Hossein Salami, the chief commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Wednesday (Jan 31), that Tehran is not afraid of direct military confrontation with Washington.&nbsp;

He also said that threats coming from the United States will not be left unanswered, further adding that Iran is not seeking war with the US.&nbsp;

"We hear some threats from American officials about targeting Iran. We tell them that you tested us and we know each other. We do not leave any threat unanswered, and we do not look for war, but we are not afraid of it. This is the well-known truth," he said.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/middle-east-iran-us-direct-war-kataib-hezbollah-iraq-tensions-gaza-war-685333">Iran remains on high alert even as Kataib Hezbollah suspends military operations</a>&nbsp;

His remarks came after US President Joe Biden's comments the day before, in which he stated&nbsp;that he had decided on a response to a drone attack that killed three US service members in Jordan. But even the Biden administration had stressed that it was not seeking a war with Iran.&nbsp;

According to the official IRNA news agency, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said, "America must stop using the language of threat and projection and focus on a political solution."&nbsp;

"Iran's response to threats is decisive and immediate," he added.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had also said on Monday that the nation would take "all necessary actions" to defend its troops.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/israel-hamas-war-in-gaza-collective-punishment-is-becoming-routine-685313">Israel-Hamas war: In Gaza, collective punishment is becoming routine</a>&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Gravitas | Will the UK recognise the Palestinian state?

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<h2>Jordan drone attack</h2>

The US claimed that its soldiers died in a deadly drone attack in Jordan by Iran-backed militants, but Tehran has denied any links to the attack on the US troops and said it was not seeking an "expansion" of conflict in the Middle East.

In the past few weeks, regional tensions have intensified in the West Asian region, especially since the Israel-Hamas war. It has also drawn in Iran-backed groups in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen.

The Islamic Republic has previously said it sees a "duty" to support what it calls "resistance groups" in the region but insists they are "independent" in decision and action.&nbsp;

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. 

(With inputs from agencies)

Hossein Salami, the chief commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Wednesday (Jan 31), that Tehran is not afraid of direct military confrontation with Washington.

Hossein Salami, the chief commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Wednesday (Jan 31), that Tehran is not afraid of direct military confrontation with Washington. He also said that threats coming from the United States will not be left unanswered, further adding that Iran is not seeking war with the US. "We hear some threats from American officials about targeting Iran. We tell them that you tested us and we know each other. We do not leave any threat unanswered, and we do not look for war, but we are not afraid of it. This is the well-known truth," he said. Also read: Iran remains on high alert even as Kataib Hezbollah suspends military operations His remarks came after US President Joe Biden's comments the day before, in which he stated that he had decided on a response to a drone attack that killed three US service members in Jordan. But even the Biden administration had stressed that it was not seeking a war with Iran. According to the official IRNA news agency, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said, "America must stop using the language of threat and projection and focus on a political solution." "Iran's response to threats is decisive and immediate," he added. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had also said on Monday that the nation would take "all necessary actions" to defend its troops. Also read: Israel-Hamas war: In Gaza, collective punishment is becoming routine Watch: Gravitas | Will the UK recognise the Palestinian state? × Jordan drone attack The US claimed that its soldiers died in a deadly drone attack in Jordan by Iran-backed militants, but Tehran has denied any links to the attack on the US troops and said it was not seeking an "expansion" of conflict in the Middle East. In the past few weeks, regional tensions have intensified in the West Asian region, especially since the Israel-Hamas war. It has also drawn in Iran-backed groups in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen. The Islamic Republic has previously said it sees a "duty" to support what it calls "resistance groups" in the region but insists they are "independent" in decision and action. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. (With inputs from agencies)

Middle East Crisis: Iran's military chief says not afraid of war with US

The US Department of Defense on Monday (Jan 29) identified three US soldiers who were killed in a deadly drone strike on a US military outpost in Jordan. The three fallen soldiers—William Rivers, 46, of Carrollton, Georgia; Specialist Kennedy Sanders, 24, of Waycross, Georgia; and Specialist Breonna Moffett, 23, of Savannah, Georgia—were assigned to the 718th Engineer Company, a US Army Reserve unit based out of Fort Moore, Georgia.

Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said Monday at least 40 more people were injured in the attack, a number which is&nbsp;likely to increase as some others are showing symptoms of traumatic brain injury. Of those, at least eight were taken to the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center.

<h2>Who was William Rivers?</h2>

William Rivers was enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2011 as an Interior Electrician or 12R. Following the completion of his advanced individual training, Rivers was first assigned to the 990th Engineer Company at Fort McGuire-Dix in New Jersey.

In 2018, he also completed a nine-month rotation to Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. New Jersey Senator Cory Booker in a statement expressed grief over the killing, saying, “His death is a profound loss to his family, friends, colleagues, and our entire country, and a reminder of the heavy debt we owe to our military families for their sacrifice.”

Watch:&nbsp;West Asia Crisis: Three US soldiers killed, 34 injured in drone strike in Jordan

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Governor Phil Murphy talked about signing an executive order later this week, lowering flags at half-staff to honour Rivers.

<h2>Who was Kennedy Sanders?</h2>

Specialist Kennedy Ladon Sanders was also killed in strikes on the military outpost on Sunday (Jan 28). On Monday, Ware County leaders gathered to issue a proclamation honouring the 24-year-old fallen soldier. All flags within the Waycross city were flown at half-mast in her memory.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-jsarwt="1" data-usg="AOvVaw2O1f_bJ09ytHk_Eg4-tkRI" data-ved="2ahUKEwjlnp3t2YSEAxUtxjgGHROwBAIQxfQBKAB6BAgPEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pentagon-vows-action-after-jordan-attack-releases-names-of-3-us-soldiers-killed-684938" jsname="YKoRaf">Pentagon vows action after Jordan attack, releases names of 3 soldiers killed as Iran denies involvement</a>&nbsp;

Her family members also issued a statement on Facebook. In a post, Shawn Sanders, a family member of Kennedy Sanders, wrote, “Our family would like to thank you for respect given to Kennedy. Munchkin will be missed by many.”

<h2>Who was Breonna Moffett?</h2>

Specialist Breonna Moffett was the third man to have died in the Jordan outpost in the&nbsp;Sunday drone strike. The 23-year-old soldier&nbsp;hailed from Savannah and served in the 718th Engineer Company.&nbsp;

President of the US Joe Biden has blamed Iran for the drone attack and vowed a strong retaliation, an accusation that Iran strongly denies.

The US military is still investigating the attack and finding out where it emerged from.

(With inputs from agencies)

The US Department of Defense on Monday (Jan 29) identified three US soldiers who were killed in a deadly drone strike on a US military outpost in Jordan. The three fallen soldiers—William Rivers, 46, of Carrollton, Georgia; Specialist Kennedy Sanders, 24, of Waycross, Georgia; and Specialist Breonna Moffett, 23, of Savannah, Georgia—were assigned to the 718th Engineer Company, a US Army Reserve unit based out of Fort Moore, Georgia.

The US Department of Defense on Monday (Jan 29) identified three US soldiers who were killed in a deadly drone strike on a US military outpost in Jordan. The three fallen soldiers—William Rivers, 46, of Carrollton, Georgia; Specialist Kennedy Sanders, 24, of Waycross, Georgia; and Specialist Breonna Moffett, 23, of Savannah, Georgia—were assigned to the 718th Engineer Company, a US Army Reserve unit based out of Fort Moore, Georgia. Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said Monday at least 40 more people were injured in the attack, a number which is likely to increase as some others are showing symptoms of traumatic brain injury. Of those, at least eight were taken to the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center. Who was William Rivers? William Rivers was enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2011 as an Interior Electrician or 12R. Following the completion of his advanced individual training, Rivers was first assigned to the 990th Engineer Company at Fort McGuire-Dix in New Jersey. In 2018, he also completed a nine-month rotation to Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. New Jersey Senator Cory Booker in a statement expressed grief over the killing, saying, “His death is a profound loss to his family, friends, colleagues, and our entire country, and a reminder of the heavy debt we owe to our military families for their sacrifice.” Watch: West Asia Crisis: Three US soldiers killed, 34 injured in drone strike in Jordan × Governor Phil Murphy talked about signing an executive order later this week, lowering flags at half-staff to honour Rivers. Who was Kennedy Sanders? Specialist Kennedy Ladon Sanders was also killed in strikes on the military outpost on Sunday (Jan 28). On Monday, Ware County leaders gathered to issue a proclamation honouring the 24-year-old fallen soldier. All flags within the Waycross city were flown at half-mast in her memory. Also read: Pentagon vows action after Jordan attack, releases names of 3 soldiers killed as Iran denies involvement Her family members also issued a statement on Facebook. In a post, Shawn Sanders, a family member of Kennedy Sanders, wrote, “Our family would like to thank you for respect given to Kennedy. Munchkin will be missed by many.” Who was Breonna Moffett? Specialist Breonna Moffett was the third man to have died in the Jordan outpost in the Sunday drone strike. The 23-year-old soldier hailed from Savannah and served in the 718th Engineer Company. President of the US Joe Biden has blamed Iran for the drone attack and vowed a strong retaliation, an accusation that Iran strongly denies. The US military is still investigating the attack and finding out where it emerged from. (With inputs from agencies)

Who are William Rivers, Kennedy Sanders and Breonna Moffett - the US soldiers killed in Jordan?

