President-elect Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the Hamas terrorist organization must release the hostages that it kidnapped during its unprecedented October 7 terrorist attack against Israel before Inauguration Day or else &#8220;all hell will break out&#8221; in the region.
Trump made the threat against the Iranian-backed terrorist group during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago when asked about it.
&#8220;If those hostages aren&#8217;t back&#8230; if they&#8217;re not back by the time I get into office, all hell will break out in the Middle East,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;And it will not be good for Hamas and it will not be good, frankly, for anyone.&#8221;
Trump&#8217;s use of the word &#8220;anyone&#8221; is likely a reference to Iran, which has propped up Hamas and is already facing Trump&#8217;s wrath for its increased terrorist activities, including attempts to assassinate Trump.
&#8220;All hell will break out,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;I don&#8217;t have to say anymore, but that&#8217;s what it is. And they should have given them back a long time ago, they should have never taken them. There should have never been the attack of October 7th, people forget that.&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
BREAKING: Trump says that if the hostages are not released by the time he is sworn in that &#8220;all hell will break loose in the Middle East&#8221; because of what he is going to do to the Iranian axis of terror. <a href="https://t.co/tALYuvAp2I">pic.twitter.com/tALYuvAp2I</a>
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) <a href="https://twitter.com/RealSaavedra/status/1876678747480601079?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2025</a></blockquote>

President-Elect Trump Holds Press Conference At Mar-A-Lago

Trump To Iran’s Axis Of Terror: Release Hostages Before Inauguration Or ‘All Hell Will Break Out’

Donald Trump

Global Politics

Hamas

Hostages

Iran

October 7

The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/israel-defense-forces-idf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Israel Defense Forces</a> (IDF) declassified footage on Thursday showing a raid that IDF commandos carried out on September 8th, 2024, deep inside Syrian territory on an underground Iranian missile manufacturing plant.
The raid from the Israeli Air Force&#8217;s (IAF) Shaldag Unit was the result of years worth of &#8220;extensive intelligence gathering and monitoring,&#8221; the IDF said in a statement.
&#8220;The soldiers landed using helicopters, with fire and intelligence-gathering support from aircraft, fighter jets, and naval vessels of the Israeli Navy,&#8221; the IDF said. &#8220;The compound was a flagship project for Iran&#8217;s efforts to arm its terror proxies on Israel’s northern border. The compound included advanced assembly lines designed to manufacture precision-guided missiles and long-range rockets, significantly increasing the supply of missiles to Hezbollah and other Iranian terror proxies in the region.&#8221;
&#8220;During the operation, the forces reached critical machinery for manufacturing precision missiles, including a planetary mixer, numerous weapons, and intelligence documents, which were transferred for investigation,&#8221; the statement continued. &#8220;The soldiers destroyed the compound and safely returned to Israeli territory.&#8221;
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that he was proud of the commandos for the &#8220;bold and successful operation deep inside Syria.&#8221;
&#8220;This is one of the important countermeasures we have taken against the Iranian axis&#8217; attempts to arm itself to harm us, and it testifies to our determination and courage to act everywhere to protect ourselves,&#8221; he added.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The Israeli military declassified intelligence on a commando raid that destroyed an Iranian-funded and supported underground compound for manufacturing precision missiles in Syria:
On September 8, 2024, over 100 Shaldag commandos raided an underground compound in Masyaf, Syria.… <a href="https://t.co/IacE7zQrt2">pic.twitter.com/IacE7zQrt2</a>
— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeTruzman/status/1874848162453893500?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
A video from the day of the operation, showing the sequence of events on the ground: <a href="https://t.co/a1bAS9Q2nr">pic.twitter.com/a1bAS9Q2nr</a>
— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeTruzman/status/1874848169366024451?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
The operation marked <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/israel-destroys-underground-iranian-built-missile-factory-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the first known ground operation</a> by Israel inside of Syria in years.
The raid happened in the western part of Syria, near the border of Lebanon, while the IAF conducted an intense bombing campaign to stop the Syrian military from being able to send reinforcements to respond to Israel’s operation at the factory.
Israel notified the U.S. of the raid in advance and received no opposition to launching the operation.
The Syrian guards who were protecting the terrorist manufacturing facility were caught off guard by the raid and were killed in the Israeli commandos’ surprise attack.
U.S. and Israeli sources confirmed to Axios that Iran started building the underground facility in 2018 in coordination with Hezbollah and the Syrians after Israel “destroyed most of the Iranian missile production infrastructure” inside the country.
Israeli intelligence services reportedly monitored the site, built inside of a mountain, for five years. Israel previously considered launching an operation to destroy the site, but deemed the project too “high-risk.”
The raid could foreshadow how Israel might deal with Iran’s nuclear facilities as the country gets closer to obtaining nuclear weapons, partly due to a lack of deterrence from the Biden administration, some experts say.

IDF Releases Footage From Raid It Carried Out On Underground Iranian Missile Factory

Israel

Israel Defense Forces (IDF)

Syria

World

The Biden administration reportedly ignored oil smuggling that netted Iran an estimated one billion dollars annually — despite being well-informed on the operation.
A group of international Intelligence agencies compiled a 45-page report in April outlining a billion-dollar Iranian oil smuggling operation and shared the information with officials from the State and Treasury departments as well as members of the U.S. intelligence community, according to <a href="https://freebeacon.com/biden-harris-administration/how-the-biden-admin-allowed-iran-to-rake-in-illicit-oil-cash-amid-tehrans-terror-spree/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Washington Free Beacon</a>.
U.S. officials took multiple briefings on the report that showed Iran earning at least $1 billion annually from selling oil through Iraqi intermediaries. The Biden administration did not act on the information and gave Iran a “free pass” to sell its fuel in violation of U.S. sanctions, one former U.S. official told the Free Beacon.
“Despite Iran’s growing and dominant role in Iraq, the Biden administration has refused to sanction or meaningfully confront their role in an effort to protect the current Iraqi prime minister, Sudani, and to portray Iraq as a constructive regional partner,” one former U.S. official said.
“This approach deliberately ignores the reality that Iran and its proxies effectively control Iraq’s institutions, including the industrial fuel smuggling and crude commingling. It’s as if the Biden administration wants to hide the fact that Iraq remains Iran’s most important client state,” the official added.
Reuters <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/fuel-oil-smuggling-network-rakes-1-billion-iran-its-proxies-2024-12-03/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> early last month that the oil smuggling scheme netted Iran at least $1 billion a year since 2022 when Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani took office. Some estimates showed Iran earning as much as $3 billion annually.
A State Department official at the time said that U.S. officials had spoken with Iraqi officials about the operation and its illegality under U.S. sanctions.
“While we do not comment on specific discussions, we can affirm the Department has emphasized with our Iraqi counterparts the harms of illicit trade and our support for bringing oil transparently to market,” the official told Reuters.
U.S. officials reportedly learned of the illicit oil selling scheme just months after Hamas, one of the groups in Tehran’s extensive terror network, invaded Israel and killed roughly 1,200 people while taking hundreds more captive.
Sanctions on Iran administered by President Trump during his first term wrecked Iran financially, but Tehran regained some of its wealth, an <a href="https://freebeacon.com/national-security/irans-illicit-oil-revenue-swells-to-nearly-200-billion-since-biden-harris-took-office-latest-figures-and-estimates-show/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">estimated</a> $200 billion worth, selling oil after the Biden administration took over. Those funds have been used in part to support Iran’s terror proxies, including Hezbollah and the Houthis.

