US investigating leak of Israeli plans to launch attack against Iran
The United States wants to know who leaked classified U.S. documents detailing sensitive sections of Israel’s plan to attack Iran. U.S. intelligence launched a probe into the source of the leaked information published by a pro-Iranian media site on Friday, Oct. 18.
The pair of documents are based on satellite imagery from Oct. 15 to Oct. 17, showing Israel moving military equipment as it prepares to strike Iran. The information describes ballistic and air-to-surface missile preparation and reveals Israeli drone movements.
Israel has vowed a precise strike aimed at Iran after Tehran launched a barrage of missiles at Tel Aviv, Israel, on Oct. 1. The leaked documents are confirmed to be from the U.S. National Geospatial Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency, and originally shared by a pro-Iranian Telegram account.
Speaker of the House Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., called the leak “very concerning.”
A former U.S. intelligence official told the BBC the unapproved release is likely an attempt to expose the scale of retaliation, and to potentially disrupt it.
The New York Times reports the leak may come from a low-level employee, and U.S. officials maintain the documents are not a “comprehensive assessment” of what the United States knows about Israel’s intentions.
Netanyahu plans strike on Iran, targeting military sites, not nuclear or oil
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has informed the Biden administration of plans to carry out a military strike on Iran, focusing on military infrastructure rather than oil or nuclear facilities, according to officials familiar with the discussions. The move comes amid heightened tensions between Israel and Iran, and is seen as a calculated effort to avoid triggering a larger regional conflict ahead of the U.S. presidential election.
The Washington Post reports the planned strike follows Iran’s second missile barrage on Israel in six months. During a recent phone call, Netanyahu outlined his approach to U.S. President Joe Biden, emphasizing a targeted response against Iranian military assets.
This approach aligns with Washington’s preference for restraint, as Biden has publicly opposed strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, fearing they could escalate tensions further.
In response to Israel’s planned actions, the U.S. announced the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system to Israel.
The Pentagon confirmed the arrival of U.S. personnel and initial components of the system, with more expected to follow in the coming days.
Israel intends to carry out the strike before the U.S. elections on Nov. 5 to avoid any perception of hesitation. However, some Israeli officials are skeptical that targeting military sites will be enough to deter Iran from future attacks or slow its nuclear progress.
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and other Israeli figures have called for a more direct approach, pushing for strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Despite pressure for a stronger response, Netanyahu has stressed the importance of strategic patience, particularly as Israel is already engaged in multiple conflicts, including military operations in Lebanon and Gaza.
Thousands of Israeli troops have recently entered Lebanon, and the military has ramped up its offensive against Hamas in Gaza. Netanyahu’s government has signaled patience in dealing with Iran, possibly delaying a strike until operations in Lebanon and Gaza are completed.
The escalating tensions between Israel and Iran also come after Tehran fired nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel in early October. The attack killed a Palestinian man in the West Bank and hit two Israeli military installations. Iran’s ambassador to the U.N. said the strike was intended to “restore balance and deterrence” following Israeli operations against Iranian targets.
Earthquake in Iran fuels online speculation of nuclear testing
Tensions between Israel and Iran have intensified amid fears that a recent earthquake in Iran was not a natural disaster, but rather the result of a secret underground nuclear test. This online speculation arises as both nations exchange warnings concerning Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Israel views Iran’s nuclear program as an existential threat, and over the last two decades, its military has prepared for potential strikes on key facilities like Natanz and Fordow, where uranium is enriched.
However, reports indicate that Israel’s capability to execute such strikes independently, without U.S. assistance, is limited.
While Israeli air drills have simulated these operations, officials question whether they could effectively destroy Iran’s nuclear infrastructure without specialized American “bunker-busting” bombs.
The Biden administration has urged Israel to refrain from directly targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities, warning of the risks of a full-scale regional war.
In a recent conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Biden emphasized the importance of proportional responses to Iranian missile strikes on Israeli territory, cautioning that any attack on nuclear or energy sites could lead to catastrophic escalation.
Reuters
The situation has been further complicated by online speculation of a potential underground nuclear test in Iran, following a 4.5 magnitude earthquake in Semnan Province near key nuclear facilities.
