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USA

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Democrats Call Republican Candidates Fascists

FNC's Pete Hegseth: Democrats Have Called Every Republican Candidate Since 1964 "Fascist," "Hitler"

"FOX & Friends" co-host illustrates the history of Democrats referring to every Republican presidential candidate going back to Barry Goldwater a fascist and a "Hitler."
[Video]
PETE HEGSETH: All the way back to Barry Goldwater, and even before that, in the [1948] Truman race, Republicans have been called "Hitler" or "fascists" or "tyrants." From Nixon to Reagan -- I mean, Gerald Ford and Mitt Romney are about as moderate as you can get, and they're called Hitler.

But with Donald Trump it is different, let's be real here, those were maybe one-offs. This is their slogan. This is the blood red dripped, you know, Independence Hall with the Marines behind him saying it's a "threat to democracy." This is the characterization they have made. There have been two assassination attempts, and they're not going to stop.

KEVIN MCCARTHY: And that's the dangerous part about this. When this election is over, you want people to unite. All the language they're using right now is they want the keep fighting. And when you have two assassination attempts, we do not want the next president of the United States to be fearing for their life every single day. What does that do to the nation?

Think about this president who went back to Butler. That was to help heal the nation. The other party is encouraging even more of this rhetoric and more direction in the wrong place that we need at this moment in time.

WaPo Not Endorsing Harris

Watergate reporters Woodward and Bernstein calls Washington Post decision to not endorse Kamala Harris ‘disappointing’

Famed Watergate reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein blasted Jeff Bezos’ decision to keep the Washington Post neutral in the 2024 presidential race by declining to endorse Kamala Harris for president.

“We respect the traditional independence of the editorial page, but this decision 11 days out from the 2024 presidential election ignores the Washington Post’s own overwhelming reportorial evidence on the threat Donald Trump poses to democracy,” the pair said in a statement published by CNN Friday.

“Under Jeff Bezos’s ownership, the Washington Post’s news operation has used its abundant resources to rigorously investigate the danger and damage a second Trump presidency could cause to the future of American democracy and that makes this decision even more surprising and disappointing, especially this late in the electoral process.”

Both men are longtime establishments in journalism and worked at the Washington Post, where their celebrated coverage of Richard Nixon and the Watergate scandal helped end his presidency.

Bezos, who bought the Washington Post in 2013, scrapped a planned endorsement of Harris from his editorial board this week, a move that precipitated a public newsroom temper tantrum.

“I didn’t sign up to be a journalist to be silent on what matters most. I didn’t come here to be a coward. Some of us really, truly believe in speaking truth to power. We were betrayed today,” Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah wrote on X Friday.

One WashPo editor, Robert Kagan, has already resigned over the decision, while 2,000 readers canceled their subscriptions within 24 hours, which one staffer said was “an unusually high number,” Semafor reported.

LA Times Editorial Boss Resigns Because Owner Won't Endorse Harris

Los Angeles Times editorial boss resigns after billionaire owner Patrick Soon-Shiong scraps Harris endorsement

The editorials editor for the Los Angeles Times stepped down Wednesday after the newspaper’s billionaire owner stopped the publication’s expected endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris.

Mariel Garza is leaving her post at the Times because she wants “to make it clear that I am not OK with us being silent” after biotech entrepreneur Patrick Soon-Shiong scrapped the paper’s endorsement for president.

“In dangerous times, honest people need to stand up,” Garza told the Columbia Journalism Review.

“This is how I’m standing up.”

Last week, Soon-Shiong told the newspaper’s editorial board through the outlet’s editor that the LA Times would not endorse Harris or former President Donald Trump, which was first reported by Semafor.

A draft of a proposed editorial giving Harris the nod was even written by Garza before it was called off, the Columbia Journalism Review reported.

She told the journalistic-centric outlet she didn’t think the endorsement would change voters’ minds because the LA Times is a “very liberal paper” and most of its readers are Harris supporters. 

NY Post Endorses Trump

The Post endorses Donald Trump for president — the clear choice for a better future

Voters carry a heavy responsibility in this election — one of the most consequential in the history of this great nation.

The choice will have reverberations for decades, deciding which of two very different paths for the future Americans will take.

We must choose the following: 

A secure border and a sensible immigration system.
Safer cities and support for law and order.
A thriving, low-tax and low-regulation economy for all — fueled by an energy policy that supports, not penalizes, industry and households.
Common-sense policies that restore the power of parents to choose what is best for their children on school choice, gender surgery and trans athletes playing in female sports.
An America that’s respected on the world stage — feared by our enemies and trusted by our allies.
Only one candidate can credibly claim to lead us there.

