Hamas says it will release American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander on Monday
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Hamas militant group says it will release an American-Israeli hostage held in Gaza on Monday.
Hamas had announced on Sunday that it would free Edan Alexander as a good will gesture for the Trump administration.
Alexander, an Israeli soldier, was taken captive on Oct. 7, 2023.
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Yahoo
7 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Israel-Iran conflict poses new dilemma for Democrats
Democrats on Capitol Hill can't catch a break. Just as Sen. Alex Padilla's (D-Calif.) physical clash with Trump administration security officials had given them cause to unite on the otherwise divisive issue of immigration, Israel's attack on Iran has shifted the national gaze onto yet another radioactive topic that has long split the party. While many Democrats quickly condemned conservative Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for launching Israel's assault on Thursday night, many others hailed the decision as a necessary step to put a halt to Tehran's nuclear expansion. The disagreement is an unwelcome one for Democratic leaders, who had rallied forcefully behind Padilla on Thursday afternoon and were hoping to take that unified front into the weekend, when President Trump is staging an elaborate military parade, and then into next week's holiday, when the House is on a long recess and lawmakers will be back in their districts to confront voters. Instead, Israel's strikes on Iran's nuclear program — a mere coincidence of timing — has dragged Democrats back into the quarrelsome discussion over Netanyahu's aggressive military strategy, which has already been a topic of internal strife amid Israel's demolition of Gaza in search of the Hamas terrorists who attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. On one side of that debate are Israel's closest congressional allies, who quickly cheered Netanyahu's preemptive attacks as an imperative effort to make the region, and the world, a safer place. 'The October 7 attacks showed that Israel can leave nothing to chance — the threats they face are real, and inaction can cost lives,' Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), a former head of the Congressional Black Caucus, said in a statement. 'The strikes that began last night in Iran targeted military leaders and nuclear facilities that posed a clear risk for Israel and for future peace in the region.' Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) sounded a similar note, warning that allowing Iran to develop nuclear weapons 'would place Israel, the United States, and partners in the region under direct and constant danger.' 'Iran could have prevented this. They chose this path,' Moskowitz said in a statement. 'Democratic and Republican administrations have all agreed that Iran should never obtain a nuclear weapon, and this will help that bipartisan goal.' Many liberal Democrats have a decidedly different view. Those voices have long criticized Netanyahu, especially as the death toll in Gaza has soared beyond 50,000 people, including thousands of children. And they wasted no time blasting the Israeli government's latest foray into Iran. 'Israel's reckless, escalatory strikes on Iran risk igniting a larger regional war, & undermine planned negotiations for a potential new nuclear deal,' Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), the former head of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, wrote on X. 'Netanyahu must not be allowed to pull America into another forever war. Instead, we must immediately push for negotiated de-escalation.' Sen. Jack Reed (R.I.), the senior Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, piled on, warning that 'Israel's alarming decision to launch airstrikes on Iran is a reckless escalation that risks igniting regional violence.' 'These strikes threaten not only the lives of innocent civilians but the stability of the entire Middle East and the safety of American citizens and forces,' Reed said in a statement. 'While tensions between Israel and Iran are real and complex, military aggression of this scale is never the answer.' The Democratic divisions are not mirrored on the other side of the aisle, where Republicans — with a very few exceptions — are united in lockstep behind Netanyahu's attacks. 'What Israel's preemptive strike ensured tonight is that Iran's next attack will not be with a nuclear weapon,' said Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.), the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Keeping the issue in the headlines, Iran responded on Friday by launching a series of retaliatory ballistic missile strikes, some of which targeted Tel Aviv. Tehran also backed out of its plans to meet with U.S. officials in search of an elusive nuclear deal. Those talks had been scheduled for Sunday in Oman. The conflict — both abroad and within the Democratic Party — was not what Democratic leaders had in mind as Congress was leaving Washington on Thursday afternoon. Hours earlier, Padilla had confronted Kristi Noem, the secretary of the Homeland Security Department, at a press conference in Los Angeles, where residents have been facing off against law enforcers to protest Trump's immigration