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  • Israel carried out strike inside Iran, as explosions reported near military base

    Israel carried out strike inside Iran, as explosions reported near military base

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    Israel has carried out a military strike inside Iran, a U.S. official told CNN Friday, a potentially dangerous escalation in a fast widening Middle East conflict that Iranian government officials have so far sought to play down.The United States was given advance notification Thursday of an intended Israeli strike in the coming days, but did not endorse the response, a second senior U.S. official said. Secretary of State Antony Blinken later confirmed the U.S. “has not been involved in any offensive operations,” but was focusing on Israel’s defense and de-escalation.Iran’s air defense systems were activated in the cities of Isfahan and Tabriz after three explosions were heard close to a major military airbase near Isfahan, state media reported early Friday morning.Maj. Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi, the commander-in-chief of Iran’s army, said the explosions in the sky above Isfahan were related to anti-aircraft systems shooting at what he called a suspicious object, which did not cause any damage, Iranian state news IRNA reported. Other Iranian officials said air defenses intercepted three drones and there were no reports of a missile attack.Iran has not identified the source of the strike.Multiple state-aligned news agencies reported that sites associated with Iran’s nuclear program were secure and the attack appeared to be limited in scope.Iranian media appeared to further minimize the scale of the attack on Friday, broadcasting calm scenes from Isfahan showing residents walking through parks and visiting landmarks. Traffic was reported as normal and the airport was also reported to have reopened after flights were briefly canceled or suspended early Friday.Reports of Friday’s strike came hours after Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told CNN that if Israel takes any further military action against Iran, its response would be “immediate and at a maximum level.”“If the Israeli regime commits the grave error once again our response will be decisive, definitive and regretful for them,” he added, noting that this warning had been communicated to the White House via the Swiss Embassy in Tehran.Tensions across the Middle East remain on a knife edge, following Iran’s unprecedented direct strike against Israel late Saturday. The attack, during which Iran launched more than 300 drones and cruise missiles toward Israel, came in response to a suspected Israeli strike on an Iranian diplomatic complex in the Syrian capital, Damascus, on April 1, which killed a top commander, and several others.Separately, “material losses” were reported in southern Syria after an Israeli strike, targeted “our air defense sites in the southern region,” Syrian state media SANA reported Friday citing a military source. The Israeli military said that it does not comment on reports in foreign media.The Israeli military said it was unable to provide a comment on Friday, when asked by CNN about reports of explosions in Iran.At the end of a three-day meeting in Capri, Italy, the Group of Seven (G7) nations urged all parties in the region to “prevent further escalation.” Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi also warned the strikes risk “dragging the region into further conflict,” adding that the “Israeli-Iranian retaliations must end.”Iran warned of ‘maximum’ response hours earlierIsrael’s action in Iran is the latest escalatory move in a region that has been rocked by Israel’s devastating war in Gaza following Hamas’ brutal Oct. 7 attack. That attack killed more than 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and saw more than 200 others taken hostage.Israel’s bombardment and siege of Gaza has killed more than 33,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian officials, caused widespread destruction of the enclave and sparked a humanitarian crisis where more than 1 million people face ‘catastrophic’ levels of hunger.Prior to Friday’s Israeli strike, the U.S. expectation was the country would not target Iran’s civilian or nuclear facilities, the senior U.S. official told CNN.CNN has previously reported that Israel told the U.S. its response to the weekend attacks would be limited in scope. U.S. intelligence had suggested Israel was weighing a narrow and limited strike inside Iran because they feel like they have to respond with a kinetic action of some kind given the unprecedented scale of the Iranian attackThe range of targets was “never specified in precise terms but nuclear and civilian locations were clearly not in that category,” the senior official added.Calls for restraintIsrael’s Western allies have both rallied to its defense in the wake of Iran’s attack Saturday, while also urging restraint.President Joe Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu he should consider Iran’s strikes a win, since they had been largely unsuccessful and demonstrated Israel’s ability to defend itself.Biden had already made clear to Netanyahu that the U.S. would not participate in any offensive operations against Iran in response, a senior administration previously told CNN.Benny Gantz, a key member of Israel’s war cabinet, had pushed for a swift response to the attack, two Israeli officials told CNN, arguing that the longer Israeli delayed its response, the harder it would be to garner international support for it.Some hardline officials have gone further. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said Israel should “go crazy” in response. Ben Gvir appeared to criticize Israel’s reported strike, publishing a one-word response on X early Friday morning – a slang word meaning “lame” or “weak.”Israel’s opposition leader Yair Lapid called Ben Gvir’s comment “unforgivable.”“Never before has a minister in the security cabinet done such heavy damage to the country’s security, its image and its international status,” Lapid said.Jasmine El-Gamal, a former Middle East adviser to the U.S. Defense Department, told CNN that Israel and Iran’s tit-for-tat strikes were about “posturing and messaging.”“Neither side, obviously, is willing or ready to escalate into an all-out war. The Israelis in particular cannot get into an all-out war without the full support, both military and political, of the Americans, which President Biden made it clear he was not willing to give,” she said.El-Gamal said Israel’s reported strike was meant to tell Iran, “We can get to your nuclear sites if we want to. We know where they are, and even though we didn’t hit them this time – we can do it.”

    Israel has carried out a military strike inside Iran, a U.S. official told CNN Friday, a potentially dangerous escalation in a fast widening Middle East conflict that Iranian government officials have so far sought to play down.

    The United States was given advance notification Thursday of an intended Israeli strike in the coming days, but did not endorse the response, a second senior U.S. official said. Secretary of State Antony Blinken later confirmed the U.S. “has not been involved in any offensive operations,” but was focusing on Israel’s defense and de-escalation.

    Iran’s air defense systems were activated in the cities of Isfahan and Tabriz after three explosions were heard close to a major military airbase near Isfahan, state media reported early Friday morning.

    Maj. Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi, the commander-in-chief of Iran’s army, said the explosions in the sky above Isfahan were related to anti-aircraft systems shooting at what he called a suspicious object, which did not cause any damage, Iranian state news IRNA reported. Other Iranian officials said air defenses intercepted three drones and there were no reports of a missile attack.

    Iran has not identified the source of the strike.

    Multiple state-aligned news agencies reported that sites associated with Iran’s nuclear program were secure and the attack appeared to be limited in scope.

    Iranian media appeared to further minimize the scale of the attack on Friday, broadcasting calm scenes from Isfahan showing residents walking through parks and visiting landmarks. Traffic was reported as normal and the airport was also reported to have reopened after flights were briefly canceled or suspended early Friday.

