Americas

Biden notifies US Congress of proposed $8bn arms package to Israel: Report

The US State Department has "informally" notified the Congress of an $8 billion proposed weapons deal with Israel, including munitions for fighter jets, attack helicopters and artillery shells, according to a report.

US says China may have stopped Russia from using nuclear weapons

China may have talked Russian President Vladimir Putin out of deploying nuclear weapons amid Moscow's war against Kyiv, outgoing US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has stated in an interview with the Financial Times.

Trump appoints Morgan Ortagus as deputy Middle East special envoy

US President-elect Donald Trump has tapped Morgan Ortagus, a former State Department spokesperson, to serve as deputy special presidential envoy for Middle East peace in his next administration.

Biden considered attack on Iranian nuclear facilities: Axios

US President Joe Biden held a high-level meeting several weeks ago to discuss potential military action against Iranian nuclear sites, according to multiple sources cited by Axios.

Sources say Trump preparing to intensify activity against Yemen’s Houthis

US President-elect Donald Trump is preparing to increase activity against the Houthis in Yemen once he is sworn in as president on January 20, two sources familiar with the details told The Jerusalem Post.

US has spent $22bn supporting Israel’s army since start of Gaza War: SIPRI

Since early October 2023, the United States has spent more than $22 billion on supporting Israel’s military operations, including in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria, a report says.

US sanctions IRGC entity over ‘election interference’

The United States has imposed sanctions on an entity it claims is affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) over its "interference in the 2024 US presidential elections".

39th US president, Jimmy Carter, dies at 100

Former US President  Jimmy Carter passed away at the age of 100 in his home in Georgia on Sunday. He served a chaotic four years in the White House marred by the Iran hostage crisis, oil shortages and high inflation.

China puts sanctions on several US defense firms over Taiwan military sales

Beijing has imposed sanctions on seven American defense companies and their executives in response to Washington’s sale of arms and military equipment to Taiwan in violation of the One-China principle, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has announced.

Biden directs Pentagon to ‘continue its surge’ of arms deliveries to Ukraine

US President Joe Biden has directed the Pentagon to "continue its surge" of weapons and military equipment deliveries to Ukraine in response to Russia's mass attack on the country on Christmas Day.

Russia says US stealing its money

Russia has accused the West of “stealing” its assets after the US transferred $1 billion from Moscow’s frozen central bank funds to Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has stated that Noscow could take legal action in response.

Trump says Putin wants to meet him

US President-elect Donald Trump has claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to hold a meeting with him "as soon as possible".

US downs own warplane while bombing Yemen: Pentagon

The United States Navy has inadvertently shot down its own F/A-18 fighter jet in a friendly fire incident over the Red Sea, the Pentagon has announced shortly after issuing a press release about another attack against Houthi targets in Yemen.

China brands US as ‘war-addicted’

China’s Defense Ministry has accused the Pentagon of fabricating false narratives and twisting reality in order to deceive the public with incorrect perceptions, in its latest annual report on Beijing's military and security developments.

Two Iranians arrested abroad for alleged involvement in equipping drones used against US forces

Iranian nationals Mohammad Abedini and Mehdi Mohammad Sadeghi have been arrested in Milan and Massachusetts respectively on charges of aiding in the equipping of drones used in an attack on American soldiers, an allegation that Iran strongly denies.

US drops $10M terrorism reward offered for capture of Syrian rebel leader who toppled Assad

The Joe Biden administration announced Friday it has decided not to pursue a $10 million reward it had offered for the capture of a Syrian rebel leader whose forces led the ouster of President Bashar Assad earlier this month.

US admits efforts to change regime in Iran

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has publicly admitted that over the past two decades Washington had conducted experiments seeking regime change in Iran. The endeavours to topple the government in Tehran, however, have resulted in failure, he confirmed.

US imposes sanctions on several individuals, entities over links to Iranian military

The United States has announced new sanctions on Iranian and non-Iranian individuals and entities that it claims have been linked to the country's military programs to design and develop weapons and military equipment.

US lawmakers call on Biden to halt offensive weapons to Israel

Democratic legislators in the United States have urged the administration of President Joe Biden to cease the transfer of offensive weapons to Israel, noting that the Israeli government has not complied with US demands for more aid to enter Gaza.

Palestinians sue US gov’t over assistance to Israel’s military

Five Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip, the occupied West Bank and the United States have sued the US government to try to cut off American assistance to the Israeli military over its involvement in serious human rights abuses.

Netanyahu informs Trump of its resolve to act against Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has informed US President-elect Donald Trump of his determination to act against Hezbollah and Iran. The two leaders also discussed the situation in Syria, as well as endeavours to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

US acknowledges direct contact with Syrian new leadership

The administration of US President Joe Biden has acknowledged contact with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Syrian opposition group that played a leading role in toppling longtime leader Bashar al-Assad.

Trump considering ex-intelligence chief as special envoy for Iran

United States President-elect Donald Trump is considering appointing Richard Grenell, his former intelligence chief, as a special envoy for Iran, according to two people familiar with the transition plans.

US considering implementing harsher sanctions on Russian oil ahead of Trump’s return: Report

The Biden administration is considering implementing harsher sanctions on Russian oil ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, Bloomberg has reported, citing its sources.

US says not seriously considering delisting HTS terror designation

The United States is not seriously discussing delisting Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) from its designation as a terrorist organization, a Joe Biden administration official has stated. HTS was one of the rebel groups that led the offensive against the Bashar Assad government in Syria in recent weeks.

Latest news