raids. Noem's security detail grabbed Padilla and pushed him into an adjacent hallway, where he was shoved to the ground and handcuffed. The scuffle sent alarm bells through the Capitol, where Democrats have been scrambling to locate a unified response to Trump's aggressive enforcement crackdown in Los Angeles, which has featured the activation of the National Guard without the governor's consent, and the deployment of hundreds of Marines. Some Democrats have leaned into the conflict, hoping to keep the focus on Trump's controversial actions, including some who have called for impeachment. Others have used it to revisit Trump's role in the Capitol attack of Jan. 6, 2021. Still others have warned against highlighting a contentious topic — one that had helped propel Trump to the White House — for fear of alienating voters in battleground districts. And party leaders have sought a delicate balance, condemning Trump's tactics in L.A. while fighting to shift the conversation back to the president's legislative agenda, including Medicaid cuts and tax cuts for the wealthy. 'He sees the protests in Los Angeles as an excuse to unleash more chaos and distract the American people from the failing economy and his plans to cut Medicaid and food assistance,' Rep. Pete Aguilar (Calif.), chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, said earlier in the week. The Padilla affair, in contrast, became a rallying cry. And Democrats in both chambers quickly united in defense of their colleague, accusing the administration of abusing its powers and demanding an investigation into how a sitting U.S. senator could be knocked around by officials of the same government he represents. Many called it an assault. 'The Trump administration is a disgrace. Secretary Noem is a disgrace. The manhandling of Senator Alex Padilla was a complete and total disgrace,' House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) told reporters on the steps of the Capitol on Thursday afternoon. A short time later, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) organized a march from the House chamber across the Capitol, to the office of Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), demanding a response. When Thune wasn't there, they retraced their steps and marched into the office of Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who declined to see them. While the effort was led by the CHC, many other Democrats participated, including top figures like Rep. Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), the Democratic whip; Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee; and the heads of the Black and Asian Pacific American caucuses. 'I want to really emphasize that this is an all-caucus-wide movement and outrage against the authoritarian, violent behavior of this administration,' Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.), a former head of the Hispanic Caucus, said outside the Speaker's office. Hours later, after the Capitol had emptied and lawmakers had headed home, Israel launched its strikes on Tehran. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Chicago Tribune
10 minutes ago
- Chicago Tribune
Israel's defense minister warns Iran that ‘Tehran will burn' if it continues firing missiles
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Israel's defense minister warned Saturday that 'Tehran will burn' if Iran continues firing missiles, as the two countries traded blows a day after Israel launched a blistering surprise attack on Iranian nuclear and military sites, killing a number of top generals. Israel's military said the strikes had also killed nine senior scientists and experts involved in Iran's nuclear program. Iran's U.N. ambassador said 78 people were killed and more than 320 wounded in the attacks. Iran retaliated by launching waves of drones and ballistic missiles at Israel, where explosions lit the night skies over Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and shook buildings. The Israeli military urged civilians, already rattled by 20 months of war in Gaza sparked by Hamas' Oct. 7 attack, to head to shelter for hours. Health officials said three people were killed and dozens wounded. Speaking after an assessment meeting with the army's chief of staff, Defense Minister Israel Katz said that Iran will pay a heavy price for harming Israeli citizens. 'If (Iranian Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali) Khamenei continues to fire missiles at the Israeli home front — Tehran will burn,' Katz said. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday that his objective was to eliminate any Iranian threat to Israel, but he also urged Iranians to rise up against their leaders. Israel would welcome the government's overthrow even if it is not actively seeking it. Israel's strikes also put further talks between the United States and Iran over a nuclear accord into doubt before they were set to meet Sunday in Oman. