JERUSALEM – Middle East/Israel Morning Brief

Biden-Harris granted Iran $10 billion in sanction relief 72 hours after Trump’s election win

“The Biden-Harris administration waived sanctions on Iran three days after the November election, providing Tehran access upward of $10 billion in once-frozen funds, according to a copy of the non-public order transmitted to Congress” https://t.co/S0DHfIBwTW

— Richard Goldberg (@rich_goldberg) December 10, 2024

The Biden-Harris administration waived sanctions on Iran three days after the November election, providing Tehran access upward of $10 billion in once-frozen funds, according to a copy of the non-public order transmitted to Congress and reviewed by the Washington Free Beacon.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken determined on Nov. 8 that “it is in the national security interest of the United States” to waive mandatory economic sanctions that bar Iraq from transferring upward of $10 billion to Iran in electricity import payments.

IDF claims its strikes destroyed 70%-80% of Assad’s military hardware

Extraordinary.
The IDF estimates that it has destroyed 70-80 per cent of Assad’s military capabilities after a 48-hour bombing campaign in Syria, to prevent advanced weaponry from falling into the hands of hostile elements.
The Middle East is a different place today.
You almost… pic.twitter.com/deFVmSMiwh

— Jake Wallis Simons (@JakeWSimons) December 10, 2024

Following a major 48-hour bombing campaign in Syria, the Israel Defense Forces on Tuesday said it had destroyed most of the former Bashar al-Assad regime’s strategic military capabilities, in an effort to prevent advanced weaponry from falling into the hands of hostile elements.

In a statement, the IDF said that its Air Force and Navy had carried out over 350 strikes against “strategic targets” in Syria since the fall of the Assad regime over the weekend, taking out “most of the strategic weapons stockpiles in Syria.”

The military estimated it had destroyed 70-80 percent of the former Assad regime’s strategic military capabilities.

Netanyahu says Israel wants peaceful ties with next Syrian leaders, warns of ‘heavy price’ if it poses threat

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned during a meeting at the headquarters of the Israel Defense Forces in Tel Aviv on Tuesday that if the new Syrian jihadist regime befriends Iran, Israel will take decisive action against it.

“If this regime allows Iran to regain its foothold in Syria—or allows the transfer of Iranian weapons or any other weapons to Hezbollah—or attacks us, we will respond forcefully and we will exact a heavy price from it,” he said.

Pro-Israel U.S. Rep. Brian Mast appointed GOP chair of House Foreign Affairs Committee