Houthi terrorists used in major wars in Israel, Ukraine as pawns for Iran, Russia geopolitical aims

The threat of a regional war in the Middle East is troubling world leaders as Islamic extremist groups climb back to the top of international headlines, this time with the backing of state-sponsored terrorism.   

The Houthi terrorist group has been a long-standing nuisance in the Red Sea due to its near-decade-long attacks on military and merchant ships using increasingly sophisticated weapons systems. 

Following Hamas terrorists' deadly Oct. 7 assault on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza, Houthi-led attacks in the Red Sea have drastically increased, and the group has vowed not to cease its operations until Israel stops its attacks against Hamas and the Palestinian people.

However, these strikes are rooted in more than Houthi opposition to the war in Gaza and point to an increasingly sophisticated geopolitical tactic by U.S.’s chief adversaries, Iran and Russia.

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"The Houthis have become a major player in Iran’s strategy to tighten the noose around Israel," Bill Roggio, senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and founding editor of "The Long War Journal," told Fox News Digital. 

However, the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea are not only playing into Iran’s strategy, they are aiding Russia in its war against Ukraine, and by extension, the U.S. and NATO.

Reports surfaced earlier this month suggesting that Russia may be looking to arm Houthi terrorists in the Red Sea in retaliation for the U.S.’ immense support of Ukraine. 

Though U.S. defense officials have said they do not believe Moscow has yet transferred any arms to the terrorist organization, the news followed a meeting that Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov reportedly had with Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdel Salam earlier this year. 

The meeting was an alleged attempt by the militant group to encourage Russia to put pressure on the U.S. and stop the war in Gaza.

Western defense officials have been sounding the alarm that Houthi attacks in the Red Sea not only threaten the lives of those in international waters, but are contributing to food and trade shortages worldwide, further exacerbating global food insecurity, particularly in Africa, initially started by Russia’s war in Ukraine. 

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"You can never look at these things in isolation," Roggio said. "Anything the Russians can do to punish [the U.S.] – military costs, economic costs, political costs. It’s driving up the costs for the U.S. to support Ukraine by compounding problems throughout the Middle East."

"The Russians are going to take advantage of any conflicts the U.S. are in," he added. "We are kind of in a return to a Cold War-type state where this is bleeding over into theaters where the U.S. has direct interest."

Roggio explained that while its "very possible" Russia is having direct communication with the Houthis, he believes it is more likely that Moscow is working through Tehran.

"What the Iranians are doing is beneficial for Iran," he said. "Its almost like Russia is outsourcing pain for the U.S….via Iran."

The Russia-Iran partnership first garnered global attention after Tehran agreed to supply Russian President Vladimir Putin with drones just six months into its deadly war in Ukraine. 

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Iran and Russia have since established a mutually beneficial partnership in an effort to counter Western sanctions slapped on both nations for varying security reasons. 

As attacks by the Houthis in the Red Sea continue to mount, it has become increasingly evident how the militant group is being used by both Iran and Russia for their geopolitical aims.

From mid-October 2023 through July, there have been nearly 290 attacks by Houthi terrorists based out of Yemen directed at merchant and military ships in the Red Sea, as well as strikes against Israel, which the U.S. Navy has helped to intercept, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data, a nonprofit data collection agency.

Despite the increased U.S. presence in the Red Sea, the head of the U.S. Central Command, Gen. Erik Kurilla, reportedly advised Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin that U.S. military operations in the region were "failing" and urged a broader approach, reported the Wall Street Journal earlier this month. 

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"What we’re doing is basically targeting weapons systems. We’re not making an effort to target Houthi leadership, to target military and political leadership," Roggio said. "You really want to get to the root of the problem – it’s the Iranians that are behind all of this."

"The Iranians have not had to pay a price," he added. "[They] are happy to let the Houthis fight to the death – that’s not really going to impact the Iranians."

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Biden's Venezuela policy feeds Maduro strongman image, emboldens dictator in election controversy: Rubio

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., criticized the Biden administration’s handling of Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro, arguing that it has fed his regime’s strongman image and emboldened him in his more authoritarian aims. 

