Israel conducts airstrikes in West Bank, Syria overnight, kills Hamas commander

The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI issued an updated alert on Wednesday warning of heightened terrorism threats in the United States amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

The announcement was made to "highlight potential threats" from a "variety of actors" following Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel, which has emboldened foreign terrorist groups to encourage their supporters to "foment violence in the West."

Wednesday's bulletin reflects "a fluid and evolving situation," according to the agencies, and comes as an update to the Oct. 10 and Oct. 18 announcements from the FBI, the DHS and the National Counterterrorism Center.

"The terrorism threat in the Homeland has remained heightened throughout 2023, but recent events have increased the possibility of potential attacks against individuals and institutions in response to developments in the Middle East," the bulletin read.

Since the initial announcement on Oct. 10, the FBI and DHS said "the volume and frequency" of threats against Americans, especially those in the Jewish, Arab Americans and Muslim communities, have increased, heightening concerns over reactions from "violent extremists and "lone offenders."

"While we have no specific information that foreign adversaries are plotting attacks against the homeland, some are seeking to take advantage of the conflict, calling for violence in furtherance of their respective goals," the agencies wrote.

The bulletin noted a few instances over the past two weeks of terrorist organizations, including al-Qaida and ISIS, using their media publications to call for attacks against Americans and Jewish communities.

A warning was also issued about mis- and dis-information circulated online by Iranian media outlets "that risk deepening resentment and evoking strong emotional responses among English-speaking audiences" in relation to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

"These outlets are utilizing verifiably doctored or mislabeled images and video footage, inaccurate translations, and misleading content about the conflict with the apparent intent to stoke passions, accelerate the process of radicalization, and lead individuals to engage in targeted violence," the bulletin said.

Americans at home and abroad are urged to remain vigilant and to report threats of violence and suspicious activity to authorities.

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, is calling out the White House for allowing a high-ranking Iranian official in the U.S. amid Tehran's possible support of Hamas attacks against Israel.

Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian arrived in New York on Wednesday night to attend a United Nations session, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency.

Iran has been heavily criticized by Israel supporters for possibly being linked to the Hamas attacks of October 7, in addition to having a previous history of supporting Hamas.

"Iran-backed terrorists have attacked our servicemembers and are currently holding Americans hostage," Ernst wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. "But the Biden administration has granted a top Iranian official a visa — welcoming this regime on U.S. soil with open arms."

"The appeasement must end," the Iowa senator added.

Social media video shows Jewish students at Cooper Union in New York City locked inside a school library while a pro-Palestinian rally moved through the building.

Protestors were heard banging on doors and chanting "Free, free Palestine" as the students sat at a table and attempted to study. Organizers were also observed holding up anti-Israel signs against the library's glass.

Jake Novak, who formerly worked as a media director at the Israeli Consulate in New York, reported that the protestors "barricad[ed]" the library's exits.

"My sources tell me several Jewish students [at Cooper Union] are currently locked in the school library as a [pro] Hamas rally outside of the Cooper Union building learnt [sic] the Jews were afraid and sitting in the library, then brought the protest inside and are barricading all exits," he explained.

"Police have been called for 40 min and are afraid to get involved," Novak added. "Security locked the students in as they are worried they cannot protect the Jews [right now]."

A man in California was arrested after he allegedly broke into a Jewish family's home screaming "Free Palestine," according to the LAPD.

The homeowners called police at around 5:30 a.m. Wednesday and told them that they were hiding in a room with their four kids. In a second call, the Jewish homeowners explained that the suspect was threatening to kill them because of their religious identities.

When police arrived to arrest the suspect, who was only wearing his underwear, he chanted, "Free Palestine, free Palestine, free Palestine."

Police have not released the identity of the assailant, who they believe may have been on drugs at the time.

Fox News Digital's Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report.

6 of the 9 Democrats who voted against the House resolution to condemn Hamas's attacks against Israel were "Squad" members, with the remaining "Squad" members voting present.

H.R. 771, which was voted upon on Wednesday night, passed by a vote of 412-10 with six members voting present.

Reps. André Carson, D-Ind., Al Green, D-Texas, and Delia Ramirez, D-Ill. all voted against the resolution. Joining them were six "Squad" members: Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-NY., Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., Summer Lee, D-Pa., and Cori Bush, D-Mo.

One Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., voted against the measure over concerns it could escalate tensions, but still affirmed Israel's right to self defense.

Reps. Greg Casar, D-Texas, and Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., the two other "Squad" members, voted present. Reps. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, Nydia Velázquez, D-N.Y., Jesús "Chuy" Garcia, D-Ill., and Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash. joined them.

Fox News Digital's Brandon Gillespie contributed to this report.

The Pentagon has confirmed that 21 U.S. service members were injured in drone attacks in the Middle East, as the Israel-Hamas war continues.

Military officials previously reported that injury estimates were "more than 20." In a statement obtained by Fox News, a Pentagon spokesperson clarified the number.

