Israeli drone strike kills 1, injures 3 near Beirut
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Japan Forward
6 hours ago
- Japan Forward
Fred Fleitz on Iran, North Korea, and the Changing Security Landscape
As tensions rise in the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific, few voices are as well-positioned to offer insights as Fred Fleitz. A former CIA analyst and chief of staff to the Donald Trump administration's National Security Council, Fleitz now serves as vice chair of the America First Policy Institute's Center for American Security. During his recent visit to Tokyo, Fleitz sat down with JAPAN Forward to share his perspective on United States military strategy, Iran, North Korean provocations, and what Japan is doing to meet the demands of a shifting global order. In a wide-ranging conversation, Fleitz discussed the Trump administration's recent airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, the intelligence coup behind Israel's precision strikes, and the fragility of US-China deterrence. He also touched on Japan's growing responsibilities as a security partner. Whether on diplomacy with Pyongyang or debates over defense spending in Tokyo, Fleitz laid out a blunt but pragmatic assessment of the challenges ahead. Following a decisive US airstrike on Iran's nuclear infrastructure and a subsequent ceasefire between Israel and Iran, Fleitz emphasized that options for progress through diplomacy had been exhausted before taking military action. "Trump gave Iran sixty days to negotiate in good faith. When that failed, he extended another two weeks. But Iran refused to abandon its uranium enrichment, which is clearly linked to weapons development," Fleitz said. The strike, he argued, showcased Trump's willingness to use precision and force when necessary, sending a message not only to Iran but also to adversaries like China and Russia. Fleitz maintained that the ultimate goal was a peaceful resolution, but he expressed skepticism about the Iranian regime's willingness to negotiate in good faith. "This government is unlikely to step down or reform without significant external pressure," he noted. However, he pointed out that diminished Iranian influence could revive stalled regional diplomacy, particularly to broaden the Abraham Accords and efforts to stabilize Gaza. Fred Fleitz, Vice Chairman of the America First Policy Institute (AFPI), responds to an interview with JAPAN Forward. July 27, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo. Asked about Israel's earlier precision attacks on Iran, Fleitz credited the Mossad for an intelligence operation of exceptional sophistication. "Mossad had agents inside Iran feeding precise human intelligence. They recruited defectors from the Iranian government and military, even setting up drone bases inside Iran," he explained. For example: "They sent fake messages to lure generals to targeted locations. The Iranian regime didn't even know it was happening. That's both a triumph for Israeli intelligence and a massive failure for Iran." According to Fleitz, the most consequential moment came when Iran fired missiles directly at Israel. That act of retaliation allowed Israel to assess and expose Iran's underperforming air defenses. "They had Russian-made systems that either didn't work or weren't deployed in sufficient numbers. Israel figured out how to neutralize them. Without that attack, they [the Israelis] wouldn't have known," he said. Japan imports roughly 80% of its oil from the Middle East, and Fleitz acknowledged Tokyo's delicate position. While Japan neither endorsed nor condemned the US strike, it called for de-escalation. "Japan wants peace in the region, understandably. But Iran may not see Japan as a neutral player due to its close alliance with the US. Still, if there's any chance Japan can help defuse tensions, it should try," he said. On the question of whether Japan should dispatch its Self-Defense Forces to the Strait of Hormuz, Fleitz was cautious. "I don't think that will be necessary. China has advised Iran not to escalate, and Iran doesn't want to jeopardize that relationship. I don't believe the Strait will be closed," he added. Turning to North Korea, Fleitz warned that Pyongyang's arsenal is already formidable and growing. "They likely have 40 to 80 nuclear weapons and solid-fueled ICBMs that can launch quickly. That's a serious threat to US national security." He expressed hope that Trump would pursue another summit with Kim Jong Un. "Trump is personally invested in resolving the abductee issue, especially after his conversations with Prime Minister (Shinzo) Abe. That will absolutely be part of any renewed talks," Fleitz affirmed. However, he also noted new complications: "North Korea resumed missile testing after perceiving US weakness under (Joe) Biden. They've grown closer to Russia, receiving satellite tech and cheap energy in exchange for weapons and possibly troops in Ukraine." Fleitz was particularly concerned about battlefield experience being gained by North Korean soldiers in Ukraine. "They're dying in large numbers, but also learning modern warfare tactics, including drone warfare. That's dangerous for global stability," he said. In conversation with Fred Fleitz (right). June 27 (©JAPAN Forward) Asked whether Japan is doing enough to deter regional threats, Fleitz urged greater defense spending and capability development. "Trump supports alliances, but he expects allies to carry their weight. Japanese officials often respond that they want to spend more, but face backlogs in US weapons deliveries. That's a fair complaint," Fleitz noted. "Japan should both buy American and increase its own defense production." He dismissed concerns that US global commitments would weaken its posture in Asia. "There's a view that we can't support Ukraine and deter China at the same time. I don't buy that. A global power like the US has to do both," he insisted. Still, he acknowledged that many Trump advisors view China as the number one threat, and that resource prioritization debates will continue. Emphasizing that he is not an economist, Fleitz briefly addressed the Trump administration's reciprocal tariff policy. This is an issue of considerable concern in Japan. "Trump wants fair trade, and that includes eliminating structural imbalances and non-tariff barriers," Fleitz said. "Whatever the friction, he values the US-Japan relationship deeply. This is a minor dispute between friends." Fleitz concluded by reaffirming Trump's hard stance on Iran's nuclear ambitions. "The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action was the worst deal ever. It allowed enrichment and had weak verification. Under Trump, any new deal would prohibit both uranium enrichment and plutonium reprocessing. No exceptions." Author: Daniel Manning
Winnipeg Free Press
8 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Israeli strikes kill 15 in Gaza, while shootings kill 20 people waiting for aid
DEIR al-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli airstrikes killed 15 Palestinians in Gaza early on Friday, while another 20 people died in shootings while waiting for aid, the hospital morgue that received their bodies told The Associated Press. At least 15 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes, including eight women and one child. Another 20 were shot while waiting for aid, according to Nasser Hospital, including two who were killed near distribution sites in Rafah and 18 who were waiting for trucks to deliver supplies elsewhere in southern Gaza. The recent killings took place as efforts to halt the 21-month war appeared to be moving forward. Hamas said Friday that it was holding discussions with leaders of other Palestinian factions to discuss a ceasefire proposal presented to it by Egyptian and Qatari mediators. Trump said Tuesday that Israel had agreed on terms for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and urged Hamas to accept the deal before conditions worsen. Hamas will give its final response to mediators after the discussions have concluded, the statement said. The Health Ministry in Gaza said the number of Palestinians killed in the territory has passed 57,000. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count, but says more than half of the dead are women and children. The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking roughly 250 hostages. According to Palestinian witnesses and Gaza's Health Ministry, several hundred people have been killed or wounded by Israeli troops when trying to reach the aid sites since they opened in May. The military has repeatedly said it's fired only warning shots, denies deliberately firing towards civilians, and says it's looking into reports of civilian harm. ___ Kullab reported from Jerusalem.
