United States
Reuters: Families Of Israeli Hostages Still In Gaza Call On Trump, Biden To Work Together
“Families of Israeli hostages taken captive to Gaza by Islamist group Hamas urged U.S. President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday to work on a deal to free those still being held before winter. A delegation of former hostages and hostages' relatives were visiting Rome for meetings including with the local Jewish community and Pope Francis. During a press conference, they told reporters a deal was swiftly needed to bring back all the hostages still being held after the Oct. 7 2023, Hamas attack on southern Israel that triggered the Gaza war, and said Biden and Trump should work together. "We hope Biden and Trump work together now to get the hostages back, before the winter ... it has been so tough for them, they cannot be expected to wait another winter," said Sharon Lifshitz.”
NBC News: The FBI Says It Stopped A Possible Terrorist Attack In Houston
“Federal law enforcement officials said Thursday that they stopped a Texas man from carrying out a possible terrorist attack in Houston. "Any day we can publicly say that is a good day," the FBI's Houston field office said on social media. Anas Said, 28, was charged last month with attempting to provide material support to the terrorist group ISIS, according to an indictment filed in U.S. District Court in Texas. Said was arrested last week at the Houston apartment complex where he is alleged to have planned the attack, said the FBI, which accused him of bragging that he would commit "a 9/11-style" attack if he had the resources. Said is alleged to have told federal agents that he created propaganda for the terrorist group, considered attacking members of the U.S. military and discussed researching the locations and physical layouts of synagogues and the Israeli Consulate in Houston, federal court documents show.”
The Economic Times: Concerns In US Over Growing Extremism In Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina Did Good Job In Controlling It: Ex-White House Official
“There are serious concerns in the US over growing extremism in Bangladesh, a former White House official has said, observing that deposed former Prime Minister Sheikh did a good job in controlling it. Lisa Curtis, who served as President-elect Donald Trump's South Asia point-person in his first term, has said there is concern about the future and what it could bring to Bangladesh. "We are at a critical juncture in Bangladesh. With the overthrow of Sheikh Hasina and efforts to reform the political system, there is a lot of hope. People are hopeful that the democratic process will get stronger," she said on Thursday. The Awami League regime led by Hasian was toppled on August 5 in the face of a mass upsurge originating from a quota reform campaign by the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement.”
Iran
Associated Press: Former VOA Farsi Service Journalist Kills Himself In Iran After Demanding Release Of Prisoners
“A former journalist with the Voice of America’s Farsi service jumped to his death from a building in Iran’s capital in protest of the country’s supreme leader and an ongoing crackdown on dissent in the Islamic Republic, authorities said Thursday. An official in Iran’s presidency acknowledged the death Wednesday night of Kianoosh Sanjari, 42, who had earlier demanded the release of four prisoners held in the country and threatened to kill himself if they weren’t released. Ali Raniei, a social adviser to Iran’s reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian, said that Sanjari’s death should be the subject of a government review. He called an increase in the number of suicides in the country by young people “alarming,” according to remarks published by Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency.”
Iraq
Newsweek: Exclusive: Iraq Militia At War With US Troops Seeks 'Peace' Under Trump
“The head of an Iraqi militia involved in a campaign against U.S. troops and Israel has expressed to Newsweek his desire for a less hostile relationship with the United States when President-elect Donald Trump assumes office. The remarks come as regional stakeholders anxiously await Trump's strategy upon returning to office to oversee a volatile landscape in the Middle East, where Israel and the Iran-aligned Axis of Resistance have been locked in battle for more than a year. Trump has signaled strong support for Israel and a tougher line against Iran, but he has also vowed to put an end to wars abroad, having accused President Joe Biden of pursuing interventionist policies in the region. Now, as fighters of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq call into question the current administration's commitment to a deal announced in September to begin withdrawing U.S. forces from the country, one group sees potential in Trump's outlook.”
