U.S. senators back bill to provide $3.3 billion for Israel

Republican and Democratic U.S. senators introduced legislation on Thursday to provide $3.3 billion in annual aid to Israel, seeking to put into law an aid agreement between the two countries reached in 2016 amid concern over rising Middle East tensions.

Putin makes unannounced visit to the Middle East

Russian President Vladimir Putin is visiting Syria where he has held talks with his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, Syrian state media and Russia’s Interfax said on Tuesday.

New envoy for Trump peace plan meets with Israeli leaders for first time

Avi Berkowitz, who replaced Jason Greenblatt as the US envoy for the Trump Administration’s “Deal of the Century,” met with leaders in Israel this week for the first time as officials in Jerusalem and Washington said the US may release its peace plan before third Israeli elections on March 2.

Christian group warns of ‘chaos’ in Iraq after U.S. strike

A leading international group monitoring persecution of Christians says Iran, newly spurned by Thursday night’s drone strike that killed the Islamic republic’s elite military commander Gen. Qassem Soleimani, may target Christians living in Iraq as revenge for the U.S. attacks.

Iron Dome defense system notes 85% success rate in 2019, IDF says

The Israeli military on Thursday released data on operational activity on all fronts in 2019, showing that its ‘campaign between the wars’ – an ongoing Israeli military and intelligence effort to disrupt the force buildup of the Iranian-Shiite axis throughout the Middle East – is nowhere near winding down.

Worthy Christian News