IRAN BACKED MILITIAS
Iran holds runoff presidential vote pitting hard-line former negotiator against reformist lawmaker
Voters face a choice between the hard-line former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili and Masoud Pezeshkian, a heart surgeon and longtime parliament member who has allied himself with moderates and reformists within Iran's Shiite theocracy.
US and Europe warn Lebanon's Hezbollah to ease strikes on Israel and back off from wider Mideast war
Mediators from the U.S., Europe, and Arab nations are working to prevent escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon from turning into a broader Middle East conflict. Despite ongoing violence and threats from Iran and Israel, efforts are focused on warning Hezbollah against provoking Israel further. The situation has been marked by cross-border attacks and strong rhetoric, with fears that a second front in the region could open, complicating the conflict with Hamas in Gaza. Diplomatic efforts continue, with hopes that a resolution in Gaza could ease tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border.
Iran seesawing vote results put race between reformist Masoud Pezeshkian and hard-liner Saeed Jalili
Early results from Iran's presidential election show a close contest between reformist Masoud Pezeshkian and hard-liner Saeed Jalili, with Pezeshkian leading with 5.3 million votes to Jalili's 4.8 million. Another candidate, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, garnered 1.6 million votes. Turnout figures were not yet disclosed. If no candidate secures over 50% of the vote, a runoff between the top two contenders will be held. This election follows the recent death of President Ebrahim Raisi, complicating Iran's political landscape amid regional tensions and internal challenges.
Days after Raisi’s death, Iran votes for a new President
Iranians voted for a new president following the death of Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash, choosing from a tightly controlled group of four candidates loyal to the supreme leader. The election coincides with escalating regional tension due to war between Israel and Iran's allies Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, as well as increased Western pressure on Iran over its fast-advancing nuclear programme.
Thousands of Iran-backed fighters offer to join Hezbollah in its fight against Israel
Iran-backed fighters from various countries are prepared to support Hezbollah in Lebanon against Israel if conflict escalates. Recent clashes along the Lebanon-Israel border have increased tensions. Hezbollah already has a large number of fighters but could receive additional support from Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
Iran inters its late president at holiest Shiite site in nation after fatal helicopter crash
Iran interred late President Ebrahim Raisi at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad after a fatal helicopter crash. Acting President Mohammad Mokhber has assumed leadership responsibilities, engaging in diplomatic meetings. Raisi's burial at the shrine signifies a major honor for the cleric.
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Aggression or Caution: The choice facing Iran's next leaders
A decade ago, it was possible to imagine a very different future for the United States and Iran. Raisi's predecessor, Hassan Rouhani, and his urbane, Western-educated foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, seemed determined to dial back the decades of hostility, and sanctions, that had crippled Iran's economy. They talked about personal freedom and women's rights, and courted European leaders even while Iran's Revolutionary Guard kept funding terrorism.
Who will become Iran President? When is Presidential Election?
Iran President Ebrahim Raisi is dead and now the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei holds the key as a Presidential election has become imminent.
Helicopter crash that killed Iran's president and others could reverberate across the Middle East
The helicopter crash of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei underscores Iran's vast influence in the Middle East, impacting regional conflicts, alliances, and nuclear concerns.
Helicopter crash that killed Iran's president and others could reverberate across the Middle East
The helicopter crash involving Iranian President Raisi will have significant consequences in the Middle East and Israel, fueled by concerns over Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons, U.S. sanctions under Donald Trump, and disruptions to the U.N. nuclear agency. The escalating tensions pose a threat to global non-proliferation efforts.
Iran President Raisi dead: How it may impact the region including Israel, oil prices, gold, and stock markets
The death of Iranian President Raisi in a helicopter crash is poised to have significant repercussions, given Iran's longstanding conflicts and alliances in the Middle East. The incident comes amidst escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, raising concerns about regional stability and Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Maersk says expanded Houthi attacks are forcing more delays
Since late last year, the Houthis have been attacking ships in the Red Sea, which cargo vessels from Asia have to travel through to reach the Suez Canal.
Building close to Iranian embassy hit in Syria, Iranian media report
An Israeli airstrike reportedly hit a building near the Iranian embassy in Damascus, according to Iranian media. While details remain scarce, Syrian state news agency SANA confirmed significant damage to a building in the Mezzeh neighborhood. Israel has increased airstrikes in Syria since an attack by Hamas in October, targeting Hezbollah and Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, both of which support the Assad government.
US and British strikes on Houthi sites in Yemen answer militants' surge in Red Sea attacks on ships
The US and Britain conducted airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, responding to recent attacks on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Fighter jets targeted 18 sites, including missiles, launchers, and drones. This marks the fourth joint operation against the Houthis since January. Despite warnings, the attacks have not deterred the Houthis' campaign, which they claim is in response to Israel's actions in Gaza. The attacks have disrupted shipping routes, prompting vessels to reroute around Africa.
Iraq says US troop drawdown talks will go on 'as long as nothing disturbs the peace of the talks'
US and Iraq resumed discussions on troop withdrawal after a drone attack by Iran-backed militants killed three US soldiers. The talks, paused since January's attack, aim to transition US forces from combat against ISIS. Tensions persist amid US airstrikes targeting Kataib Hezbollah, blamed for attacks on American troops. Iraq balances relations between the US and Iran, condemning US strikes. The absence of further attacks since February 4 signals a fragile calm.
