European leaders weigh in on 'legitimate' issue of illegal immigration: 'Must be stopped'

UNITED NATIONS, New York – European officials attending the United Nations' High-level Week told Fox News Digital about the need to clamp down on illegal or "irregular" immigration, touting success with stringent policies as members of the bloc continue seeking deals to secure the continent.

"There are a lot of agreements with the countries in North Africa for reducing illegal immigration," Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani explained. "We are in favor of legal immigration, but the agreement with this is the key for reducing the illegal immigration."

"We are fighting against crime because the human traffickers are the same trafficking drugs and weapons," he added. "For this, we need to fight against crime. To beat the crime, it is also a very important instrument for reducing illegal immigration." 

Europe experiences a significant level of migration from North Africa and parts of the Middle East, which culminated in a refugee crisis between 2015 and 2016 that saw countries such as Germany struggle to handle the level of incoming immigration.

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Last year saw another spike, with the European Union Agency for Asylum determining that October 2023 saw its biggest spike in seven years and comparing it to the levels seen during the previous refugee crisis. 

To combat this, countries have enacted localized immigration policies while the European Union worked out deals with countries such as Tunisia, Libya, Syria and Afghanistan. The Russian invasion of Ukraine added to this pressure by displacing roughly 4.4 million people who sought refuge in neighboring countries. 

Germany and Italy received the most applications for asylum seekers – about 930,000 asylum seekers await a first instance decision by the end of May 2024. Italy’s right-wing government introduced a raft of immigration reforms to deal with the influx, including an 18-month detention period and new centers to house asylum seekers. 

The island of Lampedusa, Italy’s southernmost island, receives thousands of migrants every month from Tunisia. New processing centers struggle to keep up with the demand, with one worker last year calling the situation "complex."

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No one understands the complexity of the immigration issue better than Hungary, which remains locked in a legal dispute over its own policies: The European Court of Justice in June ordered Hungary to pay a fine of up to 200 million euros for breaking the bloc’s asylum rules, and an additional 1 million euros per day. 

Hungary also this month started exploring legal options to force the EU executive commission to pay costs spent on helping enforce the Schengen (or free-movement) zone of the European Union. 

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto argued that his country's approach has faced backlash since the ruling Fidesz party took power 14 years ago, arguing that Brussels ultimately seeks migration in comparison to the various countries that make up the bloc. 

"We totally differ with Brussels, and we don’t have the intention to satisfy Brussels, to be honest," Szijjarto said. "We don’t have the intention to satisfy the liberal mainstream. We have only one intention: To satisfy the Hungarian people." 

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"I do believe that Brussels and some of the member states of the European Union and some European politicians, even in the recent past, have a very clear responsibility when it comes to the migratory crisis, because Brussels has been carrying out a pro-migration policy, and it is absolutely intractable if you look at how they speak about this whole phenomenon," Szijjarto said. 

"They say that migration must be managed – no, migration must be stopped, and as long as you manage migration, it means you support migration, you encourage migration, you encourage people to leave their homes," Szijjarto continued. "This is something that we cannot support and cannot stand." 

"Our position is very good: Migration must be stopped," he added. "Another way to put it: All people in the world, all human beings, must be given the right to have a safe and secure life where he or she has been living, and this means that instead of encouraging people to hit the road, the circumstances of everyone should be ensured to be able to live where he or she was born."

The challenge remains how to limit that migration when the whole bloc allows free movement between members. Germany attempted to deal with this issue recently by instituting its own hard borders, which some experts have warned could lead to a "chain reaction" across the continent, according to German outlet DW. 

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Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky acknowledged that the issue is a "difficult question" due to the balance of free movement within the union against the need for stronger external borders, saying that it puts "a lot of pressure on us." 

"I think it’s a clear show that Europe has lost its ability to project geopolitical power, especially into Africa and the Middle East, because we are basically not able to do any kind of measures to stop this irregular migration," Lipavsky said. 

"When somebody who really has no right for asylum is in Europe, there are no true mechanisms, for example, for our populations," he added. "So they will need to put more effort into that, definitely."

Lipavsky praised Germany’s decision to pursue stronger migration policies, saying that "it’s major for Europe" that the country "moved a little bit" toward the more strict policies of countries like the Czech Republic.

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Leaders have keenly pursued solutions to the immigrant crisis as the issue remains a key driver in elections: Earlier this year, right-wing parties made surprise gains in the European Parliament, with many succeeding in getting a few members added to the governing body. 

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis admitted that while he believes the surge in right-wing support is more a system shock than a symptom of a growing movement, the results indicate "a lot of anxiety in the population" when it comes to certain "legitimate" issues, including migration. 

"The problem is guarding… external European borders," Landsbergis said. "When we face the instrumentalized migration, where Lukashenko started bringing thousands of migrants from the Middle East and Northern Africa to our borders, basically pushing people into the European Union as a tool – to put political pressure on us because he doesn’t like our policies and other things – we adhere to the rules."

Lithuania, along with Poland and Latvia, combated the weaponized influx of migrants from Belarus in 2021 by building a roughly 370-mile-long steel wall with barbed-wire that is "electronically controlled."

Landsbergis claimed the border is "probably one of the better controlled borders within external borders of EU," which includes border guards and increased resources after the "whole country… shifted the gear."

"This is a problem, and we have… a responsibility to deal with the problem," he said. "The easiest thing to do is to let the people in – mostly, they would like to reach the Netherlands, they like to reach Sweden, they like to reach Germany… and you say, OK, it’s impossible for me to go to the border. We didn’t do that."

"We’re guarding the border, adhering to the rules, and I think we’re quite successful that the pressure from the border on Lithuania is minimal now." 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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Israeli strike kills Hamas commander in Lebanon, 3 Palestinian militant leaders killed in separate strike

A Hamas commander who worked alongside Hezbollah and led the terrorist group’s activities in Lebanon has been taken out in an airstrike, Israeli officials say. 

Fateh Sherif, the head of the Lebanon branch of Hamas, was killed overnight, according to a joint statement Monday from the Israel Defense Forces and Israel’s domestic security agency Shin Bet. 

"Sherif was responsible for coordinating Hamas' terror activities in Lebanon with Hezbollah operatives. He was also responsible for Hamas’ efforts in Lebanon to recruit operatives and acquire weapons," officials said. "He led the Hamas terrorist organization's force build-up efforts in Lebanon and operated to advance Hamas' interests in Lebanon, both politically and militarily." 

The officials added that Sherif was "an accredited UNRWA member, and was the head of the UNRWA Teachers Union in Lebanon." Some members of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency are accused of participating in Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel, which began the war in Gaza.

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The strike targeted Sherif inside his house in the southern Lebanon city of Tyre, Reuters is reporting, citing Hamas. 

It unfolded as another terrorist group, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, said three of its leaders were killed in an airstrike that hit the upper floor of an apartment building in Beirut, according to Reuters. 

The Israeli officials said Monday that they will "continue to operate against anyone who poses a threat to the civilians of the State of Israel." 

ISRAELI MILITARY SAYS HEZBOLLAH LEADER HASSAN NASRALLAH KILLED IN BEIRUT STRIKE 

Over the weekend, Israel’s military said it killed Nabil Qaouk, the deputy head of Hezbollah’s Central Council – just days after an IDF strike killed Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah. 

On Monday, the deputy leader of Hezbollah, Naim Qassem, announced that the terrorist group is ready to fight back against any Israeli ground operation in Lebanon. 

"We will face any possibility and we are ready if the Israelis decide to enter by land and the resistance forces are ready for a ground engagement," Reuters quoted him as saying. 

Fox News’ Yael Rotem-Kuriel and Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report. 