"In my view, it strengthened them internally, and I think gave him the boldness to say: I can get away with this now," Rubio argued. "I'll be condemned. They’ll snap back some sanctions, people will say mean things about me, but in a few months… 2 million more people will leave Venezuela. I'll put some people in jail and crack down on them, and the people around me and the regime will remain loyal, because I've proven that I can win and, I can win in negotiations." 

Rubio explained that he believes the root problem lies with the people President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have around them, which includes "people who are convinced that you can negotiate a good outcome anywhere."

"There are some people that you simply can't just close because of their nature and because of their interests," Rubio insisted. "There isn't going to be a diplomatic solution, unfortunately, in the short term… particularly when you're dealing with authoritarians that are trying to figure out how to stay in power." 

BLINKEN SAYS VENEZUELA'S NICOLAS MADURO LOST ELECTION BEFORE CLAIMING VICTORY WITH 'NO SUPPORTING EVIDENCE'

Anti-government protests have continued in the days following the late July presidential election that the Maduro-controlled National Electoral Council handed to the incumbent with an alleged victory margin of 51%, compared to 44% support for the opposition. 

Pre-election polling (which is illegal in the country) showed that opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez had double the support that Maduro and his United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) had. Venezuelans took to the streets in peaceful protest, but Maduro sent out police to crackdown on them and to clear the streets, leading to violent clashes and escalation. 

Maduro on Wednesday asked the country’s Supreme Court to audit the election, responding to claims that the opposition had won the election and international claims that the election was not fair and free, but many argue that PSUV has such thorough control over every part of the country’s judiciary it is "compromised." 

Ultimately, the Biden administration on Thursday declared Gonzalez the rightful winner of the election, arguing that, "Given the overwhelming evidence, it is clear to the United States and, most importantly, to the Venezuelan people that Edmundo González Urrutia won the most votes in Venezuela’s July 28 presidential election." 

MADURO BOWS TO PRESSURE FOR JUDICIAL AUDIT OF ELECTION RESULTS AS ARGENTINA'S MILEI ENCOURAGES PROTESTS

"The democratic opposition has published more than 80% of the tally sheets received directly from polling stations throughout Venezuela," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a press release. "Those tally sheets indicate that Edmundo González Urrutia received the most votes in this election by an insurmountable margin."

The U.S. State Department stressed that Maduro's victory followed with "no supporting evidence" and that the U.S. "consulted widely with partners and allies around the world" and "none have concluded that Nicolás Maduro received the most votes this election." 

The U.S. helped broker the Barbados Agreement between the Venezuelan president and the opposition parties in his country last October, seeking free and fair elections in exchange for sanctions relief. Maduro immediately backtracked on the agreement by suspending primaries over alleged corruption just one month after signing the deal. 

The State Department then in April allowed the relief, known as General License 44, to expire. The license allowed Venezuela to perform transactions related to oil and gas sector operations, despite acknowledging that Maduro had delivered on "some of the commitments" on the electoral roadmap. 

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM CALLS ON ISRAEL TO ‘DESTROY' IRANIAN OIL REFINERIES

A National Security Council spokesperson told Fox News Digital that it is "inaccurate to characterize" the Barbados Agreement as a "quid pro quo." 

"We significantly changed the sanctions policy we inherited from the previous administration because there is no question that the previous administration’s sanctions policy was not working and led to the exodus of 8 million Venezuelans," the spokesperson said. 

"In October we calibrated our sanctions policy following the Barbados Agreement to show Maduro and his representatives that things could be different, if only they followed through on their commitments — which they now are not doing, and you can anticipate swift USG [United States Government] action very soon," the spokesperson argued. 

Jorge Jraissati, a Venezuelan foreign policy expert and President of the Economic Inclusion Group, bemoaned that the Biden administration has "not done enough at all" through an "erratic" policy towards Venezuela at a time when America’s support remains essential to achieving meaningful progress.

"It lacks strategy," Jraissati said. "It has relied on empty promises on the part of Maduro, and, as a result, the Maduro regime has been able to strengthen their position internationally, as well as their finances."