US drone strike kills Iran-backed militia leader in Baghdad
The leader belonged to Kataib Hezbollah and was "responsible for directly planning and participating in attacks on US forces in the region," the Pentagon said, without naming them. "The United States will continue to take necessary action to protect our people."
An Iranian-backed militia official downplays the US strikes in Iraq, hints at deescalation
United States launched retaliatory strikes after a group of Iranian-backed Iraqi militias calling itself Islamic Resistance in Iraq - many of whose members are also part of the PMF - began launching attacks on US bases in Iraq and Syria on October 18. The group described the strikes as retaliation for Washington's support for Israel in the war in Gaza.
Iran's IRGC Quds Force represents direct threat to Iraq's stability; the US will continue to take action: CENTCOM
US Central Command Commander General Michael Erik Kurilla has emphasized the threat posed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and affiliated militia groups to Iraq's stability and the safety of Americans. The US has launched airstrikes targeting militia positions in Iraq and Syria, claiming they violate Iraqi sovereignty and undermine the Iraqi government's efforts.
Explainer: What are US troops doing in the Middle East and where are they?
The United States conducted airstrikes on Iraqi and Syrian targets associated with Iran's Revolutionary Guard and its supported militias, responding to an attack on a U.S. military site in the Middle East. Approximately 30,000 U.S. troops are deployed across the region, with bases in countries like Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria, stationed with the respective countries' government permissions, primarily focus on combating ISIS but have faced attacks from Iran-backed groups
US blames group of Iran-backed militias for deadly drone attack in Jordan as it weighs reprisals
The United States attributes the drone attack in Jordan that killed three US service members to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed militias. Iran has threatened to "decisively respond" to any US attack, while the US is considering retaliatory strikes in the Middle East. The drone attack targeted a secretive base in Jordan, crucial to the American presence in neighboring Syria, and is believed to have been planned and facilitated by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, particularly the militant group Kataib Hezbollah.
Drone attack on US base in Jordan raises concerns of escalating conflict in the Middle East
A recent drone attack on a US base in Jordan, attributed to Iran-backed militias, raises concerns of escalating conflict in the Middle East. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a collective force of various militias, claimed responsibility. Motivated by opposition to US support for Israel, these groups aim to push American forces out of the region. Iran denies direct involvement, posing a dilemma for the Biden administration in crafting a response. The situation's broader impact on the Middle East hinges on how the US navigates this delicate geopolitical challenge.
US President Biden says he has decided how to respond to attack on US troops in Jordan
Biden has been weighing his options and the expectation has been that there will be retaliatory strikes, but the timing of the response has been unclear. "I don't think we need a wider war in the Middle East. That's not what I'm looking for," said Biden.
Biden: Three Americans killed, ''many'' wounded in drone attack by Iran-backed militia in Jordan
Three American service members were killed and many wounded in a drone strike in Jordan, attributed to Iran-backed militia groups. This marks the first US fatalities in months of strikes against American forces in the Middle East, amid the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
Freighters seek air cargo back-up amid Red Sea shipping crisis
Air freight is costly compared to sea freight, and not competitive for bulky, low-margin items. Such constraints have limited air cargo to less than 1% of global trade by volume, according to airline industry association IATA. But since the attacks, which have forced shippers to take costlier routes that can add weeks to delivery times, air freight has become a more attractive option.
Biden warns of more strikes on Yemen's Houthis if Red Sea attacks persist
Biden vows continued military action against Yemen's Houthi forces amid Red Sea crisis. U.S. and British strikes target Houthi-controlled sites, reducing their ability to launch attacks. Concerns rise over regional conflict spillover from Israel-Hamas clashes. Biden labels Houthis as terrorists, despite their removal from the U.S. State Department's list in 2021. International support varies; Italy, Spain, and France abstain, while some allies back the strikes. Iran denies direct involvement but condemns the attacks. Houthi actions disrupt shipping, raising oil prices and inflation fears globally.
How the US strikes a delicate balance in responding to attacks on its forces by Iran-backed militias
With a power vacuum and years of civil conflict following the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, militias grew and multiplied in Iraq, some supported by Iran. A decade later, as the Islamic State extremist group swept across Iraq, a number of Iran-backed militias came together under the Popular Mobilization Forces umbrella group and fought IS.
US and Israel strike militias tied to Iran in reminder of risks in mideast
As Israel has pushed deeper into Gaza, the United States has been moving military assets, including fighter jets, missile defense systems, and an aircraft carrier, to the Middle East, to prevent a regional war that could drag U.S. forces into conflict with Iranian proxies in Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq and Syria. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said the United States is not seeking a broader conflict with Iran but would not hesitate to respond to attacks on U.S. soldiers.
US fighter jets strike Syria after attacks by Iran-backed militia
The U.S. air strikes took place at roughly 4:30 a.m. on Friday (0130 GMT) near Abu Kamal, a Syrian town on the border with Iraq, and were carried out by two F-16 fighter jets using precision munitions, a U.S. defence official said. "These precision self-defence strikes are a response to a series of ongoing and mostly unsuccessful attacks against U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-backed militia groups that began on October 17," U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement.
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