Matthew Miller

Amidst escalating tensions in the Middle East, the United States has issued a stark warning of a possible massive attack by Iran targeting Israel. US officials in Israel have been advised to restrict travel outside designated areas, citing credible threats emanating from Tehran.

The Palestinian delegation to the United Nations is pushing for a vote to be recognized as a full member state next month, Ambassador Riyad Mansour has said, a move opposed by the United States.

"We are seeking admission. That is our natural and legal right," Mansour said, adding that he was pushing for an April 18 vote at the Security Council.

Russia on Thursday blocked the renewal of a panel of U.N. experts monitoring international sanctions on North Korea, weeks after the body said it was investigating reports of arms transfers between Moscow and Pyongyang.

Tensions between the United States and Israel have escalated following the UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Israel responded by canceling a delegation visit to Washington after the US abstained from voting yesterday. Meanwhile, fighting between the Israeli army and Hamas fighters in the Gaza Strip continued unabated.

North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles on Monday in what analysts said was a calculated move to grab attention as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits South Korea for talks.

Niger's government announced on Saturday that it was breaking off "with immediate effect" its military cooperation agreement with the United States.

The declaration came just a day after a senior U.S. delegation left Niger, following a three-day visit to renew contact with the military junta that ousted the president and moved closer to Russia.

The foreign ministers of the United States and Turkey discussed, in their meeting in Washington Friday, the Middle East, trade and investment issues, the Ukraine and other matters, and welcomed Sweden's accession to NATO as the 32nd member, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Saturday.

Miler's full statement follows:

Mediator Qatar expressed hopes Tuesday that a new truce between Israel and Hamas could be secured within days, after U.S. President Joe Biden said a ceasefire could start next week and last through Ramadan.

As a dire humanitarian crisis unfolds in Gaza, the U.N. humanitarian agency OCHA and the United States appealed for aid to be allowed into the war-battered Palestinian territory.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken raised concerns over Beijing's backing for Russia's war against Ukraine on Friday in talks with China's top diplomat Wang Yi, who called for Washington to lift sanctions on Chinese entities.

Fears that the Biden administration's bearish embrace of embattled Israel could "swallow" Israel alive have dramatically intensified this week, JNS writes.
On Wednesday, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said the administration is "actively pursuing the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with real security guarantees for Israel."