Journalist calls Blinken a ‘criminal’ over US support for Israel during briefing
Several journalists who are not members of the regular State Department press corps and reportedly outspoken critics against U.S. support for Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza repeatedly interrupted U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday, Jan. 16, during his final press conference. Blinken was interrupted by several journalists, but the situation quickly escalated after one reporter had to be removed by security.
The scene unfolded in the State Department briefing room. Independent journalist Sam Husseini, a long-time critic of U.S. foreign policy, yelled at Blinken over U.S. support for Israel.
Hussein reportedly called Blinken a “criminal” and said he belonged in The Hague, which is the capital city of South Holland, where the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is located.
The interruption ended once security picked Husseini up and forcefully carried him out of the room, as he continued to yell at Blinken and accused Israel of war crimes.
Blinken, who leaves office on Monday, Jan. 20, when President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated, later took questions from reporters. Blinken has been heckled during appearances in Washington, D.C., since the war in Gaza began more than a year ago.
Pro-Palestinian activists have also reportedly camped outside Blinken’s home in Virginia and repeatedly threw red paint to symbolize blood on a car carrying the secretary of state and his family.
Blinken has been targeted by pro-Palestinian protesters because of the U.S. supplying weapons to Israel, and diplomatic support of the country.
Israel’s war against Hamas started after the terror group’s attack on Oct. 7, 2023, left 1,200 people dead and 250 more kidnapped. More than 46,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry.
While Israel has been accused of war crimes, the Biden administration said it cannot determine if Israel violated international law, because Hamas hides within the Palestinian civilian population.
Alleged Yakuza leader pleads guilty to trafficking nuclear materials
An alleged high-ranking leader of Japan’s Yakuza crime syndicate has pleaded guilty in a U.S. federal court to trafficking weapons-grade nuclear material, believing it was destined for Iran’s nuclear program. The case sheds light on a sprawling international smuggling operation involving drugs, weapons and radioactive materials.
Takeshi Ebisawa, 60, entered his plea Wednesday, Jan. 8, in a Manhattan federal court, admitting to charges of nuclear and narcotics trafficking. Prosecutors said Ebisawa attempted to sell weapons-grade plutonium and uranium sourced from Myanmar to an individual he believed was an Iranian general. The “general” was, in fact, an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent.
Between 2020 and 2022, Ebisawa reportedly provided photographs, Geiger counter readings and supposed laboratory analyses to verify the material’s radioactivity. U.S. officials later confirmed the material was weapons-grade and suitable for constructing nuclear weapons.
One of Ebisawa’s co-conspirators claimed access to over 4,400 pounds of thorium-232 and more than 220 pounds of uranium in the form of U3O8, a compound commonly found in the uranium concentrate powder known as “yellowcake.”
Prosecutors said Ebisawa planned to use the proceeds from the nuclear material sale to purchase military-grade weapons, including surface-to-air missiles, for insurgent groups in Myanmar. But his scheme extended beyond nuclear materials.
He also conspired to traffic approximately 1,100 pounds each of heroin and methamphetamine into the United States. Additionally, he sought to launder $100,000 in drug proceeds between New York and Tokyo.
Ebisawa’s arrest in 2022 followed a DEA-led sting operation, which intercepted materials and dismantled parts of his narcotics and weapons trafficking networks. Thai authorities collaborated with U.S. agents during the operation.
Additional charges were filed in 2024 after investigators uncovered the full scope of Ebisawa’s criminal enterprise. His charges now include nuclear material trafficking, narcotics importation and money laundering.
Ebisawa faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison if convicted. Sentencing is scheduled for April.
DEA Administrator Anne Milgram praised the investigation, calling it a testament to the agency’s ability to dismantle some of the world’s most dangerous criminal networks.
“This case exposed the shocking extent of international organized crime, dealing in drugs, weapons and even nuclear materials,” Milgram said.
Acting U.S. Attorney Edward Y. Kim of the Southern District of New York described the plan as “brazen,” emphasizing the catastrophic risks posed by Ebisawa’s actions had the nuclear materials been sold or weaponized.
