Israel’s victory: Yesterday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said an airstrike in mid-July killed Mohammed Deif, a prominent member of Hamas and one of the masterminds behind the October 7 attack.
On Wednesday, another senior Hamas official, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed by a bomb smuggled into a hotel in Tehran, Iran. Israel has claimed responsibility for the attack. “According to five Middle Eastern officials, the bomb was hidden in the hotel about two months ago,” the report said. New York Times, also noted that it was detonated remotely. “The hotel is operated and protected by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards and is part of a Saudi compound in an upscale neighborhood in northern Tehran.”
Israel scored its third victory this week when senior Hezbollah operative Fuad Shukr was killed in an attack in Beirut.
Back in April, Israeli attacks on Iranian officials in Syria resulted in direct attacks from both sides, although these attacks were showy in nature and more about making a statement than actually causing serious damage. Now, it remains to be seen how these groups – Iran’s proxies – will respond to Israel’s success in destroying these targets and the fact that Haniyeh was destroyed in Tehran.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has issued an order for Iran to directly strike Israel in retaliation for Mr Haniyeh’s killing in Tehran, according to three Iranian officials familiar with the order. Second-rate. “It’s unclear how vigorous Iran will respond or whether it will tailor its attacks to avoid escalation, as it telegraphed in advance in April, launching a slew of missiles and drones.
“We are on the verge of a massive escalation,” said Danny Citrinowicz, a former head of Israeli military intelligence’s Iran branch. this wall street journal. “Iran is leading the Axis powers and they cannot protect one of the incoming Axis leaders [incoming President Masoud] Pezeshkian’s inauguration.
Now President Joe Biden’s administration claims it is working to ease tensions in the Middle East to avoid war. But for those who have been paying attention to domestic politics, questions remain about the extent to which Biden, a president who has a 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekday schedule, is capable of handling pressing foreign policy issues like this.
New York scene: According to the report, “Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Lyle Frank ruled Thursday that the commission does not have the authority to expand the use of the CityFHEPS voucher program to New Yorkers whose income exceeds what current rules allow for when they face eviction or are homeless. Used by homeless people. Gothamists. “Tenants receiving assistance from CityFHEPS typically pay 30% of their income toward rent, with the remainder covered by city-funded vouchers.”
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- “Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva finds himself at the forefront of the crisis in Venezuela. [Nicolas] Maduro declared himself the winner of an election that his opponents said was fraudulent. Bloomberg. “The dispute and Maduro’s subsequent crackdown on dissent have put the leader of Latin America’s largest country in an increasingly uncomfortable position. The Venezuelan president is an old ally who still enjoys the support of many in Lula’s leftist workers’ party, which this week backed Maduro’s victory. Meanwhile, the opposition and a growing number of pro-opposition global leaders have called on Lula to work to portray himself as a champion of democracy, especially after he drummed up international support for fair elections in his campaign two years ago. “
- For this week’s just asking questions We spoke to Vivek Ramaswamy after the release (please note that there are technical issues so the quality is sometimes not the best):
- Blake Masters defeated in Arizona:
Breaking News: Abraham Hamadeh wins the Republican nomination for the U.S. House of Representatives in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District. #APRaceCall 5:27 PM (MST). https://t.co/FjgpZFcJ4E
— AP Politics (@AP_Politics) August 1, 2024
- Several journalists, including wall street journalEvan Gershkovich was just released from a Russian prison exchange. A total of 16 people were returned to the United States and European allies, and eight to Russia.
this @wallstreetjournalThe article about the secret negotiations to free Evan Gershkovich ends with an incredible anecdote: pic.twitter.com/wM7aWu44tu
— David Gura (@davidgura) August 1, 2024
