World News
On Maduro’s ‘terror island,’ Hezbollah operatives move in as tourists drift out
FIRST ON FOX: From a distance, Margarita Island looks like a Caribbean escape. Palm-lined beaches, duty-free shops, and resort towns sell the image of a tropical playground just off Venezuela’s northeastern coast. But U.S. officials say the Venezuelan outpost has become something else entirely: Hezbollah’s most important base of operations in the Western Hemisphere, strengthened by Iran’s growing footprint and the Maduro regime’s protection.
That threat, U.S. officials warn, reflects a broader security challenge emerging from the region. "The single most serious threat to the United States from the Western Hemisphere is from transnational terrorist criminal groups primarily focused on narcotrafficking," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at an end-of-year press conference at the State Department on Friday.
"Margarita Island might be of significance to the U.S. because of its location and the security dynamics around it," Melissa Ford Maldonado, director of the Western Hemisphere Initiative at the America First Policy Institute, told Fox News Digital. "It is close to Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada, in an oil-rich part of the Caribbean along key maritime routes, and it has long had a reputation for being a major drug-trafficking hub, possibly because it’s off the mainland and there’s not a lot of law enforcement there."
The island’s isolation, she said, has made it attractive to "irregular armed groups, foreign intelligence actors and criminal networks that use it as a departure point for boats carrying illicit shipments out of Venezuela."
CARTEL CONNECTION: HEZBOLLAH AND IRAN EXPLOIT MADURO’S VENEZUELA FOR COCAINE CASH
CARTEL CONNECTION: HEZBOLLAH AND IRAN EXPLOIT MADURO’S VENEZUELA FOR COCAINE CASH
Marshall Billingslea, the former assistant secretary for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes in the U.S. Treasury Department, said Margarita Island now serves as Hezbollah’s key foothold in the Western Hemisphere.
"From what I have seen and what I have been told, there is a wide range of activities that Hezbollah and to some extent Hamas are engaged in," Billingslea told Fox News Digital. "Margarita Island is really the center of gravity for their activities."
In written testimony submitted to the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control for an Oct. 21 hearing, Billingslea traced the island’s transformation back more than two decades. Under Hugo Chávez, he wrote, Venezuela "opened its doors to Hezbollah, allowing the group to establish a major footprint, including a paramilitary training site, on Margarita Island."
"When Nicolás Maduro seized power," Billingslea added, "the breadth and depth of Hezbollah’s presence in Venezuela dramatically expanded, as did their ties to the narco-terrorist regime and the Cartel de los Soles."
"The relationship is very close with the Cartel de los Soles, and it has been so for many, many years," Billingslea said, referring to the network of senior Venezuelan officials accused by the United States of drug trafficking.
Billingslea said Hezbollah has embedded itself into Margarita Island’s economy, exploiting the island’s duty-free status and cross-border access to Colombia to generate revenue through smuggling and drug importation. He said the group operates a wide range of companies on the island and also maintains several training camps there.
His testimony also detailed how Venezuela’s state apparatus helped embed Hezbollah inside the country. He wrote that former senior official Tareck El Aissami, while overseeing Venezuela’s passport and naturalization agency, "was instrumental in furnishing passports and citizenship documents to Hezbollah operatives as well as a large number of people from Lebanon, Syria, and Iran." Between 2010 and 2019, Venezuelan authorities issued more than 10,400 passports to individuals from those countries, according to the testimony.
TRUMP SAYS US SEIZES MASSIVE VENEZUELAN OIL TANKER AS SHOWDOWN WITH MADURO ERUPTS INTO NEW PHASE
A May 27, 2020, Justice Department announcement alleged that Diosdado Cabello directed Venezuelan lawmaker Adel El Zabayar to travel to the Middle East to obtain weapons and recruit members of Hezbollah and Hamas for training at clandestine camps inside Venezuela. The filing also describes a subsequent weapons delivery at a hangar controlled by Maduro at the country’s main international airport.
Recent developments in the Middle East have only increased Margarita Island’s importance, Billingslea said. Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon has damaged the group’s military leadership and financial infrastructure, forcing it to rely more heavily on overseas networks.
"Israeli successes against Hezbollah in Lebanon in particular, including their strikes on the financial infrastructure Al-Qard al-Hassan that operates in Lebanon, are going to have two effects," he said. "The first is that it is making the fundraising and the revenue generation that comes out of Latin America even more important to the terrorist group. Secondly, we have seen indications that Hezbollah actually has been relocating fighters from Lebanon, several hundred from Lebanon to Venezuela in particular."
US DEPLOYS FIGHTER JETS TO GULF OF VENEZUELA IN CLOSEST KNOWN APPROACH YET, AMID RISING TENSION
Asked whether that shift moves the threat closer to the United States, Billingslea said Hezbollah is now operating "close to the U.S. and further away from the Israelis."
He said Iran’s role in Venezuela has deepened alongside Hezbollah’s. "There is a substantial Iranian footprint in Venezuela related to the trade of weapons and drones, in particular, for gold," he said. After suffering losses in the Middle East, he added, "the Iranians find themselves even more dependent on that supply of gold in exchange for drones and weapons."
He said Washington faces a strategic choice. "I think the United States has positioned sufficient forces in the Caribbean at this time to take care of the Hezbollah threat," he said. "But obviously, when you have a terrorist group that has merged into the local population, highly precise intelligence is needed. I believe the Venezuelan opposition possesses a great deal of that intelligence, though it is not clear to me that the United States government is making the best use of that access."
For Billingslea, the conclusion is cleaner — eliminating Venezuela’s narco-terrorist regime would significantly strengthen U.S. national security.
Putin says Russia won't launch new attacks on other countries 'if you treat us with respect'
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that Moscow would refrain from launching new attacks on other nations provided that his country is treated "with respect."
The Kremlin made the remarks during his annual televised press conference in Moscow, as concerns persist among European nations that Russia poses a security threat, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.
"Will there be new special military operations? There will be no operations if you treat us with respect, if you observe our interests, just as we have constantly tried to observe yours," Putin said.
Putin uses the phrase "special military operation" to describe Russia’s offensive in Ukraine, according to AFP.
He added that there would be no further Russian invasions "if you don't cheat us like you cheated us with NATO's eastward expansion," according to the BBC.
The Russian leader also claimed he was "ready and willing" to end the war in Ukraine "peacefully," though he offered few details suggesting a willingness to compromise, the BBC reported.
PUTIN CLAIMS 'TROOPS ARE ADVANCING,' WILL ACHIEVE GOALS AS EU APPROVES MASSIVE UKRAINE LOAN
The yearly press conference, which typically runs at least four hours, features questions from journalists and members of the public across Russia.
More than 2.5 million questions were submitted to this year's event, which focused heavily on the war in Ukraine, Reuters reported.
Putin also noted during the event that the nation's "troops are advancing" and expressed confidence that Russia will accomplish its objectives through military means if Ukraine does not assent to Russia's terms during peace talks, according to The Associated Press.
PUTIN DOUBLES DOWN ON BACKING MADURO AMID MOUNTING US PRESSURE ON VENEZUELA
"Our troops are advancing all across the line of contact, faster in some areas or slower in some others, but the enemy is retreating in all sectors," Putin declared.
As the war drags on, the European Union has just agreed to provide Ukraine with a more than $105 billion loan.
Fox News Digital's Alex Nitzberg contributed to this report.