Once a dominant force in international crime, the Yakuza has seen its membership shrink to about one-third of its size two decades ago, according to Japan’s National Police Agency.
Strict anti-organized crime laws in Japan have limited the group’s ability to operate openly and financially, forcing members to adapt.
Iran’s nuclear program has reached a critical point, with intelligence reports indicating uranium enrichment is nearing weapons-grade levels. Analysts suggest Tehran has accumulated sufficient enriched material for multiple nuclear bombs, should its leadership decide to proceed.
While Iranian officials deny any intention of developing nuclear weapons, U.S. and Israeli authorities are preparing to address the potential threat.
Proposed measures include tightening economic sanctions to further destabilize Tehran’s economy, and providing advanced military support to Israel, such as bunker-busting munitions capable of targeting deeply buried nuclear sites.
Israeli officials, bolstered by recent air superiority gained in Syria and Iran following October airstrikes, view the current situation as a pivotal moment.
Reports suggest the Israeli air force is readying for potential preemptive strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, should such actions become necessary.
Recent Israeli airstrikes across Syria have already undermined Iran’s regional influence, targeting weapons stockpiles and air defense systems weakened by the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime. These operations are part of a broader strategy to curtail Iran’s military reach and deny advanced weaponry to its proxies.
Despite escalating tensions, diplomatic solutions remain an option.
Iran has signaled a willingness to negotiate but insists on terms that exclude external pressure. Iranian officials have warned that any attack on its nuclear facilities could lead to a withdrawal from international agreements, further heightening the stakes.
Both U.S. and Israeli officials emphasize the urgency of staying ahead in what they describe as a high-stakes race. While neither nation seeks a larger conflict, their shared focus remains on deterring Iran and preventing nuclear weapons from entering the equation.
Belarus, Russia strengthen relations with security treaty, possible nuclear weapons
Russia’s relationship with Belarus has become even stronger as the two countries sign a security treaty. The pact solidified Russia’s closest ally, rolling out new facilities to house powerful weapons for Moscow.
The European country borders Russia, and is key for the Kremlin as war continues just past Belarus’ border in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has given Belarus access to its nuclear power, including its newest hypersonic ballistic missile. The country’s doctrine says that if Russia or one of its allies’ sovereignty is threatened, they can use nuclear weapons for protection. The timing comes as tensions mount due to continued support by Western countries for Ukraine.
Following the agreement, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said, “I have warned all my enemies, ‘friends’ and adversaries: If you step on the border, the answer will be momentary.”
Lukashenko has ruled Belarus for 30 years with the help of Russia, including during major protests against his rule in 2020 and 2021.
On Tuesday, Dec. 10, Lukashenko made a public request to Putin. He asked the leader to deploy more weapons to Belarus to “calm some heads.” He asked specifically for the Oreshnik missile, a high-powered missile that Russia has used against Ukraine. According to Putin, the Oreshnik can move at 10 times the speed of sound and hit a target without detection by defense systems.
In response, Putin said these missiles could reach Belarus during the second half of 2025. He said Belarus could choose the targets but would not take command over nuclear power.
Putin maintains that Moscow will retain control of these weapons after they are deployed to Russia’s ally. On the other hand, Belarus’ security council said it’s up to the president to approve them.
Dissenting, exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya took to X to criticize the pact. Tsikhanouskaya said it strengthens Russia’s control. About Putin, she said, “The deployment of new weapons and using Belarus as a pawn in his imperial ambitions threatens us all.”
In 2022, Lukashenko allowed Russia to use his country as a corridor to send troops into Ukraine. He also said Belarus already holds dozens of tactical weapons that went undetected by the West.
This is why it would be ‘ludicrous’ for Russia to use nuclear weapons
Stop me if you’ve heard this before. The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, is threatening to use nuclear weapons if Ukraine gets or uses certain other weapons in certain ways.
In the latest example of nuclear saber-rattling, Moscow changed its protocols for using nuclear weapons. If a non-nuclear country like Ukraine, is allied with a nuclear-armed country like the United States, and puts Russian sovereignty at risk, the Kremlin said it will use nukes.