Iranian flag

Biden Administration Gave ‘Free Pass’ To $1B Iranian Oil Smuggling Operation: Report

Iraq

Joe Biden

United States

On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury <a href="https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2766">sanctioned</a> entities in Iran and Russia that attempted to interfere with the 2024 election.
The two entities sanctioned by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) include the Cognitive Design Production Center (CDPC) a subsidiary organization of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which is considered a terrorist organization by the United States, and the Center for Geopolitical Expertise (CGE), which directed and subsidized “the creation and publication of deepfakes and circulated disinformation about candidates in the U.S. 2024 general election.” CGE is a Moscow-based affiliate organization of the Russian Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU). The GRU is Russia&#8217;s largest foreign-intelligence agency.
“The Governments of Iran and Russia have targeted our election processes and institutions and sought to divide the American people through targeted disinformation campaigns,” said Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley T. Smith. “The United States will remain vigilant against adversaries who would undermine our democracy.”
Last September 27, OFAC <a href="https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2621">designated</a> seven individuals working with Iran who had attempted to interfere with the 2024 election.
“The Kremlin has increasingly adapted its efforts to hide its involvement by developing a vast ecosystem of Russian proxy websites, fake online personas, and front organizations that give the false appearance of being independent news sources unconnected to the Russian state,” the Treasury Department noted.
“CGE built a server that hosts the generative AI tools and associated AI-created content, in order to avoid foreign web-hosting services that would block their activity,” the Treasury Department stated. “The GRU provided CGE and a network of U.S.-based facilitators with financial support to: build and maintain its AI-support server; maintain a network of at least 100 websites used in its disinformation operations.”
“As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked,” the Treasury Department concluded.
The week of the 2024 election, federal law enforcement officials foiled a second alleged Iranian plot to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump.
The U.S. Department of Justice unsealed an indictment against multiple individuals who were involved in plots to murder an Iranian dissident, two Jewish Americans, and Trump on U.S. soil.
“There are few actors in the world that pose as grave a threat to the national security of the United States as does Iran,” <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-murder-hire-and-related-charges-against-irgc-asset-and-two">said</a> Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department has charged an asset of the Iranian regime who was tasked by the regime to direct a network of criminal associates to further Iran’s assassination plots against its targets, including President-elect Donald Trump.”
Ryan Saavedra contributed to this article.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/feds-disrupt-iranian-assassination-plot-on-trump">Feds Disrupt Iranian Assassination Plot On Trump</a>

US Treasury Says It Was Breached By Chinese-Backed Hacker

Treasury Department Sanctions Iranian, Russian Entities For Interference In 2024 Election

