ANDREW NEIL: A daring raid that means Iran's brutal regime has now run out of options... the end of days beckons
For the medieval mullahs and their brutal generals, there is no good way forward, no credible response that doesn't involve more humiliation amounting to capitulation.
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The Guardian
22 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Three states to deploy hundreds of national guard troops to Washington DC
Three states have moved to deploy hundreds of members of their national guard to the nation's capital as part of the Trump administration's effort to overhaul policing in Washington through a federal crackdown. West Virginia said it was deploying 300 to 400 guard troops, while South Carolina pledged 200 and Ohio said it would send 150 in the coming days. The moves announced on Saturday came as protesters pushed back on federal law enforcement and national guard troops fanning out in the heavily Democratic city following Donald Trump's executive order federalizing local police forces and activating about 800 District of Columbia national guard members. West Virginia governor Patrick Morrisey's office said in a statement that the deployment was 'a show of commitment to public safety and regional cooperation' and the state would provide equipment and 'approximately 300-400 skilled personnel as directed'. The statement came after Donald Trump ordered hundreds of Washington DC national guard troops to mount a show of force and temporarily took over the city's police department to curb what the president depicts as a crime and homelessness emergency in the nation's capital. Data compiled by the DC police department shows that violent crime was actually at a 30-year-low when Trump returned to office in January, and has declined a further 26% since then. Last weekend, Trump ordered the district's homeless residents to leave, or face forcible relocation, after his motorcade passed a handful of unhoused people en route to his golf course outside the city. On Thursday, local officials cleared away one of the roadside encampments Trump had complained about, arguing that they could do so in a more humane fashion than untrained federal forces. A justice department order to replace the Washington police chief, Pamela Smith, with DEA head Terry Cole as the city's 'emergency police commissioner' ran into problems after a challenge in federal court by the DC attorney general, Brian Schwalb. Without issuing a direct ruling on the challenge, US district judge Ana Reyes indicated that Smith has to remain in charge. But efforts to increase federal control of the district resumed on Saturday with the order to deploy West Virginia's national guard. Drew Galang, a spokesperson for Morrisey, said the state's national guard received the order to send equipment and personnel to DC late on Friday and was working to organize the deployment. A White House official told Reuters on Saturday that more national guard troops were being called in to Washington to 'protect federal assets, create a safe environment for law enforcement officials to carry out their duties when required, and provide a visible presence to deter crime'. A protest against Trump's intervention drew scores to Dupont Circle on Saturday before a march to the White House, about 1.5 miles away. Demonstrators assembled behind a banner that said, 'No fascist takeover of DC', and some in the crowd held signs saying, 'No military occupation'. Fueling the protests were concerns about Trump overreach and that he had used crime as a pretext to impose his will on Washington. The Chamberlain Network, a veteran's group that describes itself as 'dedicated to protecting democracy', commented on X that the order for West Virginia's national guard to police DC was 'pulling them away from their core mission of protecting our communities'. The best public interest journalism relies on first-hand accounts from people in the know. If you have something to share on this subject you can contact us confidentially using the following methods. Secure Messaging in the Guardian app The Guardian app has a tool to send tips about stories. Messages are end to end encrypted and concealed within the routine activity that every Guardian mobile app performs. This prevents an observer from knowing that you are communicating with us at all, let alone what is being said. If you don't already have the Guardian app, download it (iOS/Android) and go to the menu. Select 'Secure Messaging'. SecureDrop, instant messengers, email, telephone and post If you can safely use the tor network without being observed or monitored you can send messages and documents to the Guardian via our SecureDrop platform. Finally, our guide at lists several ways to contact us securely, and discusses the pros and cons of each. 'From floods to winter storms, we count on our Guard on in a crisis,' the group said. 'They should be home, ready to respond—not on a political policing mission.' Since arriving in Washington last week, about 800 national guard troops under Trump's direct control have served as a visible presence in public areas, assigned to administrative and logistical duties as well as 'area beautification' work, according to the Wall Street Journal. Defense officials had said they would not be carrying weapons but 'weapons are available if needed but will remain in the armory,' the US army said in a press release. A US official told Reuters that a formal order authorizing the national guard troops to carry firearms would be issued but it would largely affect military police officers with sidearms. The White House also said on Saturday that national guard in DC are conducting patrols on foot and in vehicles around the national mall and Union Station, adding that the troops are not making arrests at this time. Trump has indicated that he may take similar actions in other Democratic-controlled cities. A federal judge in San Francisco is expected in the coming weeks to issue a ruling on whether Trump violated the law by deploying national guard troops to Los Angeles in June without the approval of California's governor, Gavin Newsom. Typically the national guard is deployed only instances where a state governor requests it. However the DC national guard reports directly to the president.
