
US offers $15M reward for team accused of smuggling drone tech to Iran
Liu Baoxia, Li Yongxin, Yung Yiu Wa and Zhong Yanlai are accused of facilitating the sale of U.S. goods to front companies based in China that would send the technology to Iran, according to a State Department release.
Iran would then transport products to the IRGC and its linked companies including Shiraz Electronics Industries and Rayan Roshd Afzar, which use U.S.-controlled technology to develop and manufacture unmanned aerial vehicles, arms and weapons systems, according to the State Department.
Manufactured products are then sold to governments and groups in allied countries such as Russia, Sudan and Yemen in violation of U.S. sanctions.
Officials are now urging individuals with information about the illegal sale of technology to report information through their anonymous Tor Browser to receive a monetary reward.
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Heal Palestine says on its website that it has evacuated 148 individuals, including 63 children, from Gaza to receive care in the U.S. Loomer questioned how the Palestinians received their visas and further were able to leave Gaza, calling the entire operation a "national security threat" and demanding that whoever "signed off on these visas" should be "fired." Newsweek has also reached out to Heal Palestine by email outside of normal business hours on Saturday. "Who approved the visas? How many more are being given visas to come into the US, and why are [Gavin Newsom] [Greg Abbott] harboring Palestinian 'refugees' in California and Texas?" Loomer asked. She posted several videos of people from Gaza arriving in an airport which she claimed is in the U.S. while comments under the videos said it was in Europe, possibly Belgium. She therefore applauded the State Department's decision to pause its visitor visa program, writing: "This is fantastic news. 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Inset: Displaced Palestinians attempt to fill water containers in the Mawasi area of Khan Yunis, on August 14. Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images // AFP via Getty Images What People Are Saying Right-wing activist Laura Loomer on Saturday wrote on X: "There are doctors in other countries. It's incredible isn't it how Qatar and Saudi Arabia rolled out the camels, Red and purple carpets and the most luxurious gifts and decorations for President Trump and his staff in the Middle East." "If the Arabs have money to get flashy with Trump, they have money to buy some prosthetics for GAZANS or import them to their own hospitals and luxurious towns. They constantly brag about how rich they are. They want to shame the West into accepting more Muslim invaders. They think their bribes and flashy bling will make the West turn a blind eye. The Arabs need to pay up or just put their money where their mouth is and take these GAZANS they want to force on the West." Representative Randy Fine of Florida wrote on X: "BREAKING: [Donald Trump] and [Marco Rubio] have immediately halted visas to Gazans that were being issued by deep state actors while we get to the bottom of how this national security risk was allowed. Massive credit needs to be given to [Laura Loomer] for uncovering this and making me and other officials aware. Well done, Laura." What Happens Next? The Department's post indicated a review was underway but did not provide a timeline, leaving the duration and operational consequences of the pause uncertain.