Trump to Attend Security Meeting on Friday after Israeli Strikes on Iran
US President Donald Trump will attend a National Security Council meeting on Friday morning, the White House said late on Thursday after Israeli strikes on Iran that have put the Middle East on edge.
The meeting will be held at 11 am ET (1500 GMT) on Friday, the White House said.
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT
Israel said early on Friday Middle East time and late Thursday US time that it had struck Iran to block Tehran from developing atomic weapons, and Iranian media and witnesses reported explosions including at the country's main uranium enrichment facility.
US top diplomat Marco Rubio called Israel's strikes against Iran a "unilateral action" and said Washington was not involved while also urging Tehran not to target US interests or personnel in the region.
The US State Department said late on Thursday that the US Embassy in Jerusalem has directed all US government employees and their family members to shelter in place until further notice.
CONTEXT
Trump had been seeking a new nuclear deal to place limits on Iran's disputed uranium enrichment activities but the talks have appeared to be deadlocked.
Trump said earlier on Thursday an Israeli strike on Iran "could very well happen" but reiterated hopes for a peaceful resolution.
The US military is planning for the full range of contingencies in the Middle East, including the possibility that it might have to help evacuate American civilians, a US official told Reuters.
SECURITY ALERT BY US EMBASSY
A security alert by the US embassy in Jerusalem said the security environment was complex and could change quickly.
In response to security incidents and without advance notice, the US embassy may further restrict or prohibit US government employees and their family members from traveling to certain areas of Israel and the Israeli-occupied West Bank, the State Department said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leaders
an hour ago
- Leaders
No Kings Rally: Americans to Hold Nationwide Protests on Trump's 79th Birthday
Millions of Americans are expected to join nationwide protests, dubbed 'No Kings,' on Saturday to demonstrate against the policies of the US President, Donald Trump. The protests coincide with a military parade in Washington DC to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the US Army and Trump's 79th birthday, reported CNN. No Kings Rally The No Kings movement expects millions to join its rallies in more than 1,500 cities across all 50 states on June 14, 2025, in what will likely be the largest single-day mobilization since Trump returned to office. In a statement, the movement said that No Kings rally is a 'mass, nationwide protest rejecting authoritarianism, billionaire-first politics, and the militarization of our democracy.' It added that the protests are a 'direct response to Trump's $100 million military parade and birthday celebration' funded by American taxpayers. The organizers emphasize that their aim is to send Trump a clear message on his birthday: 'In America, we don't do kings.' Planned Protests The No Kings organizers have planned protests across various US cities. Philadelphia will see a flagship rally, with 60,000 to 80,000 protesters expected to attend. New York City also expects major demonstrations. Furthermore, over 200 protest events will take place in California, and organizers anticipate large crowds to attend in Phoenix, Houston, Atlanta, Charlotte and Chicago. Other groups are also planning additional marches across the country. However, the protest organizers will not hold rallies in Washington DC, in order to shift attention away from Trump's military parade. The Saturday spectacle will feature 7 million pounds of machines and weaponry parading through the country's capital on Trump's birthday. It is estimated to cost up to $45 million. No Tolerance with Violence Local and state authorities across US states have been preparing for the protests, according to CNN. Although No Kings organizers have stressed their demonstrations will be peaceful and non-violent, officials have warned protesters that they will not tolerate with violence as many US cities have been witnessing protest activities over the past days. In the light of this, the South Carolina Attorney-General, Alan Wilson, called the protesters 'radical anti-American groups,' warning that those who attack law enforcement or destroy property will face prosecution. Meanwhile, Florida's Brevard County Sheriff, Wayne Ivey, warned that anyone who violates the law will face severe consequences. 'If you throw a brick, a firebomb, or point a gun at one of our deputies, we will be notifying your family where to collect your remains because we will kill you,' he said. Trump's Reaction On Tuesday, the US President threatened to use heavy force against protesters if they demonstrated against the parade, according to ABC News. 'These are people who hate our country. We're going to celebrate big on Saturday. If any protesters want to come out, they will be met with very big force,' he told reporters at the Oval Office. On Wednesday, the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said that Trump 'supports peaceful protests.' During a White House event on Thursday, Trump said: 'I don't feel like a king. I have to go through hell to get things approved.' LA Riots About 200 Marines arrived in Los Angeles on Friday to guard a federal building in the city, after a week of protests against immigration crackdown that swept LA and spread to other US cities, reported the Associated Press (AP). The Marines started to replace National Guard members guarding the federal building west of downtown so they can join law enforcement officers to protect them during raids. Trump ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to LA, with additional 2,000 Guard members notified of deployment, to protect federal property and personnel. This move followed days of clashes between federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other law enforcement authorities on one side and demonstrators protesting against the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration. It also sparked a dispute between Trump and California Governor, Gavin Newsom, who decided to file a lawsuit against the Trump administration, calling the troop deployment a 'serious breach of state sovereignty' and a power grab by Trump. Hands Off Movement In late April 2025, thousands of Americans took to the streets across the US to protest against Trump's policies on several issues, including deportations, the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, and government layoffs. The protests were part of the '50501' demonstrations (50 protests, 50 states, one movement). They followed the 'Hands Off!' protests in early April, when tens of thousands of protesters swept the streets of US cities to voice opposition to Trump and Elon Musk. Short link : Post Views: 2
Al Arabiya
an hour ago
- Al Arabiya
Iraq reopens Syria crossing for trade and passenger traffic
Iraq has officially reopened the Qaim border crossing with Syria for trade and passenger traffic, a spokesman for the Iraqi border authority said on Saturday, marking a key step in efforts to normalize relations and revive economic ties between the two countries. 'The Qaim crossing is now fully operational for both cargo trucks and civilian movement,' the spokesman told Reuters, adding that the reopening followed joint security assessments by Iraqi and Syrian officials. The move comes three months after Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani visited Baghdad and urged Iraq to resume cross-border trade. The crossing had been shut in the wake of the revolt that toppled President Bashar al-Assad. A statement from the Iraqi border crossings authority said the first Syrian truck entered the crossing on Saturday after inspection, marking a significant step in strengthening economic cooperation between Iraq and Syria. "Passenger movement has also resumed in order to ease the burden on Iraqi citizens when traveling in and out of the country", the statement said. The reopening is also seen as a sign of warming ties between Baghdad and Syria's new leadership under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who has sought to re-establish diplomatic and economic relations with regional neighbors. Iraqi officials say the two governments have intensified coordination on border security and trade facilitation since al-Sharaa took office last year. 'This crossing will serve as a strategic corridor for commodity trade between Iraq and Syria,' said Turki al-Mahallawi, mayor of the town of al-Qaim, where the border post is located.
