Belarus opposition leader, 13 others freed from jail
Belarus has released 14 political prisoners following a visit by US special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg to Minsk, media reports say.
Opposition leader Syarhei Tsikhanouski was among the people freed, his wife Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said in a post on social media site X.
A court in Belarus sentenced Tsikhanouski in 2021 to 18 years in jail after he was arrested during an attempt to run for president against incumbent Alexander Lukashenko.
Tsikhanouski is now in Lithuania's capital Vilnius, a spokesperson for his wife said.
A total of 14 prisoners were released, the spokesperson added.
"We're not done," Tsikhanouskaya said, calling for the release of a further 1,150 prisoners.
Tsikhanouski, a blogger and activist who was jailed in 2020, arrived in Lithuania alongside 13 other political prisoners, his wife's team said.
A video published on his wife's official Telegram account showed Tsikhanouski disembarking a white minibus, with a shaved head and broad smile.
He pulled Tsikhanouskaya into a long embrace as their supporters applauded.
"My husband is free. It's difficult to describe the joy in my heart," Tsikhanouskaya told reporters.
The prominent journalist Igor Karney was also released on Saturday, according to the reports.
US envoy Kellogg met with the authoritarian Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday to discuss a peaceful solution to the war in Ukraine and bilateral relations between the United States and Belarus.
In Belarus' 2020 election, Lukashenko had once again proclaimed himself the winner, triggering unprecedented protests in the country.
Many considered Tikhanovskaya to be the real winner of the ballot in the former Soviet republic.
She fled into exile in neighbouring Lithuania after the election.
with DPA and AP
Belarus has released 14 political prisoners following a visit by US special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg to Minsk, media reports say.
Opposition leader Syarhei Tsikhanouski was among the people freed, his wife Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said in a post on social media site X.
A court in Belarus sentenced Tsikhanouski in 2021 to 18 years in jail after he was arrested during an attempt to run for president against incumbent Alexander Lukashenko.
Tsikhanouski is now in Lithuania's capital Vilnius, a spokesperson for his wife said.
A total of 14 prisoners were released, the spokesperson added.
"We're not done," Tsikhanouskaya said, calling for the release of a further 1,150 prisoners.
Tsikhanouski, a blogger and activist who was jailed in 2020, arrived in Lithuania alongside 13 other political prisoners, his wife's team said.
A video published on his wife's official Telegram account showed Tsikhanouski disembarking a white minibus, with a shaved head and broad smile.
He pulled Tsikhanouskaya into a long embrace as their supporters applauded.
"My husband is free. It's difficult to describe the joy in my heart," Tsikhanouskaya told reporters.
The prominent journalist Igor Karney was also released on Saturday, according to the reports.
US envoy Kellogg met with the authoritarian Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday to discuss a peaceful solution to the war in Ukraine and bilateral relations between the United States and Belarus.
In Belarus' 2020 election, Lukashenko had once again proclaimed himself the winner, triggering unprecedented protests in the country.
Many considered Tikhanovskaya to be the real winner of the ballot in the former Soviet republic.
She fled into exile in neighbouring Lithuania after the election.
with DPA and AP
Belarus has released 14 political prisoners following a visit by US special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg to Minsk, media reports say.
Opposition leader Syarhei Tsikhanouski was among the people freed, his wife Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said in a post on social media site X.
A court in Belarus sentenced Tsikhanouski in 2021 to 18 years in jail after he was arrested during an attempt to run for president against incumbent Alexander Lukashenko.
Tsikhanouski is now in Lithuania's capital Vilnius, a spokesperson for his wife said.
A total of 14 prisoners were released, the spokesperson added.
"We're not done," Tsikhanouskaya said, calling for the release of a further 1,150 prisoners.
Tsikhanouski, a blogger and activist who was jailed in 2020, arrived in Lithuania alongside 13 other political prisoners, his wife's team said.
A video published on his wife's official Telegram account showed Tsikhanouski disembarking a white minibus, with a shaved head and broad smile.
He pulled Tsikhanouskaya into a long embrace as their supporters applauded.
"My husband is free. It's difficult to describe the joy in my heart," Tsikhanouskaya told reporters.
The prominent journalist Igor Karney was also released on Saturday, according to the reports.
US envoy Kellogg met with the authoritarian Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday to discuss a peaceful solution to the war in Ukraine and bilateral relations between the United States and Belarus.
