Latest news with #Tomahawks
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Pentagon says US strikes stalled Iran's nuclear programme by two years, but satellite images tell another story
The Pentagon declared on Wednesday that US strikes on Iran's nuclear sites might have delayed Tehran's ambitions by up to two years. Sean Parnell, the Pentagon's spokesperson, told reporters, 'We have degraded their programme by one to two years, at least intel assessments inside the Department (of Defense) assess that.' He added the estimate was 'probably closer to two years' but gave no evidence for this claim. US President Donald Trump had earlier said the same strikes had 'obliterated' Iran's nuclear plans. At the Pentagon briefing, Parnell echoed this view: 'All of the intelligence that we've seen (has) led us to believe that Iran's -- those facilities especially, have been completely obliterated.' Massive bombs and cruise missiles unleashed On 22 June, US bombers hit three Iranian nuclear sites with more than a dozen 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs and over two dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles. The strikes focused on Fordow and Natanz with bombs dropped by B-2 stealth bombers. A submarine launched the Tomahawks at Isfahan. General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, explained the tactic. He said most bombs at Fordow 'were tasked to enter the main shaft, move down into the complex at greater than 1,000 feet per second, and explode in the mission space.' Tehran admits damage but moves ahead Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi admitted that Fordow suffered a big blow. Speaking to CBS News, Araqchi said, 'No one exactly knows what has transpired in Fordow. That being said, what we know so far is that the facilities have been seriously and heavily damaged.' Live Events But new satellite images show the story is not over. Photos from Maxar Technologies taken last Sunday reveal Iran is still working at Fordow. Maxar said the pictures 'reveal ongoing activity at and near the ventilation shafts and holes caused by last week's airstrikes on the Fordow fuel enrichment complex.' The images show an excavator and workers next to the northern shaft above the underground plant. A crane stands at the shaft entrance. Several vehicles line the access path. Inspectors spot repairs, not surrender Former nuclear inspector David Albright, who heads the Institute for Science and International Security, said images from Fordow show Iran is 'actively working at the two MOP impact sites penetrating the ventilation shafts.' He believes this work 'may include backfilling the craters, as well as conducting engineering damage assessments and likely radiological sampling. The craters above the main shafts remain open.' He added on X, 'We have observed that the Iranians have also rapidly repaired the bomb cratering damage on the main entrance road from only a few days prior. However, there are yet no indications of any efforts to reopen any of the tunnel entrances.' UN watchdog: Iran could restart enrichment soon While the Pentagon stands by its timeline, the UN's nuclear watchdog chief remains cautious. Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said Iran could spin up new centrifuges within months. 'They can have in a matter of months, I would say, a few cascades of centrifuges spinning and producing enriched uranium,' Grossi said. Grossi also noted Iran's advanced nuclear know-how cannot be erased by bombs alone. His warning fits an early, lower-confidence Pentagon intelligence report that the strikes may have only slowed Iran by months. Stockpiles may be hidden Some experts think Iran may have shifted its near weapons-grade uranium before the raids. So far, no hard proof of this has come to light. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said last week he knew of no evidence Iran moved stockpiles to shield them from the attack. An early Defence Intelligence Agency assessment pointed to a range of possible outcomes. One scenario sees Fordow restarting quickly with new kit. Another holds that Iran might even abandon the damaged site altogether. The real measure of success now sits underground — and in intelligence files still under review. As satellite images catch fresh machinery at Fordow, officials and inspectors weigh new findings against bold claims. For now, the Pentagon insists it hit Tehran's nuclear heart hard. Iran keeps digging. The world waits to see which side blinks first.
The Mainichi
25-06-2025
- Politics
- The Mainichi
Japan conducts first missile test on its own territory as part of military buildup to deter China
TOKYO (AP) -- Japan's military test-fired a missile on Japanese territory for the first time Tuesday, as the country accelerates its military buildup to deter China. The Type 88 surface-to-ship, short-range missile was tested at the Shizunai Anti-Air Firing Range on Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido. The Ground Self-Defense Force's 1st Artillery Brigade used a training missile to target a boat with no crew about 40 kilometers (24 miles) off the island's southern coast. Due to space limitations and safety concerns, Japan conducted past missile tests in the United States, a treaty ally, and Australia, a top Japanese defense partner where vast training grounds are available. The military said the test was successful. It plans another through Sunday. Dozens of protesters stood outside a neighboring army camp, saying missile tests only escalates tension in Asia and risks for Japan to be involved in possible conflicts. Tuesday's first domestic missile test underscores Japan's push toward a more self-sufficient military and its acquisition of strike-back capabilities as a deterrence to China's increasingly assertive naval activity in regional seas. Japan is also concerned about growing joint military exercises around Japanese coasts between China and Russia. Japan and Russia, a northern neighbor to Hokkaido, have territorial disputes. Japan, under its post-World War II pacifist constitution, used to limit the use of force for self-defense only, but made a major break from that policy in 2022 when it adopted a five-year security strategy that names China as its biggest strategic challenge and calls for a closer Japan-U.S. alliance. Japan is currently working to deploy long-range cruise missiles, including Tomahawks purchased from the U.S., beginning later this year. Japan is also developing Type 12 surface-to-ship missiles with a range of about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), 10 times that of a Type 88. The truck-mounted Type 88 guided missile, developed by Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, has a range of about 100 kilometers (62 miles). Japan is also preparing to build a missile-firing range on uninhabited Minamitorishima, the country's easternmost island in the western Pacific, an area where two Chinese aircraft carriers were seen operating together for the first time earlier this month.