    Reports of Friday’s strike came hours after Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told CNN that if Israel takes any further military action against Iran, its response would be “immediate and at a maximum level.”

    “If the Israeli regime commits the grave error once again our response will be decisive, definitive and regretful for them,” he added, noting that this warning had been communicated to the White House via the Swiss Embassy in Tehran.

    Tensions across the Middle East remain on a knife edge, following Iran’s unprecedented direct strike against Israel late Saturday. The attack, during which Iran launched more than 300 drones and cruise missiles toward Israel, came in response to a suspected Israeli strike on an Iranian diplomatic complex in the Syrian capital, Damascus, on April 1, which killed a top commander, and several others.

    Separately, “material losses” were reported in southern Syria after an Israeli strike, targeted “our air defense sites in the southern region,” Syrian state media SANA reported Friday citing a military source. The Israeli military said that it does not comment on reports in foreign media.

    The Israeli military said it was unable to provide a comment on Friday, when asked by CNN about reports of explosions in Iran.

    At the end of a three-day meeting in Capri, Italy, the Group of Seven (G7) nations urged all parties in the region to “prevent further escalation.” Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi also warned the strikes risk “dragging the region into further conflict,” adding that the “Israeli-Iranian retaliations must end.”

    Iran warned of ‘maximum’ response hours earlier

    Israel’s action in Iran is the latest escalatory move in a region that has been rocked by Israel’s devastating war in Gaza following Hamas’ brutal Oct. 7 attack. That attack killed more than 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and saw more than 200 others taken hostage.

    Israel’s bombardment and siege of Gaza has killed more than 33,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian officials, caused widespread destruction of the enclave and sparked a humanitarian crisis where more than 1 million people face ‘catastrophic’ levels of hunger.

    Prior to Friday’s Israeli strike, the U.S. expectation was the country would not target Iran’s civilian or nuclear facilities, the senior U.S. official told CNN.

    CNN has previously reported that Israel told the U.S. its response to the weekend attacks would be limited in scope. U.S. intelligence had suggested Israel was weighing a narrow and limited strike inside Iran because they feel like they have to respond with a kinetic action of some kind given the unprecedented scale of the Iranian attack

    The range of targets was “never specified in precise terms but nuclear and civilian locations were clearly not in that category,” the senior official added.

    Calls for restraint

    Israel’s Western allies have both rallied to its defense in the wake of Iran’s attack Saturday, while also urging restraint.

    President Joe Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu he should consider Iran’s strikes a win, since they had been largely unsuccessful and demonstrated Israel’s ability to defend itself.

    Biden had already made clear to Netanyahu that the U.S. would not participate in any offensive operations against Iran in response, a senior administration previously told CNN.

    Benny Gantz, a key member of Israel’s war cabinet, had pushed for a swift response to the attack, two Israeli officials told CNN, arguing that the longer Israeli delayed its response, the harder it would be to garner international support for it.

    Some hardline officials have gone further. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said Israel should “go crazy” in response. Ben Gvir appeared to criticize Israel’s reported strike, publishing a one-word response on X early Friday morning – a slang word meaning “lame” or “weak.”

    Israel’s opposition leader Yair Lapid called Ben Gvir’s comment “unforgivable.”

    “Never before has a minister in the security cabinet done such heavy damage to the country’s security, its image and its international status,” Lapid said.

    Jasmine El-Gamal, a former Middle East adviser to the U.S. Defense Department, told CNN that Israel and Iran’s tit-for-tat strikes were about “posturing and messaging.”

    “Neither side, obviously, is willing or ready to escalate into an all-out war. The Israelis in particular cannot get into an all-out war without the full support, both military and political, of the Americans, which President Biden made it clear he was not willing to give,” she said.

    El-Gamal said Israel’s reported strike was meant to tell Iran, “We can get to your nuclear sites if we want to. We know where they are, and even though we didn’t hit them this time – we can do it.”

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  • Israel strike may have been carried out by Mossad inside Iran, says expert

    Israel strike may have been carried out by Mossad inside Iran, says expert

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    ISRAEL’S strike on Iran could have been carried out by Tel Aviv spies as a way to send more than just a message of revenge, experts told The Sun.

    Middle East analyst Yakov Katz and former British Army General Rupert Jones said the attack could have been carried out by Israel’s Mossad agency from inside Iran.

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    Israeli PM Netanyahu holds a security assessment at IDF headquarters with director of Shin Bet and Mossad in October last yearCredit: Rex
    Possible footage of the Israeli strike in Iran this morning (unverified footage)

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    Possible footage of the Israeli strike in Iran this morning (unverified footage)
    Military personnel stand guard at a nuclear facility in Isfahan, Iran

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    Military personnel stand guard at a nuclear facility in Isfahan, Iran

    Katz told The Sun: “We have to assume that this wasn’t about just sending a message. We can attack you in Iran… The Iranians know that.”

    He said the strike goes beyond that, selecting a target important enough to “deter the Iranians” but one that is “not too big and not too important”.

    This is to make sure Iran knows that what it did “is not tolerable” whilst preventing a “wider and more extensive conflict with Israel”.

    And he says, assuming reports that the strike was carried out from inside Iran with drones is true, it could point to Israeli spies.

    READ MORE ON IRAN V ISRAEL

    In the hours since Israel launched its precision strike against an Iranian military base, both countries have remained very quiet.

    Neither Iranian nor Israeli officials have come out publicly to give confirmations or details about the early morning attack.

    Plenty of speculation about the scale, scope and nature of Israel’s strike have swirled in the absence of explicit information.

    The suggestion that Israeli intelligence agents launched the strike internally is one of those theories.

    It comes as…

    • Israel launched a suspected drone attack around the Iranian city of Isfahan early this morning
    • Iran activated its air defence batteries and temporarily grounded flights as it braced for impact
    • Iranian state media desperately downplayed the attack this morning, insisting it was a failed strike that caused no damage
    • US officials said Israel successfully hit at least one target
    • Reported possible targets around the city included a nuclear base and an Iranian air force HQ
    • International nuclear watchdog the IAEA said that no damage was sustained to the nuclear site
    • More blasts were heard in southern Syria and Iraqi capital Baghdad – with no confirmation of Israeli origin
    • Israel has so far made no comment confirming the strike
    • Netanyahu’s war cabinet had reportedly told the US they would hold off an attack on Iran until the end of April

    “Assuming that this was drones and carried out from within Iranian territory, it would tell us two things.,” Katz told The Sun.

