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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Israel says Iran could recover enriched uranium at nuclear site hit by US
Israel believes that deeply buried stocks of enriched uranium at one of Iran's nuclear facilities, which was hit by the US military last month, could potentially be recovered, according to a report by Associated Press. Meanwhile, the US agency responsible for designing the bunker buster bombs used in the strikes said it is still awaiting data to determine whether the munitions penetrated deep enough to reach their intended targets. These parallel assessments have widened the scope of debate over the true impact of the strikes, carried out as the US inserted itself in Israel's conflict with Iran to prevent Tehran from advancing its nuclear weapons capabilities. Nuclear sites struck in coordinated operation Last month, US warplanes targeted three of Iran's major nuclear sites — Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan — with the objective of weakening the country's nuclear programme. The strikes involved the use of B2 stealth bombers to deliver powerful GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs, which are specifically designed to destroy fortified underground facilities. US President Donald Trump has insisted that the strikes obliterated the sites. However, international observers and initial US intelligence assessments have presented a more cautious picture. The US Defense Intelligence Agency, in its preliminary report, concluded that the strikes caused 'significant damage' to the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites in Iran, but fell short of destroying them entirely. Metal conversion facility destroyed, uranium buried Israeli nuclear experts raise questions According to the report, Israel believes Iran had distributed its enriched uranium stockpiles across the three sites and had not relocated them prior to the strikes. However, nuclear and nonproliferation experts have warned that Iran might have the stockpiles to safer locations in anticipation of a US military strike, especially as Israeli attacks escalated last month. While Israeli officials suspect uranium remains at Isfahan, experts say any attempt by Iran to retrieve it would require a highly complex and difficult recovery effort. Trump administration insists strikes were decisive Trump and his top administration officials have dismissed any suggestion that the strikes fell short of their objectives. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reiterated Trump's view, stating that the targeted nuclear facilities were destroyed. However, officials from the US Defense Threat Reduction Agency which spent decades developing the GBU-57 bunker buster bombs acknowledged that it is still unclear whether the bombs reached the depths they were designed for. Iran admits major damage but delays IAEA access Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in a recent interview, said the US airstrikes inflicted such extensive damage that Iranian authorities have yet to access the targeted nuclear facilities to assess the full extent of the destruction. Pezeshkian expressed willingness to resume cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), but said Iran could not yet guarantee inspectors unfettered access to the affected sites. 'We stand ready to have such supervision,' he said, 'but as a result of the United States' unlawful attacks against our nuclear centres and installations, many of the pieces of equipment and the facilities there have been severely damaged.' IAEA confirms major damage, but capability remains Rafael Grossi, director-general of the IAEA, mentioned late last month that the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan sites had been 'destroyed to an important degree' in terms of their uranium treatment, conversion, and enrichment capabilities. However, he warned that Iran retains the capacity to restart those activities. 'Because capabilities remain, if they so wish, they will be able to start doing this again,' Grossi said, adding that the IAEA's ability to fully assess the damage hinges on Iran allowing inspectors access to the sites.
