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Purim parties relocated to bomb shelters as Israeli celebrants move into bomb shelters under Iran war threat

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The ceremonies moved to fortified bomb shelters.

Tel Aviv, Israel — The Purim holiday is usually marked with loud street parades and costume parties to celebrate the victory of the Jews over an ancient Persian ruler. This year, the ceremonies moved to fortified bomb shelters. The country is currently engaged in a war against the modern leaders of Iran.

In Tel Aviv on Monday, people of all ages dressed in sequin suits, bunny ears, pirate costumes and peacock feathers flocked to the underground parking lot of a mall that also serves as a bomb shelter for the traditional reading. Purim story This was followed by a live band accompanied by dancing.

“It’s all about choosing happiness, choosing to be happy, no matter what’s going on,” said Tel Aviv resident Mariel Margulis. They dressed up like people bathing in bathing suits, dressed their son Amichai as a rubber ducky and created a bathtub play area for him next to their tent.

The story of Purim, told in the Book of Esther, follows Haman, an advisor to King Ahasuerus, as he plans to exterminate the kingdom’s Jews. Queen Esther and her cousin Mordechai foil the plan. The story takes place in Shushan, Persia, which is modern-day Iran.

“What’s happening right now seems biblical in proportion, and we’re doing the little we can, staying calm, staying happy,” Mariel said. Nearby, while reading the Book of Esther, Amichai fell asleep after drowning out the name of the story’s villain, Haman, amid the loud “boos” of the crowd.

“It’s like the same plot of Purim with a different cast,” said Daniel Margulies, Mariel’s husband.

Purim, a favourite holiday of both religious and secular Jews, is celebrated across much of the Jewish world beginning Monday night. Holidays start a day later in the ancient walled cities, including Jerusalem.

In quieter times, families in colourful costumes gather in different parts of the city, and children eat traditional triangle cookies in abundance. It is customary to wear costumes and drink large amounts of alcohol.

In Jerusalem, musicians hold street parties on balconies and cobbled streets overlooking the main road until the evening.

Big parties were planned this year after a break of two years. was in many cities Canceled or reduced your Purim celebration For the last two years due to the Israel-Hamas war.

But the celebrations were once again marred by war when Israel and the US launched strikes against Iran on Saturday.

“We came because the kids didn’t want to miss Purim; they were really excited to dress up,” said Alyssa Rapoport, a Tel Aviv resident who works in investments. Her daughters dressed as Barbie Cowgirl and Rumi from K-pop Demon Hunters.

With most Purim celebrations cancelled, the family planned to walk to the Purim event within easy access to shelters. Iranian missiles have sent Israelis seeking shelter several times a day and night.

“It feels absolutely surreal,” Rapoport said while watching the ceremony, as hundreds of people gathered and danced under the fluorescent lights of the parking lot. Nearby, people and their dogs who had gone into shelter for the duration of the war were relaxing on air mattresses and scrolling on their phones.

“This is not the most favourable situation; we are used to our synagogue, but we are here with the entire nation of Israel,” said Gabby Grinshteyn, a 39-year-old environmental consultant. “These are important days, and the setting is less important.”

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American deaths will determine the political cost of Donald Trump’s attacks on Iran. world News

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The first American flag-draped coffin to reach home will hit the ground with more force than any Iranian missile.

For President Donald Trump, the loss of US military personnel has redefined the domestic political battlefield.

Trump has long established himself as a president who understands the cost of war in human terms.

He ridiculed the concept of “forever wars” and pledged to stop American bloodshed in remote deserts.

Trump says military action will continue in Iran

But when he found himself back in the White House, the campaign rhetoric faced harsh reality.

Despite the confirmation of US casualties on Sunday, the war with Iran remained somewhat abstract.

An attack on a US base in Kuwait claimed the lives of three personnel and seriously injured five others.

The deaths in Washington, along with their warning of potentially even more polarised politics, caused a stir.

Supporters rallied around Trump and argued that backing down now would be an insult to the fallen.

