myself." She was dragged from her burning house to the Gaza border, beaten severely along the way. 

"It felt as though they were taking pleasure in hurting me," she said. Despite the grave danger, she resisted, stating, "I feared for my body and soul more than I feared for my life. So I fought back." As a result, she suffered significant injuries, including a broken eye socket and a knee injury that still affects her.

During her captivity, Soussana was chained by her ankle, unable to move. "I had to ask for permission to use the bathroom," she explained, detailing her experience. "In that house, I was sexually assaulted by the Hamas terrorist who had guarded me." She described the assault, saying, "He forced me to go to the shower and entered the room, pointed his gun at me. He was breathing heavily and had a monstrous beast-like face." She recalled his intrusive questioning while he sat next to her in his underwear, lifting her shirt and touching her. "I knew exactly what he was planning to do, and yet I couldn't do anything to prevent it. I was utterly helpless."

UN FINALLY RECOGNIZES THAT ISRAELI WOMEN WERE RAPED, SEXUALLY ATTACKED BY HAMAS TERRORISTS

After the assault, she noted, "I wasn't even allowed to cry or to be sad. I had no one to comfort me and was forced to act nice to the person who had just sexually assaulted me." She continued, "Not a day goes by that I don't think about what that terrible man did to me, but I keep reminding myself that I'm free now and that he can't hurt me again."

A few days later, she was transferred to a new location with different guards. "Even though I was terrified, I felt fortunate that at least I wasn't with the man who sexually violated me," she said. However, she faced further torment. "I was tortured, hung upside down, beaten, humiliated and feared for my life," she recalled. Eventually, she was taken into an underground tunnel, where she felt as though she was "buried alive" and subjected to inhumane conditions.

After enduring an agonizing 55 days, she was finally freed but expressed that her sense of freedom was overshadowed by the plight of those still captive. "I do not feel free while others remain in captivity, enduring the same nightmare," she stated, highlighting the promise she and other hostages made to fight for each other’s release. "Today, I honor this promise by telling my story," she added.

CHILDREN ONCE HELD HOSTAGE STILL WORKING THROUGH TRAUMA: 'ARE THEY COMING FOR US AGAIN?'

Soussana concluded her speech with a heartfelt plea to the U.N. "I urge you to fulfill your duty, take immediate action to secure the release of those still held captive," she said. "Every day that passes steals another piece of their soul and endangers their life." She called upon the U.N. to not turn a blind eye to the atrocities committed against innocent civilians. "It is your responsibility to protect human rights, to combat terrorism, and to bring those responsible for these heinous crimes to justice," she urged.

As she finished, she reiterated her call to action. "The world is watching, waiting for the U.N. Security Council to live up to its mandate. I beg you, do not fail us. Secure the freedom of the hostages and ensure that no one else suffers the same fate. Remember, it is our collective duty to combat terrorism and protect human rights. The time to act is now."

At the event, Israel's Ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon said, "We will not stop until all 101 of our hostages are released by Hamas." 

Danon thanked Soussana for her courage. "Thank you for sharing your story with the world and revealing again the true face of the terrorist organization Hamas. It is important to remember that the long hand of the IDF will reach everyone who belongs to the terrorist organization Hamas and eliminate him."

In March, five months after the massacre, the U.N. published a report acknowledging that rape and gang rape, among other acts of sexual violence, likely occurred during the Oct. 7 Hamas attack and said there was "clear and convincing" evidence that hostages were raped while being held in Gaza, and that those currently held captive are still facing such abuse. Soussana was one of the witnesses in the report. 

Among the 101 hostages still held in Gaza are women and children.

Israel's national security council called on Israelis on Wednesday to immediately leave some tourist areas in southern Sri Lanka over the threat of a possible terrorist attack.

The agency said the warning pertained to the area of Arugam Bay and beaches in the south and west of Sri Lanka, and stemmed from "current information about a terrorist threat focused on tourist areas and beaches".

IDF CLAIMS 6 AL JAZEERA JOURNALISTS ARE MEMBERS OF TERROR GROUPS, NETWORK RESPONDS TO 'FABRICATED ACCUSATIONS'

The security council did not specify the exact nature of the threat and called on Israelis in the rest of Sri Lanka to be cautious and refrain from holding large gatherings in public areas.

"The Israeli security establishment ... is in close contact with the security authorities in Sri Lanka and is following the developments," it said.

The U.S. embassy in Sri Lanka also released a security alert stating it had received "credible information warning of an attack targeting popular tourist locations in the Arugam Bay area".

"U.S. citizens are strongly urged to avoid the Arugam Bay area until further notice," it added but did not give details.

Germany's Foreign Ministry also urged travellers to avoid the area or to leave it as soon as possible, citing "indications of possible attacks on tourist destinations".

Police security has been beefed up in the area and officials are on high alert, police spokesperson Nihal Thalduwa said in a video statement released in Colombo.

"This area is a popular spot for surfing and this has attracted a large number of Israeli tourists. We are working to ensure they remain safe," Thalduwa said.

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Sri Lanka, famed for its pristine beaches, tea plantations and historic temples, is seeing a resurgence in tourists as the island nation recovers from a severe financial crisis.

In the first eight months of this year, 1.5 million tourists arrived in Sri Lanka, including a total of 20,515 from Israel, government data showed.

Mexican army troops have killed 19 suspected drug cartel gunmen in a shootout and suffered no casualties, the Defense Department said.

The ruling Morena party has criticized past administrations for lopsided death tolls in which many suspects but no soldiers died, suggesting they constituted executions or rights abuses.