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Biden says he will talk to Netanyahu as Israel pummels Sunni terror targets in Beirut

President Biden said on Sunday that he intended to talk to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu imminently, shortly before the Israel-Hamas war intensified in Lebanon.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched an airstrike on the Lebanese capital of Beirut on Sunday evening, marking the first time the Israeli military implemented an airstrike on the central part of the city amid the yearlong Israel-Hamas war.

Speaking from Dover Air Force Base earlier that afternoon, Biden confirmed to reporters that he planned to speak with Netanyahu. The conversation took place hours before the airstrike began.

"Yes, I will be talking to him," the Democrat said. "And I'll tell you what I say to him when I talk to him."

ISRAELI MILITARY SAYS HEZBOLLAH LEADER HASSAN NASRALLAH KILLED IN BEIRUT STRIKE

When asked about avoiding an "all-out war" in the Middle East, Biden said the U.S. has "to avoid it."

"We really have to avoid it," Biden said. "We have already taken precautions relative to our embassies and personnel who want to leave."

"And, but, we're not there yet, but we're working like hell with the French and many others to avoid [more] war."

The Associated Press first reported the airstrike on Sunday evening, citing witnesses in central Beirut. The airstrike came the same weekend that the IDF systematically targeted Hezbollah, a Lebanese terrorist group that supports Hamas.

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The IDF had only targeted south Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold, before Sunday's strikes. Dozens of people in Lebanon were killed by the IDF over the weekend, including Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

The Israeli military also confirmed that Nabil Kaouk, the deputy head of Hezbollah’s Central Council, was eliminated by IDF forces.

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for further comment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Israeli Air Force strikes Houthi targets in Yemen with 'extensive' operation

The Israeli Air Force is conducting strikes against Iran-backed Houthi targets in Yemen on Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed.

The IDF said in a statement that its air force struck Houthi targets in Yemen approximately 1,800 kilometers from Israel.

The Israeli military described "an extensive, intelligence-based aerial operation" involving dozens of IAF aircraft, including fighter jets, midair refueling aircraft, and intelligence aircraft, striking "military targets belonging to the Houthi terrorist regime in the Ras Isa and Hudaydah areas of Yemen." 

The IDF said targets included power plants and a seaport used to import oil, "which were used by the Houthi terrorist regime to transfer Iranian weapons to the region, in addition to military supplies and oil." 

The operation was conducted in response to recent attacks by the Houthis against Israel, the IDF said. 

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"Over the past year, the Houthis have been operating under the direction and funding of Iran, and in cooperation with Iraqi militias in order to attack the State of Israel, undermine regional stability, and disrupt global freedom of navigation," the IDF said. "The IDF is determined to continue operating at any distance – near or far – against all threats to the citizens of the State of Israel." 

The campaign against the Houthis in Yemen comes amid already heightened tensions in the region after Israeli strikes outside Beirut, Lebanon, killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. 

Houthi leader Adul Malik al-Houthi vowed revenge for Nasrallah's killing, according to Tazpit Press Service (TPS), an international Israeli news agency. 

"We will move toward escalation and developing our military performance," al-Houthi reportedly said. 

As the one-year anniversary of the Israel-Hamas war approaches, Houthis have continued a campaign to target ships traveling through the Red Sea as U.S.-led airstrikes earlier this month pounded their positions in Yemen. That's imperiled a waterway that typically sees $1 trillion of trade pass through it, as well as crucial shipments of aid to war-torn Sudan and Yemen, according to The Associated Press. 

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who reportedly has gone into hiding in his country, has also warned of potential retaliation from Iran and its terrorist proxies in response to Nasrallah's killing.  

White House national security spokesman John Kirby said on ABC's "This Week" on Sunday that Hezbollah's command structure "has been nearly decimated," after Israel destroyed thousands of the terror group's missiles and drones over the last few days. On Sunday, however, Israeli air defenses reported downing two drones coming from Lebanon. 

TPS reported that the two unmanned aircraft "crossed from Lebanese territory into Israeli waters and were intercepted by a missile and an IDF (Israel Defense Forces) combat helicopter." 

In a statement on Saturday, the Pentagon press secretary, Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin "stressed that the United States is determined to prevent Iran and Iranian-backed partners and proxies from exploiting the situation or expanding the conflict."

ISRAELI FORCES SAY HEAD OF HAMAS IN SOUTHERN SYRIA KILLED IN STRIKE

"Secretary Austin made clear that should Iran, its partners, or its proxies use this moment to target American personnel or interests in the region, the United States will take every necessary measure to defend our people," Ryder added. "The United States retains the capability to deploy forces on short notice. The Department of Defense continues to maintain a significant amount of capability in the region and to dynamically adjust our force posture based on the evolving security situation." 

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He said Austin "directed that the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (CSG) remain in the US Centcom theater and that the USS Wasp Amphibious Ready Group/Marine Expeditionary Unit (ARG/MEU) will continue to operate in the Eastern Mediterranean." The afloat posture, Ryder said, "is complemented by DoD’s elevated fighter and attack squadron presence, including F-22, F-15E, F-16, and A-10 aircraft, and we will further reinforce our defensive air-support capabilities in the coming days."  

Fox News’ Yael Rotem-Kuriel and The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in hiding with extra security following Hezbollah leader's death: report

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has moved into hiding and remains at a secure location within the country, sources told Reuters.

The decision came in response to Israel's strikes outside Beirut on Friday that killed the leader and founding member of the Iran-backed terrorist group Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah. 

Two sources also told Reuters that Iran reached out to Hezbollah and other proxy forces in the region to determine what action to take in response to Nasrallah's killing. 

In a statement Saturday, Khamenei said, "The fate of this region will be determined by the forces of resistance, with Hezbollah at the forefront."  

ISRAELI FORCES SAY HEAD OF HAMAS IN SOUTHERN SYRIA KILLED IN STRIKE

While announcing five days of public mourning, Khamenei called Nasrallah "the flag-bearer of resistance" in the region.

"The blood of the martyr shall not go unavenged," Khamenei said, according to Reuters. 

Iranian media reported on Saturday that the Israeli strikes outside Lebanon's capital also killed the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' deputy commander, Abbas Nilforoushan. 

Israel has killed several other top Hezbollah commanders in Beirut, especially in the past two weeks, in addition to the attack that killed Nasrallah.

Earlier this month, thousands of explosives hidden in pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah detonated, killing at least a dozen people and injuring thousands, according to officials in Lebanon. Israel is widely believed to be behind the attack but has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility.

Reuters cited one Iranian security official as revealing that the Revolutionary Guards is carrying out a large scale operation to inspect all communications devices. 

Most of the devices were made in Lebanon or imported from China and Russia, the official said, as Iran is conducting a thorough investigation centered on mid- and high-ranking members of the Revolutionary Guards. 

Iran is considering the possibility of infiltration by Israeli agents, including Iranians paid by Israel, the official told Reuters. 

In response to Nasrallah's death, hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Tehran, waving Hezbollah flags and chanting, "Death to Israel," and, "Death to Netanyahu the murderer," the Associated Press reported. 

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian partially blamed the United States for Nasrallah's killing, given that Washington has been providing weapons to Israel. 

"The Americans cannot deny their complicity with the Zionists," he said in a statement aired by state media, according to Reuters. 

ISRAEL TARGETS HEZBOLLAH LEADER NASRALLAH IN STRIKE ON BEIRUT HEADQUARTERS

Hezbollah started firing rockets on Israel in support of Gaza on Oct. 8, a day after Hamas terrorists launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, killing some 1,200 people and taking another 250 as hostages. 

Since then, the two sides have been engaged in escalating cross-border strikes. Iran's proxies include Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthis in Yemen, as well as other forces operating in Iraq. The Houthis have been launching missiles at Israel and ships in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea along the Yemeni coast following the Oct. 7 attacks. 

