Good morning, readers!

Nukes, nukes. This is what world leaders are thinking about now. One Israel minister got in trouble for talking about possibly using nukes against Gaza, and Russia just fired its own.

Hopefully this is just posturing.

Today’s hotspots

US airbase stormed by an NGO with possible Hamas connection.

You may have heard of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but have you heard of the Turkish-American one?

Well, it’s not really a conflict, but more of a clash of opinions.

And it’s not really between Turkey and America, but between some pro-Palestinian protesters and a US air base in Turkey.

Confused? Let us explain.

🐾 The incident.

On Sunday, November 5, 2023, hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the Incirlik air base, waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans.

Their goal: ceasefire in Gaza and the closure of the Incirlik base.

• The rally was led by the IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation, a Turkish NGO that supports the Palestinian cause and has been accused of having links to Hamas.

• They also tried to storm the air base, hoping to reach the American soldiers and the nuclear weapons inside.

• The Turkish police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd and arrested several protesters.

• The protestors retaliated with rocks and chairs.

• Amidst the chaos, IHH’s president, Bulent Yildirim, urged the protestors to refrain from attacking law enforcement. Reason? Because they will soon go and fight in Gaza.

🐾 The timing couldn’t be worse.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken took a crucial detour to Ankara during his Middle East peace mission to de-escalate the Israel-Hamas conflict.

He was set for pivotal talks with Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan, but the riot broke out just hours before the scheduled meeting on Monday.

🐾 About the base.

The US air base in question is called Incirlik, and it’s located in the city of Adana, in southern Turkey.

• It’s been a strategic ally for the US since the Cold War, and it hosts around 1,500 US troops and several nuclear weapons.

• It’s also been used for missions against ISIS and other terrorist groups in the region.

🐾 About the protestors.

The pro-Palestinian protesters are a group of people who support the Palestinian cause and oppose the Israeli occupation of Gaza and the West Bank.

• They are unhappy with the US for its unwavering support for Israel, and they want to pressure the US to stop supplying weapons and aid to the Jewish state.

• They are also sympathetic to Turkey’s stance on the issue, which has been vocal and critical of Israel’s actions.

🐾 Why Turkey?

A wave of similar rallies and clashes in Turkey have cast doubt on Turkey’s security, stability, and alliances. Turkey is a NATO member and US partner, but it has also been pursuing a more independent and assertive role in the region, often at odds with its friends and foes.

Why? To achieve the political interests of Turkey.

For example: Turkish President Erdogan has been delaying Sweden’s NATO bid to pressure Sweden into tightening control over its Kurdish population.

🐾 Implications.

• These incidents reveal the deep-seated resentment in the Muslim world, feeling forsaken by the US and the global community’s failure to address the Israeli-Hamas conflict.

• The situation also casts doubt on the future of the Incirlik air base as a dependable US partner in the region. Some propose relocating US troops and weaponry to circumvent potential risks, while others advocate for continued US presence to enhance Turkish relations and collaboration.

Quick updates

Click the country's name for more.👇🏻

🇷🇺 Russia:

Submarine fires nuke.

Don’t mess with Russia. That’s the message Moscow is sending to the world as it successfully launches a nuclear missile from a submarine that can reach any target on the planet. The missile, called Bulava, is capable of carrying multiple warheads, hit a target thousands of miles away in Kamchatka. The test was a success, but also a warning to the West.

🇮🇱 Israel:

Minister suspended for suggesting nuking Gaza.

You might want to sit down for this one. Israel’s Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu has been kicked out of his job for saying that dropping a nuclear bomb on Gaza was “one of the possibilities.” 

His boss, Prime Minister Netanyahu, was not amused and said his statements were “not based in reality.” The minister later tried to backtrack—saying that his comment was “metaphorical.”

How can dropping a nuke be “metaphorical?”

🇵🇸 Palestine:

Blinken meets Palestinian Authority president.

As Israeli bombs rain down on Gaza, killing dozens of civilians, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to the West Bank to talk to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Why? Blinken hopes to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and sketch out a post-war scenario.

But what can they achieve? Abbas has no control over Gaza, where Hamas rules with an iron fist. And Blinken has not much leverage over Israel, which rejects any “pauses” in its military operations.

🇺🇸 United States:

US sends guided missile submarine to Middle East.

The US military has just revealed that it has a guided missile submarine in the Middle East, a rare and bold move that signals its readiness to confront any threats in the region. The submarine, which is not named, joins other US Navy assets, including two carrier strike groups, to deter any state or non-state actor from escalating the situation.

The announcement comes as the US’s forces in Iraq and Syria have been facing frequent attacks by Iranian-backed groups.