Trump torn between support to Israel and opposition to military intervention abroad
Donald Trump had promised to end the war in Ukraine, yet fighting continued. The disaster in Gaza persisted, far from the real estate magnate's fanciful dreams of turning the Palestinian territory into a Riviera. Now, the US president finds himself – contrary to his professed pacifism and rejection of military interventions – on the brink of a new Middle East war involving the US in support of Israel. The massive attack carried out by Israel against Iran has put the White House in an uncomfortable position, where it seems to be both reacting to events and initiating them. With peace elusive and confrontation seeming inevitable, Trump acknowledged the attack, calling it "successful" without openly praising it. When around 100 Iranian missiles were launched in retaliation on the evening of Friday, June 13, the US military participated in Israel's defense, just as it had twice during President Joe Biden's term in 2024.
For Trump, the priority remains the safety of American civilian and military personnel deployed in the Middle East, a potential target for Iran. Israel, for its part, tried to involve Washington, stressing prior intelligence exchange. "It seems Trump had prior knowledge of the Israeli strikes, and that he gave a signal somewhere between green and yellow," said Dan Shapiro, former ambassador to Israel and now an expert at the Atlantic Council think tank. "He would have preferred more time for diplomacy, but he wasn't going to prevent Israel from acting after the 60-day window he set for Tehran, with all the evidence indicating how close they were to acquiring a bomb."
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France 24
an hour ago
- France 24
Iran missiles kill 10 in Israel in night of mutual attacks
In Iran, a heavy cloud of smoke billowed over the capital after Israeli aircraft struck two fuel depots. For days, Iranians have formed long queues at gas stations fearing shortages. US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Washington "had nothing to do" with ally Israel's intense bombardment campaign that was launched early Friday, targeting key military and nuclear sites in Iran. But Trump threatened to launch "the full strength and might" if Iran attacks US interests, saying on his Truth Social platform that "we can easily get a deal done between Iran and Israel, and end this bloody conflict!!!" Israeli police said six people were killed and at least 180 injured at the site of an overnight missile strike in Bat Yam, near Tel Aviv on Israel's Mediterranean coast. First responders wearing helmets and headlamps combed through the bombed-out building as dawn broke, with police saying at least seven people were missing, feared buried under the rubble. "There was an explosion and I thought the whole house had collapsed," said Bat Yam resident Shahar Ben Zion. "It was a miracle we survived." In the north of Israel, rescuers and medics said a strike late Saturday destroyed a three-storey building in the town of Tamra, killing four women and taking the overall death toll in the country since Friday to 13. Iran's UN ambassador said 78 people were killed and 320 wounded in Friday's first wave of Israeli strikes. Iranian authorities have not provided an updated toll as of early Sunday, but Tehran says Israel has killed top army commanders and nuclear scientists. - 'Red line' - After decades of enmity and conflict by proxy, it is the first time the arch-enemies have traded fire with such intensity, triggering fears of a prolonged conflict that could engulf the entire Middle East. In Iran's capital early Sunday, AFP journalists heard a series of blasts. The Israeli military also said it had struck nuclear sites including the secretive Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND), fuel tankers and other targets. The Iranian oil ministry said Israel struck two fuel depots in the Tehran area. An AFP journalist saw a depot at Shahran, northwest of the capital, on fire. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to hit "every target of the ayatollah regime", while Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned further strikes would draw "a more severe and powerful response". Israeli strikes have hit Iran's Natanz uranium enrichment plant and killed its highest-ranking military officer, Mohammad Bagheri, as well as the head of the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hossein Salami. On Sunday, the Israeli military warned Iranians to evacuate areas near weapons facilities nationwide. "The Zionist regime crossed a new red line in international law" by "attacking nuclear facilities", Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told foreign diplomats, according to state TV. He also said Tehran had "solid proof" US forces supported the Israeli attacks. "We are defending ourselves; our defence is entirely legitimate... If the aggression stops, naturally our responses will also stop." - UK 'support' - The attacks persisted despite global calls for de-escalation, with Iran scrapping its latest nuclear talks with the United States, saying it could not negotiate while under fire from Israel. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Sunday they had struck sites used by Israeli warplanes for refuelling, in retaliation for the earlier Israeli strikes. The Guards in a statement vowed to respond "more fiercely and more broadly" if Israel keeps up its deadly campaign. Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels said they had launched several missiles at Israel in attacks that were "coordinated with the operations carried out by the Iranian military". The Israeli military said it had intercepted seven drones launched at the country within an hour on Sunday. Highlighting the global unease, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned against a "devastating war" with regional consequences, in a call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Ankara said. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Saturday that his country was deploying fighter jets and other "assets" to the Middle East "for contingency support", while he also urged de-escalation. © 2025 AFP
