Wednesday morning news: September 25, 2024

AUDIO: [Blast in Lebanon]

Israel-Lebanon » Strikes and counterstrikes yesterday as the Israeli's Iron Dome defense system moved to intercept hundreds of rockets fired out of southern Lebanon by the terrorist group Hezbollah.

AUDIO: [Air raid sirens]

Air raid sirens sounded over Israel’s northern region where authorities say rockets damaged buildings and caused several fires.

Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes continued to target Hezbollah militants. Lebanese health authorities say hundreds of people have been killed in strikes over the past couple of days.

Israel says Hezbollah has been hiding weapons and even missile launchers inside residential homes. Israeli officials have been warning local residents to evacuate.

HAGARI: [Speaking Hebrew]

And military spokesman Daniel Hagari said one of the airstrikes took out Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Kobeisi.

UN General Assembly - Israel » With fears of a full-scale war along Israel’s northern border growing, Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said his country is “not eager” to launch a ground invasion in Lebanon - or anywhere else.

DANON:  I don't want to send my son, and we don't want to send our boys to fight in a foreign country. But we are determined to protect the civilians of Israel. We prefer a diplomatic solution. If it's not working, we are using other methods to show to the other side that we mean business.

Danon heard there on the first day of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Biden UN General Assembly » President Biden, meantime, once again called for peace … in his final address as president to the UN General Assembly.

BIDEN:  Progress toward peace will put us in a stronger position to deal with the ongoing threat posed by Iran. Together, we must deny oxygen to terrorist, to its terrorist proxies, which have called for more October 7th.

In a wide-ranging address, Biden also alluded to keeping China in check … and raised concern over artificial intelligence and its potential to be used for repression.

And he reaffirmed U.S. support for Ukraine in pushing out Russian invaders.

Zelenskyy/U.S. weapons package to Ukraine » Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also addressed the assembly, laying out a victory plan that he argued would finally end the war.

That plan includes continued military pressure, strengthening global alliances, and heavier diplomatic pressure on Moscow.

ZELENSKYY: This is the process that will lead us to peace, to a just peace, a real peace, a peace that will last.

He also used his appearance to further plead his case to the United States and Western allies to allow his troops to use long-range weapons to strike deeper into Russia.

Biden administration officials reportedly told the Associated Press Tuesday that Washington is set to send another $375 million dollars in military aid to Ukraine.

House contempt Blinken » Republicans on the House Foreign Affairs Committee have advanced contempt of Congress charges against Secretary of State Tony Blinken.

Committee Chairman Michael McCaul says Blinken has avoided testifying about the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

MCCAUL:  Let the record reflect that for four months, I patiently asked for and waited on his availability in September. But instead of working with me, secretary Blinken made false promises and accused me of politicizing this important issue.

For his part, Sec. Blinken says that he was “profoundly disappointed” by the decision to advance contempt proceedings.

And the top Democrat on the committee, Gregory Meeks, charged that Republicans are misusing the panel’s authority, calling it a “political stunt.”

Garland on assassination attempts » Federal prosecutors have formally charged Ryan Wesley Routh with trying to assassinate Donald Trump.

He was initially charged with two federal firearms offenses after allegedly stalking the former president with a rifle last week at Trump’s South Florida golf resort.

Attorney General Merrick Garland told reporters earlier in the day that more charges were coming.

GARLAND: All of our top priority should be ensuring that accountability occurs in this case and that those who run for office and their families are safe and protected.

He said prosecutors and agents are working around the clock to gather evidence to ensure accountability not only for the suspect but also for any security failures that allowed Routh to get relatively close to Trump.

Hurricane Helene » Tropical storm Helene is barreling toward Florida’s Gulf Coast and picking up strength over those warm Gulf waters.

By the time it makes landfall tomorrow, it’s expected to be a Category-3 hurricane.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has already declared an emergency in more than 60 counties. He told residents on Tuesday:

DESANTIS: You have time to prepare, you have time to plan, you have time to take the action that you need to take to protect you and your family.

He urged coastal residents to be on the lookout for evacuation orders.

Georgia is also expected to feel Helene’s wrath. The system could strike Atlanta on Friday as a tropical storm. 

I'm Kent Covington.

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