2024 Election

Elections

Russia

Treasury Department

History has an interesting way of softening the hard edges of a past president’s term of office. Time, combined with more information coming to light as well as a more complete verdict re: the long-term impacts, good and bad, of policies will do that. As such, the placement along the scale of best to worst of those who sat in the Oval Office is always shifting.
But 39th President James Earl Carter, Jr., who <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/jimmy-carter-americas-39th-president-dead-at-100?topStoryPosition=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed away</a> at age 100, is a presidency difficult to encapsulate. Peruse the media obituaries and a common theme will no doubt emerge. That he was a man of personal character and decency, the “real deal.” Indeed, his will be hailed as “the ideal former-presidency” given his image of skating above politics and keeping his focus on initiatives more beneficial to mankind, whether it be building a house for the poor or monitoring elections abroad. It will be said of him that he lived out his Christian virtues staying faithful to the same woman for 77 years.
But this does not alter the fact that his term in office from 1977 to 1981 was, to put it bluntly, a failure.
From a foreign policy standpoint, Carter attempted to affect statecraft grounded in the promotion of “human rights”. But what many in this country at the time may have seen as noble ambitions, especially coming in the aftermath of Vietnam, was read by enemies abroad as weakness arising from an almost quaint naiveté. This perceived weakness gained validation when in November 1979 anti-American Islamists overthrew the Shah of Iran and stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran — sovereign U.S. territory as per international law. 52 embassy staff were taken hostage and subsequently held in very public and humiliating captivity for 444 days.
<div id="attachment_851055" style="width: 862px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-851055" class="size-large wp-image-851055" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2669616-852x576.jpg" alt="An American hostage being paraded before the cameras by his Iranian captors. Following the Iranian revolution over fifty American hostages were taken and only released after four hundred and forty-four days. (Photo by MPI/Getty Images)" width="852" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2669616-852x576.jpg 852w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2669616-300x203.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2669616-768x519.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2669616.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 852px) 100vw, 852px" />MPI/Getty Images</div>
This affront to our national honor was made ever more acute when six months into the crisis, after fruitless diplomatic overtures, a mission to rescue the captive U.S. citizens resulted in a humiliating failure in the Iranian desert. The mission was scrubbed due to equipment breakdowns and eight servicemen were killed when a helicopter collided with a transport plane during the evacuation. Images of the charred bodies of our dead troops were splashed across headlines around the world, and a somber Carter took to the airwaves to accept responsibility.
The botched raid was not just a shameful blow to our national pride, it underscored a deeper sense that U.S. power was eroding, and that our best days were behind us. The military that once defeated the war machines of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan couldn’t even get out of its own way in the desert? Maybe we really were in decline? The hostages would languish for all the world to see — and the anti-U.S. forces from Moscow to Beijing to Tehran to gloat over — for another 270 hapless days.
When in 1980 the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, Carter’s boycotting the Olympic games in Moscow seemed a tepid, and largely symbolic response that only served to punish our own athletes while not changing Russian actions one iota. Whether or not there was more the Carter administration could have done given the Soviets’ nuclear arsenal is a matter for round tables to discuss. At the time, however, this was viewed as yet another anemic response to flagrant enemy aggression; Americans came to believe we had a lamb in the White House when a lion was needed. And as not-so-clandestine support for the Mujahadeen throughout the Reagan era demonstrated, the U.S. did have more capacity to put the thumb on the scales in the region than Carter seemed willing to do.
The thing about Carter, however, is that not only was he unable, or unwilling to recognize certain bad actors on the world stage, he failed to understand who were the true friends to the U.S. as well. One must consider his double-standard leveled against Israel vis-à-vis the Palestinians. In particular the PLO, which by any impartial definition was a terror organization. And its leader, the vile, murderous kleptocrat Yasser Arafat, a bona fide terrorist. It was the Israelis, however, whom Carter targeted for restrictions and even grotesquely drew an analogy between their efforts to combat terrorism and the growling hounds of Bull Connor. Certainly if the recollections of respected columnist William Safire and former Secretary of State Cyrus Vance are to be believed, Carter was rabidly anti-Israel. For the Israelis, it was very fortunate Carter did not win a second term.
But what about the Camp David Accords? Certainly they were a worthy effort and seem to be among the only such accords between ancient enemies that have survived more or less intact. But, as Jay Nordlinger writes in National Review, Sadat and Begin had already hammered them out prior to inviting Carter in to provide the carapace of legitimacy — and financial support — only the U.S. could offer. It is not a stretch to say that no matter who was president, Camp David would have still occurred.
<div id="attachment_851047" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-851047" class="size-large wp-image-851047" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-1826042-864x576.jpg" alt="WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 18: (NO U.S. TABLOID SALES) (L-R) Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, U.S. President Jimmy Carter, and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin join hands after the Camp David Accords September 18, 1978 in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC. (Photo by David Hume Kennerly/Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-1826042-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-1826042-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-1826042-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-1826042.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />David Hume Kennerly/Getty Images</div>
At least the Carter presidency promoted the legitimate democratic process, right? Well, it did in that he even went so far as to praise Yasser Arafat’s election. Indeed, Carter was perhaps the PLO chairman’s biggest fan in the halls of the U.S. government. Although as CIA director Jim Woolsey once joked, “Arafat was essentially ’elected’ the same way Stalin was, but not nearly as democratically as Hitler, who at least had actual opponents.”
And, of course, given Carter’s wish to be remembered as the champion of the downtrodden and oppressed (although it depends on who is wearing the jackboots, as Carter seemed to have a look-the-other-way affinity for Marxist dictators whether in Beijing, Havana, or Managua) then it is natural that he would side with the weaker, if morally depraved, Hamas and Hezbollah. As his Bull Connor comparison shows, he would be quite at home today among the throngs of Intifada wannabes on the college campus who view the Arab-Israeli conflict not through the lens of morality but power. In 2014, Carter wrote of Hamas: “Only by recognizing its legitimacy as a political actor—one that represents a substantial portion of the Palestinian people—can the West begin to provide the right incentives for Hamas to lay down its weapons.” Seems a bit optimistic since October 7. Even though the body may change, the intransigent mind of the true believer may remain fixed in place,but this is the disastrous Carter naiveté in the main.
And then there was the economy.
Since the mid-1980s, even with the occasional recession (often of our own making) the U.S. has experienced a sustained economic boom that makes it hard to remember the years leading up to this age of prosperity. But when Carter was in office things were quite different. The middle class especially was hammered with inflation that surged from <a href="https://data.bls.gov/pdq/SurveyOutputServlet">6.3%</a> in November 1976 when Carter was elected to a peak of <a href="https://data.bls.gov/pdq/SurveyOutputServlet">13.6%</a> in June 1980. Rising interest rates saw 30-year mortgages balloon from 8.8% in November 1976 to briefly touch 18.44% in October 1981, only months into Reagan’s first term. Although there is a lingering misconception that unemployment also soared during the Carter years the data shows this is not the case. In fact, unemployment would not peak until 1983, well into Reagan’s first term. But this could be attributed to Fed policies to crush inflation with exorbitantly high rates leading to a deep recession that had a delayed effect.
I admit that such wonkish analysis gets into the weeds of economics and as the expression goes, “if you lay every economist foot-to-head around the world they couldn’t reach a consensus.” But what is certainly true is that during the Carter years, the “<a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/miseryindex.asp">misery index</a>”, economist Arthur Okun’s formula he created in the 1970s to quantify the true impacts of the economy’s performance on the lives of the average American, reached an all-time high of 21.3% in May 1980. (By contrast it currently runs at 7.2%).
As such, the most powerful argument his GOP opponent Ronald Reagan would make during the 1980 presidential campaign was simply to look into the camera and ask the American people: “Are you better off than you were four years ago?” The voters answered and Carter was defeated.
<div id="attachment_851051" style="width: 837px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-851051" class="size-large wp-image-851051" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-487170453-827x576.jpg" alt="NEW YORK CITY - AUGUST 14: Walter Mondale and Jimmy Carter attend Democratic National Convention on August 14, 1980 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)" width="827" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-487170453-827x576.jpg 827w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-487170453-300x209.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-487170453-768x535.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-487170453.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 827px) 100vw, 827px" />Walter Mondale and Jimmy Carter attend Democratic National Convention on August 14, 1980 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)</div>
The common narrative of Carter’s post-presidential years is that of the farmer who returned to his humble roots in Plains, Georgia, and lived a modest life that all ex-presidents should emulate.
Well, yes and no.
Carter’s work in founding the Carter Center, a non-profit dedicated to the advancement of human rights, as well as his hands-on (literally) involvement building homes for the poor with the Habitat For Humanity project has earned him justified accolades from across the political spectrum. But at the same time he did his share of meddling in U.S. affairs, and sometimes questionably so. While in 1990 George W. Bush was cobbling together his Gulf War coalition, Carter was writing letters to the UN trying to thwart his efforts. Given that his friend Arafat sided with Saddam, one is not surprised. But considering the media’s pouncing on Trump for just weighing in (while a candidate for president no less) on the Democrats’ sham border bill, one can only see a double-standard here. There are other examples but this is the most egregious. One thing is for sure, had Trump engaged in such behavior the word “treason” would be tossed around like a football on Sunday.
And so Jimmy Carter’s story is really one compiled of two narratives. Unfortunately, being a supposedly good man (I never met him ) does not always lead to being a successful president. No man is a saint to his valet, and Carter is no exception. I have no doubt many reading this can offer up less favorable language for him. Who am I to judge? But Carter’s legacy after some five decades in politics from Georgia governor to one-term president, is starting to reveal itself, warts and all. In the end, Jimmy Carter should be remembered for leading a successful life, but a failed presidency.
* * *
Brad Schaeffer is a fund manager and author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B07MQJBJSD" target="_blank" rel="noopener">three books</a>. His articles have appeared on the pages of Daily Wire, The Wall Street Journal, New York Post, New York Daily News, National Review, The Hill, The Federalist, The Blaze, Breitbart, Zerohedge and other outlets. You can follow him on <a href="https://x.com/bschaeffer123" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X</a> and <a href="https://bradschaeffer.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Substack.</a> 