The earthquake’s shallow depth and location have led to the speculation, although officials are still investigating the incident. Social media has been rife with rumors, but no official confirmation has emerged. Analysts warn that a confirmed nuclear test by Iran would significantly escalate tensions between Iran and Israel.
8 Israeli soldiers killed in Lebanon fighting Hezbollah, fears of wider war rise
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered his “deepest condolences” on Wednesday, Oct. 2, to the families of eight soldiers killed in southern Lebanon. While the circumstances surrounding the deaths has yet to be released at the time of this report, it had been known that Israeli troops were fighting Hezbollah militants inside Lebanon after launching a ground invasion this week.
Meanwhile, the entire region is on high alert for further escalation of the conflict as Israel seeks revenge for Iran’s barrage of ballistic missiles launched toward Tel Aviv on Tuesday, Oct. 1.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) warned residents on Wednesday in more than 20 Lebanese communities to evacuate for their own safety amid its operations. The IDF said that it has destroyed more than “150 terror infrastructure sites” in Lebanon, so far.
When asked if he’d support an Israeli retaliation strike on Iranian nuclear sites, President Joe Biden said, “The answer is no.” Biden’s remarks follow a reported phone call with the Group of 7 leaders on Wednesday to talk about coordinating new sanctions against Tehran.
Biden did say that the United States is in “full solidarity” and supports “Israel and its people.”
Although the G7 leaders did condemn “Iranian attacks against Israel,” they also said that they believe a diplomatic solution is possible.
In a separate outbreak of violence south of Tel Aviv on Tuesday, Oct. 1, Hamas claimed responsibility for a mass shooting that killed at least seven people and injured 16 others.
The gunmen reportedly opened fire on a boulevard and train station in Jaffa. The attackers were later killed by police. The two men reportedly came from the West Bank, and it is unclear how they entered Israel.
Iran attacks Israel with barrage of missiles as US considers next steps
Missiles launched from Iran lit up the night sky of Tel Aviv, Israel, on Tuesday, Oct. 1, following a warning from the United States that an attack was “imminent” from Tehran. Israelis reportedly headed toward bomb shelters as sirens blared and explosions could be heard above Tel Aviv.
Dozens of missiles were reported flying over the city, while several were intercepted.
Iran’s attack follows an Israeli ground invasion meant to target Hezbollah in southern Lebanon just days after Israel killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
The U.S. announced it is “actively supporting” Israel’s “defensive preparations,” and Pentagon officials said they were tracking missiles in the air.
No attacks targeting U.S. troops have been reported at the time of the publishing of this report.
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris met with their national security team earlier on Tuesday to discuss Iran’s planned attack and how to best “protect U.S. personnel in the region.”
As missiles continued toward Israel on Tuesday, a separate violent incident occurred.
Authorities said that two gunmen opened fire at a train station in Jaffa, just south of Tel Aviv. The shooting killed at least four people and injured several others. A police spokesperson said the attackers were among those killed.
Not fearing the Reaper, Iran accused of helping Houthis target US drones
Houthi rebels appear not to be fearing U.S. MQ-9 Reaper Drones like they have in the past thanks to the help of Iran, according to U.S. intelligence sources. U.S. officials told NBC News that Tehran is enabling the militants to shoot down the massive, unmanned aircraft that are used to gather intelligence and launch Hellfire missiles and laser-guided bombs.
Iran reportedly supplied the rebel group with money, training and weapons. The U.S. alleged on Wednesday, Sept. 18, that the country is also helping the Houthis target MQ-9 Reaper drones. Houthi fighters hit two in less than a week. The U.S. military said the group damaged the first Reaper on Sept. 10 and shot down a second on Sept. 16.
The Houthi counterattacks dealt a blow to U.S-led airstrikes in Yemen and imperiled the Red Seas trade route that typically sees $1 trillion in cargo pass through the waterway yearly. Additionally, Reaper drones reportedly cost around $30 million each.
