Foreign
US investigating release of classified documents on Israel’s planned strike on Iran
The top-secret documents highlight that Israel is mobilizing military assets in preparation for a military response to Iran’s recent ballistic missile attack on October 1.
The United States government is investigating the unauthorized release of classified documents that detail Israel’s military strategies concerning a potential attack on Iran.
According to three U.S. officials who spoke to the Associated Press, a fourth source confirmed the legitimacy of the documents, which were attributed to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and the National Security Agency (NSA).
The top-secret documents highlight that Israel is mobilizing military assets in preparation for a military response to Iran’s recent ballistic missile attack on October 1.
Notably, the documents were sharable within the intelligence-sharing alliance known as the “Five Eyes,” which includes the U.S., Great Britain, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.
First reported by CNN and Axios, the sensitive materials were posted on the Telegram messaging app, prompting immediate concerns over national security.
Officials, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, revealed that the investigation is probing the origins of the leak, including whether it stemmed from an intentional disclosure by someone within the U.S. intelligence community or if it was acquired through alternative means such as hacking.
AP reports that the U.S. has urged Israel to capitalize on the elimination of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar by pushing for a cease-fire in Gaza.
The U.S. has also strongly cautioned Israel against escalating military operations in northern Lebanon, warning of the potential for a wider regional conflict.
Despite this, Israeli leadership has reiterated its stance of responding decisively to missile attacks from Iran.
In a statement, the Pentagon acknowledged awareness of the leaked documents but declined to provide further comment.
The Israeli military has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the leak of two documents, which first surfaced online Friday via a Telegram channel claiming the leak originated from within the U.S. intelligence community.
The information appears to have been compiled through satellite image analysis.
One of the leaked documents was formatted similarly to materials from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, previously leaked by Jack Teixeira, an Air National Guardsman who pleaded guilty in March to charges related to disclosing highly classified military documents concerning Russia’s war in Ukraine and other national security matters.
The Telegram channel responsible for the leak identifies itself as based in Tehran, Iran’s capital, and has previously shared content featuring Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as well as material supporting Tehran’s so-called “Axis of Resistance,” which includes militant groups in the Middle East armed by the Islamic Republic.
Foreign
There will be no same sex marriage again -Trump vows to end ‘transgender madness ‘
President-elect Donald Trump on Sunday pledged to “stop the transgender lunacy” on day one of his presidency, as Republicans — set to control both chambers of Congress and the White House — continue their push against LGBTQ rights.
“I will sign executive orders to end child sexual mutilation, get transgender out of the military and out of our elementary schools and middle schools and high schools,” the president-elect said at an event for young conservatives in Phoenix, Arizona.
He also vowed to “keep men out of women’s sports,” adding that “it will be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female.”
Speaking to the AmericaFest conference in a border state he easily carried in the November election, Trump further promised immediate measures against “migrant crime,” vowed to designate drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, and doubled down on his talk of restoring US control of the Panama Canal.
Transgender issues have roiled US politics in recent years, as Democratic- and Republican-controlled states have moved in opposite directions on policy such as medical treatment and what books on the topic are allowed in public or school libraries.
Last week, when the US Congress approved its annual defense budget, it included a provision to block funding of some gender-affirming care for the transgender children of service members.
In his speech Sunday, which amounted to something of a victory lap, Trump made expansive promises for his second term — and drew a dark picture of the four years preceding it, under President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the latter of whom he defeated in the 2024 election.
“On January 20, the United States will turn the page forever on four long, horrible years of failure, incompetence, national decline, and we will inaugurate a new era of peace, prosperity and national greatness,” Trump said, referring to his swearing-in.
– ‘Golden age’ –
“I will end the war in Ukraine. I will stop the chaos in the Middle East, and I will prevent, I promise, World War III.”
He added: “The golden age of America is upon us.”
Foreign
Fresh Israeli Airstrikes In Gaza Kill 25 Palestinians Including Children
Fresh Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip have killed at least 25 Palestinians, according to medics.
The casualties on Friday included at least eight people in an apartment in the Nuseirat refugee camp and 10 others in the town of Jabalia, among them seven children.
Efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have yet to succeed.
Sources involved in the negotiations told Reuters on Thursday that Qatar and Egypt had resolved some points of contention but key issues remain unresolved.
Israel launched its assault on Gaza following Hamas-led attacks on Israeli communities on October 7, 2023.
The attacks resulted in the deaths of 1200 people and the abduction of over 250 hostages, according to Israeli reports.
Israel states that approximately 100 hostages are still being held, though it is unclear how many remain alive.
Gaza authorities report that Israel’s ongoing campaign has killed more than 45,000 Palestinians and displaced the majority of the 2.3 million residents.
Much of the territory has reportedly been devastated by the conflict.
Foreign
Biden signs bipartisan funding bill to keep government open
President Biden signed the stopgap funding bill that will keep the government open until March, punting the thornier issues surrounding the nation’s finances to the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump.
A bloated 1,500-page funding measure was exploded by Trump and his top ally Elon Musk earlier this week as they demanded a pared-down version.
The parties were able to cobble a stopgap bill together Friday evening, which passed the Senate early Saturday morning.
The package funds the government at current levels until March 14, 2025, and includes $100 billion in hurricane relief funds and $10 billion in aid to farmers.
With the stopgap funding only running until March, an almost certain clash is looming between Trump and GOP spending hardliners when Congress reconvenes in January.
“The bipartisan funding bill I just signed keeps the government open and delivers the urgently needed disaster relief that I requested for recovering communities as well as the funds needed to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge,” Biden said in a statement after inking the deal.
The post Biden signs bipartisan funding bill to keep government open appeared first on New York Post.
-
Opinion22 hours ago
HASSAN TAIYE EJIBUNU: CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE, HUMILITY, AND ALTRUISM
-
News24 hours ago
Bandits snatch Christmas foodstuffs, drinks from Kaduna residents
-
News23 hours ago
Tinubu Bombs Obasa Over Controversial Lagos Council Law
-
News19 hours ago
Just in: Ooni Ex- Queen Naomi, Oriyomi Hamzat, others to spend Christmas in prison
-
News16 hours ago
BREAKING: Human Rights Lawyer Dele Farotimi Released
-
News23 hours ago
Mozambique Top Court Confirms Ruling Party Disputed Win
-
News17 hours ago
NASC backpedals reverses Atiku’s appointment as DCNA, replaces him with Yero
-
News14 hours ago
WATCH moment Tinubu hails FCT minister for his doggedness, sterling performance