Israel-Iran exchange, Russian plots and U.S. Venezuela oil policy

Off Leash Update 19 April

Israel and Iran •Israel launched at least one missile - and perhaps some drones - into Iran, and Iran's air defenses were heard in Isfahan and Tabriz provinces. •Iran said its air defenses successfully downed some Israeli drones, but explosions heard near Isfahan suggested they may have missed others. •Isfahan is where one of Iran's main nuclear enrichment and missile facilities is located, but Israel had assured the U.S. before the strike that it wouldn't target nuclear facilities. Indeed, Iranian officials told the NYT the Isfahan strikes hit a military air base instead. •Israeli media say the intent was to have the last word without inflicting such a black eye that Iran's hardliners will demand re-re-retaliation. •Separately, the U.S. vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that would have brought a vote on Palestinian statehood to the full General Assembly, where it probably would've passed (around 140 countries of the 193 UN member states have already recognized Palestine to some degree). •U.S. Deputy Ambassador to the UN explained afterwards that the veto "does not reflect opposition to Palestinian statehood but instead is an acknowledgment that it will only come from direct negotiations between the parties." Russia •Germany arrested two men suspected of plotting with Russia to sabotage military facilities - including Grafenwoehr, where U.S. soldiers carry out M1 Abrams tank training with Ukrainian troops. •Separately - though perhaps linked to the same foreign intelligence handlers - Poland arrested one of its nationals for allegedly spying for Russia as part of an early plot to assassinate Ukraine's Pres. Zelensky. Polish police say the suspect "proactively established contact" with Russia. Venezuela •Though the U.S. allowed a six-month license permitting Venezuelan oil sales to expire yesterday, U.S. companies doing business in the Venezuelan oil sector will have 45 days to wind down their sales, and the exceptional license granted to Chevron (which is currently producing about 90,000 barrels per day in Venezuela) may even remain valid after that. •Pres. Maduro called the U.S. action (or rather, inaction on renewing license 44) a "grave error" and part of a "blackmail threat" [to blackmail him into holding free and fair elections?]. Other News •Kenya's military chief, Gen. Francis Ogolla, died along with nine other senior Kenyan military officials in an apparently accidental helicopter crash about 250 miles (400 km) northwest of Nairobi. Two survived, including the pilot. •Voting in the world's largest democracy - India - began today. PM Modi is sure to win reelection, but the strength of his win will be seen as a gauge of support for his policies - especially on the economy. The election runs through June 1.