Latest news with #IsraeliGovernment
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Israeli official to arrive on Monday for White House talks, Axios reports
(Reuters) -Israeli official Ron Dermer will arrive Monday for talks at the White House on Iran and Gaza, Axios reported on Friday. Dermer, Israel's strategic affairs minister, will also discuss the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington later this summer, it said.
New York Times
2 days ago
- Health
- New York Times
Friday Briefing: The Deadly Search for Food in Gaza
It has become deadly to seek food in Gaza Since a new Israeli-backed aid system began a month ago, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed near distribution hubs in southern Gaza, according to Gaza health officials. Jens Laerke, a U.N. spokesman, described the new aid hubs as 'death traps.' 'Gaza is the hungriest place on earth,' he said. 'When we are able to bring anything in, it's getting plundered immediately by the population. That's the level of desperation.' Other aid efforts have also been engulfed in chaos. The U.N. and other international organizations have been delivering a trickle of food handouts in northern Gaza. Desperate crowds have been ransacking the trucks, which carry flour and other goods, minutes after they enter the enclave, according to witnesses. Background: The new aid system, run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, has only a few operational hubs, primarily in the south. It was put in place after Israel blocked aid deliveries to Gaza for nearly three months, from March to May. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Experts and officials are still assessing what remains of Iran's nuclear program
The big question following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran 's nuclear program is: What remains of it? U.S. President Donald Trump has said three targets hit by American strikes were "obliterated." His defense secretary said they were 'destroyed.' A preliminary report issued by the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, meanwhile, said the strikes did significant damage to the Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan sites, but did not totally destroy the facilities. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said that as a result of Israeli and U.S. strikes, the agency has 'seen extensive damage at several nuclear sites in Iran,' including those three. Israel claims it has set back Iran's nuclear program by 'many years.' Officials and experts are still assessing the damage, and their evaluation could change. Two of the major questions they are trying to address are where Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium is and what is the state of the centrifuges that enrich the fuel. The answer to the first is not clear, but the IAEA believes significant damage was done to centrifuges at the two enrichment facilities in Natanz and Fordo. The IAEA — and the world — want to know the state of both the uranium and centrifuges because if Iran chooses to make a nuclear weapon, then making the fuel required would be just a short, technical step away. Iran has always maintained that its nuclear program is peaceful. But it has enriched significant quantities of uranium beyond the levels required for any civilian use, and Israel launched strikes on nuclear and military targets on June 13, accusing Iran of trying to develop atomic weapons. The U.S. joined that attack on Sunday, dropping 14 bunker-buster bombs on two sites. Iran retaliated with strikes on Israeli and American targets. Israel and Iran have since agreed to a ceasefire. Here's what we know — and don't know — about the state of Iran's nuclear program. It's possible the nuclear fuel was moved At least some of Iran's highly enriched uranium may have been moved before the U.S. strikes, the assessment from the DIA suggests, according to two people familiar with the evaluation. The people were not authorized to address the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. That would mean that some of the stockpile may have survived. The assessment was preliminary and will be refined as new information becomes available, the agency has said. Its authors also characterized it as 'low confidence,' an acknowledgement that the conclusions could be mistaken. The White House has called the assessment 'flat-out wrong,' pointing to the power of the bombs to back up the president's characterization that the sites hit had been destroyed. Iran has previously threatened to hide its enriched uranium if attacked, and reiterated its pledge the day Israel launched its military campaign. Enriched uranium is stored in canisters that can be moved around fairly easy. In May, the IAEA, which is the U.N. nuclear watchdog, said Iran had amassed 408.6 kilograms (900.8 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60%. If it is further enriched to 90%, it would be enough to make nine nuclear weapons, according to the U.N.'s yardstick, though a weapon would require other expertise, such as a detonation device. Before the war, experts believe the stockpile was mainly stored in two places: underground tunnels at a facility in Isfahan, and in a heavily fortified underground enrichment site in Fordo. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters Thursday that he was "not aware of any intelligence that I've reviewed that says things were not where they were supposed to be — moved or otherwise.' Trucks seen at nuclear facility prompt speculation Satellite imagery showed trucks and bulldozers at the Fordo site beginning June 19, three days before the U.S. struck. Eric Brewer, a former U.S. intelligence analyst and now deputy vice president at the Nuclear Threat Initiative, said it's 'plausible' that Iran used the trucks to take nuclear fuel away. But Jacob Kirkegaard, senior fellow at the Breugel think tank in Brussels, disagreed: 'I think that that was a decoy more than anything else.' Subsequent satellite imagery 'revealed that the tunnel entrances into the underground complex had been sealed off with dirt prior to the U.S. airstrikes,' said Stephen Wood, senior director at American satellite imagery and analysis firm Maxar Technologies. 'We believe that some of the trucks seen on 19 June were carrying dirt to be used as part of that operation.' Trump offered a similar explanation. In a post on his Truth Social network on Thursday, he wrote: 'The cars and small trucks at the site were those of concrete workers trying to cover up the top of the shafts. Nothing was taken out of facility. Would take too long, too dangerous, and very heavy and hard to move!' Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters that the bombs were dropped onto the two main ventilation shafts of Fordo. He said Iran attempted to cover the shafts with concrete before the U.S. attack, but the cap was 'forcibly removed by the main weapon.' Centrifuges are highly sensitive and vulnerable to damage Inspectors from the IAEA have remained in Iran throughout the war, but they are currently unable to inspect any nuclear sites due to safety concerns. But with the 'explosive payload utilized, and the extreme vibration-sensitive nature of centrifuges,' the agency believes 'very significant damage is expected to have occurred' as a result of U.S. airstrikes at Fordo, according to a statement from IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi to the agency's board earlier this week. The centrifuges there are 'no longer operational,' Grossi told Radio France Internationale on Thursday. Centrifuges are used to enrich uranium — and could eventually bring it up to weapons-grade levels, if Iran chooses to do so. Natanz, Iran's biggest enrichment site, also houses centrifuges. In its underground plant, the IAEA believes most if not all of the centrifuge cascades — groups of centrifuges working together to more quickly enrich uranium — were destroyed by an Israeli strike that cut off power to the site. Its aboveground plant has also been 'functionally destroyed,' the agency said. Strikes also caused 'extensive damage' at Isfahan, according to the IAEA, especially at the uranium conversion facility and the plant for making uranium metal that's vital to producing a nuclear bomb. What the damage means for Iran's program is disputed Much like Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Iran's nuclear program has been brought 'to ruin.' The Israel Atomic Energy Commission believes the recent strikes have set back Tehran's ability to develop an atomic weapon by years. Israeli officials have not said how they reached this assessment. The DIA assessment, however, suggested that Iran's nuclear program has been set back only a few months, according to the people familiar with it. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking in an interview with Politico, limited his own evaluation to saying Iran was 'much further away from a nuclear weapon today than they were before the president took this bold action.' Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said that Trump 'exaggerated' the impact of the American strikes. ___ Associated Press writers Sam McNeil in Brussels and Michelle L. Price and Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington contributed to this report. ___ The Associated Press receives support for nuclear security coverage from the Carnegie Corporation of New York and Outrider Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Zawya
2 days ago
- Politics
- Zawya
Prime minister: Jordan remains strong amid regional turmoil, committed to progress, reform