In his first public remarks since Nasrallah's killing, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel’s targeting of Nasrallah was "an essential condition to achieving the goals we set."

"He wasn’t another terrorist. He was the terrorist," Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu said Nasrallah’s killing would help bring displaced Israelis back to their homes in the north and would pressure Hamas to free Israeli hostages held in Gaza. But with the threat of retaliation high, he warned the coming days would bring "significant challenges" and warned Iran against trying to strike.

Iran’s U.N. Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani wrote a letter to the heads of the United Nations and the Security Council on Saturday calling for an emergency council meeting over the attack that killed Nasrallah.

"Using U.S.-supplied thousand-pound bunker busters," he wrote, Israel killed Nasrallah and Nilforoushan, among others.

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He warned Israel not to attack any of its diplomatic or consular premises, or its representatives, according to the AP. 

"Iran will not hesitate to exercise its inherent rights under international law to take every measure in defense of its vital national and security interests," Iravani wrote.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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IDF announces death of another senior Hezbollah official following Nasrallah death

Israel's military says it has killed yet another high level member of Hezbollah with an airstrike on Sunday.

The IDF says the strike killed Nabil Kaouk, the deputy head of Hezbollah’s Central Council, though they did not offer details on where the strike took place. The claim comes just days after an IDF strike killed Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah.

Israel and Hezbollah have continued to fire barrages of missiles and rockets toward one another as they appear to be on the brink of all-out war.

Hezbollah began its offensive immediately after Hamas' Oct. 7 massacre in Israel, in which some 1,200 Israelis were killed or captured. Israel has responded by launching its own airstrikes and massing forces at its northern border with Lebanon.

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Israel was forced to evacuate some 60,000 citizens who were living near the border with Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed that the campaign against Hezbollah will not stop until those citizens can return safely to their homes.

ISRAEL TARGETS HEZBOLLAH LEADER NASRALLAH IN STRIKE ON BEIRUT HEADQUARTERS

Meanwhile, Hezbollah says it will only cease its hostilities once Israel has agreed to a cease-fire in Gaza, a deal that has proven almost impossible in recent months.

Hundreds of thousands of people have likewise been driven from their homes in Lebanon. The government estimates that around 250,000 are in shelters, with three to four times as many staying with friends or relatives, or camping out on the streets, Environment Minister Nasser Yassin told The Associated Press.

Israel has killed a slew of top Hezbollah and Hamas commanders with airstrikes throughout the conflict. 

On Friday, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin told reporters, "The United States was not involved in Israel’s operation," noting there was "no advance warning," from the Israelis about the strike on Nasrallah.

Netanyahu cut short his trip to New York following his speech to the United Nations General Assembly where he warned Hezbollah about Israel’s right to go on the offensive.

"As long as Hezbollah chooses the path of war, Israel has no choice, and Israel has every right to remove this threat and return our citizens to their home safely and that's exactly what we're doing," he said.

The IDF later released a graphic suggesting that nearly all of Hezbollah's top commanders have been killed.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

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European officials dismiss claim world leaders 'are laughing' at Trump, praise his 'strong message'

UNITED NATIONS, N.Y. — Foreign ministers from European nations with close U.S. ties reacted to Vice President Kamala Harris’ claim world leaders are "laughing" at former President Trump, dismissing the claim. 

During September’s presidential debate, Harris said, "World leaders are laughing at Donald Trump. I have talked with military leaders, some of whom worked with you, and they say you're a disgrace."

When asked about this quote, foreign ministers in attendance at the United Nations High-Level Week stressed they have no view one way or the other on the U.S. election and will work with whomever wins. 

"We are friends of America," Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said, noting Italy and the U.S. are "two sides of the same coin." "If Trump will be the new president of America, we will work with him as we worked with him when he was president of America."

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"We worked well with Biden, with Bush, with Reagan, with Clinton, with Obama," Tajani added. "For us, the transatlantic relations are the key strategy of our foreign policy, Europe and America." 

Foreign ministers of Lithuania and the Czech Republic stressed that they will not interfere in the election by stating a preference, instead saying they "leave it to the American citizens to decide." 

"My role is not to comment on such a political statement," Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said. 

However, Lipavsky praised Trump’s "strong" message of defense spending, which he hoped Europe would continue to embrace in the face of Russian aggression against Ukraine. 

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"The point is that Donald Trump had, at his time, one strong message for Europe, and that message was quite resonating and is resonating more now because he was saying spend more on your defense," Lipavsky said. 

"My government is spending more on our defense," he added. "We want to reach those 2% of GDP, will be reaching them this year, and we will continue next year. So, (if) Donald Trump would be a president with this message, ‘Please spend 2%," we would be OK."

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis highlighted the "very long history" between the two countries, saying that the relationship is "more than politics." 

Instead, he reiterated the message that whoever wins the election will need to focus on the same message of defense spending that Trump pushed during his first administration. 

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Prior to the Trump administration, only a few members of NATO had upheld their commitment to spend 2% of GDP on defense, but that number rose sharply due to Trump’s insistence and hard-line stance over the issue. 

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in June reported that 23 of the 32 member states have hit the minimum spending requirement, which helped improve the bloc’s ability to support Ukraine and, potentially, deter Russian aggression beyond its current ambitions. 

No European nation, though, has touted the success of Trump’s first term and expressed hopes for a strong second term as has Hungary. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó revealed his government would have "huge expectations" for a new Trump administration. 

"We have huge expectations because we do believe that many of the major crises which give us a lot of concern can be resolved by an administration of President Trump," Szijjártó said, noting he speaks as the longest-serving foreign minister in NATO with 10 years under his belt. 

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"I didn't really see anyone laughing at Trump," Szijjártó said. "What I've seen many having fear. I've seen many being afraid of a U.S. president being honest, not a hostage by the liberal mainstream, representing a patriotic position, speaking clearly about America first."  

Trump and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán have done little to hide their rosy friendship, with Trump invoking the Hungarian leader as a "strong man of Europe" who speaks well of the former president. 

Orbán proved this is a mutual dynamic when he chose to leave the NATO summit in Washington, D.C., earlier this year to instead meet with Trump in Mar-a-Lago in Florida to discuss foreign relations.

"Under President Trump, everything was under control," Szijjártó said. "Since President Trump has left office, the whole global security situation is deteriorating. So, I mean, these are experiences." 

"If we base it on our experience, we say yes, from a perspective of U.S.-Hungary relations, I think President Trump would bring another impetus, freshness, dynamism to this relationship. And I think if President Trump is elected, I think the world has a good chance to become a more peaceful place compared to the current situation."  

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Israeli military says Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah killed in Beirut strike

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the leader of the Hezbollah terrorist organization Hassan Nasrallah died in its strike Friday against the group’s headquarters in Lebanon.

"This is not the end of our toolbox. The message is simple, anyone who threatens the citizens of Israel - We will know how to reach them," the IDF's Chief of the General Staff, Ltf. Herzi Halevi said of the elimination of Nasrallah.

The IDF attacked the Iran-backed terror proxy’s headquarters in southern Beirut, revealing that they had targeted Nasrallah. A Hezbollah media relations official initially claimed he was "fine and well," but the Israelis confirmed his death early the next morning.

At least two other people were killed and dozens were wounded, Lebanon’s health ministry said.

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On Friday, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin told reporters, "The United States was not involved in Israel’s operation," noting there was "no advance warning," from the Israelis.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cut short his trip to New York following his speech to the United Nations General Assembly where he warned Hezbollah about Israel’s right to go on the offensive. 

"As long as Hezbollah chooses the path of war, Israel has no choice, and Israel has every right to remove this threat and return our citizens to their home safely and that's exactly what we're doing," he said.