Euronews
an hour ago
- Euronews
Israel military warns Iran to evacuate nuclear sites
The Israeli military has warned Iran on Sunday to immediately evacuate 'military weapons production factories,' likely signalling new strikes. Col. Avichay Adraee, a military spokesperson, posted the warning on the social platform X in Farsi. In the past, Adraee has signalled other strikes in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Yemen amid the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. His warning came just after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran would stop its attacks on Israel if Israel stopped its strikes. Our journalists are working on this developing story. It's day 2 in Budapest at the OTP Bank World Judo Championships. Dr. Tamas Sulyok, President of Hungary officially opened the event with IJF President, Mr Marius Vizer and Hungarian Judo Association President Dr Lazlo Toth in the presence of President of the Republic of Botswana President Duma Gideon Boko. ABE Uta powered her way into the final with precision and control from the first exchange. Her judo was sharp, her focus unshakable, and she looked every bit the champion in waiting. She sailed through the preliminaries, calm under pressure. In the final, she would face Kosovo's Distria KRASNIQI — a fierce competitor looking for a World title of her own. Krasniqi had been in excellent form throughout the day, battling through the preliminaries with a determination that makes her such a dangerous opponent. As the gold medal contest approached, both athletes looked sharp, setting the stage for a high-level clash between two world-class judoka. Ultimately, it was Abe who came out on top once again, claiming her fifth world title in style with ippon! The crowd roared with joy. Her Imperial Highness Princess Tomohito of Mikasa awarded the medals. In the -66kg, Tajikistan's Nurali EMOMALI made it to the gold medal match after an impressive run through the preliminaries. After taking fifth place at last year's World Championships, one final contest stood between him and history. His opponent would be Japan's Takeshi TAKEOKA who delivered a brilliant performance, making his way to the final with confident, high-paced judo. Each contest showed his relentless pressure as he drove his way towards his goal, could he prove he belonged among the elite? In the final, as the two athletes went head-to-head in a tightly contested match, it was a single yuko that proved decisive — a small score in a high-stakes moment that ultimately determined the World Champion. President of the Republic of Botswana President Duma Gideon Boko awarded the medals. A highlight for the home nation was Roza GYERTYAS's impressive bronze medal! A moment that lit up the arena and brought the Budapest crowd to their feet. Join us again tomorrow for more!
Euronews
4 hours ago
- Euronews
Iran and Israel continue exchanging strikes, leaving several dead
The grand military parade that US President Donald Trump had been wanting for years barrelled down Constitution Avenue in Washington, DC on Saturday with tanks, troops and a 21-gun salute. It played out against the counterpoint of protests around the country by those who decried the US leader as a dictator and would-be king. During the parade, which coincided with Trump's 79th birthday, he sat on a special viewing stand south of the White House to watch the display of American military might, which began early and moved swiftly as light rain fell and dark clouds shrouded the Washington Monument. The procession, with more than 6,000 soldiers and 128 Army tanks, was one Trump tried to make happen in his first term after seeing such an event in Paris in 2017, but the plans never came together until this year, when the parade was added to an event recognising the Army's 250th anniversary. Hours before the parade started, demonstrators turned out in streets and parks around the nation to sound off against the Republican president. They criticized Trump for using the military to respond to people protesting his deportation efforts and for the muscular military show in the US capital. In Washington, anti-war protesters unfurled signs that said 'Homes not drones' not far from a display of armoured vehicles, helicopters and military-grade equipment on the National Mall set up to commemorate the Army's birthday. Vendors outside the festival sold gear marking the military milestone. Others hawked Trump-themed merchandise. Doug Haynes, a Navy veteran who voted for Trump, attended the daylong festival to celebrate the Army's 250th birthday, but said that the parade 'was a little over the top.' Pointing at a nearby tank, Haynes said that having them roll down the street is a 'very bold statement to the world, perhaps.' 'No Kings' rallies unfolded in hundreds of cities, designed to counter what organisers said were Trump's plans to feed his ego on his 79th birthday and flag day. Organisers said they picked the name to support democracy and speak out against what they call the authoritarian actions of the Trump administration. The parade was added just a few weeks ago to the planned celebration of the Army's birthday and has drawn criticism for its price tag of up to $45 million and the possibility that the lumbering tanks could tear up city streets. The Army has taken a variety of steps to protect the streets, including laying metal plates along the route. The daylong display of America's Army comes as Trump has shown his willingness to use the nation's military might in ways other US presidents have typically avoided. In the last week, he has activated the California National Guard without the governor's permission and dispatched the US Marines to provide security during Los Angeles protests related to immigration raids, prompting a state lawsuit to stop the deployments. A previously calm demonstration in downtown LA quickly turned chaotic as police on horseback charged at the crowd, striking some with wood rods and batons as they cleared the street in front of the federal building. Officers then fired tear gas and crowd control projectiles at the large group, sending demonstrators, hot dog vendors and passing pedestrians fleeing through the street. Some have since regrouped, ignoring an LAPD dispersal order. 