The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

1976 Democratic National Convention

Jimmy Carter’s Unavoidable Legacy

Jimmy Carter's Unavoidable Legacy

Afghanistan

Democrats

Inflation

Jimmy Carter

Middle East

Opinion

Presidency

Ronald Reagan

Soviet Union

Yasser Arafat

As Christians throughout the United States celebrate Christmas, tens of millions of their fellow believers face intense persecution for their beliefs and could be endangered if they choose to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
Last year, at least 365 million Christians were persecuted for faith, including thousands who were killed and nearly 300,000 who were displaced, <a href="https://www.opendoorsus.org/en-US/persecution/persecution-trends/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to persecution watchdog Open Doors. Open Doors, which puts out a top fifty watchlist every year tracking persecution, said that violent attacks on Christians have only increased in recent years, especially throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. 
“Those things are rising because the church is rising, because the church is growing, because the church is having impact and influence in areas, and the gates of hell are trying to stamp that out,” Open Doors President Ryan Brown told The Daily Wire. 
While many Christians in the West celebrate the birth of Jesus at their churches and with their friends and family, there are many countries where doing so would be dangerous. 
Here are ten of the worst places for persecution around the world, <a href="https://www.opendoors.org/en-US/persecution/countries/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to Open Doors.
<h3>1. North Korea </h3>
The one non-Islamic country on the list, communist North Korea is notorious for its state enforced atheism and hatred of Christianity. Whole families can be sent to work camps if someone is found with a Bible in the Hermit Kingdom. 
According to Open Doors, there are around 400,000 Christians in the DPRK who regularly face heavy persecution. 
”Those in power see Christianity as being subversive and being a threat to their power. And in some cases they make an association because they see that as some kind of a tie to the West,” Brown told The Daily Wire. “In other cases it&#8217;s just this idea that anybody willing to lay down their life for something other than the state scares them.”
Brown said that many Christians who have successfully escaped North Korea will return to the country to “seek to live as Christ called them to live, to work and minister to their neighbors.”
<div id="attachment_818433" style="width: 980px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-818433" class="size-large wp-image-818433" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/10/North-Korean-military-970x576.jpg" alt="North Korean military officers march during a welcoming ceremony, June 19, 2024, in Pyongyang, North Korea. Russian President Vladimir Putin is arriving to North Korea with a two-days visit. (Photo by Contributor/Getty Images)" width="970" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/10/North-Korean-military-970x576.jpg 970w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/10/North-Korean-military-300x178.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/10/North-Korean-military-768x456.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/10/North-Korean-military.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 970px) 100vw, 970px" />Contributor/Getty Images</div>
<h3>2. Somalia </h3>
Known for its constant instability, Somalia is also a very dangerous country for the few hundreds of Christians estimated to live in the country. The predominant form of persecution there comes from Islamic radicals opposed to the growth of Christianity.
Somalia is the first Sub-Saharan country on the list, a region Brown said has been seeing increased violence. 
“There’s been a continued upsurge in violence throughout sub-Saharan Africa where there is a massive issue right now where a total of over 16.2 million Christians in [the region] that have been displaced,” he said. 
Brown urges Christians to join the “<a href="https://www.opendoors.org/en-US/getinvolved/arise-africa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Arise Africa</a>” campaign which seeks to bring awareness to the widespread persecution in Sub-Saharan Africa. He urged them to pray for the African church and find ways to support them with educational and material needs.
<h3>3. Libya </h3>
This North African neighbor to Egypt was long ruled by dictator Muammar Gaddafi until 2011. The vast majority of Libyans are Sunni Muslims who adhere to Sharia Law. Libya is also home to just 35,000 Christians which is less than 1% of the country’s population. 
According to the U.S. <a href="https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-report-on-international-religious-freedom/libya/">Department of State</a>, &#8220;Muslims who converted to another religion faced intense social and economic pressure to renounce their faith and return to Islam.&#8221;
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</div>
<h3>4. Eritrea</h3>
Located on the western bank of the Red Sea, Eritrea borders Sudan, Ethiopia, and Djibouti. While Christians make up nearly half (47%) of Eritrea’s population, they face deep challenges as the dictatorial government doesn’t tolerate Christianity <a href="https://www.opendoors.org/en-US/persecution/countries/eritrea/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">outside</a> of three recognized denominations. At least 1,000 Christians are currently estimated to be imprisoned there without having faced any formal charges.
<h3>5. Yemen</h3>
Christians are subject to intense persecution from Islamic radicals in Yemen, which is located at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. In 2024, the Islamic Houthi rebels attacked numerous commercial ships and oil tankers passing through the Red Sea on their way to the Suez Canal, successfully disrupting a major international shipping lane.
According to Open Doors, only a small number of Christians live in Yemen. Like many other Islamic countries, people who convert to Christianity can face severe consequences, even from their families, for their decision.
<div id="attachment_692811" style="width: 876px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-692811" class="size-large wp-image-692811" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-454468418-866x576.jpg" alt="SANAA, YEMEN - SEPTEMBER 1: Supporters of Yemen's Shiite Houthi group stage anti government protest at Taghyeer square in capital Sanaa, Yemen on September 1, 2014. Shiite Houthi group blocked several main roads across the Yemeni capital Sanaa on Monday in response to a call by their leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi to escalate action against the government of Prime Minister Mohamed Basindawa. (Photo by Mohammed Hamoud/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)" width="866" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-454468418-866x576.jpg 866w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-454468418-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-454468418-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-454468418.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 866px) 100vw, 866px" />Mohammed Hamoud/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images</div>
<h3>6. Nigeria</h3>
While Nigeria is home to some very large churches, more Christians are killed in Nigeria than in any other country. In 2023, it was <a href="https://www.opendoorsus.org/en-US/stories/13-christians-killed-day-average/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that over 4,100 Christians were killed in the African country, largely due to Islamic persecution. 
&#8220;There were more people killed in Nigeria last year than all other places in the globe combined, nearly about 80% of those that were martyred for their faith occurred in Nigeria,&#8221; Brown said of those killed for their Christian faith. “In many ways, Nigeria is kind of a concentrated reflection of what we are seeing throughout Sub-Saharan Africa.”
Last year, over 150 Christians <a href="https://www.opendoorsuk.org/news/latest-news/nigeria-attacks-christmas/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">were</a> killed during Christmas Eve attacks by Islamic Fulani herdsmen.
<h3>7. Pakistan</h3>
Pakistan’s four million Christians also face intense persecution for their faith and are often openly prosecuted. According to <a href="https://www.opendoorsuk.org/countries-watch/pakistan/">Open Doors</a>, 1.8% of the population identify as Christian, but due to Pakistan&#8217;s strict blasphemy laws, very few can talk about their faith.
&#8220;Pakistan’s notorious blasphemy laws are often used to target minority groups, but Christians are disproportionately affected – in fact, roughly a quarter of all blasphemy accusations target Christians.&#8221;
Pakistani Christians also face &#8220;institutionalised discrimination&#8221; and are given &#8220;occupations that are deemed low, dirty and degrading – such as working as a sewer cleaner or on a brick kiln – are reserved for Christians by the authorities. Many are referred to as ‘chura’, a derogatory term meaning ‘filthy’.&#8221;
<h3>8. Sudan </h3>
Returning to Sub-Saharan Africa, Sudan’s two million Christians face intense persecution that has only been <a href="https://www.opendoorsus.org/en-US/persecution/countries/sudan/?gad_source=1&amp;gbraid=0AAAAAqQP2Ook0kQ403zkIS6qUIF6Z_g99&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiAsaS7BhDPARIsAAX5cSBeC5bPV1MmoZNdmwvLl0noggWgPui5AlY9oIlBWuEjblqyMu-YM7UaAqfVEALw_wcB" target="_blank" rel="noopener">exacerbated</a> by the civil unrest in the country as the National Army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) battle it out for control. Millions of people, including Christians, have been displaced due to the fighting.
Brown said that Christians will often be targeted and mistreated in refugee camps and not be given access to equal support and aid.
<h3>9. Iran</h3>
Iran’s government targets Christians in Iran with a number of oppressive laws, <a href="https://www.opendoors.org/en-US/persecution/countries/iran/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">including</a> making conversion to Christianity illegal.
“The government views conversion as an attempt by the West to undermine Islam and the Islamic government of Iran,” Open Doors reports. “This means that anyone who is discovered to be a member of a house church can be charged with a crime against national security, which can lead to long prison sentences.”
<div id="attachment_823711" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-823711" class="size-large wp-image-823711" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/11/GettyImages-1037865852-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/11/GettyImages-1037865852-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/11/GettyImages-1037865852-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/11/GettyImages-1037865852-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/11/GettyImages-1037865852.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Arnulf Stoffel/picture alliance via Getty Images</div>
<h3>10. Afghanistan</h3>
Only a few thousand Christians are estimated to be in Afghanistan, but they face intense cultural persecution from the Taliban, which has no tolerance for Christianity.
The next World Watch report from Open Doors comes out in January, and Brown urges Christians to try to remember their persecuted brethren through prayer and support on a more frequent basis. He said that much of the persecution is happening in places where the church is actually growing and active.
“Even in those places it seems most dark, and yes it is dark and yes there is evil, but that evil is there because there is a hope there, because there is a light there, because the church is present and the church is working,” he said.
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Liturgy In Church: Procession Of Ministers, Bearing Holy Cross to Altar, As Congregation Stands In Wonder. Christians Rejoice In Celebration Of Divine Mass. Hymns Praise God

