Special Report: Iran’s leader ordered crackdown on unrest – ‘Do whatever it takes to end it’

(Reuters) – After days of protests across Iran last month, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appeared impatient. Gathering his top security and government officials That order, confirmed by three sources close to the supreme leader’s inner circle and a fourth official, set in motion the bloodiest crackdown on protesters since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. […]

Iran threatens fifth step to scale back nuclear commitments

Senior Iranian official says Iran will take a fifth step of scaling back its commitments under 2015 deal, blames Europe. Elad Benari, 23/12/19  The secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, threatened on Sunday that Iran will take a fifth step of scaling back its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal with western […]

The Hague vs. Israel: Everything you need to know about the ICC Palestine probe

What exactly is Israel accused of? How likely are Israelis to land in the dock? Are Palestinians also to be probed? And could this all have been avoided? Raphael AhrenToday, 6:52 am Late last Friday afternoon, minutes before Shabbat started in Israel, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court dropped a legal bombshell when […]

ICC reportedly spurned Israelis, met Palestinian group before probe decision

Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda met with Gaza-based legal group some two weeks before announcing ‘basis’ for investigating alleged Israeli war crimes By TOI staff Today, 5:24 am The International Criminal Court’s top prosecutor reportedly met with a Palestinian group, but avoided meeting with Israeli organizations, before the court announced Friday that it was preparing to probe […]

Israel attacks military targets near Damascus, 3 dead – report

On Sunday night, Syrian regime media said its air defenses were activated near the Syrian capital. SETH J. FRANTZMAN JERUSALEM POST STAFF DECEMBER 23, 2019 10:05 Three people were allegedly killed in reported Israeli strikes in Syria on Sunday night, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Israel attacked several targets in the Set […]

Syrian air defences fire on four Israeli missiles, shoot down one

There were three explosions in Damascus suburbs after missiles targeted ‘Syrian regime and Iranian positions’, according to UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights Syrian anti-aircraft defences on Sunday fired on Israeli missiles, shooting down one that fell outside Damascus, the official Syrian news agency Sana reported. An Israeli army spokeswoman contacted by AFP said Israel […]

Israel airstrikes target Iran-linked military base in Syria, state media reports

By Frank Miles | Fox News Video Israeli airstrike under way in Syria Trey Yingst reports from Jerusalem. Israel conducted an airstrike into Syria on Sunday night as air defenses in the country opened fire on missiles that had entered, state media reported. Residents in Damascus said explosions could be heard near the capital; there […]

Syrian troops push toward Turkish observation post in Idlib

Updated: 12.22.19 , 22:22 Syrian government forces pushed deeper in their offensive on the last remaining rebel stronghold in the country’s northwest on Sunday, getting very close to a Turkish observation post in the area, opposition activists said.The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the opposition’s Syrian Civil Defense, also known as White Helmets, […]

Presidential Message on Hanukkah 2019

December 22, 2019 Melania and I send our warmest wishes to Jewish people in the United States, Israel, and across the world as you commence the 8-day celebration of Hanukkah. More than 2,000 years ago, the Maccabees boldly reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, securing a victory for the Jewish people and their faith.  They […]

Greece says huge gas pipeline deal with Israel, Cyprus to be signed January 2

Burgeoning alliance comes as Turkey attempts to lay claim to eastern Mediterranean energy reserves Today, 10:07 pm ATHENS, Greece — The Greek government said Sunday that it will sign an agreement for a huge pipeline project with Cyprus and Israel next month that is designed to ship gas from the eastern Mediterranean to Europe. The […]

Lebanon’s Hezbollah-backed prime minister seeks to form government

New Lebanese Premier Hassan Diab reportedly has the support of a majority of lawmakers, including those affiliated with Hezbollah and its allies, but still needs the support of key Sunni figures. (December 22, 2019 / JNS) Lebanon’s new Hezbollah-backed Sunni prime minister held talks on Saturday with the country’s parliamentary blocs with the aim of […]