Questions Grow As Trump Maintains 'Total Obliteration' - CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip - Podcast on CNN Podcasts
Questions Grow As Trump Maintains 'Total Obliteration' CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip 47 mins
With skies on alert and smoke settling in Iran, America's credibility is on the line over the truth. Plus, is American politics being overtaken by its extremes? Will a socialist become a norm beyond Gotham?
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
U.S. Has Attacked Iran's Nuclear Facilities (Updated)
The U.S. has directly entered the war against Iran, striking three nuclear facilities, President Donald Trump announced via social media. The attack came on the ninth day of the Israel-Iran war in which Israeli forces have been attacking Iranian nuclear weapons facilities among other targets, including ballistic missile launchers, air defense systems, military leaders, and nuclear scientists. You can catch up with our coverage of this fight here. Rolling coverage via live updates are at the bottom of this article. 'We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan,' Trump stated on Truth Social. 'All planes are now outside of Iran airspace. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter.' — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 21, 2025 Trump did not say how the facilities were attacked. However, as we explained earlier today, at least two separate groups of B-2 Spirit stealth bombers were heading westward across the Pacific Ocean. The destination was unclear, and it's possible other B-2s were sent clandestinely to hit the targets. Other aircraft could also have been involved. However, B-2s carrying 30,000-pound GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bunker buster bombs are widely seen as the only readily available conventional option for targeting the deeply-buried enrichment facility at Fordow, in particular, short of a ground raid. The U.S. attack came a day after Trump mentioned that he was still deliberating what he would do, but that previous comments about giving Iran two weeks to end their nuclear ambitions were the maximum timeframe. This is a developing story. Stay with TWZ for updates. – After the strikes, the big question is whether Iran will retaliate and in what manner? This could widen the war significantly if Iran launches attacks on U.S. bases throughout the region. An attempt to close the Strait of Hormuz is also a possibility. What isn't known is how Iran's command and control architecture is operating and if additional capabilities have been deployed by the U.S. to degrade it in order to make a massive response harder to execute. The U.S. has evacuated many of its personnel, aircraft, and ships from Persian Gulf bases, but these are still potential targets, which could prompt a response from host countries if attacked. Also, what is important to factor in is that although Israel has degraded Iran's long-range ballistic missile capability over the last week — there has been no launches in the last 24 hours, which is a first and a potential indicator of the state of these forces — Iran's short-range ballistic and cruise missile, as well as one-way attack drone capability is far more expansive and harder to target. These systems are a major threat to U.S. bases in the region. We also don't know if the B-2 group that appeared to be sent out over the Pacific could have made it to Iran on the timetable now established. It is very possible this was a feint in order to provide cover for the real strike force. We are looking into the timing and will report more when we can more definitively answer this question. While the B-52s now located in Diego Garcia can drop GBU-57 MOPs, as they did in early testing, it is not a known operational capability for the type. Also, using those assets would be much riskier than the B-2 due to their lack of stealth. Still, it may have been possible depending on the state of Iran's air defenses, especially in the east of the country where Israeli operations have been far lower in volume, and what other assets would have assisted in the attacks. It seems most likely that another group of B-2s was sent east, using the already deployed tanker bridge, to clandestinely carry out the strikes. They could have also been moved in the days prior, clandestinely, to bases closer to Iran. Even the B-2 shelters in Diego Garcia could have hidden four B-2s. The UK is another established B-2 operating base, but they could have gone somewhere else, as well. The B-2 community has worked to hone its forward operations capabilities in recent years. There are many unknowns at this time. There were also unconfirmed reports leading up to Trump's announcement that strikes had occurred at the three nuclear sites. At the same time, there were also reports that Bandar Abbas, Iran's main naval facility on the Persian Gulf and the epicenter for IRGC naval assets that would be used to close the strait, was struck. Now it appears this indeed did happen, based on news out of Israel: An explosion seen at the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas following an Israeli strike. — Ariel Oseran أريئل أوسيران (@ariel_oseran) June 21, 2025 Trump has also retweeted the statement, 'Fordow is gone.' from an open-source intelligence account on Truth Social: Israel has changed its defense posture following the strikes: Israel hunkering down: IDF: Changes to the Home Front Command Instructions With the approval of the Minister of Defense Israel Katz, and following the situational assessment, it was determined that as of today (Sunday), at 03:45am, immediate changes will be made to the Home Front Command instructions. As part of the changes, it was decided to shift all areas of the country from Partial and Limited Activity to Essential Activity. The instructions include: a prohibition on educational activities, gatherings, and workplaces, except for essential sectors. The public is required to follow the instructions published on the official Home Front Command channels. Full instructions will be updated on the National Emergency Portal and the Home Front Command app. The IRGC just posted this on Telegram: – Ships are still moving through the strait. This is simply an indicator of the current situation. It will likely take time for Iran to act, especially if its command and control is being further disrupted. Possibly the most important map right now, via @ 3 dozen large oil tankers are making their way through the Strait of Hormuz at the moment. — OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 22, 2025 Sean Hannity, Fox News commentator and close friend to Trump, has stated that the strike included six weapons dropped from B-2s on Fordow, and the other two sites were struck by Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles. We cannot confirm this, but it's the first thing we have heard detailing the assets used. Sean Hannity reports 6 bunker busting bombs were dropped on Fordow from USAF B-2 bombers. Isfahan and Natanz targeted with Tomahawk cruise missiles from submarines. — Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) June 22, 2025 Iranian state media is claiming that they evacuated nuclear materials from these sites. Even if that is the case, the infrastructure is of extremely high value regardless. NYT is reporting that Fordow was 'taken off the table.' US official tells NYT: The Fordow Nuclear facility has been hit by several bunker buster bombs. Initial BDA indicate that the facility has been "taken off the table" — Faytuks News (@Faytuks) June 22, 2025 The NYT is also reporting that Trump acted because Israel had not made significant gains in eliminating Iran's nuclear program, and it was unlikely they could achieve greater results: 'One reason the U.S. may have struck multiple sites on Saturday was that its intelligence agencies estimated that Israeli attacks only set back Iran's nuclear program by about six months. The assessments also concluded that further Israeli attacks were unlikely to do more damage.' 'A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence, said the strikes against the three nuclear sites on Saturday were complete. The official said no follow-up attacks were expected, although commanders were ready to respond to any Iranian retaliatory attacks.' Massive attacks across the electronic spectrum are absolutely right on cue. Defending the strike package from counter-air, yes, but to disrupt Iran's command and control and break their decision cycle is of the utmost importance throughout the coming hours. Fielding a large coordinated response will be extremely challenging without it. Reports out of Iran right now of some of the most heavy wide spectrum jamming of the war, radios, GPS, and cell all experiencing heavy degradation. Most likely US electronic warfare supporting strikes. — OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 21, 2025 Statement from The Arms Control Association criticizing the strikes: How the Pentagon used the open source community for their feint was a textbook play. It's a tactic we have discussed before. As I have stated repeatedly, for all the issues the OSINT community may cause military planners, it can also be used to their greatest advantage when it really matters. — Tyler Rogoway (@Aviation_Intel) June 22, 2025 One person appears to have spotted the actual strike aircraft yesterday: I'm in Warsaw Missouri. Just witnessed 9 B2's fly over head traveling due east — David Shayani (@shayadave) June 21, 2025 Speaker Mike Johnson's statement on the operation: The military operations in Iran should serve as a clear reminder to our adversaries and allies that President Trump means what he says. The President gave Iran's leader every opportunity to make a deal, but Iran refused to commit to a nuclear disarmament agreement. President… — Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) June 22, 2025 – CNN reports that Israel was told the strike was coming, which makes absolute sense, as not doing that could lead to a disaster: 'The US gave Israel a heads-up on its strikes in Iran before launching them, two officials familiar with the matter told CNN. US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also spoke Saturday evening following the US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, two White House officials said.' CNN also reports that top democratic leadership was not briefed prior to the strike. Iran is threatening passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian official: Fuel ships will not pass to Europe through the Strait of Hormuz. — From Iran (@A_M_R_M1) June 22, 2025 Possible video of TLAM strikes on Isfahan: When lined up, the explosions are seen right on top of the tunnel entrances. The camera POV is at 32.551007, 51.88425 — Mitchell Ulrich (@Mitch_Ulrich) June 22, 2025 Trump is speaking now: — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 22, 2025 Trump says the strikes were a spectacular success and that the sites are destroyed, and threatens massive reprisals, including many more strikes, if Iran doesn't make peace. Images from inside the situation room: The White House Situation Room during the strike — Raylan Givens (@JewishWarrior13) June 22, 2025 More threats from the IRGC: Iranian Revolutionary Guard: The U.S. must await severe punishment… we will target all American interests in the Middle East. — From Iran (@A_M_R_M1) June 22, 2025 Iranian state TV is claiming that only the entrance and exits of Fordow were bombed. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said he got a basic heads-up, without details: News: Schumer, a member of the Gang of Eight, got a 'perfunctory' heads up about the Iran strikes 'without any details' per source — Andrew Desiderio (@AndrewDesiderio) June 22, 2025 There is a video circulating that supposedly says the Houthis will target U.S. ships once again. This remains unconfirmed at this time: BREAKING: Yemen ready to attack all American ships and warships in the Red — E X X ➠A L E R T S (@ExxAlerts) June 22, 2025 Iran threatens U.S. bases and personnel in the region: Iranian TV: Every American citizen or soldier in the region is now a legitimate target. — Clash Report (@clashreport) June 22, 2025 Statement from the Iranian Atomic Energy Agency via Iran's semi-official Tasnim News: Following the brutal attacks of the Zionist enemy over the past few days, at dawn today, the country's nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan were attacked by the enemies of Islamic Iran in a barbaric act that violated international law, especially the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). This action, contrary to international law, was unfortunately carried out in the shadow of the indifference and even the complicity of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The American enemy, through cyberspace, has claimed responsibility for the attack on the aforementioned sites, which are under the continuous supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency, based on the Safeguards Agreement and the NPT Treaty. The international community is expected to condemn the lawlessness based on the rules of the jungle and support Iran in achieving its legitimate rights. The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran assures the great nation of Iran that despite the evil conspiracies of its enemies, with the efforts of its thousands of revolutionary and motivated scientists and experts, it will not allow the path of development of this national industry, which is the result of the blood of nuclear martyrs, to be stopped. This organization has put the necessary measures, including legal action, on its agenda to defend the rights of the noble Iranian nation. – Data available through NASA's Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) indicates fires in the vicinity of Fordow following the strikes. Fires detected by NASA FIRMS in the vicinity of Iran's Fordow nuclear facility following US strikes. — Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (BlueSky too) (@Archer83Able) June 22, 2025 CBS News and Fox News are reporting that the individuals listed in the social media posts below were in the White House Situation Room during the mission. A number of additional individuals not seen in pictures put out by the White House were reportedly present, including Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. DNI Tulsi Gabbard was in the Situation Room — along with others not pictured in WH photos or on this list, I am told — Jacqui Heinrich (@JacquiHeinrich) June 22, 2025 Israeli forces have conducted no additional strikes on Iran since the U.S. operation and are reportedly waiting to see what Iran's reaction might be before continuing with their campaign, according to Israel's public broadcaster Kan. Israel awaits the Iranian reaction, to decide if and how to continue with its military operation. @kann_news says no Israeli strikes reported since the American attack. All eyes on Tehran (and Washington). — rina bassist (@RinaBassist) June 22, 2025 'No radioactive effects were detected on the environment of the Kingdom and the Arab Gulf states as a result of the US military targeting of Iran's nuclear facilities,' according to a machine translation of the post below from the Saudi Arabian Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Commission (NRRC). لم يرصد أي آثار إشعاعية على بيئة المملكة، ودول الخليج العربية؛ نتيجة الاستهدافات العسكرية الأمريكية لمرافق إيران النووية. — هيئة الرقابة النووية والإشعاعية (@SaudiNRRC) June 22, 2025 Iran's Tasnim News has published the video below, which is said to be evidence that the city of Qom, which is in the vicinity of Fordow, has been unaffected by the U.S. strikes. Tasnim News broadcast a recorded segment from the city of Qom near the Fordow nuclear facility to show that life had not been disrupted by the attack. — Murtaza Hussain (@MazMHussain) June 22, 2025 Tasnim has also published the following, which it says are firsthand accounts of the situation around Fordow in the aftermath of the strikes: People in the area did not hear any loud explosions. Trump claimed this morning that he had attacked Iranian nuclear sites, including Fordow, and destroyed these facilities. Tasnim's reporter immediately went to the Fordow area; people in the area say that last night, like the previous nights, the sounds of small aircraft and air defenses could be heard. People say they heard several continuous sounds, but not what Trump says, and not the loud explosion that has been claimed. According to the Tasnim reporter, conditions in the area are now normal, life is going on, and not even smoke or flames are visible. Iran's Fars News has also published additional, reportedly firsthand accounts of the strikes on Fordow: A field report from around the Fordow site in the early hours of