    “Number one: This is not an Israeli Air Force strike, but this is likely something more of a covert operation, probably carried out by Israel’s Mossad, the equivalent of the MI6, and the CIA.

    “So maybe done by Israeli agents or agents working on behalf of the Israeli Spy Agency.

    “But it was done within Iran, and that’s meant to say, we’re not violating your airspace.”

    The strike hit a major Iranian air force base next door to one of its prized nuclear sites near the city of Isfahan.

    US officials confirmed that Israel’s revenge for Iran’s 330 kamikaze drone and ballistic missile blitz had begun early this morning after days of threats.

    Blasts were also heard in Iraq and Syria in what appeared to be further hits on Iranian puppet terror groups across the Middle East.

    The full scale of the surprise strike – launched just hours after Israeli sources said they would hold off their response – remains unclear.

    Hossein Dalirian, spokesperson for the Iran’s National Centre of Cyberspace, outright denied the external Israeli attack.

    He wrote on X: “There has been no air attack from outside borders to Isfahan or other parts of the country.”

    By not breaking through Iranian airspace from Israel, Katz says those behind the attack could be achieving the goal of retaliation while also containing the conflict.

    “We’re not violating your sovereignty, but we are striking back, and and that could be a way of signalling: ‘Let’s keep it down,” Katz said.

    “Let’s not increase the flames and the tension here. We’ve all gotten in our our hits, and now we can call it a day.’”

    Former British Army general Rupert Jones also told The Sun that this morning’s reports could point to Israeli intelligence agents being involved.

    Jones told The Sun: “Some of the language coming out of Iran says that there wasn’t an external attack, and there was talk of quad copters.

    This, he explains, “might suggest that the attack was launched from inside Iran which might then point to Mossad”.

    But Jones adds that amid a lack of clear official statements from both Israel and Iran, “we’re trying to join dots at the moment”.

    Sworn enemies Iran and Israel batted threats back and forth for days before Israel struck out last night

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    Sworn enemies Iran and Israel batted threats back and forth for days before Israel struck out last night
    Iran claims Israel launched drones (pictured: IDF drones)

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    Iran claims Israel launched drones (pictured: IDF drones)

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    Ellie Doughty

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  • Israel carried out strike inside Iran, as explosions reported near military base

    Israel carried out strike inside Iran, as explosions reported near military base

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    Israel has carried out a military strike inside Iran, a U.S. official told CNN Friday, the latest move in a dangerous escalation that threatens to push the already volatile region into all-out war.The U.S. was given advance notification Thursday of an intended Israeli strike in the coming days, but did not endorse the response, the senior U.S. official said.Iran’s air defense systems were activated in several locations after three explosions were heard close to a major military airbase near the Iranian city of Isfahan, state media reported early Friday morning. Iran’s semi-official FARS news agency said fighter jets were located at the airbase and that a military radar was a possible target.Multiple state-aligned news agencies reported that sites associated with Iran’s nuclear program were “completely secure,” and the attack appeared to be limited in scope.“Following the activation of air defense in some parts of the country to deal with some possible targets, reports indicate that so far, no large-scale strikes or explosions caused by any air threat has been reported,” Iranian state run media reported.Reports of Friday’s strike came hours after Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told CNN that if Israel takes any further military action against Iran, its response would be “immediate and at a maximum level.”“If the Israeli regime commits the grave error once again, our response will be decisive, definitive and regretful for them,” he added, noting that this warning had been communicated to the White House via the Swiss Embassy in Tehran.Tensions across the Middle East remain on a knife edge, following Iran’s unprecedented direct strike against Israel late Saturday. The attack, during which Iran launched more than 300 drones and cruise missiles toward Israel, came in response to a suspected Israeli strike on an Iranian diplomatic complex in the Syrian capital, Damascus, on 1 April, which killed a top commander, and several others.Outgoing flights from several Iranian airports were briefly canceled or suspended early Friday, but aviation authorities later lifted all restrictions.Iran’s National Cyberspace center spokesperson Hossein Dalirian said on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, that three drones “have been successfully shot down by the country’s air defense, there are no reports of a missile attack for now.”Senior Iranian military commander Second Brigadier General Mihandoust said the sound of a loud explosion near Isfahan was caused by “air defense firing at a suspicious object” and that there was no “damage or incident,” according to the state-aligned Tasnim news agency.The Israeli military said they “don’t have a comment at this time,” when asked by CNN about reports of explosions in Iran.Iran warned of ‘maximum’ response hours earlierIsrael’s action in Iran is the latest escalatory move in a region that has been rocked by Israel’s devastating war in Gaza following Hamas’ brutal Oct. 7 attack. That attack killed more than 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and saw more than 200 others taken hostage.Israel’s bombardment and siege of Gaza has killed more than 33,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian officials, caused widespread destruction of the enclave and sparked a humanitarian crisis where more than 1 million people face ‘catastrophic’ levels of hunger.Prior to Friday’s Israeli strike, the U.S. expectation was the country would not target Iran’s civilian or nuclear facilities, another senior U.S. official told CNN.CNN has previously reported that Israel told the US its response would be limited in scope. U.S. intelligence had suggested Israel was weighing a narrow and limited strike inside Iran because they feel like they have to respond with a kinetic action of some kind given the unprecedented scale of the Iranian attack.The range of targets was “never specified in precise terms, but nuclear and civilian locations were clearly not in that category,” the second official added.Calls for restraintIsrael’s Western allies have both rallied to its defense in the wake of Iran’s attack Saturday, while also urging restraint.Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu he should consider Iran’s strikes a win, since they had been largely unsuccessful and demonstrated Israel’s ability to defend itself.Biden had already made clear to Netanyahu that the U.S. would not participate in any offensive operations against Iran in response, a senior administration previously told CNN.Benny Gantz, a key member of Israel’s war cabinet, had pushed for a swift response to the attack, two Israeli officials told CNN, arguing that the longer Israeli delayed its response, the harder it would be to garner international support for it.Some hardline officials have gone further. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said Israel should “go crazy” in response.Arab states, including those that are friendly with Israel, have expressed concern about a potential escalation from Iran’s attack, but haven’t outright condemned it.This is a developing story and will be updated.CNN’s Benjamin Brown, Irene Nasser, Christian Edwards, Nadeen Ebrahim, Jeremy Diamond and David Shortell contributed reporting.

    Israel has carried out a military strike inside Iran, a U.S. official told CNN Friday, the latest move in a dangerous escalation that threatens to push the already volatile region into all-out war.

