Pakistani defense minister tells CNN they're ‘prepared for an all out war.'
India launched strikes on both Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir early Wednesday local time. It comes after gunmen killed more than two dozen civilians, mostly tourists, in Indian-controlled Kashmir last month. India accused Pakistan of being involved, which it denied. Pakistan's defense minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif told CNN that India's latest assault marked an 'invitation to expand the conflict' between the two neighbors — but cautioned that Islamabad is 'trying to avoid' a full-fledged war.
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The Hill
18 minutes ago
- The Hill
Trump supporters divided over use of ‘bunker-buster' bomb in Iran
A massive 'bunker buster' bomb — and the ability to deliver it — is at the center of the Republican divide over direct U.S. involvement in striking Iran. Supporters of U.S. involvement point to Iran's underground Fordow nuclear facility, warning that the U.S. cannot allow the uranium-enrichment facility to stay intact, absent a deal that would ensure Iran could never develop a nuclear weapon. But Israel, which launched a campaign against Iran on Thursday, is limited in its ability to go after Fordow alone, and the U.S. has the unique capabilities to most effectively target it — capabilities that Israel does not have. The latest and biggest 30,000-pound GBU-57 A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator bomb, known as a 'bunker-buster,' would be most capable of reaching the nuclear site, which is believed to sit 80 meters below ground. And while Israel has smaller 'bunker-buster' weapons that it can deploy, only American B-2 Spirit stealth bomber planes have been configured to lift and deliver such a large weapon. To ensure the latest conflict ends with Iran's nuclear capabilities getting wiped out, some Republicans argue, the U.S. needs to step in with the bombers and bunker busters and target the Fordow site if other options are exhausted. 'If President Trump does not believe that negotiations are going to be fruitful, then we either have to fly that B-2 bomber or we've got to give the Israelis the ability to fly the B-2 bomber and drop these bombs,' Rep. David Kustoff (R-Tenn.), one of the few Jewish Republicans in Congress, said on CNN on Tuesday. Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) said on Fox News Tuesday morning that Trump would 'absolutely' have his support to use the B-2 bomber to take out the Fordow facility if talks failed. Trump and his administration initially distanced the U.S. from Israel's strikes on Iran, saying they provided only defensive support. But now, the possibility of targeting Fordow has moved from being a suggestion to a live question. The New York Times and Axios reported Tuesday that Trump is seriously considering trying to take out the Fordow nuclear site. Some of Trump's most ardent supporters, though, are warning against getting directly involved in the conflict at all. The worst-case scenario to them is a repeat of past U.S. posture in neighboring Iraq, where U.S.-driven regime change spurred by concerns over weapons of mass destruction turned into a failed nation-building exercise that thrust the region into a period of instability, giving rise to terrorist groups like ISIS. Asked about the arguments that the U.S. should use its capabilities to bomb the Fordow site, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) — who has been one of the loudest Republican voices advocating against U.S. involvement in Iran — reiterated her position. 'My office has been monitoring calls from constituents in my district and they overwhelmingly support my stance on staying out of this conflict and foreign wars,' Greene said in a statement. 'Getting involved in another conflict won't bring down gas prices, lower grocery bills, or make rent more affordable. Me and my district support President Trump and his MAGA agenda, it's what we voted for in November, and foreign wars weren't a part of it.' Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, a major figure in MAGA world who is close with Trump, was more explicit in his warning. 'America bombing Iran would be a direct escalation. Now, it would not be the same as bombing their oil fields, or even bombing the Supreme Leader. The most basic action would be, drop a bunker-buster on their underground nuclear plant — and some claim that's the only thing we have to do,' Kirk said. 'I'll say this to anyone that will listen: It's very hard to stop a war when you want, and it's hard to stop a war once you're in the midst of a war,' Kirk said, adding: 'If we were to bomb Fordow, Iran would likely and probably consider this to be an act of war. Would they respond and try to target US bases? Would they try and target US troops? Would they activate sleeper cells within the interior of the United States?' Fueling the fears of the MAGA doves, some more hawkish Republicans have broached the subject of regime change — taking out Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — while talking about the prospect of assisting Israel in bombing Iran. 'Be all-in, President Trump, in helping Israel eliminate the nuclear threat. If we need to provide bombs to Israel, provide bombs. If we need to fly planes with Israel, do joint operations,' Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said on Fox News Monday night. 'But here's the bigger question: Wouldn't the world be better off if the Ayatollahs went away, and replaced by something better?' 'It's time to close that chapter soon, and start a new chapter in the Middle East, one of tolerance, hope, and peace,' Graham said. Kirk slammed Graham on his radio show on Tuesday: 'That's pathologically insane, I'm sorry. It is. How do you know it's going to be better?' Trump, for his part, has reiterated his stance that Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon — saying the regime should strike a deal, but not taking U.S. military action off the table. In a Truth Social post on Tuesday, Trump said that 'we know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding' — but that 'we are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now.' He followed up in another post: 'UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!' The Associated Press contributed to this report.