After his speech the prime minister’s office released a picture showing the Israeli leader in his New York hotel approving the operation against the terror chief. 

ISRAEL TARGETS HEZBOLLAH LEADER NASRALLAH IN STRIKE ON BEIRUT HEADQUARTERS

Rich Goldberg, a senior adviser at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital that Nasrallah’s death would prove a significant victory for Israel due to his close ties to Tehran.

"People don't appreciate that Nasrallah took over for Soleimani as senior strategist for Khamenei," Goldberg explained.

"Nasrallah had operational control of Lebanon and Syria: This is not just a strategic game-changer for Hezbollah, Lebanon and Syria, it's a strategic game-changer for Tehran," Goldberg explained. "We should assume that the IRGC is effectively in charge behind the scenes. Khamenei clearly had made a decision in recent weeks to avoid inviting Israeli strikes inside Iran."

"The calculus that led to that decision hasn't changed," Goldberg added. "Should Khamenei decide he's feeling lucky tonight and order a direct attack, we should reset all our assumptions about what Israel is willing to do inside Iran."

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Israeli forces say head of Hamas in southern Syria killed in strike

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced Saturday morning that it eliminated the head of the Hamas terrorist network in southern Syria.

The Israeli Air Force struck Ahmad Muhammad Fahd following intelligence conducted by the IDF.

Fahd was responsible for carrying out terror attacks against IDF troops and Israel from the area of southern Syria, including by firing projectiles toward the Golan Heights area, according to the IDF.

ISRAEL TARGETS HEZBOLLAH LEADER NASRALLAH IN STRIKE ON BEIRUT HEADQUARTERS

He was eliminated while planning to carry out an "imminent" terror attack, the IDF said.

The IDF noted that it is continuing to work to eliminate Hamas terrorists, regardless of their location.

The IDF also said it was calling up three reserve battalions for operational activities and to strengthen the defense in the Central Command.

Fox News' Yonat Friling contributed to this report.

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Fate of Hezbollah chief unknown after he was targeted in Israeli strike, 2 Hezbollah leaders killed

The fate of Hezbollah's leader Hassan Nasrallah is unknown following the Israeli Defense Forces' "targeted attack" against the central headquarters of Hezbollah in Beirut, Lebanon. 

Fox News has learned the target of the attack was Nasrallah, but Hezbollah has since claimed that he is "fine and well" following the strike.

"His Eminence the Secretary-General is fine and well and was not in the targeted location," Hezbollah Media Relations Officer Hajj Muhammad Afif said on Iranian television. 

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has not provided an official status update on Nasrallah's whereabouts.

ISRAEL TARGETS HEZBOLLAH LEADER NASRALLAH IN STRIKE ON BEIRUT HEADQUARTERS

Elijah J. Magnier, a Brussels-based veteran and a senior political risk analyst, said that the group's normal practice "is that they either want him to be in a safe place, and they are moving him, or he is dead, and they want to wait until they find his body."

ISRAEL-HEZBOLLAH WAR: NETANYAHU 'DID NOT EVEN RESPOND' TO US CEASE-FIRE DEAL, PLEDGES TO FIGHT 'FULL FORCE'

On Friday night, the IDF announced that two of Hezbollah's leaders – Muhammad Ali Ismail and Hussein Ahmad Ismail – were killed in the strike.

"Muhammad Ali Ismail, the Commander of Hezbollah’s Missile Unit in southern Lebanon, and his deputy, Hussein Ahmad Ismail, were eliminated in a precise IAF strike," the IDF announced in a X post.

The Israeli agency said that Ali Ismail was responsible for "directing numerous terrorist attacks" and "the firing of rockets towards Israeli territory and the launch of a surface-to-surface missile towards central Israel on Wednesday."

The IDF's announcement of the elimination of the two terrorist leaders came after Ibrahim Muhammad Qabisi, Head of Hezbollah's Missiles and Rockets Force, as well as other senior commanders of this unit, were previously killed.

WATCH:

Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh previously said that the U.S. was not involved in this operation and had no advance warning.

"Minister [Yoav] Gallant spoke with Secretary Austin as the operation was already underway," Singh said. "This operation has happened within the last few hours. We are still assessing the event."

The Pentagon also declined to speculate on whether the Hezbollah leader was still alive.

Fox News Digital's Michael Dorgan, Fox News' Trey Yingst and The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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Virginia FAA contractor allegedly spied for Iran, shared private info on US airports, energy industry: DOJ

A former Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) contractor was indicted Friday for acting as an illegal agent for the Iranian government, the Department of Justice said.

According to a DOJ release, from at least December 2017 through June 2024, 42-year-old Abouzar Rahmati allegedly met with Iranian government officials and acted on their behalf.

Rahmati, a naturalized U.S. citizen and resident of Great Falls, Virginia, previously was an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) 1st Lt., a branch of the Iranian Armed Forces, from June 2009 to May 2010. The IRGC is a designated terrorist group by the U.S. government.

After being discharged from the IRGC, the indictment alleges that Rahmati lied to the U.S. government regarding his military service with the IRGC in order to gain employment as a U.S. contractor.

3 HACKERS WITH TIES TO IRAN INDICTED IN PLOT AGAINST TRUMP CAMPAIGN: DOJ

In Aug. 2017, prosecutors allege that Rahmati began communicating with a senior Iranian government official with whom he had previously attended college.

Four months later, Rahmati traveled to Iran and met with intelligence operatives. During the meetings, he agreed to obtain and provide them with information on the U.S. solar energy industry.

Following the initial meetings, Rahmati got to work as a spy for the Iranian government. Prosecutors said that he eventually became a contractor for FAA’s National Airspace System (NAS), which allowed him to be privy to sensitive information.

Authorities alleged that in April 2022, Rahmati downloaded private documents related to the FAA and the NAS power and electrical architecture and passed them along to Iran's government.

DOES IRAN'S HACKING OF THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN PROVE THEY WANT KAMALA HARRIS TO WIN THE ELECTION? EXPERTS WEIGH IN

He also gave the Government of Iran additional information relating to solar energy, solar panels, the FAA, U.S. airports, and U.S. air traffic control.

"As alleged, the defendant conspired with Iranian officials and intelligence operatives, even lying to obtain employment as a U.S. government contractor only to then share sensitive government materials with Iran," Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division said. "When undisclosed agents of Iran or any other foreign government seek to infiltrate American companies or government agencies, the Justice Department will use every available tool to identify them and bring them to justice."

Rahmani made his initial appearance in the District of Columbia on Friday afternoon.

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Swiss court takes trans child away from parents over their objections to puberty blockers

"Marginalized," "powerless," living in the "Twilight Zone."

Parents of a trans teenager living in Geneva used those words to describe how they have lived in shock and fear over the last 19 months after their then 15-year-old daughter was removed from their home by court order following their objections to giving her puberty blockers.

Now, they are fighting under threat of criminal charges to preserve her identity and stop her from making potentially irreversible changes to her body.  

"This is not a question of human rights," the father told Fox News Digital. "This is a question of conducting medical experiments on children."

BIDEN OFFICIALS PUSHED TO DROP AGE LIMIT ON TRANS SURGERIES FOR MINORS: REPORT

The parents of the now 16-year-old – who wish to remain anonymous to preserve their family’s privacy – claim they have struggled to combat the institutional powers that have accused them of parental abuse for their refusal to give their daughter elective medicine.

The tumultuous journey began when the girl sat her parents down in 2021 and told them she identified as a boy.

"It was an absolute surprise. She was 13 at the time, and she had never previously demonstrated any inclination toward masculinity or any proclivity for masculine behavior ever," the father explained.

The father – who said he and his daughter were always very close – detailed how she reached this conclusion following a difficult time for their family after first his work took him abroad for several years, and then the coronavirus pandemic hit.