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei called further nuclear talks with the United States 'meaningless' after Israeli strikes on his country, state television said. However, he stopped short of saying the talks were canceled. The Mizan news agency, which is run by Iran's judiciary, quoted him as saying: 'It is still not clear what we decide about Sunday's talks.' Khamenei said in a recorded message Friday: 'We will not allow them to escape safely from this great crime they committed.' Iran launched waves of missiles at Israel late Friday and early Saturday, and Iranians awoke to state television airing repeated clips of strikes on Israel, as well as videos of people cheering and handing out sweets. The Iranian attacks killed at least three people and wounded around 70, mostly in and around Tel Aviv, according to two local hospitals. One missile severely damaged at least four homes in the nearby city of Rishon Lezion, according to first responders. The Israeli military said seven soldiers were lightly wounded when a missile hit central Israel, without specifying where the impact occurred. It was the first report of Israeli military casualties since the initial Israeli strikes. U.S. ground-based air defense systems in the region were helping to shoot down Iranian missiles, said a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the measures. In Ramat Gan, east of Tel Aviv, an Associated Press journalist saw burned-out cars and at least three damaged houses, including one where the front was nearly entirely torn away. Residents of a central Israeli city that was hit Friday night told the AP the explosion was so powerful it shook their shelter door open. 'We thought, that's it, the house is gone, and in fact half of the house was gone, it fell apart,' said Moshe Shani. Israeli police said debris from the interception of drones and missiles fell in dozens of locations in northern Israel, causing damage and fires but no injuries. Israel's main international airport said Saturday it will remain closed until further notice. Iranian state television reported online that air defenses were firing in the cities of Khorramabad, Kermanshah and Tabriz, signaling the start of what could be a new Israeli attack. Footage from Tabriz showed black smoke rising from the city. An Israeli military official said Saturday that the military was poised to carry out more strikes in Iran, saying, 'This is not over.' He spoke on condition of anonymity in line with official procedures. Overnight, the sound of explosions and Iranian air defense systems firing at targets echoed across central Tehran. Iran's semiofficial Tasnim news agency reported a fire at Tehran's Mehrabad International Airport. The Israeli military said it carried out overnight strikes on dozens of targets, including air defenses, 'in the area of Tehran.' Israel's ongoing airstrikes and Iran's retaliation raised concerns about all-out war between the countries and propelled the region, already on edge, into even greater upheaval. Israel's 20-month-long war with Gaza shows no signs of ending. At least 27 people were killed by Israeli fire in Gaza overnight, according to local hospitals. Countries in the region condemned Israel's attack, while leaders around the globe called for immediate deescalation from both sides. Among the key sites Israel attacked was Iran's main nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz, where black smoke could be seen rising into the air. Israel said it also struck a nuclear research facility in Isfahan, and said it destroyed dozens of radar installations and surface-to-air missile launchers in western Iran. Iran confirmed the strike at Isfahan. The Israeli military official said that according to the army's initial assessment 'it will take much more than a few weeks' for Iran to repair the damage to the Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites. The official said the army had 'concrete intelligence that production in Isfahan was for military purposes.' Israel denied it had struck the nuclear enrichment facility in Fordo, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) southeast of Tehran, after an Iranian news outlet close to the government reported the sound of explosions near the site. U.N. nuclear chief Rafael Grossi told the Security Council that the above-ground section of the Natanz facility was destroyed. The main centrifuge facility underground did not appear to have been hit, but the loss of power could have damaged the infrastructure there, he said. Netanyahu said the attack had been months in the making and was planned for April before being postponed. Among those killed were three of Iran's top military leaders: one who oversaw the entire armed forces, Gen. Mohammad Bagheri; one who led the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, Gen. Hossein Salami; and the head of the Guard's ballistic missile program, Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh. Two of Bagheri's deputies were also killed, Iran confirmed Saturday: Gen. Gholamreza Mehrabi, the deputy of intelligence for the armed forces' general staff, and Gen. Mehdi Rabbani, the deputy of operations. On Saturday, Khamenei named a new leader for the Revolutionary Guard's aerospace division. Gen. Majid Mousavi will replace Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, who was killed in Friday's airstrike. The Guard's aerospace division oversees Iran's arsenal of ballistic missiles. Trump urged Iran on Friday to reach a deal with the U.S. on its nuclear program, warning on his Truth Social platform that Israel's attacks 'will only get worse.' 'Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left,' he wrote.
The Hill
11 minutes ago
- The Hill
Why are some key Tehran allies staying out of the Israel-Iran conflict?