Over the course of the war in Ukraine, Russia has issued dozens of threats concerning the use of its nuclear weapons, and each time the threat rang hollow. Straight Arrow News Reporter Ryan Robertson spoke with Matt Shoemaker, a former U.S. intelligence officer who spent time on the Russia desk, about whether to take Russia’s threats seriously.
The following conversation has been edited for length and clarity. You can watch the full interview in the video above.
Ryan Robertson: The last couple of days, the announcement came out that Russia was amending its protocols for nuclear responses to say that if Ukraine, or a nation, attacks Russia with long-range weapons that puts Russian sovereignty at risk, and that nation is being backed by a nuclear power, then Russia can use nuclear weapons.
The announcement was made in September, and went live at the same time Ukraine was using long-range ATACMS outside of Kursk. Is this all just more bluster from Putin?
Matthew Shoemaker: Short answer, yes. There’s been a lot of sensationalism, especially here in the United States, with regards to this usage of ATACMS. If you go on the Drudge Report, for example, the past three days, their main headlines have been essentially, “Nuclear war is about to start. All of these countries are updating their nuclear weapons programs and their nuclear responses.”
This was foreseen, Russia, let’s put it that way, had a good idea that this was going to happen, which is why they announced it back in September. They waited [to implement it] until President Biden announced [his plans]. And let’s be honest, President Putin knows President Biden. They’ve met multiple times. Biden’s got two months left on the clock. Putin knows that. Putin knows that, you know, Trump’s about to come in. Putin is going to have a much better time, from his perspective, negotiating with Trump.
You know, this is all just bluster at this point. No one anticipates, no one expects that President Putin is going to start nuclear war over this with President Biden and two months left. There’s nothing whatsoever in it for President Putin to do this. So this is all just bluster, unfortunately. And, you know, people with their own political axes to grind are using it for their advantage, whether it be bludgeoning the other side over the head with their political comments or just to try and stir up support for themselves. So, you know, there’s a lot of sensationalism going on.
Ryan Robertson: Sure, sure. I mean, it’s 2024, right? You can’t get by without some sensationalism, right? You mentioned something about the ATACMS. You know, President Biden has approved ATACMS. Ukraine probably doesn’t have that many long-range ATACMS at this point, but President Biden has a few billion dollars left of congressionally approved money to spend. If Ukraine suddenly got an influx of ATACMS, you know, long-range missiles, would that be enough to change the course of the war over the next couple of months before President Trump takes office?
Matthew Shoemaker: A short answer, in my professional assessment as a former intelligence officer, is no. None of that is in President Biden’s wheelhouse. Over the past three years of this conflict, effectively, he has slow-walked, at every single opportunity, any chance that the Ukrainians had to get an upper hand with regards to the Russians. President Biden has denied them that. The only thing President Biden has actually done is given the Ukrainians enough to stay in the fight.
And that’s essentially what this is more than anything, because—and not to get too far into the weeds and become too much of a tactician with regards to this—as you mentioned, the Ukrainians don’t have enough of these ATACMS. The ATACMS themselves come in multiple variants. No one really knows which variants the Ukrainians have or how many of those variants they have. The two main variants are–one is a main large warhead itself. And that’s used against, usually, clusters of personnel, for example. That tends to have a shorter range because it’s heavier. You need a bigger warhead for it.
The other variant has a lot of smaller munitions in it and kind of just sprays them out over a wide area. That one, from my understanding, has a little bit of a longer range. We don’t know how many the Ukrainians have. We don’t know how many of the variants they have either. That sort of thing.
On top of it, the Americans have been helping the Ukrainians pay for the development of a Ukrainian-made, essentially ATACMS-style weapon that the Ukrainians have been fielding, and they can produce those themselves. So, you know, the Ukrainians have been lobbing these into Russia, and this doesn’t really change any of the tactics on the field. It is all just bluster. It creates a headline. Because in reality, yes, for the Americans to say you can use these weapons against Russian soil is a new development, if you will.
I would say that, unlike most of the reporting, from my understanding, there actually are quite a lot of restrictions still on the use of ATACMS.
Ryan Robertson: Right. The Ukrainians can only use them around Kursk.