Cedar News
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Cedar News
Video: President Trump and First Lady watch B2 bombers, F35s, and F22s fly over the White House
BREAKING: President Trump and First Lady watch B2 bombers, F35s, and F22s fly over the White House for July 4th, Video: President Trump and First Lady watch B2 bombers, F35s, and F22s fly over the White House — Cedar News (@cedar_news) July 4, 2025
NDTV
04-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
B-2 Mystery After Iran Strikes: Where Is The US Stealth Bomber
New Delhi: A US Air Force bombing operation targeting Iran's nuclear facilities has taken an unexpected turn. One group of the B-2 Spirit stealth bombers involved has reportedly not returned to base, raising questions about its whereabouts. The US deployed two separate groups of B-2 bombers from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri on June 21. One formation flew westward over the Pacific — reportedly to mislead Iranian defences — while the second formation, consisting of seven B-2s, headed east to strike Tehran's underground nuclear facilities at Fordo and Natanz, according to a EurAsian Times report published on June 27. The strike team completed its mission and returned to base after a non-stop 37-hour round trip. But little is known about the decoy team that flew towards the Pacific. What has emerged, however, is that at least one aircraft from that group was forced to make an emergency landing in Hawaii. The stealth bomber in question reportedly touched down at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, which shares runways with Hickam Air Force Base in Honolulu. A video of the aircraft surfaced online, adding to the mystery surrounding its condition and the exact reason for its diversion and landing. B2 Stealth bomber sitting alone and guarded in Honolulu International. Just captured this on the taxi out. No reports online of a B2 here. This is the closest I've been to one. @grok says: There are no reports of a B-2 stealth bomber currently stationed or 'sitting' at Daniel… — David Martin (@Sir_DavidMartin) June 24, 2025 No details have been released regarding the nature of the emergency or how long the stealth bomber might remain grounded. This incident is not isolated. B-2 bombers have made unplanned landings in Hawaii before as well. In April 2023, a similar emergency landing occurred at Hickam, prompting the temporary grounding of the entire B-2 fleet after a separate crash in Missouri in late 2022. The aircraft involved in the April incident remained in Hawaii for weeks before being cleared. Another B-2 had to be transported to Northrop Grumman's facility in Palmdale, California, for repairs in 2021 following a similar incident. But the most severe B-2 mishap occurred in 2008, when the 'Spirit of Kansas' crashed shortly after takeoff from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. The aircraft was destroyed, though both crew members ejected safely. The B-2 Spirit bombers, a key part of the US nuclear deterrent strategy, are known for their cutting-edge stealth technology and flexible mission capabilities.
New York Post
03-07-2025
- New York Post
Jewish therapists fired from Texas clinic for pushing to help client with trauma from antisemitism: lawsuit
Two Jewish therapists say they were 'wrongfully' fired from a Dallas mental health clinic after a colleague asked them for help with treating a client facing trauma from rising antisemitism, according to. lawsuit. D2 Counseling co-owner Dr. Dina Hijazi allegedly 'blocked' Jewish therapists Yocheved Junger and Jacqueline Katz from sharing insights with a colleague who asked for their advice in treating a Jewish client who was struggling after facing discrimination, the therapists alleged in a case filed by The Lawfare Project. Hijazi said that Junger and Katz's advice would be unhelpful and 'one-sided' and shut down the conversation during the Nov. 19 staff meeting, according to the lawsuit. Less than a week later, the Jewish therapists were notified of their firing, the documents allege. Jewish therapists Yocheved Junger and Jacqueline Katz allege they were 'blocked' from helping a colleague support a client with trauma from antisemitism. 'Before we could even say anything, ask the questions, talk about it like any other case consult, Dina Hijazi jumped in and she just goes, 'oh, that's not a good idea. You'll get a one-sided response,' ' Junger, who had been with B2 for more than two years, told The Post. 'I was really taken aback and just appalled,' she added. The entire situation spun Katz into a 'panic' for days, she said. 'I couldn't believe what was unfolding,' said Katz. Before the therapists were let go, Hijazi sent an email to staff banning discussions involving the 'Palestine Israel topic,' which she said caused her 'great pain,' according to the lawsuit. But Junger and Katz said their colleague didn't ask anything about 'Palestine, Palestinians, or Israel.' Junger asserted that the coworker was merely 'doing her due diligence to understand what her client is experiencing and asking her colleagues who have first-hand knowledge to help her out,' according to the lawsuit. 