Here Are The 10 Most Dangerous Countries For Christians To Celebrate Christmas

Bible

Catholics

Christianity

Christians

Church

Nigeria

North Korea

Pakistan

Somalia

Officials in Europe are warning that <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/iran" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Iran’s</a> terrorist Islamic regime is hiring children to carry attacks against Israeli targets in Europe.
Bloomberg News <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-12-21/iran-is-hiring-children-to-attack-israeli-targets-in-europe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that there have been numerous reported instances where Iran has hired children to conduct terrorist attacks against Israeli targets:
<blockquote>A 15-year-old boy gets into a taxi outside Stockholm hiding a loaded gun and asks to be taken to the Israeli embassy. A 13-year-old in Gothenburg is caught firing shots at Israeli defense firm Elbit Systems. At the same facility, a 16-year-old helps to plant home-made explosives outside the main entrance. … In Brussels in May, the security services found children as young as 14 orchestrating an attack on the Israeli embassy.</blockquote>
Iran seeks to have proxies recruit and hire the children because they want a level of plausible deniability.
The report said that Nordic nations in particular were especially vulnerable because “they have traditionally been open societies with minimal policing and high trust.”
One of the reasons that children in particular have been targeted is because the criminal penalties they face are minimal, often times amounting to little more than a slap on the wrist. In Sweden and Norway, they can’t even be prosecuted if they are under 15 years old, the report said.
Iranian-backed actors will pay the children as much as $1,500 for a murder or a couple hundred dollars for a “petrol bomb attack,” the report said.
The report said that sometimes the children do not even have an idea of what they are being recruited to do.
“There are cases where the proxies aren’t aware or don’t realize that they are acting on behalf of a foreign power,” the Swedish Security Service said in a statement earlier this year.
The warnings come as countries around Europe have been on a heightened state of alert over the last 14 months following Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attack in Israel.
The terrorist attack sparked a surge in activity from Islamic terrorists throughout Europe, many of whom are furious that Israel would even dare respond with military force to Hamas murdering more than 1,200 people during the attack.

Vehicle plows into several pedestrians in London

Iran Reportedly Hiring Children To Carry Out Terror Attacks Against Jews In Europe

Europe

Terrorism

Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which is part of the United Nations and “seeks to promote the safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear technologies,” warned this week that Iran has grown close to developing nuclear weapons.
Before the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which restricted Iran to enriching uranium to 3.68% purity, Iran had “200 kilograms of uranium enriched to 20% purity, and around 10,000 kilograms of low-enriched uranium at levels of 5% purity or lower,” The Times of Israel <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/un-monitor-says-reviving-iran-deal-now-irrelevant-since-tehran-on-cusp-of-nuke/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noted</a>.
But Grossi warned Monday that “It has uranium at 60% — 90% is military grade — and is thus practically at the same level as nuclear-armed states.”
Earlier this month, the Office of the United States Director of National Intelligence reported that “Iran now has enough fissile material to make more than a dozen nuclear weapons.”
“Iran has <a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/a-weakened-iran-still-has-a-major-deterrent-the-nuclear-option-907c3c34?mod=article_inline" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-type="link">enough highly enriched uranium</a> alone to build four nuclear bombs, making it the only nonnuclear-weapon country to be producing 60% near-weapons-grade fissile material. It would take just a few days to convert that stockpile into weapons-grade nuclear fuel,” The Wall Street Journal r<a href="//2068CA17-DA38-4811-844F-08C0FDB1EBBB/v" target="_blank" rel="noopener">eported</a> on December 13.
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Iran “is actively trying to kill President Trump,” a source on President-elect Trump’s transition stated. “That certainly influences everybody’s thinking when it comes to what the relationship is out the gate.”
“According to court documents, Iranian officials asked Farhad Shakeri, 51, in September to focus on surveilling and ultimately assassinating Trump,” CNN <a href="//2068CA17-DA38-4811-844F-08C0FDB1EBBB/v" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> on November 9.
“The charges announced today expose Iran&#8217;s continued brazen attempts to target U.S. citizens, including President-elect Donald Trump, other government leaders and dissidents who criticize the regime in Tehran,” FBI Director Christopher Wray <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sylvester-stallones-neighbors-upset-over-addition-to-sprawling-estate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> after Shakeri was charged. “The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps — a designated foreign terrorist organization — has been conspiring with criminals and hitmen to target and gun down Americans on U.S. soil .”
“According to the complaint and other public statements and filings, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran (the Government of Iran) is actively targeting nationals of the United States and its allies living in countries around the world for attacks, including assault, kidnapping, and murder,” the DOJ stated.