The pandemic forced school closures, which meant increased isolation for kids around the globe, and a significant amount of time spent online.

"We said to our daughter, ‘Well this is a surprise, but we will listen to you, and we will seek medical advice. We will all learn together and make decisions together,'" he said.

At the recommendation of their child’s pediatrician, they took their daughter to the public children’s hospital in Geneva, where she was shown a "gender unicorn" and was asked to identify with various aspects of the image, after which it was determined that she was "likely experiencing gender dysphoria."

The director of the ward then met with the parents and explained that the hospital was conducting "rigorous research" around the question of gender identity and that their daughter would receive a "comprehensive and serious assessment."

NEW HAMPSHIRE SENATE PASSES BILL THAT WOULD PROHIBIT TRANS ATHLETES' INCLUSION WITH GENDER IDENTITY

The advice was to "support her in her identity" by allowing her to cut her hair, dress as a boy and wear breast binders if that’s what she wished.

"And so, initially, we did that. We followed the medical advice," the father said.

However, after seeing a psychiatrist at the hospital for a few months, the parents were told the next step they should pursue for their daughter would be to begin the use of hormone blockers – a medication that prevents puberty-related changes to the body, like breast growth.

"We’re not at the stage where we're going to be giving our daughter any medication," he said, reflecting on their response to the psychiatrist.

"We saw firsthand in our interaction with the hospital, that there was no serious medical assessment being conducted. It was simply, well your daughter has pointed to these elements on the gender unicorn, and therefore, she’s a boy because she says so," he added, noting that they then sought out a private psychiatrist.

In response to Fox News Digital's questions, the Geneva University Hospital (HUG) said they could not comment on individual cases but said in cases of gender dysphoria the hospital works "to promote dialogue between the child and his parents."

Spokesperson for the hospital, Nicolas de Saussure, also said the "HUG does not push any patient in the direction of a legal or medical transition but supports them in their individual journey according to their values and preferences by referring to existing scientific data and international recommendations."

According to the statement sent to Fox News Digital, the hospital has received roughly 100 minors with gender dysmorphia, about half of which have begun hormonal treatments after they have reached the age of 16. 

However, the father described a sense of frustration regarding what the parents felt was a lack of adequate medical care and support offered for their daughter and their family – a frustration that marked only the beginning of what would become a long and arduous journey as they struggled to maintain their parental rights.

Against the parent’s wishes, the private school their child attended began to "socially transition" their daughter and connected her with a transgender advocacy organization.

By the time their daughter was 15, a school psychologist – who she saw in addition to the private psychiatrist hired by her parents – reached out to the Swiss Child Protection Agency (SPMI) and claimed the minor needed protection from her "transphobic" parents following their continued objection to puberty blockers.

NEW FEDERAL TRANSGENDER RULES PLACE WOMEN'S WORKPLACE RIGHTS 'UNDER ATTACK,' EEOC COMMISSIONER CHARGES

"The school was facilitating meetings between our daughter and [the transgender advocacy agency], and our daughter and the SPMI – not only without our knowledge, but fraudulently because they were marking her absentee form as if she was doing school activities," he told Fox News Digital. "We later found out she wasn't. She was out of school meeting with [the transgender advocacy group] and meeting with the SPMI."

The school, which Fox News Digital has not named for the sake of the family's anonymity, rejected the accusation that it did anything untoward and said, "The school abides by Swiss law and complies with the decisions of the child protection authorities. 

"We refute all allegations implying otherwise," a school official added, though questions regarding how the child was marked absent were not directly answered. 

Eventually, based on alleged mental and physical health concerns, a Swiss court decided their daughter should be placed in a supervised home run by social services known as a "foyer" – where the now 16-year-old has remained for more than a year.

"International law holds that a child shall not be separated from her parents against their will, except in cases of abuse," legal counsel for ADF International, Dr. Felix Boellmann, said in a statement.

The father told Fox News Digital that it is still unclear to him and his legal team what abuse was identified in order to allow them to remove his daughter from her home. 

In return to Fox News Digital's questions, Swiss authorities with the République et canton de Genève said they would not comment on "individual situations" but provided a broad response to Switzerland's legal system. 

"The SPMI respects parental authority, unless the exercise of this authority endangers the child concerned, in which case it is up to the judge to decide the child's best interests," communications officer Constance Chaix said. "No child is removed from his or her parents because of ‘a lack of consent to the transition.'"

"No child is placed for lack of consent or opposition to treatment," Chaix said.

A series of battles have ensued as the parents desperately try to maintain a relationship with their daughter and return her to their home.

But as their daughter continues to age, the harder the fight becomes. 

In Switzerland, minors are allowed to legally change their name and registered sex at the age of 16, which her parents fear could make it that much easier for her to physically transition.

"We've met too many other parents and kids who have been victimized and now regret the situation they're in, in life. And we are up against these institutions," he said, referring to the court, the school and the SPMI, which he argues have not taken an evidence-based approach when it comes to minors experiencing gender dysphoria.

"Our inclination was to not only, of course, follow doctor's advice, but LGBTQI – everybody – we support that," he continued. "But as we started to get educated about gender identity, we started to understand that this was not a question of sexual orientation, but a question of cosmetic surgeries, hormones and other sort of Frankenstein-like experiments on children."

The father said the education system in Switzerland has put trans children on a "pedestal for being somehow more courageous," which influences hasty solutions like puberty blockers that could have lasting consequences.

The effects of hormone blockers are reportedly reversible, though government institutions like the U.K.’s National Health Institute have noted the limited research there is on its use in children, and the unknown long-term effects it could have on physical development like bone density or reproductive health.

"We [need to] start taking decisions based on facts and evidence instead of a radical, harmful ideology," the father said. "This is not a question of human rights. This is a question of conducting medical experiments on children.

"I want her to come home so that we can get her back on a healthy track," he said. "For her own well-being and that of her entire family."

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Hezbollah stores weapons among civilians in Lebanon, US says its not sharing intel with IDF

The fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has drastically escalated over the last month as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has begun targeting the terrorist network's hot spots and military storage units, all of which are strategically embedded within civilian villages.

Images and videos provided to Fox News Digital of the recent strikes in southern Lebanon show precision missiles hitting what have been deemed civilian buildings.

Hezbollah's use of civilian infrastructure has not only created a sophisticated network of meeting houses, weapons storage units and well-hidden missile launching positions across southern Lebanon and in the suburbs of Beirut, it has ensured a war with Hezbollah cannot be conducted without immense collateral damage. 

ISRAEL READIES RESERVE TROOPS ON BORDER WITH LEBANON: 'PREPARE YOURSELVES'

Since Monday, more than 1,800 casualties have been reported and at least 560 people are believed to have been killed, including 50 children and more than 90 women, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. 

On Thursday, the U.S. again urged Israel to agree to a cease-fire in Lebanon, and deputy Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh confirmed with reporters that the U.S. is not aiding Jerusalem militarily or with intelligence in its Lebanon-based campaign.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the international community’s calls for a cease-fire and instead instructed his troops to continue fighting "with full force."

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday warned Israel that it "cannot without consequence just expand its operations to Lebanon" as commanders on the Israeli-Lebanon border ordered its troops to "prepare" for a possible ground invasion. 

No invasion has been ordered at this time, though Israeli and U.S. security experts have told Fox News Digital that the network Hezbollah has established on the foundation of everyday life within Lebanon means war with the terrorist network will likely be even more costly in terms of human lives than what has been witnessed in Gaza.

According to the Israel-based Alma Research and Education Center, a nonprofit organization that researches Israeli security challenges along the border with Lebanon, Hezbollah has long relied on the use of civilian infrastructure to serve its needs. 