Meanwhile, critics pointed to the number of casualties as evidence of presidential negligence.

Read more:
Trump’s war with Iran has become personal for the people of Dubai
Starmer rejects claims of U-turn on Iran attacks on UK targets

The political center— often quiet but decisive – asked the important question: What are we dying for?

Escalation risks turning him into a Middle East warmongering president that his own base rejects.

This year’s midterm elections will test his U-turn, even if justified on strategic grounds.

History shows that presidents do not lose support simply because Americans die on the battlefield.

People lose their support when the commander-in-chief’s explanations of the deaths seem meaningless, endless, or inadequate.

In his latest address to the nation, he prepared Americans for a longer war and more casualties.

The speed with which it appears to be spreading across the Middle East will be another concern.

As the war continues, the loss of lives increases, its spread widens, and diplomacy becomes increasingly challenging.

Ultimately, American lives lost in the war with Iran will confront Trump with a leadership paradox.

Power is never more absolute than in war, but neither is it ever more fragile.

Missiles may shape conflict abroad, but it is mourning and memory that determine its political value.

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Britons working at Cyprus RAF base receive terrifying message after drone attack

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British families on the ground received a terrifying message after RAF Base Akrotiri in Cyprus was attacked by a lopsided attack drone amid the latest conflict in the Middle East

Urgent warning sent to families at RAF base

A fire breaks out in a building damaged by an Israeli airstrike in the southern Beirut suburb of Haret Harik (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

A British family at a Royal Air Force base in Cyprus was woken up last night by the terrifying sound of a drone falling to the ground, as conflict continued in the Middle East.

Family members of British military personnel were evacuated from the base, which also houses two schools, after a single-sided attack drone hit the runway at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus around midnight local time last night.

Throughout the night, Iran continued retaliatory strikes in response to the American and Israeli attacks, which led to the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday. At least three citizens have been killed in the UAE.

It is not yet clear whether the base was attacked by drones fired directly from Iran or from Tehran-backed proxies such as Hezbollah in Lebanon. A security alert was sent to all British families in Cyprus following the attack, telling them to “take cover” and stay away from windows as Britain takes precautionary measures following the unprecedented incident.

read more: : Britain’s military base in Cyprus has been hit by a suspicious drone attack

This message was sent to British families in Cyprus urging them to hide

This message was sent to British families in Cyprus urging them to hide

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the drone targeted the base’s runway and told Sky News: “We are not able to provide further information and details at this point, but obviously, all precautionary measures are being taken around the base.”

It is believed the drone was launched before Sir Keir announced he had allowed US forces to use British bases, rather than in retaliation for a change in policy.

Air raid sirens were activated and RAF Typhoon and F-35B Lightning jets began moving alongside air-to-air refuelling tankers. An alert sent to Britons on the island said, “The security threat remains persistent. Please return to your homes and remain indoors until further notice.”

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“Move away from windows and hide behind or under large, solid furniture. Please wait for further instructions,” The Sun reported.

Three British schools on the island have also been closed with immediate effect, two of which are at RAF Akrotiri and a third school at the isolated Dhekelia Garrison in the east of the island.

Although no injuries were reported, family members living at the base were being evacuated to safety on the island. It is unclear where they were fired from, but a base source said troops believe the launch sites may be in Lebanon. “Our armed forces are responding to a drone attack at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus at midnight local time,” the Defence Ministry said in a statement.

“Our security in the area is at its highest level and the base has responded to protect our people. We will provide further information in due course.

While a spokesman for the Cypriot government said the attack “involved an unmanned drone, which caused limited damage” and urged, “I want to be clear: our country does not participate in any way and does not intend to be part of any military operation.”

The drone attack came as Sir Keir Starmer gave the US military permission to use British airbases to carry out “terrible” missile and drone attacks on allies in the Middle East.

Sir Keir said British forces would not be directly involved in the attacks, and the bases would only be used for the “specific and limited defensive purpose” of targeting missile storage depots and launchers being used to attack Iran’s neighbours.