Canadian police expose alleged ISIS conspirator in plot against Jews, women's attempted kidnappings
Canadian authorities charged a man who allegedly conspired with the Islamic State to provide information to ISIS and commit murder, and officials linked him to several alleged hate crimes targeting members of the Jewish community.
Waleed Khan, 26, of Toronto, is accused of conspiring to commit murder for a terrorist group, providing funds and property to the terrorist group ISIS and aiding terrorist activity, Toronto police said Friday.
Authorities allege Khan’s crimes took place between June 17 and Aug. 17, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
In addition to the terrorism charges, Khan and two other men are accused of conducting several attacks against women and members of the Jewish community, according to authorities.
Osman Azizov, 18, and Fahad Sadaat, 19, were arrested in two alleged attempted kidnappings in the Greater Toronto Area in May and June, according to Toronto police.
In May, authorities say a woman was approached by the three men — one armed with a handgun and another with a knife — who then attempted to force her into a vehicle. However, the three individuals allegedly fled when approached by another motorist.
Less than one month later, the three men allegedly approached a pair of women while carrying a handgun, rifle and knife. Authorities said they began chasing the victims until a nearby witness intervened.
After taking the three suspects into custody, authorities said investigators discovered a trove of guns and evidence suggesting the commission of additional hate crimes targeting members of the Jewish community.
THE NEW MAFIA: TRUMP, CIVIL RICO AND THE GLOBAL INTIFADA
Police say 79 charges have been brought against the three men, with each facing 14 charges, including attempted kidnapping with a firearm, sexual assault with a weapon and hate crimes.
"What began as armed, coordinated attempts to kidnap women led to significant arrests and charges, stopping a dangerous escalation of hate-motivated crimes and terrorism across the Greater Toronto Area and beyond," Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah said in a statement.
"Thank you to our investigators and partners at the Toronto Police Service and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for their collaboration and tireless efforts to keep our communities safe."
Fox News Digital's Adriana James-Rodil contributed to this report.
Iran killing spree continues as regime sets new record for 2025 executions, dissident group says
As the United Nations adopted a resolution condemning Iran for its execution spree "in the strongest terms," a leading dissident group released a report accusing Tehran of putting 2,013 Iranians to death under President Masoud Pezeshkian between Jan. 1 and Dec. 15 of this year.
The Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) report says this more than doubles the total of 975 executions that the United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights counted in 2024. The U.N. noted that the 2024 figure was the highest recorded since 2015. The group counted a similar total of 1,001 executions in 2024.
According to MEK documents provided to Fox News Digital, a free-falling Iranian currency, nationwide protests, factional power struggles, "snapback" U.N. sanctions and fractures among leaders are stoking the increase in executions. The MEK says that this year’s execution total is the highest recorded since the 1980s.
A State Department spokesperson condemned Iran's continued abuse of human rights, telling Fox News Digital that, "We strongly condemn the Iranian regime’s use of execution as a tool of political repression. For decades, the regime has subjected Iranians to torture, forced confessions, and sham trials, resulting in unlawful executions. Today, innocent civilians are being used as scapegoats for the regime’s military and economic failures."
The spokesperson continued, "The Trump Administration restored the policy of maximum pressure, ending the Biden Administration’s policy of announcing fig-leaf sanctions while handing the regime billions. Since January, we have designated dozens of people and over 180 vessels in Iran’s shadow fleet to deplete the regime’s coffers."
Behnam Ben Taleblu, the senior director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ Iran Program, said there are more steps needed to be taken by Washington. He told Fox News Digital that the U.S. has "been lagging behind" other Western partners who have responded to Iranian human rights violations with sanctions and other measures, most recently Canada, which sanctioned four individuals after a protest in the Iranian city Mashhad in December.
"The lack of practical measures to support the Iranian people is a strategic own goal," Taleblu said.
Taleblu noted that Iran "arrested over 21,000 people" following the 12-Day War in June, alongside a "political repression that is even much more expansive than ever before." He said that the Islamic Republic "understands how weak it is," and any efforts to appear more socially lenient, including regarding hijab laws, are an attempt to "retain their oligarchic political position in a post-Khamenei Iran."
Noting the prior Trump administration’s strong stance on Iran, Taleblu says that "it certainly can do better much more cheaply and more cost effectively than it thinks." Taleblu said that one "simple" messaging strategy will present itself in March during President Trump’s Nowruz address, when he can "give an homage to the most pro-American, the most pro-Israeli population in the heartland of the Muslim Middle East."
"The imperative for Washington to support Iranian protesters… stands," Taleblu said. "But that should be a constant in U.S. foreign policy, given the disposition of the Iranian street, which is almost entirely against the Iranian state. U.S. human rights policy towards Iran should not be limited to merely having social media accounts that are the stenographers for Iran's decline into failed state status."
The MEK has urged U.S. policymakers to recognize the Iranian people’s right to resist and overthrow the regime, which they claim is the only means for eliminating the country’s theocracy.
On Dec. 10, the European Parliament marked International Human Rights Day by calling for the world to take action against Iran on account of its execution campaign. Maryam Rajavi, president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, addressed the parliament with her concerns that Iran is attempting to crush dissent. She urged that "all relations with the regime must be conditioned on the halt of executions," with members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Ministry of Intelligence placed "on the terrorist list."
Among those sentenced to death is Zahra Tabari, a 67-year-old engineer and mother who the MEK say was given her sentence after a "sham 10-minute trial… without her chosen legal representation." MEK documents say Tabari was arrested because she held a banner reading "Woman, Resistance, Freedom."
The total number of executions in Iran has doubled since October. At the time, the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said that Iran was murdering up to nine prisoners each day, which they called an "unprecedented execution spree." In response, death row prisoners staged a hunger strike.
Iran's mission to the United Nations did not offer comment on the report.
Australian authorities release 7 men detained over possible violent plot in wake of Bondi Beach shooting
Australian authorities have released seven men who were detained over concerns that they were planning an act of violence. The men are not currently facing any charges.
On Thursday, New South Wales (NSW) Police said Tactical Operations officers carried out an operation in Sydney over information indicating "that a violent act was possibly being planned." Officers intercepted two cars and detained seven men.
"Police acted quickly to prevent the advancement of any plan. There is no immediate safety risk to the community," NSW Police said, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. "Investigations will continue to review all available evidence and an investigation into the matter remains ongoing."
FAMILIES MOURN LOVED ONES LOST IN BONDI BEACH TERROR ATTACK: ‘NO WORDS CAN DESCRIBE THE PAIN’
NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Dave Hudson, who alleged on Friday that the men were inspired by the same ideology as the suspected Bondi Beach gunmen, defended officers' tactics, saying they were "the most appropriate for the circumstances," according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
"It’s a balance when you investigate, for investigators and for the counter-terrorism police, as to interdicting at a point in time where you mitigate all risk and threat, which we did yesterday, or waiting until you can get a brief of evidence against individuals with a bow on it that you can present to court," Hudson said.
Some reports indicated that the men were traveling from Melbourne to Bondi Beach, the site of a deadly mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration. However, when speaking to reporters after the group's release, one of the men refuted the claims, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
"No, why would we go there? Too much headache… it was too far from where we were anyway," he said.
ISRAELI INTELLIGENCE WARNED AUSTRALIA OF IRANIAN TERROR NETWORKS
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said that the men, whose ages range from 19 to 24 and are from Victoria, will continue to be monitored while in New South Wales. Lanyon also said that NSW Police would be working with their law enforcement counterparts in Victoria.