"To bring freedom to Venezuela, we need a real strategist in the White House," Jraissati added. "We need a foreign policy doctrine that leverages America’s mind power and its vast geoeconomic tools. We need a president that understands the national security and economic importance of Venezuela."

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"When it comes to the American people, we need their brightest minds to join our cause," he urged. "We need the strategic mind of U.S. businessmen, new technologies built in Silicon Valley and the intellect of America’s greatest experts."

The State Department did not respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment.

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Blinken says Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro lost election before claiming victory with 'no supporting evidence'

Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday said a Venezuelan opposition leader, not socialist and Hugo Chavez successor Nicolás Maduro, won the country's presidential election. Maduro has claimed victory and threatened the opposition since July 28, sparking widespread protests.

"Given the overwhelming evidence, it is clear to the United States and, most importantly, to the Venezuelan people that Edmundo González Urrutia won the most votes in Venezuela’s July 28 presidential election," Blinken said. 

Maduro is widely believed to have lost before declaring victory, and numerous regional governments have cast doubt on the results. 

EXPERTS FEAR VENEZUELA'S MADURO COULD STEAL SUNDAY'S ELECTION AS OPPOSITION LEADS IN POLLS

Government officials from Brazil, Colombia and Mexico have been trying to convince Maduro’s administration that he must show the vote tally sheets from Sunday’s election and allow impartial verification, a Brazilian government official told the Associated Press on Thursday. Doing so would dispel any doubt about the results, the official said. Argentina's newly elected libertarian President Javier Milei has called for the anti-Maduro protests to continue.

On Wednesday, Maduro asked Venezuela’s highest court to conduct an audit of the election, but that request drew almost immediate criticism from foreign observers who said the court is too close to the government to produce an independent review.

Polls taken over the course of the summer consistently showed opposition candidate Edmundo González winning by double-digit margins.

When the National Electoral Council, which is controlled by Maduro loyalists, announced around midnight that Maduro had received 51% of the vote compared to main opposition candidate González's 44% support, council President Elvis Amoroso said the results were based on 80% of voting stations and represented an irreversible trend.

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"Meanwhile, the democratic opposition has published more than 80% of the tally sheets received directly from polling stations throughout Venezuela," Blinken said. "Those tally sheets indicate that Edmundo González Urrutia received the most votes in this election by an insurmountable margin."

"The CNE’s rapid declaration of Nicolás Maduro as the winner of the presidential election came with no supporting evidence," the State Department said Thursday. "In the days since the election, we have consulted widely with partners and allies around the world, and while countries have taken different approaches in responding, none have concluded that Nicolás Maduro received the most votes this election."

Since the election, protesters have taken to the streets to voice anger at the results, prompting a heavy-handed response by authorities in some instances. Blinken called for authorities to protect opposition leaders like González and María Corina Machado, the release of protesters who were arrested, and for the peaceful transition of power.

"Now is the time for the Venezuelan parties to begin discussions on a respectful, peaceful transition in accordance with Venezuelan electoral law and the wishes of the Venezuelan people," Blinken said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Who was involved in Russia prisoner swap: An assassin, hacker, suspected spies and more

Russia received eight criminals in a historic prisoner swap that saw a total of 24 detainees released in a complex deal involving seven nations, including the U.S. and Germany.

Here is a look at the faces of evil that were allowed to return to Russia in the largest prisoner swap since the Cold War:

The top pick on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s wish list for the swap was hit man Vadim Krasikov, who used the alias Vadim Sokolov. He was convicted by a German court for the 2019 assassination of a former Chechen commander near Berlin’s parliamentary building. 

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He apparently carried out the assassination on the orders of Moscow’s security services.

Roman Seleznev, the son of a member of the Russian Parliament, was sentenced to 27 years in prison after he was convicted of hacking into more than 500 U.S. businesses and stealing millions of credit card numbers. 

He was also sentenced to 14 years in prison for his role in a $50 million cyber fraud ring and for defrauding banks of $9 million through a hacking scheme.