In Belarus' 2020 election, Lukashenko had once again proclaimed himself the winner, triggering unprecedented protests in the country.
Many considered Tikhanovskaya to be the real winner of the ballot in the former Soviet republic.
She fled into exile in neighbouring Lithuania after the election.
with DPA and AP
Belarus has released 14 political prisoners following a visit by US special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg to Minsk, media reports say.
Opposition leader Syarhei Tsikhanouski was among the people freed, his wife Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said in a post on social media site X.
A court in Belarus sentenced Tsikhanouski in 2021 to 18 years in jail after he was arrested during an attempt to run for president against incumbent Alexander Lukashenko.
Tsikhanouski is now in Lithuania's capital Vilnius, a spokesperson for his wife said.
A total of 14 prisoners were released, the spokesperson added.
"We're not done," Tsikhanouskaya said, calling for the release of a further 1,150 prisoners.
Tsikhanouski, a blogger and activist who was jailed in 2020, arrived in Lithuania alongside 13 other political prisoners, his wife's team said.
A video published on his wife's official Telegram account showed Tsikhanouski disembarking a white minibus, with a shaved head and broad smile.
He pulled Tsikhanouskaya into a long embrace as their supporters applauded.
"My husband is free. It's difficult to describe the joy in my heart," Tsikhanouskaya told reporters.
The prominent journalist Igor Karney was also released on Saturday, according to the reports.
US envoy Kellogg met with the authoritarian Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday to discuss a peaceful solution to the war in Ukraine and bilateral relations between the United States and Belarus.
In Belarus' 2020 election, Lukashenko had once again proclaimed himself the winner, triggering unprecedented protests in the country.
Many considered Tikhanovskaya to be the real winner of the ballot in the former Soviet republic.
She fled into exile in neighbouring Lithuania after the election.
with DPA and AP
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The Advertiser
7 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Russian attacks on Kyiv kill seven, injure dozens
Russian drone and missile attacks in and around Kyiv overnight killed seven people, injured dozens, sparked fires in residential areas and damaged the entrance to a metro station bomb shelter, Ukrainian officials said. At least six people were killed in Kyiv's busy Shevchenkivskyi district on Monday when an entire section of a residential high-rise building was destroyed, Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv's military administration, said on the Telegram messaging app. Four children were among 25 people wounded in the attack, he added. "The Russians' style is unchanged - to hit where there may be people," Tkachenko said. "Residential buildings, exits from shelters - this is the Russian style." Moscow has stepped up drone and missile strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities in recent weeks as talks to end the war, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, yielded few results. Both sides deny targeting civilians, but thousands of civilians have been killed in the conflict - the vast majority of them Ukrainian. Russia has not commented on the latest attacks. Interior minister Ihor Klymenko said people could still be under the rubble after the overnight attacks caused damage in six of the city's 10 districts. "To be honest, it wasn't like I got scared. It was more like my life was frozen," said a 75-year-old local resident who only gave her first name, Liudmyla. "You're frozen, looking at all of it and thinking about how you will live." Ukraine's air force said it downed 339 of 352 drones and 15 of 16 missiles launched by Russia in the attack on four Ukrainian regions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he would discuss the country's defence and additional pressure on Russia to end such strikes during his visit to Britain. Photos posted by Ukraine's State Emergency Service showed rescuers leading people to safety from buildings and structures on fire in the dark. An entrance to the metro station in Kyiv's Sviatoshynskyi district was also damaged, along with an adjacent bus stop, officials said. Kyiv's deep metro stations have been used throughout the war as some of the city's safest bomb shelters. Kyiv Polytechnic Institute said the attack damaged its sports complex, several academic buildings and four dormitories. In the broader Kyiv region that surrounds the Ukrainian capital, a 68-year-old woman was killed and at least eight people were injured, officials said. Russia launched one of its deadliest attacks on Kyiv last week, when hundreds of drones killed 28 people and injured more than 150. Russian drone and missile attacks in and around Kyiv overnight killed seven people, injured dozens, sparked fires in residential areas and damaged the entrance to a metro station bomb shelter, Ukrainian officials said. At least six people were killed in Kyiv's busy Shevchenkivskyi district on Monday when an entire section of a residential high-rise building was destroyed, Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv's military administration, said on the Telegram messaging app. Four children were among 25 people wounded in the attack, he added. "The Russians' style is unchanged - to hit where there may be people," Tkachenko said. "Residential buildings, exits from shelters - this is the Russian style." Moscow has stepped up drone and missile strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities in recent weeks as talks to end the war, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, yielded few results. Both sides deny targeting civilians, but thousands of civilians have been killed in the conflict - the vast majority of them Ukrainian. Russia has not commented on the latest attacks. Interior minister Ihor Klymenko said people could still be under the rubble after the overnight attacks caused damage in six of the city's 10 districts. "To be honest, it wasn't like I got scared. It was more like my life was frozen," said a 75-year-old local resident who only gave her first name, Liudmyla. "You're