One of the men in the group was under investigation by the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO), intelligence sources confirmed to the ABC.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said it was too early to speculate on why the group was traveling in the area.
"We’ve all seen the footage and the images of what has occurred and thank [NSW police] for their swift action," she said, according to The Guardian. "But at this stage, there was just not enough information to speculate on why these people were traveling in this vehicle in this vicinity."
Australian outlets reported that one of the men chalked the incident up to a "misunderstanding." He also said the group told police that they were "here for a holiday."
"They have their job to do, I don’t blame them for nothing, it was a misunderstanding," the man said. He also rejected the idea that the group held extremist beliefs.
Thousands gather as Bondi Beach reopens, commemorating victims of Hanukkah attack
Thousands of people gathered as Bondi Beach reopened days after a mass shooting targeting Jews at a Hanukkah celebration left 15 dead and dozens injured.
The commemoration began with thousands of people standing shoulder-to-shoulder on the sand before forming an enormous circle in the ocean, signifying solidarity among Sydney's residents and support for the Jewish community, The Associated Press reported.
Police reopened parts of Bondi Beach on Thursday, just five days after the attack. Additionally, as questions emerge over the Jewish community's safety as well as fears of backlash against Muslims, armed police officers were stationed outside of synagogues and mosques in Sydney on Friday, according to the AP.
At Bondi Beach, surfers took to the water for a paddle-out, a ceremony commonly held when a surfer dies that involves participants sitting on boards as tributes are made and some splash and cheer. A large crowd gathered for the paddle-out at Bondi as Jews prayed on the beach and others gathered to watch the scene, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
AUSTRALIA MOVES TO TIGHTEN GUN LAWS AFTER HANUKKAH MASS SHOOTING LEAVES 15 DEAD AT BONDI BEACH
The attack has spurred a sense of unity, particularly as stories about heroes of the day come to light, such as that of Ahmed al Ahmed, a Syria-born Australian Muslim store owner, who tackled and disarmed one of the gunmen. Al Ahmed was shot and wounded by the other assailant.
In a video posted on social media, al Ahmed said Australia is "the best country in the world" before raising his fist and chanting "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie," according to the AP.
Following the tragedy, Australians showed their unity by setting a national record for blood donations, the AP reported. Nearly 35,000 donations were made and more than 100,000 appointments booked since Monday, according to the AP, which cited Lifeblood, a branch of the Australian Red Cross.
The iconic footbridge at Bondi Beach where the shooters were seen carrying out the attack has become a place for tributes to the victims. Beside a chalk drawing of a menorah and an Australian flag, is a drawing of a bumblebee, a symbol memorializing the youngest victim of the attack, 10-year-old Matilda.
Australian Opposition Leader Sussan Ley visited the site and walked across the footbridge.
"I wasn’t prepared for the feelings that hit me when I crossed the bridge," Ley told the Sydney Morning Herald. "I saw that bridge on television the night that it happened, and like all Australians, I was in shock and horror."
"Then I heard directly from people who sheltered under that bridge and saw the gunmen, and will never be able to walk through this part of Bondi again without all of those feelings coming back," she added.
Australian Olympians Jessica Fox, Ian Thorpe and Steve Solomon, along with other athletes, visited the memorial and laid flowers, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
"Moments like this, coming in together, connecting, vowing for change, vowing for improvements and prosperity as a community and a country, is what gives us hope to put on the uniform as we have today," Solomon, who is Jewish, told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Fox, who is also Jewish, became emotional at the site and said, "It shouldn't take a tragedy to bring people together."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Putin claims 'troops are advancing,' will achieve goals as EU approves massive Ukraine loan
Russian President Vladimir Putin noted on Friday that the nation's "troops are advancing" and expressed confidence that Russia will accomplish its objectives through military means if Ukraine does not assent to Russia's terms during peace talks, according to The Associated Press.
"Our troops are advancing all across the line of contact, faster in some areas or slower in some others, but the enemy is retreating in all sectors," Putin declared during his annual news conference, according to the outlet.
As the war drags on, the European Union has just agreed to provide Ukraine with a more than $105 billion loan.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has conveyed his gratitude.
"I am grateful to all leaders of the European Union for the European Council’s decision on €90 billion in financial support for Ukraine in 2026–2027. This is significant support that truly strengthens our resilience. It is important that Russian assets remain immobilized and that Ukraine has received a financial security guarantee for the coming years. Thank you for the result and for unity. Together, we are defending the future of our continent," he declared in a post on X.
ZELENSKYY CALLS FOR US TO RESPOND TO ‘SIGNALS’ RUSSIA IS ‘PREPARING TO MAKE NEXT YEAR A YEAR OF WAR’
Putin has asserted that Russia will accomplish its objectives one way or the other.
"The goals of the special military operation will undoubtedly be achieved. We would prefer to accomplish this and address the root causes of the conflict through diplomatic means," he said, according to a Kremlin release about a Defense Ministry Board meeting earlier this week.
"However, if the opposing side and its foreign patrons refuse to engage in substantive dialogue, Russia will achieve the liberation of its historical lands by military means," Putin declared.
UKRAINE SAYS IT CARRIED OUT FIRST-EVER UNDERWATER DRONE STRIKE ON RUSSIAN SUBMARINE IN NOVOROSSIYSK
President Donald Trump's administration has been striving to help broker an end to the war between the two nations.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Zelenskyy calls for US to respond to 'signals' Russia is 'preparing to make next year a year of war'
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday called for the U.S. and other allies to respond to bellicose "signals" from Russia.
"Today, we again heard signals from Moscow that they are preparing to make next year a year of war. These signals are not only for us. It is crucial that our partners see them, and not only see them but also respond — especially partners in the United States, who often say that Russia wants to end the war," Zelenskyy asserted in a post on X.
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment.
UKRAINE SAYS IT CARRIED OUT FIRST-EVER UNDERWATER DRONE STRIKE ON RUSSIAN SUBMARINE IN NOVOROSSIYSK
"Yet the signals coming from Russia are the exact opposite, taking the form of official orders to their army. This Russian mindset must be recognized — and acted upon. When Russia is in this mindset, it will also undermine diplomacy — seeking, through diplomatic language and pressure over specific points in documents — to merely mask its desire to destroy Ukraine and Ukrainians, and the desire to legitimize Russia’s theft of our land. And then come other countries in Europe, which someone in Russia might one day label their so‑called 'historical lands,'" he asserted in the post.
"Real protection is needed against this Russian case history of madness, and we will continue working with all partners to ensure that protection is in place. Security measures are needed, financial measures are needed — including actions on Russian assets — political measures are needed. And the courage of all partners is required: to see the truth, acknowledge the truth, and act accordingly. I want to thank everyone who supports Ukraine," his post concluded.
Zelenskyy also conveyed the message in a Ukrainian-language video.
US OFFICIALS TOUT PROGRESS IN TALKS TO REACH ‘LASTING AND DURABLE PEACE’ BETWEEN UKRAINE, RUSSIA
Russian President Vladimir Putin declared during a Defense Ministry board meeting on Wednesday that Russia will accomplish its goals, either through diplomacy or military force.
"The goals of the special military operation will undoubtedly be achieved. We would prefer to accomplish this and address the root causes of the conflict through diplomatic means. However, if the opposing side and its foreign patrons refuse to engage in substantive dialogue, Russia will achieve the liberation of its historical lands by military means. The task of creating and expanding a security buffer zone will also be carried out consistently," Putin said, according to a Kremlin transcript.