A war monitor said that Israeli strikes in Syria on Monday (Jan 29) killed at least seven people, including pro-Iran fighters. This becomes the latest such attack in the country against groups loyal to Tehran.&nbsp;

The incident took place just two days after three US troops were killed in a drone attack on a military outpost in Jordan, which heightened regional tensions.&nbsp;

Rami Abdel Rahman, who is the director of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said that "Israeli strikes targeted a base belonging to Hezbollah and Iran's Revolutionary Guards, killing seven people" including pro-Iran fighters.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-warship-conducts-anti-submarine-exercise-in-south-china-sea-684807">Russian warship conducts anti-submarine exercise in South China Sea</a>&nbsp;

He said that two of those killed were Syrian, including a security escort to an Iranian officer.&nbsp;

Rahman further added that it was unclear whether civilians were among the dead in the attack, which struck Sayyida Zeinab, south of Damascus.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOHR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SOHR</a> 
Ongoing escalation | Iran-backed groups target largest US base in Syria<a href="https://t.co/aSNtexuJqR">https://t.co/aSNtexuJqR</a>
— المرصد السوري لحقوق الإنسان (@syriahr) <a href="https://twitter.com/syriahr/status/1752026671027253675?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Besides the war monitor, the Syrian defence ministry also reported an "air attack" and blamed it on Israel. It said strikes around 1:00 pm (1000 GMT) targeted multiple locations south of Damascus.&nbsp;

In a post on social media, the ministry released a statement, stating that "a number of Iranian advisers" were killed. It later revised it to remove any mention of the Iranian advisers.&nbsp;

According to Iran's Tasnim news agency, "The Zionist regime (Israel) targeted an Iranian advisory centre in the Sayyida Zeinab area."&nbsp;

But Hossein Akbari, who is Iran's ambassador to Syria, denied in a social media post that an advisory centre had been struck or that "any Iranian citizens or advisers (were) martyred" in the attack.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/yemens-houthi-rebels-open-seized-cargo-ship-to-sightseers-684825">Yemen’s Houthi rebels open seized cargo ship to sightseers</a>&nbsp;

<h2>US reaction to Jordan attack&nbsp;</h2>

John Kirby, the National Security Council spokesperson, said that the White House is not seeking a war with Iran or regional escalation.&nbsp;

In an interview on NBC Television, he said: "What we want is a stable, secure, prosperous Middle East, and we want these attacks to stop."&nbsp;

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden blamed Iran-backed groups for the unmanned aerial drone attack on US forces and said that America "shall respond".&nbsp;

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

A war monitor said that Israeli strikes in Syria on Monday (Jan 29) killed at least seven people, including pro-Iran fighters. This becomes the latest such attack in the country against groups loyal to Tehran.

A war monitor said that Israeli strikes in Syria on Monday (Jan 29) killed at least seven people, including pro-Iran fighters. This becomes the latest such attack in the country against groups loyal to Tehran. The incident took place just two days after three US troops were killed in a drone attack on a military outpost in Jordan, which heightened regional tensions. Rami Abdel Rahman, who is the director of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said that "Israeli strikes targeted a base belonging to Hezbollah and Iran's Revolutionary Guards, killing seven people" including pro-Iran fighters. Also read: Russian warship conducts anti-submarine exercise in South China Sea He said that two of those killed were Syrian, including a security escort to an Iranian officer. Rahman further added that it was unclear whether civilians were among the dead in the attack, which struck Sayyida Zeinab, south of Damascus. #SOHR Ongoing escalation | Iran-backed groups target largest US base in Syriahttps://t.co/aSNtexuJqR — المرصد السوري لحقوق الإنسان (@syriahr) January 29, 2024 × Besides the war monitor, the Syrian defence ministry also reported an "air attack" and blamed it on Israel. It said strikes around 1:00 pm (1000 GMT) targeted multiple locations south of Damascus. In a post on social media, the ministry released a statement, stating that "a number of Iranian advisers" were killed. It later revised it to remove any mention of the Iranian advisers. According to Iran's Tasnim news agency, "The Zionist regime (Israel) targeted an Iranian advisory centre in the Sayyida Zeinab area." But Hossein Akbari, who is Iran's ambassador to Syria, denied in a social media post that an advisory centre had been struck or that "any Iranian citizens or advisers (were) martyred" in the attack. Also read: Yemen’s Houthi rebels open seized cargo ship to sightseers US reaction to Jordan attack John Kirby, the National Security Council spokesperson, said that the White House is not seeking a war with Iran or regional escalation. In an interview on NBC Television, he said: "What we want is a stable, secure, prosperous Middle East, and we want these attacks to stop." Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden blamed Iran-backed groups for the unmanned aerial drone attack on US forces and said that America "shall respond". Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. (With inputs from agencies)

Middle East Crisis: Israeli strikes in Syria kill 7, including pro-Iran fighters

We are tracking all live updates on the Middle East crisis. At the time of writing the morning brief, the latest update is that United States President Joe Biden on Sunday (Jan 28) vowed a response after a drone strike by Iran-backed militant groups targeted a base in Jordan and killed three American troops. The US forces were stationed in northeastern Jordan near the Syrian border when the attack took place.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has offered to "break new ground" to give a fillip to China-France ties. This comes after his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron was the chief guest at India's 75 Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi on Jan 26. “As today's world is once again at a critical crossroads, China and France should jointly open up a path of peace, security, prosperity and progress for human development,” Xi said in a statement.

In other news from around the world, Japan's Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) resumed its operations in a triumphant turnaround. "Communication with SLIM was successfully established last night, and operations resumed!" the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said in a post on X.

Click on the headlines to read more:

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/middle-east-crisis-live-updates-biden-vows-to-respond-after-drone-attack-kills-3-us-troops-japan-suspends-aid-to-unrwa-684658">Middle East crisis LIVE updates: Biden vows to respond after drone attack kills 3 US troops</a>

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United States President Joe Biden has vowed to respond after a drone strike by Iran-backed militant groups targeted a base in Jordan on Sunday (Jan 28) killing three American troops.&nbsp;"We had a tough day last night in the Middle East. We lost three brave souls in an attack on one of our bases," President Biden said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/days-after-macrons-india-visit-chinas-xi-jinping-attempts-to-woo-back-france-684645">Days after Macron's India visit, China's Xi Jinping attempts to woo back France</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/01/12/405362-succession-2024-01-12t180516158.jpg?imwidth=500" />

Perhaps insecure due to the growing bonhomie between India and France after President Emmanuel Macron visited New Delhi as the guest of honour at the Republic Day parade, Chinese President Xi Jinping has offered to "break new ground" to give a fillip to China-France ties.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/lunar-resilience-japans-slim-bounces-back-captures-images-of-toy-poodle-rock-on-the-moons-surface-684647">Lunar resilience: Japan's SLIM bounces back, captures images of 'toy poodle' rock on the Moon's surface</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/01/29/408600-new-wion-2024-01-29t082806680.jpg?imwidth=500" />

Japan's Moon lander, the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM), has resumed its operations in a triumphant turnaround. This comes after the lander faced initial challenges with its solar batteries.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/finland-elections-stubb-and-haavisto-continue-to-second-round-of-presidential-race-684644">Finland elections: Stubb and Haavisto continue to second round of presidential race</a>

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Finland’s former prime minister and conservative candidate Alexander Stubb narrowly won the first round of the Nordic nation’s presidential election on Sunday (Jan 28), and will face ex-foreign minister and liberal candidate Pekka Haavisto in a run-off next month.&nbsp;

Watch | Ads, push notifications in iPhone are used by third parties to spy on users: Reports

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We are tracking all live updates on the Middle East crisis. At the time of writing the morning brief, the latest update is that United States President Joe Biden on Sunday (Jan 28) vowed a response after a drone strike by Iran-backed militant groups targeted a base in Jordan and killed three American troops.

We are tracking all live updates on the Middle East crisis. At the time of writing the morning brief, the latest update is that United States President Joe Biden on Sunday (Jan 28) vowed a response after a drone strike by Iran-backed militant groups targeted a base in Jordan and killed three American troops. The US forces were stationed in northeastern Jordan near the Syrian border when the attack took place. Chinese President Xi Jinping has offered to "break new ground" to give a fillip to China-France ties. This comes after his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron was the chief guest at India's 75 Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi on Jan 26. “As today's world is once again at a critical crossroads, China and France should jointly open up a path of peace, security, prosperity and progress for human development,” Xi said in a statement. In other news from around the world, Japan's Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) resumed its operations in a triumphant turnaround. "Communication with SLIM was successfully established last night, and operations resumed!" the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said in a post on X. Click on the headlines to read more: Middle East crisis LIVE updates: Biden vows to respond after drone attack kills 3 US troops United States President Joe Biden has vowed to respond after a drone strike by Iran-backed militant groups targeted a base in Jordan on Sunday (Jan 28) killing three American troops. "We had a tough day last night in the Middle East. We lost three brave souls in an attack on one of our bases," President Biden said. Days after Macron's India visit, China's Xi Jinping attempts to woo back France Perhaps insecure due to the growing bonhomie between India and France after President Emmanuel Macron visited New Delhi as the guest of honour at the Republic Day parade, Chinese President Xi Jinping has offered to "break new ground" to give a fillip to China-France ties. Lunar resilience: Japan's SLIM bounces back, captures images of 'toy poodle' rock on the Moon's surface Japan's Moon lander, the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM), has resumed its operations in a triumphant turnaround. This comes after the lander faced initial challenges with its solar batteries. Finland elections: Stubb and Haavisto continue to second round of presidential race Finland’s former prime minister and conservative candidate Alexander Stubb narrowly won the first round of the Nordic nation’s presidential election on Sunday (Jan 28), and will face ex-foreign minister and liberal candidate Pekka Haavisto in a run-off next month. Watch | Ads, push notifications in iPhone are used by third parties to spy on users: Reports ×

Morning brief: Biden vows response after drone attack in Jordan kills 3 US troops, and more

More than two months after Yemen's Houthi rebels captured the Galaxy Leader cargo ship and detained its crew, the Iran-backed rebels have turned the vessel into a domestic "tourist attraction".&nbsp;&nbsp;

For about a dollar per trip, male-only groups of visitors can board wooden boats five times a week to the hijacked car carrier, which the&nbsp;Houthis&nbsp;hail as a trophy in their fight in solidarity with the Palestinians.

Since shortly after the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza broke out on October 7, the&nbsp;Houthis&nbsp;have launched a spate of missile and drone attacks on passing commercial ships which they say are linked to Israel.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/middle-east-crisis-live-updates-biden-vows-to-respond-after-drone-attack-kills-3-us-troops-japan-suspends-aid-to-unrwa-684658">Click here to follow all updates on the Middle East crisis</a>

A US-led naval coalition has responded by patrolling the Red Sea, and US and British forces have struck military sites of the&nbsp;Houthis, now designated a "global terrorist" group by Washington, to keep open the vital shipping lane.

This has done little to dampen the mood on the sightseeing trips to the seized vessel, which is now decorated with Yemeni and Palestinian flags and banners displaying anti-American and anti-Israel slogans.

On a recent visit, Zubair al-Haidari, from the Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa, said he had travelled for five hours to see the "Israeli ship" anchored off Hodeida on the Red Sea coast.

It is our "pride and honour... that our armed forces have accomplished this wonderful work in supporting our oppressed brothers in Palestine and in Gaza," he told AFP.