Donald Trump.

If history is any guide, the track records of the last two administrations provide a clearly comparable record.

To borrow from Ronald Reagan’s famous “Are you better off now than you were four years ago?”: Voters should ask themselves if they were better off under Trump or Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. 

His opponents focus on how Trump’s administration was marked by a relentless soap opera of high drama and chaos — much of which they fueled.

And yes, many find him offensive — and we say fair enough: He can be ridiculously hyperbolic.

But before COVID wreaked havoc across the globe, Trump’s first-term results were paychecks that grew markedly faster than inflation, the lowest unemployment in 50 years, a secure border and peace overseas.

NY Mayor Adams: Trump is Not a Fascist

Mayor Adams refutes Kamala Harris, says Trump is not a fascist as he urges Dems to ‘dial down the temperature’

Mayor Adams defended Donald Trump Saturday, slamming claims from Democrats that the Republican nominee is a “fascist” who could be compared to Adolf Hitler.

“I have had those comments hurled at me by some political leaders in the city; my answer is ‘No,’ ” said an embattled Adams, when asked about the criticism of Trump.

“I know what Hitler has done, and I know what a fascist regime looks like. I think, as I have called for over and over again, that the level of conversation, I think we can all dial down the temperature,” added Adams, a moderate Dem currently facing federal corruption charges.

Adams made the remarks while speaking at a Manhattan news conference outlining what he called “large police presence” being planned for Trump’s Sunday rally at Madison Square Garden.

Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and President Biden began hammering Trump this week after claims emerged that the former commander-in-chief had praised Hitler while in the Oval Office.

The allegation surfaced in The Atlantic and was later confirmed by retired Marine Corps Gen. John Kelly, Trump’s one time White House chief of staff.

I wouldn't be surprised if Eric Adams won't make it to the end of his tenure as mayor or won't get reelected.

Antisemitism in NYC on the rise, Promoted by Foreign Actors

Antisemitism in NYC schools fueled by foreign actors, activist educators: report

Activists and foreign actors have infiltrated the city’s public schools with anti-Israel materials, fostering bias and hatred of Jews, according to a new report by a nonprofit think tank.

Teacher groups like NYC Educators for Palestine have collaborated with extremist organizations, some allegedly tied to hostile foreign governments and terrorist groups, to bring “radical, anti-American ideologies” into schools, said the Network Contagion Research Institute, or NCRI, and the advocacy group New York City Public School Alliance, which co-wrote the report.

“The report exposes how the Department of Education’s vetted resources enable radical sympathizers to shape young minds with biased information,” said Tova Plaut, a DOE pre-K coordinator and co-founder with teacher Karen Feldman of NYCPS Alliance, a group of Jewish educators who contributed to the project.

Set for release this week, the report cites DOE documents, school events and staff social media posts as evidence of its findings.

It calls on the DOE to immediately conduct a curriculum review; enforce the chancellor’s anti-discrimination policies; adopt a definition of antisemitism and mandate training on it; and increase oversight of foreign funding.

“If these ideas are left unchecked, they will be internalized by a new generation of students, who will then  graduate, attend university, vote, enter the workforce, and raise families of their own, further embedding antisemitic beliefs into wider American society,” the NCRI and NYC Public Schools Alliance said.

Learn How to Locate New Jersey's Ancient Volcano

NJ once had huge volcano in same county where new fault line resides

New Jersey was once home to a fiery volcano roughly the size of Mount St. Helens – that sits in the same county as a newly mapped fault line.

Rutan Hill, in Wantage, NJ, appears to be and is merely one of many non-descript earthen formations that comprise the topological face of the Garden State.

But that small Sussex county hillock was, 430 million years ago, the Beemerville Volcano – spanning 10 to 20 miles across and spewing with lava and ash for millions of years, according to geologists.

The Beemerville Volcano is considered to be an extinct volcano and all that remains is Rutan Hill and the “volcanic neck.”

The “neck” – also called the “plug” – is the solidified remains of a volcano’s conduit and plumbing system and is the last impression an extinct volcano leaves.
Geologists say that there is no chance that the volcano can ever erupt – at least not for millions of more years.

But New Jersey was shaken by a new report this week that announced a previously unmapped fault line that also runs through Sussex County.

The study from Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory identified the fault line on April 5th – the day a magnitude 4.8 earthquake rocked New York City.

DA Gascón & the Menendez Brothers

Attorney for Menendez brothers' uncle says DA trying to 'rewrite history' in pursuit to free pair

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon has ignored credibility issues related to new evidence that prompted him to announce his recommendation that the Menendez brothers be re-sentenced for the 1989 murders of their parents in an effort to "rewrite history," an attorney for the brothers' uncle said.