HEADED FOR THE EXITS: WHY 3 DOZEN HOUSE MEMBERS AREN'T RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION
Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., a staunch proponent of U.S. support for Ukraine, asserted in a post on X, "Again… the U.S. should send 200 long-range and extremely accurate cruise missiles to Ukraine. Maybe then, Putin will get serious and seek peace. Putin started this war, and he’ll stop this war once he realizes he cannot win and that the cost of war is too high."
President Donald Trump's administration has been attempting to help broker peace between Russia and Ukraine.
Australia anti-terror police detain 7 men as country lays youngest Bondi Beach victim to rest
Australian police have detained seven men during anti-terror raids in Sydney on Thursday as the country lays to rest the youngest victim of the deadly Bondi Beach attack.
New South Wales police said that "an operation at George Street, Liverpool, in Sydney’s southwest has concluded."
"Tactical Operations police responded to information received that a violent act was possibly being planned," the department said in a statement. "Police subsequently intercepted two cars as part of the investigation."
"As investigations continue, seven men are assisting police with their inquiries," the statement added.
Some reports indicate that the detainees were believed to be heading to Bondi. Authorities say there are no known connections to the deadly attack on a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney's Bondi Beach.
On Thursday, the youngest and oldest victims of the Bondi Beach attack were laid to rest.
The funeral for 10-year-old Matilda, whose family has requested that her last name not be shared, was held in Sydney on Thursday. Her funeral was attended by family, friends and mourners looking to pay their respects.
"Matilda was a bright and loving soul who taught us that true goodness is in the love and compassion we share," her teacher, Irina Goodhew, said, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. "Her memory reminds us to carry kindness in our hearts and spread it to the world."
Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, whose son-in-law Rabbi Eli Schlanger was also killed in the attack, spoke at Matilda's funeral. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Ulman said Matilda's parents took the time to check on him as well.
"They had enough in their heart to go and think about another person going through the same thing as them," Ulman said. "You gave me strength at the time when you needed strength yourselves."
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Albanian opposition lawmakers light flares, scuffle with police amid parliament chaos over corruption probe
Opposition lawmakers scuffled with police inside Albania’s parliament on Thursday after weeks of escalating tensions over corruption allegations against Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku and other senior officials, Reuters reported.
Lawmakers from the opposition Democratic Party lit black flares, threw water at the speaker and occupied seats reserved for government ministers in an attempt to disrupt the session as the country’s new ombudsperson was preparing to take the oath. Police intervened, pushing lawmakers away from the podium and allowing the confirmation to proceed.
STATE DEPARTMENT STAYS QUIET AS ALBANIA REINSTATES DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER ACCUSED OF CORRUPTION
The unrest comes as Albania’s Special Anti-Corruption and Organized Crime Structure, known as SPAK, has requested that parliament lift Balluku’s immunity so she can be arrested on corruption charges. Parliament is expected to vote on the request on Friday.
Opposition lawmakers demanded to see the formal allegations submitted to parliament after prosecutors moved to lift Balluku’s immunity. SPAK alleges that Balluku participated in corrupt practices intended to favor companies involved in major infrastructure projects, including a tunnel and the ring road in the capital, Tirana. The projects are valued at hundreds of millions of euros.
Balluku, who also serves as minister of Infrastructure and Energy, is considered the closest ally of Prime Minister Edi Rama. His Socialist party secured a fourth consecutive term earlier this year.
According to Reuters, SPAK issued a criminal indictment against Balluku on Oct. 31, alleging she improperly favored a company in a tender for a 3.7-mile tunnel in southern Albania. Prosecutors later added a charge on Nov. 21 related to alleged violations in a Tirana road construction project, the same day a court initially removed her from office.
Balluku has denied the accusations. Addressing parliament ahead of a court appearance in November, she described the allegations as "mudslinging, insinuations half-truths and lies."
The crisis has drawn criticism from Rama’s opponents and international scrutiny. In a Fox News Digital interview published Dec. 13, former Albanian ambassador to the U.S. and the United Nations Agim Nesho said the government appeared intent on shielding Balluku rather than allowing justice to act independently, describing the situation as "state capture."
The U.S. State Department declined to comment on the case, telling Fox News Digital it has "no comment on ongoing legal matters."
Albania is a NATO member and a key U.S. ally in the Balkans, with Washington funding judicial reforms aimed at curbing corruption as part of the country’s bid to join the European Union.
Fox News Digital's Beth Bailey and Reuters contributed to this report.
Israel hits Hezbollah targets in Lebanon ahead of deadline to disarm terror group
Israel reportedly carried out a series of airstrikes across southern and northeastern Lebanon just ahead of the Dec. 31 deadline for the terrorist organization Hezbollah to disarm.
The strikes hit Hezbollah infrastructure sites and launching sites in a military compound that the terror organization uses to train and hold courses for its members, according to The Associated Press, which cited the Israeli military. Israel also said it had struck Hezbollah military structures that stored weapons.
The strikes were launched just ahead of a meeting of the committee monitoring the enforcement of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire that ended the war between Israel and Hezbollah one year ago. The cohort also includes the U.S., France and United Nations peacekeepers deployed along the Israel-Lebanon border.
ISRAEL WARNS HEZBOLLAH ‘PLAYING WITH FIRE,’ PRESSES LEBANON TO ACT ON WEAPONS PLEDGE
Meanwhile, U.S., Saudi and French officials are set to participate in a meeting with Lebanon’s army commander, Gen. Rodolph Haikal. The group is expected to discuss ways to assist the Lebanese army in boosting its presence in the border area, according to the AP.
US CHAMPIONS LEBANON'S RESPONSE TO HEZBOLLAH DISARMAMENT, HINTS AT ABRAHAM ACCORDS OPPORTUNITY
The meeting in Paris is also meant to dissuade Israel from escalation, according to Reuters, which cited European and Lebanese diplomats and officials. The officials also said that there are concerns of political paralysis and party politics playing a role in the situation, and even possibly slowing Lebanese President Joseph Aoun from pressing for Hezbollah's disarmament, as the country prepares for legislative elections in 2026.
The Lebanese government has said it anticipates that the army will have the border area south of the Litani River cleared of Hezbollah's armed presence by the end of the year.
Speaker of the Parliament of Lebanon Nabih Berri said that the strikes were "an Israeli message to the Paris meeting," according to the AP.
"The fire belt of Israeli airstrikes is to honor the mechanism’s meeting tomorrow," Berri said during a parliament meeting in Beirut.
On Wednesday, Israel said it killed a Hezbollah terrorist operating in southern Lebanon. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the terrorist was collecting intelligence on the Israeli military's activity in the area and "took part in Hezbollah’s attempts to reestablish its infrastructure."
Fox News Digital reached out to the IDF for comment.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Vatican confirms resignation of Cardinal Timothy Dolan, announces new archbishop of New York
The Vatican on Thursday accepted the resignation of Cardinal Timothy Dolan and announced that Bishop Ronald Hicks of Joliet, Illinois, will become the next archbishop of New York.
This is a breaking news story; check back for updates.
Can Maduro survive as Trump's oil pressure campaign hits his regime’s weak spot?
For years, Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro has defied predictions of collapse. Sanctions, diplomatic isolation and internal unrest have failed to unseat him. But the latest escalation by the Trump administration — including the seizure of a Venezuelan crude tanker and the enforcement of a blockade on sanctioned vessels — has hit the regime where it is most vulnerable: its oil trade.
