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A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the past 24 hours. Here’s today’s news
ISRAEL-IRAN CONFLICT
Iran’s president Ebrahim Raisi said yesterday “there will be nothing left” of Israel if Iran is attacked again. “There will be nothing left of that entity,” Iranian state news agency IRNA reported Raisi as saying. Raisi’s comments were made on the second of his three-day official visit to Pakistan, where he warned that if Israel “commits another mistake and violates the sovereignty of the holy Iranian lands, the situation will be different.” Ruba Alhenawi reports for CNN.
Iran has reduced its military footprint in Syria after a series of suspected Israeli strikes, according to a source close to the Iran-backed Lebanese group, Hezbollah. Iran has provided military support to Syrian government forces through over a decade of civil war, but a series of strikes targeting its commanders in recent months has prompted a reshaping of its presence, the sources told Agence France-Presse. “Iran withdrew its forces from southern Syria,” including Quneitra and Daraa provinces, which abut the Israeli-held Golan Heights, the source said, adding that Tehran still maintains a presence in other parts of the country. The Times of Israel reports.
Iran and Pakistan issued a joint statement calling on the U.N. Security Council to take action over Israel’s strike on an Iranian consulate building in Damascus. “Recognizing that the irresponsible act of the Israeli regime forces was a major escalation in an already volatile region, both sides called on the UN Security Council to prevent the Israeli regime from its adventurism in the region and its illegal acts attacking its neighbors,” Iran and Pakistan said in their joint statement. The statement followed Raisi’s three-day official visit to Pakistan.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR
A Hamas military spokesperson yesterday vowed to continue attacks on Israel. Abu Obaida, the spokesperson of Hamas’s military wing Al Qassam Brigades, said in his first video message in more than six weeks, “We will keep attacking the enemy with different techniques as long as the aggression continues on our land.” Obaida also praised Iran’s strikes on Israel earlier this month and blamed Israel for stalled ceasefire and hostage release talks, saying Israel is “trying to renounce all his promises” and wants to “gain more time.” Ruba Alhenawi reports for CNN.
Israel intensified strikes across Gaza yesterday and ordered new evacuations in the north. Airstrikes and shelling from tanks on the ground were reported across the strip, in what residents said were almost 24 hours of non-stop bombardments. Meanwhile, the Israeli army ordered fresh evacuations in the north of the enclave, warning civilians they were in a “dangerous combat zone.” In a post on X, an Israeli military spokesperson urged residents of four zones in Beit Lahiya to move to two designated areas, saying the military “will work with extreme force against terrorist infrastructure and subversive elements” in the region. Nidal Al-Mughrabi reports for Reuters.
An Israeli official has hinted at Israel’s plans for civilians if it invades Rafah. The official said that if an invasion were to begin in Rafah, where a million displaced Palesinians are sheltering, an Israeli-designated “humanitarian zone” along the coast would be expanded to take in more civilians. Israel would tell Palestinians to go to the enlarged “humanitarian zone,” which would include a narrow strip of coastal land known as Al-Mawasi, and other unidentified areas in Gaza, the official said. The comments are among the first indications of the Israeli military’s plans for civilians in case of a ground offensive in Rafah. Adam Rasgon reports for the New York Times.
The U.N. human rights office yesterday called for an independent investigation into the two mass graves found at hospitals in Gaza. The development follows the recovery of hundreds of bodies “buried deep in the ground and covered in waste” over the weekend at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis and at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza city. “Disturbing reports continue to emerge about mass graves in Gaza in which Palestinian victims were reportedly found stripped naked with their hands tied, prompting renewed concerns about possible war crimes amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes,” the U.N. office said. Palestinian officials say they exhumed 283 bodies at Nasser. Israel’s military has said the claims are baseless, but also said that during a two-seek operation at the hospital, troops “examined” bodies buried by Palestinians “in places where intelligence indicated the possible presence of hostages.” BBC reports.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR — U.S. RESPONSE
The Biden administration yesterday said Israel has taken “significant steps” to improve the flow of aid to Gaza over the last three weeks, but stressed further work needs to be done. David Satterfield, President Biden’s special envoy for humanitarian issues in the Middle East, said in a press briefing that while there is significant improvement, the risk of famine in northern Gaza remains, adding that Israel must do all it can to prevent it. Satterfield’s comments are the first significant public signal that the Biden administration views Israel as changing its course on humanitarian aid into Gaza. Barak Ravid reports for Axios.
Construction on the temporary pier for Gaza will begin “very soon in the near future,” the Pentagon said yesterday. Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said U.S. military vessels are in the Mediterranean region “standing by” and prepared to start construction on the temporary pier offshore of Gaza when given the order to do so. Officials are working through a checklist of procedure and processes, including assessing security on the ground, facilitating coordination with supporting partners, and drawing up a timeline for implementation, he said. Ryder has said the temporary pier is expected to be operational by the end of April or early May, and said yesterday the U.S. military is on course to meet that timeline. Haley Britzky reports for CNN.
The FBI is sharing intelligence to prevent violence on college campuses following widespread protests over the war in Gaza. FBI director Christopher Wray said the agency is coordinating with college campuses to make them aware of anti-semitic threats and possible violence, adding that while the FBI does not monitor protests, “We do share intelligence about specific threats of violence with campuses, with state and local law enforcement.” Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign ministry today criticized U.S. authorities for its crackdown on the student protests. Ken Dilanian reports for NBC News.