    The U.S. was given advance notification Thursday of an intended Israeli strike in the coming days, but did not endorse the response, the senior U.S. official said.

    Iran’s air defense systems were activated in several locations after three explosions were heard close to a major military airbase near the Iranian city of Isfahan, state media reported early Friday morning. Iran’s semi-official FARS news agency said fighter jets were located at the airbase and that a military radar was a possible target.

    Multiple state-aligned news agencies reported that sites associated with Iran’s nuclear program were “completely secure,” and the attack appeared to be limited in scope.

    “Following the activation of air defense in some parts of the country to deal with some possible targets, reports indicate that so far, no large-scale strikes or explosions caused by any air threat has been reported,” Iranian state run media reported.

    Reports of Friday’s strike came hours after Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told CNN that if Israel takes any further military action against Iran, its response would be “immediate and at a maximum level.”

    “If the Israeli regime commits the grave error once again, our response will be decisive, definitive and regretful for them,” he added, noting that this warning had been communicated to the White House via the Swiss Embassy in Tehran.

    Tensions across the Middle East remain on a knife edge, following Iran’s unprecedented direct strike against Israel late Saturday. The attack, during which Iran launched more than 300 drones and cruise missiles toward Israel, came in response to a suspected Israeli strike on an Iranian diplomatic complex in the Syrian capital, Damascus, on 1 April, which killed a top commander, and several others.

    Outgoing flights from several Iranian airports were briefly canceled or suspended early Friday, but aviation authorities later lifted all restrictions.

    Iran’s National Cyberspace center spokesperson Hossein Dalirian said on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, that three drones “have been successfully shot down by the country’s air defense, there are no reports of a missile attack for now.”

    Senior Iranian military commander Second Brigadier General Mihandoust said the sound of a loud explosion near Isfahan was caused by “air defense firing at a suspicious object” and that there was no “damage or incident,” according to the state-aligned Tasnim news agency.

    The Israeli military said they “don’t have a comment at this time,” when asked by CNN about reports of explosions in Iran.

    Iran warned of ‘maximum’ response hours earlier

    Israel’s action in Iran is the latest escalatory move in a region that has been rocked by Israel’s devastating war in Gaza following Hamas’ brutal Oct. 7 attack. That attack killed more than 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and saw more than 200 others taken hostage.

    Israel’s bombardment and siege of Gaza has killed more than 33,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian officials, caused widespread destruction of the enclave and sparked a humanitarian crisis where more than 1 million people face ‘catastrophic’ levels of hunger.

    Prior to Friday’s Israeli strike, the U.S. expectation was the country would not target Iran’s civilian or nuclear facilities, another senior U.S. official told CNN.

    CNN has previously reported that Israel told the US its response would be limited in scope. U.S. intelligence had suggested Israel was weighing a narrow and limited strike inside Iran because they feel like they have to respond with a kinetic action of some kind given the unprecedented scale of the Iranian attack.

    The range of targets was “never specified in precise terms, but nuclear and civilian locations were clearly not in that category,” the second official added.

    Calls for restraint

    Israel’s Western allies have both rallied to its defense in the wake of Iran’s attack Saturday, while also urging restraint.

    Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu he should consider Iran’s strikes a win, since they had been largely unsuccessful and demonstrated Israel’s ability to defend itself.

    Biden had already made clear to Netanyahu that the U.S. would not participate in any offensive operations against Iran in response, a senior administration previously told CNN.

    Benny Gantz, a key member of Israel’s war cabinet, had pushed for a swift response to the attack, two Israeli officials told CNN, arguing that the longer Israeli delayed its response, the harder it would be to garner international support for it.

    Some hardline officials have gone further. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said Israel should “go crazy” in response.

    Arab states, including those that are friendly with Israel, have expressed concern about a potential escalation from Iran’s attack, but haven’t outright condemned it.

    This is a developing story and will be updated.

    CNN’s Benjamin Brown, Irene Nasser, Christian Edwards, Nadeen Ebrahim, Jeremy Diamond and David Shortell contributed reporting.

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  • Israeli missile hits Iran, U.S. officials confirm

    Israeli missile hits Iran, U.S. officials confirm

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    Israeli missile hits Iran, U.S. officials confirm – CBS News


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    Two U.S. officials confirm to CBS News that an Israeli missile has hit Iran. The strike follows last weekend’s retaliatory drone and missile attack against Israel. Carissa Lawson anchors a special report.

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  • Oil and gold prices jump on reports of explosions in Iran

    Oil and gold prices jump on reports of explosions in Iran

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    A view of oil-well in action during sunset at Elk Hills Oil Field as gas prices on the rise in California, United States on April 14, 2024. 

    Tayfun Coskun | Anadolu | Getty Images

    Oil prices jumped more than 3% on Friday in Asia following reports that Israel had carried out an operation in Iran.

    A U.S. official told NBC News that Israel is conducting an operation in Iran.

    Global benchmark Brent traded 3.63% higher at $90.27 a barrel, while the U.S. West Texas Intermediate rose 3.66% to $85.76 per barrel.

    Safe haven assets also rose. Spot gold prices surged to a fresh all-time high of 2,411.09 per ounce, while the yen strengthened 0.45% to 153.93 against the U.S. dollar.

    Iran’s Fars news agency reported that explosions were heard near the airport in the Iranian city of Isfahan, and flight tracking site Flight Radar 24 showed that multiple flights were diverted over Iranian airspace early Friday.

    This is is breaking news. Please check back for updates.

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  • How Iran could use Hamas hostages as bargaining chips if Israel launch strike

    How Iran could use Hamas hostages as bargaining chips if Israel launch strike

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    IRAN could turn to violent proxy army Hamas and exploit Israeli hostages trapped in Gaza as bargaining chips, an expert has warned.

    Middle East analyst Dr Anahita Motazed Rad spoke to The Sun about how a desperate Iran may respond if Israel launches a revenge strike for its weekend missile blitz.

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    A man looks at posters with images of the Israeli hostages held in GazaCredit: AFP
    The Gaza Strip - war-torn after six months of fighting between Hamas and Israel

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    The Gaza Strip – war-torn after six months of fighting between Hamas and IsraelCredit: AFP
    Hamas fighters - one of Iran's terror proxy groups

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    Hamas fighters – one of Iran’s terror proxy groupsCredit: Getty

    The LSE professor said “Iran at the moment is just thinking about survival” as Israel gears up to unleash a “strategic and painful” retaliation.