Melissa Ford Maldonado, director of the Western Hemisphere Initiative at the America First Policy Institute, told Fox News Digital that while the timeline and outcome remain uncertain, the regime’s dependence on oil leaves it uniquely vulnerable. "One thing is clear: the Maduro regime can’t sustain itself without oil revenue," she said.
While the U.S. move has raised concerns among European allies, who warned that the escalation could undermine regional stability and complicate efforts toward a political resolution in Venezuela, Ford Maldonado says the administration’s approach is striking at the core of Maduro’s power.
"What we’re seeing now with President Trump’s order for a total blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela is a direct hit against Maduro’s revenue streams," she said. "He needs the oil money from these tankers to buy loyalty and pay off generals, cartel partners and political enforcers to stay in power. That pipeline is finally being cut."
MADURO SINGS, DANCES AND THREATENS TO 'SMASH THE TEETH' OF THE 'NORTH AMERICAN EMPIRE'
According to Reuters, up to 11 million barrels of Venezuelan crude are currently stranded aboard 39 tankers anchored offshore.
Jorge Jraissati, president of the Economic Inclusion Group, said the recent U.S. actions "fundamentally change the economics of Venezuela’s oil exports.
"That oil is neither sold nor paid for," Jraissati said. "Until those cargoes move, they generate no cash flow for PDVSA and deepen Maduro’s liquidity strain." PDVSA is Venezuela's state-run oil company.
Venezuela is one of the most oil-dependent countries on earth. Oil accounts for more than 80% of exports and roughly 90% of government revenue, leaving the nation extraordinarily exposed when crude shipments falter.
"After years of economic collapse as a result of Venezuela’s socialist policies, virtually all other sectors of the economy are bankrupted," Jraissati noted.
U.S. sanctions on Venezuelan oil have been in place since 2019, but enforcement often lagged, and PDVSA continued to move crude through intermediaries and opaque trading networks, mainly toward Asia. The recent tanker seizure appears to have changed that dynamic.
The Trump administration said the seized vessel was headed for Cuba, but Jraissati argued China was the more likely destination. "Tankers of that size are typically deployed on long-haul routes, and China accounts for roughly 60% percent of Venezuela’s oil exports," he said.
Not only has crude become harder to sell, it has become cheaper. Venezuelan heavy crude is trading at discounts of up to $21 per barrel below Brent, according to sources cited by Jraissati and confirmed by Reuters reporting.
US AND UKRAINE TARGET 1,000-VESSEL 'DARK FLEET' SMUGGLING SANCTIONED OIL WORLDWIDE
"The seizure is already reshaping Venezuela’s oil trade," he said. "PDVSA is facing stuck cargoes, rising price discounts and new demands from buyers to renegotiate spot contracts."
Oil tankers, with cargoes worth tens of millions of dollars, now face heightened risk if they enter Venezuelan waters. This has sent buyers and shipowners scrambling for insurance and new terms.
"In general terms, this is a game-changing policy because it fundamentally alters the economics of exporting oil from Venezuela," Jraissati said. "Exports will not stop, but the conditions under which they are sold will deteriorate sharply. It will weaken Maduro’s cash flow."
For years, Venezuela has used a "shadow" or "dark" fleet — vessels that turn off tracking systems, swap names and switch flags — to move crude around sanctions. Jraissati said this network of ships tries to obscure ownership through shell companies and frequent reflagging.
Even these workarounds are under strain as insurers and ports become wary of vessels linked to Venezuelan crude.
MADURO TRAPPED WITH FEW RETALIATION OPTIONS AFTER TRUMP ADMIN SEIZES VENEZUELAN OIL TANKER
Jraissati painted a grim picture of Venezuelan society already unraveling under economic collapse.
"80% of people in Venezuela are in poverty," he said. "50% are in extreme poverty, meaning they don’t make even $3 a day."
He added that more than 30% of the population — around 8 million people — have left the country amid the ongoing crisis.
Jraissati cautioned that oil pressure alone will not topple Maduro, but described the current combination of sanctions, seizures and diplomatic isolation as unprecedented.
"This needs to be seen as a combination of actions. Oil pressure alone is not enough. Diplomatic pressure alone is not enough. But when all of these are combined, there is a much greater possibility of Maduro actually falling," he said.
Cale Brown, chair of Polaris National Security and a former State Department principal deputy spokesperson, said authoritarian regimes often endure sanctions by shifting into illicit revenue streams.
US SET TO SEIZE TENS OF MILLIONS IN VENEZUELAN OIL AFTER TANKER INTERCEPTION, WHITE HOUSE SAYS
"Regimes like Maduro’s display little concern about the impact of sanctions on their own people, and when traditional sources of income dry up, they seek other lifelines, as Maduro has with narcotics and other forms of illicit finance," Brown said.
Still, Brown said Washington’s strategy reflects broader security concerns, drug and human trafficking and hostile foreign influence in the Western Hemisphere.
"President Trump is right to identify Venezuela as ground zero for many of the problems we are concerned with in the Western Hemisphere," Brown said.
Maduro has survived sanctions, protests and isolation before. But analysts say the current oil crackdown directly threatens the regime’s ability to pay security forces, maintain patronage networks and keep the state functioning.
"It’s very important that we continue to emphasize that Venezuela’s oil does not belong to Maduro or his cronies," Ford Maldonado said, "It belongs to the Venezuelan people who made their choices clear at the ballot box last year and have been robbed blind by the regime which continues to enrich itself and hijack the country’s primary economic lifeline to stay in power. Cutting off that cash is the fastest way to weaken the regime, and weakening the regime helps the Venezuelan people!"
Families mourn loved ones lost in Bondi Beach terror attack: ‘No words can describe the pain’
The families of seven victims of Sunday’s fatal Bondi Beach shooting released heartbreaking statements about their loved ones on Thursday, expressing profound grief and sharing touching memories.
The deadly terror attack at a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, left at least 15 dead. Authorities have identified the assailants as a father-son duo, and believe the attack was inspired by ISIS.
The father was killed on the scene, while the son was shot by police and taken for medical care. He has been slapped with dozens of charges, including 15 counts of murder.
Marika Pogany, 82, was a member of COA Sydney, a volunteer service for Jewish seniors.
"Marika, known lovingly to all as Omi, was a beautiful mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and steadfast friend, whose warmth and energy touched countless lives," her family wrote. "Vibrant and full of life, she brought joy and energy into every room and found her greatest happiness surrounded by her adoring family. Her darling son Romy was her greatest achievement and her world."
Pogany came to Australia in 1968 from Czechoslovakia with her son and brother, her family said, and she became a "proud" Australian citizen in 1972.
‘WE WARNED THEM’ JEWISH LEADER SAYS AFTER BONDI BEACH TERROR ATTACK THAT KILLS 15
"She had an extraordinary gift for connecting with people," her family stated. "Her kindness, laughter, and generosity left a lasting mark on everyone she met, and her incredible network of friends was a true reflection of the love and loyalty she inspired.
"Deeply devoted to her community, she gave her time and heart in service to others, delivering meals and helping people in need, embodying love in action."
Pogany's family added, "Though she is gone, her light will continue to shine brightly through the family and friends who were so blessed to have her in their lives. Forever our gorgeous Darlink."
Adam Smyth, 50, was a father of four children and husband to Katrina. His family said the couple was walking on Bondi Beach Sunday evening when they found themselves in the middle of the attack.
