Latest news with #AmericanForces
Asharq Al-Awsat
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Iran Launches Missile Attack on US Base in Qatar
Iran launched a missile attack Monday on a US military base in Qatar, retaliating for the American bombing of its nuclear sites. Witnesses reported seeing missiles in the skies, followed by explosions. Iran announced on state television that it attacked American forces stationed at Qatar's Al Udeid Air Base. A caption on screen called it 'a mighty and successful response" to "America's aggression.' The attack came shortly after Qatar closed its airspace as a precaution amid threats from Iran. A statement by the Qatari Foreign Ministry said on X that the move comes to ensure safety of residents and visitors. "The competent authorities announce the temporary suspension of air traffic in the country's airspace, as part of a set of precautionary measures taken based on developments in the region," the Ministry said.
The Independent
4 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Explained: How much can Putin really aid Iran's war effort?
Iran 's nuclear programme has come under direct attack by the US - and Tehran may be looking towards Moscow, one of its closest allies, for help. American forces directly struck three Iranian nuclear sites at Fordow, Naftanz and Isfahan on Sunday morning. While the extent of damage is still being assessed, Tehran has warned that the strikes will be met with a strong response. US military bases in Iran's neighbouring countries are now on alert following threats by the Iranian leadership. On Monday, the Qatari embassy in the US warned its citizens to seek shelter, without stating whether there was any immediate threat. Iran has provided significant military assistance to Moscow during its three-year war in Ukraine, but how much would Russia actually be able to provide in return? Below The Independent looks at the decision facing Putin and why he may decide not to help Iran. Russia and Iran: a changing relationship The relationship between Moscow and Tehran has changed significantly over the past decade, most notably since the outbreak of war in Ukraine in February 2022. Traditionally, their relationship has been characterised by a mix of 'cooperation, competition, and suspicion', according to the Washington-based CNA national security think tank. This relationship notably improved from the early 1990s, after the collapse of the Soviet Union and after the US-backed Pahlavi dynasty was deposed in the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Military cooperation notably grew during the 2010s, the CNA says. How Iran has supported Russia's war in Ukraine Since the war in Ukraine, Iran has become one of Russia's most crucial allies and provided Moscow with missiles and drones. In January this year, Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian and Russian president Vladimir Putin signed a 20-year strategic partnership, which was approved in May by the Iranian parliament. The partnership is designed to deepen their cooperation in defence, explaining that both countries will work together against common military threats, develop their military-technical cooperation, and take part in joint exercises. However, the pact does not include a mutual defence clause, meaning they are not obliged to come to each other's defence in case of war. Putin himself did not initially lead Russia's condemnation of the recent Israeli attack on Iran. Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi travelled to Moscow to visit Putin on Sunday - just hours after US strikes rocked the nation. The pair held an official meeting on Monday. "The absolutely unprovoked aggression against Iran has no basis and no justification," Putin told Araqchi at the meeting, adding that he wanted to speak about ways to calm the crisis. "For our part, we are making efforts to assist the Iranian people." Kremlin refuses to commit to direct support Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov evaded a question on whether Moscow would offer direct support to Tehran. 'It depends on what Iran needs. We have offered our mediation efforts,' he said according to The Washington Post. Iranian sources told Reuters that Tehran was not impressed with Russia's support so far, without elaborating on what specific assistance they wanted. How much help can Russia actually offer? Russia has channelled huge amounts of resources, including funds, personnel and equipment, to its war in Ukraine. As Moscow continues an expensive and grinding war of attrition, it may not want to divert significant resources towards the Middle East. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) says Russia is not producing enough military equipment in order to train its vast numbers of new troops given its high fatality rate. High interest rates and bureaucratic issues are hindering Russia's ability to scale up its weapons production. The ISW also said Russia was losing vehicles at an unsustainable rate in the past two years, without the industrial capacity to make up for the scale of losses. But assisting Iran would most likely come in the form of air support. It is unlikely the conflict between Iran and Israel will become a ground conflict, given the distance between the countries. Tehran began supplying Russian forces with Shahed drones in 2022, but experts believe Tehran's importance as a supplier has declined as Russia has localised production. "The conflict will likely negatively impact the future provision of Iranian military equipment to Russia," the UK Ministry of Defence said on Thursday. However, Russia is now seeking to reduce its reliance on Iran-made drones, the ISW reported. Citing Ukrainian electronic and radio warfare expert Serhiy Beskrestnov, the ISW said Russia is preparing to build a new Shahed production facility, and warned that Russia strikes could soon incorporate up to 800 drones - more than double the amount which they typically fire each night. This means it may be possible in theory for Russia to supply Iran with some extra Shaheds - but given the Kremlin's maximalist goals for its war in Ukraine, it may decide to keep its added capacity for itself.