    As the conflict-ridden landscape sparks concern around the globe over Iran and Israel’s next steps, Israeli hostages in Gaza remain trapped.

    And Dr Rad says it’s “possible” Iran could issue orders for Hamas to kill them in response to Israel’s revenge strike.

    Despite speculation over Tel Aviv’s plans to hit Iranian soil in recent days, Dr Rad tells us “there is no doubt” that Israel will respond.

    And she explains that the increasingly volatile environment will be further riled up by Iran’s terror proxies – Hezbollah, the Houthis and Hamas.

    When asked whether Iran might resort to giving orders for its proxy Hamas to kill the hostages, she said: “Possibly. Maybe, yeah, yes.”

    Dr Rad went on: “The Iranian regime is the kind of regime that always are bargaining.”

    The regime, which is struggling as many people want to see a change in government, is at its “weakest point”, she explains.

    It is buried in a turbulent domestic period and facing condemnation from around the world over Saturday’s attack.

    Tehran launched over 300 cruise and ballistic missiles as well as attack drones at Israel in an unprecedented assault.

    As part of its bargaining approach the country may now turn to proxy army Hamas to carve out negotiations and leverage with Israel over the trapped hostages.

    Dr Rad told The Sun: “The Iranian regime is a kind of opportunistic regime.

    “They see all the opportunities for their survival and even escalation of their status in the region, and influence in the region within the chaos.

    “And we have the proof for this.”

    Hostage family fears

    Out of the more than 200 hostages snatched from Israel during the October 7 massacre last year, over 100 were freed in November.

    More than 130 are thought to remain in captivity, but it is not clear how many of them might be alive.

    Just weeks after the horrific slaughter of more than 1,200 Israelis in October 2023, analysis surfaced probing concerns about their fate.

    One piece in Israeli outlet Haaretz said they would be much safer under negotiations brokered by Qatar than if Iran and Hezbollah became more actively involved.

    It warned that they might become “pawns in a regional power play”.

    Now six months later both Iran and Hezbollah are more involved in the regional conflict – and the hostages have not been freed.

    Diplomatic officials are trying to find a new way to secure a hostage deal this week after the Iran strike, Haaretz reports.

    One warned: “The situation is bleak. It is too early to say if an acceptable solution can be found.”

    Families of the hostages are “deeply concerned” about the escalation with Iran and how it might put their loved ones fate in danger.

    Mor Korngold, whose brother is still held in Gaza, said: “In the past week, my anxiety levels have skyrocketed. It began with the attack on the embassy in Damascus and continued with the Iranian response.

    Yarden Gonen, whose sister Romi is there, said Netanyahu’s war cabinet should use the Iran strike as “leverage for a deal”.

    Matty Dancyg, whose dad Alex was kidnapped on October 7 and has yet to be released, told the New Yorker about his fears.

    He worries the Iranian strike could jeopardise the possibility of a ceasefire and hostage negotiation deal.

    Matty said: “It’s yet another thing that would make Bibi divert attention away from the hostages.”

    Revenge strike

    Netanyahu’s war cabinet has carved out plans for a “strategic but painful” revenge attack on Iranian soil, according to intelligence sources.

    Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) are now simply waiting for the right moment to launch as a fractured Middle East teeters on the brink of war.

    Despite worldwide calls for cool heads to prevail, Netanyahu’s ranks have repeatedly insisted that a retaliatory strike is the only response.

    UK foreign minister David Cameron landed in Jerusalem this morning and said “It is clear the Israelis are making a decision to act”.

    He added that the British government is hoping Israel responds in a way that can do “as little to escalate this as possible”.

    But Israel doubled down yesterday, warning Iran it wouldn’t get off “scot-free”.

    IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said: “We cannot stand still from this kind of aggression, Iran will not get [off] scot-free with this aggression.

    “We will respond in our time, in our place, in the way that we will choose.”

    Iranian soldiers take part in a military parade today as they brandish drones and missiles

    5

    Iranian soldiers take part in a military parade today as they brandish drones and missilesCredit: AFP
    Fears for the hostages have grown since Iran's attack on Israel over the weekend, pictured: Iranian missiles firing

    5

    Fears for the hostages have grown since Iran’s attack on Israel over the weekend, pictured: Iranian missiles firingCredit: Pixel8000

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    Ellie Doughty

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  • Gaza war goes on as Israel weighs Iran response options

    Gaza war goes on as Israel weighs Iran response options

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    Gaza war goes on as Israel weighs Iran response options – CBS News


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    Israeli officials are still weighing how to respond to Iran’s recent drone and missile attack. But the war in Gaza is still ongoing, and the U.N. says more aid is still desperately needed for Palestinians in the territory. Debora Patta reports.

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  • 4/15: CBS Evening News

    4/15: CBS Evening News

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    4/15: CBS Evening News – CBS News


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    Trump becomes first former president to stand criminal trial; Chicago teacher helps Black kids break into baseball

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  • 4/15: Prime Time with John Dickerson

    4/15: Prime Time with John Dickerson

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    4/15: Prime Time with John Dickerson – CBS News


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    John Dickerson reports on the start of the criminal trial of Donald Trump, Israel’s possible plans after an attack from Iran, and a billion-dollar investment in microchip manufacturing in the U.S.

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  • No Oval Office speech from Biden after Iran attacked Israel

    No Oval Office speech from Biden after Iran attacked Israel

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    When a U.S. president speaks to Americans from the Oval Office, it’s often regarding a crisis or an issue of utmost importance. 

    It’s where former President George W. Bush addressed Americans the evening of the 9/11 terror attack and where former President Donald Trump spoke about the coronavirus outbreak on March 11, 2020. 

    After Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel on April 13, one social media user claimed President Joe Biden planned to address the American public in a similar way. 

    “BREAKING NEWS: 5:34 President Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. will address the nation from the Oval Office tonight, following Iran’s attack on Israel,” read a screenshot shared April 13 on Threads. 

    The post featured five siren emojis and the words: “I was really hoping not to see this. This isn’t good.” 

    This post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and Threads.)

    It’s easy to understand why the idea of Biden addressing the nation from the Oval Office might have alarmed social media users, but there’s one problem: The claim was inaccurate.

    (Screenshot from Threads.)

    We found no media reports about Biden addressing the nation from the Oval Office the same day Iran attacked Israel. Biden released an April 13 statement condemning the attacks and describing how the U.S. military had helped defend Israel. 

