Reuters: Three US Troops Killed In Jordan Drone Strike Linked To Iran

“Three U.S. service members were killed and at least 34 wounded in a drone attack by Iran-backed militants on U.S. troops in northeastern Jordan near the Syrian border, President Joe Biden and U.S. officials said on Sunday. It is the first deadly strike against U.S. forces since the Israel-Hamas war erupted in October, and marks a major escalation in tensions that have engulfed the Middle East. "While we are still gathering the facts of this attack, we know it was carried out by radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq," Biden said in a statement.”

Wall Street Journal: At Least 12 U.N. Agency Employees Involved In Oct. 7 Attacks, Intelligence Reports Say

“At least 12 employees of the U.N.’s Palestinian refugee agency had connections to Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel and around 10% of all of its Gaza staff have ties to Islamist militant groups, according to intelligence reports reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. Six United Nations Relief and Works Agency workers were part of the wave of Palestinian militants who killed 1,200 people in the deadliest assault on Jews since the Holocaust, according to the intelligence dossier. Two helped kidnap Israelis. Two others were tracked to sites where scores of Israeli civilians were shot and killed. Others coordinated logistics for the assault, including procuring weapons.”

CEP Mentions

CNN: Crackdown On An Already Banned Hamas Raises Free Speech Fears In Germany

“... Hans-Jakob Schindler, senior director at the Counter Extremism Project (CEP), said ammonium nitrate – which is also used as a fertilizer - is the “explosive of choice” for making quick and cheap improvised explosive devices. Overall, Schindler believes there are around 10,000 people in Germany who “broadly agree with what Hamas does and are willing to take part in demonstrations, raise funds and share propaganda.” Asked if Hamas’ presence would expand in the wake of the October 7 attacks, Schindler said: “Yes, it has grown already.”

United States

Politico: ‘We Shall Respond': Biden Warns Militants After 3 US Troops Killed In Jordan

“Top U.S. leaders issued a warning on Sunday to Iran-backed militants, a day after a drone attack killed three U.S. troops in Jordan, dramatically escalating the situation in the Middle East. “We had a tough day last night in the Middle East. We lost three brave souls in an attack on one of our bases,” President Joe Biden said in South Carolina. He then asked for a moment of silence and added: “And we shall respond.” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he was “outraged and deeply saddened” by the deaths and vowed that the strike would not go unanswered. “Iran-backed militias are responsible for these continued attacks on U.S. forces, and we will respond at a time and place of our choosing,” he said in a statement. “The president and I will not tolerate attacks on American forces, and we will take all necessary actions to defend the United States, our troops, and our interests.”

CBS: Florida House Panel Backs Student Penalties For Hamas Support

“A House panel Thursday approved a bill that could financially penalize state university and college students if they take actions that back "foreign terrorist" organizations such as the Palestinian group Hamas. The House Postsecondary Education & Workforce Subcommittee voted 11-4 to support the bill after lengthy debate and testimony from Florida State University students. The bill, sponsored by Republican Rep. John Temple, seeks to penalize any student who "promotes a foreign terrorist organization." For example, it calls for such students to be required to pay out-of-state tuition rates, which are higher than in-state rates. Also, it would prevent the students from being eligible for such things as state grants, financial aid or tuition assistance. The bill provides a definition for foreign terrorist organizations that, in part, would apply to "Hamas and Palestine Islamic Jihad." It does not define the word "promotes.”

Iraq

Associated Press: Iraq And US Begin Formal Talks To End Coalition Mission Formed To Fight The Islamic State Group

“The United States and Iraq held a first session of formal talks Saturday in Baghdad aimed at winding down the mission of a U.S.-led military coalition formed to fight the Islamic State group in Iraq. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said in a statement that he had sponsored “the commencement of the first round of bilateral dialogue between Iraq and the United States of America to end the mission of the Coalition in Iraq.” A statement released by the coalition said that working groups made up of Iraqi and coalition military officials will assess “the threat of Daesh (IS), operational and environmental requirements and Iraqi Security Force capabilities” and a higher military commission will “work to set the conditions to transition the mission in Iraq.” The beginning of talks, announced by both countries on Thursday, comes as U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria have been regularly targeted by drone attacks launched by Iran-backed militias against the backdrop of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The U.S. says plans to set up a committee to negotiate the terms of the mission’s end were first discussed last year, and the timing isn’t related to the attacks.”