ISRAEL-HEZBOLLAH WAR: NETANYAHU 'DID NOT EVEN RESPOND' TO US CEASE-FIRE DEAL, PLEDGES TO FIGHT 'FULL FORCE'

"The phenomenon of renting houses, rooms, warehouses within the Shiite civilian areas by Hezbollah is well known since the beginning of the 2000s," Tal Beeri, head of the research department at Alma, told Fox News Digital, adding that the terrorists also rent structures in non-Shia areas of Lebanon as well.

"Evidence of this matter was found in looted documents and investigations of Hezbollah operatives during the Second Lebanon War in 2006. Since then, Hezbollah has only accelerated the phenomenon and estimates are that every third house in southern Lebanon has been used by Hezbollah for its needs," he added. 

Beeri shared research with Fox News Digital that showed findings from 2021 breaking down the sophisticated system in which Hezbollah has intertwined itself in the everyday running of local villages across the country. 

Hezbollah officials dubbed a "Rabat" – loosely translated to "the liaison" – are installed in villages across Lebanon and serve as the representative of the terrorist group, facilitating the needs of the villagers in coordination with the hyper-localized operations of Hezbollah.

The Rabat, which can oversee multiple villages, reportedly establishes relationships with the residents by facilitating requests for aid such as money, food and even with localized disputes.  

"In places where Hezbollah decides to expropriate or lease civilian land or properties from the residents for the purpose of its military activities, the ‘Rabat’ conducts the expropriation or leasing procedure vis-à-vis the relevant resident," Beeri found. 

The report, based on documents seized following the 2006 war with Hezbollah, found that the Rabat also recommended to local Hezbollah units the best locations in each town that are "suitable to serve the human shield tactic" based on the storage requirements surrounding concealment, infrastructure type and weapons placement. 

The Rabat then coordinates the logistics between the terrorist organization and the local property owner. 

"The ‘Rabat’ strengthens Hezbollah’s grip on the Lebanese village residents’ day-to-day life, their property, and needs, allowing Hezbollah to turn them into human shields on a wider scale," the report found.

Hezbollah’s control over local communities and its ability to stockpile and transfer weapons throughout the country through a sophisticated tunnel system signifies that the UN Resolution 1701 passed in 2006 to prevent a third war between the terrorist network and Israel has failed. 

While it remains unclear if U.N. Security Council members are looking to revamp the resolution to counter the terrorist group's movements and stop Israeli operations in civilian areas, the international community has called on Netanyahu to cease his campaign – many leaders from both adversary and allied nations, have fervently warned against invading Lebanon.

Netanyahu is set to address the U.N. body on Friday during what has been described by the Israeli ambassador to the U.N. as the most "hostile" environment he has seen in his roughly 10 years of attending the top summit.  

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Chinese officials cover up sinking of country’s newest nuclear-powered submarine tied to pier

The Chinese government reportedly covered up the sinking of its newest nuclear-powered submarine as it sat tied to a pier, and U.S. officials say it is no surprise.

"It’s not surprising that the PLA Navy would try to conceal the fact that their new first-in-class nuclear-powered attack submarine sank pierside," a senior U.S. Defense official said. "In addition to the obvious questions about training standards and equipment quality, the incident raises deeper questions about the PLA’s internal accountability and oversight of China’s defense industry, which has long been plagued by corruption."

China’s first Zhou-class submarine likely sank between May and June, The Associated Press reported based on information from an official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Satellite images showed cranes in the area that would have been necessary to salvage the vessel from the bottom of the river.

The incident reportedly forced Chinese authorities to rush to cover up the matter, which had not been previously disclosed.

CHINA'S NEW ROLE FOR ITS NUCLEAR SUBMARINES HAS THE PENTAGON'S ATTENTION

China has previously said it is building a world-class military so it can deter aggression and protect its overseas interests.

Last year, the Pentagon announced it had discovered in a little-known report that China’s military adopted a policy of keeping at least one nuclear-capable submarine at sea at all times.

China maintains a fleet of six nuclear-capable submarines, carrying missiles that could hit the continental U.S. from the South China Sea.

AUSTRALIA COMMITTED TO BUILDING SUB FLEET POWERED BY US NUCLEAR TECH DESPITE CRITICISM FROM FRANCE

The report on China's new submarine activity came just as the U.S., U.K. and Australia entered an agreement for the production and sale of nuclear-powered attack submarines. Australia was also expected to purchase the vessels to modernize its fleet.

The attack submarines are prime candidates for tracking missile submarines like those China has deployed, and increasing Australia's capabilities will take some pressure off U.S. and U.K. forces in the region.

Fox News Digital’s Anders Hagstrom and Reuters contributed to this report.

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Israel-Hezbollah war: Netanyahu 'did not even respond' to US cease-fire deal, pledges to fight 'full force'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shut down reports of a cease-fire at the Israel-Lebanon border on Thursday, saying he "did not even respond" to the U.S. proposal.

Netanyahu vowed to continue fighting both in Gaza and against Hezbollah "with full force." The statement comes as Israel stands on the brink of all-out war with Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy terrorist group that operates in Lebanon.

The Commanding Officer of the IDF Home Front Command, MG Rafi Milo, said Israeli forces are currently engaged in "a very significant offensive effort."

"We have set a very, very clear goal. We want to change the security reality in the north fundamentally. So that we can bring the residents back home with security, with a sense of security, and truly change the security situation. This week we are in a very significant offensive effort, with strikes that are taking away a lot of [Hezbollah's] capabilities and resources," Milo said.

HOW A US-BACKED UN RESOLUTION FAILED TO STOP HEZBOLLAH TERROR TAKEOVER: 'BIPARTISAN FAILURE'

Israeli forces say they carried out 75 airstrikes within Lebanon overnight on Thursday, targeting Hezbollah terror cells and weapon caches.

ISRAEL STRIKES WITHIN LEBANON AFTER HEZBOLLAH BALLISTIC MISSILE FORCES MILLIONS IN TEL AVIV INTO BOMB SHELTERS

Meanwhile, the IDF is also transferring large amounts of military power northward. The military released photos of tanks being mobilized toward the northern border.

IDF troops also conducted drills simulating "maneuvers in Lebanon" on Thursday, a potential indication of plans to invade.

"The exercise took place a few kilometers from the Lebanese border and trained the troops in maneuvering and combat in thicketed, mountainous terrain. During the exercise, the troops enhanced their operational and logistical readiness for various combat scenarios in enemy territory on the northern front," the IDF said in a statement.

KIRBY SLAMS HAMAS CHIEF SINWAR AS 'THE MAJOR OBSTACLE' TO CEASE-FIRE, HOSTAGE RELEASE DEAL WITH ISRAEL

Israel's conflict with Hezbollah has continued to escalate in recent weeks, with both sides exchanging dozens of missiles and rockets. Israel's attacks have been far more effective, however, as most of Hezbollah's missiles never reach their targets.

A massive bombardment from Israel earlier this week killed at least 560 over the course of two days, according to Lebanese officials. Israel says it targeted Hezbollah personnel, weapons and infrastructure with the strikes, but it has also said those targets have been purposely placed near civilians.

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Putin lowers threshold for nuclear response as Biden administration pledges new funding to Ukraine

In a pointed warning to the West, Russian President Vladimir Putin said any nation’s conventional attack on Russia supported by a nuclear power will be considered a joint attack on his country.

Putin's announcement came as the Biden administration announced $375 million in additional security assistance to Ukraine, including air-to-ground weapons, munitions for rocket systems and artillery, armored vehicles and anti-tank weapons.

The warning came at a meeting of Russia’s Security Council, with Putin announcing revisions to the country's nuclear doctrine.

Putin said a revised version of the document states that an attack against his country by a nonnuclear power with the "participation or support of a nuclear power" will be seen as a "joint attack on the Russian Federation."

