Trump eyes executive order tying foreign aid to religious freedom
The White House is reportedly drafting plans to condition U.S. foreign assistance on religious freedom.
Military
Bolivia’s Morales resigns after protests, lashes out at ‘coup’
Bolivian President Evo Morales said on Sunday he was resigning to ease violence that has gripped the South American nation since a disputed election, but he stoked fears of more unrest by saying he was the victim of a ‘coup’ and faced arrest.
Hamas warns it has enough rockets to target Tel Aviv for ‘six months in a row’
Hamas’s leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, on Monday threatened to turn Israeli cities into ‘ghost towns’ and warned the terror group has enough firepower to launch rockets into Tel Aviv ‘for six months in a row.’
Israel’s Netanyahu Promises Covert Actions against Enemies
Israel’s prime minister says the military will continue to strike its enemies, including through covert missions, after a weekend flareup of violence in the Gaza Strip.
IDF responds to Gaza rocket fire, strikes two Hamas posts
An IDF tank and aircraft struck two military posts belonging the Hamas terrorist organization in the northern Gaza Strip as a response to rocket fire from Gaza on Thursday evening, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said in a press release.
US Reportedly Withholding Military Aid From Lebanon, Where Hezbollah is Deeply Entrenched
The Trump administration is reportedly withholding $105 million in military aid from Lebanon, a move that comes after Israel called on Western countries to make assistance conditional on the Lebanese government clamping down on Hezbollah’s attempts to acquire precision-guided missiles.
North Korea says it test-fired new multiple rocket launcher
North Korea confirmed Friday it conducted its third test-firing of a new ‘super-large’ multiple rocket launcher that it says expands its ability to destroy enemy targets in surprise attacks.
Erdogan: Turkish-Russian Patrols Set to Begin in Syria
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Turkish-Russian joint military patrols will begin Friday in notheastern Syria, after the withdrawal of Syrian Kurdish fighters under an agreement between the two countries.
U.S. releases Baghdadi raid video, warns of likely retribution attack
The Pentagon on Wednesday released its first images from last weekend’s commando raid in Syria that led to the death of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and warned the militant group may attempt to stage a ‘retribution attack.’
Baghdadi Operation Named After Christian Woman Who Refused to Give Up Faith Before ISIS Killed Her
The US military operation that resulted in the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was dedicated to Kayla Mueller, a young Christian woman who was kidnapped, tortured, and murdered by the Islamic State.
Iran, Russia take aim at U.S. military presence near Syrian oilfields
Iran and Russia on Tuesday condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to maintain a military presence near oil fields in northeastern Syria, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov saying any exploitation of resources would be illegal.
Democratic hopeful Sanders urges giving chunk of US military aid to Gaza instead
Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders said Monday that part of the $3.8 billion in annual US military assistance to Israel should instead go toward humanitarian relief in Gaza.
Chile government promises reform after a million take to the streets in biggest protests for decades
Chile’s president called for a major cabinet reshuffle a day after widespread protests against inequality saw a million people flood Santiago’s streets.
Trump says he kept details of ISIS operation from Pelosi to avoid leaks
President Trump said Sunday morning that he did not tell House Speaker Nancy Pelosi about the U.S. military raid in Syria that resulted in the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi because he was worried about leaks that could have compromised the mission.
Pentagon Plans To Bolster Forces In Northeast Syria To Protect Oil Fields From Islamic State
The Pentagon says it will bolster the U.S. military presence in a northeastern region of Syria to prevent potentially resurgent Islamic State (IS) extremists from seizing the oil fields.
Trump Lifts US Sanctions on Turkey, Says Ceasefire Northeastern Syria Permanent
President Donald Trump says a U.S. brokered ceasefire in Turkey’s assault on Kurds in northeastern Syria has become permanent and Washington is lifting sanctions imposed on Ankara.
Russia, Turkey reach deal to remove Kurdish YPG from Syria border
Syrian and Russian forces will deploy in northeast Syria to remove Kurdish YPG fighters and their weapons from the border with Turkey under a deal agreed on Tuesday which both Moscow and Ankara hailed as a triumph.
Turkey Says ‘No Need’ to Resume Offensive Against Kurds
Turkey says there is ‘no need’ to resume its military offensive against Syrian Kurds, saying the U.S. has told it that the Kurdish withdrawal from the northern Syrian border is complete.
‘There Won’t be Christians Left’: Syrian Christians Fear Grim Future in Shadow of Turkey’s Invasion
A spokesman for the Kurdish-led Syrian Defense Forces (SDF) says they have completely evacuated fighters from a besieged Syrian border town per the US and Turkish cease-fire.
Germany Pitches Internationally-Controlled ‘Security Zone’ in Northern Syria
Germany should leverage its U.N. Security Council membership to push for an ‘internationally-controlled security zone’ in Syria, the country’s defense minister said on Monday.