The Indo Daily Extra: Trump's Gamble – striking Iran, backing Israel and raising the stakes
The world is braced for Iran's response after the US attacked key Iranian nuclear sites, taking a gamble by joining Israel in the biggest Western military action against the Islamic Republic since its 1979 revolution.
With the damage visible from space after 30,000lb US bunker-buster bombs crashed into the mountain above Iran's Fordow nuclear site, Tehran vowed to defend itself at all costs.
It fired another volley of missiles at Israel that wounded scores of people and flattened buildings in Tel Aviv. The US State Department ordered employees' family members to leave Lebanon and advised citizens elsewhere in the region to keep a low profile or restrict travel.
An advisory from the US Department of Homeland Security warned of a 'heightened threat environment in the United States'. Law enforcement in major US cities stepped up patrols and deployed additional resources to religious, cultural and diplomatic sites.
Tehran has so far not followed through on its threats of retaliation against the US – either by targeting US bases or trying to choke off global oil supplies – but that may not hold.
Today on this Indo Daily Extra, Tabitha Monahan is joined by Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East Correspondent with The Economist to discuss what might come next after a troubling 2 days for international relations.
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Irish Independent
3 hours ago
- Irish Independent
EU leaders say Ukraine should have freedom to decide its future – as Zelensky ‘prepares to cede territory' held by Russia
"Meaningful negotiations can only take place in the context of a ceasefire or reduction of hostilities," the leaders said, adding that "we share the conviction that a diplomatic solution must protect Ukraine's and Europe's vital security interests." The statement, which was agreed late on Monday and published on Tuesday, was endorsed by leaders of all EU member countries except Hungary. It comes amid reports Ukraine could agree to stop fighting and cede territory already held by Russia as part of a European-backed plan for peace. Volodymyr Zelensky told European leaders that they must reject any settlement proposed by Donald Trump which sees them giving up Ukrainian land they still hold – but that Ukrainian territory in Russia's control could be on the table. This would mean freezing the frontline where it is and handing Russia de-facto control of the territory it occupies in Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson and Crimea. The softening of the negotiating position comes ahead of crunch talks between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska this Friday. 'The plan can only be related to the current positions held by the militaries,' a Western official said, characterising a frantic weekend of diplomacy between Kyiv and its allies. Ukraine and Europe have become increasingly concerned that Mr Trump and Putin could negotiate an end to the long-running war over Mr Zelensky's head. 'I have many fears and a lot of hope,' Poland's prime minister, Donald Tusk, said yesterday. He said US officials had pledged to consult European leaders ahead of the face-to-face talks in Alaska. Chief among European concerns was a purported peace plan endorsed by Moscow, which included freezing the front lines in south-eastern Ukraine if Kyiv agrees to withdraw from areas of Donetsk and Luhansk that it controls. European capitals have opted to back Kyiv's vision for any territorial swaps in an attempt to convince Mr Trump that there is diplomatic weight behind a single 'Ukraine plus Europe' red line that rejects concessions for Ukrainian-held land. 'Europeans now understand their role as supportive of Ukraine in terms of the diplomatic negotiations,' the Western official said. 'It's a boost for morale, it's also strengthening the diplomatic positions of Ukraine so that it doesn't feel alone.' At a news conference yesterday, Mr Tusk said: 'For Poland and our partners, it is clear that state borders cannot be changed by force. 'Russia's war with Ukraine must not bring benefits to the aggressor.' France's Emmanuel Macron and Germany's Friedrich Merz issued similar statements in support of a hardline approach to territorial concessions over the weekend. A joint declaration by the leaders of the European Commission, France, Italy, the UK, Poland and Finland said that 'the current line of contact should be the starting point of negotiations'. European leaders are expected to hold talks with the US president tomorrow to make their case to him. This doesn't exclude Mr Zelensky from taking the tough decision to cede territory already in the hands of Russia's invasion forces. European officials believe the Ukrainian president has leeway with a growing number of voters who would stomach surrendering land to Moscow as the price for the end of the war. Mr Trump claimed that he would know 'in the first two minutes' of his upcoming meeting with Putin if a peace deal could be reached between Russia and Ukraine. 'We're going to have a meeting with Vladimir Putin, and at the end of that meeting, probably in the first two minutes, I'll know exactly whether or not a deal can be made,' the president told reporters at a press conference yesterday. Asked how he would know, the president replied: 'Because that's what I do. I make deals.' However, Mr Trump later appeared to contradict himself, after saying that it was 'not up to him' if a deal was made or not. 'I'm not going to make a deal. It's not up to me to make a deal. 'I think a deal should be made for both,' he said. Mr Trump briefly appeared to forget the location of the meeting, telling reporters at the press conference that he would be travelling to Russia. He added that Mr Zelensky 'could' attend, but also appeared to question if it would help a deal be reached. 'He wasn't a part of it,' Mr Trump said, speaking about the setting up of the talks. 'I would say he could go, but he's been to a lot of meetings. You know, he's been there for three and a half years. Nothing happened.' He added that, should a 'fair' deal be reached, he would inform the European Union as well as Mr Zelensky, who he would call first 'out of respect'. 'And I may say, 'lots of luck, keep fighting.' Or I may say 'we can make a deal,' he said.
