Tunisia court jails former officials including former PM Larayedh
TUNIS, May 2 (Reuters) - A Tunisian court on Friday handed down lengthy prison sentences against former officials, including former Prime Minister Ali Larayedh, a senior figure in the opposition Ennahda party, on charges of facilitating the departure of jihadists to Syria over the past decade.
TAP state news agency quoted a judicial official as saying that the sentences are for 18 to 36 years, and apply to eight people.
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Scottish Sun
6 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Trump says US took ‘bomb out of Iran's hands' and caused ‘monumental' damage as Tehran vows to retaliate
BRACING FOR STRIKES Trump says US took 'bomb out of Iran's hands' and caused 'monumental' damage as Tehran vows to retaliate DONALD Trump said that the US military took the "bomb out of Iran's hands" and caused "monumental" damage to Tehran's nuclear ambitions. The Islamic Republic - hurt and wounded - has vowed to retaliate by striking US targets in the Middle East. 5 United States President Donald J Trump addresseed the nation after bombing Iran Credit: AP 5 A satellite view shows an overview of Fordow underground complex after the US strikes Credit: Reuters 5 Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is expected to retaliate against US and its allies 5 Iran's murderous terrorist wing, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps 5 Slamming Thomas Massie, a Republican congressman who opposed the US miliatry intervention in the region, Trump said: "We had a spectacular military success yesterday, taking the 'bomb' right out of their hands (and they would use it if they could!) but, as usual, and despite all of the praise and accolades received, this 'lightweight' Congressman is against what was so brilliantly achieved last night." Trump last night hailed the US military bombing on Iran's key nuclear facilities, saying the strikes "obliterated" Tehran's doomsday program. He said: "The damage to the Nuclear sites in Iran is said to be 'monumental'. The hits were hard and accurate." Tehran retaliated to the US bombing by approving steps to close the Strait of Hormuz - a bottleneck entrance to the Gulf where nearly a quarter of the oil shipped around the world passes through narrow waters. Iran's Press TV said closing the strait would require approval from the Supreme National Security Council, a body led by an appointee of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Attempting to choke off Gulf oil by closing the strait could send global oil prices skyrocketing and derail the world economy. It would also invite an almost certain conflict with the US Navy's massive Fifth Fleet based in the Gulf, which is tasked with keeping it open. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called it a "suicide mission," adding it would be a massive escalation that would merit a response from the US and others. Meanwhile, Ali Akbar Velayati, an advisor to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said bases used by US forces could be attacked in retaliation. 'Any country in the region or elsewhere that is used by American forces to strike Iran will be considered a legitimate target for our armed forces,' he said in a message carried by the official IRNA news agency. 'America has attacked the heart of the Islamic world and must await irreparable consequences.' Tehran has so far not followed through on its threats of retaliation against the United States - either by targeting US bases or trying to choke off global oil supplies. But that may not hold up. Trump warned that further action could be taken if Tehran doesn't agree to an adequate peace deal, or tries to harm American interests. He said in a nationally televised speech at the White House: "Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier." "There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days." 'Remember, there are many targets left. Tonight's was the most difficult of them all, by far, and perhaps the most lethal. 'But if peace does not come quickly we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill." Stay up to date with the latest on Israel vs Iran with The Sun's live blog below...
Reuters
12 hours ago
- Reuters
Blast rocks church in Syria's Damascus, witnesses say
June 22 (Reuters) - A blast rocked the Mar Elias Church in the Dweila neighbourhood of Syria's capital Damascus on Sunday, according to witnesses. One told Reuters a suicide bomber detonated himself inside the church. A spokesperson for Damascus security forces did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Scottish Sun
13 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Inside Operation Midnight Hammer: How Trump carried out unprecedented Iran attack using decoys in 37-hour covert mission
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AMERICA'S colossal bomb raid on Iran's key nuclear sites was a masterclass in military might and strategy "months in the making", officials said. Covert tactics and the world's biggest conventional bombs came together in a "spectacular success", according to Trump, which caught the Iranians completely off-guard. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 14 B-2 bombers were joined by more than 100 escort and support aircradr Credit: Reuters 8 Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the operation had been months in the planning Credit: AP 8 Satellite pictures show Iran's Fordow nuclear facility after it was blitzed Credit: AFP 8 Iran has sworn "everlasting consequences" are coming, but Trump warned the US would not be afraid of striking again. While the world now waits to see how Iran and its Axis of Evil will respond, the US has shared details of its daring Operation Midnight Hammer. General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said: 'This was a complex and high-risk mission carried out with exceptional skill and discipline by our Joint Force." Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said: "Our B-2s went in and out and back without the world knowing at all." The mission was simple: to inflict serious damage on Iran's nuclear programme so that it is unable to produce nuclear weapons. Plans were worked for months, and the key groundwork was laid by Trump on Thursday when he announced a two-week delay to his decision about striking Iran. It's now clear that was a ploy to lull the regime into a false sense of security. The full mobilisation began on Friday night when a unit of B-2 bombers took off from the US at midnight. Some of the planes flew west towards the Pacific, leading analysts to suggest they might be heading to the UK's Diego Garcia base - but that was a decoy. Only "an extremely small number of planners and key leaders" knew the truth about the ruse, General Caine said. Trump's shock Iran strikes take us to bring of global conflict and will strengthen Axis of Evil alliance, experts warn The actual fleet comprised of seven B-2 spirit bombers, which quietly set off east over the Atlantic. Each was manned by a crew of two, but the pilots were instructed to stick to minimal communication to avoid detection. It was an 18-hour non-stop journey to reach the target area, so the bombers had to refuel multiple times in the air by linking up with escort and support aircraft. Mid-air synchronisation is difficult enough, but crews had to maintain minimal comms whilst lining up. At half past midnight Iranian time, a US submarine launched more than two dozen Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles at the Isfahan nuclear site in east Iran. This coincided with the bomber squad entering Iranian airspace - undetected. 8 Trump played a feint by suggesting he would mull the strikes for two weeks Credit: Splash 8 Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has refused to surrender and now says diplomacy is off the cards Credit: AP Decoy and scout planes swooped out ahead of the main unit to scan for and distract any awaiting Iranian defence jets - but there were none. The protection group stood ready to launch preemptive fire on any surface-to-air threats, such as air defence systems, but not a single shot was fired at the operatives. Go-time was 2:10am - the midst of the Iranian night. Over a period of just 25 minutes, the bombers released their powerful payload. Officials revealed that about 75 precision-guided weapons were unleashed in total. Amongst these were 14 of the famed "bunker-buster" bombs dropped on the mountain-fortress Fordow plant. Israel had not even attempted to destroy this facility, buried beneath 300ft of rock and steel, because it knew only US's superbombs could do the job. The B-2s were programmed to drop one bomb, followed by another shortly afterwards onto the exact same point of impact. 8 Residential buildings in Tel Avid were damaged by Iranian missiles the morning after the US strikes Credit: Getty 8 A graphic displayed by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth demonstrating the operation Credit: Getty It was the first time that the 30,000-pound GBU, 57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs) had been deployed in a live combat situation. Caine said: 'Our forces remain on high alert and are fully postured to respond to any Iranian retaliation or proxy attacks, which would be an incredibly poor choice. 'We will defend ourselves. The safety of our service members and civilians remains our highest priority. 'This mission demonstrates the unmatched reach, coordination and capability of the United States military. 'In just a matter of weeks, this went from strategic planning to global execution. 'This operation underscores the unmatched capabilities and global reach of the United States military."