'DANGEROUS MESSAGE': TOP REPUBLICAN RAISES CONCERNS OVER TRADING AMERICANS FOR 'ACTUAL RUSSIAN CRIMINALS'

Vadim Konoshchenok, a Russian citizen with alleged ties to Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), was accused of providing U.S.-made electronics and ammunition to the Russian military.

He was extradited from Estonia to the U.S. last month.

"As alleged, the defendant was a critical participant in a scheme to provide sensitive, American-made electronics and ammunition in furtherance of Russia's war efforts and weapons development, violating U.S. export controls, economic sanctions and other criminal statues," U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace wrote in a press release at the time. "Let this case serve as the latest example that no matter where you are in the world, if you violate U.S. export controls or evade U.S. sanctions, we will not rest until you face justice in a U.S. courtroom."

Vladislav Klyushin, a Russian businessman, was convicted for his involvement in an elaborate hack-to-trade scheme that netted approximately $93 million through securities trades based on confidential corporate information stolen from U.S. computer networks.

In February 2023, Klyushin was convicted by a federal jury of securities fraud, wire fraud, gaining unauthorized access to computers and conspiracy to commit those crimes. 

He was arrested in Switzerland in March 2021 and extradited to the U.S. later that year.

Pavel Rubtsov was identified as a Russian spy by Poland’s Internal Security Agency in 2022. He was working as a journalist for Spanish media under the fake name Pablo Gonzalez. He was arrested on espionage charges in eastern Poland, near the Ukrainian border, in the first days after Russia’s full-scale-invasion.

Artem Dultzev and Anna Dultseva are a Russian couple that were arrested on espionage charges in Slovenia in 2022. 

Posing as Argentine citizens, they reportedly had used Slovenia as a base since 2017 to travel to neighboring countries and relay Moscow’s orders to other Russian sleeper agents.

They pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 19 months in prison. They were released on time served. The couple is said to have two children.

Mikhail Mikushin was arrested in Norway in 2022 on espionage charges. 

According to Norwegian investigators, he was living in the country under a fake identity while working for Russia's intelligence service. 

He allegedly entered the country claiming to be a Brazilian citizen.

BIDEN CALLS RUSSIA PRISONER SWAP DEAL THAT FREED WSJ'S GERSHKOVICH, WHELAN A 'FEAT OF DIPLOMACY'

The historic exchange freed three American citizens and one American green-card holder who were unjustly imprisoned in Russia: Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Vladimir Kara-Murza

President Biden called the prisoner swap deal a "feat of diplomacy."

"We’ve negotiated the release of 16 people from Russia — including five Germans and seven Russian citizens who were political prisoners in their own country. Some of these women and men have been unjustly held for years. All have endured unimaginable suffering and uncertainty. Today, their agony is over," the White House said in a press release. 

Fox News is told that one hour before Biden announced on July 21 that he was dropping out of this year's presidential race, he was on the phone with his Slovenian counterpart urging them to make final arrangements to get the deal over the finish line. 

Biden spoke individually with Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Polish President Andrzej Duda, Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to thank them for their partnership on the historic deal that brought home Americans and others detained in Russia. 

The president expressed his appreciation for their support during the complex negotiations and active engagement throughout the process to achieve this monumental release. 

However, a top Republican warned on Thursday that the Biden administration's choice to trade Russian criminals for detained Americans could be sending a "dangerous message" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, joined others in celebrating the releases, saying he was "thrilled" to hear the detained Americans were coming home.

"But I remain concerned that continuing to trade innocent Americans for actual Russian criminals held in the U.S. and elsewhere sends a dangerous message to Putin that only encourages further hostage taking by his regime," he added. 

Biden is expected to greet the returned prisoners at Joint Base Andrews Thursday evening.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Fox News Digital's Greg Norman, Julia Johnson, David Rutz, Brian Flood, and Timothy H.J. Nerozzi contributed to this report.

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Israel says it killed top Hamas military commander Mohammad Deif

Israel claimed on Thursday that it killed Hamas’ top military commander, Mohammad Deif, during a strike earlier in July. 

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said it launched a strike in Gaza on July 13 while targeting two top Hamas leaders. Deif, who the IDF said was the mastermind behind the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, was one of the targets. 