"No words can describe the pain of our loss," Smyth's family wrote. "Adam and Katrina were living their best lives together. Their shared love of family and friends, travel and sport — if not always the same team — made their time together truly special."
Smyth loved many sports clubs, including the English Premier League football team Liverpool.
"We will forever cherish the time we have had with him. Adam was a generous and kind person who will be dearly missed and is forever irreplaceable," his family wrote, adding, "You’ll never walk alone."
Boris Gurman, 69, and Sofia Gurman, 61, were a Russian-Jewish couple who confronted one of the gunmen before the attack began, momentarily disarming the assailant before he grabbed another rifle and killed them.
The couple was going to celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary in January and were going to mark Sophia's birthday just days after the attack, "a moment that now feels incredibly hard to comprehend," the Gurman family wrote.
"Boris and Sofia were deeply devoted to their family and were well known in their community for their kindness, warmth and willingness to help others," they wrote. "Boris was a retired mechanic, and Sofia was working at Australia Post for the past five years. They lived honest, hardworking lives and treated everyone with care and respect."
They added, "We are deeply grateful for the love and support shown to our family during this unimaginable time."
Dan Elkayam, a 27-year-old French national, was playing football at Bondi Beach and celebrating the lighting of the Hannukah Candles.
"During a mass shooting, Dan was shot in the back while trying to run away," Elkayam's family wrote. "He was murdered because he was Jewish."
Elkayam played football at the 2022 Maccabiah Games and for several teams in both France and Australia.
SURVIVING AUSTRALIA TERROR SUSPECT SLAPPED WITH CHARGES IN WAKE OF DEADLY ATTACK
"Dan loved life - fully and intensely," his family stated. "He traveled the world and was known for his gentle, kind, fun and loving nature, making friends wherever he went. Alongside football, he had a deep connection with nature. He was a certified scuba diver and an explorer at heart, always eager to discover new places, cultures, and experiences."
Elkayam's family said his smile "could light up any room" and was someone "who truly wanted to do good in the world."
"It is now our responsibility to carry forward the light that Dan spread," his family stated. "He was surrounded by loved ones from all walks of life and all communities, and in times as dark as these, we all have a duty to continue spreading kindness, compassion, and joy — in his name."
Boris Tetleroyd "was loved by everyone he met," his family said.
"He was profoundly loved and adored by his sons Yaakov and Roman and by his wife Svetlana," they continued. "He is also deeply loved by his brother, aunt, nieces, nephews, cousins and all who had the privilege of knowing him."
Tetleroyd's family added that he was a "gentle man" and "gifted musician."
Alex Kleytman, 87, was a Holocaust survivor from Ukraine. He was celebrating Hanukkah at Bondi Beach with his wife of 57 years, Larisa Kleytman, who is also a Holocaust survivor, when the shooting began.
"He was a fascinating person of many talents and an unwavering spirit," his family wrote, adding that he was also "very stubborn."
Kleytman "survived the hardships of World War II in frozen Siberia, carrying with him a lifetime of extraordinary stories of resilience, survival, and unexpected luck" and worked as a civil engineer and estimator, first in the former Soviet Union and then in Australia.
His family said he died "doing what he loved most: protecting Larisa, standing proudly as a Jew, and celebrating the Festival of Lights."
"The two gunmen killed him, but his memories, his legacy, and his books will bring light for generations to come," his family added.
Fox News Digital's Alex Nitzberg and Rachel Wolf contributed to this report.
Putin derides European leaders as he insists Russia's war goals in Ukraine will be met by force or diplomacy
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that Russia’s goals in Ukraine are unchanged and will be accomplished either through negotiations or by further military advances if diplomatic efforts fail.
Putin, speaking at an annual board meeting of the country's Defense Ministry, touted Russia's military progress on the battlefield and technological advancements as his war in Ukraine grinds on into a fourth year.
"The goals of the special military operation will undoubtedly be achieved," he said, using the Kremlin's term to refer to Moscow's 2022 full-scale invasion.
"We would prefer to accomplish this and address the root causes of the conflict through diplomatic means. However, if the opposing side and its foreign patrons refuse to engage in substantive dialogue, Russia will achieve the liberation of its historical lands by military means," the Russian leader told military officials, according to a transcript of the speech released by the government.
PUTIN CALLS TRUMP’S PEACE PLAN A ‘STARTING POINT’ AS HE WARNS UKRAINE TO PULL BACK OR FACE 'FORCE'
Putin also took aim at Kyiv and its European allies for "whipping up hysteria" about Moscow as the Trump administration works to end the war.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned allies last week that Russia could be ready to use military force against the alliance within five years and urged members to boost defense spending and production, so their armed forces have the resources to protect their homelands.
Putin referred to European leaders as "piglets" during the Defense Ministry meeting, according to a translated video of the remarks posted by Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
The comment was part of a broader tirade against the West, with Putin accusing European governments of helping Washington try to weaken and divide Russia.
"They were hoping to profit from the collapse of our country. To get back something that was lost in previous historical periods and try to take revenge," said Putin. "As it has now become obvious to everyone, all these attempts and all these destructive plans towards Russia completely failed."
The remarks come as U.S., European, Russian and Ukrainian officials engage in a flurry of diplomacy over potential paths to ending the war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his negotiating team met in Berlin Sunday with Jared Kushner and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine.
Witkoff and Kushner previously held a five-hour meeting in Moscow with Putin and top foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov in early December to hash out elements of a revised peace proposal after the original leaked 28-point draft drew criticism for being too favorable to the Kremlin.
Ushakov said the Russian side received four documents from the U.S. envoys during the meeting, including one that consisted of 27 points, but he declined to go into detail of what they contained.
Philippines authorities give update on Bondi Beach gunmen's movements amid speculation about terror training
Authorities in the Philippines gave an update on their investigation of the accused Bondi Beach gunmen's movements during their weeks-long trip to the country.
The father-son duo – who are now accused of carrying out a deadly attack at a Hanukkah event at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, this week — allegedly previously traveled to Davao City for their four-week visit to the Philippines, according to reports. This comes after a recent confirmation by Philippine authorities that the father and son spent nearly the entire month of November in the country.
Philippine police and hotel staff said the father and son rarely left their hotel room except for an hour or so at a time, according to The Guardian. The outlet added that both police and hotel staff noted that the accused gunmen never talked to other guests or had visitors.
There was speculation that the father and son traveled to the Philippines to receive training from Islamist groups believed to be operating in the country, but authorities have pushed back against the assertion.
SURVIVING AUSTRALIA TERROR SUSPECT SLAPPED WITH CHARGES IN WAKE OF DEADLY ATTACK
On Tuesday, the Philippines Bureau of Investigation said the two accused gunmen traveled to the Philippines on Nov. 1 aboard Philippine Airlines Flight PR212 from Sydney to Manila before making their way to Davao, according to Reuters. The two left the Philippines on Nov. 28, just weeks before they allegedly carried out the Bondi Beach attack.
Davao City is located on the island of Mindanao, which has been under a "Level 3: Reconsider Travel" advisory since May. However, the State Department said Davao City, in addition to a few other locations, is an exception to the advisory.
"Terrorist and armed groups in Mindanao have historically engaged in kidnappings for ransom, in addition to bombings and other attacks. These incidents often target foreign nationals, including U.S. citizens, as well as civilians, local government entities, and security forces," the State Department's advisory reads.
