Iran and Saudi leaders hold first phone conversation since renewing diplomatic ties, Iranian official says

October 11, 2023 - Israel-Hamas war news

By Kathleen Magramo, Adam Renton, Christian Edwards, Peter Wilkinson, Aditi Sangal, Dakin Andone, Leinz Vales, Steve Almasy, Elise Hammond, Tori B. Powell, Kaanita Iyer and Maureen Chowdhury, CNN

Updated 2:51 p.m. ET, October 12, 2023
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7:14 p.m. ET, October 11, 2023

Iran and Saudi leaders hold first phone conversation since renewing diplomatic ties, Iranian official says

From CNN’s Pierre Meilhan and Tamara Qiblawi

Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman held their first phone call since both countries renewed diplomatic ties, an Iranian presidential aide said Wednesday.

 During the call, both leaders discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, “the need to end war crimes,” as well as Islamic unity, Raisi’s deputy for political affairs, Mohammad Jamshidi, said on X, the platform previously known as Twitter.

6:35 p.m. ET, October 11, 2023

Here's what the US is doing to try to rescue Americans taken hostage by Hamas

From CNN's MJ Lee, Zachary Cohen, Evan Perez and Jennifer Hansler,

The Biden administration is still searching for concrete details about the condition of the handful of Americans believed to have been taken hostage by Hamas, including exactly how many the group may be holding captive in Gaza, or if they are currently being held in one place, a US official told CNN. 

As the Biden administration continues its work to support Israel and move military assets into the region, US officials across the government are furiously working behind the scenes to piece together an accurate picture on the ground.

In remarks to a roundtable with members of the Jewish community at the White House Wednesday, President Joe Biden pledged the full force of his administration's commitment to rescuing hostages, saying that while "we're working on every aspect of the hostage crisis in Israel," if he relayed in detail what steps the administration was taking, "I wouldn't be able to get them home."

Further complicating the situation, US officials say, is that Hamas consists of numerous and often competing subgroups and militias that all operate in Gaza. Before the US can put together a plan to recover hostages, officials first have to figure out which of those Hamas sub-groups may be holding them, and for what reason. 

Here's what is happening: The US is working closely with Israel, with FBI and Pentagon personnel on the ground in Israel providing support to Israeli special operators. 

An interagency team of US officials from the State Department, National Security Council, and FBI is also receiving input about the Americans who are missing or deceased in Israel, a US official said.

FBI hostage negotiators and agents are talking to family members, getting proof of life information that can be used in the investigation and for possible questions to be asked if hostage takers reach out. These include members of the FBI's Critical Incident Response Group, which has extensive experience in helping to resolve hostage incidents, including in war zones from Afghanistan to Iraq and across the Middle East. 

The agents are "prepping family members in case that phone call comes in or text message from the hostage-takers or from their family member who is being held," one official said. "That's hugely important, they have to know what to say if they get that call."

Read more about the efforts to bring home American hostages here.

7:27 p.m. ET, October 11, 2023

Biden calls UAE president to discuss situation in Gaza and Israel

From CNN's DJ Judd

US President Joe Biden spoke Wednesday with United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan “to discuss the terrorist attacks on Israel,” according to the White House.

“The President stressed his condemnation of Hamas’s terror and his warning against anyone who might seek to exploit the current situation,” the White House said in a readout of the call. “The two leaders also discussed the importance of ensuring humanitarian assistance reaches those in need.”

Al Nahyan and Biden also discussed the importance of coordination among international parties in calling for "restraint and immediate de-escalation" as rising violence gravely threatens regional security and stability, the UAE state-run WAM news agency reported.

Earlier Wednesday, Biden told Jewish community members during a roundtable at the White House that he’d been in touch with a number of his foreign counterparts following Hamas’ attack on Israel on Saturday. “There are countries in the region that are trying to be of some help, including Arab nations trying to do so,” he told participants.

5:49 p.m. ET, October 11, 2023

US State Department warns Americans to reconsider travel to Israel

From CNN's Jennifer Hansler

The US State Department is warning Americans to reconsider travel to Israel in the wake of the weekend’s deadly Hamas attacks.

The agency raised its travel advisory level on Wednesday to "Level 3: Reconsider Travel" due to civil unrest and terrorism, advising that “the situation in Israel remains dynamic; mortar and rocket fire may take place without warning.”