The Houthis claim to have shot down 10 Reaper drones since November. U.S. intelligence said that number is not accurate, but would not give an exact number on how many were shot down because of security concerns.
Military experts said the targeting of U.S. drones is a sign that Houthis air defense systems are getting stronger. They also cited new, upgraded missiles and systems from Iran as a reason for the upgrades. Tehran reportedly sent the Houthis 358 and SA-2 Surface-to-Air-Missiles, both of which can take down Reapers and other drones, according to U.S. officials.
U.S. forces also reportedly struggled to detect Houthi air defense systems because some do not use a radar system. That makes it harder for the U.S. military to find a heat signature.
The White House condemned Iran’s support of the Houthi’s. A representative also said the White House “will continue to work with our allies and partners to ensure the safety of our personal and capabilities across the region.”
Fresh images appear to show Russian ship with Iranian missiles in Caspian Sea
New satellite imagery revealed on Wednesday, Sept. 11, shows what appears to be the Russian cargo ship that brought ballistic missiles to Russia from Iran. The vessel known as the Olya-3, was spotted in the Caspian Sea off of the coast of southwest Russia. The pictures are reportedly seen as further evidence to back up claims from the United States and Europe that Russia is receiving missiles from Iran for its war in Ukraine.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned on Tuesday, Sept. 10, that Moscow will use the weapons to strike Ukrainian forces, towns and civilian infrastructure in the coming weeks.
The images reportedly show Moscow’s first shipment of short-range ballistic missiles on Sept. 4. Olya-3 frequently transports cargo in the Caspian Sea between Russia and Iran, according to the U.S. Treasury Department. The department announced sanctions on the vessel as part of a larger effort to crackdown on Tehran for its weapons transfers to Moscow.
It’s unclear how many missiles Moscow received but the U.S. Treasury Department said Russia and Iran signed an agreement late last year for the supply of hundreds of missiles. However, Iran and Russia both deny the transfer of missiles.
Meanwhile, Britain, France and German called the delivery an “escalation by both Iran and Russia” and a “direct threat to European security.”
Iran previously supplied Russia with attack drones and North Korea gave Moscow ballistic missiles and artillery.
There are reports that Russia’s purchase of Iranian ballistic missiles will be the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back, and Washington, D.C., may finally lift its restrictions on Ukraine using U.S-supplied weapons to strike Russian targets deep behind the front lines.
President Joe Biden and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer are supposed to discuss the topic on Friday, Sept 13.
US says Iran is giving ballistic missiles to Russia to attack Ukraine
The United States and Britain accused Iran of supplying Russia with short-range ballistic missiles on Tuesday, Sept. 10, and warned that Moscow plans to use the weapons soon. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made the comments alongside British Foreign Secretary David Lammy during a joint press conference.
“Russia has now received shipments of these ballistic missiles and will likely use them within weeks in Ukraine, against Ukrainians,” Blinken said.
“This development, and the growing cooperation between Russia and Iran, threatens European security and demonstrates how Iran’s destabilizing influence reaches far beyond the Middle East,” Blinken said.
Meanwhile, Iran has denied the accusations and said it has not supplied Russia with ballistic missiles.
According to Blinken, an announcement on sanctions against Iran would come later Tuesday.
The U.S. secretary of state’s comments come before a trip on Wednesday, Sept. 11, to Ukraine with Lammy. The pair will reportedly meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to talk about bulking up Kyiv’s defenses.
“I think it’s a critical moment for Ukraine,” Blinken said. “In the midst of what is an intense fall fighting season with Russia continuing to escalate its aggression. Its aggression against civilians, against critical infrastructure, and of course, against Ukrainian forces. We see it ramping up its attacks on cities, on people, in particular, targeting the energy infrastructure, electricity, in advance of the coldest months. Putin’s winter playbook of weaponizing energy and electricity.”
Zelenskyy’s chief of staff responded to Blinken’s statements, arguing that imposing sanctions on Iran is not enough. He urged Western allies to allow Kyiv to launch deep strikes into Russia using Western weapons.
However, it did not stop Kyiv from using its own weapons on Tuesday as it launched its biggest drone attack on Russian soil since the start of the war, striking multiple regions, including Moscow.
