[Insane-Predictable] Biden grants his son pardon on two criminal cases

Joe Biden has decided to issue a pardon for his son Hunter on two criminal cases, in spite of his repeated vows not to do so. "Today, I signed a pardon for my son Hunter," the US leader said in a statement published by the White House on Sunday.

"From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department’s decision-making, and I kept my word even as I have watched my son being selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted," the statement reads. "The charges in his cases came about only after several of my political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me and oppose my election," Biden insists. "No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son - and that is wrong. There has been an effort to break Hunter - who has been five and a half years sober, even in the face of unrelenting attacks and selective prosecution. In trying to break Hunter, they’ve tried to break me - and there’s no reason to believe it will stop here. Enough is enough," Biden asserted.

Previously, the White House repeatedly stated that Biden had no plans to grant his son a pardon. According to the statement, this concerns Hunter Biden’s federal gun charges in Delaware and federal tax evasion charges in California.

The press service of President Trump’s transition team has not yet responded to TASS’ request to comment on Biden’s announcement.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Cjq3glLWrw

[BREAKING] IDF prepares to send medical rescue teams to Amsterdam
'In an unprecedented move, the IDF is preparing to fly and help with rescue & medical teams in Amsterdam'

IDF spokesman: "Following the severe incidents of violence against Israelis in Amsterdam, under the guidance of the political echelon and following the assessment of the situation, the IDF immediately prepared to send out a rescue mission in coordination with the Dutch government. The delegation will leave in transport planes and will include medical and rescue teams. The Home Front Command is leading the rescue operation with the cooperation of the different arms, wings of the IDF and the security agencies. More details will be released as needed."

CENTCOM intercepts Iranian weapons shipment intended for Houthis

A U.S. Coast Guard cutter, forward deployed to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility, seized advanced conventional weapons and other lethal aid originating in Iran and bound to Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen from a vessel in the Arabian Sea on Jan. 28.

The U.S. Coast Guard Sentinel-class fast-response cutter USCGC Clarence Sutphin Jr (WPC 1147), assigned to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, located the vessel and boarded it in the Arabian Sea. The boarding team discovered over 200 packages that contained medium-range ballistic missile components, explosives, unmanned underwater/surface vehicle (UUV/USV) components, military-grade communication and network equipment, anti-tank guided missile launcher assemblies, and other military components.

The direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer of such aid violates U.N. Security Council Resolution 2216 (as extended and renewed by resolutions 2675 and 2707). “This is yet another example of Iran’s malign activity in the region, ” said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, CENTCOM commander. “Their continued supply of advanced conventional weapons to the Houthis is in direct violation of international law and continues to undermine the safety of international shipping and the free flow of commerce.”

#Hamas 'Data Center': A server farm discovered under #UNRWA headquarters in #Gaza

The server farm, which includes an electrical room and living quarters for Hamas' IT teams, is located just below the UNRWA agency compound in the Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City.

Houthis threaten U.S. with 'new Vietnam' in event of ground attack on Yemen

If the U.S. launches a ground operation in Yemen, it may encounter a more difficult situation than during the protracted conflicts in Afghanistan and Vietnam, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a high-ranking representative of the Yemen-based rebel Houthi movement Ansar Allah, said in an interview with Italy’s La Repubblica newspaper.

"A ground war is what the people of Yemen wish for because they can finally fight those responsible for their suffering over the course of nine years. If the US sends troops to Yemen, it will encounter a situation more difficult than in Afghanistan and Vietnam. We are ready for various options of strategically defeating the Americans in the region," he said.

The Houthi official added that there is no direct communication with the Americans despite the fact that the US side attempted to interact, explaining that all interaction is being handled by a team of mediators in Oman.

Al-Houthi gave assurances that the Houthi movement does not intend to block the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait. "Vessels unrelated to Israel won’t be harmed," he noted. He also cautioned Italy that it may become a target if it participates in aggression against Yemen. "We advise Italy to stay neutral; this is the least it can do," he added.

May Our Brothers in Arms Rest in Heaven!

U.S. Central Command's Full Statement on two dead Navy SEALs:

"We regret to announce that after a 10-day exhaustive search, our two missing U.S. Navy SEALs have not been located and their status has been changed to deceased. The search and rescue operation for the two Navy SEALs reported missing during the boarding of an illicit dhow carrying Iranian advanced conventional weapons Jan. 11 concluded and we are now conducting recovery operations.