Irish Independent
4 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Zelensky ‘prepared to cede territory' held by Russia ahead of Alaska summit
Volodymyr Zelensky told European leaders that they must reject any settlement proposed by Donald Trump which sees them giving up Ukrainian land they still hold – but that Ukrainian territory in Russia's control could be on the table. This would mean freezing the frontline where it is and handing Russia de-facto control of the territory it occupies in Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson and Crimea. The softening of the negotiating position comes ahead of crunch talks between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska this Friday. 'The plan can only be related to the current positions held by the militaries,' a Western official said, characterising a frantic weekend of diplomacy between Kyiv and its allies. Ukraine and Europe have become increasingly concerned that Mr Trump and Putin could negotiate an end to the long-running war over Mr Zelensky's head. 'I have many fears and a lot of hope,' Poland's prime minister, Donald Tusk, said yesterday. He said US officials had pledged to consult European leaders ahead of the face-to-face talks in Alaska. Chief among European concerns was a purported peace plan endorsed by Moscow, which included freezing the front lines in south-eastern Ukraine if Kyiv agrees to withdraw from areas of Donetsk and Luhansk that it controls. European capitals have opted to back Kyiv's vision for any territorial swaps in an attempt to convince Mr Trump that there is diplomatic weight behind a single 'Ukraine plus Europe' red line that rejects concessions for Ukrainian-held land. 'Europeans now understand their role as supportive of Ukraine in terms of the diplomatic negotiations,' the Western official said. 'It's a boost for morale, it's also strengthening the diplomatic positions of Ukraine so that it doesn't feel alone.' At a news conference yesterday, Mr Tusk said: 'For Poland and our partners, it is clear that state borders cannot be changed by force. 'Russia's war with Ukraine must not bring benefits to the aggressor.' France's Emmanuel Macron and Germany's Friedrich Merz issued similar statements in support of a hardline approach to territorial concessions over the weekend. A joint declaration by the leaders of the European Commission, France, Italy, the UK, Poland and Finland said that 'the current line of contact should be the starting point of negotiations'. European leaders are expected to hold talks with the US president tomorrow to make their case to him. This doesn't exclude Mr Zelensky from taking the tough decision to cede territory already in the hands of Russia's invasion forces. European officials believe the Ukrainian president has leeway with a growing number of voters who would stomach surrendering land to Moscow as the price for the end of the war. Mr Trump claimed that he would know 'in the first two minutes' of his upcoming meeting with Putin if a peace deal could be reached between Russia and Ukraine. 'We're going to have a meeting with Vladimir Putin, and at the end of that meeting, probably in the first two minutes, I'll know exactly whether or not a deal can be made,' the president told reporters at a press conference yesterday. Asked how he would know, the president replied: 'Because that's what I do. I make deals.' However, Mr Trump later appeared to contradict himself, after saying that it was 'not up to him' if a deal was made or not. 'I'm not going to make a deal. It's not up to me to make a deal. 'I think a deal should be made for both,' he said. Mr Trump briefly appeared to forget the location of the meeting, telling reporters at the press conference that he would be travelling to Russia. He added that Mr Zelensky 'could' attend, but also appeared to question if it would help a deal be reached. 'He wasn't a part of it,' Mr Trump said, speaking about the setting up of the talks. 'I would say he could go, but he's been to a lot of meetings. You know, he's been there for three and a half years. Nothing happened.' He added that, should a 'fair' deal be reached, he would inform the European Union as well as Mr Zelensky, who he would call first 'out of respect'. 'And I may say, 'lots of luck, keep fighting.' Or I may say 'we can make a deal,' he said. (© Telegraph Media Group Holdings Ltd)
