Photo: Science Photo Library RF
1 State Department Works To Help Americans Stranded In Middle East As Attacks Continue
Four days into the U.S.-Israel operation against Iran, the State Department is scrambling to help thousands of Americans trapped in the region as air travel across the Middle East has collapsed. The Trump administration is facing heavy criticism for not having an evacuation plan ready before the joint military operation launched over the weekend. On Monday, the State Department urged Americans in 14 countries to leave using commercial flights, but many airports have been struck or had their airspace shut down, making that nearly impossible. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed all personnel were safe, noting that staffing drawdowns across the region had helped keep diplomats out of harm's way. The State Department said it has been in contact with nearly 3,000 Americans and briefed 750 congressional staffers on options available. The department is also waiving the usual requirement for Americans to repay the government for evacuation travel costs.
2 Southern Command Announced Last Night That The US Had Carried Out Its First Land Operation Against Cartels In Ecuador
The U.S. military took a major step in its war on drug cartels yesterday, carrying out its first-ever land operation against South American cartel groups. U.S. Southern Command announced the joint operation with Ecuadorian military forces, describing the targets as "designated terrorist organizations in Ecuador." It's a significant escalation in tactics; until now, U.S. military action against cartels in the Western Hemisphere had been limited to airstrikes on smuggling boats. SOUTHCOM released a brief video appearing to show the joint operation but provided no details about what specifically was targeted, which groups were involved, whether there were casualties, or what was accomplished.
3 Social Media Believed To Be Tied To Austin Shooter Filled With Anti-Christian, Antisemitic, And Misogynistic Posts
Social media accounts believed to be linked to the gunman who killed three people at an Austin bar on Sunday are filled with antisemitic, anti-Christian, and misogynistic posts. Law enforcement sources say 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, a Senegalese immigrant who became a U.S. citizen in 2013, posted pro-Iranian and anti-Israel messages going back more than a year. At the time of the shooting, he was wearing a shirt with an Iranian flag design and a hoodie reading "Property of Allah." A Quran and an Iranian flag were found in his vehicle and apartment. Investigators say the ongoing Iran conflict appeared to be at least a partial factor in the attack, but no posts were found indicating advance planning.