Milton Andersen, the 90-year-old brother of Mary "Kitty" Menendez, has opposed the release of his nephews. His attorney, Kathleen Cady, said Gascon has ignored repeated requests that Andersen be informed on any decision taken by the DA's office.

"Despite numerous requests, Gascón has refused to inform Mr. Andersen of any decisions before holding press conferences," Cady said in a statement. "Mr. Andersen has been left in the dark, forced to learn crucial updates about his sister's case through the media, rather than being treated with the dignity and respect he deserves."

Gascon initially announced he would review the case in light of new "evidence," which includes new allegations that the brothers' father, Jose Menendez, molested Roy Rossello, a former member of the boy band Menudo, in the 1980s, as well as a letter that Erik Menendez wrote to his cousin, Andy Cano, that surfaced in 2015, in which he talked about the alleged sexual abuse.

"It is unconscionable that Gascon, whose ethical obligation is to pursue justice with integrity, has ignored my multiple notifications about individuals coming forward with information that seriously questions the credibility of the so-called ‘new evidence’ in this case," said Cady. "Yet, Gascón has shown no interest in reviewing or investigating this evidence, turning a blind eye to potential flaws in his pursuit to rewrite history."

Gascon said he plans to recommend a sentence of 50 years to life for each of the brothers, which would make them immediately eligible for parole under state law because they were under 26 at the time of the murders.

Judge Orders Virginia to Reinstate Non-Citizens to Voter Rolls

Youngkin vows to appeal 'to SCOTUS' after US judge orders 1,600 voters back on ballot

A federal judge on Friday ordered Virginia to halt its removal of potential non-citizens from state voter rolls, a decision expected to restore the voting rights to some 1,600 residents ahead of Election Day.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin told Fox News shortly after the ruling that his administration is planning to file an emergency stay for the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals to block the injunction, which he noted was handed down just 11 days before the election.

He added that his administration would appeal it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, if necessary.

"This is a stunning ruling by a federal judge who is ordering Virginia to reinstate individuals who have self-identified as noncitizens back on the voter rolls," Youngkin said on air on Fox News Channel via telephone shortly after the judge's decision was announced.

His remarks come after U.S. Judge Patricia Giles issued a preliminary injunction Friday to reinstate all voters that had been removed from state voter rolls in the state in the last 90 days, finding that the removals had been in fact "systematic," not individualized, and were thus a violation of federal law.

Giles said Friday that there is reason to believe voters in Virginia were being mistakenly removed from the rolls. "This process has resulted in eligible voters having their voting registration flagged," she said in issuing the preliminary injunction.

And while Giles concurred it is "undoubtedly in the public interest for ineligible voters to be removed," she noted it is also in the public interest "for states to comply with federal law particularly the right to vote."

The preliminary injunction handed down by a federal judge in Alexandria comes just weeks after the Department of Justice sued Virginia over its program, arguing the removals were conducted too close to the Nov. 5 elections and violate the National Voter Registration Act — a federal law that requires states to halt all systematic voter roll maintenance for a 90-day "quiet period" before an election.

Justice Department officials also cited concerns that eligible votes may have incorrectly been removed from the rolls without adequate notice, or enough time to correct the mistake.

LATIN AMERICA

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Mexican Troops Kill Cartel Members

Mexican troops kill 19 suspected cartel members, suffer no casualties: officials

Mexican army troops have killed 19 suspected drug cartel gunmen in a shootout and suffered no casualties, the Defense Department said.

The ruling Morena party has criticized past administrations for lopsided death tolls in which many suspects but no soldiers died, suggesting they constituted executions or rights abuses.

The confrontation occurred Monday in the northern state of Sinaloa, on the outskirts of the state capital, Culiacan. The area has been shaken by infighting between two factions of the Sinaloa cartel since early September.

The department said that before the confrontation, troops detained a top lieutenant of the "Mayitos" faction, loyal to imprisoned drug lord Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada. The army did not give the name of the suspect, who they identified only by nickname "El Max."
The army then said troops were attacked by more than 30 assailants, at least 11 of whom managed to escape and 19 of them were killed when soldiers returned fire.

The Defense Department claimed soldiers acted in self-defense and "strict adherence to the rule of law and with full respect for human rights."

It said that 17 rifles — including a .50-caliber sniper rifle — as well as four machine guns were seized at the scene.