"Mohammed Deif, the top military commander of Hamas, was the target of an Israeli strike today in al-Mawasi," two Israeli sources told Fox News Digital after the attack. 

There was no confirmation of Deif’s death until Thursday.

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"Muhammad Deif, the ‘Osama Bin Laden of Gaza,’ was eliminated on 13.07.24," Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said in a statement. "This is a significant milestone in the process of dismantling Hamas as a military and governing authority in Gaza, and in the achievement of the goals of this war."

According to the IDF, Deif initiated, planned and executed the October 7th terror attacks along with Yahya Sinwar, the top Hamas leader in Gaza. Hamas terrorists killed 1,200 people in southern Israel and abducted 251 hostages into the Gaza Strip. Sinwar is believed to remain in hiding in Gaza. 

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"Over the years, Deif directed, planned, and carried out numerous terrorist attacks against the State of Israel," the IDF said. "Deif operated side-by-side with Yahya Sinwar, and during the war, he commanded Hamas' terrorist activity in the Gaza Strip by issuing commands and instructions to senior members of Hamas' Military Wing." 

Israel on Tuesday said that it killed Fuad Shukr, a top Hezbollah commander in Lebanon. On Wednesday, Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was reportedly assassinated while he was in Tehran, Iran.

WHITE HOUSE CAN'T SAY WHAT ASSASSINATION OF TOP HAMAS LEADER COULD MEAN FOR GAZA CEASEFIRE DEAL

Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for Wednesday's strike in Tehran that killed Haniyeh. 

The assassinations of Hamas' two most senior leaders is a victory for Israel, which has promised to continue the war in Gaza until Hamas' military capabilities are eliminated. However, the strikes further complicate ceasefire negotiations pushed for by the Biden-Harris administration. Iran has vowed revenge for the strike that killed Haniyeh. 

In its 10-month-old campaign of bombardment and offensives in Gaza, Israel has killed some 39,480 Palestinians and wounded more than 91,100 others, according to the Hamas-led Gaza Health Ministry, whose count does not differentiate between civilians and combatants. More than 80% of the population of 2.3 million have been driven from their homes, the vast majority crammed into tent camps in the southwest corner of the territory, with limited food and water.

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Deif was one of the founders of Hamas’ military wing, the Qassam Brigades, in the 1990s and led the unit for decades. Under his command, it carried out dozens of suicide bombings against Israelis on buses and at cafes and built up a formidable arsenal of rockets that could strike deep into Israel and often did.

Deif operated behind the scenes in Gaza and never appeared in public. He was seldom photographed and his voice only rarely heard in audio statements. He had survived several Israeli assassination attempts before his ultimate demise in July. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Israel says it killed top Hamas military commander Muhammad Deif

Israel claimed on Thursday that it killed Hamas’ top military commander, Muhammad Deif, during a strike earlier in July. 

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said it launched a strike in Gaza on July 13 while targeting two top Hamas leaders. Deif, who the IDF said was the mastermind behind the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, was one of the targets.

ISRAEL CONFIRMS STRIKE ON COMPOUND IN CIVILIAN AREA OF GAZA TARGETING OCT. 7 MASTERMIND

"Mohammed Deif, the top military commander of Hamas, was the target of an Israeli strike today in al-Mawasi," two Israeli sources told Fox News Digital after the attack. 

There was no confirmation of Deif’s death until Thursday.

Israel on Tuesday said that it killed Fuad Shukr, a top Hezbollah commander in Lebanon. On Wednesday, Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was reportedly assassinated while he was in Tehran, Iran.

This is a developing story.

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Kamala Harris' foreign policy chops questioned: What has she done, where has she been?

Scrutiny over Vice President Kamala Harris’ ability to lead the nation took center stage after she became the most likely challenger to take on Republican nominee Donald Trump in the race for the White House last week.

One question that remains on the minds of top security experts is whether she has what it takes to counter U.S. adversaries?

U.S. foreign policy has become a leading issue in this presidential election as wars in Gaza and Ukraine continue to not only be hot-button issues for American voters but remain top concerns to security experts eyeing geopolitical rivals like Russia and China.

