Hello from CNN, I'm Joe Beck, with the five things you need to know for Friday August 2nd.

Three Americans are now back home from Russia after a historic prisoner swap. Wall Street Journal reporter

Evan Gerschkovich, Marine veteran Paul Wheelen, and journalist Al-Sukermachever touched

down in Maryland just before midnight last night and were greeted

with tears and hugs from their families. President Joe Biden and Vice President

Carmelah Harris were also there to meet them. Their return follows the biggest exchange of prisoners

between Russia and the West since the Cold War. Administration officials say it came after

years of quiet and complicated negotiations, which included US diplomats

searching around the globe for offers that could entice Russia.

Biden praised the help from allies.

To help us call on this one for other countries.

Because I asked them to do things that were against their immediate self-interest and

really very difficult for them to do.

At least seven countries were involved,

and one of the tipping points was Germany

agreeing to release a convicted Russian assassin.

24 people were swapped in total,

including Russian opposition figures, an FSB kernel, and people

accused of spying or cybercrime.

As Hamas's political leader Isma Al-Hannier is being buried in Qatar today, Biden is weighing more US defenses in the Middle East.

The US is preparing for an Iranian retaliation against Israel after the assassination of Hanayor, which officials say could

include an attack on American forces.

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