Latest news with #retaliation
Times of Oman
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Khamenei warns of future retaliation, says Trump exaggerated US strikes
Tehran: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claimed that US President Donald Trump had "exaggerated" the impact of recent strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, while warning of further retaliation, The Times of Israel reported. In a televised address on Thursday, Khamenei made his first appearance in more than a week after reportedly going into hiding amid an Israeli air campaign that killed many of his top generals. He hailed Iran's "victory" in the 12-day war with Israel, claiming that Tel Aviv's offensive had "almost collapsed" following Iranian strikes. "The American president exaggerated events in unusual ways, and it turned out that he needed this exaggeration," Khamenei said, as quoted by The Times of Israel. "The United States has gained nothing from this war," he added, claiming American strikes "did nothing significant" to Iran's nuclear program. Khamenei described the Iranian missile attack on the Al-Udeid air base in Qatar, which houses US troops, as a "severe slap to the face of America" and warned that such actions could be repeated. He said, "Should any aggression occur, the enemy will definitely pay a heavy price. Surrender will never happen. Our nation is powerful." The Times of Israel reported that Khamenei accused the United States of intervening only to prevent Israel's complete collapse, saying, "It felt that if it did not intervene, the Zionist regime would be utterly destroyed." "I want to congratulate the great Iranian nation... for its victory over the fallacious Zionist regime," he said. The 86-year-old leader, appearing in front of a plain backdrop similar to a previous June 19 message, may still be in hiding. According to The Times of Israel, Israel's campaign, launched on June 13, involved a sweeping assault on top Iranian military leaders, nuclear scientists, uranium enrichment sites, and ballistic missile infrastructure. In response, Iran fired around 550 ballistic missiles and 1,000 drones at Israel, with most intercepted. Some impacted civilian areas, killing 28 and injuring thousands. The conflict concluded with a US-brokered ceasefire. However, both nations have claimed victory. Trump stated the US strikes had "obliterated" Iran's nuclear facilities, while CIA chief John Ratcliffe claimed key sites were destroyed and would take years to rebuild. Meanwhile, the Israeli military said the strikes had dealt a "significant" blow, though full assessment is pending.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Convict accused of gunning down ex-prison guard for exposing his illegal affair with female jail officer, warned: 'I promise I'll get you', court hears
The mother of an ex-prison officer shot dead in 'retaliation' after he exposed an affair between a convict and a female officer has revealed her son was chillingly warned by the accused, 'I promise I'll get you', a court has heard. Lenny Scott, 33, was fatally injured when he was shot six times by the gunman wearing a hi-vis jacket outside a gym on Peel Road in Skelmersdale, West Lancashire, on February 8 2024. Alleged gunman Elias Morgan is accused of shooting the father-of-three after Mr Scott exposed an illicit relationship involving him and a female officer at HMP Altcourse, Preston Crown Court heard. The alleged threat made four years before Mr Scott's death was 'the first thing that came to mind', his mother told police after the killing. Alex Leach KC, prosecuting, told the jury that after Mr Scott refused a £1,500 offer to not report a phone containing evidence of the relationship, Morgan told him: 'I'll bide my time, but I promise I will get you' before making a gun gesture. Co-defendant Anthony Cleary is alleged to have assisted Morgan in the 'revenge plot' by 'delivering the van and bike so they could be used by a gunman who intended to kill Lenny Scott'. Both men deny murder, while Cleary also denies a second charge of manslaughter. The court heard a pre-recorded police interview on Thursday from Mr Scott's mother, Paula. She told the officer her son 'liked to do things to speak up'. But she said he had also complained about 'corrupt prison officers' during his time working in prisons in Birmingham and HMP Altcourse. Mrs Scott told the detective that 2020 was 'a bad year' for her son, which included him being threatened in March. She told the interviewer that Mr Scott's partner, Lucy Griffiths, had rung her and said there had been a problem at work. She said: 'The police were involved and he had a threat and they knew their home address. I think Lenny played it down with me. 'He was definitely rattled by fire service came and fitted alarms just in case there was anything thrown at the house. 