'How can we service our clients if we are not allowed to talk about their experiences?' she questioned. Hijazi allegedly doubled down on the ban against sharing 'political or religious opinions' with colleagues, according to the lawsuit. Katz then replied that both Hijazi and fellow co-founder Rev. Daniel Gowan failed 'to see that this was not a political conversation.' Gowan replied that Katz had gone 'way over the line' in trying to advocate for the Jewish patient, according to an email cited in the lawsuit. D2 counseling's office building in Dallas, Texas. Google Maps The Jewish therapists again tried to push back days later, but received a call on Nov. 25 that they were 'terminated.' They were given 30 days to leave the clinic, which hired movers to take their belongings to a new and isolated office space, where they could continue to see clients before their last day, the therapists said. 'They didn't even want us in the office for those 30 days so they rented an additional office in different buildings, so they wouldn't see us and literally moved our stuff,' said Junger. Junger called the situation 'disheartening' and 'scary' because she 'heard that there was discrimination against Jewish practitioners and Jewish clients in the therapy world' but didn't 'really want to believe it,' in an interview with The Post. 'The nature of our job is to be there for people going through hard times and for us as therapists, that it's not about us. And it's about client experiencing and everyone has a right for their story,' she said. Katz emphasized the need for therapists to exercise 'cultural competency' in treating clients. 'It's not our clients' responsibility to educate us. If we get a client that we don't understand — their culture, their religion, their background — it's up to us to seek consultation to understand or to do some research to understand the perspective,' said Katz, who was with B2 for more than six years. 'That's your responsibility as a therapist to ask if you don't know,' she added. D2's website describes the clinic as 'a safe, non-judgmental place where we'll challenge you to move beyond whatever is causing you pain.' An attorney representing D2 said Gowan and Hijazi 'vehemently deny the allegations made against them.' Antisemitic crimes have exploded since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. In the US, the Jewish community faced more than more than 25 antisemitic incidents per day last year, according to a report by the Anti-Defamation League. There were 9,354 incidents of antisemitic assault, harassment and vandalism in the US in 2024, marking a 344% increase over the past five years, according to ADL's annual audit.
NDTV
02-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
"B2 Bombers Need To Visit Yemen": US Envoy Warns Houthis After Israel Strike
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee threatened to launch B-2 Spirit stealth bombers in Yemen, after Israel intercepted a missile launched by the Houthis on Monday. "We thought we were done with missiles coming to Israel, but Houthis just lit one up over us in Israel. Fortunately, Israel's incredible interception system means we go to the shelter & wait until all clear," Mr Huckabee posted on X. "Maybe those B2 bombers need to visit Yemen!" he added. The envoy's reference to B2 bombers came days after the US used its most advanced strategic weapons to strike Iran's three nuclear sites last month, as it joined Israel's military campaign against its major rival. The Houthi rebels in Yemen are also backed by Iran. We thought we were done with missiles coming to Israel, but Houthis just lit one up over us in Israel. Fortunately, Israel's incredible interception system means we go to the shelter & wait until all clear. Maybe those B2 bombers need to visit Yemen! — Ambassador Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) July 1, 2025 The B-2 is capable of entering sophisticated air defenses and delivering precision strikes against hardened targets such as Iran's buried network of nuclear research facilities. The bomber's range of over 6,000 nautical miles (11,112 km) without refueling enables global strike capabilities from continental US bases. With aerial refueling, the B-2 can reach virtually any target worldwide, as demonstrated in missions from Missouri to Afghanistan and Libya and now Iran. Its payload capacity of more than 40,000 pounds (18,144 kg) allows the aircraft to carry a diverse array of conventional and nuclear weapons. The bomber's internal weapons bays are specifically designed to maintain stealth characteristics while accommodating large ordnance loads, which could include two GBU-57A/B MOP (Massive Ordnance Penetrator), a 30,000-pound precision-guided "bunker buster" bomb. The Houthi rebels have launched repeated missile and drone attacks against Israel since their Palestinian ally Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel sparked the Gaza war. On Saturday, the Houthis said they fired a ballistic missile towards Israel, the first launch against Israel announced by the Houthis since the June 24 ceasefire between Israel and Iran which ended their 12-day war. The Houthis, who say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians, paused their attacks during a two-month ceasefire in Gaza that ended in March, but renewed them after Israel broke the truce. Israel has carried out several retaliatory strikes in Yemen, targeting Houthi-held ports and the airport in the rebel-held capital Sanaa.
