This week in the news: Terrorists strike again,former U.S. analyst convicted of spying for Israel gets released, bill passed in house to block inflow of Syrian and Iraqi refugees, and suspected ringleader of Paris attacks killed.
1.Terrorists strike again
A military group associated with Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility over the attacks in Radisson Blu Hotel in Bamako, Mali on Friday. 10 men raided the hotel, taking approximately 170 people hostage. Malian special forces responded to the attacks and freed those trapped in the hotel, killing two terrorists. At least 27 people have died in this attack. The six Americans that were trapped in the hotel are verified to be safe.
2. Former U.S. analyst convicted of spying for Israel gets released
United States released Jonthan Pollard on Friday after 30 years of imprisonment. Pollard was a former American Navy intelligence analyst who gave classified information to Israeli handlers in the mid 1980. This case caused a significant rift in American-Israeli relations.
3. Bill passed in house to block inflow of Syrian and Iraqi refugees
The House passed a bill on Thursday which would suspend Obama’s plan to take in at least 10,000 Syrian refugees over the course of the year. The vote was 289-137, with 47 Democrats also joining the 242 Republicans on the bill.
4. Suspected ringleader of Paris attacks killed
Abdelhamid Abaaoud, one of the ringleaders of the Paris attacks, was killed on Wednesday during a French police raid. He died in an apartment located in Saint Denis. So far, 130 have been confirmed dead since the terrorists attacks in Paris last Friday. European leaders have agreed to tighter border restrictions all across the region earlier this Friday.