    “The U.S. military moved aircraft and ballistic missile defense destroyers to the region over the course of the past week,” he said in the statement. “Thanks to these deployments and the extraordinary skill of our servicemembers, we helped Israel take down nearly all of the incoming drones and missiles.”

    Biden said he would meet with other leaders of the Group of Seven, or G7, the world’s leading economies, “to coordinate a united diplomatic response to Iran’s brazen attack.” The G7 leaders also released an April 14 statement condemning the attack. 

    Biden did not announce plans to address the nation, and there is no record of such an address on the White House website or the White House’s YouTube channel. 

    Politico reported that Biden “deliberately kept a low public profile” following Iran’s attacks against Israel in an effort to deescalate the situation. 

    White House advisers speaking on condition of anonymity told Politico a public address was discussed, but there weren’t immediate plans for Biden to deliver one. Two officials said advisers felt that a televised presidential address “would likely escalate the tensions,” Politico reported April 14.

    Oval Office addresses are infrequent. 

    President Joe Biden addresses the nation June 2, 2023, from the White House’s Oval Office. He speech covered the budget deal that lifts the federal debt limit and averts a U.S. government default. (AP)

    Biden gave his first Oval Office address in June 2023 after Congress passed a bipartisan bill that would raise the federal borrowing limit and keep the U.S. from defaulting on its debt. In October, following Hamas’ attack on Israel, Biden gave his second Oval Office address, explaining why he believed financial support for Ukraine and Israel was critically important. 

    We contacted the White House for comment and received no reply. 

    We rate the claim that Biden addressed the nation from the Oval Office on April 13 “following Iran’s attack on Israel” False.

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  • Footage does not show Iran’s April 13 attack on Israel

    Footage does not show Iran’s April 13 attack on Israel

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    A social media post sharing a video of rockets firing in quick succession said it showed Iran’s April 13 attack on Israel. But it doesn’t.

    “Iranian media shows rockets Fired at Israel,” read text in an April 14 Instagram video. 

    (Screenshot from Instagram)

    This post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.)

    Reverse image search results showed that the video has been online since at least 2016. We found the same footage dated June 14, 2016, on a Russian website (timestamp: 0:31), with a caption that Google translated to: “News today ATO DPR Donbass Grad Armed Forces of Ukraine Shelling.”

    We also saw the clip in a YouTube video uploaded Feb. 21, 2017, titled, “Night volley of Russian MLRS ‘Grad’. Fire!!!” Grad is a multiple launch rocket system, also called MLRS.

    This video does not show Iran’s April 13 attack on Israel. We rate that claim False.

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  • Congress does not come back with a warrant

    Congress does not come back with a warrant

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    In this week’s The Reason Roundtable, editors Matt Welch, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Peter Suderman contextualize Iran’s retaliatory strike against Israel before bemoaning the recent vote in Congress on the renewal of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

    02:20—Iran’s retaliatory strike on Israel

    13:05—House votes to reauthorize Section 702 of FISA.

    29:21—Weekly Listener Question

    42:00—Arizona Supreme Court rules on law that would ban nearly all abortions.

    47:23—This week’s cultural recommendations

    Mentioned in this podcast:

    “Iran Attacks Israel,” by Liz Wolfe

    “Biden Sends U.S. Forces To Protect Israel’s Borders for the First Time Ever,” by Matthew Petti

    “What’s the Root Cause of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict?” by Eli Lake and Jeremy Hammond

    “After Hamas Attack, There Are No Good Options in the Middle East,” by Matt Welch, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Peter Suderman

    “The Iranian Coup that Led to 67 Years of Reckless Intervention,” by Nick Gillespie

    “Come Back With a Warrant,” by Eric Boehm

    “Biden Hints at Freedom for Julian Assange,” by J.D. Tuccille

    “Edward Snowden: The Individual Is More Powerful Today Than Ever Before,” by Nick Gillespie

    “‘Selective Surveillance Outrage’ and ‘Situational Libertarianism’ Isn’t Good Enough, Congress!” by Nick Gillespie

    “Why We Get the Police State We Deserve—and What We Can Do to Fix That,” by Nick Gillespie

    “Supreme Court Says Officials Who Block Critics on Social Media Might Be Violating the First Amendment,” by Jacob Sullum

    “Everyone Agrees Government Is a Hot Mess. So Why Does It Keep Getting Bigger Anyway?” by Nick Gillespie

    “In Defense of Roe” by Nick Gillespie

    “Abortion & Libertarianism: Nick Gillespie, Ronald Bailey, Mollie Hemingway, & Katherine Mangu-Ward“

    “Trump’s Abortion Stance Is Convenient, but That Does Not Mean He’s Wrong,” by Jacob Sullum

    “What Leaving Abortion Up to the States Really Means,” by Elizabeth Nolan Brown

    “William F. Buckley, RIP,” by Jacob Sullum

    “Radical Squares,” by Nick Gillespie

    “FDR: A One-Man Show,” by Chris Elliott

    “The Big Guy’s Last Drink,” by Peter Suderman

    The Libertarian Moment, UFC300 edition (Renato Moicano invokes Mises)

    Send your questions to roundtable@reason.com. Be sure to include your social media handle and the correct pronunciation of your name.

    Today’s sponsor:

    • What’s the first thing you’d do if you had an extra hour in your day? A lot of us spend our lives wishing we had more time. The question is, time for what? If time was unlimited, how would you use it? The best way to squeeze that special thing into your schedule is to know what’s important to you, and make it a priority. Therapy can help you find what matters to you, so you can do more of it. If you’re thinking of starting therapy, give BetterHelp a try. It’s entirely online. Designed to be convenient, flexible, and suited to your schedule. Just fill out a brief questionnaire to get matched with a licensed therapist, and switch therapists any time for no additional charge. Learn to make time for what makes you happy, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/roundtable today to get 10 percent off your first month.

    Audio production by Ian Keyser

    Assistant production by Hunt Beaty

    Music: “Angeline,” by The Brothers Steve

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    Matt Welch

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  • 4/15: CBS Morning News

    4/15: CBS Morning News

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    4/15: CBS Morning News – CBS News


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    Israel vows to “exact a price” after Iran attack; Golden retrievers and owners meet up to honor Boston Marathon’s official dog.

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  • Fake Footage of Iran’s Attack on Israel Is Going Viral

    Fake Footage of Iran’s Attack on Israel Is Going Viral

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    In the hours after Iran announced its drone and missile attack on Israel on April 13, fake and misleading posts went viral almost immediately on X. The Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), a nonprofit think-tank, found a number of posts that claimed to reveal the strikes and their impact, but instead used AI-generated videos, photos, and repurposed footage from other conflicts that showed rockets launching into the night, explosions, and even President Joe Biden in military fatigues.