POLICE: BONDI BEACH SHOOTING SUSPECTS HAD BOMBS, ISIS FLAGS AND RECENTLY TRAVELED TO PHILIPPINES
In 2017, Islamic State-inspired militants stormed Marawi, the capital of Lanao del Sur province in the Muslim-majority Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Mindanao. Reuters reported that the siege of Marawi displaced approximately 350,000 residents and left more than 1,100 dead, most of whom were militants.
The city is currently under a "Level 4: Do Not Travel" advisory, with the State Department warning that "civilians face risk of death or injury from ongoing clashes between terrorist group remnants and Philippine security forces in Marawi."
Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) noted that while the influence and strength of Islamic State-aligned groups has declined in recent years, the Philippines military has had infrequent clashes with remnants of the groups.
The Bondi Beach attack unfolded on Sunday as gunmen opened fire at a Hanukkah celebration, killing at least 15 and leaving dozens injured. The older gunman, who was the younger gunman's father, died at the scene.
On Wednesday, New South Wales Police announced the 59 charges against the 24-year-old surviving suspected gunman, including "commit terrorist act," 15 counts of murder, 40 counts of "cause wounding/grievous bodily harm to person with intent to murder," "discharge firearm etc intend cause grievous bodily harm," "cause public display of prohibited terrorist org symbol" and "place explosive in/near building with intent to cause harm."
NSW Police said the alleged gunman is still hospitalized and under police guard.
Yemen separatist forces seize key oil region, urge US to partner against Iran-backed Houthis
EXCLUSIVE: Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council (STC) claims its forces now control all eight southern governorates and are prepared to serve as Washington’s frontline partner against Iran-backed Houthis, al-Qaeda affiliates and Muslim Brotherhood factions.
In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Ahmed Atef, the STC’s representative to the United States and United Nations, said STC hopes for expanded cooperation with Washington — militarily, diplomatically and economically — with the administration. "All kinds of support are welcome," he said. "President Trump is very courageous and very strong, and we are really looking forward to his support."
The STC has emerged as the dominant power in southern Yemen, and is reportedly backed by significant Emirati funding and military support. Formed in April 2017, it unites factions seeking to reestablish an independent South Yemen — reviving the state that existed from 1967 until unification in 1990. Last week, the head of Yemen’s internationally recognized government called on STC to withdraw from territories they have recently captured in the southeastern parts of the country, the Associated Press reported.
US MILITARY CONDUCTS SUCCESSFUL AIRSTRIKES ON HOUTHI REBEL FORCES IN YEMEN
On Wednesday, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres warned that Yemen was facing a dangerous new escalation following recent advances by forces affiliated with the STC in the eastern governorates of Hadramawt and al-Mahra. Guterres said such unilateral actions risk deepening divisions, hardening positions and accelerating fragmentation, with potential spillover effects on regional security, including the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Horn of Africa.
Bridget Toomey, a researcher at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), told Fox News Digital that for the U.S. to support southern secession would be "at odds with the stated policy of the internationally recognized government of Yemen, which currently exists for one Yemen." She said the United States supports that government, but added that backing the STC as a partner in counterterrorism missions and in the fight against the Houthis "would not necessarily be at odds with the government," particularly because the STC and its leadership are part of the current governing framework.
Yemen’s war has long divided the nation. In the north, the Houthis rule Sanaa and much of western Yemen with support from Iran and ties to Hezbollah. In the south, STC-aligned forces dominate Aden, the temporary capital, and a belt of inland and coastal regions that include Lahj, Abyan, Shabwa, Hadramout and al-Mahra.
The internationally recognized Yemeni government, which the United States continues to support, is formally based in Aden but remains fragmented. The Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council serves as the recognized authority and has relied heavily on a coalition of competing factions, including the STC, to govern and confront the Houthis and to maintain control on the ground.
Toommey said, "The government has faced serious economic, oversight and capacity challenges and has struggled to deliver basic services, a situation compounded by the ongoing fight against the Houthis and Yemen’s broader humanitarian crisis."
That reliance has drawn criticism. Yemen’s internationally recognized government has accused STC-affiliated forces of carrying out deadly attacks in Hadramout and warned that the group’s recent expansion risks sparking conflict between rival factions within the anti-Houthi camp. The Associated Press reported that Yemeni officials urged the STC to withdraw from areas seized in the east, cautioning that unilateral moves could undermine the political process and destabilize a fragile balance in the south.
Atef rejected that characterization, describing the Hadramout operation as a major success that demonstrated the STC’s ability to fight what he called hostile forces operating in coordination with the Houthis. He accused those forces of collaborating with "Houthi terrorists" and said the STC’s actions strengthened security rather than undermined it.
YEMEN'S CHILD SOLDIERS FACE LONG ROAD AFTER SEXUAL, PHYSICAL ABUSE
Atef described the Houthis as a destabilizing force well beyond Yemen’s borders.
"They have this slogan of ‘death to America, death to Israel,’ which is really very unacceptable," he said. As long as the Houthis maintain control of Sanaa, he warned, they will "continue threatening maritime traffic in the Red Sea, continue threatening us in the South and Saudi Arabia, and continue threatening the UAE and the Gulf region."
He also accused Houthi factions of cooperation with outside extremist groups, including Somalia’s al-Shabab, and of receiving training and support from Iran and Hezbollah.
STC President Aidarous al-Zubaidi has pledged assistance to northern Yemeni forces seeking to "re-liberate Sanaa," Atef said, dismissing prospects for a negotiated political settlement. "It is impossible," he said. "We will talk the language that the Houthis understand."
ISRAEL CONFIRMS STRIKE ON HOUTHIS IN YEMEN, MARKS SECOND TIME THIS WEEK
Atef repeatedly framed the STC as a natural U.S. partner on counterterrorism and regional stability. He praised President Donald Trump for designating the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization and for efforts targeting branches of the Muslim Brotherhood.
"In Yemen, we have Muslim Brotherhood. We believe that they are terrorists. We believe that they sponsor terrorism," Atef said, adding that he supported a recent bill to classify certain Muslim Brotherhood chapters abroad as terrorist entities, but he argued the organization is "extremist everywhere, even in the United States. Not only in these chapters."
Atef also said the STC intends to open southern Yemen’s oil, agriculture, fisheries and tourism industries to American companies as a path toward long-term self-sufficiency. "We invite U.S. companies to come and explore the oil fields and help us in getting revenues to develop our people," he said.
The STC’s ultimate objective, Atef emphasized, is an independent, pro-Western South Yemen that can secure its territory while helping counter Iran’s regional influence.
"Once we have got this front against the Houthis strengthened and emboldened with the support of the international community and the United States," he said, "that is going to help us very much on the ground to continue our fight and bring stability and peace to the region."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Israel's Netanyahu demands Western governments act to battle antisemitism: 'Heed our warnings'
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded that Western countries immediately take action to battle antisemitism and ensure the safety of Jews around the globe.
"I demand that Western governments do what is necessary to fight antisemitism and provide the required safety and security for Jewish communities worldwide," he said, according to the prime minister's office, which issued the English translation of the remarks that Netanyahu delivered in Hebrew in a video posted on Tuesday.
"They would be well-advised to heed our warnings. I demand action from them — now," he added.
Netanyahu's demand came in the wake of the heinous Sunday terror attack in Australia.
That attack was "deliberately targeted at the Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah," Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has noted.
During remarks Tuesday at a White House Hanukkah reception, President Donald Trump claimed that Congress "is becoming antisemitic."