He was among some 10 visitors taking pictures with their mobile phones as they chewed 'khat', a plant that generates a mild high and is widely consumed in the Arabian peninsula's poorest country.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-presses-iran-to-rein-in-houthi-attacks-in-red-sea-sources-say-683793">China presses Iran to rein in Houthi attacks in Red Sea, sources say</a>

On board the ship, some visitors performed a traditional dance featuring the daggers that many Yemenis carry tucked into their belts, accompanied by chants glorifying the&nbsp;Houthis.

On the deck of the Galaxy Leader, none of the visitors interviewed by AFP said they had seen the 25 crew members who are Bulgarian, Filipino, Ukrainian and Mexican and whose fate remains unknown.&nbsp;

<h2>'Source of pride'</h2>

The Galaxy Leader is owned by a British company, which is in turn owned by an Israeli businessman.

It had been chartered by a Japanese company when it was captured on November 19 by the&nbsp;Houthis, who said they were acting in "solidarity" with people in the besieged Gaza Strip.

Israel's military campaign was sparked by Hamas'&nbsp;October 7 attack, which resulted in about 1,140 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures. Militants also seized around 250 hostages.

Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas and Gaza's health ministry claims the military offensive has killed at least 26,257 people, about 70 per cent of them women and children.

Amid the Gaza war, the&nbsp;Houthis&nbsp;have launched numerous attacks against shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, threatening an essential global trade route.&nbsp;

Hizam al-Assad, of the Houthi political bureau, referred to the Galaxy Leader as a "tourist attraction" and said the visitors were "proof that the Yemeni people... are impatient to meet the enemy and confront him".

Another visitor, Hamada al-Baydani, said he had travelled 400 kilometres (250 miles) from Al-Bayda, to see the seized ship, which he labelled "a source of pride for Yemenis". &nbsp;

Several days after detaining the vessel, the&nbsp;Houthis&nbsp;published a video showing a military general welcoming a group they said was the crew, but the militants have not provided any information on their fate since.

After an hour on board under the scorching sun, the visitors made their way back home, chanting "God is the greatest, death to America, death to Israel".

More than two months after Yemen's Houthi rebels captured the Galaxy Leader cargo ship and detained its crew, the Iran-backed rebels have turned the vessel into a domestic "tourist attraction".

More than two months after Yemen's Houthi rebels captured the Galaxy Leader cargo ship and detained its crew, the Iran-backed rebels have turned the vessel into a domestic "tourist attraction". For about a dollar per trip, male-only groups of visitors can board wooden boats five times a week to the hijacked car carrier, which the Houthis hail as a trophy in their fight in solidarity with the Palestinians. Since shortly after the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza broke out on October 7, the Houthis have launched a spate of missile and drone attacks on passing commercial ships which they say are linked to Israel. Click here to follow all updates on the Middle East crisis A US-led naval coalition has responded by patrolling the Red Sea, and US and British forces have struck military sites of the Houthis, now designated a "global terrorist" group by Washington, to keep open the vital shipping lane. This has done little to dampen the mood on the sightseeing trips to the seized vessel, which is now decorated with Yemeni and Palestinian flags and banners displaying anti-American and anti-Israel slogans. On a recent visit, Zubair al-Haidari, from the Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa, said he had travelled for five hours to see the "Israeli ship" anchored off Hodeida on the Red Sea coast. It is our "pride and honour... that our armed forces have accomplished this wonderful work in supporting our oppressed brothers in Palestine and in Gaza," he told AFP. He was among some 10 visitors taking pictures with their mobile phones as they chewed 'khat', a plant that generates a mild high and is widely consumed in the Arabian peninsula's poorest country. Also read | China presses Iran to rein in Houthi attacks in Red Sea, sources say On board the ship, some visitors performed a traditional dance featuring the daggers that many Yemenis carry tucked into their belts, accompanied by chants glorifying the Houthis. On the deck of the Galaxy Leader, none of the visitors interviewed by AFP said they had seen the 25 crew members who are Bulgarian, Filipino, Ukrainian and Mexican and whose fate remains unknown. 'Source of pride' The Galaxy Leader is owned by a British company, which is in turn owned by an Israeli businessman. It had been chartered by a Japanese company when it was captured on November 19 by the Houthis, who said they were acting in "solidarity" with people in the besieged Gaza Strip. Israel's military campaign was sparked by Hamas' October 7 attack, which resulted in about 1,140 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures. Militants also seized around 250 hostages. Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas and Gaza's health ministry claims the military offensive has killed at least 26,257 people, about 70 per cent of them women and children. Amid the Gaza war, the Houthis have launched numerous attacks against shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, threatening an essential global trade route. Hizam al-Assad, of the Houthi political bureau, referred to the Galaxy Leader as a "tourist attraction" and said the visitors were "proof that the Yemeni people... are impatient to meet the enemy and confront him". Another visitor, Hamada al-Baydani, said he had travelled 400 kilometres (250 miles) from Al-Bayda, to see the seized ship, which he labelled "a source of pride for Yemenis". Several days after detaining the vessel, the Houthis published a video showing a military general welcoming a group they said was the crew, but the militants have not provided any information on their fate since. After an hour on board under the scorching sun, the visitors made their way back home, chanting "God is the greatest, death to America, death to Israel".

Yemen’s Houthi rebels open seized cargo ship to sightseers

Former United States president Donald Trump has been ordered to pay $83.3 million to journalist E&nbsp;Jean Carroll, who accused the Republican of defaming her and damaging her reputation in 2019.&nbsp;In its verdict, a Manhattan federal court jury on Friday (Jan 26) awarded Carroll $18.3 million in compensatory damages, with an additional $65 million in punitive damages.

We are tracking all the live updates on the crisis in the Middle East. At the time of writing the morning brief, the latest update is the US military said that a Houthi anti-ship missile damaged an oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden but no injuries were reported.&nbsp;

In other news from around the world, the US on Friday approved the sale of F-16 warplanes to Turkey. In a statement, the US State Department said that Turkey would get 40 new F-16s and upgrades to 79 of the jets in its existing fleet.&nbsp;

Click on the headlines to read more:

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-ordered-to-pay-833mn-in-damages-to-e-jean-carroll-defamation-trial-684136">Donald Trump ordered to pay $83.3mn in E. Jean Carroll defamation trial</a>

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A Manhattan federal court jury has ruled that former US President Donald Trump must pay $83.3 million to journalist E Jean Carroll. Carroll had accused Trump of defaming her and damaging her reputation by denying allegations of rape. The verdict was delivered on Friday (Jan 26) after a five-day trial, concluding with a punitive damages award that far surpassed the $10 million sought by Carroll.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/middle-east-crisis-live-unsc-to-meet-next-week-after-icjs-gaza-ruling-684133">Middle East crisis LIVE: Houthi missile damages oil tanker in Gulf of Aden</a>

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The United States military said on Friday that a&nbsp;Houthi anti-ship missile damaged an oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden but no injuries were reported. The military said that a US Navy ship was providing&nbsp;assistance to the oil tanker.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-approves-sale-of-f-16s-to-turkey-ending-months-of-negotiations-684142">US approves sale of F-16s to Turkey, ending months of negotiations</a>

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The United States on Friday (Jan 26) approved the sale of F-16 warplanes to Turkey. In a statement, the US State Department said that Turkey would get 40 new F-16s and upgrades to 79 of the jets in its existing fleet. As required by American law, the State Department notified Congress of the agreement, as well as a separate $8.6 billion sale of 40 F-35s to Greece.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/singapore-indian-origin-man-jailed-for-molesting-domestic-helper-punching-a-man-684159">Singapore: Indian-origin man jailed for molesting domestic helper, punching a man</a>

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An Indian origin man in Singapore was jailed for molesting a domestic helper in a lift, and punching a man.&nbsp;According to a report by the news agency PTI, 61-year-old&nbsp;Singaram Palianeapan was jailed for 10&nbsp;months for both crimes.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;India-France agree on partnership opportunities

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Former United States president Donald Trump has been ordered to pay $83.3 million to journalist E Jean Carroll, who accused the Republican of defaming her and damaging her reputation in 2019.

Former United States president Donald Trump has been ordered to pay $83.3 million to journalist E Jean Carroll, who accused the Republican of defaming her and damaging her reputation in 2019. In its verdict, a Manhattan federal court jury on Friday (Jan 26) awarded Carroll $18.3 million in compensatory damages, with an additional $65 million in punitive damages. We are tracking all the live updates on the crisis in the Middle East. At the time of writing the morning brief, the latest update is the US military said that a Houthi anti-ship missile damaged an oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden but no injuries were reported. In other news from around the world, the US on Friday approved the sale of F-16 warplanes to Turkey. In a statement, the US State Department said that Turkey would get 40 new F-16s and upgrades to 79 of the jets in its existing fleet. Click on the headlines to read more: Donald Trump ordered to pay $83.3mn in E. Jean Carroll defamation trial A Manhattan federal court jury has ruled that former US President Donald Trump must pay $83.3 million to journalist E Jean Carroll. Carroll had accused Trump of defaming her and damaging her reputation by denying allegations of rape. The verdict was delivered on Friday (Jan 26) after a five-day trial, concluding with a punitive damages award that far surpassed the $10 million sought by Carroll. Middle East crisis LIVE: Houthi missile damages oil tanker in Gulf of Aden The United States military said on Friday that a Houthi anti-ship missile damaged an oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden but no injuries were reported. The military said that a US Navy ship was providing assistance to the oil tanker. US approves sale of F-16s to Turkey, ending months of negotiations The United States on Friday (Jan 26) approved the sale of F-16 warplanes to Turkey. In a statement, the US State Department said that Turkey would get 40 new F-16s and upgrades to 79 of the jets in its existing fleet. As required by American law, the State Department notified Congress of the agreement, as well as a separate $8.6 billion sale of 40 F-35s to Greece. Singapore: Indian-origin man jailed for molesting domestic helper, punching a man An Indian origin man in Singapore was jailed for molesting a domestic helper in a lift, and punching a man. According to a report by the news agency PTI, 61-year-old Singaram Palianeapan was jailed for 10 months for both crimes. Watch | India-France agree on partnership opportunities ×

Morning brief: Trump ordered to pay $83.3mn in Carroll defamation trial, Middle East crisis updates, and more

A young ‘influencer’ from war-torn Yemen has become a TikTok sensation in Arab nations by promoting a contentious cause: Support for attacks against ships and vessels in the Red Sea by Houthi rebels. The 19-year-old Rashed Al-Haddad, who lives in the Houthi-held capital Sanaa has been dubbed as "Tim-Huthi Chalamet" by netizens as he looks like "Wonka" star Timothee Chalamet.

