Latest news with #QaisAlamdar
News18
03-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Massive Twin Blasts, Cars Hurled In The Air: Israeli Strikes In Busy Tehran Street
Last Updated: The purported CCTV footage, which is doing the rounds on social media, shows twin explosions in a busy city street with buildings and moving traffic on the roads Iranian media has released footage of an explosion, which it claimed was of two simultaneous Israeli strikes in Tehran. The CCTV footage, which could not be confirmed by News18, is doing the rounds on social media. The purported video shows twin explosions in a busy city street with buildings and moving traffic on the roads. It can be seen in the video that the explosions cause a number of cars with passengers inside to be hurled in the air as the video ends in a cloud of debris raining from the blast. Iranian media released CCTV footage showing the two simultaneous Israeli strikes in northern Tehran hitting a building sideways and on the road directly hitting civilian vehicles in is in Tajrish, District 1, north Tehran.📍 35.8049358, 51.4344565 — Qais Alamdar (@Qaisalamdar) July 3, 2025 The purported strikes on Tehran were reportedly part of the 12-day air assault conducted under Operation 'Rising Lion' by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) earlier this month. According to the Pentagon, the recent Israeli and American strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities have pushed back Tehran's atomic ambitions by up to two years. 'We have degraded their programme by one to two years at least," Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said. 'We're thinking probably closer to two years." The Israeli operation, which involved over 125 US aircraft — including B-2 stealth bombers, fighter jets, and aerial tankers — targeted Iran's nuclear infrastructure at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. In parallel, a US-guided missile submarine launched Tomahawk cruise missiles at a third facility. Israel launched preemptive strikes against Iranian nuclear sites on June 13, citing intelligence that Tehran had reached 'a point of no return" in its pursuit of nuclear weapons. According to Israeli defence officials, Iran has developed the capacity to rapidly enrich uranium and assemble nuclear bombs, with sufficient fissile material for up to 15 weapons. The strikes marked a dramatic escalation in what officials describe as a broader Iranian strategy combining nuclear development, missile proliferation, and proxy warfare aimed at Israel's destruction. A US-brokered ceasefire went into effect on June 24. Location : Tehran, Iran First Published:
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mysterious US military flight to Afghanistan sparks speculation about Bagram air base
A US military cargo plane that flew into Afghanistan last week has sparked speculation that America could retake control of the strategic Bagram air base. According to local media reports, the C-17 aircraft took off from Doha's Al Udeid military base, arrived in Afghanistan via Pakistan on Sunday, and landed at Bagram. The aircraft was said to be carrying senior US intelligence officials, including CIA deputy chief Michael Ellis, and military equipment, Khaama Press reported. The outlet claimed the Taliban had handed over the base, which president Donald Trump expressed interest in reclaiming during his presidential election campaign, to the US. The claim was swiftly denied by the Taliban's chief spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid, who described it as 'propaganda'. He said the Taliban had complete control of the air base. 🚨A US Air Force C-17, originating from Al Udeid Air Base, descended to around 20,000 feet over Tajikistan on April 5 (DID NOT LAND IN BAGRAM AIRBASE), hovering briefly for about 1-2 hours near the Nurek Dam at a ground speed of 170 knots before re-entering Afghanistan's airspace… — Qais Alamdar (@Qaisalamdar) April 8, 2025 An American takeover of the base was 'impossible', Mr Mujahid said, and 'there is no need for any country's military presence in Afghanistan at present and the Islamic Emirate will not allow such an action'. Zia Ahmad Takal, a deputy spokesperson at Afghanistan's foreign ministry, issued a denial as well. 'This news is not correct,' he told The Independent. The Pentagon is yet to comment on the reports, but a US defence source told The Independent that 'there is no US military presence in Afghanistan'. US Airforce C-17 — Qais Alamdar (@Qaisalamdar) April 5, 2025 The Bagram air base, north of the capital Kabul, served as the command node for American and allied Nato forces for two decades as they waged a war against the Taliban and Al Qaeda. The base, the size of a small city, was captured by the Taliban soon after Western troops vacated it, shutting off power and slipping away as they withdrew from the country, in the summer of 2021. Bagram has two runways and over 100 parking spots for fighter jets known as revetments because of the blast walls which protect each aircraft. One of the runways, built in 2006, measures 12,000ft long. It also boasts a passenger lounge, a 50-bed hospital and hangar-sized tents filled with supplies like furniture. Mr Trump has repeatedly talked about taking back control of the Bagram base. He claimed last month that Washington planned to return to the base because it now allegedly hosted Chinese troops. 'I am the one who got our military presence to under 5,000 but we were going to keep Bagram, not because of Afghanistan but because of China, because the air base is exactly one hour from where China makes its nuclear missiles,' Mr Trump said. 'So, we were going to keep Bagram.' Bagram was one of the largest air bases in the world, complete with 'one of the biggest and most powerful runways', the US president added. 'And we gave it up. And you know who is occupying it at the moment? China. Because Biden gave it up. So, we are going to keep that.' At the time, Mr Mujahid dismissed Mr Trump's comments as 'emotional' and said US officials should 'refrain' from making "statements based on unsubstantiated information'.