Former House Speaker Nancy Peolosi called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resign. “We recognize Israel’s right to protect itself. We reject the policy and the practice of Netanyahu – terrible. What could be worse than what he has done in response?” Pelosi (D-CA) said in an interview published Monday, adding, “He should resign. He’s ultimately responsible.” When asked whether Netanyahu is an obstacle to peace, Pelosi said, “I don’t know whether he’s afraid of peace, incapable of peace, or just doesn’t want peace. But he has been an obstacle to the two-state solution.” Zoë Richards reports for NBC News.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR — INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
Germany will resume cooperation with the U.N. relief agency for Palestinians refugees (UNRWA). The move comes after the organization accepted the recommendations of an independent review of its neutrality headed by former French foreign minister Catherine Colonna. The German foreign office said it was pleased that UNRWA said it would take action “swiftly and in full” on the recommendations of the review. “In support of these reforms, the German government will soon continue its cooperation with UNRWA in Gaza, as Australia, Canada, Sweden and Japan, among others, have already done,” the foreign office said. CNN reports.
Nepal’s president asked the emir of Qatar, who is on a two-day visit to the south Asian country, to assist in the release of a Nepali student held hostage by Hamas, officials said today. Binaj Gurubacharya reports for AP News.
IRAN-BACKED MILITANTS
Hezbollah yesterday claimed that it had made its deepest attack into Israel since October. The group said it struck a barracks north of the city of Acre with drones, causing sirens to be set off across the country’s northern coastline. The Israeli military, however, said that no bases had been hit and no casualties reported, adding that three drones had been intercepted. Euan Ward reports for the New York Times.
RUSSIA-UKRAINE DEVELOPMENTS
Russia will intensify attacks on Western weapons stored in Ukraine, Russia’s defense minister warned yesterday. “We will increase the intensity of attacks on logistics centers and storage bases for Western weapons,” Sergei Shoigu said, according to Russian state-owned media outlet RIA Novosti. The Kremlin’s reaction comes days after the United States approved a new package of military aid to help Ukraine fend off Russia’s full-scale invasion. Pierre Emmanuel Ngendakumana reports for POLITICO.
GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS
A Moscow court rejected an appeal brought by Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich against his detention. The ruling means Gershkovich will remain in prison until at least June 30, having awaited trial for over a year on charges of espionage. Gershkovich and the U.S. government vehemently deny the allegations, and the State Department has declared him wrongfully detained, a designation that requires the government to work for his release. Ann M. Simmons reports for the Wall Street Journal.
New evidence uncovered by CNN challenges the Pentagon’s account of the self-styled Islamic State-K militant group’s suicide attack outside Kabul airport during the U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021. For two years, the U.S. military has insisted the loss of life to 13 service members was caused by a single explosion. However, video evidence captured by a Marine’s GoPro camera suggests there was far more gunfire than the Pentagon admitted. A U.S. military personnel who was at the scene of the attack said, “It was a mass volume of gunfire.” Combined, the fresh evidence challenges the two U.S. military investigations, raising questions for the Pentagon which has continued to dismiss claims that civilians were shot dead. Nick Paton Walsh and Mick Krever report for CNN.
A Russian court today ordered one of Sergei Shoigu’s deputies be kept in custody on suspicion of taking bribes. Deputy defense minister Timur Ivanov was detained yesterday and will be kept in custody until June 23. The court alleges he “entered into a criminal conspiracy with third parties, teamed up with them in advance to commit an organized crime by an organized group.” Ivanov, who has said he is innocent, faces a 15-year jail term if convicted. Guy Faulconbridge and Lidia Kelly report for Reuters.
Australian police arrested seven teenagers as part of sweeping counter-terrorism raids across Sydney, claiming it was “likely” the youths may have been plotting an attack. The suspects are believed to share a “religiously motivated violent extremist ideology,” police say. The raids are linked to last week’s stabbing of an Assyrian bishop, which police declared a “terrorist attack.” Hannah Ritchie and Simon Atkinson report for BBC News.
DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS
The Senate yesterday passed 79-18 a long-delayed $95.3 billion foreign aid package. It provides around $60 billion for Ukraine, $26 billion, and $8 billion to support Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific. President Biden said he would quickly sign the measure into law today. Katy Stech Ferek and Lindsay Wise report for the Wall Street Journal.
TRUMP-LEGAL MATTERS
Former President Trump’s hush money trial is continuing today. Yesterday morning started off with a gag-order hearing, with prosecutors alleging that Trump has violated his gag order 10 times. Justice Juan Merchan and Trump’s lawyer, Todd Blanche, had several tense exchanges, with the judge telling Blanche he is “losing all credibility.” The judge has yet to decide if Trump has violated the gag order. Meanwhile, first witness David Pecker continued his testimony yesterday, explaining a “catch-and-kill” scheme he ran while publisher of the magazine, National Enquirer. It was an “agreement between friends” to suppress negative stories about Trump during the 2016 presidential election, Pecker said. Join Just Security Journalism Fellow, Adam Klasfeld’s Daily Dispatches from the Trump Trial Courtroom in New York for updates from inside the courtroom.