this morning indicates widespread activity by air defense systems and the observation of signs of air conflict in the area. The Fars reporter, upon hearing the first activation of the Hazrat Masoumeh (PBUH) defense system at 2:05 AM, moved towards the Fordow site area. On the way, at around 2:07, a slight explosion was heard, which, according to him, was less intense than the sound of the defense targeting on June 14. He also stated that on his way, he heard a loud sound of the defense, and as he reached the area of the Mehr and Mah welfare complex, the effects of the defense activity were clearly visible in the sky. At around 2:35 AM, the present reporter observed flames coming from the direction of Fordow, accompanied by the sound of an explosion, in the vicinity of the Mahtab Welfare Complex. The flames were not very high and subsided after about 3 to 4 minutes. In addition, a significant amount of light smoke and dust rose into the air in the area, which was clearly visible in the darkness of the night. Additional reports regarding the details of this incident and its consequences are being reviewed. – CNN and The New York Times have now reported that a total of 12 GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs were dropped on Fordow by six B-2 bombers, and that another B-2 dropped two more of the bunker buster bombs on Natanz. CNN is now reporting that 6 B-2A 'Spirit' Long-Range Stealth Bombers with the U.S. Air Force dropped a total of 12, not 6, GBU-57A/B MOP (Massive Ordnance Penetrator) 30,000lb 'Bunker Buster' Bombs on the Fordow Nuclear Facility in Central Iran. In addition, U.S. Navy submarines… — OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) June 22, 2025 The Times has also reported that the B-2s flew approximately 37 hours nonstop during the mission. NEW: The B-2s that struck Iranian nuclear sites flew non-stop for ~37 hours from Missouri, refueling multiple times mid-air, according to a U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity – NYT — Faytuks Network (@FaytuksNetwork) June 22, 2025 'I am told by experts that the underground tunnel at Isfahan is a MUCH harder target than Fordow, and it is not clear whether the Tomahawks were able to destroy it,' Fox News' Jennifer Griffin has posted on X. I am told by experts that the underground tunnel at Isfahan is a MUCH harder target than Fordow and it is not clear whether the Tomahawks were able to destroy it. ' There is no way they got in that tunnelIt's deeper than Qom – and harder rock,' well placed source tells Fox.… — Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) June 22, 2025 Imagery captured by Meteosat-9, a meteorological satellite operated by the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), shows a 'flash' at Fordow around the reported time of the U.S. strikes. Faytuks Network: At 22:30 UTC, Meteosat-9 detected a flash over the Fordow enrichment plant. The event registered at 3.90 micrometers and was visible on nighttime microphysics scans. The location aligns with the salt plain east of Fordow. — Faytuks Network (@FaytuksNetwork) June 22, 2025 'A senior Israeli official tells me that it is too early to know exactly what the results of the U.S. strike in Iran are, but stressed that 'what is certain is that Iran's nuclear program has been set back by years,'' Axios' Barak Ravid posted on X. 'The senior Israeli official noted that if, following the U.S. strike, a good agreement with Iran is reached, it would be 'the end of the story' for Iran's nuclear program. The senior Israeli official stressed that if no nuclear agreement is reached and if Iran tries to rebuild its nuclear facilities, Israel will strike again — as it did against Iranian entrenchment attempts in Syria and Hezbollah's rearmament efforts in Lebanon.' A senior Israeli official tells me that it is too early to know exactly what the results of the U.S. strike in Iran are, but stressed that 'what is certain is that Iran's nuclear program has been set back by years' The senior Israeli official noted that if, following the U.S.… — Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) June 22, 2025 Iranian authorities have said, so far, there are 'no signs of [nuclear] contamination' following the U.S. strikes on Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz, according to the AP and AFP. #BREAKING Iran says 'no signs of contamination' after US attacks on key nuclear sites — AFP News Agency (@AFP) June 22, 2025 'We're tracking the situation unfolding in Iran,' the New York City Police Department has said in a statement. 'Out of an abundance of caution, we're deploying additional resources to religious, cultural, and diplomatic sites across NYC and coordinating with our federal partners. We'll continue to monitor for any potential impact to NYC.' We're tracking the situation unfolding in Iran. Out of an abundance of caution, we're deploying additional resources to religious, cultural, and diplomatic sites across NYC and coordinating with our federal partners. We'll continue to monitor for any potential impact to NYC. — NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) June 22, 2025 – Commercial satellite imagery provider Maxar Technologies has shared the following images along with the accompanying statement below: 'Prior to tonight's airstrikes on the three Iranian nuclear-associated facilities, Maxar collected high-resolution satellite imagery on June 19th and June 20th of the Fordow fuel enrichment facility that revealed unusual truck and vehicular activity near the entrance to the underground military complex. On June 19th, a group of 16 cargo trucks were positioned