Haiti: No Respect for UN Forces

Haiti: Gangs Open Fire on U.N. Helicopter, Forcing It to Land in Port-au-Prince

A United Nations helicopter was hit by several rounds of gunfire while flying over Haiti on Thursday, forcing the chopper to land in the capital of Port-au-Prince.

U.N. officials declined to comment on the incident on the record. A U.N. source anonymously told the Associated Press (AP) that no one was injured by the attack, which was one of the more brazen assaults launched against international observers and peacekeepers by the gangs running amok in Haiti.

The AP’s source said the helicopter was carrying three crew and 15 passengers at the time of the attack.

Another source provided CNN with photos showing “at least eight bullet holes on the helicopter’s fuselage, and what appears to be its rotor system.” These photos showed the helicopter was clearly marked as a U.N. aircraft, specifically belonging to the World Food Program (WFP).

“Humanitarian air transport is essential to delivering a response across Haiti,” the WFP said in a statement. Air transport is necessary, in part, because gang attacks have made Haiti’s roads so dangerous.

The WFP canceled its planned helicopter flights for Friday and a source told CNN that U.S. airlines are considering halting flights to Port-au-Prince again, as they did for three months after a surge of gang violence in March.

Two armored vehicles belonging to the U.S. Embassy in Haiti were attacked on Tuesday by gunmen belonging to the 400 Mawozo and Chen Mechan gangs. As with the helicopter incident, no injuries were reported from the attack.

“The United States maintains its strong condemnation against ongoing gang violence aimed at destabilizing Haiti’s government and jeopardizing a future of peace and security for the Haitian people,” the State Department said when confirming the attack.

EUROPE

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Zelensky Furious After UN Secretary General Partakes in BRICS

Ukraine, others furious at UN chief for meeting Putin at BRICS summit

Guterres also shared warm hug with Belarus dictator Aleksandr Lukashenko

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday clapped back at the decision by U.N. Secretary General António Guterres to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on United Nations Day — a day that officially solidified the body's dedication to the promotion of peace and to "uphold international law."

"On this United Nations Day, it’s crucial to emphasize that the world must not forget the goals and principles of the U.N. Charter and the reason this organization was created," he said. "Even though some of its officials may choose the temptations of Kazan over the substance of the U.N. Charter, the world remains structured in such a way that the rights of nations and the norms of international law will always matter."

"I am grateful to everyone who supports Ukraine in this," Zelenskyy added.

Zelenskyy’s comments were in direct response to Guterres' decision to meet with Putin on the sidelines of the international BRICS summit hosted by Russia in Kazan.

BRICS, which stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, is an intergovernmental body that was established in 2009 to counter Western influence and bolster economic partnerships, and it has increasingly become an alliance made up of authoritarian leaders.

Nations like Russia, China, Iran and potentially, North Korea, united under the alliance, not only sit as the West’s top adversaries, they are also all involved in international conflicts that violate the U.N. Charter — including Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The U.N. has yet to respond to Fox News Digital’s repeated questions over the secretary general’s decision to meet with Putin for the first time since 2022 amid the deadly war in Ukraine.

In response to reporters' questions over the merits of the meeting with Putin, just months after Ukraine held a peace summit in Switzerland that Guterres did not attend, U.N. deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq said, "The Secretary-General does look forward to visiting Ukraine at a mutually convenient time, as previously discussed with President Zelenskyy in September when they met."

BRICS: Lula Against Venezuela Joining Bloc

Report: Brazil’s Lula Opposes Socialist Venezuela Joining BRICS

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the radical leftist President of Brazil, is against Venezuela’s prospective entry into the BRICS bloc, several Brazilian outlets reported on Monday.

According to the reports, Lula’s alleged stance against Venezuela’s entry into the group is in response to socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro’s fraudulent July 28 presidential election.

BRICS, an anti-American trade and security bloc led by China, is presently holding its annual meeting hosted this year by Russia, the group’s current chair, in the city of Kazan. Lula was slated to travel to Russia on Sunday but canceled his attendance after he suffered significant head trauma on Saturday. Lula will instead address the bloc through a videoconference sometime this week.

One of the subjects that the coalition will address in Kazan is potentially inviting more member nations.

The bloc – originally consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – voted in 2023 to expand, inviting six new countries: Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Argentina, and Ethiopia. President Javier Milei, a fierce anti-communist, declined the invitation, while Saudi Arabia has not finalized its membership at press time, leaving its prospective entry ambiguous.

Venezuela, ruled by the socialist Maduro regime, is among the nations vying for a prospective spot in the anti-U.S. bloc. On Monday, Lula’s top foreign policy advisor Celso Amorim gave an interview to CNN Brasil in which he opposed Venezuela’s entry to BRICS.

