Browsing: United States

Weakened by war and diplomatic deadlock, Iran’s clerical elite stands at a crossroads: defy pressure to halt its nuclear activity and risk further Israeli and US attack, or concede and risk a leadership fracture. For now, the Islamic Republic establishment is focusing on immediate survival over longer-term political strategy. A fragile ceasefire ended a 12-day war in June that began with Israeli air strikes, followed by US bunker-busting bombings of three underground Iranian nuclear sites. Both sides declared victory, but the war exposed the military vulnerabilities and punctured the image of deterrence maintained by a major Middle East power and Israel’s arch…

Hamas is reportedly on high alert over fears of a joint Israeli-US rescue mission targeting hostages. Saudi sources claim Hamas has increased surveillance to prevent detection and infiltration by Israeli special forces. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reinforced that Hamas remains the chief obstacle to any ceasefire deal or hostage release. “Together with our American allies, we are considering alternative options to bring our hostages home,” Netanyahu said. Hamas reportedly backtracked on earlier ceasefire agreements, demanding exclusive UN control of humanitarian aid and increasing prisoner release demands. These shifts, Israel says, reveal Hamas’ lack of commitment to any peaceful resolution.…

On Saturday, July 5, two American veterans working with the U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) were injured in an attack while distributing aid to Palestinians. The two veterans are reportedly receiving medical treatment and are in stable condition. GHF said the Americans were “highly decorated” veterans. “GHF has repeatedly warned of credible threats from Hamas, including explicit plans to target American personnel, Palestinian aid workers, and the civilians who rely on our sites for food. Today’s attack tragically affirms those warnings,” the organization wrote. GHF vowed that it was still committed to the mission of delivering aid to…

Nearly two months after his release from Hamas captivity, 21-year-old Edan Alexander is set to meet former U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Thursday. The visit, confirmed by the White House, comes after what officials describe as a deeply personal effort by Trump to help secure the dual Israeli-American citizen’s freedom. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that both Trump and former First Lady Melania Trump are “looking forward” to hosting Alexander and his family in the Oval Office. The meeting is scheduled to take place at noon. Continue reading this article on i24news.tv

Following the U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Western Wall with his wife, Sara, to offer prayers of gratitude for the success of the mission and President Trump’s support. Joined by the rabbi of the Western Wall and the site’s heritage director, Netanyahu recited psalms of thanksgiving. He placed a note between the stones declaring: “Am Yisrael kam – Am Yisrael chai!” (The Nation of Israel has risen – The Nation of Israel lives!) Netanyahu said the timing of the prayer mirrored his earlier visit before Operation Rising Lion began. This act of faith…

The new proposal from US special envoy Steve Witkoff for a deal between Israel and the Hamas terror group would see the release of 10 living Israeli hostages held in Gaza and the return of the bodies of 18 deceased hostages, in exchange for a 60-day ceasefire, an Israeli official confirmed to The Times of Israel on Thursday. The confirmation came as right-wing ministers, and some hawkish hostage families, came out in opposition to the proposed deal, arguing that Hamas is weakened and now is the time to force the terror group to surrender. As part of the US proposal, the…

Israel is getting ready to quickly strike Iran if ongoing talks between the United States and the Islamic Republic over the latter’s nuclear program break down, Axios reported Wednesday, citing a pair of Israeli sources. “Bibi is waiting for the nuclear talks to collapse and for the moment Trump will be disappointed about the negotiations and open to giving him the go-ahead,” said one of the sources, using Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s nickname. According to the sources, the Israeli intelligence community now thinks the nuclear talks could collapse soon, after previously believing an agreement was close. One of the sources said the…

The head of U.S. Central Command arrived in Israel on Thursday for high-level talks, as talks between Washington and Tehran on the latter’s nuclear program continue. Gen. Michael Kurilla’s visit comes as Israel continues its military operations in Gaza and conducts strikes in Lebanon and Syria, while the U.S. carries out a campaign against Houthi targets in Yemen. Meanwhile, Washington is quietly engaging Tehran in renewed efforts to reach a nuclear agreement—an effort Israeli officials view with growing alarm. Israeli defense and political leaders continue to treat Iran’s nuclear program as their most urgent national security threat. Kurilla’s trip, seen…

The United States has formally redesignated the Yemeni Houthi movement as a “foreign terrorist organization,” according to a statement by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This announcement is in line with the promise made by President Donald Trump three days after he took office last month. The measure imposes more severe economic sanctions than those applied by Joe Biden’s administration to the Iran-aligned group, officially known as Ansar Allah. This decision follows the Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea and on American warships defending this crucial maritime passage point. At the beginning of his presidential term…

The Israeli Air Force held a joint exercise with the US Air Force on Tuesday, in what was likely a message to Iran amid speculation about a potential joint strike on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear facilities. During the exercise, pilots “practiced operational coordination between the two militaries to enhance their ability to address various regional threats,” the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement Thursday. The drill included Israeli F-15I and F-35I fighter jets flying alongside a US B-52 bomber. “The exercise aimed to strengthen and maintain the longstanding cooperation between the forces while expanding connectivity and building integrated capabilities…