Vice President Harris has tended to play a back seat role to President Biden when it comes to most U.S. foreign policy issues, as is typical with any vice president, but her handling of the U.S. immigration crisis has drawn condemnation from Republicans in Congress. 

HOW VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS GOT STARTED IN POLITICS

In 2021, Harris was dubbed the "border czar" by members of the GOP, and she has been repeatedly referred to as such by media outlets. 

But Harris, who traveled to Guatemala in 2021 and then Honduras in 2022, was reportedly never tasked with stopping border crossings, a priority that falls under Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ purview. Harris was tasked with countering the root causes of mass migration from Central America's Northern Triangle — Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.

Harris issued one of her strongest messages against mass migration during her 2021 trip when she said the Biden administration was committed to helping Guatemalans find "hope at home."

"I want to be clear to folks in this region who are thinking about making that dangerous trek to the United States-Mexico border," she said. "Do not come. Do not come."

But migration across the southern border under the Biden administration drastically ramped up, spiking in 2023 before slowing down in 2024, and the issue remained a constant source of frustration among the GOP.

"She made no difference by their own objective measures," Robert Greenway, director of the Allison Center for National Defense at The Heritage Foundation, told Fox News Digital. "She did nothing to change root causes in Latin America. She made, therefore, no impact on the immigration crisis that still remains a top issue for voters."

Harris’ approach to addressing mass migration has many wondering about her ability to cope with other geopolitical matters. 

THE MEDIA'S SUDDEN REJECTION OF KAMALA HARRIS' 'BORDER CZAR' LABEL

Top officials in the Biden administration argue Harris has been intimately involved in major geopolitical issues like the war in Ukraine, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he believes foreign policy is Harris' "forte."

"I’ve seen her not only around the world, but I’ve seen her on the most critical foreign policy questions of our time in the Situation Room at the White House, in the Oval Office with the President," Blinken told reporters last week. "And my observation is she’s very strong, very effective and [a] deeply respected voice for our country around the world." 

Last month, Harris traveled to Switzerland for the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, where she renewed support for Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskyy and U.S. commitment to counter Russia. 

"I first met President Zelenskyy in February of 2022, just five days before Russia invaded Ukraine, an outrageous attempt to subjugate a free people and an attempt to wipe a sovereign state off the map," she said during the summit. 

"America stands with Ukraine not out of charity but because it is in our strategic interest," she added. "It is one of our defining missions to uphold the international rules-based order to defend it, strengthen it and promote it. And, no doubt, it must be a priority for us all."

Harris has traveled to Europe at least six times since entering the White House, including the U.K., Germany, Poland, Romania and France, where she has repeatedly renewed U.S. support for Ukraine and Washington’s commitment to NATO. 

Her stance on NATO and Ukraine is unlikely to veer from President Biden’s should she win the White House in November, though where she may differ from the current administration is her position on Israel. 

KAMALA HARRIS SAYS RUSSIA WILL SUFFER SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC COSTS IF IT INVADES UKRAINE: 'SWIFT AND SEVERE'

The war in Gaza has become the most divisive political issue within the Democratic Party, and Harris has been vocal in her condemnation of it. 

After meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on July 25, Harris said they had a "frank and constructive meeting" during which she "reiterated her longstanding and unwavering commitment to the security of the State of Israel."

"I’ve said it many times, but it bears repeating: Israel has a right to defend itself, and how it does so matters," she said. "I also expressed with the prime minister my serious concern about the scale of human suffering in Gaza, including the death of far too many innocent civilians.  And I made clear my serious concern about the dire humanitarian situation there.

"We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to the suffering. And I will not be silent."

Despite Harris' assurances that she will "always ensure that Israel is able to defend itself," Republicans remain skeptical when it comes to her position on Israeli security.

In an interview with Fox News, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused Harris of speaking to pro-Hamas and pro-Palestinian constituents as well as "implicitly messaging Hamas leadership."

But Blinken pushed back on criticisms over Harris' position when it comes to the war in Gaza and said she is "deeply engaged in the Middle East, in trying to find a peaceful path forward."