CNN
28 minutes ago
- CNN
What Iranian residents are texting to CNN as strikes hit
What Iranian residents are texting to CNN as strikes hit As Israeli strikes zeroed in on Iran's capital city of Tehran, CNN's Clarissa Ward reports from Tel Aviv some of the messages she's received from residents in Iran offering a glimpse into the daily anxieties of living in a country faced with an ever-escalating conflict in the sky. 01:33 - Source: CNN Vertical Top News 11 videos What Iranian residents are texting to CNN as strikes hit As Israeli strikes zeroed in on Iran's capital city of Tehran, CNN's Clarissa Ward reports from Tel Aviv some of the messages she's received from residents in Iran offering a glimpse into the daily anxieties of living in a country faced with an ever-escalating conflict in the sky. 01:33 - Source: CNN Trump's sons announce mobile phone company Trump Mobile, a wireless service created by the Trump Organization, aims to rival US carrier companies like AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile. The Trump Organization, run by President Donald Trump's eldest sons Eric and Donald Jr., announced the business and launched a new gold smartphone for pre-order. 01:09 - Source: CNN Ex-Israeli Defense Minister's message to Trump Benny Gantz, Chairman of Israel's National Unity Party, and the former Minister of Defense speaks to CNN's Anderson Cooper following Israel's attack on Iran. 01:08 - Source: CNN Minnesota suspect went to 4 state lawmaker homes night of shootings The suspect in the killing of a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband in addition to the shooting of another lawmaker and his wife also visited two more politicians' homes, according to authorities. 02:08 - Source: CNN Trump slams G7 for kicking out Russia President Donald Trump kicked off his visit to the G7 summit in Canada by criticizing nations for kicking out Russia eleven years ago. 00:36 - Source: CNN Iranian state television says it was attacked by Israel The studio complex of Iran's state news channel IRINN was struck by Israel on Monday, according to the country's state news agency. A loud explosion was heard while an anchor was presenting live on air, according to a live feed. 00:19 - Source: CNN The biggest moments from Karen Read murder trial closing arguments The jury is deliberating the fate of Karen Read in the murder trial of her Boston Police Officer boyfriend, John O'Keefe. CNN's Jean Casarez shares the biggest moments from closing arguments of the trial. 02:18 - Source: CNN Juror dismissed in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' criminal trial The judge in the Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial has dismissed juror No. 6 over the juror's inconsistent disclosures about where he lives and with whom. Juror No. 6 will be replaced by the first alternate juror. 01:44 - Source: CNN CNN sees crater from Iranian strike Emergency teams in Tel Aviv, Israel, have been responding to the damage caused by Iran's latest ballistic missile strike on the city. CNN's Nic Robertson reports from a large crater in the center where nearby residents have been forced to evacuate their homes. 00:33 - Source: CNN Scene outside assassinated state representative's home CNN's Whitney Wild is outside the home of Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman, who was shot and killed in a "politically motivated assassination" along with her husband early Saturday morning. Police are still searching for the suspect. 00:41 - Source: CNN Shooting at Salt Lake City 'No Kings' march Officers responded to gunshots at a 'No Kings' march in Salt Lake City, Utah and took three people into custody in relation to the incident. One person was transferred to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. Salt Lake City police said the motive for the shooting was under investigation. 00:26 - Source: CNN
Yahoo
42 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Dem Assassin Is ‘Strong Trump Supporter' Best Friend Reveals
The suspected assassin who ambushed a Minnesota state senator and lawmaker in a deadly attack was a 'strong' supporter of President Donald Trump, his roommate revealed. David Carlson told reporters Saturday that suspected killer Vance L. Boelter voted fro the MAGA president last year. The revelation came after Republicans such as Elon Musk painted Boelter, who was appointed to Governor Walz's Workforce Development Board in 2019, as a violent leftist—despite his pro-life views and his plans to target dozens of Democratic leaders. Boelter and his wife, who was detained for questioning on Saturday, were registered Republicans while living in Oklahoma in the early 2000s, according to public records. However, Minnesota does not require people to select a party when registering to vote. Carlson told CNN that he received a text message from Boelter around 6 a.m. on Saturday, hours after he allegedly gunned down Democratic state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband at their home in Brooklyn Park and critically wounded state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife at their home in Champlin. Hoffman and his wife underwent surgery for multiple gun shot wounds, CBS reported. 'I just want to let you know that I love you guys both,' Boelter allegedly said in a text, according to Carlson. Boelter added, 'I don't want to say anything more and implicate you in any way, because you, you guys don't know anything about this. But I love you guys, and I'm sorry for all the trouble this has caused.' BBC reported that Boelter traded gunfire with police at Hortman's home but managed to escape. Gov. Tim Walz called the attack a 'politically motivated assassination' amid reports that Boelter allegedly compiled a list of other potential Democratic targets, including Walz and House Rep. Ilhan Omar, and local health care facilities. Yet Carlson described Boelter to local news outlets as a 'loving, caring guy' who 'loved his family, loved his friends, loved God'—but also someone who was struggling to find work and 'needed help,' according to CNN. 'Maybe things didn't work out and he just gave up and decided to go out in the blaze of glory,' Carlson said. 'I have no idea what he was thinking.' Carlson said he reported Boelter's text messages to authorities shortly after receiving them. Carlson added, 'It's just it's not Vance. ... He had lots of friends, trust me, and I wish I could have been there to stop him.' The FBI has launched a manhunt for Boelter, who is still considered armed and dangerous, and Trump said on Saturday that Attorney General Pam Bondi was leading the investigation.