frozen, looking at all of it and thinking about how you will live." Ukraine's air force said it downed 339 of 352 drones and 15 of 16 missiles launched by Russia in the attack on four Ukrainian regions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he would discuss the country's defence and additional pressure on Russia to end such strikes during his visit to Britain. Photos posted by Ukraine's State Emergency Service showed rescuers leading people to safety from buildings and structures on fire in the dark. An entrance to the metro station in Kyiv's Sviatoshynskyi district was also damaged, along with an adjacent bus stop, officials said. Kyiv's deep metro stations have been used throughout the war as some of the city's safest bomb shelters. Kyiv Polytechnic Institute said the attack damaged its sports complex, several academic buildings and four dormitories. In the broader Kyiv region that surrounds the Ukrainian capital, a 68-year-old woman was killed and at least eight people were injured, officials said. Russia launched one of its deadliest attacks on Kyiv last week, when hundreds of drones killed 28 people and injured more than 150. Russian drone and missile attacks in and around Kyiv overnight killed seven people, injured dozens, sparked fires in residential areas and damaged the entrance to a metro station bomb shelter, Ukrainian officials said. At least six people were killed in Kyiv's busy Shevchenkivskyi district on Monday when an entire section of a residential high-rise building was destroyed, Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv's military administration, said on the Telegram messaging app. Four children were among 25 people wounded in the attack, he added. "The Russians' style is unchanged - to hit where there may be people," Tkachenko said. "Residential buildings, exits from shelters - this is the Russian style." Moscow has stepped up drone and missile strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities in recent weeks as talks to end the war, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, yielded few results. Both sides deny targeting civilians, but thousands of civilians have been killed in the conflict - the vast majority of them Ukrainian. Russia has not commented on the latest attacks. Interior minister Ihor Klymenko said people could still be under the rubble after the overnight attacks caused damage in six of the city's 10 districts. "To be honest, it wasn't like I got scared. It was more like my life was frozen," said a 75-year-old local resident who only gave her first name, Liudmyla. "You're frozen, looking at all of it and thinking about how you will live." Ukraine's air force said it downed 339 of 352 drones and 15 of 16 missiles launched by Russia in the attack on four Ukrainian regions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he would discuss the country's defence and additional pressure on Russia to end such strikes during his visit to Britain. Photos posted by Ukraine's State Emergency Service showed rescuers leading people to safety from buildings and structures on fire in the dark. An entrance to the metro station in Kyiv's Sviatoshynskyi district was also damaged, along with an adjacent bus stop, officials said. Kyiv's deep metro stations have been used throughout the war as some of the city's safest bomb shelters. Kyiv Polytechnic Institute said the attack damaged its sports complex, several academic buildings and four dormitories. In the broader Kyiv region that surrounds the Ukrainian capital, a 68-year-old woman was killed and at least eight people were injured, officials said. Russia launched one of its deadliest attacks on Kyiv last week, when hundreds of drones killed 28 people and injured more than 150. Russian drone and missile attacks in and around Kyiv overnight killed seven people, injured dozens, sparked fires in residential areas and damaged the entrance to a metro station bomb shelter, Ukrainian officials said. At least six people were killed in Kyiv's busy Shevchenkivskyi district on Monday when an entire section of a residential high-rise building was destroyed, Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv's military administration, said on the Telegram messaging app. Four children were among 25 people wounded in the attack, he added. "The Russians' style is unchanged - to hit where there may be people," Tkachenko said. "Residential buildings, exits from shelters - this is the Russian style." Moscow has stepped up drone and missile strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities in recent weeks as talks to end the war, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, yielded few results. Both sides deny targeting civilians, but thousands of civilians have been killed in the conflict - the vast majority of them Ukrainian. Russia has not commented on the latest attacks. Interior minister Ihor Klymenko said people could still be under the rubble after the overnight attacks caused damage in six of the city's 10 districts. "To be honest, it wasn't like I got scared. It was more like my life was frozen," said a 75-year-old local resident who only gave her first name, Liudmyla. "You're frozen, looking at all of it and thinking about how you will live." Ukraine's air force said it downed 339 of 352 drones and 15 of 16 missiles launched by Russia in the attack on four Ukrainian regions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he would discuss the country's defence and additional pressure on Russia to end such strikes during his visit to Britain. Photos posted by Ukraine's State Emergency Service showed rescuers leading people to safety from buildings and structures on fire in the dark. An entrance to the metro station in Kyiv's Sviatoshynskyi district was also damaged, along with an adjacent bus stop, officials said. Kyiv's deep metro stations have been used throughout the war as some of the city's safest bomb shelters. Kyiv Polytechnic Institute said the attack damaged its sports complex, several academic buildings and four dormitories. In the broader Kyiv region that surrounds the Ukrainian capital, a 68-year-old woman was killed and at least eight people were injured, officials said. Russia launched one of its deadliest attacks on Kyiv last week, when hundreds of drones killed 28 people and injured more than 150.