"What I’ve observed is someone who asks time and again penetrating questions, who cuts to the chase and is intensely focused on the interests of the American people," he added. 

NETANYAHU REPORTEDLY UPSET WITH HARRIS OVER VP’S ISRAEL REMARKS AS WHITE HOUSE PUSHES BACK

The meeting last week reportedly marked only the second time Harris has met with Netanyahu. The first occurred in 2017 during her time as a California senator.

Greenway, who also sat as the deputy assistant to the president and senior director for Middle Eastern and North African Affairs for the White House's National Security Council during the Trump administration, said he expects Harris will be "more sensitive to the Palestinian side of the equation and their approach to the resolution of the conflict."

Harris' position when it comes to Iran – the chief adversary in the Middle East given its threat of nuclear development and its direct involvement in backing Hamas, Hezebollah and Houthi rebels against Israel, as well as supplying drones to Russia for its war in Ukraine – is not expected to diverge from Biden's.

The vice president has traveled to the Middle East twice while sitting as second in command, though both trips were to the United Arab Emirates, including for a U.N. climate conference in 2023 and in 2022 to provide condolences on behalf of the Biden administration on the passing of former UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

In March 2023, Harris traveled to Ghana, Tanzania and Zambia to meet with government leaders and business officials as the U.S. looked to shore up security and economic interests across Africa. 

The White House said Harris’ trip focused on efforts to advance the "digital economy, support climate adaptation and resilience and strengthen business ties and investment."

She also addressed concerns about food insecurity, which has become a major issue for many African nations due to Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Harris’ trip signaled the Biden administration's attempts to expand geopolitical ties on the continent, particularly as Russia and China look to bolster relations across Africa. 

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said his confidence in Harris' abilities to lead abroad stems from the "vital" role she has played during top defense meetings. 

"She's been a vital asset to the overall team throughout this. That's what I know from sitting in a room with her over 3½ years," he told reporters. 

Arguably the biggest mishap by the Biden administration was the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan that resulted in the death of 13 U.S. soldiers. 

While Biden has taken the brunt of the criticism, Harris said in a 2021 interview with CNN that she was the "last" person in the room with the president before he made the decision to pull all U.S. troops from Afghanistan, an admission that could spell trouble for the vice president on the campaign trail. 

While U.S. involvement with the Taliban-run nation has significantly diminished, another nation in Asia, China, remains a top issue this election cycle. 

Harris has traveled to Asia several times during her time as vice president, including trips to Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam. 

During her first trip to the continent as vice president, Harris stopped in Indonesia, where she addressed issues concerning climate change, infrastructure and economic growth. But she also hit on maritime security and "efforts to uphold and strengthen international rules and norms in the region," a message that was directed at Beijing. 

Harris has not yet made the trek to China, though she did briefly meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Bangkok in 2022.

The vice president has engaged in tough talk on China, accusing Beijing of "bullying" in the South China Sea and taking a "de-risking" approach to further separate the U.S. from China. 

"It’s not about pulling out, but it is about ensuring that we are protecting American interests, and that we are a leader in terms of the rules of the road, as opposed to following others’ rules," she told CBS in 2023. 

"We absolutely are prepared to, and engaged in, what is necessary to compete."

But Greenway doesn't think it is likely Harris will take a tougher approach to Beijing than Biden has. 

"[China's] aggressively applying leverage across the board against our partners and threatening to accelerate their military expansion," Greenway said. "They've announced that they're going to accelerate their already significant production of nuclear weapons. And they're on track to be prepared to blockade or invade Taiwan for reunification purposes by 2027."

Greenway pointed out that these concerns would exist no matter who takes up the top job following the November election. But he also argued that "all of these dangers don't seem to have abated" under the Biden administration.

"I don't think that we're likely to expect it to happen under the Harris administration," he added. 

Austin told reporters Harris has been a "key player" when it comes to enacting U.S. geopolitical aims. 

"She understands national security, international affairs," he said. "She's represented this country in the international arena on the international stage a number of times and done so in a very, very professional and effective manner."

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