"You have AOC plus three. You have those people," he said, referring to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and the progressive "Squad."
"Ilhan Omar: She hates Jewish people," he added, referring to the Minnesota congresswoman.
Ukraine says it carried out first-ever underwater drone strike on Russian submarine in Novorossiysk
Ukraine said Monday it carried out an underwater drone strike that critically damaged a Russian Kilo-class submarine docked in the port of Novorossiysk, marking the first known attack of its kind.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said its "Sub Sea Baby" underwater drones struck a Russian submarine equipped with four launchers for Kalibr cruise missiles used to target Kyiv and other parts of the country.
The operation was carried out by the Ukrainian Navy and the SBU's 13th Main Directorate of Military Counterintelligence.
Video released by the SBU showed several ships docked at the Novorossiysk naval base in Russia’s Krasnodar region before a large explosion occurred.
The base has become a key refuge for Russia’s fleet as Ukraine intensifies strikes on Sevastopol and other occupied Crimean ports.
The SBU said the submarine had been forced to remain in Novorossiysk because of other Ukrainian operations, including the use of Sea Baby surface drones that drove Russia’s Black Sea Fleet out of Sevastopol Bay.
A spokesperson for Russia’s Black Sea Fleet denied the strike caused any damage, writing on Telegram that no submarines or crews were harmed.
PUTIN CALLS TRUMP’S PEACE PLAN A ‘STARTING POINT’ AS HE WARNS UKRAINE TO PULL BACK OR FACE 'FORCE'
"[Ukraine] once again proved that minnows can swallow sharks using innovation," drone expert Brett Velicovich told Fox News Digital. "Underwater drones are the next evolution in drone warfare."
The submarine strike comes as Russia continues to launch large-scale drone and missile attacks on Ukraine and as the United States works to end Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his negotiating team met in Berlin on Sunday with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine.
Zelenskyy also held talks with European leaders earlier in the week on a broader political framework to end the war, secure long-term protections for Ukraine and support the country’s postwar recovery.
Trump targets Maduro as Western Hemisphere becomes ‘first line of defense’ in new strategy
The Trump administration has moved its hemispheric security doctrine into full force in Venezuela, ordering a sweeping naval blockade on sanctioned oil tankers and labeling Nicolás Maduro’s government a Foreign Terrorist Organization — a dramatic escalation aimed at choking off the regime’s primary source of revenue and confronting what the White House calls a growing threat of cartel-driven "drug terrorism" and foreign influence in the region.
Announcing the move on social media, Trump said Venezuela was now "completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the history of South America," a strike at an oil sector that accounts for roughly 88% of the country’s export earnings.
The administration’s new National Security Strategy (NSS) places the Western Hemisphere at the center of U.S. national security planning, elevating regional instability, mass migration, cartels and foreign influence as direct challenges to American security. While the document does not single out Venezuela by name, its framework positions crises like Venezuela’s collapse as central to protecting what the strategy calls America’s "immediate security perimeter."
MADURO’S FORCES FACE RENEWED SCRUTINY AS US TENSIONS RISE: ‘A FORTRESS BUILT ON SAND’
According to the NSS, U.S. policy toward the hemisphere now focuses on preventing large-scale migration, countering "narco-terrorists, cartels, and other transnational criminal organizations," and ensuring the region remains "reasonably stable and well-governed enough to prevent and discourage mass migration." It also pledges to assert a "Trump Corollary" to the Monroe Doctrine, aimed at blocking "hostile foreign incursion or ownership of key assets" by strategic competitors.
A senior White House official said the Western Hemisphere chapter is designed to "reassert American preeminence in the Western Hemisphere" by strengthening regional security partnerships, curbing drug flows and preventing pressures that fuel mass migration. The official said the strategy situates the hemisphere as a foundational element of U.S. defense and prosperity.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said the NSS reflects what the administration sees as a historic realignment of U.S. foreign policy. "President Trump’s National Security Strategy builds upon the historic achievements of his first year back in office, which has seen his Administration move with historic speed to restore American strength at home and abroad and bring peace to the world," Kelly told Fox News Digital.
"In less than a year, President Trump has ended eight wars, persuaded Europe to take greater responsibility for its own defense, facilitated U.S.-made weapons sales to NATO allies, negotiated fairer trade deals, obliterated Iran’s nuclear facilities, and more." The strategy, she added, is designed to ensure "America remains the greatest and most successful nation in human history."
Melissa Ford Maldonado, director of the Western Hemisphere Initiative at the America First Policy Institute, said Venezuela illustrates why the hemisphere is now treated as America’s "first line of defense."
"The Maduro regime functions as a narco-dictatorship closely tied to criminal cartels, which are now considered foreign terror organizations, and supported by China, Iran and Russia," she said. "Confronting this criminal regime is about keeping poison off our streets and chaos off our shores."
MADURO’S FORCES FACE RENEWED SCRUTINY AS US TENSIONS RISE: ‘A FORTRESS BUILT ON SAND’
She called the NSS "the most radical and long-overdue change in U.S. foreign policy in a generation," arguing that instability in Latin America now reaches the United States "in real time" through migration surges, narcotics trafficking and foreign intelligence networks.
Some analysts caution that the strategy’s sharper posture could become destabilizing if pressure escalates into a confrontation.
Roxanna Vigil, a fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, said the path ahead depends heavily on how forceful the administration’s approach becomes. "If it goes in the direction of escalation and conflict, that means there’s going to be very little control," she said. "If there is a power vacuum, who fills it?"
Vigil warned that without a negotiated transition, a sudden collapse could produce outcomes "potentially worse than Maduro." She said armed groups, hardline regime actors and cartel-linked networks would all compete for power, with potential spillover effects across a region already strained by mass displacement.
Jason Marczak, vice president of the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center, said the NSS underscores why the administration views Maduro’s continued rule as incompatible with its regional priorities.
"All of those goals cannot be accomplished as long as Nicolás Maduro or anybody close to him remains in power," he said, pointing to the strategy’s focus on migration, regional security and countering foreign influence. "Venezuela is a conduit for foreign influence in the hemisphere."
US SET TO SEIZE TENS OF MILLIONS IN VENEZUELAN OIL AFTER TANKER INTERCEPTION, WHITE HOUSE SAYS
Marczak said Venezuelans "were ready for change" in the 2024 election, but warned that replacing Maduro with another insider "doesn’t really accomplish anything." He argued that only a democratic transition would allow Venezuela to re-enter global markets and stabilize the region.
Both Marczak and Vigil noted that the danger extends beyond Maduro to the criminal ecosystem and foreign partnerships that sustain his rule. Without a negotiated transition, Vigil said, the forces most likely to prevail are those already controlling territory: militias, cartel-linked groups and pro-Chavista power brokers.
Ford-Maldonado said that reality is precisely why the administration’s strategy elevates Venezuela’s crisis within its broader Western Hemisphere doctrine.
"Confronting a narco-regime tied to foreign adversaries is not a distraction from America First — it’s the clearest expression of it," she said. "What’s ultimately being defended are American lives, American children, and American communities."
The administration’s adoption of a "Trump Corollary" to the Monroe Doctrine indicates a more assertive U.S. stance toward the hemisphere, framing Venezuela not only as a humanitarian or political crisis but as a critical test of the strategy’s core principles: migration control, counter-cartel operations and limiting foreign adversaries’ reach. Within this framework, experts say the consequences of inaction could create security risks that extend well beyond Venezuela’s borders.
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