Bloomberg: Iraq, US Open Talks To Review Anti-ISIS Coalition’s Future

“Iraq and officials of the US-led military coalition to defeat ISIS began talks in Baghdad on Saturday to review the mission’s future, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani’s office said in a statement. While Al-Sudani has said he wants to agree a date with the US and its allies for their forces to leave Iraq, the Defense Department in Washington says the meetings are not a negotiation about a US withdrawal. Three issues are on the agenda for military and defense officials in the US-Iraq Higher Military Commission: the threat posed by ISIS, operational and environmental requirements and strengthening Iraqi security forces. After the review “a specific timetable will be formulated to end the military mission of the coalition, and to move to bilateral security relations between Iraq, the US and partner countries in the coalition,” according the Iraqi statement.”

Yemen

CNBC: Oil Tanker Hit By Missile After Transiting Red Sea — Houthis Claim Responsibility

“An oil tanker operated on behalf of Trafigura was struck by a missile on Friday after transiting the Red Sea, a company spokesperson told CNBC in statement. The Marlin Luanda, a petroleum products tanker vessel, was struck by the missile in the Gulf of Aden. Firefighting equipment on board is being used to suppress a fire in one of the cargo tanks, the spokesperson said. “We remain in contact with the vessel and are monitoring the situation carefully,” Trafigura said. “Military ships in the region are underway to provide assistance.” Houthi militants claimed responsibility for the attack, describing the vessel as a “British oil ship.” Trafigura said the vessel is flagged under the Marshall Islands. The militants used a “number of appropriate naval missiles, the strike was direct and resulted in the burning of the vessel,” the Houthis’ military spokesperson Yahya Saree said in a statement. Houthi militants in Yemen have attacked commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea since November in support of Palestinians. The U.S. and UK began a series of airstrikes against the militia on Jan. 11 aimed at deterring the Iranian-backed group.”

Associated Press: Yemen Houthi Rebels Fire A Missile At A US Warship, Escalating Worst Mideast Sea Conflict In Decades

“Yemen’s Houthi rebels launched a missile Friday at a United States warship patrolling the Gulf of Aden, forcing it to shoot down the projectile, and struck a British vessel as their aggressive attacks on maritime traffic continue. The attack on the U.S. warship, the destroyer USS Carney, marked a further escalation in the biggest confrontation at sea the U.S. Navy has seen in the Middle East in decades, as Houthi missile fire set another commercial vessel ablaze Friday night. Early Saturday local time, U.S. forces conducted a strike against a Houthi anti-ship missile that was aimed into the Red Sea and prepared to launch, the U.S. military’s Central Command said. The Houthis’ Al-Masirah satellite news channel said the strikes happened near the port city of Hodeida, but offered no assessment of their damage. The Carney attack represents the first time the Houthis directly targeted a U.S. warship since the rebels began their assaults on shipping in October, a U.S. official said on condition of anonymity because no authorization had been given to discuss the incident.”

Wall Street Journal: Houthi Attacks Disrupt Shipping, Draw U.S. Into Direct Conflict

“Yemen’s Houthi rebels are carrying out audacious attacks to disrupt global commerce and draw the U.S. military into direct conflict, using Israel’s war in Gaza to transform themselves from a marginal player among Iran-aligned forces into one of the Middle East’s most formidable militant groups. On Saturday, a day after one of the most significant attacks yet by the Houthis on an oil tanker, the vessel’s operator said it was continuing to assess carefully the risks involved in any voyage. The Marlin Luanda, sailing on behalf of trading giant Trafigura Group, was struck Friday by a missile in the Gulf of Aden, causing a fire to break out in one cargo tank. It was eventually put out.  While there were no casualties or injuries among the Marlin Luanda’s crew, the attack highlighted the risks involved for international shipping through a critical trade route.”