"I received many offers to participate in fashion shows and advertisements, but I decided to take advantage of this fame for the Palestinian cause," the so-called influencer was quoted as saying by AFP.

Rashed Al-Haddad has so far made the most out of the crisis in the West Asian region, boosting his reach on social media through making a crazy popular video shot aboard Galaxy Leader, the Israel-linked cargo ship that was captured in November.

The Houthi rebels have disrupted the global shipping routes by waging relentless attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea, causing companies to opt for longer and costlier alternative around South Africa. These actions have led the US to declare Houthis a terrorist organisation and an international coalition led by the US and UK to launch strikes in Yemen.

With increased international attention on Yemen, Rashed too witnessed a drastic rise in his popularity and user engagement on social media.

“When I started on TikTok, I posted videos of the ship (Galaxy Leader) that was seized by the Yemenis. When I posted the video clips, they reached millions of views within four days," he told AFP in Sanaa, wearing a combat belt with a rifle slung across his lap.

Support for what most Western nations see as ‘terrorism’ led TikTok to delete his account permanently. He was also deplatformed from Instagram and Facebook, owned by Meta, for violating their hate speech guidelines.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-jsarwt="1" data-usg="AOvVaw0niDKC1J6uzLwuYiWrC8Ng" data-ved="2ahUKEwiIg5eZkfuDAxVS7zgGHetQDe0QxfQBKAB6BAgLEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-and-uk-conduct-fresh-series-of-air-strikes-against-houthi-targets-in-yemen-682642" jsname="YKoRaf">US and UK conduct fresh series of air strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen</a>

"Three of my TikTok accounts were banned as well, but I have created new accounts, and thankfully, the number of followers is increasing," Haddad added.

He said he was happy to have connected with many westerners, who followed his accounts across social media platforms.

Watch:&nbsp;Houthis order UN staff from US, UK to leave Yemen in a month

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"I'm not thinking of becoming famous because I'm handsome in order to do advertisements or to be an actor,” he said, while shrugging off comparisons with Hollywood's Chalamet.

(With inputs from agencies)

A young ‘influencer’ from war-torn Yemen has become a TikTok sensation in Arab nations by promoting a contentious cause: Support for attacks against ships and vessels in the Red Sea by Houthi rebels.

A young ‘influencer’ from war-torn Yemen has become a TikTok sensation in Arab nations by promoting a contentious cause: Support for attacks against ships and vessels in the Red Sea by Houthi rebels. The 19-year-old Rashed Al-Haddad, who lives in the Houthi-held capital Sanaa has been dubbed as "Tim-Huthi Chalamet" by netizens as he looks like "Wonka" star Timothee Chalamet. "I received many offers to participate in fashion shows and advertisements, but I decided to take advantage of this fame for the Palestinian cause," the so-called influencer was quoted as saying by AFP. Rashed Al-Haddad has so far made the most out of the crisis in the West Asian region, boosting his reach on social media through making a crazy popular video shot aboard Galaxy Leader, the Israel-linked cargo ship that was captured in November. The Houthi rebels have disrupted the global shipping routes by waging relentless attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea, causing companies to opt for longer and costlier alternative around South Africa. These actions have led the US to declare Houthis a terrorist organisation and an international coalition led by the US and UK to launch strikes in Yemen. With increased international attention on Yemen, Rashed too witnessed a drastic rise in his popularity and user engagement on social media. “When I started on TikTok, I posted videos of the ship (Galaxy Leader) that was seized by the Yemenis. When I posted the video clips, they reached millions of views within four days," he told AFP in Sanaa, wearing a combat belt with a rifle slung across his lap. Support for what most Western nations see as ‘terrorism’ led TikTok to delete his account permanently. He was also deplatformed from Instagram and Facebook, owned by Meta, for violating their hate speech guidelines. Also read: US and UK conduct fresh series of air strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen "Three of my TikTok accounts were banned as well, but I have created new accounts, and thankfully, the number of followers is increasing," Haddad added. He said he was happy to have connected with many westerners, who followed his accounts across social media platforms. Watch: Houthis order UN staff from US, UK to leave Yemen in a month × "I'm not thinking of becoming famous because I'm handsome in order to do advertisements or to be an actor,” he said, while shrugging off comparisons with Hollywood's Chalamet. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Tim-Houthi Chalamet,’ 19-year-old becomes TikTok sensation for romanticising Red Sea attacks

Maersk, the Danish shipping giant announced on Wednesday (Jan 24) that two ships belonging to its US subsidiary had turned back after explosions nearby in the Red Sea.&nbsp;

The incident happened when the ships were transiting the Bab el-Mandeb strait amid the escalating Red Sea crisis which has majorly impacted the shipping route and global trade.&nbsp;

Bab al-Mandab is the outlet of the Red Sea. It is between between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula, and Djibouti and Eritrea on the African coast.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/exclusive-india-is-a-friend-can-play-constructive-role-says-palestinian-pm-mohammad-shtayyeh-683327">Exclusive: India is a friend, can play constructive role, says Palestinian PM Mohammad Shtayyeh</a>&nbsp;

In a statement, Maersk said that both crews and the cargo were unharmed. It added that the ships were being escorted by US Navy ships and "enroute, both ships reported seeing explosions close by and the US Navy accompaniment also intercepted multiple projectiles".

"The US Navy has turned both ships around and is escorting them back to the Gulf of Aden," it said, further stating that the vessels were being escorted back to the Gulf of Aden.&nbsp;

In a separate statement, US Central Command said that Yemen's Houthi forces fired three anti-ship ballistic missiles toward the US-flagged container ship Maersk Detroit as it was transiting the Gulf of Aden.&nbsp;

Maersk on January 5 said that it would divert its container vessels away from the Red Sea for the foreseeable future. But Maersk ships were an exception until Wednesday. The company said that that would no longer be the case.&nbsp;

"Following the escalation of risk, MLL is suspending transits in the region until further notice," it said on Wednesday.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hamas-rejects-israeli-proposal-for-2-month-gaza-war-pause-insists-on-end-to-israeli-offensive-report-683067">Hamas rejects Israeli proposal for 2-month Gaza war pause, insists on end to Israeli offensive</a>&nbsp;

<h2>Israel-Hamas war</h2>

The tensions in the region continue to escalate with the worsening situation in the Gaza Strip. The Gaza head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said that tank shelling on a UN shelter on Wednesday killed nine people in Gaza's main southern city of Khan Yunis, with the toll expected to rise.&nbsp;

"Two tank rounds hit building that shelters 800 people - reports now 9 dead and 75 injured," Thomas White, UNRWA's Gaza director, said on X.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Gravitas: America fighter jets bomb Iran-backed targets in Iraq, Yemen&nbsp;

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Philippe Lazzarini, who is the head of UNRWA, condemned the attack emphasing that the compound had been clearly marked as a UN facility, and its coordinates had been shared with Israeli authorities.&nbsp;

"Once again a blatant disregard of basic rules of war," Lazzarini said on X.&nbsp;

Teams from UNRWA and the World Health Organization were trying to reach the shelter, which had been blocked for two days, White said.

Earlier he said the UNRWA training centre had been hit, with "buildings ablaze and mass casualties".

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Maersk, the Danish shipping giant announced on Wednesday (Jan 24) that two ships belonging to its US subsidiary had turned back after explosions nearby in the Red Sea.

Maersk, the Danish shipping giant announced on Wednesday (Jan 24) that two ships belonging to its US subsidiary had turned back after explosions nearby in the Red Sea. The incident happened when the ships were transiting the Bab el-Mandeb strait amid the escalating Red Sea crisis which has majorly impacted the shipping route and global trade. Bab al-Mandab is the outlet of the Red Sea. It is between between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula, and Djibouti and Eritrea on the African coast. Also read: Exclusive: India is a friend, can play constructive role, says Palestinian PM Mohammad Shtayyeh In a statement, Maersk said that both crews and the cargo were unharmed. It added that the ships were being escorted by US Navy ships and "enroute, both ships reported seeing explosions close by and the US Navy accompaniment also intercepted multiple projectiles". "The US Navy has turned both ships around and is escorting them back to the Gulf of Aden," it said, further stating that the vessels were being escorted back to the Gulf of Aden. In a separate statement, US Central Command said that Yemen's Houthi forces fired three anti-ship ballistic missiles toward the US-flagged container ship Maersk Detroit as it was transiting the Gulf of Aden. Maersk on January 5 said that it would divert its container vessels away from the Red Sea for the foreseeable future. But Maersk ships were an exception until Wednesday. The company said that that would no longer be the case. "Following the escalation of risk, MLL is suspending transits in the region until further notice," it said on Wednesday. Also read: Hamas rejects Israeli proposal for 2-month Gaza war pause, insists on end to Israeli offensive Israel-Hamas war The tensions in the region continue to escalate with the worsening situation in the Gaza Strip. The Gaza head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said that tank shelling on a UN shelter on Wednesday killed nine people in Gaza's main southern city of Khan Yunis, with the toll expected to rise. "Two tank rounds hit building that shelters 800 people - reports now 9 dead and 75 injured," Thomas White, UNRWA's Gaza director, said on X. Watch: Gravitas: America fighter jets bomb Iran-backed targets in Iraq, Yemen × Philippe Lazzarini, who is the head of UNRWA, condemned the attack emphasing that the compound had been clearly marked as a UN facility, and its coordinates had been shared with Israeli authorities. "Once again a blatant disregard of basic rules of war," Lazzarini said on X. Teams from UNRWA and the World Health Organization were trying to reach the shelter, which had been blocked for two days, White said. Earlier he said the UNRWA training centre had been hit, with "buildings ablaze and mass casualties". Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. (With inputs from agencies)

Red Sea: Maersk vessels turn back after Houthis reportedly fire missiles at ships

The Boeing 737 Max 9 might be back in service in the United States after the country's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Wednesday (Jan 24) announced that it approved an inspection procedure for the grounded aircraft. The FAA warned that the Jan 5 incident involving the aircraft operated by Alaska Airlines must not happen again.&nbsp;

We are tracking all live updates on the Middle East crisis. At the time of writing the morning brief, the latest update is that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that it is investigating a strike on a United Nations shelter in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis. The strike reportedly killed nine people and wounded 75 others.