AUSTRIA-NUCLEAR-UN-DIPLOMACY-UKRAINE

UN Nuclear Inspector: Iran At ‘Practically The Same Level As Nuclear-Armed States’

Nuclear Weapons

United Nations

President-elect <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a> is reportedly weighing different options, including military options, for how to confront and destroy the threat of nuclear weapons being produced by the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/trump-iran-plan-nuclear-weapons-def26f1d?st=YnGeyY&amp;reflink=article_email_share" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that military strikes against nuclear facilities are now under serious consideration by the incoming president.
Adding the urgency is Iran&#8217;s increasing illicit stockpile of enriched uranium; it now has enough nuclear fuel to produce several nuclear bombs; the outbreak of war in the Middle East caused by Iran&#8217;s funding of terrorism; Israel decimating Hamas and Hezbollah; the rapid fall of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad; and Iran&#8217;s repeated attempts to assassinate Trump.
Trump has reportedly signaled to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he wants to take care of the problem, but he does not want to ignite an all-out war.
Trump&#8217;s incoming national security team is devising a new “maximum pressure 2.0” campaign against Iran that would impose even tougher sanctions on Iran and potentially add in a military component.
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Trump could beef up Israel&#8217;s military by stationing more U.S. forces in the region in addition to selling &#8220;advanced weapons to Israel, such as bunker-busting bombs, strengthening its offensive firepower to take Iranian nuclear facilities offline.&#8221;
The report added:
<blockquote>Trump aides and confidants supporting military options for his second term said the main idea would be to support Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities like Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan, and even potentially have the U.S. participate in a joint operation. Many current and former Israeli officials say there are huge uncertainties of how successful Israel would be in mounting a solo attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, some of which are buried deep underground.</blockquote>
Mark Dubowitz, chief executive of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said that if there was ever a time to neutralize the threat posed by Iran&#8217;s nuclear weapons program, now would be the time.
In an interview published this week with TIME, Trump told the magazine that &#8220;anything can happen&#8221; with respect to the U.S. going to war with Iran in the near future.
&#8220;Anything can happen,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It&#8217;s a very volatile situation.&#8221;
Gabriel Noronha, who worked on Iran policy at the State Department during the first Trump administration, told the Journal that there was &#8220;strong support&#8221; inside Israel for taking military action against Iran after the October 7 terrorist attack.
&#8220;Iran does not have much room to go before they hit [Israel’s] red lines, and they still seem intent on escalating further,&#8221; he added.

President-Elect Donald Trump Meets With Biden, Congressional Leaders In Washington

Trump Weighing Military Action Against Iran To Stop Nuclear Weapons Program: Report

Politics

The possible outcomes for Syria after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad generally range from bad to worse, though the regime’s end may serve U.S. interests in the region.
Assad’s regime was well-known for the brutality it directed toward its own people as Assad sought to maintain power through a lengthy and bloody civil war. But with terror groups and jihadis in control of large swaths of the country, Syria’s next government could be as harsh or worse toward religious and ethnic minorities.
“Domestically, [Assad’s ouster] is probably going to result in chaos because, prior to Hafez al-Assad&#8217;s taking over 50 years ago, there was one coup after another in Syria,” Hillsdale College history professor Dr. Paul Rahe told The Daily Wire.
<div id="attachment_843363" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-843363" class="size-large wp-image-843363" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2188582619-864x576.jpg" alt="Syrians Gather In The Umayyad Square In The Heart Of Damascus To Celebrate The Fall Of The Assad Regime On December 9, 2024.(Photo by Rami Alsayed/NurPhoto via Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2188582619-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2188582619-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2188582619-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2188582619.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Rami Alsayed/NurPhoto via Getty Images</div>
That chaos is largely a result of Syria’s creation out of imperial holdings of the British and French after the first world war, according to Rahe.
“The crucial thing to understand is that Syria is artificial. It goes back to the divvying up of the Near East between the British and the French after World War I. So, there really isn&#8217;t a country there,” Rahe said.
“The difficulties in bringing order to Syria other than the kind of order that Assad imposed – which is violent and dictatorial and tyrannical – the difficulty is very, very great. I don&#8217;t think we should expect this to produce a new awakening for Syria and good things,” he continued. “It may be good for us, … but I wouldn’t be shocked if the civil war continued.”
Amid the chaos, Russia risks the loss of its Tartus naval base on the Mediterranean, as well as the Khmeimim airbase, an important staging post between Russia and its operations in Africa. Iran’s losses are arguably greater. Tehran has spent decades building networks and infrastructure in Syria to supply its terror proxies throughout the region.
<div id="attachment_842239" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-842239" class="wp-image-842239 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2188589898-1024x576.jpg" alt="TOPSHOT - An aerial photo shows Syrian naval ships destroyed during an overnight Israeli attack on the port city of Latakia on December 10, 2024. The UN special envoy for Syria on December 10 called on Israel to halt its military movements and bombardments inside Syria, days after the fall of president Bashar al-Assad. (Photo by AAREF WATAD / AFP) (Photo by AAREF WATAD/AFP via Getty Images)" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2188589898-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2188589898-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2188589898-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2188589898-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2188589898-2048x1152.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />An aerial photo shows Syrian naval ships destroyed during an overnight Israeli attack on the port city of Latakia on December 10, 2024. (Photo by AAREF WATAD/AFP via Getty Images)</div>
Whether Moscow and Tehran can maintain the influence they had with the new regional authority remains to be seen, though the odds are doubtful. Reports say both Russia and Iran have pulled resources out of the country in the days since Assad’s ouster.
The group responsible for Assad’s fall is Ha’yat Tehrir al-Sham (HTS), a U.S.-designated terror group that led the rebel coalition against the Assad regime. HTS is led by a man who, until recently, was known by his nom de guerre <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/who-is-syrian-rebel-leader-mohammad-al-jolani" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Abu Mohammad al-Jolani</a>. He dropped the name while distancing himself from his radical Islamist past, recently reverting to his real name, Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Sharaa, with his past ties to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, is wanted under a $10 million bounty by the United States.
Sharaa is closely aligned with Turkey and its autocratic ruler, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, leaving the Turks in the best position to influence the possible next leader of Syria. That influence could have a significant impact on how U.S. interests in the region are served, according to Rahe.
“Whether it&#8217;s in our interest or in the interest of the Israelis depends to a great degree on the policy of Turkey, and there&#8217;s no clarity about the policy of Turkey with regard to Israel,” Rahe said. “At times, the Erdogan government has cooperated very closely with the Israelis. At other times, it has been strongly hostile to Israel.”
Despite the questions surrounding Turkey, the fact that Tehran is no longer the dominant state sponsor in Syria bodes well.
“[Assad] was a pawn of Iran, so the weakening of Iran is very good for us,” Rahe said. “If it turns out to be a radical Islamist regime on the border of Israel, it will be trouble. But will it be as much trouble as Iran was with Assad, with Hezbollah, with the Houthis? I think not. So, on the whole, I think it’s a piece of luck for us.”
<div id="attachment_843367" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-843367" class="size-large wp-image-843367" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2189513052-864x576.jpg" alt="UNSPECIFIED, SYRIA - DECEMBER 11: Islamist rebels of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) stand guard at the entrance of the first abandoned military base that reads Our Leader Forever - Hafez al-Assad on December 11, 2024, inside Lebanons border with Syria, Rebel forces in Syria have retaken the capital from longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad, who has fled the country for Moscow. The fall of the Assad regime marks a new chapter for Syria, which has been mired in a multi-party civil war since 2011, sparked by the Arab Spring uprisings. (Photo by Scott Peterson/Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2189513052-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2189513052-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2189513052-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2189513052.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Scott Peterson/Getty Images</div>
The United States has roughly 1,000 troops in Syria, left over from forces ordered there under the Obama administration to fight the rise of the Islamic State. President Joe Biden has dedicated American forces toward that aim again, launching dozens of airstrikes against Islamic State positions in Syria in the past week.
“We’re clear-eyed about the fact that ISIS will try to take advantage of any vacuum to reestablish its capability and to create a safe haven. We will not let that happen,” Biden <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2024/12/08/remarks-by-president-biden-on-the-latest-developments-in-syria/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in remarks from the White House on December 8.
Biden’s limited interventions in Syria appear to be more than President-elect Donald Trump prefers or would pursue after he takes office in January.
“Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, &amp; THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT,” Trump said in a recent post on Truth Social. “THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED!”
But with Assad out and Syria’s future governance in doubt for the first time in 50 years, should the United States move in to assert its influence and interests in the new regime? According to Rahe, that would be a bad idea based more on hubris than reality.
“It&#8217;s too easy for Americans to exaggerate American agency, our capacity to fix things, to shape things. The prudent thing to do is to watch and wait,” Rahe told The Daily Wire. “If a government emerges and it&#8217;s in control of the territory, we should recognize it and our diplomats should try to work with it. Then we’ll see.”
“But we can’t control this,” he continued. “The Russians can’t control it. The Iranians can’t control it. And my guess is, in the end, the Turks can’t control it, though they can influence things.”

