Latest news with #nuclearstrike
BBC News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Kent-based film The War Game won an Oscar despite a BBC ban
A 1965 film depicting the impact of a nuclear strike on Britain, banned because it was "too horrifying", was finally aired 40 years ago before going on to win an Peter Watkins recruited about 350 amateur actors from Kent to make the BBC documentary drama The War Game, but the broadcaster initially refused to air film won an Oscar in 1967 before the BBC eventually screened it on 31 July, 1985."I quickly realised I was in the presence of a genius," said Michael Banks, an extra in the film. "Peter Watkins was an innovator." The War Game presents a hypothetical future where war breaks out and a nuclear missile airbursts over Kent, overwhelming hospitals and creating food BBC's then head of documentaries, Huw Wheldon, said the "political hot potato" was approved and he was impressed with the result. However, Mr Wheldon had an issue with a statement in the film from a bishop who said "we must learn to love the bomb". He also did not like a scene where a policeman was seen "mercy killing" dying people."I simply did not believe that anybody would get policemen to do it," the former head of documentaries Wheldon labelled it an "anti-police statement" and said when he flagged his concerns to director Peter Watkins he went "through the roof". Much of the filming took place at Grand Shaft Barracks in Dover, an army base that was in the process of being demolished at the time. Phil Eyden, whose late mother Christine was in the film, said mattresses were set out for extras to "hurl themselves onto" after they were hit with a blast of Eyden, who maintains the Dover site as a volunteer, added that some extras acting as casualties "actually had Rice Krispies glued to their faces and then sprayed a dark colour to simulate burn injuries". Mr Banks, a retired theatre maker from Dover, said working on the film influenced his arts career."I approached it as any 17-year-old schoolboy would, as a chance to get your hands on weapons," he said."By day two, our attitude began to change, because we realised the visceral nature of what was being filmed."Glynis Greenland, who was in the film, said she was part of a group of women taken off set to "scream on cue in the background" to add to the sense of terror. She said she did "muck up" one shot as she opened her eyes while pretending to be dead."They carried me all the way on this stretcher with my eyes shut and I thought they'd finished so I opened my eyes and the camera was right over me," she BBC commissioned the film but later said it was "too horrifying for the medium of broadcast". Declassified Cabinet Office papers later revealed Harold Wilson's government pressured the corporation to suppress the Norman Brook, the BBC's chairman at the time and former secretary to the cabinet, wrote to the serving cabinet secretary, saying: "I have seen the film, and I can say it has been produced with considerable restraint."But, the subject is necessarily alarming and the showing of the film might well have a significant effect on public attitudes to the policy of the nuclear deterrent."It seems to me the government should have an opportunity of expressing a view about this."Speaking 17 years after the film was made, the BBC Director General in 1965 Hugh Carleton Greene said: "The decision not to show it was shared between Lord Norman Brook and myself."The decision was not made against my wish - I was more shocked by the programme than he was."The basis of the decision was not a political one. I could not face the responsibility of putting a programme on air that was so shocking." 'Awkward issues' for government Prof John Cook, from Glasgow Caledonian University, said: "It wasn't so much that it was horrific compared to other scenes of violence on television."It was more the fact that it raised all sorts of awkward issues around the adequacy of Britain's civil defence."Prof Cook said The War Game still had a powerful effect on audiences, as its themes of war and destruction were still relevant."I show it to schoolchildren today and they still are wowed by it," he said.