Middle East

ABC: Israel Is 'Closer To War' With Hezbollah Than Ever, Senior Israeli Official Says

“Israel is "closer to war" with Hezbollah and a possible regional war than ever, a senior Israeli official said. Israeli and Hezbollah forces have traded fire across the Lebanese-Israeli border for over three months. The violence has killed about 15 Israelis, including both civilians and Israel Defense Forces members, according to The Times of Israel. The Hezbollah terrorist organization claims 171 of its members have been killed since Oct. 8, The Times of Israel reported. On Thursday, the Israel Defense Forces reported they struck Hezbollah infrastructure in at least five locations in southern Lebanon. No deaths were immediately reported. There have since been other strikes back and forth, including one Friday when the IDF said it carried out strikes that purportedly killed four members of Hezbollah, per The Times of Israel. Israel's north is bristling with tens of thousands of regular troops and about 60,000 reservists, an IDF official told ABC News on Wednesday.”

New York Times: Details Emerge On U.N. Workers Accused Of Aiding Hamas Raid

“One is accused of kidnapping a woman. Another is said to have handed out ammunition. A third was described as taking part in the massacre at a kibbutz where 97 people died. And all were said to be employees of the United Nations aid agency that schools, shelters and feeds hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The accusations are contained in a dossier provided to the United States government that details Israel’s claims against a dozen employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency who, it says, played a role in the Hamas attacks against Israel on Oct. 7 or in their aftermath. The U.N. said on Friday that it had fired several employees after being briefed on the allegations. But little was known about the accusations until the dossier was reviewed on Sunday by The New York Times. The accusations are what prompted eight countries, including the United States, to suspend some aid payment to the UNRWA, as the agency is known, even as war plunges Palestinians in Gaza into desperate straits. More than 26,000 people have been killed there and nearly two million displaced, according to Gazan and U.N. officials.”

New York Times: Negotiators Close In On Hostage Deal That Would Halt Fighting In Gaza For Weeks

“American-led negotiators are edging closer to an agreement in which Israel would suspend its war in Gaza for about two months in exchange for the release of more than 100 hostages still held by Hamas, a deal that could be sealed in the next two weeks and would transform the conflict consuming the region. Negotiators have developed a written draft agreement merging proposals offered by Israel and Hamas in the last 10 days into a basic framework that will be the subject of talks in Paris on Sunday. While there are still important disagreements to be worked out, negotiators are cautiously optimistic that a final accord is within reach, according to U.S. officials who insisted on anonymity to discuss sensitive talks. President Biden spoke by phone separately Friday with the leaders of Egypt and Qatar, who have served as intermediaries with Hamas, to narrow remaining differences. He is also sending his C.I.A. director, William J. Burns, to Paris for Sunday’s talks with Israeli, Egyptian and Qatari officials. If Mr. Burns makes enough progress, Mr. Biden may then send his Middle East coordinator, Brett McGurk, who just returned to Washington, back to the region to help finalize the agreement.”

Africa

Politico: Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso Quit ECOWAS Bloc As West African Tensions Deepen

“West African countries Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger said on Sunday that they are withdrawing from the ECOWAS regional economic bloc, accusing the group of “inhumane” sanctions to reverse the coups in their nations. All three countries, which were founding members of ECOWAS, the Economic Community of West African States, are currently led by militaries that seized power from civilian leaders. France withdrew its troops from Niger in late 2023 after the coup in that country last summer. In a joint statement issued late Sunday, the three countries said they have “decided in complete sovereignty on the immediate withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States.” They charged that ECOWAS has “moved away from the ideals of its founding fathers and pan-Africanism.” “Furthermore, ECOWAS, under the influence of foreign powers, betraying its founding principles, has become a threat to its member states and its populations whose happiness it is supposed to ensure,” they said.”

United Kingdom

The Guardian: UK Committed To ‘Protecting Innocent Lives’, Says Shapps After Houthi Attack

“Grant Shapps said the UK remained “undaunted” after Iran-backed Houthis targeted HMS Diamond in the Red Sea during their latest round of strikes. The defence secretary’s comments came after the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said that the Royal Navy warship HMS Diamond “deployed its Sea Viper missile system” to destroy the drone deployed by the Yemen-based Houthi group on Saturday. It said there were no injuries to the crew and no damage to the ship. In a post on X, Shapps wrote on Sunday: “The UK remains undaunted after yesterday’s illegal attack on HMS Diamond by the Iranian backed Houthis. Our commitment to protect innocent lives and the freedom of navigation is absolutely unwavering.” The MoD has called the action by the Houthis “intolerable and illegal”, and said Britain and its allies “reserve the right to respond appropriately.”

