Latest news with #terrorism
Fox News
5 hours ago
- General
- Fox News
Federal judge issues $20M verdict against Syria for torture of US citizen taken captive in 2019
A Washington, D.C.-based law firm secured a judgment of more than $20 million against the Syrian Arab Republic on behalf of Sam Goodwin, a St. Louis native held captive in the country's notorious prison system for 63 days while on a trip to visit every country in the world. U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly awarded Goodwin $20,201,620 in damages, about $10 million each in compensatory and punitive damages, in response to a lawsuit filed under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act's "state sponsor of terrorism" exception. Roughly half of the judgment is payable through the U.S. Victims of State-Sponsored Terrorism Fund, which is financed by sanctions proceeds and other penalties. Depending on the amount of money in the fund, Goodwin could get a certain percentage of compensatory damages over several years. "Nations that violate international human rights standards must face consequences, and courageous survivors like Sam help ensure the world does not ignore the atrocities perpetrated by the Assad regime," said Kirby Behre, a member of Miller & Chevalier's litigation department and lead counsel for Goodwin. "While nothing can completely compensate for Sam's suffering, this represents yet another powerful step forward in the broader effort to confront those responsible for such grave injustices." Goodwin entered war-torn Syria from Iraq in 2019 as part of a years-long quest to visit every country in the world. He stayed in Qamishli, a city on the Turkey-Syria border, which he believed was under the control of the U.S.-backed Kurds. The former Division I collegiate hockey player was detained by men in military uniforms at a roundabout not far from his hotel while on FaceTime with his mother, Ann. "I was taken into the basement of a facility that I now know is called Syria's Military Intelligence [Branch] number 215, a facility notoriously known for housing political prisoners, and I was held here in solitary confinement for 27 days," Goodwin told Fox News Digital last year ahead of the release of his book, "Saving Sam: The True Story of an American's Disappearance in Syria and His Family's Extraordinary Fight to Bring Him Home." "The only human interaction I had was for a few seconds in the morning and evening when the guards who brought bread and boiled potatoes and water." His lawyers said he was tortured at Branch 215 by the now-ousted regime of former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and subjected to prolonged interrogation. At one point, Goodwin's interrogator threatened to hand him over to ISIS after he refused to admit to accusations of being a spy. His release was secured by General Abbas Ibrahim, then Lebanon's top security official, who was put in contact with the family by Joseph Abbas, the uncle of Goodwin's sister's friend and former college roommate. His family worked tirelessly to bring him home, collaborating with the FBI, CIA, State Department, the special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, Vatican envoys, Middle East experts and others. "This judgment is about far more than what happened to me. It's a stand for anyone who has suffered human rights abuses around the world. I hope it gives other victims the courage to speak up and, above all, serves as a warning that such crimes will not be tolerated or forgotten," Goodwin told Fox News Digital in a statement. Miller & Chevalier has secured other judgments against the Syrian Arab Republic, including one for approximately $50 million in 2023 for Kevin Dawes, another American citizen who was illegally arrested, imprisoned and tortured in Syria. In July, it filed a lawsuit on behalf of the family of Dr. Majd Kamalmaz, a psychotherapist and humanitarian who was detained at a government checkpoint in Damascus, Syria, in 2017, accusing the Syrian Arab Republic of abducting, torturing and killing him.
CBS News
7 hours ago
- General
- CBS News
Hamas chief Mohammed Sinwar has been killed, Israel's Netanyahu says
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that the de facto leader of Hamas, Mohammed Sinwar, has been killed. Netanyahu mentioned the killing in a speech to Israel's parliament as the U.S. seeks another temporary ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. During his speech, Netanyahu listed the names of top Hamas leaders killed during the war and included Sinwar. "We have killed ten of thousands of terrorists. We killed (Mohammed) Deif, (Ismail) Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Sinwar," he said. Netanyahu did not elaborate, and Israel's military did not immediately issue any new statement on Sinwar's apparent death. Sinwar was the latest leader of Hamas — which the U.S. and Israel have designated as a terrorist group — to be killed by Israeli forces. His older brother Yahya Sinwar, a top target for the Israeli military who previously led the group, was killed in October. Deif, who led Hamas' military wing, was killed by Israeli forces in July. Haniyeh, a former Hamas political leader, was assassinated in Iran last year, an incident Iran blamed on Israeli forces but Israel did not take responsibility for. Since Yahya Sinwar's death, Mohammed Sinwar had been widely described in Israeli and Arab media as one of Hamas' top leaders in the Gaza Strip. A screengrab shows who the Israeli army says is Hamas Gaza chief Mohammed Sinwar, taken from a handout video, released Dec. 17, 2023. Israeli army/Handout via Reuters Top Hamas leaders based in Qatar didn't pick Mohammed Sinwar as the group's sole leader after his brother's death, but militants in the Gaza Strip have largely followed him, the Wall Street Journal reported earlier this year, citing Arab negotiators. The younger Sinwar — a longtime Hamas member — has helped lead the group as it recruits new fighters, replacing some of the thousands of Hamas terrorists Israel says it has killed, according to the newspaper. "Mohammed Sinwar is managing everything," retired Israeli Brig. Gen. Amir Avivi told the Journal. Mohammed Sinwar's reported death comes after nearly 20 months of war between Israel and Hamas, which began after Hamas-led militants launched an attack on southern Israel in October 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 as hostages back into Gaza. At the White House, President Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff told reporters Wednesday he had "very good feelings" about getting to a temporary ceasefire and a long-term resolution to the conflict. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff speaks during a swearing-in ceremony at the White House in Washington, D.C., May 28, 2025. Reuters/Leah Millis A two-month ceasefire between the two sides ended in March after Israel resumed intense strikes on the Gaza Strip and enforced a blockade on all aid supplies entering the Palestinian territory, leading to widespread reports of shortages and hunger. Israel blames all the suffering in Gaza on Hamas, calling the blockade a tactic to pressure the terrorist group into releasing the 58 remaining hostages, although it is unclear how many are alive. In recent weeks, Israeli officials have vowed to push ahead with the war to capture and control the entire Gaza Strip and to dismantle Hamas, though Israel has allowed limited aid to enter Gaza this week. Over 54,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the Israeli offensive began more than a year and a half ago, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry, which does not distinguish between civilian and combatant casualties. Earlier this month, Hamas released Eden Alexander, believed to have been the last living American citizen held hostage in Gaza. The families of the remaining hostages have led large protests demanding that Netanyahu make a deal to bring their loved ones home and end the war. In a statement shared by his office following the release of Alexander, Netanyahu insisted that while there could be a temporary ceasefire to allow for more hostages to be freed, there is "no way we will stop the war … we're going to the end." Joe Walsh Joe Walsh is a senior editor for digital politics at CBS News. Joe previously covered breaking news for Forbes and local news in Boston. contributed to this report.
Arab News
12 hours ago
- Business
- Arab News
Extremist violence and coups test West Africa ECOWAS bloc at 50
LAGOS: The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) faces growing threats of terrorism, climate change, military coups, and poverty, its most senior official said on Wednesday as leaders marked 50 years since the bloc's formation in Nigeria. Extremist violence has surged this year in Nigeria and the Sahel region, including Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger — nations that have recently seceded from ECOWAS in protest over sanctions following military coups. 'We are confronting the greatest challenges we face today, terrorism, climate change and unconstitutional change of government, poverty and economic disparities,' ECOWAS Commission President Omar Alieu Touray said, expressing confidence in overcoming the challenges. Established on May 28, 1975, ECOWAS aimed to promote regional economic integration, security cooperation, human rights, and democratic governance. However, five decades later, military juntas in founding member states Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have disassociated from the bloc, saying it no longer serves their interests. The countries have formed their own Alliance of Sahel States and a confederation, cut military and diplomatic ties with Western powers and sought closer cooperation with Russia. Touray said ECOWAS would continue trying to cooperate with the three countries. Security and political analysts said curbing insecurity was crucial for ECOWAS to fulfill its promise of prosperity and lift millions from poverty. Beverly Ochieng, senior analyst at Control Risk in Dakar, Senegal, said: 'If you don't have security, then of course it means that you cannot guarantee a robust economy in the region.' Analysts also criticized ECOWAS for its silence when leaders controversially amend constitutions to extend their rule, leading to citizens applauding military coups. They cited the recent example of Togo's leader Faure Gnassingbe, who was granted the influential new role of President of the Council of Ministers with no fixed term limit — a move opposition parties labelled a constitutional coup potentially extending his rule indefinitely.
Fox News
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Netanyahu says Israel has killed Hamas' Gaza chief Mohammed Sinwar
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Israel had killed senior Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar. Netanyahu made the announcement in a speech to the Knesset, the national legislature of Israel. The Israeli leader had previously only said that the terrorist leader had "apparently" been killed. Mohammed Sinwar was one of Israel's most wanted targets and the younger brother of the deceased group's leader, Yahya Sinwar. This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
LBCI
13 hours ago
- Politics
- LBCI
Israel claims it killed a Hezbollah commander in southern Lebanon strike
Israel's army spokesperson Avichay Adraee claimed Wednesday that the military killed the commander of Hezbollah's Yater compound in an airstrike in southern Lebanon on Tuesday. According to Adraee, the commander had "orchestrated attacks" against Israeli forces and had recently attempted to rebuild the compound, which the army described as a violation of existing agreements. #عاجل 🔸هاجم جيش الدفاع أمس في جنوب لبنان وقضى على قائد مجمع ياطر في حزب الله الارهابي. — افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) May 28, 2025