“I’m not advocating Venezuela’s entry. I think we have to go slowly. There’s no point filling it up with countries, otherwise it will soon create a new G-77,” Amorim told CNN Brasil.

According to Lula’s advisor, BRICS needs to be “expanded with countries with profiles that can contribute within the context of a ‘polarized and multipolar’ world” – suggesting Venezuela is not among those countries.

BRICS: Venezuela & Iran Against the West

Venezuela’s Maduro and Iranian President Call for Unity to ‘Confront West’

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian vowed on Thursday to fight Western nations and “Zionism” alongside Venezuela’s socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro.

Pezeshkian met with Maduro on the sidelines of the 16th annual gathering of the anti-U.S. BRICS group in Kazan, Russia. During his encounter with the Venezuelan dictator, Pezeshkian stated that the future belongs to those driven by “freedom, justice, and independence.”

The Iranian president availed himself of the opportunity to condemn Israel in relation to the death of Hamas “political” chief Ismail Haniyeh, who died in Tehran on July 30 after his lodgings exploded. Israel has not taken responsibility for the explosion that killed Haniyeh.

“Despite the Zionist regime’s intention to provoke the Islamic Republic of Iran into war, we exercised restraint in response to violations of Iran’s sovereignty, with the goal of advancing and concluding ceasefire negotiations [between Israel and Palestine],” Pezeshkian said. “However, this regime [Israel] has only become bolder in its crimes against innocent and defenseless women and children.”

“The Zionist regime commits the most heinous terrorist acts under the pretext of fighting terrorism,” he continued. “Is the definition of combating terrorism the massacre of tens of thousands of defenseless women and children?”

According to the Iran’s state Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Pezeshkian “noted that Iran showed restraint in face of the Israeli regime in order to facilitate progress in Gaza ceasefire talks,” and described Iran’s recent missile attack on Israel as part of “Iran’s legitimate right to self-defense.”

Venezuela’s Maduro, who traveled to Russia in a now-failed attempt to secure his regime a spot in BRICS, claimed that the war on Hamas is not limited to “Palestinian territories,” but that it reflects a “broader attempt by the Israeli regime to exert control globally,” likening it to “an octopus.”

“The actions of Americans and Westerners across various regions today reflect a troubling reproduction of neo-Nazi and neo-fascist dynamics, while Zionism embodies a resurgence of Nazism and fascism on the global stage,” Maduro said. “Today’s conflict involving the Zionists extends far beyond Palestinian territories; Zionism, much like an octopus, aims to exert control over the entire world.”

“Just as fascism and Nazism sought to distance themselves from the old international community, the Zionists are now attempting to circumvent the United Nations,” he continued. “Consequently, independent nations must unite now more than ever, as Americans and Westerners are merely engaged in deceptive diplomacy, showing no commitment to their promises or assurances.”

According to Venezuelan state media, Pezeshkian and Maduro reviewed agreements they signed and expressed to be in favor of increasing economic and commercial cooperation to $10 billion. Both countries signed in 2022 a broad 20-year cooperation agreement covering a multitude of areas, such as military, science, and industry.

Putin Interfering in Georgia

Putin looks to halt neighboring Georgia's Western ambitions in vital election

Georgians go to the polls on Saturday in crucial parliamentary elections as the country struggles to move closer to the West, all while under the watchful eye of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The stakes could not be higher for the small nation that sits in the troubled Caucasus region. Georgia, once part of the Soviet Union, has been caught between heavy Russian influence since it declared independence in 1991 and trying to join the European Union and move closer to the West.

"It is within Russia’s interest to ensure Georgia’s alienation from its allies and halting of the EU integration process," Natia Seskuria, an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, told Fox News Digital.

For Russia, the upcoming elections present an opportunity for Putin to keep Georgia in its orbit. If Georgia manages to conduct free and fair elections and restore relations with the European Union (EU), Seskuria says, this will be a defeat for Russia.

A group of bipartisan senators, led by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and Jim Risch, R-Idaho, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, put forth legislation that would hold Georgian government officials and individuals responsible for corruption, human rights abuses and efforts to advance the foreign influence law or facilitate its passage.

"The United States stands with the Georgian people and their pursuit of a Euro-Atlantic future. The Georgian government’s recent efforts to align with Russia reject the desires of Georgians and pose a significant threat," the bipartisan group of senators said in a press release.

ASIA

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India & China & a New Border Pact

India, China begin implementing new border pact, ending Himalayan face-off

India and China have begun implementing an agreement to end a military standoff on their disputed Himalayan border, the two sides said on Friday, in the biggest thaw between the Asian giants since deadly clashes between their armies four years ago.