The Economist: Iraq Could Be The Middle East’s Next Battleground
“No sooner had it unleashed the first of its drones at Israel on November 8th than the Iraqi militia published an image of missiles streaking through the sky. Israel said its aerial defences had thwarted the attack by al-Nujaba (“the Nobles”). “Big surprises in the coming hours,” the group promised—in Hebrew as well as Arabic: “God willing, many events”. Most of the Middle East’s rulers, including those of Iran’s allies, would prefer God has other plans. Iraq has been doing rather well of late. It is at last using its oil revenues to fund infrastructure, not sectarian wars or foreign slush funds. Violence is at its lowest level since America’s invasion. Its officials are desperate to sidestep Israel’s conflict with Iran. But their efforts are hamstrung by a lack of control over their own turf.” Israel says Iran is funnelling fresh stocks of long-range missiles and explosive drones to its militias there.”
Pakistan
The Guardian: Pakistan Military Has No Intention Of Cutting Deal With Jailed Former Prime Minister Imran Khan – Sources
“Pakistan’s military has no intention of entering into negotiations or cutting a deal with incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan, senior military sources told the Guardian, after Khan said he would be willing to engage with the army leadership from his jail cell. Khan, who is being held in Pakistan’s Adiala jail, is banned from meeting journalists but the Guardian was able to submit questions through his legal team. In his responses, Khan said he has had “no personal engagement with the military” since he was arrested and imprisoned in August last year. However, he said he would not rule out doing a deal with Pakistan’s powerful military establishment, despite previously accusing them of bringing down his government and being behind his incarceration.”
Lebanon
The Wall Street Journal: Israeli Forces Push Deeper Into Lebanon In Widening War Campaign
“Israel is expanding its ground operation in southern Lebanon, sending troops into villages farther from its border, in what some former senior security officials worry could turn into a war of attrition. On Thursday, Israel’s military for the second day in row said its troops were reaching new targets in southern Lebanon. A day earlier, the military announced six soldiers were killed fighting there, in one of the deadliest single incidents for Israeli troops since the start of the ground operation more than a month ago. The soldiers were killed in a firefight with at least four Hezbollah fighters who ambushed Israeli troops inside a building, according to an initial Israeli probe. That is a sign of the continual threat Hezbollah’s guerrilla warfare presents to Israeli soldiers going deeper into Lebanon.”
New York Post: Daily Hezbollah Strikes Begin To Dwindle As Israel Closes In On Cease-Fire Deal: Officials
“The number of daily Hezbollah rocket strikes against Israel has fallen by nearly half as officials say they are as close as they’ll ever be to reaching a cease-fire deal in Lebanon. The Iran-backed terror group has consistently fired around 150 to 200 rockets every day in recent months, but the frequency has dropped this past week to an average of less than 100 missiles a day, according to the Israel Defense Forces. In recent days, the number fell even further, with only 50 rockets launched on Tuesday and another 55 on Wednesday, marking a dramatic decrease following Israel’s ground incursion in Lebanon. The Israeli military vowed to decimate Hezbollah’s launching capabilities after it began intensifying its own rocket strikes over the border.”
Middle East
Reuters: Israel Will Attack Any Attempt To Bring Arms To Hezbollah From Syria -Army Spokesperson
“Israel will attack any attempt to bring weapons to Hezbollah from Syria, Israel's military spokesperson said on Thursday. "We are identifying rockets and other weapons that Hezbollah is launching at Israeli territory that were manufactured in Syria," Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told reporters. "We will attack every attempt to bring weapons from Syria to Hezbollah. And we will attack all infrastructure we identify in Syria whose purpose is to produce weapons for Hezbollah." He added that the military has been carrying out air strikes from Beirut suburb and Hezbollah stronghold Dahiyeh to Damascus. He was speaking shortly after Syria's state news agency reported what it said was an Israeli air strike that hit a bridge in Syria near the border with northern Lebanon.”
Associated Press: Israel Demolishes Village At The Heart Of Bedouin Minority’s Struggle Over Land
“Israeli authorities on Thursday completed the demolition of a village at the heart of a yearslong struggle by members of the country’s Arab Bedouin minority against relocation plans. Israel says the hundreds of villagers were squatting on state-owned land, and officials had offered them plots in a nearby Bedouin township. Residents of the village, Umm al-Hiran, accuse the authorities of forcibly displacing them so the land can be developed for Israel’s Jewish majority. Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, celebrated the move, posting on X that there has been a 400% increase in the issuance of such demolition orders so far this year. “Proud to lead a strong policy of demolishing illegal houses in the Negev!” he wrote.”