The confrontation occurred Monday in the northern state of Sinaloa, on the outskirts of the state capital, Culiacan. The area has been shaken by infighting between two factions of the Sinaloa cartel since early September.

The department said that before the confrontation, troops detained a top lieutenant of the "Mayitos" faction, loyal to imprisoned drug lord Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada. The army did not give the name of the suspect, who they identified only by nickname "El Max."

MEXICAN NEWSPAPER OFFICES HIT BY GUNFIRE IN SINALOA STATE CAPITAL

The army then said troops were attacked by more than 30 assailants, at least 11 of whom managed to escape and 19 of them were killed when soldiers returned fire.

The Defense Department claimed soldiers acted in self-defense and "strict adherence to the rule of law and with full respect for human rights."

It said that 17 rifles — including a .50-caliber sniper rifle — as well as four machine guns were seized at the scene.

The current round of fighting broke out after Zambada claimed he was forced aboard an airplane on July 25 by another drug capo who flew them both to the United States and turned them in to U.S. authorities.

The man Zambada claimed had kidnapped him — Joaquín Guzmán López, one of the sons of imprisoned drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzman — is a leader of a rival cartel faction known as the "Chapitos."

The shootout Monday was the most lopsided confrontation since the killing of 22 suspects by soldiers at a grain warehouse in the township of Tlatlaya, in the State of Mexico, in 2014.

While some of the 22 died in an initial shootout with an army patrol — in which one soldier was wounded — a human rights investigation determined that at least eight and perhaps as many as a dozen suspects were executed after they surrendered.

Seven soldiers were arrested, freed and then arrested again years later on charges of abuse of authority.

JERUSALEM — Israel Defense Forces (IDF) allege that six reporters for the Al Jazeera news organization are members of two terrorist organizations, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The IDF said it uncovered the documents in Gaza.

On Thursday, the IDF released a dossier outlining the names, military ranks and identification numbers of the alleged terrorists. The Al Jazeera reporter Anas Jamal Mahmoud Al-Sharif, according to the IDF, is part of Hamas’ Northern Brigade and has served as "true team commander" and "a soldier of the third rank."

The IDF’s information contains financial information about the alleged terrorist and claimed Al-Sharif was a "fighter and cell leader in a rocket company," and "a fighter" in Hamas' special forces Nukhba company. 

A statement released by Al Jazeera Media Network on Wednesday called the allegations "unfounded," saying it "views these fabricated accusations as a blatant attempt to silence the few remaining journalists in the region, thereby obscuring the harsh realities of the war from audiences worldwide."

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Pictures of the alleged Hamas terrorists wearing protective vests labeled press for reporting in conflict zones were on display in the IDF dossier. Al Jazeera is headquartered in Qatar.

Following the Hamas massacre in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, where some 1,200 Israelis and other foreign nationals were murdered, as well as the taking of 241 hostages by Hamas terrorists, Israel invaded Gaza to bring back the hostages and wipe out Hamas.

The Jerusalem bureau chief of the now-closed Al Jazeera office, Walid Omary, flatly denied the IDF allegations about the Al Jazeera reporters to Fox News Digital.

"These are baseless allegations from the Israeli forces. While Al Jazeera confirms that the below-mentioned journalists are employed by the network, we categorically reject these allegations and the portrayal of our journalists as terrorists. They are simply performing their professional duties, documenting, and reporting on the horrendous realities of the war and its impact on the 2 million civilians. The current accusations follow Al Jazeera’s exposé of potential war crimes committed by the Israeli forces during war on Gaza."

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Omary added, "Over the last two years, they have targeted and killed several Al Jazeera journalists in both the West Bank and Gaza. This includes Shireen Abu Akleh, a Palestinian-American journalist in 2022, as well as Samer Abu Daqqa, Hamza Al Dahdouh, and Ismail Al Ghoul over the past year, some of whom were accused based on unfounded allegations or fabricated evidence. Al Jazeera has brought these cases before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague seeking justice for its employees. 

"Furthermore, the Israeli forces have targeted and killed over 100 journalists and media workers over the past year as documented by internationally renowned press freedom organizations. The Israeli forces continue to demonstrate open hostility toward Al Jazeera because of the network’s commitment to broadcasting the unfolding realities in Gaza and elsewhere."

The other reporters listed in the IDF dossier include Ismail Farid Muhammad Abu Omar, who was alleged to be a Hamas operative in the Khan Yunis Brigade since 2021. He held the positions of "Team Commander", "Platoon commander in the training unit" and "Exercise Commander," said the IDF. He enlisted in Hamas in 2005, noted the IDF.

Other Hamas members, according to the IDF, are Hossam Basel Abdul Karim Shabat, part of the  Beit Hanoun Battalion and a "sniper operative in an anti-tank company," and Talal Mahmoud Abdul Rahman Aruki, who is alleged to have enlisted in Hamas in 2008, according to the IDF.

Aruki released a statement on Instagram refuting the IDF allegations, saying he was studying at university when the IDF accused him of joining Hamas. He stated, "An incitement campaign against me and a group of Al Jazeera journalists by the Israeli army. This news is nothing but incitement allegations by the Israeli army."

The IDF also alleged that two other journalists are part of Palestinian Islamic Jihad: Alaa Abdul Aziz Muhammad Salama, who they claim is a "deputy commander of combat propaganda," and Ashraf Sami Ashour Saraj, an infantry soldier.

The United States government has classified both Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad as foreign terrorist organizations.

The Committee to Protect Journalists released a statement on X stating, "The Committee to Protect Journalists is aware of accusations made by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) against several journalists in Gaza accusing them of being members of militant groups. Israel has repeatedly made similar unproven claims without producing credible evidence."