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY'S VANCE CRITICISM COULD COME BACK TO HAUNT HIM, REPUBLICANS WARN

Putin emphasized that the revised doctrine spells out conditions for using nuclear weapons in greater detail, noting they could be used in case of a massive air attack.

"Conditions for Russia’s move to use nuclear weapons are clearly stated" in the revisions, he said.

IRAN SPOUTS 'PROPAGANDA' FROM UN PODIUM, CALLS ON MIDDLE EAST TO UNITE BEHIND TEHRAN

"We will consider such a possibility when we receive reliable information about a massive launch of air and space attack assets and them crossing our state border," Putin added, citing "strategic and tactical aircraft, cruise missiles, drones, hypersonic and other flying vehicles."

The Kremlin's revision of its nuclear response doctrine has opened the door for a major nuclear power to loosen its declaratory policy, which is "never good," one expert warned.

"Regardless of whether you think this is a bluff or not, it’s never good when a major nuclear power loosens the conditions for nuclear use in its declaratory policy," Samuel Charap, senior political scientist at RAND, said in a post on X.

The $375 million package for Ukraine was announced by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken late Wednesday.

"The United States is committed to Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s brutal aggression," Blinken said in a statement. "We will deploy this new assistance as quickly as possible to help Ukraine protect its territory and its people."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with President Biden and Vice President Harris in Washington Thursday to discuss allowing his troops to use long-range weapons to strike deeper into Russia.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Japan destroyer passes through Taiwan Strait for first time, newspaper reports

Japan's Self Defense Force patrolled the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday for the first time in an attempt to send a message to China, the Yomiuri newspaper, reported citing multiple government sources.

JAPAN SAYS RUSSIAN PATROL AIRCRAFT VIOLATED ITS AIRSPACE, RESPONDS BY FIRING FLARES

SDF destroyer Sazanami entered the waters from the East China Sea on Wednesday morning, spending more than 10 hours sailing southward to complete the passage, the Japanese newspaper reported on Thursday.

The passage was conducted in concert with naval ships from Australia and New Zealand, the paper said.

An SDF official declined to comment on the report.

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Argentina's Milei blasts UN over support for COVID lockdowns, appeasing 'bloody dictatorships'

Argentinian President Javier Milei, in his first address before the United Nations General Assembly, blasted the organization, saying it "has transformed into a Leviathan with multiple tentacles that intends to decide not only what each nation-state should do but also how all the citizens of the world should live."

He added, "This is how we moved from an organization that pursued peace to an organization that imposes an ideological agenda on its members," according to a Reuters translation.

He then took aim at the world body's latest offering, calling its "Pact for the Future" "twisted," saying the policy was the "wrong course" to follow. 

"The adoption of this agenda is fully in line with these privileged interests, and, looks beyond the principles that were set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and it is therefore twisted the role of this organization and set it on the wrong course," Milei said during his impassioned speech.

Milei accused the U.N. of turning into "one of the main proponents of systemic violations of freedom," citing the organization’s support for the COVID pandemic lockdowns and allowing "bloody dictatorships" such as Venezuela to sit on the Human Rights Council "without reproach." 

"For this reason, I'd like to officially express our dissent on the pact for the future that was signed on Sunday, and I invite all nations of the free world to support us, not only in the U.N. in relation to this pact, but also in the establishment of a new agenda for this noble institution that is the agenda for freedom," Milei declared. 

UN SILENT AS GUTERRES CALLS FOR HOSTAGE RELEASE, RECEIVES ‘THUNDEROUS’ APPLAUSE ON GAZA

"As the ‘Pact for the Future’ purports to dictate, this long list of errors and contradictions has led to a loss of credibility for the United Nations before the citizens of the free world," Milei said. "I'd like to issue a warning here we are coming to the end of a cycle: Collectivism and moral posturing and the woke agenda is coming up against reality. There are no further credible solutions to the real problems of the world."

The "Pact for the Future" was the centerpiece of the Summit for the Future, which kicked off the high-level week for the U.N. General Assembly this week. The pact serves as the culmination of policies and mission statements issued by U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres over the past few years.

The pact aims to expand the scope and focus of the U.N. and its members to handle "global shocks," such as "disruptions to global flows of goods, people or finance." 

BIDEN DEFENDS WITHDRAWING FROM AFGHANISTAN, DROPPING RE-ELECTION BID IN LAST UN ADDRESS AS PRESIDENT

Milei compared these new policies, which he alleged amounted to overreach by the organizations, to the original mission and achievements of the U.N., going on to blast the celebration of countries who "punish their women just for showing their skin in this same house that have voted against the State of Israel, which is the only country in the Middle East to defend a liberal democracy." 

Israel’s returning Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon applauded Milei’s challenge to the General Assembly and Guterres’ pact, calling Milei "a true friend of the State of Israel."

"In this hall where they slandered Israel all day, you expressed courage and supported Israel!" 

IRAN'S LEADER TO ADDRESS UN AMID THREATS OF ASSASSINATIONS AGAINST US POLITICIANS, ELECTION INTERFERENCE

Milei insisted that if the current agenda should fail, the U.N. members must ask "whether or not this was an ill-conceived program from the outset." 

"We should accept this reality and change what we’re doing," he argued. "The same thing always happens with ideas that come from the Left … When individuals freely decide to act otherwise, they have no better solution than to restrict, repress or cut off their freedom." 

"In Argentina, we’ve seen with our own eyes what they have done at the end of this path of envy and sad passion: Poverty, anarchy and a total lack of liberty," Milei said. "We still have time to choose another direction."

Milei ended with his often said slogan, ""Long live freedom, damn it! Thank you very much."

Reuters contributed to this report. 

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How a US-backed UN resolution failed to stop Hezbollah terror takeover: 'Bipartisan failure'

JERUSALEM — As Israel’s air force continues to pound the Hezbollah terrorist movement in some of the most intense clashes since the 2006 war, United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSC) 1701 is facing new criticism for failing to disarm the Lebanon-based terrorist organization. 

The U.S. and other world powers passed Resolution 1701 at the United Nations Security Council in 2006 in an attempt to prevent a third war between Israel and the U.S.-designated terrorist organization Hezbollah. Israel fought Hezbollah in 1982 and in the summer of 2006.

Two key elements of Resolution 1701 have proved to be largely ineffective, according to experts on Lebanon and the U.N.

HEZBOLLAH BIGGER CHALLENGE THAN HAMAS TO ISRAEL: ‘CROWN JEWEL IN THE IRANIAN EMPIRE OF TERROR’

The first part involved the 10,000 peacekeeping (with added personnel) U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) that was expanded in 2006 to aid the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) in assuming military control over the region, replacing Hezbollah, between the Litani River and the southern border in Lebanon. 

UNIFIL was tasked to work with the LAF to ensure the area was "free of any armed personnel, assets, and weapons." However, Hezbollah’s growing absorption of the Lebanese state has turned it the de facto ruler over the country, according to many experts, or a heavily armed "state within a state." 

The second crucial element of 1701 was to disarm Hezbollah. Yet, the Lebanese terrorist entity has dramatically re-armed itself to the point where it now has at least 150,000 missiles and rockets aimed at Israel.

ISRAEL DEGRADES IRAN-BACKED HEZBOLLAH TERRORISTS IN SPECTACULAR PAGER EXPLOSION OPERATION: EXPERTS

Walid Phares, who has advised U.S. presidential candidates, said 1701 is a "limited resolution and cannot work by itself." He added, "Everybody is hiding behind 1701 and cannot resolve the issue." He said even within the presence of UNIFIL, Hezbollah would come back.