The Advertiser
14 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Zelenskiy warns of new Russian operations in Europe
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says Russia is preparing new military operations in Europe as he indirectly expressed support for US attacks on Iranian nuclear sites. "We are seeing a further intellectual regression on the part of the Russian leadership and have evidence that it is preparing new military operations in Europe," Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram. The leader said he had been briefed on the current situation by the head of Ukraine's military intelligence service, Kyrylo Budanov. Zelenskiy said he intends to discuss the details of the Russian military operations with Kyiv's partners. "We will inform our partners about the facts uncovered by our intelligence services," he wrote. "We are preparing joint defence decisions, in particular with the United Kingdom and the European Union." The warning came as an overnight Russian drone attack on Kyiv injured at least five civilians, sparked fires in residential areas and damaged an entrance to a metro station, Ukrainian authorities said on Monday. Metro stations are used as bomb shelters in Ukraine during Russian attacks. Earlier, three people were killed in a Russian missile attack on a Ukrainian military training area, the Ukrainian armed forces said. Another 11 people were injured in the attack, with further casualties prevented due to a timely warning by airspace surveillance, the Ukrainian army command said on Facebook on Sunday. The exact location of the military site was not disclosed. The Russian Defence Ministry detailed an attack on a Ukrainian military training ground in the southern Kherson region but said 70 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed by an Iskander ballistic missile. The information provided by the two sides could not be independently verified. It comes just a few weeks after at least 12 recruits were killed and dozens injured in a Russian attack on a military training area in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region, according to official reports. The attack led to a reshuffle within the leadership of the Ukrainian command. Speaking in his nightly address, Zelenskiy also warned against the proliferation of nuclear weapons, as he indirectly expressed support for the US attacks on Iranian nuclear sites. "There must be no proliferation of nuclear weapons in the modern world," Zelenskiy said in his regular video address. "It is important that there is American resolve on this, the resolve of President (Donald) Trump," he added. The Ukrainian president said Russia is using Iranian Shahed drones in the war in Ukraine. "Iran's decisions to support Russia have brought massive destruction and devastating human losses to our country, and to many others." At the same time, Zelenskiy called for a focus on diplomacy. "Diplomacy has to start working. Working everywhere: in the Middle East, in the Gulf region, and here in Europe - in Ukraine," he said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says Russia is preparing new military operations in Europe as he indirectly expressed support for US attacks on Iranian nuclear sites. "We are seeing a further intellectual regression on the part of the Russian leadership and have evidence that it is preparing new military operations in Europe," Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram. The leader said he had been briefed on the current situation by the head of Ukraine's military intelligence service, Kyrylo Budanov. Zelenskiy said he intends to discuss the details of the Russian military operations with Kyiv's partners. "We will inform our partners about the facts uncovered by our intelligence services," he wrote. "We are preparing joint defence decisions, in particular with the United Kingdom and the European Union." The warning came as an overnight Russian drone attack on Kyiv injured at least five civilians, sparked fires in residential areas and damaged an entrance to a metro station, Ukrainian authorities said on Monday. Metro stations are used as bomb shelters in Ukraine during Russian attacks. Earlier, three people were killed in a Russian missile attack on a Ukrainian military training area, the Ukrainian armed forces said. Another 11 people were injured in the attack, with further casualties prevented due to a timely warning by airspace surveillance, the Ukrainian army command said on Facebook on Sunday. The exact location of the military site was not disclosed. The Russian Defence Ministry detailed an attack on a Ukrainian military training ground in the southern Kherson region but said 70 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed by an Iskander ballistic missile. The information provided by the two sides could not be independently verified. It comes just a few weeks after at least 12 recruits were killed and dozens injured in a Russian attack on a military training area in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region, according to official reports. The attack led to a reshuffle within the leadership of the Ukrainian command. Speaking in his nightly address, Zelenskiy also warned