Vancouver Sun
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
Japan conducts first missile test on its own territory as part of deterrent against Chinese aggression
TOKYO — Japan's military test-fired a missile on Japanese territory for the first time Tuesday, as the country accelerates its military buildup to deter China. The Type 88 surface-to-ship, short-range missile was tested at the Shizunai Anti-Air Firing Range on Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido. The Ground Self-Defense Force's 1st Artillery Brigade used a training missile to target a boat with no crew about 40 kilometers (24 miles) off the island's southern coast. Due to space limitations and safety concerns, Japan conducted past missile tests in the United States, a treaty ally, and Australia, a top Japanese defense partner where vast training grounds are available. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The military said the test was successful. It plans another through Sunday. Dozens of protesters stood outside a neighboring army camp, saying missile tests only escalates tension in Asia and risks for Japan to be involved in possible conflicts. Tuesday's first domestic missile test underscores Japan's push toward a more self-sufficient military and its acquisition of strike-back capabilities as a deterrence to China's increasingly assertive naval activity in regional seas. Japan is also concerned about growing joint military exercises around Japanese coasts between China and Russia. Japan and Russia, a northern neighbor to Hokkaido, have territorial disputes. Japan, under its post-Second World War pacifist constitution, used to limit the use of force for self-defense only, but made a major break from that policy in 2022 when it adopted a five-year security strategy that names China as its biggest strategic challenge and calls for a closer Japan-U.S. alliance. Japan is currently working to deploy long-range cruise missiles, including Tomahawks purchased from the U.S., beginning later this year. Japan is also developing Type 12 surface-to-ship missiles with a range of about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), 10 times that of a Type 88. The truck-mounted Type 88 guided missile, developed by Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, has a range of about 100 kilometers (62 miles). Japan is also preparing to build a missile-firing range on uninhabited Minamitorishima, the country's easternmost island in the western Pacific, an area where two Chinese aircraft carriers were seen operating together for the first time earlier this month. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Edmonton Journal
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Edmonton Journal
Japan conducts first missile test on its own territory as part of deterrent against Chinese aggression
Article content Japan, under its post-Second World War pacifist constitution, used to limit the use of force for self-defense only, but made a major break from that policy in 2022 when it adopted a five-year security strategy that names China as its biggest strategic challenge and calls for a closer Japan-U.S. alliance. Japan is currently working to deploy long-range cruise missiles, including Tomahawks purchased from the U.S., beginning later this year. Japan is also developing Type 12 surface-to-ship missiles with a range of about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), 10 times that of a Type 88. The truck-mounted Type 88 guided missile, developed by Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, has a range of about 100 kilometers (62 miles). Japan is also preparing to build a missile-firing range on uninhabited Minamitorishima, the country's easternmost island in the western Pacific, an area where two Chinese aircraft carriers were seen operating together for the first time earlier this month.
Japan Today
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Japan Today
Japan conducts its first missile test on its own territory
Japan's army test-fires a Type 88 surface-to-ship short-range missile at the Shizunai Anti-Air Firing Range on Japan's northern main island of Hokkaido in its first missile test on Japanese territory on Tuesday. By Mari Yamaguchi Japan's army announced Tuesday that it conducted a missile test for the first time on Japanese territory, as the country accelerates its military buildup to deter increasingly assertive China. The test-firing of the Type 88 surface-to-ship, short-range missile was conducted Tuesday at the Shizunai Anti-Air Firing Range on Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido. About 300 soldiers participated in Tuesday's exercise by the Ground Self-Defense Force's 1st Artillery Brigade, using a training missile targeting an unmanned boat about 40 kilometers (24 miles) off the southern coast of Hokkaido, officials said. Officials were still examining the results of the test, the GSDF said. Due to space limitations and safety concerns, Japan has previously conducted missile tests in the territories of the United States, a treaty ally, and Australia, a top Japanese defense partner where vast training grounds are available. Tuesday's first domestic missile test underscores Japan's push toward a more self-sufficient military and its acquisition of strike-back capabilities as a deterrence to China's increasingly assertive naval activity in regional seas. Japan is also concerned about growing joint military exercises around Japanese coasts between China and Russia. Japan and Russia, a northern neighbor to Hokkaido, have territorial disputes. Japan, under its pacifist Constitution, used to limit the use of force for self-defense only, but has taken a major break from that policy in 2022 when it adopted the ongoing five-year security strategy that names China as the biggest strategic challenge and calls for a closer Japan-U.S. alliance. Japan is currently working to deploy long-range cruise missiles, including Tomahawks purchased from the U.S., beginning later this year. Japan is also developing Type 12 surface-to-ship missiles with a range of about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), 10 times that of a Type 88. The truck-mounted Type 88 guided missile, developed by Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, have a range of about 100 kilometers. Japan is also preparing to build a missile-firing range on uninhabited Minamitorishima, the country's easternmost island in the western Pacific, an area where two Chinese aircraft carriers were seen operating together for the first time earlier this month. © 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