In other news from around the world, Russia said on Wednesday that an IL-76 military transport plane crashed in the western Belgorod region, bordering Ukraine, killing all 74 on board. Moscow has accused Kyiv of deliberately shooting down the aircraft.&nbsp;

Click on the headlines to read more:

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/boeing-737-max-9s-may-return-to-operations-as-us-aviation-watchdog-approves-inspection-procedure-683374">Boeing 737 Max 9s may return to operations as US aviation watchdog approves inspection procedure</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/01/25/407817-wion-images-2024-01-25t091610600.png?imwidth=500" />

The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), on Wednesday (Jan 24) announced that it has approved an inspection procedure for grounded Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft which may pave the way for 171 grounded planes to come back into service.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/middle-east-crisis-live-updates-israel-to-probe-attack-on-un-shelter-in-gaza-two-us-flagged-ships-attacked-by-houthis-683351">Middle East crisis LIVE updates: IDF probes deadly attack on UN shelter in Gaza</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/01/25/407804-yearender-2023-19.png?imwidth=500" />

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that it is&nbsp;investigating a strike on a&nbsp;United Nations shelter in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis, which reportedly killed nine people and wounded others.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-says-military-plane-carrying-65-ukrainian-pows-crashes-683159">Russia blames Ukraine of deliberately shooting down&nbsp;Russian military transport plane which killed 74</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/01/24/407694-russian-military-transport-plane-crashes.png?imwidth=500" />

Russia on Wednesday accused Ukraine of&nbsp;deliberately shooting down a Russian military transport aircraft that killed all 74 on board.&nbsp;Ukraine&nbsp;called for full clarification of the circumstances of the incident and did not directly confirm it had shot down the plane.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/maldives-india-hailed-as-most-long-standing-ally-by-opposition-amid-muizzus-pro-china-stance-683381">Maldives: India hailed as 'most long-standing ally' by Opposition amid Muizzu's pro-China stance</a>

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India-Maldives ties: In the wake of an escalating diplomatic tussle between India and the Maldives, the latter's two major Opposition parties, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and the Democrats, jointly expressed apprehension about President Muizzu's government's 'anti-India stance' during a press conference on Wednesday (Jan 24).&nbsp;

Watch | Microsoft hits $3 trillion market value, close to Apple

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&nbsp;

The Boeing 737 Max 9 might be back in service in the United States after the country's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Wednesday (Jan 24) announced that it approved an inspection procedure for the grounded aircraft.

The Boeing 737 Max 9 might be back in service in the United States after the country's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Wednesday (Jan 24) announced that it approved an inspection procedure for the grounded aircraft. The FAA warned that the Jan 5 incident involving the aircraft operated by Alaska Airlines must not happen again. We are tracking all live updates on the Middle East crisis. At the time of writing the morning brief, the latest update is that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that it is investigating a strike on a United Nations shelter in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis. The strike reportedly killed nine people and wounded 75 others. In other news from around the world, Russia said on Wednesday that an IL-76 military transport plane crashed in the western Belgorod region, bordering Ukraine, killing all 74 on board. Moscow has accused Kyiv of deliberately shooting down the aircraft. Click on the headlines to read more: Boeing 737 Max 9s may return to operations as US aviation watchdog approves inspection procedure The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), on Wednesday (Jan 24) announced that it has approved an inspection procedure for grounded Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft which may pave the way for 171 grounded planes to come back into service. Middle East crisis LIVE updates: IDF probes deadly attack on UN shelter in Gaza The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that it is investigating a strike on a United Nations shelter in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis, which reportedly killed nine people and wounded others. Russia blames Ukraine of deliberately shooting down Russian military transport plane which killed 74 Russia on Wednesday accused Ukraine of deliberately shooting down a Russian military transport aircraft that killed all 74 on board. Ukraine called for full clarification of the circumstances of the incident and did not directly confirm it had shot down the plane. Maldives: India hailed as 'most long-standing ally' by Opposition amid Muizzu's pro-China stance India-Maldives ties: In the wake of an escalating diplomatic tussle between India and the Maldives, the latter's two major Opposition parties, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and the Democrats, jointly expressed apprehension about President Muizzu's government's 'anti-India stance' during a press conference on Wednesday (Jan 24). Watch | Microsoft hits $3 trillion market value, close to Apple ×

Morning brief: Boeing 737 Max 9 may return to service in US; Middle East crisis updates, and more

Pope Francis on Sunday said the loss of innocent lives in violence between Israel and Palestinians was "terrible and unacceptable", warning that the latest conflict could get even worse.&nbsp;

"In these days, violent armed clashes between the Gaza Strip and Israel have taken over, and risk degenerating into a spiral of death and destruction," said the pope following his Sunday Regina Caeli prayer.

"Numerous people have been injured, and many innocents have died. Among them there are also children, and this is terrible and unacceptable," the 84-year-old pontiff said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/do-not-give-in-to-evil-and-division-pope-tells-myanmar-community-385407">Do not give in to evil and division, Pope tells Myanmar community&nbsp;</a>

"I ask myself: where will hatred and revenge lead? Do we really think we will build peace by destroying the other?"

Francis' comments, addressed to a crowd in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, came after the pontiff held a special mass for Myanmar on Sunday morning.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-envoy-kerry-calls-pope-powerful-voice-on-climate-385271">US envoy Kerry calls pope 'powerful voice' on climate</a>

During mass, he repeated calls for an end to bloodshed in the country roiled by a violent crackdown on civilians by the military junta, urging its people not to lose hope.

Francis, who often speaks about current events in his Sunday addresses from the window of the Apostolic Palace, also urged for calm in the Middle East.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/jerusalem-under-siege-as-israelis-and-palestinians-clash-384175">Jerusalem under siege as Israelis and Palestinians clash</a>

"I appeal for calm and, to those who have responsibility, to stop the din of arms and to walk the paths of peace, also with the help of the international community," he said.

Pope Francis on Sunday said the loss of innocent lives in violence between Israel and Palestinians was "terrible and unacceptable", warning that the latest conflict could get even worse.

Pope Francis on Sunday said the loss of innocent lives in violence between Israel and Palestinians was "terrible and unacceptable", warning that the latest conflict could get even worse. "In these days, violent armed clashes between the Gaza Strip and Israel have taken over, and risk degenerating into a spiral of death and destruction," said the pope following his Sunday Regina Caeli prayer. "Numerous people have been injured, and many innocents have died. Among them there are also children, and this is terrible and unacceptable," the 84-year-old pontiff said. Also read | Do not give in to evil and division, Pope tells Myanmar community "I ask myself: where will hatred and revenge lead? Do we really think we will build peace by destroying the other?" Francis' comments, addressed to a crowd in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, came after the pontiff held a special mass for Myanmar on Sunday morning. Also read | US envoy Kerry calls pope 'powerful voice' on climate During mass, he repeated calls for an end to bloodshed in the country roiled by a violent crackdown on civilians by the military junta, urging its people not to lose hope. Francis, who often speaks about current events in his Sunday addresses from the window of the Apostolic Palace, also urged for calm in the Middle East. Also read | Jerusalem under siege as Israelis and Palestinians clash "I appeal for calm and, to those who have responsibility, to stop the din of arms and to walk the paths of peace, also with the help of the international community," he said.

Pope warns of 'spiral of death' in Middle East clashes

The Firefly, an Israeli-built loitering kamikaze drone, part of the Spike family of missiles that the Jewish state has sold to various European nations, may be one reason why Gulf states, and particularly Saudi Arabia, have cosied up to Israel in a seeming reversal of their past support of Palestinian rights.

If there is one lesson that Gulf states have learned from the United States’ reduced commitment to the region and the strains in US-Saudi relations, it is that putting one’s eggs in one basket is risky business.

That has not prevented the United States from continuing to secure its place as the region’s foremost arms supplier as this month’s arms and related commercial deals prove.

The US Defence Department announced a $2.6 billion Saudi deal to acquire 1,000 air-to-surface and anti-ship missiles from Boeing. Within days, Saudi Arabia’s Al Tadrea Manufacturing Company tweeted that it had reached an agreement with Oshkosh Defence to establish a joint venture to manufacture armed vehicles in the kingdom.

The Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, disclosed separately that it had recently taken a $ 713.7 million stake in Boeing at a time when the company, already suffering major setbacks because of its 737-Max fiasco, took a significant hit as a result of a collapse of the civilian aviation industry.

The continued Saudi arms focus on the United States has not deprived China of opportunities. China has stepped in to help Saudi Arabia produce unmanned military vehicles after the United States refused to sell its MQ-9 Reaper killer drone to the kingdom. Saudi Arabia expects production to start next year.

Like China, Russia has been urging Saudi Arabia to purchase its acclaimed S-400 anti-missile defence system. So far, the kingdom, having watched the United States cancel NATO-member Turkey’s purchase of US F-35 fighter jets and its co-production agreement of some of the plane’s components after it acquired the Russian system, has been reticent to take the Russians up on their offer.

The limitations of Saudi-Russian cooperation have since become obvious with April’s price war between the two major oil producers that sent oil markets into a tailspin from which they are unlikely to recover any time soon.

Israel, like China and Russia and unlike the United States, puts no problematic restrictions such as adherence to human rights and use of weaponry in accordance with international law on its arms sales.

But Israel has one leg up on its Chinese and Russian competitors who maintain close ties to Iran. Israel shares with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) a perception of Iran as an existential threat and a destabilising force in the Middle East that at the very least needs to be contained.

To be sure, that is a perception that Saudi Arabia and the UAE see reflected in the United States’ maximum pressure policy towards Iran which aims to force the Islamic Republic to “change its behaviour,” if not change its regime.

The problem is that maximum pressure two years into the imposition of harsh US economic sanctions has produced little result.

Add to that the fact that the United States has proven to be an unreliable ally when the chips are down, persuading the UAE and other smaller Gulf states to reach out to Iran to ensure that their critical national infrastructure does not become a target in any future major US-Iranian military conflagration.

The watershed moment for the Gulf states was when the United States failed to respond forcefully last spring and summer to alleged Iranian attacks on key Saudi oil facilities as well as oil tankers off the coast of the UAE.

The Trump administration, in a bid to reassure Gulf states, weeks later sent troops and Patriot anti-missile defence systems to Saudi Arabia to help it protect its oil installations, although the United States withdrew two of those systems earlier this month.

It took the killing of a US military contractor in December 2019 for the United States to respond to tens of Iranian-backed attacks on American targets in Iraq. And when it did, with the killing in January of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, Gulf states privately celebrated the demise of their nemesis but also feared that it was overkill, bringing the Middle East to the brink of an all-out war.