“Individuals should follow the instructions of security and emergency response officials,” an updated travel advisory said.

“While Ben Gurion International Airport remains open, we are aware that several major airlines have announced that they have suspended flights,” the advisory states. “Please check with the airlines on the availability of flights and flight status. U.S. citizens in Gaza who wish to leave and can do so safely are advised to check the status of the Rafah Crossing into Egypt.”

The travel advisory for the West Bank has also been raised to level 3, while the advisory for Gaza remains at the most severe – "Level 4: Do Not Travel."

10:54 p.m. ET, October 11, 2023

Biden offers warning to Iran to "be careful" following Hamas' attack on Israel

From CNN's Donald Judd

Biden speaks at a roundtable with Jewish community leaders in the Indian Treaty Room of the White House on October 11, 2023. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
Biden speaks at a roundtable with Jewish community leaders in the Indian Treaty Room of the White House on October 11, 2023. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images) Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images

US President Joe Biden on Wednesday issued a stark warning to Iran to “be careful” around its actions in the region following Hamas’ attack on Israel.

During a roundtable roundtable with Jewish community leaders on the administration’s efforts to provide support for Israel, Biden stressed the assistance that the US is providing, adding that he's been frequently speaking to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The US is "surging additional military assistance to the Israeli Defense Force including ammunition, interceptors to replenish the Iron Dome, we moved the US carrier fleet to the eastern Mediterranean and are sending more fighter jets there, to that region, and made it clear, made it clear to the Iranians – be careful," Biden said.

In his remarks, Biden also addressed reports of the atrocities committed by Hamas.

“It matters that Americans see what's happening – I mean, I have been doing this a long time, I never really thought that I would see it and have confirmed pictures of terrorist beheading children," Biden said.

Biden pledged the full force of his administration’s commitment to rescuing hostages in Hamas custody, telling the group that while “we're working on every aspect of the hostage crisis in Israel,” if he relayed in detail what steps the administration was taking, “I wouldn’t be able to get them home.” 

“Folks, there's a lot we're doing -- a lot we're doing, I have not given up hope of bringing these folks home,” he said. “But the idea that I'm going to stand here before you and tell you what I'm doing is bizarre, so I hope you understand how bizarre I think it would be to try to answer that question.” 

Some context on Iran: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi spoke to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh by phone on Sunday and later congratulated the Palestinian people for their “victory” over Israel.

On Monday, however, Iran’s mission to the United Nations said that the Islamic Republic was “not involved in Palestine’s response,” referring to the Hamas attack. “It is taken solely by Palestine itself,” it said.

Israel says Iran supports Hamas to the tune of some $100 million a year. The US State Department in 2021 said that the group receives funding, weapons, and training from Iran, as well as some funds that are raised in Gulf Arab countries.

The United States has collected specific intelligence that suggests senior Iranian government officials were caught by surprise by Saturday’s attack, according to multiple sources familiar with the intelligence.

The existence of the intelligence has cast doubt on the idea that Iran was directly involved in the planning, resourcing or approving of the operation, the sources said.

Note: After President Biden’s remarks Wednesday, an administration official told CNN neither Biden nor the administration have seen pictures or confirmed reports of children or infants beheaded by Hamas. The official clarified that the president’s remarks were referring to public comments from media outlets and Israeli officials.

5:31 p.m. ET, October 11, 2023

Federal agencies warn of potential safety concerns in US in wake of attacks in Israel

From CNN's Holmes Lybrand

Federal agencies are warning of the potential of attacks in the US following Hamas’s assault on Israel, citing the pervasiveness of antisemitism in violent extremist groups.

The FBI along with the Department of Homeland Security issued a public service announcement saying that while there is no current intelligence suggesting a planned domestic attack, the potential for such attacks remains a concern.  

“Foreign terrorist organizations and their supporters remain committed to attacking the United States within and beyond our borders,” the PSA said.
“In recent years, there have been several events and incidents in the United States that were purportedly motivated, at least in part, by the conflict between Israel and HAMAS. These have included the targeting of individuals, houses of worship, and institutions associated with the Jewish and Muslim faiths with acts of physical assault, vandalism, or harassment," it added. 

The FBI and DHS also noted that antisemitism "serves as a primary driver for attacks by a diverse set of violent extremists" who threaten Jewish communities in the US and across the world.