Daily Mail
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Donald Trump reacts to claim Iran could use UN to force America to pay for U.S. strike damage
Donald Trump scoffed at the idea that Iran could force the United States to pay for the damage done by Israel and America that culminated in the drone strike against nuclear facilities in Tehran. 'It's pretty ridiculous,' quipped the president during his Fourth of July celebration at the White House. Earlier this week, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres demanding both the U.S. and Israel be blamed for the recent 12-day Israel-Iran war. 'We officially request hereby that the Security Council recognize the Israeli regime and the United States as the initiators of the act of aggression and acknowledge their subsequent responsibility, including the payment of compensation and reparations,' he wrote. While Trump celebrated what he called the 'complete obliteration' of the nuclear sites in Tehran, Iran was asking for relief elsewhere. 'While the full scale of the losses is under assessment, several hospitals and relief centers were targeted in grave breach of international humanitarian law, a few energy installations were targeted with the aim of disrupting daily lives of civilians,' Araghchi added. Araghchi warned that to do nothing would 'seriously undermine the credibility' of the UN and 'engenders lawlessness in the future of international relations in our region as well as the international community at large.' The United States told the United Nations Security Council in a letter that strikes on Iran were 'to destroy Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity and stop the threat that this rogue regime obtains and uses a nuclear weapon.' 'The United States remains committed to pursuing a deal with the Iranian government,' wrote acting U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Dorothy Shea. Israel claims that Iran's nuclear program is close to producing a bomb, whereas Tehran says it is for peaceful purposes. Washington justified the strikes as collective self-defense under article 51 of the founding U.N. Charter, which requires the 15-member Security Council to be immediately informed of any action states take in self-defense against armed attack. Much of the discourse surrounding the bombing is how much it has set back the Iranian nuclear program. The war, which saw Iran retaliate against Israeli and American military and civilian sites, began as US and Iranian diplomats sat down for talks over the Iran's nuclear capabilities. Under a 2015 deal, Iran was allowed to enrich uranium below 3.67 percent purity for fuel for commercial nuclear power plants. Trump abandoned the agreement in 2018 and Iran responded by producing uranium enriched to 60 percent - above levels for civilian usage but still below weapons grade. That material, if further refined, would theoretically be sufficient to produce more than nine nuclear bombs. The Trump administration continues to criticize the media for questioning the success of the mission after U.S. pilots aboard seven B-2 bombers dropped 14 Massive Ordinance Penetrator (MOP) bombs on the nuclear facilities in Fordow and Natanz. CNN exclusively reported leaked details from preliminary intelligence assessments of the strikes by the Defense Intelligence Agency, citing 'seven people' briefed on the report. Trump and his officials, particularly Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth criticized the reports, targeting one of the lead reporters of the story, Natasha Bertrand, of being dishonest. 'Natasha Bertrand should be FIRED from CNN! I watched her for three days doing Fake News. She should be IMMEDIATELY reprimanded, and then thrown out 'like a dog,'' Trump wrote on social media. 'She should not be allowed to work at Fake News CNN. It's people like her who destroyed the reputation of a once great Network,' Trump continued. 'Her slant was so obviously negative, besides, she doesn't have what it takes to be an on camera correspondent, not even close. FIRE NATASHA!' During Thursday's White House press briefing, press secretary Karoline Leavitt also called out Bertrand, who covers the Pentagon for CNN, by name. 'So this is a reporter who has been unfortunately used by people who dislike Donald Trump in this government to push fake and false narratives,' Leavitt alleged. 'She should be ashamed of herself.' Trump's post about CNN firing Bertrand appeared to be wishful thinking, as CNN issued a statement standing by Bertrand and her reporting. 'We stand 100 percent behind Natasha Bertrand's journalism and specifically her and her colleagues' reporting of the early intelligence assessment of the U.S. attack on Iran's nuclear facilities,' the news outlet said in a statement. CNN denounced the criticism targeted at Bertrand as irrational. 'We do not believe it is reasonable to criticize CNN reporters for accurately reporting on the existence of the assessment and accurately characterizing its findings, which are in the public interest,' they wrote. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth held a press conference, complaining about the media reports based on 'biased leaks to biased publications.' 'How about we take a beat, recognize first the success of our warriors, hold them up, tell their stories, celebrate that, wave an American flag, be proud of what we accomplish?' he asked. Trump celebrated the press conference as a success, praising Hegseth and his team for emphasizing the success of the bombing mission.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Yahoo
Fact Check: Video doesn't show 'bunker-buster' bombs dropped on Iran's Fordo nuclear site