"Between Oct. 17-18 (ET), twenty-one U.S. personnel received minor injuries due to drone attacks at Al Assad airbase, Iraq and Al-Tanf Garrison, Syria," the statement read. "All members returned to duty."

"It is important to note, in some cases service members may report injuries such as TBI several days after attacks occur, so numbers may change," the spokesperson added. "We will continue to work closely with U.S. Central Command to provide updates as appropriate."

Fox News Digital's Jacqui Heinrich contributed to this report.

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Houthi missile barrage towards Israel last week, Fox News can confirm.

The cruise missile was fired by Iranian-backed Houthi fighters in Yemen .The interception is the first known time that the Saudi military has intervened to prevent an attack against Israel.

It is also the fifth interception of missiles fired from Yemen. On October 19, the USS Carney intercepted 4 missiles and 15 drones.

One of the cruise missiles that was fired by Houthis had a range of approximately 1250 miles.

Fox News's Liz Friden contributed to this report.

The U.S. House of Representatives adopted a resolution condemning the Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel on Wednesday.

The vote passed 412-10. Six members, all Democrats, voted 'present'. The resolution marked the first non-Speaker related vote by the House since October 3.

The war between Israel and Hamas terrorists has been raging since October 7, when Hamas fighters launched a surprise attack on the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed.

Roughly 222 hostages were taken from Israel into Gaza, and only four have been released.

Fox News' Chad Pergram and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

A residential building in Rishon LeTsiyon, Israel was hit by rockets late Wednesday night, video shows.

Fox News's Alex Hogan reported from the scene in the city, which is located around five miles outside of Tel Aviv.

"Police are not yet exactly telling us what specifically struck this building behind me, but you can likely see the large gaping hole in this building," Hogan explained. "This a residential building, three apartments there. There are still search and rescue teams inside trying to make sure that they have evacuated everyone."

Hogan then explained that it was a "terrifying sight" for Rishon LeTsiyon residents as Hamas continues targeting civilians in its war against Israel.

"Obviously, a very terrifying moment," she said. "We had heard the sirens in Tel Aviv and again, then the Iron Dome went off. Now, seeing this develop, we have seen some people come out of this home completely, completely disgruntled, frustrated and terrified."

Russia and China have both vetoed the U.S.-backed United Nations resolution condemning Hamas's October 7 attack against Israel.

The vote took place at the United Nations Security Council meeting on Wednesday. Russia and the U.S. both drafted rival resolutions, with Russia calling for a ceasefire.

Both resolutions called for the U.N. to address humanitarian concerns in Gaza, including medical supply, food and water shortages. The Israeli military imposed a blockade on Gaza Strip after Hamas terrorists began attacking their country on October 7.

The United Nations Security Council previously rejected a draft proposal from Russia on October 16 because it failed to mention Hamas.

Reuters and Fox News Digital's Greg Wehner contributed to this report.

Critics are panning the White House for removing the Yemeni Houthis' terrorist designation in 2021, as the group continues attacking Israeli and American military assets.

The Houthis were designated as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) in January 2021 under President Trump, but Secretary of State Antony Blinken revoked the decision the next month.

"We have listened to warnings from the United Nations, humanitarian groups, and bipartisan members of Congress, among others, that the designations could have a devastating impact on Yemenis’ access to basic commodities like food and fuel," Blinken explained.

"The revocations are intended to ensure that relevant U.S. policies do not impede assistance to those already suffering what has been called the world’s worst humanitarian crisis," the official added. "By focusing on alleviating the humanitarian situation in Yemen, we hope the Yemeni parties can also focus on engaging in dialogue."

Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital that removing them from the list was a mistake.

"In word and in deed, the Houthis in Yemen are proving to the world their connectivity to Iran’s axis of resistance and why they should have remained on the U.S. terror list," Taleblu explained. "Pulling punches and failing to hold Iran and its proxies to account, even diplomatically, shows you how far things have devolved."

The Houthis reportedly launched drones and missiles towards Israel last week, but the USS Carney intercepted and them shot down.

Fox News Digital's Peter Aitken contributed to this report.

President Biden's nominee for ambassador to Israel, Jack Lew, was advanced by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during a vote on Wednesday.

The 12-9 vote took place during a closed business meeting. The nomination was opposed by every Republican on the committee except for Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky.

"I think it's important in the middle of a war to have an ambassador. I think it's important to have a representative from the United States," Paul said to Fox News. "I met with him privately. I think he's a thoughtful individual and I think he will do a good job."

Lew, who served as Treasury Secretary under President Obama, has been criticized by Republicans for his past work on Iran sanctions. Lew said during the hearing that Iran is "a threat to regional stability."

"I want to be clear, Iran is a threat to regional stability and to Israel's existence," Lew said. "If confirmed, I will uphold President Biden's commitment to deny Iran a nuclear weapon." 

Fox News Digital's Jamie Joseph contributed to this report.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been asked to investigate Hamas for war crimes with respect to the southern Israel massacres on October 7.

The International Legal Forum (ILF), an Israel-based NGO, filed the complaint on Wednesday. According to the ILF, it is the first formal complaint about the October 7 massacres to the International Criminal Court.

