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As Iran Attack Looms, Competing US, Russian Roles Surface
Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with then-Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi during a meeting in Moscow, Russia, Dec. 7, 2023. Photo: Sputnik/Sergei Bobylev/Pool via REUTERS
JNS.org – As tensions between Israel and the Iranian axis mount in the Middle East, the United States and Russia are playing increasingly prominent and competing roles in the region.
Russia’s dependence on Iran has significantly intensified in light of its ongoing war against Ukraine, which it appears to have recently repaid by helping the Islamic Republic increase its readiness for further direct conflict with Israel.
Faced with the depletion of its own missile stockpiles, Russia has turned to Iran for critical supplies. Iran has reportedly provided Russia with around 400 surface-to-surface ballistic missiles, including models from the Fateh-110 family, which are crucial for Russia’s operational capabilities. Additionally, Iran has supplied thousands of drones, notably the Shahed-136, which have been used extensively in Ukraine.
Iran’s support for Russia extends to significant production assistance. The Islamic Republic has helped establish a production factory on Russian soil dedicated to manufacturing 10,000 Iranian-designed drones a year, according to a February report by Defense One.
It appears as if the payback from Russia is materializing. According to a report by The New York Times on Tuesday, Russia has begun delivering advanced radars and air-defense equipment to Iran. There are also unconfirmed reports that Iran has received electronic warfare systems from Russia to enhance its defenses. Meanwhile, Tehran continues to press Russia to deliver SU-35 fighter jets.
At the same time, Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly advised Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to exercise restraint following the July 31 assassination of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Tehran has blamed Israel for the killing and threatened to retaliate. According to Reuters, Putin, through Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of the Russian Security Council, recommended that Iran avoid striking Israeli civilian targets.
In Yemen, Russia’s involvement has deepened, with the Middle East Eye citing United States officials on Aug. 2 regarding the presence of Russian military intelligence in the country. Russian officers are reportedly advising the Houthis on targeting vessels in the Red Sea.
Parallel concerns have been raised about potential Russian arms supplies to the Houthis, as raised in a report by CNN the same day, with Russia reportedly canceling at the last minute plans to supply the Houthis with weapons. The Russian supplies were intended as a means of pressuring Washington over its support for Ukraine. The cancellation followed U.S. and Saudi pressure on Moscow, according to the report.
Russia’s support for Iran highlights its intent to counter U.S. influence and strengthen its foothold in the region, which is already significant due to Russia’s near decade-long military presence in Syria, on Israel’s doorstep.
Conversely, the United States has been attempting to stabilize the region through a mix of intensive diplomacy and a military presence which has mostly focused on defensive missions, with limited offensive strikes on Iran-backed forces in Yemen and Iraq.
In recent days, the United States has again boosted its military presence and posture in the Middle East. Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, Commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which is responsible for the Middle East, visited Israel on Monday for joint situational assessments with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The three discussed defensive and offensive operational plans ahead of the expected Iranian-axis attack.
The Pentagon announced on Aug. 2 the deployment of additional military assets to the Middle East, including F-22 Raptor fighter jets, ballistic missile defense-capable Navy cruisers, and destroyers.
According to professor Robert Freedman, a leading U.S. expert on Israel, the Middle East and American foreign policy, “Russia does not want an Israeli-Iranian war, as it demonstrated in April.”
Such a war “would pose problems of choice for Russia and, most likely, interfere in Iranian arms deliveries to Russia,” he told JNS.
Freedman, who has advised policymakers in the State Department, the Central Intelligence Agency, the Israeli Defense Ministry and the Israeli Foreign Ministry, added that, “Despite having an air base and a naval base in Syria, Russia simply does not have the firepower the United States has in the region.”
Indeed, he continued, “it has withdrawn some of its assets from Syria and its Black Sea fleet, badly hurt by Ukraine, seems bottled up there.”
Thus, “The display of U.S. power in the region will reassure U.S. allies, not just Israel, and may serve to deter Iran from a larger response to the Haniyeh assassination than they would have liked,” he said.
One thing appears clear going forward: As war continues to rage in both the Middle East and eastern Europe, the world appears to once again be witnessing the rise of global blocs locked in confrontation.
The post As Iran Attack Looms, Competing US, Russian Roles Surface first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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‘Explode Everything’: Jordanian Charged for Threats to Bomb US Businesses Perceived to Support Israel
An American flag waves outside the US Department of Justice Building in Washington, DC. Photo: Al Drago via Reuters Connect
US law enforcement officials have arrested and charged a Jordanian national who allegedly attacked an energy facility and threatened to bomb businesses that he deemed supportive of Israel, the Justice Department announced on Thursday.
According to federal prosecutors, the alleged crimes of Hashem Younis Hashem Hnaihen, 43, began earlier this summer, with his vandalizing small businesses in Orange County, Florida, and leaving “Warning Letters” addressed to the US government in which he vowed to “destroy or explode everything here in America. Especially the companies and factories that support the racist state of Israel.”
As other anti-Israel agitators have done, Hnaihen concealed his face with a mask, which complicated efforts to identify him.
In late June, according to the Justice Department, Hnaihen breached an energy facility in Wedgefield, Florida, where he “smashed” scores of solar panels and damaged other “electronic equipment.” The spree of infrastructure sabotage lasted “for hours,” the department added, destroying $700,000 worth of technology. In his last alleged act, in early July, Hnaihen left a final warning letter at an industrial propane gas distribution depot located in the city of Orlando. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department arrested him on July 11.
