#4 (09/23/2024-09/30/2024) Nasrallah's assassination inflicts the US regional diplomacy
Issa Adeli
Researcher, Policy Advisor | US Foreign Affairs and the Middle East | Security and Defense Policy
This week, the US worked hard to stay away from the consequences of Nasrallah's assassination. These are all the headlines about the US foreign policy and the Middle East:
29
September
US Fines Air Canada Over Flights Over Prohibited Iraqi Airspace
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The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) determined that Air Canada had violated regulations by flying over Iraq, an airspace prohibited due to the risk of military conflict. This violation led to a fine of 338,000 dollars to the company (Read more at?Flywest)
29
September
U.S. Central Command said it struck northwestern Syria on Tuesday (September 24, 2024), targeting a senior militant from the al-Qaeda-linked Hurras al-Deen group and eight others. They say he was responsible for overseeing military operations (Read more at?Hindu).
29
September
The United States is watching to see what Hezbollah does to try to fill its leadership vacuum "and is continuing to talk to the Israelis about what the right next steps are", White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said (Read more at?Cyprus Mail).
29
September
"The United States is determined to prevent Iran and Iranian-backed partners and proxies from exploiting the situation or expanding the conflict," Pentagon spokesperson Major General Patrick Ryder said in a statement (Read more at?CNBC).
29
September
Mark Kelly, chair of the Senate Armed Services Airland Subcommittee, said Israel used a 2,000-lb (900-kg) Mark 84 series bomb. JDAMs convert a standard unguided bomb using fins and a GPS guidance system into a guided weapon (Read more at?NDTV).
29
September
In the statement, Tehran called Israel’s Friday assassination of Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah a war crime that breached Lebanon’s territorial integrity. It also put the blame directly at Washington’s feet. "The U.S. government is directly responsible and complicit in the Zionist regime’s crime as a supporter and accomplice in continuing to commit various international crimes and terrorist acts." (Read more at?TehranTimes)
28
September
Israel asked the U.S. to take steps to deter Iran from attacking Israel in response to the Israeli airstrike in Beirut that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and a top Iranian general, two Israeli and U.S. Iran has been careful to avoid any attack on Israel that could pull it into such a war, but officials in Washington and Jerusalem are worried Friday's strike could push Tehran over the edge (Read more at?Axios).
27
September
The three men -- Masoud Jalili, Seyyed Ali Aghamiri and Yasar Balaghi -- were trying to undermine Trump's campaign, Attorney General Merrick Garland told a news conference on Friday. "We are seeing increasingly aggressive Iranian cyber activity during this election cycle," he said. The indictment says the three men used fake email accounts to trick several campaign officials into believing they were dealing with a trusted source, and then got them to click on links that allowed the hackers to steal emails and other internal documents, such as debate preparation material and profiles of potential vice presidential candidates (Read more at?USNews).
27
September
Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told the reporters, "The US is "still assessing" the event, Singh said, adding she does not have any additional information or any further specifics to provide." When asked whether Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is alive, she said: "I don't have any information on the strike itself. We're still gathering information, as this just happened a few hours ago." (Read more at?AnadoluAjensi)
27
September
Being recognised as a major defence partner was a welcome development that mirrored a confidence in US policy, says Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed (Read more at?Khaleej Times).
27
September
Former Federal Aviation Administration contractor Abouzar Rahmati, 42, a naturalized U.S. citizen and resident of Great Falls, Virginia, was indicted today for acting and conspiring to act as an illegal agent of the Iranian government in the United States (Read more at?DOJ)
27
September
Israel rejected global calls on Thursday for a ceasefire with the Hezbollah movement, defying its biggest ally in Washington and pressing ahead with strikes that have killed hundreds in Lebanon and heightened fears of an all-out regional war.Despite Israel's stance, the US and France sought to keep prospects alive for an immediate 21-day truce they proposed on Wednesday, and said negotiations continued, including on the sidelines of a United Nations meeting in New York (Read more at?IrishExaminer).
26
September
The U.S. hopes the new deal could lead to longer-term stability along the border between Israel and Lebanon. Months of Israeli and Hezbollah exchanges of fire have driven tens of thousands of people from their homes, and escalated attacks over the past week have rekindled fears of a broader war in the Middle East (Read more at?Associated Press).
26
September
US prosecutors on Thursday charged New York City Mayor Eric Adams with accepting illegal campaign contributions and luxury travel from Turkish nationals seeking to influence him, capping an investigation that has sent the largest US city’s government into turmoil. In a 57-page indictment, prosecutors laid out an alleged scheme stretching back to 2014 that helped to underwrite Adams’ 2021 mayoral campaign and showered him with free rooms at opulent hotels and meals at high-end restaurants (Read more at?Indian Express).
26
September
Iran said on Thursday that accusations it had targeted former U.S. officials were baseless, after former U.S. president Donald Trump implicated Iran, without offering evidence, in assassination attempts against him. "It is obvious that such accusations are just a part of creating the election atmosphere in the U.S...., and not even worth a response," Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said in a statement (Read more at?AOL).
26
September
Asked about "red lines" for U.S. support to Israel, Austin told reporters that the United States would not change its commitment to help Israel protect itself. He echoed U.S. calls for a ceasefire and a diplomatic solution to the crisis (Read more at?USNews).
26
September
Speaking to Turkish journalists in New York before leaving the U.N. General Assembly, Erdogan said Turkey still wanted to be reimbursed for the money it spent on F-35 fighter jets after being removed from the jet programme over the Russian purchases. "My hope is that whoever comes does not make us miss the outgoing one," Erdogan was cited as saying. "They all made us experience this disappointment. The Republicans and Democrats." (Read more at?Reuters).