All of this is happening while Ukraine’s offensive in Kursk continues. Russia is still struggling to mount a defense against the invasion into its territory, the first since World War II.
Feds announce crackdown on Russian disinformation campaign in 2024 election
The Biden administration is taking action against Russian disinformation efforts in the 2024 presidential election. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced on Wednesday, Sept. 4, the filing of criminal charges, the seizure of more than two dozen Moscow-linked internet domains and sanctions on a Russian-run media company.
“The Justice Department’s message is clear,” Garland said. “We have no tolerance for attempts by authoritarian regimes to exploit our democratic system of government.”
Garland expanded on the efforts by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) during a meeting of the Election Threats Task Force, announcing the indictment of a pair of Russia-based employees at a state-run media outlet.
“This morning, we unsealed an indictment in the Southern District of New York of Constantine Kalashnikov and Elena [Afanasyeva], two Russian-based employees at RT, a Russian state-controlled media outlet,” Garland said. “They are charged with conspiring to commit money laundering and to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act.”
Garland said the RT’s employees , otherwise known as Russia Today, had a $10 million plan to funnel money into a Tennessee-based company to publish and spread pro-Russian propaganda, with the goal of sowing divisions in the U.S. and pushing anti-Ukrainian narratives.
The U.S. Treasury Department also imposed sanctions and visa restrictions against RT’s editor-in-chief, Margarita Simonovna Simonyan, and others affiliated with the network, including visa restrictions.
Garland also said the DOJ seized 32 internet domains used by the Kremlin and pro-Russian agents in a “covert campaign” to influence the 2024 election.
Federal investigators say that Russian companies have used domains, some impersonating legitimate publications like the Washington Post and Fox News, to secretly spread false information since at least 2022.
The U.S. attorney general said the plots show the lengths Russia is willing to reach in order to sow distrust in U.S. elections but also warned that it is not the only foreign adversary doing so.
“Unfortunately, we know that Russia is not the only foreign power seeking to interfere in our elections,” Garland said. “As the U.S intelligence community noted two weeks ago, we have observed increasingly aggressive Iranian activity during this election cycle. That includes recently reported activities by Iran to compromise Former President Trump’s campaign.
“Three things are certain in life: death, taxes and RT’s interference in the US elections,” the RT told Reuters.
The media outlet reportedly shuttered operations in the United States after Russia invaded Ukraine.
A Russian lawmaker claimed the accusations by the DOJ were “pure rubbish” and said Russia does not think it matters whether Former President Donald Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris wins the election on Nov. 5.
“The only winner of the U.S. election is the U.S. private military industrial complex,” State Duma deputy Maria Butina told Reuters.
Gov. Walz accepts VP nomination, tells Democrats to ‘leave it on the field’
Vice President Kamala Harris prepares to address the Democratic National Convention (DNC) Thursday, Aug. 22 night, just hours after Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz formally accepted the party’s nomination for vice president. And former President Donald Trump appeared behind bulletproof glass in his first outdoor rally since his attempted assassination. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024
Gov. Walz accepts VP nomination, tells Democrats to ‘leave it on the field’
Thursday, Aug. 22, is the final day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Vice President Kamala Harris is set to officially accept the Democratic Party’s nomination for president during a primetime speech.
On Wednesday night, Aug. 21, her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, officially accepted the nod for vice president. During his keynote speech, Walz introduced himself to the American people with what he described as a “pep talk” like those he used to give during his time as a high school teacher and football coach.
“It’s the fourth quarter, we’re down a field goal, but we’re on offense and we’ve got the ball,” he said of Harris’ campaign. “We’re driving down the field, and boy, do we have the right team…There’ll be time to sleep when you’re dead. We’re going to leave it on the field.”
In his address, Walz spoke of his record as Minnesota’s governor, comparing his policies to that of Republican-led states.
“Other states were banning books from their schools; we were banishing hunger from ours,” Walz said. “We also protected reproductive freedom, because in Minnesota, we respect our neighbors and the personal choices they make. Even if we wouldn’t make those same choices for ourselves, we’ve got a golden rule: Mind your own damn business.”