'He was definitely upset by it and worried about the children. In the threat it said about his home address and they even named the children. It wasn't difficult as he had their names on his arm. 'I asked "is everything okay" and he said yes, the police were involved. He said he had to go into a cell and they found a phone. 'The lad threatened him and somebody else he was with. He said along the lines of "you're done for" but I couldn't swear by the was second guessing things, he was making a joke about things but it wasn't. It changed things for him from then. 'He said "you don't know what it's like working there, you don't understand how little they value my life". He didn't feel supported by it. 'Before then he felt like nothing could get to him but after he started thinking he had children. It just rattled him. 'However, he still got on with work and went everyday and tried his best. He used to tell me there were corrupt prison officers. It sort of changed his opinion of the Prison Service after that threat.' Mrs Scott told the court her son was suspended from his role as a prison officer after he punched an inmate during an unrelated incident. She said he told her: 'The last year I have had to deal with corrupt prison officers and they have now turned on me'. He was later dismissed over the same incident. Mrs Scott told the court that the corrupt officer in question was a 'female officer called Sarah'. The court heard Mr Scott was asked twice to be a witness and his mum 'assumed it was in relation to the threat and the corrupt prison officer'. However, the court heard Mr Scott didn't want to 'put his family in jeopardy by going and being a witness'. Mrs Scott added: 'He would have been a witness and done anything if he was still at the prison,' but felt unsupported following his dismissal. On the day of her son's killing, Mrs Scott said he had picked up one of his children from school because they were ill, before dropping him at Ms Griffiths' house. He then went to the gym at Peel House in Skelmersdale where he trained in ju-jitsu. Mrs Scott said: 'I sent him a text saying I was going to pick up some medicine. He said I've taken him to Lucy's and I'm going to the gym. 'He must have been going in when I texted him and said "have you fed the dog?" He rang and said he hadn't. That was the last time I spoke with him.' She added she phoned Merseyside Police at around 10pm to ask for some advice when she hadn't heard from him for some time. Officers from Lancashire Constabulary arrived at her house shortly before 2am the next morning. She told the detective: 'I don't know why but from the second they said he had been shot, we don't know people who live in that world, but straight away that prison came to light. 'I think a detective came out that night and I'm almost certain I told him about the prison straight away. It's the only thing you think. It's the only time he has mixed with people like that.' She added: 'As part of prison life they get threats but they aren't substantial. There would definitely be comments like 'I know where you park your car' but he just brushed those off. It was just a way of life. 'The minute after I found out about this, the first thing that came to my mind was that threat. There was nothing else that came close.' Mrs Scott said at the time of her son's death he was 'in his best job' working for Gousto and 'was in the best place really'. She earlier told the court how her son had previously been a firefighter in the RAF, before working a number of jobs before joining the Prison Service. She said the dad-of-three was a 'homebody' who had a 'passion for animals'. Opening the case earlier this week, Mr Leach told the court that Mr Scott found the phone in Morgan's cell on March 26 2020. The court heard not only was possession of the phone a criminal offence, but 'Morgan knew there was evidence on it which would lead to the discovery of a sexual relationship between him and a female prison officer'. The prosecution alleged Morgan made a number of threats towards Mr Scott, including that a car was outside his family home. Mr Scott's manager at the prison, John Davies, wrote in a statement that 'the way Lenny reacted is something I have never heard or seen before'. When the iPhone was examined, it 'revealed Elias Morgan was engaged in a sexual relationship with another prison officer, Sarah Williams', the court heard. Mr Leach added: 'It was clear that she had provided Elias Morgan with details about other prisoners. The court heard Mr Scott gave a witness statement and Morgan was arrested and interviewed under caution. Morgan, who had been moved away from Mr Scott's wing 10 days after the 'threats', was remanded back into custody between July 2021 and October 2022 - and in April 2023 was charged with unauthorised possession of the mobile phone. Williams admitted three offences of misconduct in a public officer and a computer misuse offence. Morgan pleaded not guilty - and his case was adjourned until February 19 - 11 days after Mr Scott was killed. Mr Leach said: 'On the 8th February 2024, almost four years later, Lenny Scott was coming out of his gym at Peel House in Skelmersdale when he was approached by a man wearing a high-visibility jacket and carrying a handgun. 