The Journal
2 days ago
- The Journal
Six Lebanese soldiers killed in blast while removing munitions from Hezbollah facility
LAST UPDATE | 1 hr ago THE LEBANESE ARMY said a blast at a weapons depot near the Israeli border killed six soldiers today, with a military source saying the troops were removing munitions from a Hezbollah facility. Under the truce that ended last year's war between Israel and Hezbollah, Lebanese troops have been deploying in the country's south and dismantling the Iran-backed militant group's infrastructure in the region. The deaths come after the Lebanese government decided this week to disarm Hezbollah and tasked the army with drawing up a plan to complete the process by year end. Hezbollah has said it will ignore the cabinet's decision, which came under heavy US pressure, while the group's backer Iran said today it opposed the effort. A military statement gave a preliminary toll of six soldiers killed 'while an army unit was inspecting a weapons depot and dismantling its contents in Wadi Zibqin', in Tyre district near the Israeli border. Investigations were underway to determine the cause of the blast, it added. A military source, requesting anonymity as they were not authorised to brief the media, told news agency AFP the blast took place 'inside a Hezbollah military facility'. Troops were 'removing munitions and unexploded ordnance left over from the recent war' when the blast occurred, the source added. Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun said he was informed by army commander Rodolphe Haykal of the 'painful incident'. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam paid tribute to the troops who were killed 'while performing their national duty', calling the army the protector of Lebanon's 'unity and its legitimate institutions'. US envoy Tom Barrack, who has led Washington's efforts to press for Hezbollah's disarmament, extended the administration's 'deepest condolences' over the 'loss of these brave servicemen'. Hezbollah lawmaker Ali Ammar likewise offered his 'sincerest condolences to the Lebanese army'. Advertisement 'Doing their job' The commander of the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Major General Diodato Abagnara, said the soldiers were 'simply doing their job to restore stability and avoid a return to open conflict'. The blast came days after UNIFIL spokesman Andrea Tenenti said troops had 'discovered a vast network of fortified tunnels' in the same area. UN spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters that the troops uncovered a cache of artillery, rockets, mines and improvised explosive devices. In April, the Lebanese military said three soldiers were killed in a munitions blast, just days after another was killed in an explosion as troops dismantled mines in a tunnel. Under the November ceasefire that sought to end more than a year of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, arms are to be restricted to Lebanese state institutions. The government has tasked the army with presenting a plan by the end of August for disarming non-state actors. Ongoing strikes A senior adviser to Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Saturday that Tehran 'is certainly opposed to the disarmament of Hezbollah'. 'Iran has always supported the people and the resistance of Lebanon and continues to do so.' international affairs adviser Ali Akbar Velayati told Iran's Tasnim news agency. Lebanon's foreign ministry slammed the comments as 'flagrant and unacceptable interference', reminding 'the leadership in Tehran that Iran would be better served by focusing on the issues of its own people'. On Thursday, the government discussed a US proposal that includes a timetable for Hezbollah's disarmament. The government endorsed the introduction of the US text without discussing specific timelines, and called for the deployment of Lebanese troops in border areas. It also called for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from five areas of the south they continue to occupy. Israeli has kept up its strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon despite the truce and has vowed to continue them until the militant group has been disarmed. The Lebanese health ministry said one person was killed in an Israeli strike on Saturday on a vehicle in the town of Ainata near the border.