In a statement, the ILF asked the Chief Prosecutor to "initiate an urgent investigation" into war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity committed by Hamas.

"Specific crimes alleged, include, but are not limited to: intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population, mass murder and summary executions, taking of hostages, torture, rape, use of human shields, pillaging and mutilation," the statement read.

"In addition to seeking the arrest warrants for the leadership of Hamas, the complaint also seeks arrest warrants against Mahmoud Abbas, in his capacity as President of the Palestinian Authority, as well as Ayatollah Khamenei of Iran and Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami, Chief of the Iran Revolutionary Guards Corps, arising out of their legal culpability and direct involvement in the atrocities committed on October 7th, 2023, and continuing thereafter."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in an address to his nation, promised that the delayed ground invasion of Gaza will come soon.

Netanyahu said that when the time comes, the Israeli military will "exact the highest price from these murderers" for the Oct. 7 terror attack in which at least 1,400 Israelis were killed. The unprecedented infiltration of Israel, the deadliest terror attack in the country's history, provoked a war that is now in its 19th day.

"We will never forget the 1,400 brothers and sisters who were slaughtered in cold blood and fought heroically to the death against these human animals, Netanyahu said, announcing there will be a national day of mourning for the victims. 

The prime minister also promised there will be an investigation into the security failures that led to Hamas catching Israel off-guard on the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah. 

"This failure will be investigated to the end. Everyone has to respond to that and give answers, including me, but all of this is after the war," Netanyahu said.

Students at George Washington University attended a pro-Palestinian vigil supporting Hamas' surprise attack that killed hundreds of Israeli civilians, that prominently projected messages on the wall of the campus' library.

"Glory to Our Martyrs," one projected sign read.

The students projected the large signs on the University's Gelman Library on the Washington D.C. campus on Tuesday evening. 

Another sign read, "GW the Blood of Palestinians is on Your Hands."

"Your Tuition is Funding Genocide in Gaza," another projected sign read.

On X, the page @StopAntisemites, called for the George Washington University President Ellen Granberg to "immediately expel those who are involved."

The university later responded in a statement that the "unauthorized" messages "violated university policy, and leadership intervened to ensure that these projections were removed."

The university continued, "The statements made by these individuals in no way reflect the views of the university. We are reviewing this incident and will take any appropriate steps with respect to the individuals involved in accordance with university policies."

A U.S. defense official tells Fox News that more than 20 U.S. service members have been injured in drone and rocket attacks in the Middle East over the past week. 

The full extent of the injuries was not immediately clear. The defense official said several service members suffered from traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) but have all returned to duty.

United States-led coalition forces have started live-fire exercises at military bases in Iraq and Syria, after more than a dozen attacks on American troops over the last week. 

The Combined Joint Task Force — Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) said on Wednesday that ground operational exercises "to validate weapons systems and maintain crew proficiency and readiness" would happen in or near the al-Hasakah region in Syria and the Khalidiyah region in Iraq.

"On Oct. 25, 2023, Coalition service members will be conducting ground operational exercises in or near the al-Hasakah region in Syria to validate weapons systems and maintain crew proficiency and readiness," a notice from CJTF-OIR said. A separate but similar notice coalition forces will conduct "base defense and ground operational exercises in or near the Khalidiyah region in Iraq to validate weapons systems and maintain crew proficiency and readiness."

The exercises come as U.S. troops positioned in the Middle East have been attacked 14 times — 11 times in Iraq and three times in Syria — between Oct. 17-24. The attacks include a mix of one-way drones and rockets. 

Fox News' Liz Friden and Lawrence Richard contributed to this update.

CNN anchor Christiane Amanpour claimed that the "rest of the world" agrees with the Queen of Jordan, Rania Al Abdullah’s lament that the western world seems to show more support for Israel over the Palestinian people in the Israel-Hamas war.

Amanpour pushed that most other people around the world acknowledge there is a "glaring double standard" in people recognizing the tragedy of Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7 while not showing enough sympathy for Palestinians.

The anchor made her comments on "CNN This Morning" Wednesday, following her interview with the Queen of Jordan from the previous evening. CNN anchors introduced Amanpour by playing a clip of her interview with the world leader.

In it, the queen stated, "When October 7th happened, the world immediately and unequivocally stood by Israel and tried to defend itself and condemned the attack that happened. But when we — what we’re seeing the last couple of weeks, we are seeing silence in the world. You know, countries have stopped just expressing concern or acknowledging the casualties. But always with a preface of declaration of support for Israel."

"And you know, are we being told that it is wrong to kill a family, an entire family at gunpoint, but it’s okay to shell them to death?" the queen asked.

When asked what she believed the primary takeaway was Wednesday morning, Amanpour said, "The primary takeaway is that she is expressing exactly what the rest of the world thinks. The world in which the Muslims and many, many other parts of the world believe that there is a, as she said, a glaring double standard."

Fox News' Gabriel Hays contributed to this update.