US Vetoes UNSC Gaza Ceasefire Resolution + Iran Rejects US Nuclear Deal Proposal + NATO Secretary General: US is Committed to NATO; No Plans to Withdraw Troops + More

For review:

1. US Vetoes UNSC Gaza Ceasefire Resolution.  

“The United States has been clear we would not support any measure that fails to condemn Hamas and does not call for Hamas to disarm and leave Gaza,” Acting US Ambassador to the UN Dorothy Shea told the council before the vote. 

2.  Iran Rejects US Nuclear Deal Proposal.  The supreme leader insisted Iran would not abandon its uranium enrichment program. 

3. IDF responds with artillery barrage to rocket fire targeting the Israeli Golan Heights.  A group calling itself the Mohammed Deif Brigades claimed the attack in a post on Telegram.  After the rocket fire, Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement that Israel considered “the Syrian president directly responsible for every threat and [rocket] fire toward the State of Israel.” 

4. Israeli defense firm Rafael Advanced Defense Systems will showcase its family of high energy laser weapon systems at the upcoming Paris Air Show. The IDF said that a lower-powered laser interceptor system shot down some 35 Hezbollah drones over northern Israel last year.

5. President Trump phone call with Russian President. 

President Trump said Wednesday that Russian President Putin told him that Moscow would retaliate against Ukraine's drone attack over the weekend, casting doubt that a peace deal to end the war could come soon. 

6.  NATO Secretary General: US is Committed to NATO; No Plans to Withdraw Troops.

7. Senate Armed Service Committee Defense Reconciliation Bill.