Troops who were eyeball-to-eyeball at two points on the frontier in India's Ladakh region in the western Himalayas had begun pulling back, an Indian government source said, heralding an end to the standoff.

The process began on Wednesday and is expected to conclude by the end of the month, a senior Indian army official said.

The nuclear-armed neighbours struck a deal earlier this week on patrolling the frontier, which then paved the way for the first formal talks in five years between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Russia.

"According to the recently agreed solution between India and China ... their frontline armies are implementing relevant work, with smooth progress so far," Lin Jian, a spokesperson for China's foreign ministry said.

In New Delhi, a government official aware of the details said troops on both sides had started withdrawing from the areas of Depsang and Demchok, the last remaining points where they had stood face-to-face.

The source spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media on the issue.

The Indian army official said the returning troops would also remove structures such as huts and tents and take back vehicles they had brought to positions that existed before the conflict began in April 2020.

The two forces can then resume patrolling along the frontier as they did before the stand-off, the official added.

MIDDLE EAST

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Saudi Arabia and Iran Partake in Joint Naval Drills

Saudi Arabia and Iran squash decades of hostility with unprecedented joint military drills

One year ago, Saudi Arabia and Israel were on the precipice of a normalization deal that would have realigned the Middle East and further isolated Iran.

This week, Saudi Arabia and Iran held their first-ever joint naval drills in the Gulf of Oman, their ministries revealed, in what would seem to be a sign of rapprochement between the longtime regional foes.

"The Royal Saudi Naval Forces had recently concluded a joint naval exercise with the Iranian Naval Forces alongside other countries in the Sea of Oman," Saudi armed forces spokesperson Turki al-Malki confirmed to the French news outlet AFP.

He added "no other exercises are being addressed during this period of time."

Shiite Muslim-dominated Iran and Sunni-dominated Saudi Arabia severed ties in 2016 and have long backed opposing sides in regional conflicts. They resumed relations last year in a China-brokered deal, even as the U.S. hoped to bring them into an Abraham Accords-style deal that would normalize their relationship with Tehran’s enemy number-one, Israel.

Iran claimed that it was Saudi Arabia that organized the drills.

"Saudi Arabia has asked that we organize joint exercises in the Red Sea," the commander of Iran’s navy, Admiral Shahram Irani, was quoted as saying by ISNA.

The U.S. has military facilities and troops stationed in Saudi Arabia. The U.S. conducted a large-scale logistics exercise with the Royal Saudi Armed Forces and United Arab Emirates Armed Forces in May.

"Hard not to exaggerate the significance of this. It's as if the U.S. and Russia were to hold a joint military exercise," Iranian-born commentator Hooman Majd wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

IDF Strikes Hezbollah Naval Base in Beirut

Israel strikes Hezbollah naval base in Beirut as Iran rallies Gulf Arab nations

Hezbollah launched a missile attack on central Israel on Tuesday, sending residents fleeing to shelters but causing no apparent damage or injuries, the Israeli authorities said.

The terrorist group fired five projectiles from within Lebanon into Israel, the Israeli military said, adding that most were intercepted by Israel’s missile defense system while one landed in an open area. Israeli police said there were no reports of damage or injury following the rocket barrage.

Meanwhile, Israel targeted a Hezbollah naval base in Beirut overnight, the Israeli military said Tuesday, as Iran worked to rally Gulf Arab nations ahead of a potential retaliatory strike from the Jewish State.

The Hezbollah naval base held a training center, an area to conduct experiments and military speedboats that were intended to be used in attacks on Israeli navy vessels and targets within Israel’s territorial waters, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said.

Israel also conducted strikes on Hezbollah weapons storage facilities, command centers and additional terrorist targets in Beirut, some of which were located underground, the IDF said.

Israel took steps to mitigate the risk of harming civilians, including issuing precise and advanced warnings to civilians in the area before launching the strikes, according to the IDF.

The strikes come as speculation grows over how Israel will retaliate for Tehran’s Oct. 1 ballistic missile attack on Israel.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi insisted Tehran’s neighbors wouldn’t allow their territory to be used for such an assault and that it would strike back just as hard.

IDF Thwarts Iranian Plot to Kill a Mayor & a Scientist

Israel busts Iranian plot to assassinate mayor of a 'major Israeli city'

An Iranian plot to assassinate a "senior Israeli scientist and a mayor of a major Israeli city" has been busted, with seven suspects from Jerusalem being taken into custody, officials say.