Phares, who has extensively written on Hezbollah, proposed enforcement of the 2004 UNSC Resolution 1559 to compliment 1701 because it "expressly asked for a disarming and dismantling of Hezbollah as a militia. That is basically the comprehensive resolution that can serve the purpose of a cease-fire or of actually getting to peace."

"The Lebanese opposition should be calling on the execution of 1559. What does that mean? The Lebanese government will help to disarm Hezbollah from the center, but that Lebanese government is controlled by Hezbollah, so that government cannot execute 1559. Who can do it? The Lebanese people themselves," he said.

Phares noted that some Lebanese Christians, Druze and Sunnis have been doing it themselves over the last few days by "refusing access to Hezbollah" in a number of their areas. "But they need someone to represent them."

Rich Goldberg, a former member of then-President Trump’s National Security Council, told Fox News Digital, "This is a bipartisan American failure as much as it is a U.N. failure. The Bush administration signed off on 1701 with an obvious poison pill: that UNIFIL could only take action at the request of the Lebanese Armed Forces. No request ever came, no enforcement ever occurred, all while the U.S. pumped hundreds of millions of dollars into both UNIFIL and the Lebanese Armed Forces. We held all the cards and used none for 18 years, and Iran took full advantage."

"The lesson for today is that whatever comes after Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah, it cannot rely on UNIFIL or the Lebanese Armed Forces for verification or enforcement," said Goldberg, a senior adviser for the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. "The only party capable and willing to disarm Hezbollah is the Israel Defense Forces."

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., echoed Goldberg’s comments on Monday in the Senate chamber, "The U.N. peacekeeping force in Lebanon allowed Hezbollah to build up massive stockpiles on Israel's border in clear, clear preparation for war."

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"Why has the U.N. looked the other way as Hezbollah has expanded its corrosive influence over the institutions of Lebanon’s government?" he continued. "But setting aside the failures of the so-called international community, this past weekend once again cast a spotlight on America’s own naivete toward the glaring facts of Iran-backed war on our friend, Israel."

Hezbollah launched rocket attacks at Israel on Oct. 8, a day after its ally, Hamas, invaded Israel from the Gaza Strip and slaughtered nearly 1,200 people, including more than 30 Americans, and took about 250 hostages.

Middle East analyst and expert Tom Gross told Fox News Digital, "In many senses, Israel would be forgiven for never trusting the U.N. again. Its utter bias during this conflict, its eagerness to believe whatever fabrications Hamas and Hezbollah feed it, including wildly unreliable civilian death stats and false reports of mass starvation in Gaza, as well as its abysmal failure to enforce previous resolutions (including 1701) designed to stop rocket fire into Israel, mean that almost no one in Israel trusts the U.N."

On Monday, France requested an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting to address the Lebanon and Israel conflict.

"I have requested that an emergency meeting of the Security Council be held on Lebanon this week," French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced. He urged all parties to "avoid a regional conflagration that would be devastating for everyone." 

France had a colonial ruler presence in Lebanon from 1920 to 1946. Paris has vehemently opposed classifying all of Hezbollah’s movement as a terrorist entity, in sharp contrast to Germany, Canada, Austria, the United Kingdom and many additional European and Latin American countries that have condemned Hezbollah’s entire organization as a terrorist group.

When approached for comment about the alleged failure of 1701, the U.S. State Department referred Fox News Digital to remarks by U.S. Ambassador Robert Wood in late August at the Security Council to extend the UNIFIL mandate. He said at the time that "Hezbollah made the escalatory decision to bombard communities in northern Israel. And for the past 11 months, it has done so on nearly a daily basis.  It is wrong that this council has yet to condemn Hezbollah for these repeated destabilizing actions, and we regret that a small minority of the council members blocked the council from doing so in this mandate renewal." 

Wood added, "There is no dispute that Iran, in clear violation of the arms embargo in Resolution 1701, provides Hezbollah with the majority of the rockets, missiles and drones that are fired at Israel." He called for the "need to push for Resolution 1701’s full implementation, including by establishing an area south of the Litani River that is free of any armed personnel, assets or weapons other than those of the Lebanese government and UNIFIL."

A statement released by UNIFIL on Monday noted, "It is essential to fully recommit to the implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which is now more critical than ever to address the underlying causes of the conflict and ensure lasting stability."

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Iran spouts 'propaganda' from UN podium, calls on Middle East to unite behind Tehran

In an address to the 79th United Nations General Assembly Tuesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian claimed to be the one playing peacemaker in the Middle East and, in a juxtaposition, accused Israel of supporting terrorism.

Pezeshkian called on the U.N. to "examine" modern history and said, "Iran has never initiated a war. It has only defended itself heroically against external aggression, causing the aggressors to regret their actions," Pezeshkian said, adding that Iran does not "occupy" territory or exploit resources for other countries. 

"It has repeatedly offered various proposals to its neighbors and international fora aimed at establishing lasting peace and stability," he said. "We have emphasized the importance of unity in the region and establishing a strong region."

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Iran’s claims of playing peacemaker in the Middle East are in stark contrast to its repeated involvement in proxy wars across the region, in which it has been heavily involved in Syria and Yemen, drawing deeper the lines of division between it and other powerful Sunni nations like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

But Iran’s deep involvement in the Middle East extends to one other area not generally endeavored by a nation state — terrorism. 

While Pezeshkian claimed from the podium Tuesday that Israel both "covertly and overtly" supports the Islamic State, Tehran is widely known to have not only backed terrorist organizations ardently opposed to Israel like Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis, but it has also helped build bridges between the Taliban and al Qaeda, providing the terrorist networks with arms, funding and even safe haven.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran seeks to safeguard its own security, not to create insecurity for others," Pezeshkian also claimed. "We want peace for all, and seek no war or quarrel with anyone."

Iran, which has also increasingly aligned itself with top adversarial nations of the West like Russia and North Korea, attempted to claim it has not chosen a side when it comes to Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine, despite it having provided Moscow with drones and, most recently, short-range ballistic missiles for its war effort.

"We seek lasting peace and security for the people of Ukraine and Russia. The Islamic Republic of Iran opposes war and emphasizes the urgent need to end military hostilities in Ukraine. We support all peaceful solutions, and believe that dialog is the only way to resolve this crisis," the Iranian president said. 

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"We need a new paradigm to address global challenges. Such a paradigm must focus on opportunities, rather than being obsessed with perceived threats," he added. 

Pezeshkian called on "neighboring and brotherly countries" to unite with Iran to advance what is best for the Middle East.

But the Iranian president also spoke directly to the U.S. and said Tehran is looking to "transcend" the obstacles of the past and move forward with Washington, despite its withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear agreement under President Trump and the subsequent sanctions and trade restrictions that have, in large part, cut it off from the rest of the world. 

"My message to all states pursuing a counterproductive strategy towards Iran is to learn from history," Pezeshkian said before calling the U.S.’s sanctions a "crime against humanity."

"We have the opportunity to transcend these limitations and enter into a new era," he added.

But Pezeshkian’s comments rang hollow for some and, according to Behnam Ben Taleblu, Iran expert and senior fellow with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, they were riddled with "propaganda."

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"Short but certainly not sweet," he told Fox News Digital. "Pezeshkian dangled the prospect of a renewed diplomatic agreement, something which his regime will use as a literal shield against pressure on its expanding nuclear program and accountably against supporting a multi-front war against Israel."

"By blaming former President Trump in his speech and by bringing along technocratic staff involved in the JCPOA back in 201[8], Pezeshkian hopes to win support with certain crowds in Washington and Europe and run the clock against SnapBack, which expires in 2025," Ben Taleblu added. But despite Pezeshkian’s honeyed comments on renewing diplomatic conversations with the U.S., they are not expected to curry much favor with either side of the political aisle as it continues to ramp up its development of nuclear weapons.

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