Iran ‘rapidly losing' ability to fire missiles into Israel
Strategic Analysis Australia Director Peter Jennings says the Iranian regime is 'rapidly losing' its ability to launch missiles against Israel.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is urging the Chinese Communist Party to discourage Iran from blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping lane that is vital to the global economy.
'The key question is, what connections does it have with its network of proxy groups?' Mr Jennings told Sky News host Chris Kenny.
'It's just not clear to me at this stage how much command-and-control capacity the regime has got left because Israel did such an effective job of destroying that in the first 10 days of the campaign.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News AU
38 minutes ago
- Sky News AU
Former NSW Rural Fire Service commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons overlooked for return as NSW government eyes candidates to replace top cop
Former NSW Rural Fire Service commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons was passed over for a return to the state's top firefighting job, Sky News can reveal. The Minns government instead appointed career emergency executive Trent Curtin to lead the 70,000-strong volunteer force. Mr Fitzsimmons, who became a national figure during the 2019–20 Black Summer bushfires and later led Resilience NSW, was among the applicants for the commissioner role. Long-serving chief Rob Rogers will step down on July 14, and be replaced by Mr Curtin, who previously served as the head of SafeWork NSW. His appointment has drawn attention given he was a relative outsider being brought in to lead the RFS. The leadership change at the RFS comes amid broader upheaval across NSW emergency services, with Police Commissioner Karen Webb also stepping down. While there has been speculation about NSW Police also looking outside the ranks for the commissioner role, Sky News Sunday Agenda understands that is unlikely. Internal candidates being considered to replace Ms Webb include Acting Police Commissioner Peter Thurtell, and deputy commissioners Mal Lanyon, Paul Pisanos and Peter Cotter. Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib announced his decision to appoint Mr Curtin on Thursday, citing his 'extensive experience as an emergency services leader in NSW and Victoria'. 'Mr Curtin started his firefighting career 30 years ago as a volunteer,' Mr Dib said in a statement after the appointment. 'I look forward to working with him as he brings his emergency service expertise to an organisation at the frontline of bushfire response.' 'I am honoured to be appointed Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service,' the incoming commissioner, Mr Curtin, said in a statement. 'The RFS plays a vital role in our communities, responding in the most difficult circumstances to help others in their time of need.'
Sky News AU
38 minutes ago
- Sky News AU
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese knew US would strike Iran but not when, Sky News Sunday Agenda can reveal
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was aware the US was planning strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities but did not know the exact timing, Sky News Sunday Agenda can reveal. The US strikes hit key Iranian nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan last weekend, before President Donald Trump declared a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. Mr Albanese then waited more than 24 hours to issue an explicit statement of support for the strikes, after initially calling for 'dialogue' and 'de-escalation'. It was not until after a meeting of the National Security Committee of Cabinet that Mr Albanese fronted the media and confirmed Australia backed the US action. Critics have seized on the delay as evidence of hesitancy and weakness in Canberra's alliance with Washington. Shadow defence minister Angus Taylor said the government was exhibiting 'anti-US alliance' sentiments, due to lacklustre support for the strikes. 'This was the right thing for the United States to do, Israel was entirely entitled to take action against Iran,' Mr Taylor told Sky News on Thursday. 'It was well within the rights of Israel to do what it did … the United States has played a very deft hand in the approach it's taken on this." Former prime ministers Scott Morrison and Tony Abbott also weighed in, arguing that Mr Albanese should have immediately and publicly endorsed the strike. 'If you're in the United States and you take an action like this… you'd want to know your allies were with you 100 per cent,' Mr Morrison said. Mr Albanese has defended the government's handling of the situation, noting that Australia is 'not a central player' in the Iran-Israel conflict. 'We run an orderly, stable government,' he told reporters, repeatedly declining to comment on intelligence matters. 'We are upfront, but we don't talk about intelligence, obviously. But we've made very clear this was unilateral action taken by the United States.' At the same time, the broader Australia–US relationship has come under renewed scrutiny, amid calls for the Albanese government to lift defence spending. The United States and NATO allies committed last week to increasing defence spending to five per cent of GDP by 2035. While Defence Minister Richard Marles attended the NATO summit, Mr Albanese stayed in Australia, declining to attend after rumours he may go in order to meet President Trump. Australia has committed to defence spending to 2.3 per cent of GDP - well below NATO's new target and the 3.5 per cent requested directly by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. 'Well, we have increased our defence investment,' Mr Albanese said on Friday. 'What we're doing is making sure that Australia has the capability that we need - that's what we're investing in.' Government sources have privately expressed scepticism about the NATO targets, suggesting some countries inflate their defence figures by including roads and other infrastructure costs.
Sky News AU
38 minutes ago
- Sky News AU
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese holds fire on defence spending amid doubts about NATO's five per cent promise
The Albanese government has pushed back on US and NATO defence spending targets, with sources suggesting the commitments are overblown. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has so far dodged calls to increase defence investment after NATO promised to raise military spending to five per cent of economic outputs by 2035. NATO agreed to the significant uplift after many member countries had already failed to meet the previous two per cent target. Sources suggested to Sky News Sunday Agenda that some countries game their budget by including civilian projects, such as roads or bridges, to achieve the five per cent target. "We start with the capability. We don't start with the dollars," Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke told Sunday Agenda. "We make decisions on behalf of Australia's national interest... We have mature, decent, respectful conversations with the United States. "But as I say, the conversation doesn't start with the dollars at our end. It starts with the capability." White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Friday if NATO allies could 'do it', then US allies in the Asia-Pacific could as well. Speaking in Sydney on Friday, Mr Albanese was asked if he was worried about a potential backlash from President Donald Trump for not increasing the defence budget. 'What we're doing is making sure that Australia has the capability that we need - that's what we're investing in,' Mr Albanese told reporters. 'We'll continue to do that, invest in our capability and invest in our relationships … I have said very clearly, we will invest in the capability that Australia needs.' The Albanese government - noting that Australia is not a NATO member but closely allied with the organisation - has committed to a more modest target of 2.3 per cent by 2033. Mr Albanese has left the door open to increasing defence spending, but insists any decision will be based on national interest, not external pressure. The opposition, in contrast, has pledged to increase spending to three per cent, while US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has urged Defence Minister Richard Marles to reach 3.5 per cent. 'The real problem we've got at the moment is we're just way short of the mark,' shadow defence minister Angus Taylor told Sky News on Thursday. 'The government's own plan is not properly funded … it's there, and very clear that there needs to be significant additional funding.' The debate comes amid heightened global instability following US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites and a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Iran.