During this expansive search operation, airborne and naval platforms from the U.S., Japan and Spain continuously searched more than 21,000 square miles to locate our missing teammates.

Search assistance was also provided by Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center, the U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command, University of San Diego – Scripts Institute of Oceanography, and the Office of Naval Research – Oceanographic Support.

Out of respect for the families, no further information will be released at this time."

Israeli footballer Sagiv Yechezkel imprisoned in Turkey overnight; hopes to be brought to Israel today

Sagiv Yechezkel, after scoring a goal for his Turkish team showed a band he had on his hand to mark of 100 days of war and the Israeli hostages. During the night, he was arrested.

Sagiv Yechezkel is supposed to land in Israel today after the assistance of senior officials in the Foreign Ministry.

The Antelispor player has already almost closed a private flight, in order to avoid a border inspection alongside various parties who are looking for his harm. But then, shortly before midnight, he was taken for questioning at the request of the Minister of Justice of Antalya.

Yehezkel was imprisoned during the night and his cell phone was taken from him. He will be brought before a judge during the morning, at this stage it is not clear if and when he will return to Israel.

Biden Pushed Operation Prosperity Guardian Despite Strong Objections

🔶️ A constant throughout the discussions: The difficulty in finding an off-ramp once hostilities began.

🔶️ The meeting set in motion twelve days of diplomacy and military planning that culminated in the airstrikes on 70 Houthi targets — all while trying to avert a wider Mideast war. The pre-dawn strikes Friday followed by a follow-up strike on a radar installation a day later, were by far the most wide-ranging military action undertaken by the US since Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel ignited its operation to eliminate militants in Gaza. Biden said the military action sent a “clear message.”

🔶️ In the hours that followed, the president’s national security team received no back-channel messages from Iran or the Houthis indicating a desire to deescalate. But within hours, protesters holding Palestinian and Yemeni flags had gathered in Sanaa to denounce the US and Israel. A Houthi commander said retaliation was “imminent.”

🔶️ About 24 hours later, the US followed with another strike, described as a follow-up action, against a radar installation that hadn’t been fully destroyed the night before, US officials said. It signaled Biden would not stop hitting the Houthis to degrade their capabilities even without retaliation.

'Iranian-backed Houthi small boats attack merchant vessel and U.S. Navy helicopters in Southern Red Sea' | CENTCOM Statement

🔶️ "On Dec. 31 at 6:30am (Sanaa time) the container ship MAERSK HANGZHOU issued a second distress call in less than 24 hours reporting being under attack by four Iranian-backed Houthi small boats. The small boats, originating from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, fired crew served and small arms weapons at the MAERSK HANGZHOU, getting to within 20 meters of the vessel, and attempted to board the vessel. A contract embarked security team on the MAERSK HANZGHOU returned fire. U.S. helicopters from the USS EISENHOWER (CVN 69) and GRAVELY (DDG 107) responded to the distress call and in the process of issuing verbal calls to the small boats, the small boats fired upon the U.S. helicopters with crew served weapons and small arms. The U.S. Navy helicopters returned fire in self-defense, sinking three of the four small boats, and killing the crews. The fourth boat fled the area. There was no damage to U.S. personnel or equipment."

🔶️ Timeline:

Dec 14th: Maersk Gibraltar targeted by a missile.

Dec 15th: Maersk reroutes all ships around Africa

Dec 16th: Other large container ship owners reroute

Dec 26th: Maersk announces return to Red Sea

Dec 27th: Hapag-Lloyd & MSC say it's still too dangerous

Dec 29th: Maersk admits it's dangerous and pays crew double wages while transiting the Red Sea.

Dec 30th: Houthis shoot 3 missiles at Maersk Hangzhou. USS Gravely shoots down 2. One missile hits Maersk Hangzhou. Maersk ship continues sailing

Dec 31st: 4 armed Houthi boats swarm ship. Maersk security team opens fire. US Navy helicopters respond and sink 3 boats, killing the crew.

PM Netanyahu at first Unity government meeting

"This is the first meeting of the national emergency government. We are joined by five other ministers - Benny, Gadi, Hili, Gideon and Yifat. We will work around the clock, in teamwork, with a united front. The unity within us conveys a clear message to the people, the enemy and the world. I saw our wonderful warriors who are now on the front line, they know that the entire nation is behind them.

They understand the magnitude of the task. They are ready to act at any moment, to exterminate the bloody monsters that rose up against us for our brides. Hamas thought we would break up? We will break up Hamas!"