TOPSHOT-SYRIA-CONFLICT

‘We Can’t Control This’: The Fall Of Assad And The Future Of Syria

Bashar Assad

Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Turkey

Mystery drones flying over <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/new-jersey" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Jersey</a> are coming from a &#8220;mothership&#8221; off the East Coast of the United States sent by Iran, a U.S. congressman asserted on Wednesday, citing &#8220;qualified sources.&#8221;
Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) made the stunning claim during an appearance on Fox News on Wednesday, a day after a senior FBI official <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fbi-clueless-about-mystery-drones-flying-over-new-jersey-official-tells-congress" target="_blank" rel="noopener">testified</a> to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/congress" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Congress</a> that the bureau was clueless about the sightings.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
BREAKING REPORT &#8211; DRONES OVER NEW JERSEY ARE FROM IRAN: Congressman Jeff Van Drew claims Iran has stationed a &quot;mothership&quot; off the U.S. East Coast, reportedly launching drones now flying over New Jersey. <a href="https://t.co/ayV8tYioXA">pic.twitter.com/ayV8tYioXA</a>
&mdash; Breaking911 (@Breaking911) <a href="https://twitter.com/Breaking911/status/1866898908267618644?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Here&#8217;s the real deal,&#8221; Van Drew said before noting that he sits on the Aviation Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and he&#8217;s &#8220;gotten to know people.&#8221;
He said: &#8220;From very high sources, very qualified sources, very responsible sources, I&#8217;m going to tell you the real deal: Iran launched a mothership, probably about a month ago, that contains these drones.&#8221;
The &#8220;mothership&#8221; is located off the East Coast and has been launching the drones, Van Drew said, again citing his &#8220;high sources&#8221; and noting that he did not &#8220;say this lightly.&#8221;
Van Drew said there was a &#8220;probability&#8221; that the drones were coming from &#8220;our own government,&#8221; but he contended that is not the case &#8220;because they would have let us know.&#8221;
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The congressman also said the drones could have come from a &#8220;really glorified hobbyist or hobbyists that were doing something unbelievable,&#8221; but he stated they &#8220;don&#8217;t have the technology.&#8221;
Van Drew said Iran &#8220;made a deal with China to purchase drones, motherships, and technology.&#8221; He added that he cannot reveal his sources &#8220;because they are speaking to me in confidentiality.&#8221;
Drones have been spotted mainly over New Jersey but also in New York. The sightings have been reported near military sites, a power plant, and President-elect Donald Trump&#8217;s <a href="https://www.inquirer.com/news/new-jersey/drones-new-jersey-trump-bedminster-golf-course-fbi-20241206.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">golf club</a> in Bedminster.
Van Drew, a former Democrat who decided to join the Republican Party while opposing the Ukraine-focused impeachment effort against Trump several years ago, said the drones &#8220;should be shot down.&#8221;
During the Tuesday hearing, an FBI official said the bureau was flummoxed by the sightings. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) said a sheriff told him an officer saw 50 drones &#8220;come in off the ocean.&#8221;
Smith also spoke about a commanding officer in the Coast Guard claiming a 47-foot motor lifeboat &#8220;was followed by between 12 and 30 of these drones as they went through the water.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
NJ Rep. Chris Smith to Military: Please Shoot Down One Of These Drones And Find Out What It Is
Read more &#8211; <a href="https://t.co/SLKjvH569s">https://t.co/SLKjvH569s</a>
&quot;I know you have the capability to identify and bring down drones. Why can’t you deploy them, at least to the ocean, bring one of these down, and… <a href="https://t.co/wtEmn34f5u">https://t.co/wtEmn34f5u</a> <a href="https://t.co/lDRBzQ41qt">pic.twitter.com/lDRBzQ41qt</a>
&mdash; RCP Video (@rcpvideo) <a href="https://twitter.com/rcpvideo/status/1866633767374262531?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The congressman said he asked about the rules of engagement, noting the officer would engage &#8220;if you&#8217;re fighting against a narco-trafficker or something,&#8221; and the officer said, &#8220;We don&#8217;t know, we don&#8217;t have any.&#8221;
Smith then recalled a &#8220;very good conversation&#8221; with the commanding officer at a joint base in his district, Col. Anthony Smith of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and the 87th Air Base Wing.
&#8220;I said, &#8216;I know you have the capability &#8230; to identify and bring down drones. Why can’t you deploy them, at least to the ocean, bring one of these down, and find out who’s doing it? They have the capability.'&#8221;
Smith continued: &#8220;He said, &#8216;We don’t have the authority, only within the parameters of our base.&#8217; Well, there’s a national interest here. Our jets fly over the ocean all the time for training &#8230;&#8221;
The congressman said he wrote to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, &#8220;asking that the capability that may be sitting in a closet somewhere — I know they use it all the time — but, you know, bring it out.&#8221;
Smith emphasized that he was not saying that the military needs to &#8220;share it&#8221; with the sheriffs,&#8221; but added, &#8220;It’d be nice.&#8221; He went on to say: &#8220;Just do it yourself in the interests of the American public.&#8221;
The Pentagon acknowledged on Wednesday that it was aware of reports about the sightings, but insisted that it did not know whether the drones had come from a U.S. adversary such as Iran.
&#8220;At this time, we have no evidence that these activities are coming from a foreign entity or the work of an adversary,&#8221; Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh <a href="https://x.com/HighPeaks77/status/1866927532324401254" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> reporters.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
