President Joe Biden has expressed shock and horror at the violence of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, with reports of toddlers and babies found decapitated. He has called for an immediate ceasefire and is sending experts to "advise and assist" in the conflict, as well as working to free American hostages, with the death toll of US citizens now at 22.
Posts tagged as “John Kirby”
President Joe Biden is set to deliver remarks on the unprecedented attacks on Israel by Hamas militant group, which has left at least 765 dead and over 100 people held captive. The death toll is expected to rise as the conflict continues, and the US has long been a strong ally of Israel. John Kirby, National Security Council spokesperson, was asked about the horrifying images of death and destruction in the region, and he struggled to respond, apologizing for the difficult situation.
North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un is expected to travel to Russia to meet with President Vladimir Putin for talks on a potential arms sale to support Russia's war in Ukraine. The visit follows a July visit by Russia's defense minister to Pyongyang, and U.S. officials are actively advancing the negotiations. The outcome of the talks remains to be seen.
The United States has denied any involvement in a purported drone attack on Russian President Vladimir Putin, with John Kirby from the National Security Council stating that "Mr. Peskov is lying." Former intelligence officers, diplomats, military officials and analysts have expressed skepticism about Russia's narrative, and unnamed U.S. officials are working to determine whether the attack was orchestrated by Kyiv or a pro-Ukraine rogue group, or a false flag operation by the Kremlin. NBC News has viewed two videos of the incident, and the investigation is ongoing.
President Joe Biden is set to embark on a four-day trip to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland this week to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. The trip is part homecoming, part statecraft and part politics, as Biden has a deeply felt personal history with the country. He will deliver remarks at Ulster University to highlight the progress since the signing of the peace agreement in 1998 and trace his family history in the country. Biden's trip is an intersection of his personal history and his view of international relations, and is expected to be a meaningful and memorable journey.
Paul Rusesabagina, the man who inspired the film "Hotel Rwanda," has returned to the United States and is set to reunite with his family. He arrived at the US Army’s Brooke Army Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio on Wednesday, and the U.S. government is focused on ensuring that Rusesabagina and his family’s well-being are prioritized. It is unclear when Rusesabagina will be reunited with his family, but it is expected to be soon.
This week, a U.S. surveillance drone was forced to be ditched into the Black Sea by a Russian pilot, raising questions about the security of the region and the safety of future drone flights. The incident has put a deal to let critical supplies of grain exit Ukraine’s ports on the Black Sea in jeopardy, and has drawn attention to the body of water that has been at the heart of the war in Ukraine. The U.S. must now consider how to respond to this incident and how to protect the Black Sea from further aggression.
A US-made MQ-9 Reaper drone crashed into the Black Sea after a Russian Su-27 aircraft flew in front of it and dumped fuel, prompting a diplomatic spat between the US and Russia. The White House has condemned Moscow's actions while Russia has denied its aircraft came into contact with the drone. The US is trying to prevent the drone from getting into the wrong hands while Russia is working to retrieve the wreckage.