Al Arabiya
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Iranian retaliation against US forces could come soon, US officials say
The United States assesses that Iran could carry out retaliatory attacks targeting American forces in the Middle East soon, although the US is still seeking a diplomatic resolution that would see Tehran forgo any attack, two US officials said on Monday. One of the officials, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said Iran's retaliatory attack could happen within the next day or two.
The Independent
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Trump demands ‘UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER' from Iran as he issues chilling threat to Supreme Leader Khamenei
President Donald Trump on Tuesday has demanded that Iranian forces unconditionally lay down their arms and is suggesting that American forces may target Iran's head of state if the Islamic Republic doesn't cease targeting Israeli civilians or targets any American forces in the region. In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote that the U.S. 'know exactly where' Iran's 'so-called Supreme Leader,,' Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is 'hiding' and described him as an 'easy target' who is currently 'safe' in his current location. 'We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now. But we don't want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers,' the president continued before adding: 'Our patience is wearing thin. Thank you for your attention to this matter!' In a second post moments later, he added another two-word demand: 'UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!'
Fox News
6 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Two Revolutionary War letters are reunited at Fort Ticonderoga after 250 years apart
Two Revolutionary War letters were recently brought together at a museum in upstate New York, exactly 250 years after they were written. Fort Ticonderoga in Essex County, near Lake Champlain, announced the reunion of the letters in a May 21 statement. The fort was the setting of several battles during the American Revolution and the French and Indian War. The then-British fortress was famously captured by Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold in May 1775, marking a pivotal moment in the early stages of the Revolutionary War. The letters by Arnold and his correspondent John Stevens were written after the historic event. In his May 17 letter, Arnold informed Stevens that he had crossed paths with Allen, who had just led a raid on the British-controlled Fort St. Jean (or John) in Québec. "Col. Allen & his party is just arrived from St. Johns, when they were attacked," Arnold's letter read. "[And they] were obliged to make a precipitate retreat … They have returned without provision & much fatigued." In his reply, Stevens wrote that more provisions were on the way to support American forces, despite difficulties with enlistments. "He had helped capture Fort Ticonderoga, and had already sailed north and attacked another British post at St. Jean in Québec." "[T]he City of Albany and Country are sending in provisions continually … I am informed there is a great quantity more coming from different parts of the country," he wrote. Speaking to Fox News Digital, Fort Ticonderoga curator Matthew Keagle stressed that the letters were written long before Arnold famously defected to the British. "At the time these letters were written, Arnold was less than two weeks into consolidating control over Ticonderoga and Crown Point," the historian noted. "He had helped capture Fort Ticonderoga, and had already sailed north and attacked another British post at St. Jean in Québec, capturing more redcoats and the only British sloop on Lake Champlain." Keagle also noted the rivalry between Arnold and Allen. Although Allen commanded the mighty Green Mountain Boys militia during the expedition, Arnold was the only one with official government authorization from the Massachusetts Committee of Safety. "This was a tense alliance, and it collapsed the day after the capture [of Fort Ticonderoga]," Keagle said. "Arnold tried to assert control over what he saw as unruly pilfering of the garrison's supplies and a lack of discipline and preparations." He added, "His departure to attack St. Jean got him away, and he and Allen did not serve together again." And who exactly was Stevens, Arnold's less-famous correspondent? Keagle said that while Stevens "is not a familiar name," he played an active role in the fight for independence. "After Fort Ticonderoga was taken, Stevens came to Fort George at the southern end of Lake George, and commanded the forces there through July 1775," Keagle noted. "He was later commissioned as a captain in a Connecticut regiment and was captured by the British at the Battle of the Cedars in May of 1776 in Canada." The Arnold letter was recently given to the museum in memory of a former trustee. Interestingly, the letters have not been this physically close together since Stevens wrote his response to Arnold's letter in May 1775. Stevens' letter has been in the possession of Fort Ticonderoga for decades, but the Arnold letter was recently given to the museum in memory of former trustee George M. Jones. Rather than being on display in an exhibit, the letters are part of the "Ticonderoga's Treasures of 1775" experience; Keagle is bringing guests face-to-face with original documents and artifacts from Ticonderoga's collections. The recently unified letters reflect the significant role that New York state played during the American Revolution. In a similar venture, the New York State Museum recently began displaying a Revolutionary War-era ship at its Albany headquarters, around 100 miles south of Ticonderoga.