Claim: A video authentically showed the aftermath of 'bunker-busting' bombs dropped by U.S. military at the Fordo nuclear facility in Iran in late June 2025. Rating: Context: Though it was unclear exactly what the footage showed, a version appeared on TikTok on June 16, 2025, days before the U.S. struck three nuclear sites, including Fordo, with "bunker-buster" bombs. In late June 2025, days after the U.S. military struck three nuclear facilities in Iran, a video (archived) circulated online claiming to authentically show the aftermath of "bunker-busting" bombs at Fordo nuclear facility in the Middle Eastern country. One version of the video on Facebook carried the caption: "One of the entry points of a US bunker-busting bomb during yesterday's attack on Iran's Fordow [sic] nuclear facility." The video showed several people descending into a large hole in the ground on a rubble-filled slope. Fordo was one of the targets of the June 21, 2025, air strikes by American planes carrying GBU-57 A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs — colloquially known as "bunker-buster" bombs for their deep range. The video also circulated on X (archived), YouTube (archived), Instagram (archived) and TikTok (archived), claiming to show the strike on Fordo. However, the video was miscaptioned. Though it appeared to be authentic, meaning not generated by artificial intelligence, we found an upload (archived) dated days before June 21, 2025, meaning it could not have shown fresh aftermath caused by bombs dropped on that date. We reached out to the TikTok user who posted the footage on June 16 to ask where it was recorded and what it showed and await a reply. The extent of the damage to Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan, the three sites struck by American bombs on June 21, remained unknown at the time of this writing. According to U.S. President Donald Trump on Truth Social on June 22, "Obliteration" was "an accurate term" for the damage done to the sites. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on June 22 the strikes "devastated" Iranian nuclear facilities. However, a leaked report from the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Pentagon's intelligence arm, reported on by CNN found the bombs "did not destroy" the sites. Trump responded to the leaked report by calling CNN "FAKE NEWS" and repeating that "THE NUCLEAR SITES IN IRAN ARE COMPLETELY DESTROYED!" Satellite imagery of Fordo showed at least six impact craters at the site. Officials were still assessing how much damage the strikes caused to the largely underground facility at the time of this writing. Béchard, Deni Ellis, and Dean Visser. "Why This Is the Only Bomb That Could Destroy Iran's Nuclear Bunker—Under 300 Feet of Rock." Scientific American, 18 June 2025, Cohen, Natasha Bertrand, Katie Bo Lillis, Zachary. "Exclusive: Early US Intel Assessment Suggests Strikes on Iran Did Not Destroy Nuclear Sites, Sources Say | CNN Politics." CNN, 24 June 2025, Iran - Persian, Kurdish, Luri | Britannica. 25 June 2025, Ismay, John. "A Timeline of the U.S. Attack in Iran." New York Times, 22 June 2025, @realDonaldTrump. "FAKE NEWS CNN, TOGETHER WITH THE FAILING NEW YORK TIMES, HAVE TEAMED UP IN AN ATTEMPT TO DEMEAN ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL MILITARY STRIKES IN HISTORY." Trump's Truth, 24 June 2025, ---. "Monumental Damage Was Done to All Nuclear Sites in Iran, as Shown by Satellite Images." Trump's Truth, 22 June 2025, ---. "We Have Completed Our Very Successful Attack on the Three Nuclear Sites in Iran, Including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan." Trump's Truth, 21 June 2025, RISING, DAVID. "What to Know about Bunker-Buster Bombs Unleashed on Iran's Fordo Nuclear Facility." AP News, 17 June 2025, "Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine Hold a Press Conference." Department of Defense, 22 June 2025, "US Officially Enters War, Iran Vows: 'You Will Pay.'" Mehr News Agency, 23 June 2025,
Al Arabiya
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Myths in ruin: Disarming Hezbollah in the wake of Iran's defeat
The regional order has changed – not gradually, but in a single, shattering blow. The war between Israel and Iran has concluded after a series of devastating Israeli and US strikes on Tehran's nuclear and ballistic infrastructure. These operations, which unfolded with the full approval and logistical support of US President Donald Trump, also included a coordinated strike that killed several top IRGC military and nuclear officials. It was a campaign designed not just to disrupt Iran's capabilities, but to shatter the illusion of untouchability surrounding its leadership and proxy network. This was not just a military success – it was a strategic rupture. Nowhere was this shift more palpable than in Lebanon. Hezbollah – the crown jewel in Iran's axis of influence – remained silent. Its much-hyped 'resistance' stood still as its patron was battered. This was not restraint. This was deterioration – operational, political, and symbolic. For years, Hezbollah thrived on mythology: the 'defender of Lebanon,' the 'deterrent to Israel,' the 'voice of the marginalized Shia.' Today, that mythology lies in ruins. The movement failed to act not because it chose peace, but because it could not afford escalation. The group's inability to retaliate during the most direct assault on Iran's sovereignty in recent memory speaks volumes about its declining capacity and fear of internal and regional backlash. This moment is as rare as it is volatile. Lebanon stands before a narrow window in which it can begin dismantling militia dominance, rebuild state legitimacy, and restore sovereignty. The path forward is clear: disarm Hezbollah, restore state institutions, and reclaim Lebanese sovereignty. Half-measures and appeasement have failed. If Lebanon is to survive, the era of armed militias must end. Hezbollah's weapons, veto power, and parallel institutions are not an internal Lebanese problem – they are a regional cancer. And yet, despite the passage of nearly two decades since UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for the disarmament of all non-state actors in Lebanon, Hezbollah continues to argue that its arms are untouchable. That must end. Claims by political allies of Hezbollah that the resolution applies only south of the Litani River are legally baseless and strategically dangerous. There can be no sovereign state with zones of impunity. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), while respected, remain hindered by political interference and Hezbollah infiltration. That, too, must be addressed. Washington's Lebanon policy must pivot – from containment to consequence. The United States must appoint a new ambassador to Beirut with a direct mandate: Enforce 1701, support institutional reform, and back the full disarmament of Hezbollah. Washington must also replace its current special envoy with a senior figure capable of confronting both Hezbollah's regional enablers and its Western protectors –chief among them France, whose ongoing indulgence of Hezbollah undermines any hope of progress. Sanctions must expand – not only against Hezbollah operatives but also their financiers, political allies, and business networks across banking, construction, and telecommunications. Compliance mechanisms must be enforced on institutions that enable or tolerate Hezbollah's armed presence. But pressure alone is not enough. A viable strategy requires strengthening Lebanon's civic immune system. Washington must double down on support for civil society, independent universities, and non-sectarian organizations – particularly in historically neglected regions like the Shia south and Beqaa Valley. Empowering Shia voices that reject militia dominance is essential to dismantling Hezbollah's false claim to community representation. President Joseph Aoun's inaugural promises must now be tested. If he truly stands for sovereignty and reform, let him prove it – by endorsing a disarmament timetable, implementing electoral reforms, and refusing all covert deals with Hezbollah or its allies. The narrative that disarming Hezbollah would spark civil war is fiction – a fear tactic propagated by those who benefit from armed chaos. In truth, what threatens Lebanon is not disarmament, but the continued normalization of militias. Many Lebanese – including Shia – are exhausted by the economic collapse, diplomatic isolation, and perpetual conflict that Hezbollah's weapons have brought. Media is a critical tool. Lebanese and regional platforms must be mobilized to shift public opinion. They must highlight Hezbollah's costs to the nation, amplify Shiia civil society voices demanding reform, and frame disarmament not as a threat, but as a patriotic imperative. Media must call out political obstruction, expose the price of militia dominance, and foster a narrative centered on sovereignty and lawfulness. This is not about punishing Lebanon – it's about rescuing it. The time for half-measures is over. The United States must reinforce its friends, isolate its adversaries, and support the emergence of a Lebanon defined not by militias, but by institutions. Lebanon cannot reclaim its future while armed factions claim its present. No more weapons outside the state. No more excuses. The war between Iran and Israel may be over, but Lebanon's fight – for sovereignty, law, and survival – has only just begun.
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Where B-2 stealth bombers' mission to strike Iran started in the U.S.
A group of elite B-2 Spirit stealth bombers that took flight from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri early on the morning of June 21 headed for Iran, taking part in a mission to bomb three nuclear sites that President Donald Trump revealed hours later. The B-2 bombers conducted a series of strikes on targets in Iran, a senior Defense official confirmed. Those targets were Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan in Iran, the president revealed in a social media post just before 8 p.m. ET, saying it was a "very successful attack." The B-2s, valued at roughly $2 billion a piece, are known not only for their stealth technology, but for their ability to fly long range and carry big "bunker busting" bombs designed to penetrate deeply-buried bunkers and facilities. Whiteman Air Force Base, southeast of Kansas City, Missouri, is home to the entire fleet of 19 B-2 stealth bombers and proclaims it "can project U.S. airpower anywhere around the world from its home station." Its 509th Bomb Wing is part of the Air Force Global Strike Command. The B-2 Spirit is a long-range stealth bomber, equipped to carry the heaviest U.S. bombs and nuclear weapons. Its design and materials limit its ability to be detected by enemy radar. Its flying wing design, composite materials and coating reduce its radar cross section, according to an updated Congressional Research Service report released June 18. All B-2s are nuclear-capable, equipped to carry nuclear gravity bombs, but not cruise missiles, the Research Service stated. It's the only aircraft equipped to carry the Massive Ordnance Penetrator, or GBU-57, known as the "bunker buster" bomb. The B-2 has a total crew of two pilots. A wingspan of 172 feet and a length of 69 feet. Weighs 160,000 pounds. Each can hold two of the GBU-57s. Its design and build cost has been estimated at around $2 billion. More: B-2 bomber returns home to Edwards AFB for upgrades on 35th anniversary of first flight The bombers had been deployed at least once earlier in the year. Reuters, quoting unnamed U.S. officials, reported in April that as many as six bombers had been deployed to a U.S.-British military based on the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia. During Operation Allied Force, the B-2 was responsible for destroying 33% of all Serbian targets in the first eight weeks, flying nonstop to Kosovo from Missouri and back, according to the Air Force. During Operation Enduring Freedom, the B-2 flew from Whiteman to Afghanistan and back, the Air Force said. Its first ever combat deployment took place during Operation Iraqi Freedom, when it flew 22 sorties from a forward operating location, as well as 27 sorties from Whiteman. In total, the Air Force reported the bombers released more than 1.5 million pounds of munitions. In the waning days of the Obama administration in 2017, two B-2 bombers were among a fleet that dropped more than 100 bombs southwest of Sirte, Libya in strikes against the Islamic state and al-Qaeda terrorist targets. In October 2024, the U.S. attacked Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen with B-2 bombers. At the time, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the strike by the bombers "was a unique demonstration of the United States' ability to target facilities that our adversaries seek to keep out of reach, no matter how deeply buried underground, hardened or fortified." Contributing: Reuters, Kim Hjelmgaard, John Bacon, Kathryn Palmer This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: B-2 stealth bombers took off from the US on mission to strike Iran
