Free Republic

Various world leaders and institutions have raised their concerns that the presumed Israeli strike in a suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, that killed a top Hamas leader could escalate and expand the conflicts in the region. Deputy leader Saleh al Arouri — who was allegedly responsible for leading multiple attacks on Israel and had ushered in a closer relationship between Hamas and Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militia in Lebanon — was one of a handful of people killed in the Tuesday night strike. His killing marked a possibly pivotal moment in the powder keg that is the Middle East. Israeli leaders have...

U.S. sources close to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have concluded that opponents of the Iran nuclear deal won’t secure enough votes in Congress to overturn it, Israeli news site nrg reported on Thursday. According to the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act, referred to familiarly as the “Corker-Cardin Bill” (after its two drafters, Senators Bob Corker and Ben Cardin), Congress had 30 days to review any agreement signed between Iran and the P5+1 powers, and then vote on whether to approve it. That time frame was extended to 60 days when the international parties were unable to conclude a deal...