US Military Strikes on Iran: White House Justifies Trump's Actions
The White House has backed President Donald Trump's decision to initiate military strikes against Iran, asserting that he acted on intelligence indicating an imminent threat to US interests. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the President had a strong conviction, based on factual information, that Iran was poised to target the United States and its assets in the Middle East. She emphasized that Trump made the choice to launch Operation Epic Fury for these reasons, urging the media to convey the administration's complete rationale rather than focusing on selective quotes that imply contradictions. "These decisions are not made in isolation," she remarked.
Leavitt further noted that Trump opted to "strike first, in coordination with Israel," labeling the action as both appropriate and effective. She mentioned that the President was not willing to defer the responsibility of addressing this direct threat to the next administration.
Following the initial strikes over the weekend, Trump referred to an "imminent threat" to the US. However, subsequent Pentagon briefings to Congress indicated that Iran had no plans to attack US forces or bases unless provoked by an Israeli strike. The situation has escalated further after the US and Israel commenced joint operations targeting Iranian positions. According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, over 1,000 individuals, including children, have lost their lives in Iran since Saturday, with the group warning that these preliminary figures may increase. Iran has been experiencing an internet blackout for over 100 hours, complicating independent verification and limiting external communication.
In other regional developments, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth reported that an American submarine had sunk an Iranian warship in international waters near Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan navy confirmed the recovery of several bodies from the ocean but did not provide an official death count. Additionally, the Turkish presidency announced that NATO air defense systems intercepted an Iranian missile heading towards Turkish airspace, marking the first instance of NATO forces downing an Iranian missile during the ongoing conflict.
The Israeli military has conducted a tenth wave of strikes on Tehran since the hostilities began, claiming that one of its jets shot down an Iranian aircraft, marking the first air-to-air combat involving piloted planes in this conflict. Trump has commended the collaborative US-Israeli efforts, asserting that Iran's military capabilities, including its navy and air force, have been significantly diminished. Hegseth indicated that the US operation is still in its "early days," suggesting that additional actions may be forthcoming. Meanwhile, the Senate in Washington is set to vote on a resolution that would restrict the President's ability to continue military operations against Iran without congressional consent. A Democratic senator who participated in a classified briefing expressed uncertainty regarding the overall US objectives.