Before Walz took the stage Wednesday, some of the biggest A-listers and veteran party leaders gave speeches to rally up the base. Former President Bill Clinton, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Oprah Winfrey were among those who addressed the crowd.
“Let us choose loyalty to the Constitution over loyalty to any individual because that’s the best of America,” Winfrey said. “And let us choose optimism over cynicism and let us include inclusion over retribution.”
Harris will close out the convention Thursday, Aug. 22 night, with the last night’s theme being “for our future.”
Meanwhile former President Donald Trump will visit the border in Arizona on Thursday. His running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, will campaign in Georgia.
Trump appears behind bulletproof glass for outdoor rally in North Carolina
On Wednesday, Aug, 21, former President Trump held his first outdoor rally since the assassination attempt on his life in July in Butler, Pennsylvania. The appearance came with an added layer of security.
A wall of bulletproof glass surrounded the podium as Trump and Vance addressed supporters in the battleground state of North Carolina. Their focus was on national security.
President Trump leaves the bulletproof glass protecting him to check on a supporter in the crowd who passed out.
At the same time, lawmakers continued their search into what went wrong on July 13 when Trump was shot in the ear during that assassination attempt. A bipartisan congressional task force met remotely with the FBI to discuss progress in the agency’s investigation.
RFK Jr. expected to drop out of 2024 race, endorse Trump
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is expected to suspend his campaign by the end of the week. Kennedy is set to give a speech Friday, Aug. 23, on his “path forward” in the 2024 election during an event in Arizona.
This comes just days after his running mate said Kennedy has two options left: stay in the race or drop out and back former President Trump. It’s speculated Kennedy will announce his endorsement of Trump during the same speech on Friday — possibly in a joint appearance with the former president, who will also be campaigning in Arizona that day.
JD Vance has confirmed there’s been “a lot of communication back and forth” between the campaigns but nothing is set in stone.
5 bodies recovered after yacht sinks off coast of Sicily
2nd US Navy aircraft carrier arrives in Middle East amid Iran threat
A second U.S. Navy aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, has arrived in the Middle East. It joins the USS Theodore Roosevelt, which was stationed in the area after Iran threatened to attack Israel in retaliation for a deadly strike on a top Hamas leader in Tehran on July 31.
The U.S. military’s Central Command shared video of F-35 jets taking off from the Lincoln’s deck on Wednesday, Aug. 21.
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), equipped with F-35C and F/A-18 Block III fighters, entered the U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) area of responsibility.
The USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 3, is accompanied by Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 21 and… pic.twitter.com/RKoJQshigR
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the Lincoln, as well as the guided missile submarine the USS Georgia, to the region earlier this month as tensions remain high over an expected attack by Iran on Israel following the killings of top Hezbollah and Hamas leaders. The Lincoln and Georgia add to the U.S. ships already in the area, including eight destroyers.
These military moves come as President Joe Biden stressed on a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday the urgent need to conclude talks on a cease-fire and hostage release plan. The White House said the president pointed to the upcoming discussions in Cairo as “crucial.”
Taylor Swift breaks her silence on canceled Vienna shows
Taylor Swift has broken her silence following the foiled terrorist plot that resulted in the cancellation of her Eras tour shows in Vienna, Austria. Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, Aug. 21, Swift reflected on the end of the European leg of her tour.
She posted several images from various shows in Europe along with a caption which read in part, “Having our Vienna shows cancelled was devastating. The reason for the cancellations filled me with a new sense of fear, and a tremendous amount of guilt because so many people had planned on coming to those shows. But I was also so grateful to the authorities because thanks to them, we were grieving concerts and not lives.”
Swift went on to say, “Let me be very clear: I am not going to speak about something publicly if I think doing so might provoke those who would want to harm the fans who come to my shows. In cases like this one, ‘silence’ is actually showing restraint, and waiting to express yourself at a time when it’s right to. My priority was finishing our European tour safely, and it is with great relief that I can say we did that.”
Swift added she was heartened by the love and unity she saw in her fans who banded together.