According to the FBI, terrorist organizations abroad have used previous conflicts between Hamas and Israel “to call on their supporters located in the United States to conduct attacks.”

“Some violent extremists have used times of heightened tensions to incite violence against religious minorities, targeting both Jewish and Muslim Americans,” the PSA said.

5:32 p.m. ET, October 11, 2023

Gantz says formation of Israel's war cabinet is a "clear message to our enemies"

From CNN's Radina Gigova

Gantz speaks during during a televised address on Wednesday, October 11.
Gantz speaks during during a televised address on Wednesday, October 11. GPO/Reuters

Benny Gantz, a former defense minister who joined Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and current defense minister Yoav Gallant in a "war management cabinet," said Wednesday that the three men standing together is a "clear message to our enemies."

"The state of Israel is at its most difficult hours. These are faithful days," Gantz said during a televised address. "At this time, there is only one camp, one group -- the camp of the nation of Israel."

He added that "now is the time for bravery."

"Our friends, our families were killed and taken hostages by a cruel enemy. An enemy that should be annihilated with all means necessary," Gantz said. 

The emergency government and war cabinet were announced earlier Wednesday. The government will not pass any laws or make any decisions that do not concern the conduct of the war, the announcement said.

5:17 p.m. ET, October 11, 2023

Saudi Arabia making "unremitting efforts" to stop escalation following Hamas attacks, crown prince says

From CNN's Mohammed Tawfeeq

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is seen in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on June 7. 
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is seen in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on June 7.  Bandar Algaloud/Saudi Royal Court/Reuters

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said Saudi Arabia "is making unremitting efforts" to stop the escalation in fighting following Hamas' assault on Israel, according to Saudi state-run SPA news. 

The crown prince affirmed, in a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on Wednesday:

"The Kingdom's position of rejecting targeting civilians in any way and taking the lives of innocent people, stressing the need to observe the principles of international humanitarian law," SPA said.
5:09 p.m. ET, October 11, 2023

Hamas official in Lebanon claims militant group prepared for attack for 2 years

From CNN's Tamara Qiblawi and Jen Deaton

A senior Hamas official based in Lebanon said militants had been preparing for the attack on Israel for two years, according to an edited interview with Russia Today’s Arabic-news channel RTArabic published on its website a day after the attack.

“We manufactured a lot," said Ali Baraka, head of Hamas National Relations Abroad. "We have local factories for everything."

The factories can make different rockets with maximum ranges from 10 to 250 kilometers, and they can make mortars and mortar shells, he said.

They also produced firearms.

"We have factories for Kalashnikovs and their bullets. We’re manufacturing the bullets with permission from the Russians. We’re building it in Gaza.”

“None of our factions," and “even our allies did not know about the zero hour” of the attack in order to “preserve the secrecy of the battle,” Baraka claimed.

Half an hour after the attack, “the Palestinian resistance factions were contacted, in addition to our allies Hezbollah and Iran,” he said. Hamas also notified Turkey, he said.

Baraka made no mention of any outside involvement in the planning of the attack, saying only that the allies of Hamas “support us with weapons and money. First and foremost, it is Iran that gives us money and weapons. Also Hezbollah.”

Russia inquired about the attack afterward, Baraka said.

“They were updated about our situation and the goals of the battle,” Baraka said.

He also said Moscow was happy for the United States to be distracted by the Israel-Hamas conflict instead of the war in Ukraine.

“Even Russia sympathizes with us. Even the Russians sent us messages (Saturday) morning. There is sympathy. It is happy for America to be embroiled in Palestine. It lessens the pressure on it in Ukraine. One battle eases the other battle. So therefore we are not alone in the battlefield.”

Baraka said that among the goals of Hamas is the release of Palestinian prisoners in the United States.

“We have Hamas members sentenced to life in prison in the US,” he said. “We call on the US to free our sons in their prisons. The US does prisoner swaps. It recently did one with Iran. Why doesn’t it do a prisoner swap with us?”

Context: Baraka is a Hamas political official based in Lebanon. Palestinian factions in Lebanon are not always tightly coordinated with their counterparts in Gaza and the West Bank in part because of severe restrictions on travel on both ends, as well the hollowing out of Palestinian politics in Lebanon starting in 1982. The majority of Palestinians in Lebanon have never been to Palestinian territories.