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.
Donald Trump’s designated Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, issued a stern warning Monday regarding hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Speaking during a visit to the region, Witkoff stated it would "not be a pretty day" if the hostages were not released before President-elect Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2024.
The Israeli Air Force (IAF) carried out extensive airstrikes across Syria on Sunday, targeting key military installations and weapon stockpiles to counter threats to Israel’s security.
Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson was arrested Friday morning on federal corruption charges, accused of orchestrating a kickback scheme to defraud taxpayers. Fernandes Anderson, representing Boston's Seventh District, faces one count of theft regarding programs receiving federal funds and five counts of wire fraud, as detailed in a Department of Justice indictment unsealed the same day.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) increased its military presence along the Syrian border in the Golan Heights on Friday in response to rapid advances by Syrian rebels against the Assad regime. The move comes as rebel forces, including Islamist factions, capture key cities like Aleppo and Hama, forcing regime troops to retreat.
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.
A new report from Amnesty International accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza has drawn sharp criticism. Legal and geopolitical experts have challenged the report’s claims, calling them biased and lacking a balanced analysis.
President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, held high-stakes meetings in November with leaders in Qatar and Israel to advance a potential ceasefire and hostage release agreement in Gaza before Trump’s January 20 inauguration, according to sources briefed on the discussions.