Gulf states are likely to find that cooperation with Israel has its limits too. Israel may be eager to sell weaponry and have the capability to push back at Iran in Syria. If need be, Israel can also severely damaged, if not take out, Iranian nuclear and missile facilities in military strikes that Gulf states would be unable to carry out.

But ties to Israel remain a sensitive issue in the Gulf and elsewhere in the Arab world. And Israel has so far restricted sales to non-lethal equipment and technology. That could change with a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the establishment of formal diplomatic relations.

Public opinion, however, may be one reason Gulf states have refused to turn unofficial relations into diplomatic recognition, suggesting that there may be greater public empathy for Palestinians than Gulf rulers wish to admit.

That could count for more with Gulf rulers finding it increasingly difficult to provide public goods and services, among which first and foremost jobs, as a result of the global economic crisis and the collapse of oil prices. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;

The Firefly, an Israeli-built loitering kamikaze drone, part of the Spike family of missiles that the Jewish state has sold to various European nations, may be one reason why Gulf states, and particularly Saudi Arabia, have cosied up to Israel in a seeming reversal of their past support of Palestinian rights.

The Firefly, an Israeli-built loitering kamikaze drone, part of the Spike family of missiles that the Jewish state has sold to various European nations, may be one reason why Gulf states, and particularly Saudi Arabia, have cosied up to Israel in a seeming reversal of their past support of Palestinian rights. If there is one lesson that Gulf states have learned from the United States’ reduced commitment to the region and the strains in US-Saudi relations, it is that putting one’s eggs in one basket is risky business. That has not prevented the United States from continuing to secure its place as the region’s foremost arms supplier as this month’s arms and related commercial deals prove. The US Defence Department announced a $2.6 billion Saudi deal to acquire 1,000 air-to-surface and anti-ship missiles from Boeing. Within days, Saudi Arabia’s Al Tadrea Manufacturing Company tweeted that it had reached an agreement with Oshkosh Defence to establish a joint venture to manufacture armed vehicles in the kingdom. The Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, disclosed separately that it had recently taken a $ 713.7 million stake in Boeing at a time when the company, already suffering major setbacks because of its 737-Max fiasco, took a significant hit as a result of a collapse of the civilian aviation industry. The continued Saudi arms focus on the United States has not deprived China of opportunities. China has stepped in to help Saudi Arabia produce unmanned military vehicles after the United States refused to sell its MQ-9 Reaper killer drone to the kingdom. Saudi Arabia expects production to start next year. Like China, Russia has been urging Saudi Arabia to purchase its acclaimed S-400 anti-missile defence system. So far, the kingdom, having watched the United States cancel NATO-member Turkey’s purchase of US F-35 fighter jets and its co-production agreement of some of the plane’s components after it acquired the Russian system, has been reticent to take the Russians up on their offer. The limitations of Saudi-Russian cooperation have since become obvious with April’s price war between the two major oil producers that sent oil markets into a tailspin from which they are unlikely to recover any time soon. Israel, like China and Russia and unlike the United States, puts no problematic restrictions such as adherence to human rights and use of weaponry in accordance with international law on its arms sales. But Israel has one leg up on its Chinese and Russian competitors who maintain close ties to Iran. Israel shares with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) a perception of Iran as an existential threat and a destabilising force in the Middle East that at the very least needs to be contained. To be sure, that is a perception that Saudi Arabia and the UAE see reflected in the United States’ maximum pressure policy towards Iran which aims to force the Islamic Republic to “change its behaviour,” if not change its regime. The problem is that maximum pressure two years into the imposition of harsh US economic sanctions has produced little result. Add to that the fact that the United States has proven to be an unreliable ally when the chips are down, persuading the UAE and other smaller Gulf states to reach out to Iran to ensure that their critical national infrastructure does not become a target in any future major US-Iranian military conflagration. The watershed moment for the Gulf states was when the United States failed to respond forcefully last spring and summer to alleged Iranian attacks on key Saudi oil facilities as well as oil tankers off the coast of the UAE. The Trump administration, in a bid to reassure Gulf states, weeks later sent troops and Patriot anti-missile defence systems to Saudi Arabia to help it protect its oil installations, although the United States withdrew two of those systems earlier this month. It took the killing of a US military contractor in December 2019 for the United States to respond to tens of Iranian-backed attacks on American targets in Iraq. And when it did, with the killing in January of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, Gulf states privately celebrated the demise of their nemesis but also feared that it was overkill, bringing the Middle East to the brink of an all-out war. Gulf states are likely to find that cooperation with Israel has its limits too. Israel may be eager to sell weaponry and have the capability to push back at Iran in Syria. If need be, Israel can also severely damaged, if not take out, Iranian nuclear and missile facilities in military strikes that Gulf states would be unable to carry out. But ties to Israel remain a sensitive issue in the Gulf and elsewhere in the Arab world. And Israel has so far restricted sales to non-lethal equipment and technology. That could change with a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the establishment of formal diplomatic relations. Public opinion, however, may be one reason Gulf states have refused to turn unofficial relations into diplomatic recognition, suggesting that there may be greater public empathy for Palestinians than Gulf rulers wish to admit. That could count for more with Gulf rulers finding it increasingly difficult to provide public goods and services, among which first and foremost jobs, as a result of the global economic crisis and the collapse of oil prices. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Israel a more reliable partner to Gulf states

By Yehudah Mirsky

January 28, 2020, is a date that will be remembered in Middle Eastern history – but it will take some time before anyone knows for sure how it will be remembered.

The day didn’t start well for Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel’s longest-serving prime minister also became the country’s first prime minister to be indicted while still in office. He faces multiple charges of corruption.

But Netanyahu didn’t have much time to sulk. Just a few hours later, he was standing alongside Donald Trump as the pair unveiled the US administration’s long-anticipated plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace, written in no small part in coordination with – and deeply in tune with – Netanyahu’s policies.

The fact that the plan’s unveiling came as both men face intense domestic scrutiny – the press conference interrupted coverage of Trump’s impeachment – should not be overlooked.

I have been following developments in the Middle East for a long time as a US State Department official, a lifelong student and now a professor of Israeli history, and as a dual citizen of the US and Israel. I know how complex the issues are and how past attempts at peace have fallen well short.

In Black and White

Trump’s plan comprises two different goals.

The first – fostering Israeli-Palestinian peace, or at least coexistence – is there in black and white for all to read.

The second – tying Trump and Netanyahu’s respective domestic critics into knots – is everywhere between the lines.

While the Trump administration worked on the plan in coordination with Israel and 'friendly'&nbsp;Arab states like Egypt and Saudi Arabia, it crucially did not involve the Palestinians. Palestinian resistance to the very development of this plan – out of suspicion, weakness and resentment – was met not with a carrot but a stick, with the US&nbsp;cutting all aid to Gaza and the West Bank in February 2019.

As a result, positions in the plan that might have been viewed as difficult compromises, had they been negotiated, are instead rightly seen as terms of surrender. Yes, the plan gives Palestinians a path to limited statehood, but only after ceding on the core issues of Israeli settlements, refugees and control of much of Jerusalem.

The plan was successfully kept behind the curtains while being drafted, but it now steps out onto a complicated stage.

Relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank have for some years been in utter political stalemate, even as the two have maintained working-level security cooperation. In Hamas-run Gaza, Israel has been in a long war of attrition, mixing ongoing less-than-total violence with tacit mutual understandings aimed at managing the conflict.

Meanwhile, Israel’s ties with several Sunni Arab states, especially in the Gulf, have been deepening, united by a desire to ward off Iran and its Shia proxies in Lebanon and what remains of Syria. Jordan, structurally weak but strategically important due to its location and links to Arab and Islamic actors, balances contending forces with skill and jitters.

Internal Palestinian politics are riven by the bitter rivalry between the nationalist Palestinian Authority and the Islamist group Hamas and by discontent with the Palestinian Authority’s President Mahmoud Abbas’ hold on power amid claims of corruption and mismanagement in the Palestinian semi-government.

Israeli politics is stalemated, too, and headed for its third round of parliamentary elections in less than a year, spurred by fallout from Netanyahu’s corruption scandals and fragmented opposition.

Many Israelis are alienated by Netanyahu’s endless legal troubles and divisive politics, but others are kindled by his attacks on political opponents. Meanwhile the Israeli left has failed to recover the credibility it lost on security issues following the collapse of 2000’s Camp David talks and the ensuing Second Intifada.

As for Trump, he remains popular in Israel – including among centrists, who don’t necessarily follow day-to-day US&nbsp;politics and look unfavourably on former President Barack Obama’s handling of the Middle East.

At home, Trump’s policies on Israel do not reflect that of the majority of American Jews, who tend to be politically liberal and supportive of a mutually negotiated two-state solution. Rather, Trump’s views chime with that of the smaller but more fervent American Jewish right, and above all with the millions of evangelicals who are a key plank of the president’s base.

Into all this drops the 180-page peace plan – whose heart is creating a legally recognized but geographically tiny and fragmented Palestinian state without full military powers – something that falls way short of Palestinian aspirations. Some parts of the plan are not unreasonable, and the many failed attempts at peacemaking to date call for fresh thinking. But the problems in this plan are very real.

It stakes out strong positions on the three hard issues that have bedevilled negotiations time and again: Israeli settlements, the status of Jerusalem and the right of return for Palestinian refugees.

The Trump plan leaves all Israeli settlements in place and proposes a network of roads and tunnels to help Palestinian move around the cantons that would make up their state.

It also freezes Jerusalem’s status quo and makes permanent Israel’s security barrier between the city’s east and west. As for the Palestinians who fled or were forced out of their homes in the 1948 war and their descendants, the plan says they are to be financially compensated. A few will be absorbed into Israel, but most will be integrated into either the envisioned Palestinian state or their current country of residence – which includes the Arab states that have refused to absorb them to date.

These stances will be politically helpful to Netanyahu and congenial to many Israelis, who want to end the country’s occupation of the Palestinians, if their own personal security can be assured.

To the Palestinians, they represent bitter pills, each of which would be hard enough to swallow on its own.

Reaction to the plan has led to talk of a possible reconciliation between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, something Israel has been trying to avoid – and put security forces on alert for further violence.

Another problem is in the thinking that is evident in the plan’s title, “Peace to Prosperity.” Blueprints for economic development are woven throughout. The ideas are laudable. But the notion that the most fervently committed Jews and Arabs will trade away their deepest convictions for financial gain is as unlikely to take hold now as it did in the Oslo Accords of the 1990s.

&nbsp;And red lines all over 
 
So what happens now?

