While former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) faced criticism for meeting Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in 2017, prominent Democratic leaders, including then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), had also met with Assad in the past. Pelosi’s 2007 visit to Damascus, where she conveyed a peace message from Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, drew backlash from the Bush administration.
In a sweeping military operation, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched hundreds of airstrikes on Syrian weaponry and chemical facilities following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Over 24 hours, Israeli forces also entered strategic Syrian territories, including the demilitarized zone and Mount Hermon, to counter emerging threats.
The collapse of the Assad regime in Syria has sparked warnings of a looming migrant crisis. With President Bashar al-Assad fleeing to Russia over the weekend, European leaders welcomed the regime's fall, but the resulting instability may drive millions of Syrians toward Europe, echoing the 2015 migrant crisis.
Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of its crown prince, has attempted to portray itself as a progressive force on the global stage by committing to fight violence against women and heading a UN commission.
Syria is teetering on the edge of collapse as radical Islamic terrorist groups rapidly advance through key regions, taking advantage of years of weak leadership under President Bashar al-Assad.
A federal appeals court upheld a law requiring TikTok's Chinese parent company ByteDance to sell the app by January 19 or be banned in the United States.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor government on Friday, accusing its anti-Israel policies of fostering antisemitism after an arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue. The Adass Israel synagogue was firebombed during morning prayers, injuring one and causing extensive damage. Worshippers inside reported masked assailants throwing incendiary devices through the windows.
Poland’s Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski called for Russia’s suspension from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) during a meeting in Malta on Thursday, accusing Moscow of attempting to rebuild its empire. Sikorski led a walkout of European delegations in protest against Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s presence.
President-elect Donald Trump reiterated his support for Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense on Friday, dismissing reports that the nomination might be reconsidered. In a post on Truth Social, Trump praised Hegseth’s qualifications, calling him “a fantastic, high-energy Secretary of Defense” and emphasizing his confidence in the Fox News host.
A Texas man, identified by his distinctive tattoos, was arrested during Thanksgiving week on charges related to the molestation of a child and the production of child pornography. Christopher Lynn Driskill, 48, of Coleman, Texas, appeared in federal court Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge John R. Parker following his arrest.