BEIRUT (AP) — Hezbollah has long been considered Iran's first line of defense in case of a war with Israel. But since Israel launched its massive barrage against Iran this week, the Lebanese militant group has stayed out of the fray. A network of powerful Iran-backed militias in Iraq has also remained mostly quiet — even though Israel allegedly used Iraq's airspace, in part, to carry out the attacks. Domestic political concerns, as well as tough losses suffered in nearly two years of regional conflicts and upheavals, appear to have led these Iran allies to take a back seat in the latest round convulsing the region. Hezbollah was formed with Iranian support in the early 1980s as a guerilla force fighting against Israel's occupation of southern Lebanon at the time. The militant group helped push Israel out of Lebanon and built its arsenal over the ensuing decades, becoming a powerful regional force and the centerpiece of a cluster of Iranian-backed factions and governments known as the ' Axis of Resistance.' The allies also include Iraqi Shiite militias and Yemen's Houthi rebels, as well as the Palestinian militant group Hamas. At one point, Hezbollah was believed to have some 150,000 rockets and missiles, and the group's former leader, Hassan Nasrallah once boasted of having 100,000 fighters. Seeking to aid its ally Hamas in the aftermath of the Palestinian militants' Oct. 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel and Israel's offensive in Gaza, Hezbollah began launching rockets across the border. That drew Israeli airstrikes and shelling, and the exchanges escalated into full-scale war last September. Israel inflicted heavy damage on Hezbollah, killing Nasrallah and other top leaders and destroying much of its arsenal, before a U.S.-negotiated ceasefire halted that conflict last November. Israel continues to occupy parts of southern Lebanon and to carry out near-daily airstrikes. For their part, the Iraqi militias occasionally struck bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria, while Yemen's Houthis fired at vessels in the Red Sea, a crucial global trade route, and began targeting Israel. Hezbollah and its leader Naim Kassem have condemned Israel's attacks and offered condolences for the senior Iranian officers who were killed. But Kassem did not suggest Hezbollah would take part in any retaliation against Israel. Iraq's Kataib Hezbollah militia — a separate group from Lebanon's Hezbollah — released a statement saying it was 'deeply regrettable' that Israel allegedly fired at Iran from Iraqi airspace, something that Baghdad complained to the U.N. Security Council over. The Iraqi militia called on the Baghdad government to 'urgently expel hostile forces from the country,' a reference to U.S. troops in Iraq as part of the fight against the militant Islamic State group, but made no threat of force. Hezbollah was weakened by last year's fighting and after losing a major supply route for Iranian weapons with the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad, a key ally, in a lightning rebel offensive in December. 'Hezbollah has been degraded on the strategic level while cut off from supply chains in Syria,' said Andreas Krieg, a military analyst and associate professor at King's College London. Many Hezbollah members believe 'they were sacrificed for Iran's greater regional interests' since Hamas' attack on Israel triggered the latest Israel-Hamas war, and want to focus on 'Lebanon-centric' interests rather than defending Iran, Krieg said. Still, Qassem Qassir, a Lebanese analyst close to Hezbollah, said a role for the militant group in the Israel-Iran conflict should not be ruled out. 'This depends on political and field developments,' he said. 'Anything is possible.' Both the Houthis and the Iraqi militias 'lack the strategic deep strike capability against Israel that Hezbollah once had,' Krieg said. Renad Mansour, a senior research fellow at the Chatham House think tank in London, said Iraq's Iran-allied militias have all along tried to avoid pulling their country into a major conflict. Unlike Hezbollah, whose military wing has operated as a non-state actor in Lebanon – although its political wing is part of the government – the main Iraqi militias are members of a coalition of groups that are officially part of the state defense forces. 'Things in Iraq are good for them right now, they're connected to the state – they're benefitting politically, economically,' Mansour said. 'And also they've seen what's happened to Iran, to Hezbollah and they're concerned that Israel will turn on them as well.' That leaves the Houthis as the likely 'new hub in the Axis of Resistance,' Krieg said. But he said the group isn't strong enough — and too geographically removed — to strategically harm Israel beyond the rebels' sporadic missile attacks. Krieg said the perception that the 'axis' members were proxies fully controlled by Iran was always mistaken, but now the ties have loosened further. 'It is not really an axis anymore as (much as) a loose network where everyone largely is occupied with its own survival,' he said.
