Critical moment between US, Iran-backed proxies in Middle East
Secretary of State Antony Blinken waves as he boards a plane Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, en route to Saudi Arabia as part of his fifth urgent trip to the Middle East since the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza erupted in October.
In the wake of a drone attack in Jordan by a militia in Iraq that killed three US soldiers, the US has conducted airstrikes across the region against armed groups backed by Iran. The US must search for retaliatory tactics that are proportional but prevent further escalation. And, things got dicey in Hong Kong yesterday when Lionel Messi sat out the match against a local team. When Messi was a late scratch from the roster, fans erupted in boos and chanted repeatedly for refunds. Also, huge wildfires are sweeping through central Chile, causing enormous damage, especially near the coastal resort city of Viña del Mar. Chilean officials are investigating claims that the fires were intentionally set. Plus, sound plays a big role in Oscar-nominated films this year.
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