along the access road that leads to the tunnel entrance of the facility. Subsequent imagery on June 20th revealed that most of the trucks had repositioned approximately one kilometer northwest along the access road; however, additional trucks and several bulldozers were seen near the entrance to the main facility and one truck was positioned immediately next to the main tunnel entrance.' – Iran has now launched another salvo of ballistic missiles at Israel, with reported impacts in Tel Aviv and Haifa. There are reports that 25 to 30 Iranian missiles were fired, with at least 10 of them reaching the ground. Central Israel targeted — OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 22, 2025 Iranian ballistic missiles screaming back into the lower atmosphere as they descended towards Tel Aviv, Israel, this morning. — OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 22, 2025 Large ballistic missile engagement over Tel Aviv moments ago, dozens of Israeli interceptors fired as Iranian ballistic missiles fly in. — OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 22, 2025 Iranian missiles over Israel. — Clash Report (@clashreport) June 22, 2025 Iranian missiles hit Israel. — Clash Report (@clashreport) June 22, 2025 Impact in Haifa. — Clash Report (@clashreport) June 22, 2025 Roughly 25–30 ballistic missiles were fired in that last barrage by Iran, with roughly 10 impacts in the north and center of Israel. — OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) June 22, 2025 Video footage that may show U.S. strikes on Isfahan has emerged online. Likely footage of US Navy-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles hitting Iran's Isfahan nuclear facility, as seen from nearby: — OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 22, 2025 'Senior officials in the defense establishment told Here News over the weekend that Israel had exhausted its bank of targets in Iran against the Islamic Republic's nuclear sites and that the understanding was that it would have to wait for the US, which alone could, through its military capabilities, destroy the underground nuclear facility at Fordow,' Israeli journalist Itay Blumental has posted on X. 'In the past two days, senior IDF officials told Kan News, the Air Force has attacked targets in Iran in the Revolutionary Guards' surface-to-surface missile and air defense systems – to 'deepen the achievements.'' From @ItayBlumental Senior officials in the Israeli defense establishment told Here News over the weekend that Israel had exhausted its bank of targets in Iran against the Islamic Republic's nuclear sites and that the understanding was that it would have to wait for the US,… — Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) June 22, 2025 'The United States, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has committed a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law and the NPT [Non-Proliferation Treaty] by attacking Iran's peaceful nuclear installations,' Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Araghchi has said in a statement condemning the U.S. strikes. 'In accordance with the UN Charter and its provisions allowing a legitimate response in self-defense, Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people.' The United States, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has committed a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law and the NPT by attacking Iran's peaceful nuclear events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting… — Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) June 22, 2025 Iran's Fars News has also reported the following on a letter sent to the United Nations Security Council following the U.S. strikes: Iran's letter to the Security Council following US aggression against nuclear facilities Following today's US aggression against the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear facilities, Iran's mission to the United Nations wrote to the Security Council requesting an emergency meeting. The letter states: In order to maintain international peace and security, the Islamic Republic of Iran urgently calls for an emergency meeting of the Security Council without any delay, in order to address this blatant and illegal act of aggression, condemn it in the strongest possible terms, and take all necessary measures within the framework of the responsibilities assigned to the Council under the Charter of the United Nations so that the perpetrators of these heinous crimes are fully held accountable and do not go unpunished. The Islamic Republic of Iran condemns in the strongest possible terms these unprovoked and premeditated acts of aggression, which follow the massive military attack carried out by the Israeli regime on June 13 against Iran's peaceful nuclear sites and facilities. – Iran has launched another group of ballistic missiles at Israel. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) now says the Iranians launched 27 missiles in total, 22 in the first barrage and five in the second. — OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 22, 2025 The IDF Home Front Command says civilians can leave shelters following Iran's ballistic missile least 27 missiles were launched in the attack in two salvos, with impacts in Haifa and in central Israel. The first barrage included 22 missiles, and the second was made… — Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) June 22, 2025 Additional imagery of the aftermath of both salvos continues to emerge online. A crash site in Israel. — Clash Report (@clashreport) June 22, 2025 Tel Aviv. — Clash Report (@clashreport) June 22, 2025 Aftermath of Iranian missile attacks on Israel. — Clash Report (@clashreport) June 22, 2025 Mark Weatherington, a retired Air Force lieutenant general who flew B-2s and served as the deputy commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, has said that a strike on Fordow is a scenario that American forces have trained for 'many times for several years,' according to Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson. Former B-2 pilot and No. 2 at Global Strike retired Lt. Gen. Mark Weatherington says the Fordow mission has been reheased 'many times for several years.' — Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) June 22, 2025 'Following attacks on three nuclear sites in Iran – including Fordow – the IAEA can confirm that no increase in off-site radiation levels has been reported as of this time,' the International Atomic Energy Agency has said. 'IAEA will provide further assessments on the situation in Iran as more information becomes available.' Following attacks on three nuclear sites in Iran – including Fordow – the IAEA can confirm that no increase in off-site radiation levels has been reported as of this will provide further assessments on situation in Iran as more information becomes available. — IAEA – International Atomic Energy Agency (@iaeaorg) June 22, 2025 – We have some more content from Trump's statement about the U.S. airstrikes on Iran. 'Our objective was the destruction of Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world's number one state sponsor of terror,' Trump said in a speech from the White House. 'Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success. Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated.' Footage from Fordow, Iran, shows smoke near the nuclear site after a US strike. — WarTranslated (@wartranslated) June 22, 2025 We are also getting more evidence of the aftermath of Iranian reprisal strikes launched against Israel, including extensive damage to a residential area in Tel Aviv, as seen in the tweet below. Residential neighborhood hit by an Iranian ballistic missile in Tel Aviv. — OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 22, 2025 The United Kingdom, which has often in the past taken part in joint military actions with the United States, says it was not involved in the airstrikes on the three nuclear facilities. However, U.K. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds confirmed that the British government was aware of U.S. plans to launch the airstrikes. He added: 'I can't tell you exactly when we did know, but we were informed, as you might expect, by a key ally, of this action.' Reynolds said: 'We support the prevention of Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon. We had proposed a diplomatic course of action, as other European countries had done, the Iranians had rejected that.' Reynolds says there was no U.S. request to use its Diego Garcia airbase in the Indian Ocean. Israel has continued to strike targets in Iran. The Israel Defense Force (IDF) posted on X that it had struck 'dozens of locations' in central Iran. The IDF said that eight missile launchers were destroyed, as well as a military site containing 'components for the production of explosives.' The Israeli Air Force (IAF) attacked the airport at Isfahan, 'in order to prevent the Iranian air force from using military infrastructure at the site.' Meanwhile, the following video shows the destruction of two Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) F-5 fighter jets at Dezful, which was home to the 41st and 43rd Tactical Fighter Squadrons. The Israeli Air Force bombed two Iranian F-5 fighter jets at Dezful Airport in Iran a short while ago, the military says. — Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) June 22, 2025 Contact the author: howard@
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Loose Nukes In Iran Is A Scenario U.S. Special Operators Have Been Training For
As Israel's campaign of strikes on Iran continues, a question emerges about whether some level of additional action may be required on the ground to meet the stated goal of preventing the regime in Tehran from being able to acquire nuclear weapons. Even if unique U.S. conventional strike capabilities are brought to bear, there could still be significant targeting challenges, especially if the Iranians move to disperse elements of their nuclear program. If the Iranian government were to collapse, and do so suddenly, there would be further impetus to ensure enriched uranium and other dangerous nuclear materials are secured. Though many actors could play a role, U.S. special operations forces, in particular, have been actively training to respond to scenarios exactly like these for years. In 2016, the Department of Defense formally designated U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) as the lead entity for the Counter Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) mission, a role that U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) had previously held. Decades before then, the U.S. special operations community, especially the secretive Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), had been training to take a newly active role in tackling potential 'loose nukes' or other nuclear contingencies. This was driven in large part by the collapse of the Soviet Union, which had left nuclear weapons and other material scattered across a number of newly independent nations. Today, the U.S. military also has non-special operations units that could be called upon to support CWMD missions. Other entities within the U.S. government, like the Department of