Winnipeg Free Press
10 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Academics call on Ottawa to speed up Palestinian student visas
OTTAWA – A group of Canadian academics is calling on the federal government to speed up approvals of student visas for Palestinians after two students who were accepted at a Canadian university died before they could leave the region. Ayman Oweida, chair of the Palestinian Students and Scholars at Risk Network, said the two students, twin sisters, were killed in an airstrike in Gaza in December. The Palestinian Students and Scholars at Risk Network is a volunteer group of Canadian academics that helps connect Palestinian students at the graduate level and above to research projects in Canada. But its work was set back by Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip. The Canadian government has no diplomatic presence there — which means students in the enclave have no way to register biometric data with the government in order to complete their visa applications. The network says it has placed about 70 students in universities across the country, several with full scholarships. 'In addition to the two students that were killed, 15 students in Gaza who we've accepted have lost family members … direct family members, brothers, sisters, parents, and so on,' Oweida said. Oweida, who researches cancer treatment at the University of Sherbrooke, said one student who was supposed to work with him on a project has been stuck in Gaza for a year. He said the Canadian side of the network has reached out to MPs to try to resolve the issue, without success. 'I think the Canadian government has really an amazing opportunity here to step up its game and do something … to resolve this issue and bring these students home, home meaning Canada,' he said. One of the Canada-bound students still stranded in Gaza is Meera Falyouna, who is living near the Rafah border crossing. The 25-year-old masters student said she applied to the University of Regina while living in a tent with her family in December 2023. She was accepted to the industrial engineering program in April 2024 and submitted her Canadian student visa application in July 2024. Falyouna said she was supposed to start her studies last September. Because she's unable to provide the necessary biometric data for her visa application, she said, her file remains stuck in limbo even as she watches friends move on to study in places like France, Ireland and Italy. 'I don't want to be among the dead people. I want to be counted as dreamers, as future engineers, professors, doctors,' Falyouna told The Canadian Press. 'I want to be a person who has impact to Canada and also one day to return back to my country and help to rebuild the Palestinian academic system.' Matthew Krupovich, a spokesman for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, said that biometrics can only be completed once someone leaves Gaza. He added that countries in the region, including Egypt and Israel, control their own entry and exit requirements at their borders. People coming to Canada from Gaza also have to undergo an additional security screening since the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel. 'As security screening is conducted by agencies outside IRCC, we are unable to provide average processing times. Each application is different and as a result, the time it takes to process may vary,' Krupovich said in an email response. 'All study permit applications from around the world are assessed equally and against the same criteria, regardless of the country of origin. Security screening is one, but not the only, factor that can result in higher processing times.' The Rafah border crossing into Egypt has been closed since May 2024. Falyouna said the rest of her family got to Egypt just five days before the border closed. Falyouna said she fears she and her fellow Palestinian students could lose their placements entirely. 'I'm receiving now a support from my professor. She pushed to accept my defer letter every time, but I'm still in risk to not be accepted next time because I already asked for a defer for my admission three times before,' she said. Aaron Shafer, an associate professor specializing in genomics at Trent University in Peterborough, Ont., said that a Palestinian student who was going to work with him has been trapped in Gaza for eight months. Shafer said he thinks the student has lost weight in the last eight months due to a dire shortage of food in Gaza. 'He probably weighed — just looking at photos, we've never met — 60 kilograms, but he's a small guy. And last week he said, 'We're happy because people are getting food. We haven't received any yet, but we're happy,'' Shafer said. Shafer said that about a third of the students who have been accepted by universities in Canada are already in Egypt but are still waiting for their visa applications to be processed. 'It's literally 70 students. And so that's what we're asking for, is to process the visas of 70 students that have positions in Canadian labs,' he said. For now, all Falyouna and the other students can do is wait and try to survive. 'I want to say to the Canadian government that we want to be treated as other students who came from at-risk situations from countries of the world like Ukraine and like Syria,' she said. 'We want to be to treated like them. We want to be treated fairly, we want to have the support they got. We just want to be alive to complete our dreams.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 4, 2025.