Arab News
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Taliban deny reports of American airbase takeover
LONDON: The Taliban have denied rumors that Afghanistan's Bagram airbase has been handed back to the US, The Independent reported on Tuesday. The denial followed the flight of a US military cargo plane into Afghanistan over the weekend. The C-17 aircraft took off from Al-Udeid in Qatar and arrived in Afghanistan via Pakistan, landing at Bagram on Sunday, local media reported. A US Air Force C-17, originating from Al Udeid Air Base, descended to around 20,000 feet over Tajikistan on April 5 (DID NOT LAND IN BAGRAM AIRBASE), hovering briefly for about 1-2 hours near the Nurek Dam at a ground speed of 170 knots before re-entering Afghanistan's airspace… — Qais Alamdar (@Qaisalamdar) April 8, 2025 Khaama Press reported that the flight was carrying top US intelligence officials, including Michael Ellis, the CIA's deputy chief. It added that the Taliban handed the base to the US in the wake of comments by President Donald Trump expressing an interest in the facility, located north of Kabul. However, the Taliban's chief spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid dismissed the reports as 'propaganda' and said the government maintains full control of the base. 'There is no need for any country's military presence in Afghanistan at present and the Islamic Emirate will not allow such an action,' he added, describing an American takeover of the base as 'impossible.' Zia Ahmad Takal, deputy spokesman for Afghanistan's Foreign Ministry, told The Independent: 'This news (of the takeover) is not correct.' Bagram, the size of a small city, served as the command node for coalition forces during the 20-year war against the Taliban before the group recaptured Afghanistan in 2021. It has two runways, 100 parking spaces for jets, a passenger lounge, a 50-bed hospital, and numerous hangar-sized tents housing equipment.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mysterious US military flight to Afghanistan sparks speculation about Bagram air base
A US military cargo plane that flew into Afghanistan last week has sparked speculation about renewed American control on the strategic Bagram air base. According to local media reports, the C-17 aircraft took off from Doha's Al Udeid military base, arrived in Afghanistan via Pakistan on Sunday, and landed at Bagram. The aircraft was reportedly carrying senior US intelligence officials, including CIA deputy chief Michael Ellis, and military equipment, Khaama Press reported. The outlet claimed the Taliban had handed over the base, which president Donald Trump expressed interest in reclaiming during his presidential run, to the US. The claim was swiftly denied by Taliban's chief spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid who described it as 'propaganda'. He said the Taliban had complete control of the air base. 🚨A US Air Force C-17, originating from Al Udeid Air Base, descended to around 20,000 feet over Tajikistan on April 5 (DID NOT LAND IN BAGRAM AIRBASE), hovering briefly for about 1-2 hours near the Nurek Dam at a ground speed of 170 knots before re-entering Afghanistan's airspace… — Qais Alamdar (@Qaisalamdar) April 8, 2025 American takeover of the base was 'impossible', Mr Mujahid said, and 'there is no need for any country's military presence in Afghanistan at present and the Islamic Emirate will not allow such an action'. Zia Ahmad Takal, a deputy spokesperson at Afghanistan's foreign ministry, issued a denial as well. 'This news is not correct,' he told The Independent. The Independent has reached out to the US defence department for comment. US Airforce C-17 — Qais Alamdar (@Qaisalamdar) April 5, 2025 The Bagram air base, north of the capital Kabul, served as the command node for American and allied Nato forces for two decades as they waged a war against the Taliban and Al Qaeda. The base, the size of a small city, was captured by the Taliban soon after Western troops vacated it, shutting off power and slipping away as they withdrew from the country, in the summer of 2021. Bagram has two runways and over 100 parking spots for fighter jets known as revetments because of the blast walls which protect each aircraft. One of the runways, built in 2006, measures 12,000ft long. It also boasts a passenger lounge, a 50-bed hospital and hangar-sized tents filled with supplies like furniture. Mr Trump has repeatedly talked about taking control of the Bagram base. He claimed last month that Washington planned to return to the base because it now allegedly hosted Chinese troops. 'I am the one who got our military presence to under 5,000 but we were going to keep Bagram, not because of Afghanistan but because of China, because the air base is exactly one hour from where China makes its nuclear missiles,' Mr Trump said. 'So, we were going to keep Bagram.' Bagram was one of the largest air bases in the world, complete with 'one of the biggest and most powerful runways', the US president added. 'And we gave it up. And you know who is occupying it at the moment? China. Because Biden gave it up. So, we are going to keep that.' At the time, Mr Mujahid dismissed Mr Trump's comments as 'emotional' and said US officials should 'refrain' from making "statements based on unsubstantiated information'.