Germany

Bloomberg: Germans Plan More Than 200 Rallies Against Far-Right Extremism

“German Chancellor Olaf Scholz praised pro-democracy demonstrators as tens of thousands gathered across the country for a fresh wave of rallies against right-wing extremism. On Saturday, 30,000 people are expected at a demonstration in Dusseldorf and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is set to speak in Osnabrueck. Overall, more than 200 events are planned this weekend, according to public broadcaster ARD. “Our country is on its feet right now,” Scholz said in a video message on Saturday to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day. “Millions of citizens are taking to the streets. For democracy, for respect and humanity.” The outcry — which included nearly 1 million people protesting last weekend — was triggered by revelations that senior officials from the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany, or AfD, took part in meetings with right-wing extremists to discuss proposals for mass deportations of asylum seekers, illegal migrants and even German nationals deemed insufficiently “assimilated.”

BBC: Germany: Scholz Warns Against Rise Of Neo-Nazi Networks

“He warned of "neo-Nazis and their dark networks", and called on people to fight racism and anti-Semitism. Thousands marched in Dusseldorf on Saturday in the latest in a series of protests against the far right. They follow reports that senior figures of the AfD joined discussions on deporting citizens of foreign origins. Germany is grappling with a debate over whether to ban far-right political parties. In a pre-recorded speech marking 79 years since the Auschwitz extermination camp was liberated by Soviet troops, he said: "New reports are emerging all the time: about neo-Nazis and their dark networks. At the same time, right-wing populists are gaining ground, fuelling fear and sowing hatred." "But this development is not something we simply have to accept," said Mr Scholz, as he called on Germans to stand up against the far right and protect Germany's democracy.”

Russia

Associated Press: 2 Masked Men Kill A Person In Attack On Catholic Church In Istanbul. Officials Detain 2 ISIS Members

“Two masked assailants attacked a Roman Catholic church in Istanbul during a Sunday Mass, killing one person, Turkish officials said. The armed assailants attacked the Santa Maria Church in the Sariyer district at 11:40 a.m., Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said in a statement on the X platform. He didn’t specify what kind of weapons were used or whether anyone was wounded. Turkish authorities didn’t formally identify the victim, but local media said the person killed had the initials C.T. and was 52 years old. Hours later, Yerlikaya announced that two men he described as members of the Islamic State extremist movement had been arrested as the suspected attackers. One of the supects is from Tajikistan and the other from Russia, he said at a news conference just after midnight. Yerlikaya said police had raided 30 locations and detained a total of 47 people as part of the investigation into the attack.”

Southeast Asia

Associated Press: Philippine Troops Kill 9 Suspected Muslim Militants, Including 2 Involved In Sunday Mass Bombing

“Philippine troops killed nine suspected Muslim militants in the volatile south, including two key suspects in a bomb attack last month that left four Christian worshippers dead, the army said Saturday. Four army scout rangers were slightly wounded in Thursday’s operation against the Dawlah Islamiyah, a small outfit aligned with the Islamic State group, in the hinterland village of Taporug near Piagapo town in Lanao del Sur province, army spokesman Col. Louie Dema-ala said. Army forces clashed with about 15 militants in a series of shootouts from Thursday to Friday after some villagers tipped off the military of their presence, Dema-ala, adding that the surviving militants escaped and were being pursued. Maj. Gen. Gabriel Viray III, an army infantry division commander, said the militants retreated from fierce exchanges of fire until they were trapped in a rural house, where they tried to fight back before being taken down.”

BBC: Bali Bomb Families Face Accused At Guantanamo Bay

“Dan Miller, 31, had been married for just five weeks when he arrived with his wife Polly on the Indonesian island of Bali - the same place they had met two years earlier. Polly says she first noticed Dan's "lively, dancey" eyes in 2000. The following year he proposed on the island and in 2002 they were back. It was "our place" she says. But 12 October 2002 was an anniversary al-Qaeda planned to mark - it was one year, one month and one day after the 9/11 attacks on the United States. Dan, a lawyer living in Hong Kong, played for an expat rugby team nicknamed the Vandals who were on tour, as they had been in previous years, in Bali. That night they went to a local hang-out called the Sari Club. Polly's last memory of her husband is of him at the bar asking if she wanted a cocktail as she headed to the dance floor. Suddenly, the Cher song the DJ was playing was interrupted by a loud bang at a nearby venue - Paddy's Bar. Then there was another, much louder bang inside the Sari Club.”