against the proliferation of nuclear weapons, as he indirectly expressed support for the US attacks on Iranian nuclear sites. "There must be no proliferation of nuclear weapons in the modern world," Zelenskiy said in his regular video address. "It is important that there is American resolve on this, the resolve of President (Donald) Trump," he added. The Ukrainian president said Russia is using Iranian Shahed drones in the war in Ukraine. "Iran's decisions to support Russia have brought massive destruction and devastating human losses to our country, and to many others." At the same time, Zelenskiy called for a focus on diplomacy. "Diplomacy has to start working. Working everywhere: in the Middle East, in the Gulf region, and here in Europe - in Ukraine," he said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says Russia is preparing new military operations in Europe as he indirectly expressed support for US attacks on Iranian nuclear sites. "We are seeing a further intellectual regression on the part of the Russian leadership and have evidence that it is preparing new military operations in Europe," Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram. The leader said he had been briefed on the current situation by the head of Ukraine's military intelligence service, Kyrylo Budanov. Zelenskiy said he intends to discuss the details of the Russian military operations with Kyiv's partners. "We will inform our partners about the facts uncovered by our intelligence services," he wrote. "We are preparing joint defence decisions, in particular with the United Kingdom and the European Union." The warning came as an overnight Russian drone attack on Kyiv injured at least five civilians, sparked fires in residential areas and damaged an entrance to a metro station, Ukrainian authorities said on Monday. Metro stations are used as bomb shelters in Ukraine during Russian attacks. Earlier, three people were killed in a Russian missile attack on a Ukrainian military training area, the Ukrainian armed forces said. Another 11 people were injured in the attack, with further casualties prevented due to a timely warning by airspace surveillance, the Ukrainian army command said on Facebook on Sunday. The exact location of the military site was not disclosed. The Russian Defence Ministry detailed an attack on a Ukrainian military training ground in the southern Kherson region but said 70 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed by an Iskander ballistic missile. The information provided by the two sides could not be independently verified. It comes just a few weeks after at least 12 recruits were killed and dozens injured in a Russian attack on a military training area in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region, according to official reports. The attack led to a reshuffle within the leadership of the Ukrainian command. Speaking in his nightly address, Zelenskiy also warned against the proliferation of nuclear weapons, as he indirectly expressed support for the US attacks on Iranian nuclear sites. "There must be no proliferation of nuclear weapons in the modern world," Zelenskiy said in his regular video address. "It is important that there is American resolve on this, the resolve of President (Donald) Trump," he added. The Ukrainian president said Russia is using Iranian Shahed drones in the war in Ukraine. "Iran's decisions to support Russia have brought massive destruction and devastating human losses to our country, and to many others." At the same time, Zelenskiy called for a focus on diplomacy. "Diplomacy has to start working. Working everywhere: in the Middle East, in the Gulf region, and here in Europe - in Ukraine," he said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says Russia is preparing new military operations in Europe as he indirectly expressed support for US attacks on Iranian nuclear sites. "We are seeing a further intellectual regression on the part of the Russian leadership and have evidence that it is preparing new military operations in Europe," Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram. The leader said he had been briefed on the current situation by the head of Ukraine's military intelligence service, Kyrylo Budanov. Zelenskiy said he intends to discuss the details of the Russian military operations with Kyiv's partners. "We will inform our partners about the facts uncovered by our intelligence services," he wrote. "We are preparing joint defence decisions, in particular with the United Kingdom and the European Union." The warning came as an overnight Russian drone attack on Kyiv injured at least five civilians, sparked fires in residential areas and damaged an entrance to a metro station, Ukrainian authorities said on Monday. Metro stations are used as bomb shelters in Ukraine during Russian attacks. Earlier, three people were killed in a Russian missile attack on a Ukrainian military training area, the Ukrainian armed forces said. Another 11 people were injured in the attack, with further casualties prevented due to a timely warning by airspace surveillance, the Ukrainian army command said on Facebook on Sunday. The exact location of the military site was not disclosed. The