IDF launches airstrikes against Iranian Quds Force in Syria
The Israel Defense Forces attacked Iranian and Syrian targets in Syria early Wednesday morning in response to explosives troops uncovered on Israel’s border with Syria on Tuesday.
Syria
Archaeologists find 1,000 year-old coins in Jerusalem
Israeli archaeologists have unearthed a jar containing 1,000-year-old coins in the Old City of Jerusalem, CBN News reports. Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) inspector Yevgenia Kapil made the discovery during preliminary digging for a Western Wall elevator installation in October.
Lebanese society and Christian community endangered by Hezbollah and regional actors
The head of a leading Christian advocacy group has urgently called for political reform that would protect Lebanese society – and its Christian community – from power-hungry actors like the leaders of Turkey, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, Real Clear Religion (RCR) reports.
Iran, China set to question US over human rights record at UN
The United States is facing its first review in five years at the UN’s main human rights body, with the detentions of migrant children and the killings of unarmed Black people during the Trump administration’s tenure among issues high on minds.
German Police Raid Homes After Islamist Attack In Austria
German police have searched four men’s homes over suspected links with a militant Islamist gunman who shot dead four people in central Vienna. The raids follow revelations that Austria had been warned of a possible attack by neighboring Slovakia.
Islamic State Claims Austria Terror Attack Killing Four
Austrian police detained 14 people in several raids Tuesday after an Islamist gunman shot and killed four people in Vienna.
Top Iranian official says Israeli-Arab normalizing ties is a failed US-Israel plot against Iran
A senior official in Iran’s Islamist regime has described the recent normalization of ties between Israel and Arab states as a US-Israeli plot against Iran, which will ultimately fail, Jerusalem Online (JOL) reported. Secretary of Iran’s Expediency Council Mohsen Rezaei made his comments Wednesday at an international conference in Tehran on the decline of America.
US imposes new sanctions on Iran’s oil sector
The Trump administration imposed fresh sanctions on Iran’s oil sector Monday, also making it more difficult for a subsequent administration to reverse the measures, the Times of Israel reports. Affecting the National Iranian Oil Company, Iran’s oil ministry, and the National Iranian Tanker Company, the new measures were taken under counterterrorism authority, such that a new administration would have to take legal action to change course.
American Airstrikes Take Down 12 al-Qaeda and Taliban Operators
American airstrikes have killed a dozen al-Qaeda and Taliban members in Syria and Afghanistan since Thursday.
US Condemns Iran For Flogging Christian Convert
The U.S. State Department has condemned Iran’s reported flogging of a former Muslim-turned-Christian for drinking Communion wine.
‘We will not allow Hezbollah or Iran to entrench themselves on Golan Heights’
Israel will not allow terrorist entities aligned with Hezbollah or Iran to entrench themselves on Israel’s Golan Heights border, and will do whatever is necessary to push them back, Defense Minister Benny Gantz told Israel Radio on Wednesday, following reports from Syria that IDF tanks had fired on targets near Quneitra in the Syrian Golan Heights overnight.
White House official attended meetings in Damascus to secure release of hostages
A representative from the White House went to Damascus for secret meetings with the Syrian government earlier this year, in an effort to secure the release of at least two US citizens believed to be held hostage there, Reuters reported Monday.
US drone strike kills 2 senior Al Qaeda operatives in Syria
The U.S. military carried out a drone strike Thursday, killing two senior Al Qaeda operatives in northwest Syria.
Vice President Pence Praises Late Christian Missionary Kayla Mueller
More details emerged about a young Christian missionary killed in Syria after U.S. Vice President Mike Pence dedicated Wednesday‘s vice-presidential debate to her.
Netanyahu and Putin discuss security and coronavirus
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke on the phone Wednesday to discuss cooperation in fighting COVID-19 as well as security matters in relation to Iran and Syria, World Israel News (WIN) reports.
US reportedly in talks about moving its military base out of Turkey and into either Greece or the UAE
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has had talks with Greek Prime Minister Kyrias Mitsotakis about possibly transferring its highly strategic US airbase from Turkey to Greece, DEBKAfile sources have revealed. The US is also reportedly in talks with Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Zayed of the United Arab Emirates about moving the Turkish base to the Gulf state.
Pence and Harris in Fierce U.S. Vice-Presidential Debate
Millions of Americans and many more worldwide watched U.S. Republican Vice- President Mike Pence and Democratic challenger Kamala Harris facing off in one of the most meaningful vice presidential debates in recent memory.
President of Armenia says Caucasus region may become “another Syria”
The Armenian President warned the international community Wednesday that Caucasus, a region disputed by former Soviet republics Armenia and Azerbaijan, may become “another Syria,” CNBC reported Wednesday. President Armen Sarkissian gave the warning after fighting broke between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the South Caucasus on Sunday.
Israel has not ruled out pre-emptive strike on Iran
Israeli Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that Israel is not ruling out a preliminary strike against Iran, the Jerusalem Post reports. The PM made his statement during a memorial service for those who died in the Yom Kippur War, when Arab states led by Syrian and Egyptian armies ambushed Israel in a surprise attack on October 8th 1973. At the time of the strike which led to war, Israel had been observing Yom Kippur, the most solemn and holy day in the Jewish calendar, and a time when the country comes to a standstill.
US to deploy small number of additional troops to Syria
The US is sending around 100 extra troops to Syria to protect against increasing Russian aggression and signs of renewed activity from ISIS in the region, the New York Times (NYT) reported Friday. The newly deployed soldiers will be added to a contingent of some 500 American troops in Syria. Additional military hardware will also be sent and there will be more fighter jet patrols.