The individuals from Jerusalem’s Beit Safafa neighborhood – who also were tasked with bombing a police car and throwing a grenade at a house -- were promised a $53,000 payment for their efforts, according to a joint statement from Israel’s internal security service, Shin Bet, and the Israeli Police.

"These individuals, under Iranian direction, planned to assassinate a senior Israeli scientist and a mayor of a major Israeli city," the statement said.

"An investigation revealed an Iranian intelligence network aiming to recruit Israeli citizens for missions in Israel," it added. "A 23-year-old suspect from Jerusalem was in contact with a foreign agent, recruiting others for tasks like graffiti spraying, vehicle arson in Ein Kerem, and intelligence gathering."

Israeli officials say the suspects were arrested near the scientist’s home after photographing it in exchange for around $132, as part of the leadup to the assassination attempt.

"Searches revealed 50,000 shekels, a fake police license plate, and numerous credit cards," the officials added, noting that "charges for serious security offenses" are expected to be filed.

A senior Shin Bet official said "Scientists, mayors, security officials, and other prominent Israelis are targets for Iranian agents" and that the investigation "underscores Iran’s efforts to recruit Israeli citizens for terrorism."

IDF Kills UNRWA Terrorist

IDF kills Hamas terrorist it says worked for UNRWA, led charge on Reim bomb shelter massacre

Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) on Thursday confirmed that they have "eliminated" a Hamas commander who not only was involved in the Oct. 7 attacks – including the assault on the Reim bomb shelter where U.S. citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin was abducted – but who they also claimed "simultaneously" worked for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

Mohammad Abu Itiwi, a commander in Hamas’ elite Nukhba force, was killed by the Israeli Airforce on Wednesday, during a joint operation by the IDF and the Israeli Security Agency.

The controversial United Nations agency did not immediately return Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

According to images supplied by the IDF, Abu Itiwi had been in the employ of the UNRWA since July 2022, and he was also photographed at the Reim bomb shelter near the Tribe of Nova music festival, where attendees ran for cover as Hamas terrorists attacked.

The Reim bomb shelter has become a symbol of the Oct. 7th massacre and was where Goldberg-Polin, his best friend Aner Shapira, and 25 others attempted to hide from Hamas attackers.

Abu Itiwi allegedly led the attack on the shelter, according to the IDF, and upon finding dozens hidden in the shelter on Route 232 in southern Israel, Hamas terrorists repeatedly pelted them with grenades.

Accounts of what happened next depict Shapira, 22 years old and an IDF soldier, attempting to calm the already 20-or-so people hiding in the shelter and promised to protect them.

"I’ll catch the grenades and throw them back – and if I miss any, you throw them back," one account of the horrific event described for the Times of Israel.

Israel Finally Strikes Iran Again

Israel begins retaliatory strikes against Iran following missile barrage targeting Israelis

In the largest attack by Israel on Iran in history, Jerusalem on Friday launched a wave of retaliatory airstrikes against Iran after the Islamic Republic fired a barrage of missiles toward Israelis earlier this month.

Local Israeli news outlet Channel 12 reported that in a direct attack on Iran, Israel sent 140 Air Force planes to the skies for the assault that has reportedly targeted military facilities containing missile exports, drones, ballistic missile transmitters and Iran's air defense systems.

The local outlet further reported that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps headquarters in Tehran was hit by strikes, though Fox News has not been able to independently verify this.

Explosions were first heard near Iran's capital of Tehran and nearby Karaj, Reuters said, citing local media.

"In response to months of continuous attacks from the regime in Iran against the State of Israel – right now the Israel Defense Forces is conducting precise strikes on military targets in Iran," the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement. "The regime in Iran and its proxies in the region have been relentlessly attacking Israel since October 7th – on seven fronts – including direct attacks from Iranian soil. Like every other sovereign country in the world, the State of Israel has the right and the duty to respond. Our defensive and offensive capabilities are fully mobilized. We will do whatever necessary to defend the State of Israel and the people of Israel."

A U.S. official told Fox News that President Biden and Vice President Harris have been briefed on the strikes and are closely following the developments.

Two U.S. defense officials told Fox News Friday night that the U.S. was notified in advance of Israel's plan to strike Iran early Saturday morning local time in retaliation to Iran's Oct. 1attack.

Two defense officials also told Fox News that the U.S. had no involvement in Israel's operation.

Israel Sends Dire Warning to Iran

Israel’s 'Days of Repentance' strikes against Iran will continue if terror regime responds, IDF warns

After Israel’s daring aerial military strikes in Iran early Saturday, the Jewish state announced that it is prepared to continue to go on the "offense" against the world’s worst state-sponsor of terrorism, the Islamic Republic of Iran, if Tehran responds.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, said, "If the regime in Iran were to make the mistake of beginning a new round of escalation - we will be obligated to respond. Our message is clear: All those who threaten the State of Israel and seek to drag the region into a wider escalation — will pay a heavy price."