    Just 34 of these misleading posts received over 37 million views, according to ISD. Many of the accounts posting the misinformation were also verified, meaning they have paid X $8 per month for the ‘blue tick’ and their content is amplified by the platform’s algorithm. ISD also found that several of the accounts claimed to be open source intelligence (OSINT) experts, which has, in recent years, become another way of giving legitimacy to their posts.

    One X post claimed that “WW3 has officially started,” and included a video seeming to show rockets being shot into the night—except the video was actually from a YouTube video posted in 2021. Another post claimed to show the use of the Iron Dome, Israel’s missile defense system, during the attack, but the video was actually from October 2023. Both these posts garnered hundreds of thousands of views in the hours after the strike was announced, and both originated from verified accounts. Iranian media also shared a video of the wildfires in Chile earlier this year, claiming it showed the aftermath of the attacks. This, too, began to circulate on X.

    “The fact that so much mis- and disinformation is being spread by accounts looking for clout or financial benefit is giving cover to even more nefarious actors, including Iranian state media outlets who are passing off footage from the Chilean wildfires as damage from Iranian strikes on Israel to claim the operation as a military success,” says Isabelle Frances-Wright, director of technology and society at ISD. “The corrosion of the information landscape is undermining the ability of audiences to distinguish truth from falsehood on a terrible scale.”

    X did not respond to a request for comment by time of publication.

    Though misinformation around conflict and crises has long found a home on social media, X is often also used for vital real-time information. But under Elon Musk’s leadership, the company cut back on content moderation and disinformation has thrived. In the days following the October 7 Hamas attack, X was flooded with disinformation, making it difficult for legitimate OSINT researchers to surface information. Under Musk, X has promoted a crowd-sourced community notes function as a way to combat misinformation on the platform to varying results. Some of the content identified by ISD has since received community notes, though only two posts had by the time the organization published its findings.

    “During times of crisis it seems to be a repeating pattern on platforms such as X where premium accounts are inherently tainting the information ecosystem with half truths as well as falsehoods either through misidentified media, or blatantly false imagery suggesting that an event has been caused by a certain actor or state,” says Moustafa Ayad, ISD executive director for Asia, the Middle East and Africa. “This continues to happen and will continue to happen in the future, making it even more difficult to know what is real and what is not.”

    And for those that are part of X’s subscription model and ad revenue sharing model, going viral could potentially mean making money.

    Though it’s not clear that any of the users spreading fake or misleading information identified by ISD were monetizing their content, a separate report released by the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) earlier this month found that between October 7 and February 7, ten influencers, including far-right influencer Jackson Hinkle, were able to grow their followings by posting antisemitic and Islmaphobic content about the conflict. Six of the accounts CCDH examined were part of X’s subscription program, and all ten were verified users. The high-profile influencers part of X’s ad revenue sharing program receive a cut of advertising revenue based on ”organic impressions of ads displayed in replies” to their content, according to the company.

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    Vittoria Elliott

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  • Stock market today: Stocks try to rebound as investors shake off Mideast tensions, focus on earnings

    Stock market today: Stocks try to rebound as investors shake off Mideast tensions, focus on earnings

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    Homebuilder stocks fell on Monday after a closely watched housing sentiment index broke a four-month streak of gains amid high mortgage rates.

    The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) stayed at 51 in April, unchanged from March. To be sure, any number over 50 indicates that more builders view conditions as good than poor.

    “April’s flat reading suggests potential for demand growth is there, but buyers are hesitating until they can better gauge where interest rates are headed,” NAHB chief economist Robert Dietz said in a statement.

    Lennar (LEN), Pulte (PHM), and Toll Brothers (TOL) were all down more than 1% mid-morning, while the SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF (XHB) was off 0.3%.

    The flat confidence level among builders underscores how many prospective buyers and sellers, already dealing with high home prices and limited housing stock, are staying put. It comes after a higher-than-expected inflation print last week prompted investors to scale back the number of rate cuts they see this year to two, less than the median of three projected by the Fed at its March meeting.

    “With the markets now adjusting to rates being somewhat higher due to recent inflation readings, we still anticipate the Federal Reserve will announce future rate cuts later this year and that mortgage rates will moderate in the second half of 2024,” Dietz said.

    Mortgage rates have stayed slightly higher compared to the beginning of the year, pushing borrowers to the sidelines just as the spring homebuying season kicks into gear. The average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose to 6.88%, higher than 6.82% the previous week, Freddie Mac reported.

    In April, builders pulled back slightly on cutting home prices, with 22% of builders reporting doing so, down from 24% in March and 36% in December last year.

    Meanwhile, the use of sales incentives ticked down to 57% in April from a reading of 60% in March.

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  • Israel vows to ‘exact a price’ after Iran’s attack. Here’s what analysts expect could happen

    Israel vows to ‘exact a price’ after Iran’s attack. Here’s what analysts expect could happen

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    Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from the city of Ashkelon, Israel October 9, 2023.

    Amir Cohen | Reuters

    Israel has vowed to “exact a price” from Iran in retaliation for the large-scale aerial assault on the Jewish state this weekend — while some analysts expect Israel to respond, the timing and extent of that retaliation remains in question.

    Iran launched more than 300 drones and missiles against military targets inside Israel on Saturday, in what President Joe Biden described as “unprecedented.”

    “Right now, they certainly are seriously considering direct strikes on Iran, because that is a clearest path back to deterrence,” according to Ryan Bohl, senior Middle East and North Africa analyst at risk intelligence platform Rane Network.

    But Israel will need to strike a delicate balance, he noted, highlighting that “they don’t want an overt conflict with Iran.”

    The less risky tactic is a “covert escalation,” where the Israelis will be “looking for ways where they can get their shadow war back into the shadows with greater intensity,” Bohl told CNBC’s “Squawk Box Asia” on Monday.

    While Biden has pledged an “ironclad” commitment to Israel’s security against Iranian threats, he has also made clear to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the U.S. will not participate in any offensive operations against Iran, a senior administration official told NBC News.

    Ahead of a war cabinet meeting on Sunday, Israel’s centrist minister Benny Gantz vowed to “build a regional coalition and exact the price from Iran in the fashion and timing that is right for us.”

    Iran has said the attack on Israel was in response to an Israeli strike on its embassy compound in Damascus, Syria earlier this month. The Islamic regime has accused Israel of the April 1 attack which killed seven Iranian military personnel, including senior commanders.