Energy and the Department of Justice (to include the Federal Bureau of Investigation), also have elements that can be deployed overseas as part of CWMD missions. When it comes to Iran, it's important to note that the exact current state of that country's nuclear program, including efforts to develop nuclear weapons, is a matter of dispute, including between U.S. and Israeli intelligence services. The regime in Tehran also has a long history of, at best, obfuscating and, at worst, actively lying about its nuclear ambitions. What is not in question is that, prior to the current conflict with Israel, the Iranian government had amassed a significant stockpile of enriched uranium and established facilities capable of producing more at an appreciable scale. As of May, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that Iran had a stockpile of close to 901 pounds, at least, of uranium enriched to 60% purity, which presents clear proliferation concerns. The 60% enrichment level is well above what is required for civilian power generation (typically between 3% and 5%), but also below the level for it to be considered highly enriched or weapons-grade (90%). At the same time, it is understood to be a relatively short step, technically speaking, to get uranium from 60% to 90% purity. As a standard metric, the IAEA says that 92.5 pounds of 60% uranium is sufficient for further enrichment into enough weapons-grade material for one nuclear bomb. Lower-grade nuclear material could also be fashioned into a so-called 'dirty bomb' designed just to spread radioactive contamination across an area. In addition to any immediate effects from the detonation of such a device, it could cause widespread panic and would require significant effort to clean up. Whether or not Iran is actively pursuing a nuclear weapon now, the country is understood to have been working toward that goal at least prior to 2003. Specialized equipment and other physical elements of the program, active or not, could also present proliferation risks. Israeli forces have already struck a number of Iranian nuclear sites as part of their ongoing campaign, but there are also ones that currently remain untouched, most notably the deeply-buried enrichment facility at Fordo. Questions around whether or not the U.S. military might soon enter the conflict more actively on the side of Israel center heavily around its unique ability to prosecute targets like Fordo with 30,000-pound GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bunker buster bombs dropped from B-2 stealth bombers. This all, in turn, raises additional questions about whether or not Iranian authorities might seek to disperse nuclear material and other assets to a wide array of locations in the face of these growing threats, if they haven't already, at least to some degree. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said over the weekend that unspecified 'special measures' had been taken to protect the country's nuclear program, and that these would not be communicated to the IAEA. #BREAKING #Iran's Deputy FM, @Gharibabadi: From now on, new and special measures to protect nuclear materials and equipment will not be notified to the @iaeaorg, and Iran will no longer cooperate with the IAEA as before. — Mohammad Ghaderi | محمد قادری (@ghaderi62) June 14, 2025 'I'm not so sure,' IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi told Bloomberg Television today when asked about the current potential whereabouts of Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium. 'In a time of war, all nuclear sites are closed. No inspections, no normal activity can take place.' 'Iran's 400 kilograms (880 pounds) of highly-enriched uranium could fit in three or four easily-concealed cylinders,' Bloomberg had also reported on Monday, citing nuclear-weapons engineer and former IAEA inspector Robert Kelley. 'Even if Israel destroys Iran's enrichment infrastructure, the location of that material will still need to be verified.' Prior to the outbreak of the current conflict, Israeli authorities reportedly also raised the possibility of Iran transferring nuclear assets to Houthi militants in Yemen with their American counterparts, who said they had no evidence of any such plans. As noted, a collapse of the regime in Tehran, especially if it is precipitous, would present clear further impetus to try to secure whatever might be left of Iran's nuclear program from falling into the wrong hands. In any of the aforementioned scenarios, the U.S. special operations community, especially so-called 'tier one' units like the U.S. Army's Delta Force and the U.S. Navy's SEAL Team Six, could come into play. U.S. special operations units are ideally suited to rapidly and discreetly infiltrate into a target area to extract items of interest from an objective like a nuclear facility in Iran. If the items in question are too large to be moved by the special operations force, depending on what they are, they could then be destroyed in place or secured until a larger follow-on force arrives. Conventional supporting forces and interagency elements offering unique capabilities could accompany special operations forces on initial raids, as well. Special operations forces are also well-positioned to help intercept high-value targets on the move, including nuclear material that might make its way out of Iran, or threaten to do so, as the conflict with Israel continues. This could potentially include operations on land or at sea. This is not speculative, but reflects real mission scenarios the U.S. military is actively prepared to carry out. For instance, roughly a year