California Gov. Gavin Newsom says there's no imminent threat to the state from Iran. ABC News says the FBI warned California that Iran had aspired to send drones to the West Coast in retaliation for war. The FBI later released text of the alert, which noted that the information was based on "unverified information." The White House now says, "No such threat from Iran to our homeland exists." Newsom says California and various agencies plan for worst-case scenarios. Police in Los Angeles and San Francisco say they are monitoring world events for any risks.
Russia and Ukraine have made competing claims about who is gaining ground, as Russian strikes keep hitting Ukrainian cities and U.S.-backed talks in Turkey were postponed. A Ukrainian general said Kyiv's forces push Russians back in parts of the Dnipropetrovsk region. Another Ukrainian officer tells the AP that troops have advanced more than 6 miles, while Russia's leader said his army expanded gains in the Donbas. There was no independent verification of either side's claims. Meanwhile, Russian glide bombs hit Sloviansk and killed four people and drone attacks wounded more civilians, a Ukrainian official said Tuesday.
By KAREEM CHEHAYEB, NATALIE MELZER and BASSEM MROUE Associated Press
The Lebanese parliament has extended its term by two years due to the U.S.-Israel war with Iran, which has pushed the region into an escalating conflict, and Israel stepped up its attacks on Lebanon. On Monday, lawmakers approved the move after fighting displaced more than half a million people in Lebanon. Israel also intensifies attacks on Lebanon, saying it targeted Hezbollah's financial arm, al-Qard al-Hasan, in Beirut's southern suburbs. Israel also said its ground forces launched "focused raids" in the south of Lebanon. Hezbollah said it hit Israeli troops and fired rockets into northern Israel. Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch accused Israel of using white phosphorus in strikes on a Lebanese village in violation of international law.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine four years ago launched Europe's biggest conflict since World War II. It has caused immense suffering for civilians and harrowing ordeals for soldiers while rewriting the post-Cold War security order. The fighting enters its fifth year on Tuesday. A U.S.-based think tank says that as many as 1.8 million soldiers may have been killed, injured or missing on both sides. Another think tank says Russia controls nearly 20% of Ukrainian land. The U.N. says at least 14,999 civilians have been killed in Ukraine.
Russia has attacked Ukrainian cities again overnight as Ukraine accuses Russia of dragging its feet on new U.S.-brokered peace talks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Washington is proposing talks next week in Miami or in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates. He says Ukraine confirms it can attend but Russia is hesitating. Zelenskyy says major disputes still block a deal, including issues of occupied land and security guarantees. He also says Russia is ignoring a proposed ceasefire that impacts the energy sector. Ukraine's air force said on Thursday that Russia fired drones and missiles at Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro and Odesa. Officials report injuries, damaged homes and major heating outages in the Ukrainian capital.
A Russian drone has struck a home in Ukraine's Kharkiv region in an attack that killed a father and his three small children. Ukrainian officials said Wednesday that the family's pregnant mother was wounded but survived. The attack destroyed the house and trapped the family under rubble. The drone was identified as a Russian-made Geran-2. Ukraine's air force reported that Russia launched 129 long-range drones at Ukraine last night. Meanwhile, a Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire at an industrial plant in the Russian city of Volgograd. Officials said that eight Russian airports briefly suspended flights because of drone attacks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the air force's performance in parts of the country is "unsatisfactory." He said Friday that steps are being taken to improve defenses against Russian drone attacks. The assaults have targeted Ukraine's power grid, causing blackouts during a harsh winter. As the war nears its fifth year, U.S.-led peace efforts show no progress. Zelenskyy has discussed new air defense measures with military leaders. Recent Russian attacks killed one person and injured others in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ukraine's strikes have damaged power facilities in Russia. The front line remains active despite freezing temperatures.
By KAMILA HRABCHUK and EMMA BURROWS Associated Press
The U.S. and Russia have agreed to reestablish high-level, military-to-military dialogue for the first time in more than four years. The step is another sign of warming relations between the two countries since President Donald Trump took office and sought to end the war in Ukraine. The agreement emerged from a meeting between senior Russian and American military officials in the capital of the United Arab Emirates. High-level military communication was suspended in 2021, as relations between Moscow and Washington became increasingly strained ahead of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Meanwhile, talks in Abu Dhabi between American, Russian and Ukrainian officials on ending the war entered a second day.
