Hey there from CNN, I'm Chris Debeau with the five things you need to know for

Thursday, August 1st. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that three Americans are

now on their way back home to the US,

after a massive US-Russia prisoner swap.

That includes Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gerschievich,

former US Marine Paul Wheelen,

and Russian-American journalist Al-Sou Kermacheva.

Turkey has confirmed it played a role as a mediator in the exchange, which it said

involved 26 people in seven countries.

President Joe Biden called the exchange in a statement quote a feat of

diplomacy. Biden is delivering remarks on the hostage exchange from the White

House this afternoon, which we'll have more on in the 3 p.m. episode.

Gerschovich and Wielin both faced espionage charges

that they strongly denied and the US State Department says they are

wrongfully detained. The swap could end a nightmare that's lasted more than a

year for Gerskovich and more than five years for Wielen.

The explosive device used in the blast that killed Hamas political chief Ismael-Haniya

in Iran yesterday was planted and hidden in the house he was

staying in two months ago. That's what a source who had been briefed on the

operation tells CNN. Iranian state media and Hamas previously indicated Haniya was killed via rocket fired from outside the building.

As the Middle East remains on edge, thousands marched in Iran's capital today to remember Hania.

The Iranian government and Hamas say Israel carried out the assassination and vowed to retaliate,

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