The Nuclear Crisis in the Middle East: Takeaway Learned from the U.S. Air-Strike Attacks against Iranian Nuclear Sites
The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed on Sunday that the three sites — Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz — were all hit in the attack. The agency said that it was hard to assess the extent of damage to the underground Fordo site because they had previously been struck by Israeli forces.
Initial damage assessments indicate that all three sites sustained extremely severe damage and destruction.
The Trump administration is defending its decision to strike three nuclear targets in Iran over the weekend. U.S. officials say the strikes, which were carried out without congressional approval and without notifying top Democratic lawmakers, were intended to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. The United States’ decision to intervene came a little over a week after Israel launched a series of strikes on Iran. U.S. officials say the American strikes devastated Iran’s nuclear program, but independent experts analyzing satellite imagery say it is far from destroyed. Here are four takeaways from the U.S. airstrikes on Iran.
While the reaction among politicians largely fell on party lines, it didn’t do so exclusively. Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie said Congress “has the sole authority to authorize war” and should have been called back from vacation before the attack.
“I think for the tens of thousands of troops in at least six countries in the Middle East, they are now at greater risk because of what happened here and the fact that we have numerous bases in the region,” Kelly said.
Kelly said on Meet The Press that Iran wasn’t an immediate threat before the strike. “I would say when there’s a clear and imminent threat to U.S. citizens, to the United States, to the homeland, the commander-in-chief has a right to act,” he said.
The congressman from Connecticut said the strike was a clear violation of the Constitution because it gave the power to declare war to Congress.
Democrats accused Trump of sidestepping the Constitution and ordered the military to attack Iran without Congressional approval.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said that Trump made the right decision and did what was necessary, while Senate Majority Leader John Thune said that Iran had rejected all diplomatic pathways to peace.
The Iranian government is wondering how to respond to the U.S. military’s attacks against the Iranian nuclear facilities.
Earlier in June, Israel began bombing nuclear facilities and other sites across Iran. The two countries have been engaged in deadly attacks since then, with the U.S. helping to intercept missiles. But the U.S. did not get directly involved in the Israeli offensive until the surprise strikes on Saturday.
Iran’s foreign minister called the U.S. military operation an “outrageous, grave and unprecedented violation” of the United Nations Charter and international law.
“Operation Midnight Hammer”: U.S. Air-Strikes on Iran — and What Might Come Next,” Israel’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi
On Friday, a group of B-2 stealth bombs took off from an Air Force base in Missouri and began the mission dubbed “Operation Midnight Hammer” according to the Joint chiefs of staff.
75 guided weapons were dropped on the three locations after a mission that involved more than 125 aircraft. And they emphasized that this attack was against Iran’s nuclear program, not against its military or people.
Bunker-buster bombs describe a type of munition that can burrow deep into the ground before exploding and are designed for attacking fortified subterranean targets.
At around 5 p.m. ET Saturday, just as the bombers were entering Iranian airspace, a submarine launched more than two dozen Tomahawk missiles at the Isfahan nuclear site.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi denounced the strikes during a press conference in Istanbul on Sunday, calling them a violation of the law. He said the war-mongers in Washington are responsible for the consequences of their act of aggression.
Several politicians in Israel welcomed the strikes. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Trump in a video message, while Knesset opposition leader Yair Lapid said Trump and the U.S. military “made the world a safer place.”
The U.N. secretary-general was alarmed by the use of force and warned of a threat to international peace.
Trump mentioned the possibility of regime change in Iran in a Truth Social post. If the Iranian regime is unable to make IRAN great again, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change? MIGA!!!”
Source: 4 takeaways on the U.S. airstrikes on Iran — and what might come next
Iran’s nuclear enterprise had not been destroyed by a single nuclear blast in September 2001, a statement from the U.S. Embassy
The State Department is increasing the number of emergency flights for American citizens leaving Israel and also moving nonessential staff from the US Embassy in Lebanon.
Caine said U.S. forces remain on high alert and would respond to any “Iranian retaliation or proxy attacks.” The U.S. operates permanent military bases in several countries near Iran, including Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
There wasn’t any rise in off-site radiation after the bombings, and Iran hadn’t reported an increase in health problems outside of the three sites, the IAEA said.
Two experts analyzing satellite imagery said that the nation’s nuclear enterprise is not destroyed, and that Iran still has a lot of enriched uranium.
The Jimmy Awards: Inside the History of a Shelby County, Ala., town where black folks lived and worked in 1841–1914
In a small town in Shelby County, Ala., — often referred to by the Republican Party as the reddest county in the U.S. — a new museum exhibit is dedicated to Black history. The emancipated people inHarpersville were not granted much more than their freedom. Tyler Jones is a part of the narrative studio behind the project. The studio collaborated with the Wallace Center for Arts and Reconciliation to change the narratives of Black descendant communities. Jones highlighted the significance of transforming a plantation from 1841 into a space dedicated to reparative history and healing. Check out this inside look at the project through photos and videos.
Tonight is a big night for more than 100 high school theater stars gathered in New York City for the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, also known as the Jimmy Awards. Broadway nominees put on shows in just 10 days at the annual event. The competition begins with around 150,000 students from various schools nationwide, who are ultimately narrowed down to a select group of finalists who will perform at the award ceremony held at the Minskoff Theatre. The best actor and actress in a musical were given the top two awards. Read more about the awards and listen to students currently vying for their chance to take home a Jimmy.
Yesterday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel will not be dragged into a war of attrition, nor will it end the conflict until its objectives are achieved. Iran’s missiles and nuclear program needs to be degraded by Israel.
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