“We allege that the defendant threatened to carry out hate-fueled mass violence in our country, motivated in part by a desire to target businesses for their perceived support of Israel,” US Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement on Thursday. “Such acts and threats of violence, whether they are targeting the places that Americans frequent every day or our country’s critical infrastructure, are extremely dangerous and will not be tolerated by the Justice Department.”
FBI Director Christopher Wray added,” Violence and destruction of property to threaten and intimidate others will never be tolerated. The FBI and our partners will work together to pursue and hold accountable those who resort to violence.”
Hnaihen faces five charges, four related to his threatening letters and one for wreaking havoc on the energy facility, crimes for which he may, if convicted, spend the rest of his natural life in prison. His “Warning Letters” alone, each of which carries 10-year maximum sentences, would keep him behind bars for 40 years, at which time he will be an octogenarian. His fifth charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
The 43 year old is not the first person whose alleged anti-Israel or anti-Jewish actions prompted the involvement of the federal government.
On Monday, the Justice Department announced that former Cornell University student Patrick Dai, who threatened to perpetrate heinous crimes against members of the school’s Jewish community after Hamas’ Oct. 7 massacre across southern Israel, was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison.
Last October, Dai raised the possibility of antisemitic violence at Cornell when he posted several statements calling for murdering Jews and raping Jewish women on a popular social media forum. In addition to threatening the lives of Cornell’s 3,500 Jewish students, who are 22 percent of the school’s student population, the posts threatened an attack on a campus kosher dining hall — named 104West — affiliated with the Steven K. And Winifred A. Grinspoon Hillel Center.
“Gonna shoot up 104 west… Allahu akbar! from the river to the sea, palestine will be free! glory to hamas! liberation by any means necessary!” one of his posts said. Another read, “If I see a pig male jew i will stab you and slit your throat. if i see another pig female jew i will drag you away and rape you and throw you off a cliff. if i see another pig baby jew i will behead you in front of your parents [sic].”
The Justice Department said Dai also vowed to “bring an assault rifle to campus and shoot all you pig Jews.”
“The defendant’s threats terrorized the Cornell campus community for days and shattered the community’s sense of safety,” Carla Freedman, US attorney for the Northern District of New York, said in a statement on Monday. “My office will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute threats and acts of violence motivated by antisemitism and hatred of any kind.”
Follow Dion J. Pierre @DionJPierre.
The post ‘Explode Everything’: Jordanian Charged for Threats to Bomb US Businesses Perceived to Support Israel first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Connecticut State Rep. Who Attacked Primary Opponent for Being Jewish Loses by More Than 25 Points
Connecticut state representative Anabel Figueroa. Photo: Screenshot
Connecticut State Rep. Anabel Figueroa lost overwhelmingly in her Democratic primary this week after attacking her opponent for being Jewish.
Figueroa, who was the incumbent in the race and represents parts of the city of Stamford, lost 62.6 percent to 37.4 percent on Tuesday to her Democratic primary challenger Jonathan Jacobson, who is Jewish.
Jacobson’s ethnic background became an issue in the race after Figueroa attacked him for being Jewish.
“The Hispanic vote is going to determine on Aug. 13 who will win to represent or who will continue to represent you,” Figueroa said in a Spanish-language interview filmed on July 28. “We cannot permit a person who is of Jewish origin, of Jewish origin, to represent our community. It’s impossible.”
The comments were met with widespread backlash.
The Stamford Democratic City Committee (DCC) called on Figueroa to resign.
“The use of this blatant antisemitic and anti-democratic language is abhorrent, unacceptable, and contrary to our shared values as Democrats,” it wrote in a statement. “The sentiments expressed by Representative Figueroa in that video contradict the statement she issued yesterday in response to the antisemitic Facebook post shared by a DCC member, who is also one of her supporters.”
One of Figueroa’s supporters, who is also a member of the Stamford DCC, had reportedly made antisemitic remarks about Jacobson as well.
The statement concluded, “This shameful behavior not only demonstrates a lack of integrity and character but makes Anabel Figueroa unfit to serve in office, and we call on her to resign immediately as a member of the Stamford Democratic City Committee.”
The Connecticut branch of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) wrote on X/Twitter: “Rep Figueroa’s statement was outrageous and her apology equivocal. To accuse Jewish politicians of being unable to represent all constituents is unacceptable.”
In response to the condemnations, Figueroa issued an apology.
“I am deeply sorry to those in the Stamford and Jewish communities that I have offended,” she said. “I have multiple Jewish people working on my campaign, and antisemitism has no place in Stamford — again, I apologize.”
She then explained the original sentiment behind her comments.
“My message is that we need leaders who represent our districts. There is almost no Latino representation in Hartford, and I am currently the only Latina State Representative in Southern Connecticut,” Figueroa said. “There is a strong Latino community in the 148th district, and I will ensure their voice is at the table and never leaves it. This has nothing to do with religion, and as a bilingual speaker, I misspoke when describing my opponent’s background. I am deeply and sincerely sorry.”
Jacobson said the real reason he won the election was not due to her comments, but rather to policy differences.
“Ultimately, her hate, that’s not what lost her the election; her hate is not what won me the election,” he said, according to the New York Times.
The post Connecticut State Rep. Who Attacked Primary Opponent for Being Jewish Loses by More Than 25 Points first appeared on Algemeiner.com.