United States
MSNBC: Scalise Preps Vote On Terrorism Bill Decried As A Gift For Trump
“Republicans in the House have revived their efforts to pass a bill widely decried by human rights and civil rights groups as an effort to crack down on free speech and their ideological opponents. A look at House Majority Leader Steve Scalise’s weekly schedule shows the so-called Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act bill teed up for a vote Wednesday. The bill, also known as H.R. 9495, was introduced by Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y., and would provide tax relief to Americans held hostage abroad. It would also give the U.S. Treasury unilateral authority to strip tax-exempt status from nonprofits deemed “terrorist supporting organizations.” That’s a frightening prospect given Trump’s previous attempt to designate antifascist protesters as “terrorists,” his classification of pro-Palestinian protesters as “pro-Hamas radicals,” his open desire to quell dissent with violence, and his frequent classification of those who disagree with him as the “enemy from within.””
Syria
Fox News: Syrian National Accused Of Funneling Over $9 Million In US-Funded Humanitarian Aid To Terrorist Organization
“A Syrian national was charged after allegedly funneling more than $9 million in U.S.-funded humanitarian aid to terrorist organizations — including al Qaeda. According to a news release from the U.S. attorney's office, District of Columbia, 53-year-old Mahmoud Al Hafyan was charged in a 12-count indictment for allegedly diverting more than $9 million in U.S.-funded humanitarian aid intended for Syrian civilians to armed combatant groups. The groups included the Al-Nusrah Front (ANF), which is a designated foreign terrorist organization affiliated with al Qaeda in Iraq, the release said. "This defendant not only defrauded the U.S. government, but he also gave the humanitarian aid he stole to a foreign terrorist organization," U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves said.”
Pakistan
Voice Of America: China, Pakistan To Hold First Anti-Terror Drills In 5 Years Amid Rising Attacks
“China said Tuesday it will send troops to Pakistan later this month for the countries first joint counterterrorism military exercise in five years to enhance security cooperation with its South Asian neighbor and close ally. The announcement follows reports that Beijing is pushing Islamabad to permit its security personnel to safeguard thousands of Chinese nationals working in Pakistan from deadly terrorist attacks. It also comes amid a spike in terrorist attacks against Pakistani security forces attributed to or claimed by the outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, commonly known as TTP. On Tuesday, China’s Defense Ministry said that the Pakistan-hosted “Warrior-VIII exercise is set to begin in late November and will run until mid-December “with the aim … to enhance the capability for conducting joint counterterrorism operations,” according to Chinese state media.”
Voice Of America: Suicide Bombing Kills 12 Pakistan Soldiers
“Authorities in northwestern Pakistan said Wednesday that militants overnight launched a gun and suicide bomb attack against a military outpost, killing at least 12 troops and injuring several others. The deadly assault took place in the militancy-hit Bannu district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which borders Afghanistan. The statement reported that Pakistani security forces in the ensuing gunfight killed six assailants and “effectively” blocked their attempt to enter the post, prompting a suicide bomber to ram an explosive-laden vehicle into the facility. The explosion caused the collapse of a portion of “the perimeter wall and damaged the adjoining infrastructure,” resulting in fatalities, the military said.”
Lebanon
The Washington Post: Israel’s War On Hezbollah Takes Terrible Toll On Lebanon’s Children
“Scattered throughout the wrecked apartment was evidence of how particularly vulnerable children are to the effects of explosive weapons. A day and a half after Israel fired the missile through the building, the bodies of the adults had long since been retrieved and identified. Pieces of the children, though, were still being found everywhere. The main recovery effort in this village south of Beirut was over, but this stage was infinitely more delicate: A civil defense worker, using just a small trowel and his hands, picked carefully through the concrete that had collapsed into the second-floor apartment, searching for what remained of Mohamad, 11, and Elia, 7. An ambulance worker followed with a plastic bag to collect bits of their charred flesh for DNA identification. Each chunk was so small it could fit in the palm of his hand.”
Reuters: UN Force In Lebanon Says Four Peacekeepers Wounded, Israel Blames Hezbollah Rockets
“The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said that four Ghanaian peacekeepers were wounded on Tuesday when a rocket that was most likely fired by "non-state actors" hit their base in southern Lebanon. Peacekeepers and facilities were targeted in three separate incidents on Tuesday, UNIFIL added. Israel's military said Hezbollah had twice fired rockets on Tuesday that damaged UNIFIL posts. One rocket was fired at 9.50 am (0750 GMT), hitting a UNIFIL post in the Ramyeh area in southern Lebanon, it said. At 1.30 pm, the military said, Hezbollah fired a number of rockets from Maaliyeh that hit and damaged a UNIFIL post in the area of Chamaa in southern Lebanon.”
Middle East
Reuters: Israeli Forces Kill Three Islamic Jihad Militants In West Bank Raid, Medics Say
“Israeli forces shot dead three members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group on Tuesday during an army raid into Qabatiya in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry and the group said. The armed wing of the Iranian-backed Islamic Jihad group said three of its members were killed as they confronted Israeli forces who raided Qabatiya near the city of Jenin. There was no immediate Israeli comment. Later on Tuesday, the Palestinian health ministry said two Palestinians had been killed by Israeli fire in the Palestinian city of Jenin in the West Bank. Israel's military did not immediately comment on the incident. Violence has surged across the West Bank since the start of the Hamas-Israel war in Gaza more than 13 months ago.”
NBC: New Details Emerge About Netanyahu Aide Accused Of Leaking Hamas Documents To The Press
“Israeli prosecutors have accused one of Benjamin Netanyahu’s aides of illegally leaking classified intelligence in an attempt to blunt widespread criticism of the prime minister’s handling of the Gaza hostage crisis. The allegations, detailed in newly released court filings, are part of a sprawling criminal probe that has rocked Israel’s government and led to the aide’s arrest and detention in prison. Four military personnel have also been arrested in connection with the case. Investigators discovered that a low-level Israeli soldier had illegally removed Hamas documents from a military database and passed them to Eli Feldstein, a communications consultant working for Netanyahu, prosecutors said.”
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