“We have decided to accept this request to prevent Iran from firing missiles across the region, killing innocent civilians, ending British lives and attacking countries that are not involved,” he said.

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Iconic UK high street chain releases heartbreaking update – 80 stores at risk of closure UK | news

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The boss of TG Jones has called on advisers to draw up a restructuring plan to put the retailer on a stronger footing, but it could put around 80 stores at risk, according to reports.

Reports said around 80 TG Jones stores,

Modella Capital is reportedly in talks with Teneo over a plan for the chain, formerly WH Smith’s high street shops, which it took control of last year. Reports said around 80 TG Jones stores, out of its chain of more than 450, were most at risk after a period of weak trading. WH Smith sold its high street stores to Modella last year but kept its travel shops, including airports and train stations, which were the more profitable part of the business.

According to The Telegraph, the deal valued the high street chain at around £76 million and resulted in it being rebranded as TG Jones.

Meanwhile, Modella recently said it was putting Claire’s Accessories and The Original Factory Shop into administration after “last-ditch efforts to save them”.

The company, which specialises in retail investments and has become a significant name within the industry, said it had no real prospect of becoming profitable again and blamed the challenging high-street environment for the financial problems.

The administration has put around 1,355 staff at Claire’s UK and Ireland shops and around 1,220 at The Original Factory shops at risk.

Reports stated that planned store closures were an option for TG Jones, but Teneo was considering alternative measures, including seeking financial support from WH Smith, and no final decision had been made.

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Trump says ‘big wave’ of attacks against Iran is yet to come and doesn’t rule out US strikes on the ground – live

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Trump on Iran attack: ‘The big wave hasn’t happened yet.’

In an interview with CNN, Donald Trump said this: “The ‘big wave’ of attacks against Iran is yet to come.”

The president stated, “We have not yet begun to hit them hard.”

In a nine-minute phone interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, Trump asserted, “We’re crushing them.” “I think it’s going very well. It’s very powerful. We have the greatest military in the world, and we’re using it.”

Asked about the length of the war, Trump said he “doesn’t want to see it go on very long.” Earlier, his defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, was aggressive with reporters and insisted he would not set any time limits for the conflict.

“I always thought it would be four weeks.” “We’re slightly ahead of schedule,” Trump stated to CNN.

Trump says US mission in Iran ‘far ahead’

Trump said we are already “significantly ahead” of our timing estimates.

He says he initially estimated 4–5 weeks but added that he had “the potential to go longer.”

Trump claims the objectives of the operation in Iran are “obvious.”

These include “destroying Iran’s missile capabilities” and “destroying their navy,” as well as preventing Iran from ever possessing nuclear weapons.

He further said that the country “cannot continue to arm, finance, and direct terrorist armies beyond its borders.”

Trump then cited the apparent lack of progress in diplomatic talks as justification for the attacks.

And we thought we had a deal. But then they backed off, and they came back. They backed off, even though we believed we had an agreement. I said, ‘You can’t deal with these people.’ You have to do it right.

Iran with nuclear weapons would be an ‘intolerable threat’ to the Middle East and America

Trump adds:

An Iranian regime armed with long-range missiles and nuclear weapons—this would be an intolerable threat not only to the Middle East but also to the American people.

Our country itself would be in danger, and it was almost in danger.

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“For the purpose of [Iran’s] The purpose of the rapidly expanding missile programme was to shield their nuclear weapons development and make it exceptionally difficult for anyone to stop them from developing nuclear weapons highly prohibited by us.” Trump, they say.

We were the ones who were complaining. We were the ones who wanted to stop it. But everyone was behind us. He didn’t have the courage to say this.

trump claims that Iran has ignored us. He says the warnings came even after the United States “dismantled” its nuclear program last year and “refused to stop pursuing nuclear weapons.”

He claims that Iran poses an immediate threat to US forces and the United States in the region.

The regime’s conventional ballistic missile program was growing rapidly and dramatically, and it posed a very clear, substantial threat to the United States and our forces deployed abroad.