AMMAN — Prime Minister Jafar Hassan reaffirmed Jordan's resilience, despite regional instability and turmoil, reiterating the government's commitment to reform and development. Chairing a Cabinet session in Balqa Governorate on Wednesday, Hassan said, ''Despite the difficult conditions and turmoil in the region, we remain strong through our leadership, our people, our army, and our security agencies.' He said that crises will not deter the government from fulfilling its responsibilities. 'We are used to building this nation and pushing forward through the toughest times and circumstances. These crises will never be a justification for delaying our work or serving our citizens.' Hassan reiterated Jordan's neutral stance in regional conflicts, stressing the priority of national security. 'We are not a party to these conflicts and we will not be. Nothing takes precedence over the security and stability of Jordan and the well-being of its people.' He warned that regional tensions will continue unless a just and comprehensive resolution to the Palestinian issue is achieved. 'Without that, the region will remain vulnerable to endless crises and conflicts.' On the situation in war-torn Gaza, the prime minister criticized the international community's silence and inaction, amid escalating violence. 'The world has forgotten Gaza, despite the number of civilian casualties in recent weeks exceeding those of the Iran-Israel war and other recent conflicts.' He condemned ongoing Israeli actions in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem, calling for an end brutality and savagery. 'Supporting Palestinian steadfastness is the top priority in the coming period.' Hassan praised His Majesty King Abdullah's efforts, saying 'No leader has done more over the past 25 years to rally the international community for the Palestinian cause.' The premier also said the government is pressing ahead with strategic programmes to ease the impact of regional and global crises, including expanding food and energy security, maintaining supply chains, and supporting affected sectors. He said that a package of additional measures will be announced in the coming weeks. In Balqa Governorate, Hassan said that the government plans to invest more than JD340 million between 2025 and 2028 in water and sanitation projects across several areas, including Deir Alla, Karameh, and Southern Shouneh. He also highlighted improvements to the long-delayed expansion of Princess Iman Hospital in Maadi, which was completed within seven months following his field visit to the site. 'Field visits are not symbolic. They are about identifying challenges and fixing what needs to be fixed. This is our responsibility.' On education, Hassan reaffirmed the government's commitment to improving the learning environment, with a plan to build 100 new schools over the next two years in collaboration with the private sector. 'Eighteen schools are under construction this year, seven opening in the next academic year, and 11 in the second semester.' 'The teacher is the foundation of educational development,' Hassan said, pledging to enhance teacher training, support, and dignity. 'King Abdullah has directed the government to double the university quota for teachers' children from 5 per cent to 10 per cent starting the next academic year. In addition, 1,039 land plots will be allocated for teacher housing across the country, at discounts of up to 50 per cent compared to market value.' 'With the wisdom of our Hashemite leadership, the unity of our people, and the resolve of our institutions, Jordan will remain strong, resilient, and proud.'
LBCI
3 days ago
- Politics
- LBCI
Post-ceasefire strategy on Iran top of agenda in Netanyahu-Trump talks — What's next?
Report by Amal Shehadeh, English adaptation by Karine Keuchkerian Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking to frame what he calls a victory over Iran—by preventing its attempt to "annihilate Israel"—through a meeting in Washington with U.S. President Donald Trump. The meeting is intended to coordinate positions between Israel and the United States, with Netanyahu aiming to emphasize Washington's longstanding support for Israel. This comes as Israel pushes to formalize the verbal ceasefire agreement with Iran into a written document that includes U.S. guarantees to prevent Tehran from advancing its nuclear and missile capabilities. The effort follows disagreements within Israel's security cabinet over the timing of the ceasefire and a gap between Israel's declared achievements and its actual success in dismantling Iran's nuclear infrastructure. Israeli officials are now weighing several post-ceasefire scenarios. The first involves continuing both overt and covert efforts to undermine the Iranian regime and strengthen opposition forces. If successful, this approach could pave the way for addressing Tehran's nuclear and missile programs, according to Israeli assessments. The second scenario envisions renewed U.S.-Iran negotiations leading to a new agreement—stronger than the 2015 deal—with comprehensive, unrestricted inspections and no expiration date, along with meaningful steps to eliminate Iran's remaining nuclear weapons capabilities. The third scenario is military: monitoring any signs that Iran is moving toward producing a nuclear weapon and coordinating with Washington to prevent it. While the full extent of damage caused by Israel to Iran—largely public—and by Iran to Israel—mostly classified due to military censorship—remains unclear, Israel is now facing a new crisis: the displacement of thousands of residents from Haifa, Tel Aviv, surrounding areas, and the south, to allow for the reconstruction of streets, buildings, and homes damaged by Iranian strikes.