'The man shot him, six times, to the head and body. Lenny Scott died of his injuries. The man travelled to and escaped from the scene on an electric motorbike, which he loaded onto the back of a van, a short distance away, before driving back towards Liverpool. The murder was, the prosecution says, an act of retaliation. 'The prosecution says that once you've heard the evidence, you will be sure that, at the very least, Elias Morgan orchestrated Lenny Scott's murder, recruiting Anthony Cleary to assist him in doing so. 'That alone would make him guilty of murder on count one. 'Moreover, the prosecution say, when you've examined the fine detail of the evidence, you will be sure not only that Elias Morgan is guilty of murder by organising the killing of Lenny Scott, you will be sure that it was he who pulled the trigger himself. 'For his part, Anthony Cleary, the second defendant, played a supporting role. Acting on instructions, he delivered the van, containing the electric motorbike used by the gunman, to a housing estate close to the gym. 'Moreover, he knew that he was delivering the van and bike so that they could be used by a gunman who intended to kill Lenny Scott, or at least to cause him really serious harm.' Mr Leach told the jury: 'The evidence you are about to hear, when examined in detail, reveals a powerful image, one in which Elias Morgan, driven by a desire for revenge and reliant on Anthony Cleary for his assistance, planned and executed the murder of Lenny Scott. Both men, the prosecution says, are guilty of his murder.' The trial of Morgan, 35 and Cleary, 29, continues.
LBCI
a day ago
- Politics
- LBCI
Khamenei says Trump sought to 'minimize' impact of Iran attack on US base in Qatar
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Thursday that U.S. President Donald Trump had sought to "minimize" the impact of Iran's retaliatory strikes on a U.S. base in Qatar. Trump "tried... to pretend that nothing had happened, when a major event had occurred," Khamenei said in a televised speech on state TV of Iran's attack on Monday on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar -- the largest U.S. military facility in the Middle East. Khamenei said the attack "caused damage," while Trump has shrugged it off as "very weak." No casualties were reported at the base. AFP
The Independent
a day ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Ayatollah says Iran 'slapped America in the face' after bombing in fresh threat
Iran 's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, delivered his first televised address after a US bombing raid on Iran's nuclear sites. Khamenei claimed Iran "slapped America in the face" with a missile attack on a US airbase in Qatar and warned of future retaliatory actions. His prolonged public absence since 13 June, following Israeli attacks that killed key military and security advisers, has fuelled concerns about his health and future. Discussions are reportedly underway among Iranian leaders to plan for a future without Khamenei, with analysts suggesting a potential shift to military-led rule. An official from Khamenei's office acknowledged public inquiries about his wellbeing, urging prayers for the leader.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Russia says it plans to summon the German ambassador over alleged harassment of its journalists
MOSCOW, June 26 (Reuters) - Russia will summon the German ambassador soon to inform him of retaliatory measures in response to what it sees as the harassment of Russian journalists based in Germany, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday. Russia has clashed repeatedly with Germany over the issue, and expelled a German correspondent and cameraman last November in what it said was a symmetrical response to German moves against Russian state TV journalists. Germany said the Russians' departure was linked to residence rules, and that Russian journalists can report freely in the country. Zakharova said Germany was applying undue "pressure and harassment" against Russian journalists and their family members. She has previously spoken of passports being revoked and limits on journalists' freedom of movement. Russia continues to accredit Western correspondents, although many left the country after Moscow in 2022 launched its full-scale war against Ukraine, which was followed by the passage of new censorship laws, and the 2023 arrest of U.S. reporter Evan Gershkovich on spying charges. Gershkovich, who denied the accusation, was freed in a prisoner swap last year.