ago, members of the Army's 75th Ranger Regiment partnered with a specialized non-special operations unit, called Nuclear Disablement Team 1 (NDT 1), to conduct an exercise consisting of a simulated raid under hostile fire on a decommissioned pulse radiation facility serving as a mock underground nuclear site. As another one of many examples, NDT 1 teamed up with Green Berets from the Army's 5th Special Operations Group for an exercise in 2023 involving a mock air assault on the Bellefonte Nuclear Power Plant in Alabama and a simulated shutdown of the facility. The NDTs are a prime example of conventional U.S. military units that could be called upon to support real-world special operations CWMD missions. The Army has three of these teams, all assigned to the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives (CBRNE) Command headquarters at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. These units are made up of personnel specially trained 'to exploit and disable nuclear and radiological Weapons of Mass Destruction infrastructure and components to deny near-term capability to adversaries,' according to the Army. 'The possibility of dealing with a damaged nuclear power station or emergencies involving nuclear reactors in a hostile environment is an emerging threat,' Army Capt. David Manzanares, a Nuclear Medical Science officer from NDT 1, said after the 2023 exercise at the Bellefonte Nuclear Power Plant. 'This training event was complex, dynamic and challenged our technical expertise.' 'NPPs [nuclear power plants] are a key part of the nuclear fuel cycle. It is the place all plutonium is produced. Therefore, reactors are a key area in nuclear weapon pathway defeat,' Army Maj. Aaron Heffelfinger, then-deputy chief of NDT 1, also said at that time. 'The NDT's ability to assess the state of a reactor, and if needed, control and shut it down, is crucial for our mission success and those we are directly supporting.' TWZ has also reported in recent years on efforts by the U.S. special operations community to hone other skill sets that could be particularly relevant to operations in Iran and its nuclear facilities, many of which are deep underground. In its annual budget request for the 2021 Fiscal Year, published in 2020, the Pentagon asked for $14.4 million for a new dedicated 19,200-square-foot site to help JSOC train to raid 'complex, hardened facility targets.' Whether or not that facility has since been built is unclear. In 2021, the Army's 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne), or 1st SFC (A), also published an unclassified white paper that included details about a plan to establish 'Hard Target Defeat Companies' of Green Berets. These would supplant existing Special Forces crisis response units, and be 'uniquely organized to counter near-peer adversary campaigns' and 'operate with regional partners to defeat hard targets in sensitive and constricted environments.' How those plans may have evolved since then is not immediately clear. There are also examples of the U.S. military, more broadly, conducting relevant missions in post-conflict environments. For instance, in 2008, American forces, including NDT members, helped remove 550 metric tons of so-called 'yellowcake' uranium oxide from the Tuwaitha Nuclear Research Center in Iraq. Yellowcake is an intermediate step in the refinement of uranium ore into fissile material. There are numerous instances of the U.S. government helping to secure nuclear material in circumstances entirely removed from conflicts, as well. All of this is also relevant when it comes to potential new non-nuclear proliferating risks that might now emerge from Iran, including in the aftermath of a sudden collapse of the regime in Tehran. For instance, there have been concerns about potential Iranian chemical and biological weapons developments over the years. In 2011, U.S. troops were deployed to guard chemical weapons sites in Libya following the downfall there of long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Libya's chemical weapons and related materials were subsequently destroyed in place, a process that took some three years to complete. American forces supported a failed effort to fully destroy Syria's chemical weapons stockpile in 2013. Iran also has expansive stockpiles of ballistic, cruise, and other missiles, as well as other conventional weapons that the United States and others would not want to see make their way to other hostile actors or otherwise end up on the black market. The Iranian government already has an extensive history of proliferating ballistic and cruise missiles, drones, air defense systems, and other conventional capabilities to its proxies across the Middle East. In the meantime, the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran continues to rapidly evolve. Questions similarly continue to mount about what the United States' role, including any potential employment of U.S. special operations forces on the ground, might be going forward. Contact the author: joe@
Bloomberg
12 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
EU's Ribera Won't Trade Big Tech Rules to Placate Trump
The European Union 's crackdown on Apple Inc., Meta Platforms Inc., and Alphabet Inc. 's Google isn't a bargaining chip in trade negotiations with US President Donald Trump, according to Teresa Ribera, the EU's competition chief. In an interview, Ribera rejected suggestions that enforcement of the landmark Digital Markets Act — slammed by Trump as an unfair tax on Silicon Valley — could be sacrificed as part of a deal to dodge punitive EU tariffs pitched by the White House.