'Less lethal has been approved. Less lethal may cause discomfort and pain. It is advised that all persons leave the area,' police said in a post on X. 'It was a total 100% over-reaction. We weren't doing anything but standing around chanting peaceful protest,' said Samantha Edgerton, a 37-year-old bartender. Marines appeared for the first time at a demonstration since they were deployed to city on Friday with the stated mission of defending federal property. Dozens of Marines stood shoulder to shoulder in full combat gear, hands on their rifles, beside other law enforcement, including Department of Homeland Security officers at the National Guard. Directly in front of them, hundreds of protesters jeered in English and Spanish, telling the federal troops to go home. Iran and Israel traded rounds of strikes late Saturday in the latest salvo since a surprise attack a day earlier aimed at decimating Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear programme. Israeli citizens were instructed to take shelter in protected spaces as Iran launched a new round of retaliatory attacks. The Magen David Adom emergency service said three people were killed in the Tel Aviv area, with dozens of others wounded. Israeli police reported that four people were killed in the northern town of Tamra near Haifa, according to local media. Tamra is a predominantly Palestinian city in Israel. Across the country, over 100 people were reported injured following Iran's latest attacks. Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard in a statement said that Iranian missiles targeted facilities of production of fuel for Israeli jetfighters. It said Iran will fire further missiles if Israeli strikes continue. Israel's military said early Sunday it targeted Iran's Defence Ministry headquarters in Tehran. "Tehran is burning," Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a post on X. Israel's military also said it targeted sites it alleged were associated with Iran's nuclear programme around Tehran. It alleged the sites were 'related to the Iranian regime's nuclear weapons project.' US intelligence agencies and the International Atomic Energy Agency have repeatedly said Iran was not pursuing a nuclear weapon before Israel unleashed its campaign of airstrikes targeting Iran beginning Friday. Oman's foreign minister, Badr al-Busaidi, said on social media the sixth round of indirect nuclear talks on Sunday 'will not now take place." Although the talks are off for now, 'we remain committed to talks and hope the Iranians will come to the table soon," said a senior US official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss diplomacy. Israel and Iran signalled further attacks, despite urgent calls from world leaders to deescalate and avoid all-out war. In what could be another escalation if confirmed, semi-official Iranian news agencies reported an Israeli drone struck and caused a 'strong explosion' at an Iranian natural-gas processing plant. It would be the first Israeli attack on Iran's oil and natural gas industry. Israel's military did not immediately comment. The extent of damage at the South Pars natural gas field was not immediately clear. Such sites have air defence systems around them, which Israel has been targeting. Iran says its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only, and US intelligence agencies have assessed that Tehran was not actively pursuing the bomb. But its uranium enrichment has reached near weapons-grade levels, and on Thursday, the UN's atomic watchdog censured Iran for not complying with obligations meant to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon. Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Aragchi said Saturday the nuclear talks were 'unjustifiable' after Israel's strikes. His comments came during a call with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. A Minnesota lawmaker and her husband were shot and killed in their home early on Saturday by someone posing as a police officer, and a second lawmaker and his wife were wounded in what Governor Tim Walz described as 'targeted political violence.' Former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her spouse were killed in their Brooklyn Park home, while state Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette, although shot multiple times, were taken to the hospital and underwent surgery. Authorities were actively searching for a suspect in the hours following the shootings. 'We must all, in Minnesota and across the country, stand against all forms of political violence," Walz said at a press conference on Saturday. Superintendent Drew Evans of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension stated that authorities were actively searching for the suspect. AP's sources stated that the motive has not yet been determined and that the investigation is still in its early stages. Hours after the shootings, hundreds of police and sheriff deputies from departments in the region, some in tactical gear with assault style weapons, were scattered through the town. Occasional police roadblocks were set up, where cars are stopped and searched for the investigation. After the attack, police in Minnesota officially cancelled the 'No Kings' protests, which are against President Trump's policies. Police have recovered writings that mention names of multiple lawmakers and other officials in the fake police car that they believe the suspect used in the shooting.