Al Arabiya
an hour ago
- Al Arabiya
Protests, Middle East - and bad weather - may rain on Trump's military parade
Nationwide protests against President Donald Trump, tensions in the Middle East amid Israel's strikes on Iran and expected rainy weather in Washington on Saturday could dampen spirits at a military parade on the US Army's 250th anniversary, set to feature tanks on the streets and aircraft flying overhead. Trump, whose 79th birthday is also on Saturday, will preside over the parade. Week-long protests in Los Angeles against Trump's immigration crackdown have spread to multiple cities including Chicago, New York, San Antonio, Texas, and Washington. The Republican president has ordered National Guard troops and US Marines to Los Angeles, a heavily Democratic city - a deployment that California Governor Gavin Newsom has challenged in court. Anti-Trump groups are planning to hold nearly 2,000 demonstrations of varying sizes across the country to coincide with the parade. Many are taking place under the theme 'No Kings,' asserting that no individual is above the law. The protests, if they go as planned, would represent one of the biggest public displays of opposition to Trump since he returned to power in January. Parade goers in Washington will encounter a massive security presence, with some 18.5 miles (30 km) of 8-foot (2.4 m)-high black fencing, much of it reinforced with concrete traffic barriers, cordoning off streets and surrounding landmarks including the Washington Monument. The celebrations will cost the US Army between $25 million and $45 million, US officials have told Reuters. That includes the parade itself as well as the cost of moving equipment and housing and feeding the troops. Critics have called the parade an authoritarian display of power that is wasteful, especially given Trump has said he wants to slash costs throughout the federal government. 'You're not doing it to celebrate the Army's birthday. You're doing it to stroke Donald Trump's ego,' Democratic US Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, an Army combat veteran who lost two legs in the Iraq war, said at a hearing this month. 'If you want to celebrate the Army's birthday by spending $30 million I would recommend you think about something along the lines of maybe spending that money on childcare for military families, perhaps tuition reimbursement for military families.' 'I don't feel like a king' At least one organization, has a permit to hold a march in central Washington that will culminate in a rally opposite the White House. Trump has warned people against protesting at the parade itself, saying that 'they're going to be met with very big force.' The protests, and any response by law enforcement agencies, will form a contrasting backdrop to the day-long celebration of the US Army's history, which will seek to honor different eras of military history with uniforms and military weaponry from those periods. 'I don't feel like a king, I have to go through hell to get stuff approved,' Trump told reporters on Thursday. 'We're not a king, we're not a king at all.' While the Army has said the parade will take place come rain or shine, weather forecasts for Saturday evening show the potential for heavy thunderstorms in the Washington area. Defenders of the plans say the Army's 250th anniversary is a unique event that deserves an outsized celebration. The display of US military hardware will take place shortly after one of the nation's closest allies, Israel, launched a barrage of strikes across Iran, which has threatened a harsh response. Rare spectacle Military parades in the United States are rare. Other countries usually stage them to celebrate victories in battle or showcase military might. In 1991, tanks and thousands of troops paraded through Washington to celebrate the ousting of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's forces from Kuwait in the Gulf War. Law enforcement agencies are preparing for hundreds of thousands of people to attend Saturday's parade. Thousands of agents, officers and specialists will be deployed from law enforcement agencies from across the country and drones operated by the Secret Service will keep watch overhead. The Federal Aviation Administration will close down arrivals and departures at Washington's Reagan National Airport during the peak of the celebration. While the Army has said it has no plans to recognize Trump's birthday, the president will play a major role in the celebrations. The US Army has brought nearly 7,000 troops into Washington, along with 150 vehicles, including more than 25 M1 Abrams tanks, 28 Stryker armored vehicles, four Paladin self-propelled artillery vehicles, and artillery pieces including the M777 and M119. The flyover will include Apache and Black Hawk helicopters along with Chinooks. Older aircraft like the World War Two-era B-25 bomber and P-51 Mustang will also take part. The military has taken steps to protect the streets of the capital from any potential damage caused by heavy tanks, including laying down metal plates in some areas. The Army has said it will pay for any unexpected repairs if needed and has set aside several million dollars in case of damage, although it has said it expects little impact.