Netanyahu has announced he will begin to annex territory, in a move his main political challenger, former Army Chief of Staff Benny Gantz, described as “reckless and irresponsible,” even as he says he accepts the plan’s broad outlines for an eventual settlement. The Palestinians for their part have rejected the proposals and taken to the streets in protest.

The plan raises some serious, immediate questions: How much unilateral action will Netanyahu take without paying a domestic price – especially with Israelis returning to the polls in March? And what responses are open to the Palestinians, other than the tried-and-failed turns to violence and appeals to the UN&nbsp;– neither of which will move Israeli public opinion in their direction?

Above all, the questions we should be asking are: What does this or any plan do concretely to improve the lives of people in the region? What practical steps could be taken to make viable coexistence – peace is too strong a word – further down the line possible or at least avert new violence triggered by thwarted expectations?

There is no easy solution to the bitter Israel-Palestinian conflict. Unilateral annexation by Israel will only further Palestinian resentment and rejectionism. Too many people, in Washington as well as the Middle East, view the conflict in terms of ideological dreams and agendas, paying little heed to the real needs of people on the ground, Israeli and Palestinian alike. Should this plan become, like so many of its predecessors, a political football on both sides of the ocean, the people who make their homes and live their lives on politicians’ playing fields will lose. 
 
(Yehudah Mirsky is Professor of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies, Brandeis University)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/has-trump-proposed-a-middle-east-peace-plan-or-terms-of-surrender-for-the-palestinians-130677">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;

By Yehudah Mirsky January 28, 2020, is a date that will be remembered in Middle Eastern history – but it will take some time before anyone knows for sure how it will be remembered.

By Yehudah Mirsky January 28, 2020, is a date that will be remembered in Middle Eastern history – but it will take some time before anyone knows for sure how it will be remembered. The day didn’t start well for Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel’s longest-serving prime minister also became the country’s first prime minister to be indicted while still in office. He faces multiple charges of corruption. But Netanyahu didn’t have much time to sulk. Just a few hours later, he was standing alongside Donald Trump as the pair unveiled the US administration’s long-anticipated plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace, written in no small part in coordination with – and deeply in tune with – Netanyahu’s policies. The fact that the plan’s unveiling came as both men face intense domestic scrutiny – the press conference interrupted coverage of Trump’s impeachment – should not be overlooked. I have been following developments in the Middle East for a long time as a US State Department official, a lifelong student and now a professor of Israeli history, and as a dual citizen of the US and Israel. I know how complex the issues are and how past attempts at peace have fallen well short. In Black and White Trump’s plan comprises two different goals. The first – fostering Israeli-Palestinian peace, or at least coexistence – is there in black and white for all to read. The second – tying Trump and Netanyahu’s respective domestic critics into knots – is everywhere between the lines. While the Trump administration worked on the plan in coordination with Israel and 'friendly' Arab states like Egypt and Saudi Arabia, it crucially did not involve the Palestinians. Palestinian resistance to the very development of this plan – out of suspicion, weakness and resentment – was met not with a carrot but a stick, with the US cutting all aid to Gaza and the West Bank in February 2019. As a result, positions in the plan that might have been viewed as difficult compromises, had they been negotiated, are instead rightly seen as terms of surrender. Yes, the plan gives Palestinians a path to limited statehood, but only after ceding on the core issues of Israeli settlements, refugees and control of much of Jerusalem. The plan was successfully kept behind the curtains while being drafted, but it now steps out onto a complicated stage. Relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank have for some years been in utter political stalemate, even as the two have maintained working-level security cooperation. In Hamas-run Gaza, Israel has been in a long war of attrition, mixing ongoing less-than-total violence with tacit mutual understandings aimed at managing the conflict. Meanwhile, Israel’s ties with several Sunni Arab states, especially in the Gulf, have been deepening, united by a desire to ward off Iran and its Shia proxies in Lebanon and what remains of Syria. Jordan, structurally weak but strategically important due to its location and links to Arab and Islamic actors, balances contending forces with skill and jitters. Internal Palestinian politics are riven by the bitter rivalry between the nationalist Palestinian Authority and the Islamist group Hamas and by discontent with the Palestinian Authority’s President Mahmoud Abbas’ hold on power amid claims of corruption and mismanagement in the Palestinian semi-government. Israeli politics is stalemated, too, and headed for its third round of parliamentary elections in less than a year, spurred by fallout from Netanyahu’s corruption scandals and fragmented opposition. Many Israelis are alienated by Netanyahu’s endless legal troubles and divisive politics, but others are kindled by his attacks on political opponents. Meanwhile the Israeli left has failed to recover the credibility it lost on security issues following the collapse of 2000’s Camp David talks and the ensuing Second Intifada. As for Trump, he remains popular in Israel – including among centrists, who don’t necessarily follow day-to-day US politics and look unfavourably on former President Barack Obama’s handling of the Middle East. At home, Trump’s policies on Israel do not reflect that of the majority of American Jews, who tend to be politically liberal and supportive of a mutually negotiated two-state solution. Rather, Trump’s views chime with that of the smaller but more fervent American Jewish right, and above all with the millions of evangelicals who are a key plank of the president’s base. Into all this drops the 180-page peace plan – whose heart is creating a legally recognized but geographically tiny and fragmented Palestinian state without full military powers – something that falls way short of Palestinian aspirations. Some parts of the plan are not unreasonable, and the many failed attempts at peacemaking to date call for fresh thinking. But the problems in this plan are very real. It stakes out strong positions on the three hard issues that have bedevilled negotiations time and again: Israeli settlements, the status of Jerusalem and the right of return for Palestinian refugees. The Trump plan leaves all Israeli settlements in place and proposes a network of roads and tunnels to help Palestinian move around the cantons that would make up their state. It also freezes Jerusalem’s status quo and makes permanent Israel’s security barrier between the city’s east and west. As for the Palestinians who fled or were forced out of their homes in the 1948 war and their descendants, the plan says they are to be financially compensated. A few will be absorbed into Israel, but most will be integrated into either the envisioned Palestinian state or their current country of residence – which includes the Arab states that have refused to absorb them to date. These stances will be politically helpful to Netanyahu and congenial to many Israelis, who want to end the country’s occupation of the Palestinians, if their own personal security can be assured. To the Palestinians, they represent bitter pills, each of which would be hard enough to swallow on its own. Reaction to the plan has led to talk of a possible reconciliation between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, something Israel has been trying to avoid – and put security forces on alert for further violence. Another problem is in the thinking that is evident in the plan’s title, “Peace to Prosperity.” Blueprints for economic development are woven throughout. The ideas are laudable. But the notion that the most fervently committed Jews and Arabs will trade away their deepest convictions for financial gain is as unlikely to take hold now as it did in the Oslo Accords of the 1990s. And red lines all over So what happens now? Netanyahu has announced he will begin to annex territory, in a move his main political challenger, former Army Chief of Staff Benny Gantz, described as “reckless and irresponsible,” even as he says he accepts the plan’s broad outlines for an eventual settlement. The Palestinians for their part have rejected the proposals and taken to the streets in protest. The plan raises some serious, immediate questions: How much unilateral action will Netanyahu take without paying a domestic price – especially with Israelis returning to the polls in March? And what responses are open to the Palestinians, other than the tried-and-failed turns to violence and appeals to the UN – neither of which will move Israeli public opinion in their direction? Above all, the questions we should be asking are: What does this or any plan do concretely to improve the lives of people in the region? What practical steps could be taken to make viable coexistence – peace is too strong a word – further down the line possible or at least avert new violence triggered by thwarted expectations? There is no easy solution to the bitter Israel-Palestinian conflict. Unilateral annexation by Israel will only further Palestinian resentment and rejectionism. Too many people, in Washington as well as the Middle East, view the conflict in terms of ideological dreams and agendas, paying little heed to the real needs of people on the ground, Israeli and Palestinian alike. Should this plan become, like so many of its predecessors, a political football on both sides of the ocean, the people who make their homes and live their lives on politicians’ playing fields will lose. (Yehudah Mirsky is Professor of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies, Brandeis University) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Has Donald Trump proposed a Middle East peace plan – or terms of surrender for the Palestinians?

By Gary Grappo

Nearly a year after his predecessor embarked on a similar mission, on January 15 US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo concluded a tour of the Middle East that included stops in Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman. A planned stop in Kuwait was cancelled. The ostensible reason for Pompeo’s hastily scheduled tour was to explain his boss’ sudden and unexpected announcement of the US troop withdrawal from Syria.

President Donald Trump’s December decision to leave the fight in Syria shocked America’s Middle East allies. His most senior officials, including former Secretary of Defence James Mattis and others, were also caught off guard. Mattis, after subsequently failing to persuade Trump to reconsider, resigned. The president’s special envoy to the coalition fighting the Islamic State, Brett McGurk, also resigned.

Left questioning whether this was Trump’s first step toward Middle East disengagement — he also later announced that Iran can do what it wants in Syria — Arab states were once again whipsawed by an unpredictable administration. Could they no longer count on American security support, diplomatic power and considerable economic clout to maintain regional order, especially in the face of the Iranian challenge, continuing extremist activity from the likes of ISIS and al-Qaeda, and economic uncertainty? For many, the announcement might portend a period of great power competition in the region, increased Iranian adventurism and consequent instability, all of which the US had resisted since it first became embroiled in the region after World War 2. 
 
No fear: Pompea to the rescue

Enter Mike Pompeo. America’s friends needed reassurances and a way forward on the region’s many challenges. At last, America would speak from the pulpit on its broad strategy for the region, heretofore missing since Donald Trump assumed office two years ago.

On what was his biggest stage at the American University of Cairo, Pompeo delivered what may now be called the clearest statement yet of US policy in the Middle East. In essence, however, it boiled down to continuing resistance to extremism, blunting Iranian influence and not being the policy of Trump’s predecessor, Barak Obama. In 2009, President Obama had attempted to deliver his own version of an American reset of US policy, specifically as it related to Islam and Muslims, and seemingly apologised for the US role in the troubled region’s problems.

In a not-so-veiled criticism of Obama’s decision to withdraw US forces from Iraq in 2011, Pompeo declared that the Trump administration has learned much from its predecessor’s naiveté and miscues: “We learned that when America retreats, chaos often follows. When we neglect our friends, resentment builds. And when we partner with enemies, they advance.” On its face, that would appear a fair and accurate statement for any administration. Against the backdrop of Trump’s announcement proclaiming the war against ISIS effectively won and the consequent US troop withdrawal, it’s downright mystifyingly contradictory.