He added, "We demonstrated today that we have both the capability and the resolve to act decisively — and we are prepared — on offense and defense — to defend the State of Israel and the people of Israel."

Israel dubbed its Saturday mission "Days of Repentance" as a response to Iran’s launch of its barrage of around 200 ballistic missiles on October 1 into the Holy Land. Iran said it attacked Israel as retaliation for the IDF’s elimination of the Tehran-backed global Hezbollah terrorist, Hassan Nasrallah, in Beirut.

Pressure on Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from the Biden-Harris administration seems to have paid off on Jerusalem limiting its historic attack on Iran to purely military installations. Israel avoided knocking out Iran’s illicit nuclear weapons sites and its vast oil production enterprises.

"Israel opted for the least-aggressive response against the Islamic Republic by conducting precise strikes on military targets," noted Lisa Daftari, an Iran expert and editor-in-chief of The Foreign Desk.

Daftari told Fox News Digita, "This approach raises questions about whether the U.S. influenced Israel to adopt a more restrained response, possibly to prevent further escalation. One could argue these strikes successfully reestablished deterrence, while it can also be said that Israel missed an opportunity to target more crucial sites. Many factors, including the timing, target selection, and strike intensity, were complicated by a U.S. leak and our upcoming elections. Despite these pressures, Israel appears prepared to change its approach if the Islamic Republic decides to escalate further."

Turkey: When Terrorists Are Treated as Such

Explosion at Turkish aerospace facility ruled a terror attack

Authorities in Turkey say that a deadly explosion at an aerospace facility on Wednesday was a terrorist attack.

Authorities say five people were killed and more than a dozen injured. Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that the explosion was a "terrorist attack" in a statement on X, formerly Twitter. He added that the victims were both civilians and security personnel.

Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz condemned the attack in a statement on social media. He added that security forces responded to the explosion immediately.
"The treacherous terrorist attack targeted Turkey's achievements in defence industry," he wrote, adding that the country's "fight against terrorism will continue."

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also acknowledged the attack in a statement, condemning "terrorism in all its forms."

Turkey's defense sector is a major exporter for the country, focusing mainly on military drones built at facilities like the one attacked on Wednesday.
No group has taken responsibility for the attack as of Wednesday afternoon.

Turkey has played a divisive role in the ongoing tensions in the Middle East throughout the year. While the country is a member of NATO, it has also expressed solidarity with terrorist groups like Hamas.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ordered the nation's flag to half staff in after the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in August. Israeli officials condemned the move when the Turkish Embassy in Israel complied with Erdogan's order.

Turkey hits US-allied Kurds in Syria, Iraq following terrorist attack on defense group

NATO member Turkey on Thursday carried out a second day of aerial attacks on what it said are Kurdish militant positions in Iraq and Syria, following a terrorist attack on a state-run defense agency this week in which five people were killed.

Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization reportedly targeted numerous "strategic locations" allegedly used by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) – which was deemed a terrorist organization in the U.S. in 1997 – as well as targets used by Syrian Kurdish militia affiliated with the militant group.

Armed drones were used to hit military, intelligence, energy and infrastructure facilities and ammunition depots, The Associated Press reported.

However, according to General Commander Mazloum Abdi of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), who is Kurdish, the Turkish attacks have been "indiscriminate" and have targeted civilian areas and health centers.

"Turkey indiscriminately and unjustifiably bombards our areas, targeting civilian, service, and health centers," he said in a message posted to X. "This is a war crime.

"We have repeatedly shown our readiness for dialogue. Meanwhile, we affirm that our forces are ready to defend our people and land," he added.

In a statement released by the SDF on Thursday, 12 people were killed during Turkey’s aerial bombardment, including two children, and 25 others were wounded.

"In addition to populated areas, Turkish warplanes and UAVs targeted bakeries, power stations, oil facilities, and Internal Security Force checkpoints. These essential civic facilities were among the 42 civic sites struck by Turkish artillery shelling," the statement said.

It is unclear if any casualties have been confirmed in Iraq. One source on the ground in the region hit, who heard fighter jets and "loud explosions," told Fox News Digital that the mountainous area that was bombed had already largely been depopulated due to previous Turkish military operations there.

It's interesting how the Kurds are treated as terrorists but Erdogan won't ever admit Hamas and Hezbollah operatives are war criminals, too.  He even dares to call them "freedom fighters" no matter if they kill civilians just because.