Associated Press: Israeli Strikes Kill At Least 12 Lebanese Rescuers And 15 People In Syria
“An Israeli airstrike killed at least 12 Lebanese rescue workers on Thursday inside a civil defense center in the eastern city of Baalbek, according to health and rescue officials, hours after state media in Syria said Israeli strikes in and around the capital killed at least 15 people. Lebanese emergency workers were digging through the rubble Thursday evening to search for more of their colleagues still trapped under the destroyed rescue center, the group said in a statement. At least three civil defense members were wounded. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. Lebanon’s civil defense forces have no affiliation with the militant group Hezbollah, and they provide crucial rescue and medical services in one of the world’s most war-torn nations.”
Africa
Associated Press: French Weapons System Found In Sudan Is Likely Violation Of U.N. Arms Embargo, Says Amnesty
“Armored vehicles manufactured by the United Arab Emirates and equipped with French defense systems have been captured by the Sudanese army during the civil war in Sudan, Amnesty International says. The rights group said in a report on Thursday it had identified the UAE-made armored personnel carriers (APCs) in various parts of Sudan, including the Darfur region, where they were used by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in its fight with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). It added that the presence of the military vehicles on the battlefield “likely constitutes a violation” of a United Nations arms embargo that prohibits the transfer of weapons to Sudan.”
United Kingdom
BBC: Officer Arrested On Suspicion Of Terror Offence Bailed
“A police officer arrested on suspicion of a terrorism offence has been released on bail pending further enquiries. The Gloucestershire Police officer was arrested on Tuesday by Counter Terrorism Policing South West, and he has been suspended from all duties by the force. The officer is suspected of providing support online for a proscribed organisation contrary to Section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000. The investigation remains ongoing.”
France
Associated Press: Protests Erupt In Paris Over Pro-Israel Gala Organized By Far-Right Figures
“Protests erupted in Paris on Wednesday against a controversial gala organized by far-right figures in support of Israel. The event, intended to raise funds for the Israeli military, included Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich among its invited guests. The demonstrations came on the eve of a high-stakes soccer match at France’s national stadium against the Israeli national team, overshadowed by tensions around the wars in the Middle East. Authorities in Paris announced that more than 4,000 police officers and 1,600 stadium staff will be deployed for the game. Smotrich, a vocal advocate of Israeli settlements, had been expected to attend Wednesday’s gala, dubbed “Israel is Forever,” which was planned by an association of the same name. The group’s stated goal is to “mobilize French-speaking Zionist forces.””
Europe
Newsweek: Pope Francis Meets With Former Hostages Held By Hamas In Gaza
“Pope Francis met with several former hostages held by Hamas in Gaza this week, amid Israel's ongoing war with the militant group. Pope Francis expressed hope that both the incoming and outgoing U.S. administrations will collaborate to secure the return of those still held captive. The released hostages included Yelena Troufanov, who was freed last November. However, her son, Sasha, remains in Gaza and was shown in a video released Wednesday by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group. "You see in the picture how my child has changed over the course of this year," Troufanov said during a press conference in Rome on Thursday. "I am very worried about his condition, I see that he is not in a good mental state and not in a good physical state."”
South America
The New York Times: Suicide Bomber In Brazil’s Capital Rattles Nation Ahead Of Global Summit
“The explosions that shook Brazil’s capital on Wednesday evening and prompted an evacuation were an act of terrorism by a lone attacker who sought to violently disrupt democracy, police officials said on Thursday. The authorities said the only person killed was the attacker himself, and no one was injured. But the two explosions took place near the nation’s Supreme Court in Brasília, the capital, and put the nation on edge just days before the country is set to host a major G20 summit, which President Biden and other world leaders are expected to attend. The attack echoed the violence that descended on Brasília following the election of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva nearly two years ago, fueling worries about renewed tensions after a period of relative calm.”
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