PENTAGON: NO Evidence the drones are from a foreign entity or adversary. They are NOT US Military either. <a href="https://t.co/loGglbwcd2">pic.twitter.com/loGglbwcd2</a>
&mdash; UAP News (@HighPeaks77) <a href="https://twitter.com/HighPeaks77/status/1866927532324401254?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Singh said the Pentagon will continue to monitor the flying objects, claimed that &#8220;at no point were our installations threatened when this activity was occurring,&#8221; and denied they are U.S. military drones.
Asked about Van Drew&#8217;s comments, Singh said there was &#8220;no truth&#8221; to the claim and denied there being an &#8220;Iran ship off the coast of the United States&#8221; or a &#8220;mothership&#8221; launching drones towards the U.S.
When asked for comment about the suspected drone sightings over New Jersey, a U.S. Northern Command spokesperson shared the following statement with The Daily Wire:
<blockquote>&#8220;We are aware and monitoring the reports of unauthorized drone flights in the vicinity of military installations in New Jersey to include Picatinny Arsenal and Naval Weapons Station Earle, and we refer you to those installations for information on any efforts they are may be conducting to ensure the safety and security of their personnel and operations. Local law enforcement and the FBI are currently investigating.
U.S. Northern Command conducted a deliberate analysis of the events, in consultation with other military organizations and interagency partners, and at this time we have not been requested to assist with these events. If these incidents require additional DoD assistance, the Secretary of the Military Department or relevant DoD component head concerned can coordinate with USNORTHCOM for an enhanced or increased response. USNORTHCOM, in conjunction with our interagency partners, will continue to assess further information and is prepared to respond when asked or should the situation escalate to threaten any DoD installations
As Ms. Singh stated during the Pentagon press conference, there is no truth to the assertion regarding an Iranian mothership. Further, USNORTHCOM has no evidence or credible intelligence that any ship from either Iran or other known adversary is involved in any way with the recent reports of drone activity near the New York or New Jersey area.&#8221;</blockquote>

Rep. Jeff Van Drew

U.S. Congressman: Sources Claim Mystery Drones Over New Jersey Come From ‘Mothership’ Sent By Iran

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Drones

Jeff Van Drew

National Security

New Jersey

President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/joe-biden" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Joe Biden</a> reportedly waived sanctions following the Democrats&#8217; election losses last month that gave the Islamic Republic of Iran — the world&#8217;s leading state sponsor of terrorism — access to billions of dollars of frozen assets.
The Free Beacon obtained a copy of the non-public order transmitted to Congress from the State Department that claimed it was &#8220;in the national security interest of the United States&#8221; to allow Iran to access the $10 billion that had been frozen.
The <a href="https://freebeacon.com/national-security/days-after-trumps-victory-biden-harris-admin-granted-iran-10-billion-in-sanctions-relief-congressional-notice-shows/">report</a> said:
<blockquote>The Biden State Department tweaked the waiver last year to allow Tehran to convert the funds from Iraqi dinars to euros, then hold those euros in bank accounts based in Oman. Access to a widely traded currency like the euro enables Iran to more easily spend the cash in international markets. Under the first Trump administration, Iran had to keep the cash in an escrow account in Baghdad, making it more difficult to access.</blockquote>
The Biden administration claims that the money is not going to be used for terrorism because the funds can only be used for humanitarian purposes.
However, money is fungible, meaning it can be easily moved around, hidden, and used for different purposes.
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Many have raised concerns about the administration waiving sanctions against the regime after it has funded the majority of terrorism in the Middle East for years, which came to a head last year when Hamas launched an unprecedented terrorist attack against Israel on October 7.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in May, said in an interview last year that Iran would spend the money however it wanted to.
“What is your expectation of its [the money’s] use?” asked NBC News host Lester Holt. “We’re told that it’s for humanitarian purposes — food and medicine. Do you believe you have the right to use that money in any way that you see fit?”
“This money belongs to the Islamic Republic of Iran, and naturally, we will decide, the Islamic Republic of Iran will decide to spend it wherever we need it,” Raisi answered. “How to spend our money of course, it is under the authority of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
Holt responded by asked, “So if I hear you clearly that it will be used for more than humanitarian purposes in your view?”
“Humanitarian means whatever the Iranian people need, so this money will be budgeted for those needs,” Raisi said. “And the needs of the Iranian people will be decided and determined by the Iranian government.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi says they&#8217;ll use the $6 billion from the Biden Admin &#8220;wherever we need it &#8230; as determined by the Iranian government&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/KMLUfk2xhl">pic.twitter.com/KMLUfk2xhl</a>
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) <a href="https://twitter.com/tomselliott/status/1701640403273830667?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/iran-has-made-nearly-200-billion-in-illegal-oil-sales-under-biden-harris">Iran Has Made Nearly $200 Billion In Illegal Oil Sales Under Biden-Harris</a>

President Biden Speaks At The Brookings Institution In Washington, D.C.

Biden Unfroze Billions Of Dollars For Iranian Terrorist Regime After Election

Biden Administration

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