26
领英推荐
September
Israel rejected global calls on Thursday for a ceasefire with the Hezbollah movement, defying its biggest ally in Washington and pressing ahead with strikes that have killed hundreds in Lebanon and heightened fears of an all-out regional war (Read more at?USNews).
25
September
Protesters chanted "Hands off the Middle East," "Free Palestine" and "Biden, Harris, Trump and Bibi; none are welcome in our city,"?demonstrated on Tuesday against American military support for Israel as risks have risen of a full-fledged conflict in the Middle East, with anti-war activists demanding an arms embargo against the US ally (Business Standard).
25
September
President Biden has spent nearly a year plotting and praying he could help prevent the?war in Gaza?from spreading. The?rapidly expanding conflict?between Israel and Hezbollah signals his power has reached its limit (Read more at?Axios).
25
September
Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib criticized Biden’s address as “not strong, not promising”.?The United States “is the key ... to our salvation,” he told an event in New York City hosted by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (Read more at?Arabnews).
25
September
“He absolutely hasn’t given up,” Mr Sullivan said in an interview with MSNBC hours before Mr Biden addressed the UN General Assembly for the last time as president.?Mr Biden will huddle with world leaders gathered in New York to work on a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza (Read more at?Straitstimes).?
25
September
Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh also said no Israeli ground incursion into Lebanon appeared imminent, but referred reporters to Israel for questions about its operations and plans. Asked about whether the United States was supporting Israel's operations in Lebanon, including with intelligence support, Singh said: "No. No support." (Read more at?Reuters)
25
September
Four ships associated with the fleet of Syrian shipping magnate, Abdul Jalil Mallah, who was sanctioned by the US in 2021, and his brother, Luay Al-Mallah, were among the vessels included in Wednesday’s action, the Treasury Department said in a statement. Luay Al-Mallah was designated under US sanctions on Wednesday. The brothers have “continued to use their shipping empire to support Iran’s malign activities and those of its proxies,” Treasury said (Read more at?Middle East Monitor).
24
September
“President Trump was briefed earlier today by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence [ODNI] regarding real and specific threats from Iran to assassinate him in an effort to destabilize and sow chaos in the United States,” Steven Cheung, the ex-president campaign’s communications director, said in a statement (Read more at?The Hill).?
24
September
Moreover, Biden and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan called for "urgent, unhindered" humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza and shared their commitment to a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas in a statement after their meeting.?Their joint statement touched on the Gulf state's involvement in the Sudan conflict, with both stressing that there was no military solution to the war, which has triggered the world's largest displacement crisis. They also underscored plans to deepen cooperation on space exploration, clean energy and artificial intelligence, where the UAE has launched ambitious plans drawing interest from U.S. geopolitical rival China (Read more at?Ariana News).
24
September
The US imposed sanctions on Turkey as a result of a lack of consensus on particular issues, including Gaza. The measures include “additional customs duties in the iron, steel, and aluminium sectors, along with investigations and CAATSA sanctions.”?During the in New York with American and Turkish businesspeople at the 15th Turkey Investment Conference hosted by the Turkey-US Business Council (TA?K), Erdogan stated that the United States has been Turkey’s second-largest export market and fifth-largest source of imports for the past two years, with bilateral trade exceeding $30 billion in 2023 (Read more at?Al24news).
24
September
The missiles have been in hot demand in Ukraine, where they have successfully stopped Russian assaults from the air, and in neighboring European countries which fear they may also need to beat back Russian forces.?Egypt would put the Stingers on vehicles equipped with the Avenger launcher system versus a shoulder-fired launcher (Read more?AOL).
24
September
It?allows?visa-free travel by Qatari citizens for up to 90 days.?The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State said in a statement that Qatar is the first Gulf country to be admitted to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, commending Doha for meeting the strict security requirements to join (Read more at?Aljazeera).
23
September
The UAE, a wealthy oil producer and longtime security partner of the U.S., is hoping for greater access to American technology to build its own advanced tech industry.?G42, the state-backed technology company, has already secured a $1.5 billion investment from Microsoft, partnered with chipmaker Nvidia and is using supercomputers built by Cerebras Systems. But the U.S. has been concerned about the UAE's warm relationship with China and placed restrictions on exports of some American technology to the UAE and other Middle Eastern states over concerns that it could be shared with Beijing (Read more at?USNews).
23
September
Experts question whether Iran would stay on the sidelines if Lebanon's Hezbollah's existence were threatened and say US troops could also find themselves targeted throughout the Middle East, if a regional war breaks out.?The United States is sending a small number of additional troops to the Middle East given escalating tensions between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah, the Pentagon said on Monday, declining to specify the precise number or mission of the deployed forces (Read more at?Daily Star).
23
September
Washington is going to discuss "concrete ideas" with allies and partners to prevent the war from broadening.?Asked if that is a disagreement with the Israeli stance, the U.S. official nodded. The spiraling conflict over Israel's northern border with Lebanon is a focus for Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly this week (Read more at?USNews).?
23
September
Erdo?an’s remarks came during a meeting on Sunday with representatives from US think tanks at Turkish House on the sidelines of a UN meeting in New York.?Erdo?an said just like the rest of the world, Turkey is also closely following the elections in the United States, ruling out any possibility of a change in the relationship due to the outcome of the polls (Read more at?Turkish Minute).
23
September
The United States submitted a detailed proposal to Turkey to transfer the Russian system to the US-controlled part of ?ncirlik Airbase in southern Turkey. The proposal will reportedly not put Turkey in a difficult situation since neither the terms of its contract with Russia nor any binding clauses will be violated (Read more at?Turkish Minute).
My Take
US-Israel Intelligence Sharing Under Review
(Link)
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