Israeli Military Chief Says Joint Activity With US to ‘Significantly Expand’

IDF chief Aviv Kohavi was in Washington for five days of talks with US officials focused on Iran

The head of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) returned to Israel on Thursday after five days of talks with US officials in Washington that were focused on Iran and said joint military operations between the US and Israel will be “significantly expanded.”

“In order to improve our capabilities in the face of challenges in the region, joint activity with the US Central Command will be significantly expanded in the near future,” IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi said, according to The Times of Israel.

IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi’s trip to the US came amid soaring tensions with Iran as the US is ramping up sanctions on the Islamic Republic and expressing support for protesters inside the country. Kohavi said that Israel will “continue to act at an accelerated rate against the entrenchment of the Iranian regime in the region.”

Earlier this week, Kohavi held talks with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, and CIA Director William Burns. Kohavi said that he stressed to the US officials that the US and Israel should step up planning for joint attacks on Iran.

Israel frequently carries out covert attacks inside Iran, but it’s unclear if the IDF could pull off airstrikes in Iran without support from the US. Striking Iranian nuclear facilities that have been built underground in response to Israeli sabotage would require bunker-busting bombs that Israel doesn’t have.

The US acknowledged in its recently released nuclear posture review that Iran has not decided to build a nuclear weapon, but that hasn’t stopped the hype and threats from both Israeli and US officials.

https://news.antiwar.com/2022/11/24/israeli-military-chief-says-joint-activity-with-us-to-significantly-expand/

44 arrested in Europe-wide crackdown against high-risk criminal network

An unprecedented international operation, involving judicial and law enforcement authorities from 11 countries, has resulted in the arrest of 44 individuals. The arrested individuals were suspected of belonging to a high-risk criminal network considered one of the most dangerous in the European Union.

The investigations in eight countries uncovered that several criminal organisations were working together to carry out large-scale poly-criminal activities in and outside the European Union. These include drug trafficking, money laundering and illegal enrichment among others.

On 22 November, a total of 94 searches were executed across Europe, targeting both the leaders of these criminal organisations and their associates. The criminal network operated in Lithuania, Latvia, the Czech Republic, Poland, France, Germany and the Slovak Republic.

This international sweep follows complex investigations led by the Lithuanian Prosecutor General’s Office together and the Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau, together with their partners in the Czech Republic, Latvia, France, Germany, Poland, Norway, Slovak Republic, Hungary, Spain and the United States, under the coordination of Eurojust and Europol.

Overview of the arrests:

Lithuania: 7 arrests

Czech Republic: 9 arrests

France: 9 arrests

Slovak Republic: 7 arrests

Latvia: 5 arrests

Poland: 2 arrests

Norway: 2 arrests

Germany: 1 arrest

Spain: 1 arrest

United States: 1 arrest

https://www.europol.europa.eu/media-press/newsroom/news/44-arrested-in-europe-wide-crackdown-against-high-risk-criminal-network

Cyber-enabled financial crime: USD 130 million intercepted in global INTERPOL police operation

Operation HAECHI III cracks down on voice phishing, romance scams, sextortion, investment fraud, business email compromise and money laundering associated with illegal online gambling

LYON, France – An INTERPOL police operation to tackle online fraud has seen almost 1000 suspects arrested and the seizure of USD 129,975,440 worth of virtual assets.

Fraud investigators around the world worked together over five months (28 June – 23 November) to intercept money and virtual assets linked to a wide range of cyber-enabled financial crimes and money laundering, assisting countries to recover and return illicitly obtained funds to victims.

Specifically targeting voice phishing, romance scams, sextortion, investment fraud and money laundering associated with illegal online gambling, Operation HAECHI III was coordinated by INTERPOL’s Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre (IFCACC) which supported 30 countries via their respective INTERPOL National Central Bureaus (NCBs).

In total, the operation resulted in the arrest of 975 individuals and allowed investigators to resolve more than 1,600 cases. In addition almost 2,800 bank and virtual-asset accounts linked to the illicit proceeds of online financial crime were blocked.

Operation HAECHI III investigations generated the publication of 95 INTERPOL Notices and diffusions, and the detection of 16 new crime trends.

Taking the profit out of financial crime

Operation HAECHI III brought together law enforcement agencies, Financial Intelligence Units, asset recovery offices, prosecutors and private sector financial experts to identify illicit funds and money mules, detect money laundering activities and deactivate associated bank accounts.

“The success of this operation is based on two key elements for law enforcement, follow the money and cooperation via INTERPOL. We have highlighted the need for greater efforts to deprive criminals of their illegal gains and this operation has seen member countries doing just that.” Jürgen Stock, INTERPOL Secretary General

International police cooperation during Operation HAECHI III unveiled several emerging online financial crime trends, particularly variations on impersonation scams, romance frauds, sextortion and investment frauds.

Investigators also reported a surge in fraudulent investment schemes committed through the use of instant messaging apps where encrypted information is exchanged promoting the use of cryptocurrency wallets for payment.

In one investigation, two Red Notice fugitives wanted by Korea for suspected involvement in a global Ponzi scheme were arrested in Greece and Italy after embezzling EUR 28 million from 2,000 Korean victims.

In another case, the Austrian and Indian NCBs identified a group of online criminals who had been impersonating INTERPOL officers, persuading victims to transfer some USD 159,000 through financial institutions, cryptocurrency exchanges and online gift cards. Indian authorities raided the call centre, seizing four cryptocurrency wallets and other crucial crime evidence.

"As we look to the future, we recognize the importance for decisive and concerted law enforcement action across borders. This year’s leg of Operation HAECHI III speaks volumes of IFCACC’s dedicated coordination and the strong commitment of participating countries, all of which foretell of new law enforcement victories ahead," said Hyung Se Lee, Head of NCB Seoul.

From test pilot to live policing tool: ARRP

After several months of pilot testing, Operation HAECHI III saw investigators launch INTERPOL’s new global stop-payment mechanism, known as the Anti-Money Laundering Rapid Response Protocol (ARRP), which enables countries to work together to submit and handle requests to restrain criminal proceeds.

https://www.interpol.int/en/News-and-Events/News/2022/Cyber-enabled-financial-crime-USD-130-million-intercepted-in-global-INTERPOL-police-operation

Sky news….hmmmmm

Trump will return to Twitter during presidential campaign, predicts former White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney

Trump's former White House chief of staff says the ex-president will not be able to resist the "huge audience" Twitter provides.

https://www.skynews.com.au/world-news/trump-will-return-to-twitter-during-presidential-campaign-predicts-former-white-house-chief-of-staff-mick-mulvaney/news-story/ebfed27d3c007873ebeaa6b6b154956a