US News
- Trump will announce his “Deal of the Century” on Tuesday. The deal is meant to resolve the Israeli occupation of Palestine. However, Palestinians have already rejected many of the details of the plan that have been leaked. [Link]
- Daniel Larison explains how fearmongering swings what countries Americans believe threaten us. [Link]
- The nuclear arms control agreement New START will expire in one year without an extension. [Link]
Assange
- Assange has been moved out of solitary confinement but continues to be held at a maximum-security prison. [Link]
Afghanistan
- A US Air Force plane was downed in Afghanistan. The Taliban claim to have shot the plane down. [Link] The US disputes the claim the Taliban downed the plane and said there were less than five people on the plane. [Link]
- An Afghan government airstrike killed at least seven civilians. [Link]
- At least 9.4 million Afghans require humanitarian assistance. The number in need increased 3 million over last year. [Link]
Iran
- Iran’s Foreign Minister says his country is open to talks with the US. Trump responded by tweeting, “no thanks.” [Link]
- Iran is planning to put a satellite into space. The US claims Iran is using its space program to build a missile that can deliver a nuclear weapon. However, the US has failed to ever provide proof for this claim. [Link]
Syria
- General McKenzie tells US forces in Syria that they will be there for a while. [Link]
- Militants attack a Syrian oil refinery. [Link]
- Syrian forces take a key city from rebels in Idlib. [Link]
Iraq
- The Pentagon now says 34 soldiers suffered some degree of brain damage in the Iranian missile attack. [Link]
- Iraqi protesters assembled in the capital – at the behest of influential Shia cleric Sadr – to demand the US leave Iraq. [Link]
- Three rockets hit the US Embassy in Baghdad. At least one rocket caused damage to the building. At least one person was injured. [Link]
- Pompeo says the US is outraged over Iranian attack on US facilities in Iraq. Pompeo has failed to provide evidence that Iran is behind the attack against US facilities. [Link]
- The US stops weapon shipments to Iraq. [Link]
Yemen
- A dengue fever outbreak is killing Yemenis in the key port city Hodeida. Across Yemen, over 270 people have died from the virus, and over 70,000 people are suspected of having contracted it. [Link]
- The Houthi are making military progress against the Saudi backed government. Saudi has been carrying out more airstrikes in Yemen. At least 20 have been killed in recent fighting. [Link]