Eight US soldiers wounded in last week’s drone attack in Syria
The drone attack on a military base in Syria last week injured eight US soldiers, according to the Pentagon.
Air Force spokesperson Major General Patrick Ryder told reporters the eight soldiers were treated for traumatic brain injury and smoke inhalation, adding that three personnel have already returned to duty.
There are currently about 900 US military personnel operating in Syria and about 2,500 more stationed in Iraq. The US is facing pushback for its military presence in both countries. The soldiers’ stated mission is to fight ISIL (ISIS) and “extremism”.
Biden links Gaza deal to Iran standing down from assassination retaliation
It’s really interesting that we heard that from President Joe Biden. We really haven’t seen him since he decided to not run for re-election.
It was really one of the first time reporters have been able to ask him any questions and the fact he linked the Gaza ceasefire to Iran not retaliating for the assassination of Hamas’s political leader on its soil, I think is very, very telling.
While most people had made that connection, the president was very clear, saying that he believes the ceasefire could lead to Iran standing down, in so many words.
People are going to be asking about the timing of this.
If you look back through the history of the Biden administration, when it comes to dealing with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government in Israel, they definitely tend to favour carrots as opposed to sticks. In fact, we’ve seen them use very little of the immense leverage over Israel in this now longstanding war against the people of Gaza.
Iran says it is not involved in Gaza ceasefire talks
The Associated Press news agency is reporting that Iran is not considering sending representatives to the upcoming negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Iran’s mission to the UN told the AP:
“We have not engaged in the indirect cease-fire negotiations between Hamas and the regime, facilitated by Egypt, Qatar, and the US, and hold no intention for involvement in such negotiations.”
The statement comes as the US pushes for a ceasefire in the hopes that such a deal will prevent Iran and its allies from launching retaliatory attacks against Israel following the assassination of Hamas’s political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut.