Matthew Shoemaker: Exactly. It’s meant to give the Ukrainians some bargaining chip when Trump does come into office, that the Ukrainians own, essentially, Russian territory that they can negotiate to give back to the Russians under a Trump administration. There’s a lot of gamesmanship, a lot of different tactics going on, a lot of chess being played. But for people to just fly off the handle and assume that nuclear war is coming is irresponsible at best and just ludicrous at worst.
Ryan Robertson: Matt Shoemaker, always a pleasure talking to you.
Israeli airstrike destroys Iran’s active nuclear facility
New details have emerged about an Israeli airstrike last month on Iran’s Parchin Military Complex, reportedly targeting the Taleghan 2 facility, which U.S. and Israeli intelligence say was used for nuclear weapons research. High-resolution satellite images reveal significant damage to the site. Officials claim the strike disrupted Iran’s efforts to resume nuclear weapons development.
Taleghan 2, once part of Iran’s Amad nuclear program, was officially shut down in 2003. However, recent activities at the facility reportedly included explosives testing and computer modeling related to nuclear devices.
The Institute has acquired high-resolution satellite imagery of the Israeli missile strikes on the Parchin Military Complex in Iran. Four buildings were destroyed, including Taleghan 2, a facility formerly involved in nuclear weapons development during Iran's Amad Plan in the… pic.twitter.com/OLwnyKSyEU
The U.S. warned Iran in June to cease such activities, but continued surveillance indicated the research persisted. Officials said the facility was testing plastic explosives critical for detonating nuclear weapons.
The strike has placed Iran in a diplomatic bind. Since Taleghan 2 was not part of Iran’s declared nuclear program, Tehran cannot publicly acknowledge the attack without implicating itself in violating the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is increasing pressure on Iran. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi met with Iranian officials this week to address compliance issues ahead of a critical Board of Governors vote expected next week.
Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, but Western officials argue the strike and additional intelligence suggest otherwise. Tehran has warned that further pressure could lead to reduced cooperation with the IAEA.
North Korea fires ICBM; US, South Korea respond with simulated strikes
North Korea conducted a significant intercontinental ballistic missile test early Thursday, Oct. 31, with U.S. and South Korea responding swiftly through coordinated air drills, simulating strikes on North Korean missile targets. This marks North Korea’s first long-range missile test in almost a year, a launch that South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff suggest may be a display of strength ahead of the U.S. presidential election.
The missile, launched from near Pyongyang, reached a record altitude of 4,300 miles and stayed airborne for over 80 minutes — one of the longest North Korean missile flights to date.
Fired at a steep angle to avoid neighboring airspace, the missile’s trajectory aligns with North Korea’s recent strategy to showcase range capability without provoking further regional backlash.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the launch, describing it as “appropriate military action” in response to perceived threats, signaling his continued commitment to expanding North Korea’s nuclear capabilities.
This latest test, in clear defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions prohibiting North Korea from conducting such long-range nuclear-capable missile tests, underscores the country’s growing missile advancements.
Japan confirmed the missile’s landing approximately 190 miles from Okushiri Island near Russia’s coast, with Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani calling the launch a direct threat to both Japan and international stability.
In response to the North’s ICBM launch, U.S., South Korean and Japanese forces conducted joint air exercises involving over 100 aircraft, aimed at reinforcing their defense posture and deterring further North Korean provocations.
The drills simulated strikes on mock North Korean missile sites, underscoring the allies’ preparedness and commitment to regional security.
Experts say North Korea’s high-angle missile tests could potentially reach up to 9,300 miles on a standard, flatter trajectory, which would place the U.S. mainland within range. However, uncertainties remain regarding North Korea’s ability to accurately deliver a nuclear warhead over such distances.
Putin oversees nuclear drills, signals readiness for rising threats
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, Oct. 30, supervised a large-scale nuclear exercise, testing intercontinental ballistic missiles and other nuclear capabilities as Russia faces continued tensions with Western nations over the war in Ukraine. The exercise included ballistic missile launches from land-based installations and nuclear submarines in the Barents and Okhotsk Seas, alongside cruise missile exercises by long-range bombers, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
“Russia confirms its fundamental position that the use of nuclear weapons is an extreme, exceptional measure to ensure state security,” Putin said. “It is the nuclear triad that continues to be a reliable guarantor of the sovereignty and security of our country, allows us to solve the problems of strategic deterrence, as well as maintain nuclear parity and the balance of power in the world as objective factors of global stability.”