The National
26 minutes ago
- The National
Israeli protesters go on strike and demand ceasefire
The action, organised by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, marked a fresh push, weeks after militant groups released videos of hostages and Israel signalled plans for a new Gaza offensive. Protesters fear further fighting could endanger the 50 hostages believed to remain in Gaza, only about 20 of whom are thought to be alive. They chanted, 'We don't win a war over the bodies of hostages' and demanded a deal. Police made more than two dozen arrests for 'disruption of order'. They said that most of the protests had not been disruptive, but acknowledged several exceptions and said they 'will act firmly against anyone who violates the law or endangers public order'. 'Today, we stop everything to save and bring back the hostages and soldiers. Today, we stop everything to remember the supreme value of the sanctity of life,' said Anat Angrest, mother of hostage Matan Angrest. 'Today, we stop everything to join hands — right, left, centre and everything in between.' Although Israel's largest labour union, Histadrut, ultimately did not join Sunday's action, strikes of this magnitude are relatively rare in Israel. Many businesses and municipalities decided independently to strike. Still, an end to the genocide does not appear near. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has demanded the immediate release of the hostages but is balancing competing pressures, haunted by the potential for mutiny within his coalition. Far-right members of his cabinet insist they will not support any deal that allows Hamas to retain power. The last time Israel agreed to a ceasefire that released hostages, they threatened to topple Netanyahu's government. READ MORE: Israel in talks to resettle Palestinians in South Sudan, sources say Finance minister Bezalel Smotrich on Sunday called the stoppage 'a bad and harmful campaign that plays into Hamas' hands, buries the hostages in the tunnels and attempts to get Israel to surrender to its enemies and jeopardize its security and future.' Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes hit Yemen's capital on Sunday, escalating strikes on Iran-backed Houthis, who since the war began have fired missiles at Israel and targeted ships in the Red Sea. Both the IDF and a Houthi-run television station in Yemen announced the strikes. Al-Masirah Television said they targeted a power plant in the southern district of Sanhan, sparking a fire and knocking it out of service. Israel's military said Sunday's strikes targeted energy infrastructure it claimed was being used by the Houthis, and were launched in response to missiles and drones aimed at Israel. While some projectiles have breached its missile defences — notably during its war with Iran in June — Israel has intercepted the vast majority of missiles launched from Yemen. While demonstrators in Israel demanded a ceasefire, Israel began preparing for an invasion of Gaza City and other populated parts of the besieged strip, aimed at destroying Hamas. The military body that co-ordinates its humanitarian aid to Gaza said on Sunday that the supply of tents to the territory would resume. Cogat said it would allow the United Nations to resume importing tents and shelter equipment into Gaza ahead of plans to forcibly evacuate people from combat zones 'for their protection'. Tents and the majority of assistance has been blocked from entering Gaza since Israel imposed a total blockade in March after a ceasefire collapsed. Deliveries have since partially resumed, though aid organisations say the flow is far below what is needed. Some have accused Israel of 'weaponising aid' through blockades and rules they say turn humanitarian assistance into a tool of its political and military goals. Israel's air and ground war has already killed tens of thousands of people in Gaza and displaced most of the population. The United Nations is warning that levels of starvation and malnutrition in Gaza are at their highest since the war began.
Glasgow Times
36 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Protesters go on strike in Israel demanding ceasefire and hostage releases
The action, organised by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, marked a fresh push, weeks after militant groups released videos of hostages and Israel signalled plans for a new Gaza offensive. Protesters fear further fighting could endanger the 50 hostages believed to remain in Gaza, only about 20 of whom are thought to be alive. They chanted 'We don't win a war over the bodies of hostages' and demanded a deal. Demonstrators block a street during a protest (Mahmoud Illean/AP) 'Today, we stop everything to save and bring back the hostages and soldiers. Today, we stop everything to remember the supreme value of the sanctity of life,' said Anat Angrest, mother of hostage Matan Angrest. 'Today, we stop everything to join hands — right, left, centre and everything in between.' Police made more than two dozen arrests for 'disruption of order'. They said that most of the protests had not been disruptive, but acknowledged several exceptions and said they 'will act firmly against anyone who violates the law or endangers public order'. Although Israel's largest labor union, Histadrut, ultimately did not join Sunday's action, strikes of this magnitude are relatively rare in Israel. Many businesses and municipalities decided independently to strike. Still, an end to the conflict does not appear near. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has demanded the immediate release of the hostages but is balancing competing pressures, haunted by the potential for mutiny within his coalition. Far-right members of his cabinet insist they will not support any deal that allows Hamas to retain power. The last time Israel agreed to a ceasefire that released hostages, they threatened to topple Mr Netanyahu's government. Finance minister Bezalel Smotrich on Sunday called the stoppage 'a bad and harmful campaign that plays into Hamas' hands, buries the hostages in the tunnels and attempts to get Israel to surrender to its enemies and jeopardize its security and future.' Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes hit Yemen's capital on Sunday, escalating strikes on Iran-backed Houthis, who since the war began have fired missiles at Israel and targeted ships in the Red Sea. Both the IDF and a Houthi-run television station in Yemen announced the strikes. Al-Masirah Television said they targeted a power plant in the southern district of Sanhan, sparking a fire and knocking it out of service. Israel's military said Sunday's strikes targeted energy infrastructure it claimed was being used by the Houthis, and were launched in response to missiles and drones aimed at Israel. While some projectiles have breached its missile defences — notably during its war with Iran in June — Israel has intercepted the vast majority of missiles launched from Yemen. While demonstrators in Israel demanded a ceasefire, Israel began preparing for an invasion of Gaza City and other populated parts of the besieged strip, aimed at destroying Hamas. The military body that co-ordinates its humanitarian aid to Gaza said on Sunday that the supply of tents to the territory would resume. Cogat said it would allow the United Nations to resume importing tents and shelter equipment into Gaza ahead of plans to forcibly evacuate people from combat zones 'for their protection'. Tents and the majority of assistance has been blocked from entering Gaza since Israel imposed a total blockade in March after a ceasefire collapsed. Deliveries have since partially resumed, though aid organisations say the flow is far below what is needed. Some have accused Israel of 'weaponising aid' through blockades and rules they say turn humanitarian assistance into a tool of its political and military goals. Israel's air and ground war has already killed tens of thousands of people in Gaza and displaced most of the population. The United Nations is warning that levels of starvation and malnutrition in Gaza are at their highest since the war began. The Hamas-led attack in 2023 killed around 1,200 people in Israel. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed 61,897 people in Gaza, according to the Health Ministry, which does not specify how many were fighters or civilians but says around half were women and children. The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals. The UN and independent experts consider it the most reliable source on casualties. Israel disputes its figures but has not provided its own.