    Iran’s envoy to the United Nations cited self-defense for the country’s actions.

    “This action was in the exercise of Iran’s inherent right to self-defense as outlined in Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, and in response to the Israeli recurring military aggressions, particularly its armed attack on 1st April 2024 against Iranian diplomatic premises,” Iran’s UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said.

    ‘Extreme retaliation’ later?

    Israel and Iran have been at odds for decades, with Iran funding and supporting groups opposing Israel including Palestinian militant group Hamas, with the ongoing conflict in Gaza often referred to as a proxy war between Israel and Iran. 

    Tehran has also been supporting Lebanon’s Hezbollah, Yemeni Houthis as well as the Syrian regime under President Bashar al-Assad.

    “Strategically, I think you will get a movement from Israel within a week,” said David Roche, president and global strategist at Independent Strategy, who does not expect Israeli forces to attack Iranian oil facilities as it would “displease all of their supporters” like the United States.

    Roche said Israel’s immediate response may be moderate, but he did not rule out that an “extreme retaliation” may still be on the cards in about a year or more from now.

    “If you got the most extreme form of retaliation — which I don’t think you will get now — but you will get inevitably within a year or 18 months, against Iran’s nuclear capacity, then I think you’re into a market meltdown,” he told CNBC on Monday.

    In any case, what the U.S. wants is de-escalation, said Roche. “But I stress you’re de-escalating within a higher level of escalation, which is here to stay, which I think due to the nuclear threat from Iran, is destined to move higher over the next 18 months by a big jump.”

    What’s next for Iran?

    No matter how Israel responds, Iran is going to “try to rattle the global economy increasingly,” Bohl said — but only “just enough that the United States puts diplomatic pressure on Israel to de-escalate,” he added.

    On Saturday, prior to the drone and missile strike against Israel, Iran seized an Israeli-linked container ship in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical trade route for oil.

    “That sort of harassment and behavior is likely to continue in some fashion, what scale of it is probably going to be gauged by how hard Israel goes after Iran,” said Bohl.

    Iran has indicated that its attack on Israel has ended for now.

    “The matter can be deemed concluded,” Iran’s mission to the United Nations said on social media platform X.

    However, it warned “should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran’s response will be considerably more severe,” adding that the U.S. should “stay away” from the conflict between Israel and Iran.

    — CNBC’s Sumathi Bala contributed to this report.

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  • Why Iran attacked Israel and what comes next

    Why Iran attacked Israel and what comes next

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    (CNN) — The wave of drones and missiles that flew towards Israel overnight on Sunday brought with it a new phase of tension, uncertainty and confrontation in the Middle East.

    Iran launched the unprecedented attack in response to a suspected Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, earlier this month.

    It marked a new chapter in a discord between the two states that percolated for years and has spiralled since Israel declared war on Hamas last October.

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    Rob Picheta and CNN

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  • Bay Area faith leaders express concerns over tensions in the Middle East

    Bay Area faith leaders express concerns over tensions in the Middle East

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    Bay Area faith leaders are hoping the increasing tensions in the Middle East won’t widen the conflict further or lead to an increase in hate crimes and violence in the region.

    It was a quieter night in Israel Sunday after the country’s “iron dome” missile defense system did its job, countering Iran’s incoming drones and missiles. U.S. Central Command also helped shoot down more than 80 weapons.

    “Yes, there’s quiet today. But I think what most people expressed that there was kind of a dual feeling of hope for peace but bracing for a storm,” said Rabbi Mark Bloom with Congregation Beth Abraham Oakland.

    Bloom and some members of his Oakland Congregation gathered Saturday while the assault was underway.

    “The first concern was for of course for our Israeli brothers and sisters in Israel. But secondly it was about the antisemitism here. We know it happens. It happens even when Israel doesn’t respond,” he said.

    The Oakland congregation just received about a quarter of $1 million for security upgrades to help protect visitors to their temple from hate crimes.

    It’s part of nearly $40 million in grants California Gov. Gavin Newsom awarded to reinforce security at non-profits across the state.

    Several Bay Area community groups including a Fremont Islamic center received grants, totaling millions of dollars.

    “These grants are often extremely small when you compare them to the cost of a weapons system,. But they can do a lot of good in strengthening a society and strengthening morale and strengthening for example intelligence capabilities,” said Dr. Karthika Sasikumar, a SJSU professor and international security expert.

    Sasikumar said that she is also concerned things could escalate but she is hopeful they won’t after Iran stopped its assault and said it would end hostilities with the drone attack.

    “The way which Iran conducted its retaliation was intended to bring tempers down a bit and I think it has succeeded in that objective,” Sasikumar said.

    But the question remains: will the peace overseas and in the Bay Area communities last?

    “We also know that sympathy today, when Israel attempts to fight back and defend itself, turns to hatred tomorrow against Jews, not just in Israel, but Jews right here, locally here in the Bay Area,” Bloom said.

    An Israeli official told NBC News Sunday that Israel will respond to Iran’s attack. But no final decisions have been made on the size or timing of the response. In the meantime, Iran doubled down on its right to self-defense.

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    Thom Jensen

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  • Face The Nation: McKenzie, Vinograd, Georgieva

    Face The Nation: McKenzie, Vinograd, Georgieva

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    Face The Nation: McKenzie, Vinograd, Georgieva – CBS News


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    Missed the second half of the show? The latest on…Gen. Frank McKenzie, former commander of U.S. Central Command, tells “Face the Nation” that his “strategic” advice to Israel is that its response to Iran should be “narrow” and have a “definable beginning and a definable end”, Samantha Vinograd, CBS News homeland security contributor and former Homeland Security official, tells “Face the Nation” that terrorist organizations have been “using the Israel-Hamas conflict to try to inspire supporters and operatives all around the world to act”, and Kristalina Georgieva, International Monetary Fund director, tells “Face the Nation” that the economic impact of the Middle East instability so far has been “somewhat moderate,” but “any impact as small as it might be is not desirable in an economy with high uncertainty and inflation still not being brought down to target.”

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  • 4/14: Face the Nation

    4/14: Face the Nation

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    4/14: Face the Nation – CBS News


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    This week on “Face the Nation,” as the world waits for what Israel’s response will be after the Israel Defense Forces said it intercepted more than 300 Iranian drones and missiles, President Biden spoke to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. John Kirby, White House National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, joins Margaret Brennan, along with House Foreign Affairs Committee chair Rep. Michael McCaul.

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