Amid geopolitical tensions, Putin added that Russia would continue modernizing its nuclear forces, investing in increased accuracy, reduced launch times, and enhanced defenses.
“We are not going to get involved in a new arms race,” he said, “but we will maintain nuclear forces at the necessary sufficiency level.”
Defense Minister Andrei Belousov described the drills as a simulation of a retaliatory strike. Last month, Putin warned NATO that deeper Ukrainian strikes into Russian territory, enabled by Western-supplied long-range weapons, could escalate the conflict.
Russian officials called the exercises essential to national defense. Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the Russian State Duma’s International Committee, noted that Russia must be prepared for any potential aggression. The drills follow similar exercises earlier this year with Belarus, where Moscow has stationed tactical nuclear weapons.
US expanding NATO airbase to host nuclear-capable fighter jets
The United States is expanding Hungary’s Kecskemét Air Base to host nuclear-capable fighter jets. The expansion will enhance NATO’s ability to quickly respond to regional threats, particularly as the conflict in Ukraine continues.
DVIDS
The U.S. Department of Defense is investing in infrastructure upgrades at the air base, allowing it to accommodate advanced fighter jets such as the F-15 Eagle, which can carry nuclear payloads. This move is part of NATO’s strategy to bolster deterrence along its eastern flank.
The expansion comes as Russia criticizes NATO’s increased presence in Eastern Europe, viewing it as a provocation. NATO, however, emphasized that the expanded capabilities are purely defensive and intended to uphold regional stability.
Located in central Hungary, the Kecskemét Air Base is seen as a key strategic location due to its proximity to NATO’s eastern borders. The base could become part of NATO’s nuclear-sharing framework, where non-nuclear countries host nuclear weapons or aircraft capable of carrying them as part of NATO’s broader deterrence strategy.
This expansion follows other NATO initiatives to reinforce defenses in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with a focus on European countries close to the conflict zone. Military analysts say these moves aim to send a message to Moscow about the alliance’s readiness to defend its member states.
Russian officials have voiced concerns over NATO’s growing military footprint near its borders. They have framed the expansion of bases such as Kecskemét as increasing the risk of confrontation, though NATO maintains that the changes are defensive in nature.
NATO’s tactical nuclear policy has long been a key part of its deterrence posture, with bases like Kecskemét playing a growing role in military exercises aimed at countering potential Russian threats.
Earthquake in Iran fuels online speculation of nuclear testing
Tensions between Israel and Iran have intensified amid fears that a recent earthquake in Iran was not a natural disaster, but rather the result of a secret underground nuclear test. This online speculation arises as both nations exchange warnings concerning Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Israel views Iran’s nuclear program as an existential threat, and over the last two decades, its military has prepared for potential strikes on key facilities like Natanz and Fordow, where uranium is enriched.
However, reports indicate that Israel’s capability to execute such strikes independently, without U.S. assistance, is limited.
While Israeli air drills have simulated these operations, officials question whether they could effectively destroy Iran’s nuclear infrastructure without specialized American “bunker-busting” bombs.
The Biden administration has urged Israel to refrain from directly targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities, warning of the risks of a full-scale regional war.
In a recent conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Biden emphasized the importance of proportional responses to Iranian missile strikes on Israeli territory, cautioning that any attack on nuclear or energy sites could lead to catastrophic escalation.
Reuters
The situation has been further complicated by online speculation of a potential underground nuclear test in Iran, following a 4.5 magnitude earthquake in Semnan Province near key nuclear facilities.
The earthquake’s shallow depth and location have led to the speculation, although officials are still investigating the incident. Social media has been rife with rumors, but no official confirmation has emerged. Analysts warn that a confirmed nuclear test by Iran would significantly escalate tensions between Iran and Israel.