Indeed, ISIS has been set on its back foot, having lost more that 95 per cent of the “caliphate” it once ruled between Syria and Iraq. But US intelligence experts still assert the presence of some 2,000-3,000 ISIS fighters in the two countries and another 25,000-30,000 elsewhere around the world. One of the ostensible reasons for Mattis’ resignation was that in the career marine general’s judgment, the war against ISIS and other extremists had most definitely not yet been won.

Moreover, America’s friends, such as Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, not to mention the Syrian Kurds, who have been fighting valiantly beside the American forces for years now, must have been flummoxed to hear Pompeo’s statement on the US having been “absent too much” and his reference to “neglect (of) our friends.” How else to describe Trump’s Syria withdrawal without as much as an advance notice or pre-announcement consultation with those most affected?

Not a message for everyone

Arabs in the region would have found little to address what is most on their minds today. Pompeo neglected to state where the US stood against the alarming increasing harshness of government rule, especially in Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Nor did he attempt to address the dearth of respect for fundamental human rights, as Obama at least attempted to do 10 years before. The US secretary seemed to lay all the ills of the Middle East at the feet of the Iranians, who certainly deserve a share of the blame for ongoing instability in Iraq, Bahrain, Yemen and Syria.

But Iran is only taking advantage of existing circumstances of depressed economies and lack of economic opportunity, declining rule of law, absence of governmental accountability, government repression and insecurity. Would Pompeo address those underlying challenges for which Arab governments seem to have no answers?

In effect, Pompeo seemed to say to governments — as opposed to the people — that if you keep up the fight against the extremists and back the US in resisting Iran, then there is a basis for a relationship with this administration. That only reinforces the hopelessness that plagues the psyches of many in the region, especially young people, and offers encouragement for terrorism, Iranian troublemaking and instability.

In Saudi Arabia, Pompeo reasserted America’s position that “all those involved in the murder of [Jamal] Khashoggi will be held accountable.” Yet, he had extended meetings with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, known as MBS, the official deemed by the CIA, his State Department and the US Senate to have ordered the execution of the Saudi journalist last October in Istanbul. He even seemed to have gone out of his way to excuse the crime, asserting that Saudi Arabia’s “leaders are going to act in their country’s interests.”

To the average person on the street, that must have sounded like a blank check for governments to behave as they wish to preserve themselves, regardless of consequences for their citizens. America is ostensibly out of the business of erecting human rights guardrails for autocrats, except when it doesn’t like them, like in the case of Iran.

More contradictions

Also mysteriously missing from Pompeo’s sojourn was much of an effort to patch up the Gulf Cooperation Council, which Saudi Arabia and MBS set asunder over a year and a half ago in a misguided effort to get neighbouring Qatar to bend to Saudi will. Forced to address it in Qatar without much effect, it doesn’t seem to have figured too prominently when the secretary met with the engineer of the boycott, MBS. The GCC had been the most effective multinational organisation in the Middle East for dealing with the region’s many challenges and a key security partner for the US. Yet the Trump administration, never one to embrace multilateralism, appears little motivated to bring the key Gulf partners together.

Aside from the Sturm und Drang against ISIS, Iran and the Obama policies, there was hardly a mention, if at all, of America’s vision for the Middle East, its approach to ongoing civil wars and humanitarian crises in Syria and Yemen, or its prescriptions for the underlying economic and human problems still afflicting the Arab world. It still has no answer for the infectious ideologies of extremism, however odious Pompeo wants Arabs to find them. Nor does the US have a plan for taming Iran’s adventurism other than using sanctions, which few others seem to want, and the threat of regime change, which no one believes practical, much less possible.

Secretary Pompeo may claim some success for his limited agenda for the trip. Middle East autocrats may also claim success, the Trump administration having again blessed them. But for the people of the Middle East who ultimately bear the region’s many difficulties, Pompeo offered nothing. 
&nbsp;

(This article was originally published on The Fair Observer. Read the <a href="https://www.fairobserver.com/region/middle_east_north_africa/mike-pompeo-middle-east-trip-gulf-iran-politics-news-18272/">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

By Gary Grappo Nearly a year after his predecessor embarked on a similar mission, on January 15 US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo concluded a tour of the Middle East that included stops in Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman.

By Gary Grappo Nearly a year after his predecessor embarked on a similar mission, on January 15 US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo concluded a tour of the Middle East that included stops in Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman. A planned stop in Kuwait was cancelled. The ostensible reason for Pompeo’s hastily scheduled tour was to explain his boss’ sudden and unexpected announcement of the US troop withdrawal from Syria. President Donald Trump’s December decision to leave the fight in Syria shocked America’s Middle East allies. His most senior officials, including former Secretary of Defence James Mattis and others, were also caught off guard. Mattis, after subsequently failing to persuade Trump to reconsider, resigned. The president’s special envoy to the coalition fighting the Islamic State, Brett McGurk, also resigned. Left questioning whether this was Trump’s first step toward Middle East disengagement — he also later announced that Iran can do what it wants in Syria — Arab states were once again whipsawed by an unpredictable administration. Could they no longer count on American security support, diplomatic power and considerable economic clout to maintain regional order, especially in the face of the Iranian challenge, continuing extremist activity from the likes of ISIS and al-Qaeda, and economic uncertainty? For many, the announcement might portend a period of great power competition in the region, increased Iranian adventurism and consequent instability, all of which the US had resisted since it first became embroiled in the region after World War 2. No fear: Pompea to the rescue Enter Mike Pompeo. America’s friends needed reassurances and a way forward on the region’s many challenges. At last, America would speak from the pulpit on its broad strategy for the region, heretofore missing since Donald Trump assumed office two years ago. On what was his biggest stage at the American University of Cairo, Pompeo delivered what may now be called the clearest statement yet of US policy in the Middle East. In essence, however, it boiled down to continuing resistance to extremism, blunting Iranian influence and not being the policy of Trump’s predecessor, Barak Obama. In 2009, President Obama had attempted to deliver his own version of an American reset of US policy, specifically as it related to Islam and Muslims, and seemingly apologised for the US role in the troubled region’s problems. In a not-so-veiled criticism of Obama’s decision to withdraw US forces from Iraq in 2011, Pompeo declared that the Trump administration has learned much from its predecessor’s naiveté and miscues: “We learned that when America retreats, chaos often follows. When we neglect our friends, resentment builds. And when we partner with enemies, they advance.” On its face, that would appear a fair and accurate statement for any administration. Against the backdrop of Trump’s announcement proclaiming the war against ISIS effectively won and the consequent US troop withdrawal, it’s downright mystifyingly contradictory. Indeed, ISIS has been set on its back foot, having lost more that 95 per cent of the “caliphate” it once ruled between Syria and Iraq. But US intelligence experts still assert the presence of some 2,000-3,000 ISIS fighters in the two countries and another 25,000-30,000 elsewhere around the world. One of the ostensible reasons for Mattis’ resignation was that in the career marine general’s judgment, the war against ISIS and other extremists had most definitely not yet been won. Moreover, America’s friends, such as Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, not to mention the Syrian Kurds, who have been fighting valiantly beside the American forces for years now, must have been flummoxed to hear Pompeo’s statement on the US having been “absent too much” and his reference to “neglect (of) our friends.” How else to describe Trump’s Syria withdrawal without as much as an advance notice or pre-announcement consultation with those most affected? Not a message for everyone Arabs in the region would have found little to address what is most on their minds today. Pompeo neglected to state where the US stood against the alarming increasing harshness of government rule, especially in Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Nor did he attempt to address the dearth of respect for fundamental human rights, as Obama at least attempted to do 10 years before. The US secretary seemed to lay all the ills of the Middle East at the feet of the Iranians, who certainly deserve a share of the blame for ongoing instability in Iraq, Bahrain, Yemen and Syria. But Iran is only taking advantage of existing circumstances of depressed economies and lack of economic opportunity, declining rule of law, absence of governmental accountability, government repression and insecurity. Would Pompeo address those underlying challenges for which Arab governments seem to have no answers? In effect, Pompeo seemed to say to governments — as opposed to the people — that if you keep up the fight against the extremists and back the US in resisting Iran, then there is a basis for a relationship with this administration. That only reinforces the hopelessness that plagues the psyches of many in the region, especially young people, and offers encouragement for terrorism, Iranian troublemaking and instability. In Saudi Arabia, Pompeo reasserted America’s position that “all those involved in the murder of [Jamal] Khashoggi will be held accountable.” Yet, he had extended meetings with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, known as MBS, the official deemed by the CIA, his State Department and the US Senate to have ordered the execution of the Saudi journalist last October in Istanbul. He even seemed to have gone out of his way to excuse the crime, asserting that Saudi Arabia’s “leaders are going to act in their country’s interests.” To the average person on the street, that must have sounded like a blank check for governments to behave as they wish to preserve themselves, regardless of consequences for their citizens. America is ostensibly out of the business of erecting human rights guardrails for autocrats, except when it doesn’t like them, like in the case of Iran. More contradictions Also mysteriously missing from Pompeo’s sojourn was much of an effort to patch up the Gulf Cooperation Council, which Saudi Arabia and MBS set asunder over a year and a half ago in a misguided effort to get neighbouring Qatar to bend to Saudi will. Forced to address it in Qatar without much effect, it doesn’t seem to have figured too prominently when the secretary met with the engineer of the boycott, MBS. The GCC had been the most effective multinational organisation in the Middle East for dealing with the region’s many challenges and a key security partner for the US. Yet the Trump administration, never one to embrace multilateralism, appears little motivated to bring the key Gulf partners together. Aside from the Sturm und Drang against ISIS, Iran and the Obama policies, there was hardly a mention, if at all, of America’s vision for the Middle East, its approach to ongoing civil wars and humanitarian crises in Syria and Yemen, or its prescriptions for the underlying economic and human problems still afflicting the Arab world. It still has no answer for the infectious ideologies of extremism, however odious Pompeo wants Arabs to find them. Nor does the US have a plan for taming Iran’s adventurism other than using sanctions, which few others seem to want, and the threat of regime change, which no one believes practical, much less possible. Secretary Pompeo may claim some success for his limited agenda for the trip. Middle East autocrats may also claim success, the Trump administration having again blessed them. But for the people of the Middle East who ultimately bear the region’s many difficulties, Pompeo offered nothing. (This article was originally published on The Fair Observer. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Mike Pompeo attempts US reset in the Middle East

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