International
Biden emphasizes that US support for Israel against Iran is “steal”
US President Joe Biden stressed after meeting with his National Security team that the United States’ commitment to Israel against Iran is “stiron.”
The president accompanied his message in X with a photo of the meeting in the crisis room of the White House, known as the ‘Situation Room’, in which he is next to the Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and the Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, among others.
Both Biden and Blinken, who appear from the front, are seen with a serious countenance, in a suit but without a tie.
The National Security team, an emergency meeting this Saturday afternoon, also included the director of the CIA, Bill Burns; the White House National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, and the head of the Joint Chief of Staff, Charles Brown, among others, as previously reported by the White House.
Biden had planned to spend the weekend at his beach residence in Delaware but returned unexpectedly just before the Iranian attack on Israel was confirmed.
That offensive comes in retaliation against Israel for the attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus that killed seven members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, in addition to destroying the building attached to the Tehran embassy, which was the residence of the Iranian ambassador.
US President Joe Biden assured the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, of his support against Iran. He assured that US forces have helped to stop that attack and advanced that he will summon his G7 counterparts to coordinate a diplomatic response.
“I have told him that Israel has demonstrated a remarkable ability to defend itself against and even defeat unprecedented attacks – sending a key message to its enemies that they cannot effectively threaten Israel’s security,” he said in a statement released by the White House.
The presidential statement assures that the United States helped Israel tonight to “smoill almost all incoming drones and missiles” launched by Iran or its allied militias in the region, which the Israeli Ministry of Defense quantified at just over 200.
Since the US Presidency, US support had been reaffirmed in recent days and this same Saturday, but this phone call offered the Democratic president the opportunity to communicate it directly to Netanyahu on the same day that Iran fulfilled its threat.
Biden pointed out that under his instructions, and to support the defense of Israel, last week the US Army moved planes and defense destroyers against ballistic missiles to the region.
The president condemned the Iranian attack “as firmly as possible.” He recalled that it originated, not only in Iran, but also in Yemen, Syria and Iraq, where Allied militias in Tehran operate.
This Sunday, according to Biden, the United States will summon the rest of the G7 leaders “to coordinate a united diplomatic response to Iran’s brazen attack.”
Biden added that although the United States has not recorded attacks against its forces or facilities this Saturday, it will remain vigilant about it and will not hesitate to “take the necessary steps” to protect its people.
The Pentagon reported that its forces in the Middle East remain in an alert position to protect its soldiers and allies after intercepting “dozens of missiles and drones aimed at Israel” launched by Iran and its allied militias.
“US forces in the Middle East on April 13 intercepted dozens of missiles and drones aimed at Israel launched from Iran, Iraq, Syria and Yemen. Our forces remain deployed to protect US troops and our allies in the region, provide support to Israeli defense and promote regional stability,” U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said in a statement.
The head of the Pentagon condemned “the unprecedented and irresponsible attacks” of Iran and its allies, and asked them to stop any plan for new attacks and reduce the escalation of tension with Israel.
“We are not looking for the conflict with Iran, but we will not hesitate to act to protect our forces and in support of the defense of Israel,” Austin said.
Former US President and electoral pre-candidate Donald Trump (2017-2021) showed the country’s support for Israel. He considered that Iran’s attack would not have occurred if he had been in the White House.
“UNITED STATES SUPPORTS ISRAEL!” he said on his social network, Truth Social.
The former Republican president added in another message on that same account that “the attack should never have been allowed to take place.” He emphasized that that “NEWR” is what would have happened if he were president.
International
Trump orders immediate U.S. nuclear testing, ending 30-year moratorium
U.S. President Donald Trump’s order to begin “immediate” testing of the country’s nuclear arsenal could, if carried out, end the nuclear testing moratorium that the United States has maintained for over 30 years.
The announcement follows Russian President Vladimir Putin’s nuclear maneuvers on October 22 from the Kremlin, which involved land, sea, and air exercises and the launch of a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of up to 12,000 kilometers.
In 1992, the U.S. Senate approved a temporary suspension of nuclear tests in August, followed by the House of Representatives in September, initially for nine months, with the goal of ending all U.S. atomic testing by September 1996.
Although then-President George H.W. Bush, a Republican, and his successor Bill Clinton, a Democrat, threatened to veto the measure, the moratorium has remained in place ever since.
The decision came after the fall of the Soviet Union, the end of the Cold War, and a political climate in which many U.S. leaders and a significant portion of public opinion believed that the country should lead global denuclearization efforts. Technological advances have also allowed the United States to verify the reliability of its nuclear arsenal without conducting atomic explosions.
From World War II until 1992, the United States conducted over a thousand nuclear tests. Until 1963, these tests were atmospheric, after which only underground tests were performed.
Although the U.S. has not conducted nuclear detonations since September 1992, it has carried out several dozen subcritical experiments. These do not trigger chain nuclear reactions or produce atomic yield but are designed to verify the safety and effectiveness of the nuclear arsenal and remain within the limits established by the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.
International
Brazilian president defends coordinated anti-drug operations after deadly Rio raid
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defended on Wednesday the integration of the country’s various police forces into an anti-drug strategy that avoids civilian casualties, commenting on Tuesday’s police operation in Rio de Janeiro that left 121 dead—the deadliest in Brazil’s history.
“We need coordinated efforts that strike at the backbone of drug trafficking without putting police, children, and innocent families at risk,” the progressive leader wrote on social media.
Lula, along with several of his ministers, emphasized that organized crime is not defeated through violent confrontations in the favelas, but by measures that decapitalize these groups and reduce their financial power.
“That was exactly what we did in August during the largest operation against organized crime in the country’s history, targeting the financial core of a major organization involved in drug trafficking, fuel adulteration, and money laundering,” he stated, referring to a recent operation against the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC), a major national criminal group.
Lula stressed that Brazil cannot allow organized crime to continue destroying families, oppressing citizens, and spreading drugs and violence across cities.
He added that, in a federal country like Brazil, where public security is the responsibility of regional governments, it is necessary to unify the country’s police forces.
The head of state affirmed that integrating regional and national police forces to combat organized crime will be possible with the approval of a public security bill that the government has submitted to Congress.
International
US Deputy Secretary criticizes Mexico’s call to end Cuba trade embargo at UN
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau reacted on Wednesday against Mexico’s request at the United Nations to lift the trade embargo on Cuba.
Landau expressed on X that he felt “sad” as a “friend of Mexico” after Mexico’s ambassador to the UN, Héctor Vasconcelos, reiterated solidarity with Cuba and stressed the “urgent need to end the trade embargo.”
“Let’s base ourselves on reality and not fantasies. There is no trade embargo on Cuba (…) Cuba freely receives goods and visitors from many countries,” Landau wrote.
The reaction from the State Department official came after the Mexican delegation urgently requested the removal of sanctions against Cuba at the United Nations headquarters in New York, where a majority of 165 countries voted in favor of ending the embargo imposed on the island since 1960.
Seven countries voted against the proposal, and twelve abstained. The United States, Israel, Argentina, Hungary, Paraguay, and Ukraine were among those opposing the measure, but the overwhelming support left the U.S. and its allies in the minority.
Trump orders immediate U.S. nuclear testing, ending 30-year moratorium
Brazilian president defends coordinated anti-drug operations after deadly Rio raid
US Deputy Secretary criticizes Mexico’s call to end Cuba trade embargo at UN
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