Russian Defence Ministry detailed an attack on a Ukrainian military training ground in the southern Kherson region but said 70 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed by an Iskander ballistic missile. The information provided by the two sides could not be independently verified. It comes just a few weeks after at least 12 recruits were killed and dozens injured in a Russian attack on a military training area in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region, according to official reports. The attack led to a reshuffle within the leadership of the Ukrainian command. Speaking in his nightly address, Zelenskiy also warned against the proliferation of nuclear weapons, as he indirectly expressed support for the US attacks on Iranian nuclear sites. "There must be no proliferation of nuclear weapons in the modern world," Zelenskiy said in his regular video address. "It is important that there is American resolve on this, the resolve of President (Donald) Trump," he added. The Ukrainian president said Russia is using Iranian Shahed drones in the war in Ukraine. "Iran's decisions to support Russia have brought massive destruction and devastating human losses to our country, and to many others." At the same time, Zelenskiy called for a focus on diplomacy. "Diplomacy has to start working. Working everywhere: in the Middle East, in the Gulf region, and here in Europe - in Ukraine," he said.
9 News
15 hours ago
- 9 News
The Republicans voicing dissent against Trump's strikes on Iran
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Before yesterday's military operation targeting nuclear enrichment sites in Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan, rifts were beginning to form within the party over the prospect of the US joining Israel to stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. Trump had campaigned for his second term opposing US involvement in the Middle East, promising to adopt an "America first" approach if elected for a second term. President Donald Trump speaks after the US military struck three Iranian nuclear and military sites. (AP) He had also previously criticised the then-president Barack Obama, posting to social media that he would start a war with Iran because of his "inability to negotiate properly" and to "save face". Last week, Trump indicated Iran would have two weeks before he decided on whether to support Israel's efforts in Iran, but broke his own deadline after announcing the US had completed a "spectacular military success" in Iran. Within minutes of the news, strong condemnation began to roll in. Kentucky Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, who has been leading a War Powers Resolution to prevent the US from becoming involved in another Middle East war in a rare cross-party alliance with California Democrat Congressman Ro Khanna, criticised the strikes as unconstitutional. "Congress has the sole authority to authorise war. Speaker Mike Johnson should bring our resolution to the floor for a vote immediately," he said on X. Georgia's Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, a far-right conservative and staunch Trump supporter, opposed the country's involvement. "Every time America is on the verge of greatness, we get involved in another foreign war," she said on X. "There would not be bombs falling on the people of Israel if Netanyahu had not dropped bombs on the people of Iran first. Israel is a nuclear-armed nation. Ohio Republican Warren Davidson said it was "hard to conceive a rationale that's constitutional". He later questioned when Congress would be weighing in on the matter. Trump, however, insisted he had the full support of the Republican Party. "Great unity in the Republican Party, perhaps unity like we have never seen before," he said on Truth Social. Thomas Massie (left) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (right). (AP) Democrats have condemned the President for ordering the strikes without approval from Congress, which they say went against Article I of the Constitution. "President Trump came into office promising to 'end the endless foreign wars.' Tonight, he took steps that could drag the United States into another one, without consulting Congress, without a clear strategy, without regard to the consistent conclusions of the intelligence community, and without explaining to the American people what's at stake," Democratic Virginia Senator Mark Warner said on X. "The Constitution makes clear that the power to authorise war lies with Congress." New York Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez went further to claim that Trump's strikes were "grounds for impeachment". But one of the top Republicans in Congress, House Speaker Mike Johnson, said Trump had evaluated that the "imminent danger outweighed the time it would take for Congress to act". "The President fully respects the Article I power of Congress, and tonight's necessary, limited, and targeted strike follows the history and tradition of similar military actions under presidents of both parties," he said on X. Donald Trump USA World Israel Iran nuclear Politics CONTACT US Auto news:Is this the next Subaru WRX? Mysterious performance car teased.
