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Alliances May 2, 2016

State Department rejects call for Iran deal to affirm Israel's 'right to exist'

A State Department official dismissed a plea Friday from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the Iran nuclear agreement include clear recognition of his nation's "right to exist," declaring negotiations are "only about the nuclear issue."

Alliances May 2, 2016

Obama confirms arming Ukraine on the table if diplomacy with Russia fails

President Obama confirmed Monday that his administration is weighing the possibility of sending arms to Ukraine to help the country beat back Russian-backed separatists, if diplomacy fails.

Alliances May 2, 2016

Calls grow to arm Ukraine, as European leaders scramble for last-ditch peace plan

European leaders scrambled Thursday to try and forge a diplomatic deal to end fighting in eastern Ukraine, in an apparent bid to head off U.S. consideration of lethal military aid for the Ukrainian government in its war against Russian-backed separatists.

Alliances May 2, 2016

UAE stops flying airstrike missions against ISIS, US faces pressure to boost Jordan aid

A key Arab partner in the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State stopped flying airstrike missions over Syria after a Jordanian pilot -- who was later killed -- was shot down in December, senior U.S. officials and diplomats from the region told Ó£ÌÒÊÓƵ.

Alliances May 2, 2016

Proxy war? Obama facing rising pressure to send lethal aid to Ukraine

President Obama is facing rising pressure from former officials, security analysts and top lawmakers to provide Ukraine lethal military aid to help battle Moscow-backed rebels gaining ground in the country's east -- raising the prospect of a proxy war with Russia should the U.S. take that step.

Alliances May 2, 2016

Emerging details of possible Iranian nuclear deal draw bipartisan ire

Emerging details of a possible nuclear deal with Iran have drawn sharp criticism from congressional lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, who say the U.S. and its international partners may be ceding too much as a key deadline nears.

Alliances May 2, 2016

Ghani urges Muslims to fight extremism, vows Afghanistan will be 'graveyard' of terror

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, speaking to a joint meeting of Congress in Washington, called Wednesday on Muslims around the world to speak out against extremist groups -- declaring "silence is not acceptable."

Alliances May 2, 2016

White House announces pause in US troop drawdown from Afghanistan

President Obama announced Tuesday that the U.S. will keep nearly 10,000 troops in Afghanistan through the end of the year, hitting pause on the scheduled drawdown after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani voiced security concerns.

Alliances May 2, 2016

Exclusive: El-Sisi urges ‘Arab ready force’ to confront ISIS, questions if US ‘standing by’ Egypt

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, in an exclusive interview with Ó£ÌÒÊÓƵ, appealed to the U.S. to play a greater role in helping his country fight terrorism -- as he urged the creation of an "Arab ready force" to confront the Islamic State and similar groups.

Alliances May 2, 2016

Obama agrees to boost military ties with Arab partners, tries to ease Iran fears

President Obama announced expanded military ties with Persian Gulf nations on Thursday, as he sought to assure the anxious Arab allies that the U.S. would help protect their security in the face of mounting regional unrest and concerns about Iran's growing influence.

Alliances May 2, 2016

Obama keeps key ally in anti-ISIS fight as Cameron's party dominates UK elections

British Prime Minister David Cameron and his Tory party's decisive victory in parliamentary elections likely has President Obama breathing a sigh of relief, with analysts saying the win virtually ensures the continuation of vital U.K. support in fighting the Islamic State and other security matters.