The regime already had missiles capable of hitting Europe and our local and foreign targets and will soon have missiles capable of reaching our beautiful America.

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Trump says US continues ‘large-scale operations’ in Iran

donald trump is speaking now, he starts with a brief update on America’s attacks on Iran.

Today, the US military is waging a large-scale combat operation against Iran, he says, “to eliminate the grave threat posed to America by this terrible terrorist regime.”.

‘We are seeing the beginning of an all-out war,’ a top House Democrat says.

House Minority LeaderHakeem Jeffries condemned US operations in Iran in an interview with CNN today.

Jeffries said, “There is no indication that Iran has recalibrated its nuclear program. There is no indication that Iran was prepared to preemptively attack the United States or attack any of our interests in the region. And there is certainly no justification for a regime change war.”

This week, Congress is set to vote on a war powers resolution that could curb the administration’s military action in Iran.

Jeffries asserted that Article One of the Constitution clearly grants Congress the authority to declare war. “Donald Trump deliberately chose not to come before Congress, which is why we’re going to force this vote on the war powers resolution and make sure we do everything possible to stop him at this time.”

Top administrative officials briefed Congress leaders ahead of the strike on Saturday and are set to talk to them again today.

“We are witnessing the beginning of an all-out war in the Middle East,” Jeffries previously added in his CNN interview.

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Please note that you can follow along with the video feed at the top of the blog.

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We look forward to hearing from Donald Trump, who is scheduled to speak at the Medal of Honour ceremony in the East Room of the White House soon.

It will be the president’s first personal appearance before the media since the US and Israel launched a joint military operation against Iran on Saturday.

He has spoken only via social media or on the phone to individual journalists since the fighting began over the weekend.

Spain has refused the US’s permission to use jointly operated military bases on its territory to attack Iran, as Madrid stepped up criticism of what it called “unfair and dangerous military intervention.”

Spain’s socialist prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, has bluntly condemned the US and Israel’s “unilateral military action” against Iran, warning that it is contributing to “a more hostile and uncertain international order.” His government’s refusal to permit the US to use bases in Rota and Moron for ongoing attacks against Iran has fuelled the rebuke.

Spain’s Foreign Minister, Jose Manuel Albares, said on Monday that the government wanted “democracy, freedom, and fundamental rights for the Iranian people” but would under no circumstances allow its bases to be used in the ongoing military operation.

“I want to be very clear and absolutely clear,” he told Telecinco. The grounds will only be used for activities in agreement with the US and included in the UN Charter.

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Social media shows that ‘friendly fire’ shot down the American military plane.

tom ambrose

Social media footage shows a military plane falling from the sky. Kuwait.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said this on Monday: three US F-15 fighter jets flying Iran-related missions were accidentally shot down by Kuwait Air Defence in an “apparently friendly fire incident.” And the reason was under investigation.

All six aircrew ejected safely, have recovered safely, and are in a steady state, CentCom said in a statement, which you can read in full here.

Footage shows military jet falling from the sky in Kuwait – Video
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Trump does not rule out the possibility of a US ground strike in Iran

In an interview with the New York Post, the President said the possibility of US troops in Iran is still on the table.

“There is no doubt in my mind about boots on the ground – as every president says, ‘There will be no boots on the ground.'” ‘I don’t say this,’ Donald Trump told the Post. “I say, ‘Maybe they don’t need them,’ [or] ‘If they were necessary.'”

This announcement came after Pete Hegseth initially said there were no plans to keep service members on the ground in Iran but was also reluctant to say whether this was the administration’s permanent stance. “We’re not going into this exercise knowing what we will or won’t do,” he said at an earlier Pentagon press conference.

The US Embassy in Beirut has shared the following on social media:

We urge US citizens not to travel to Lebanon. If you are in the country, depart Lebanon now while commercial flight options remain available.

The security situation in Lebanon is variable and unexpected. Airstrikes have occurred throughout the country, particularly in the south, in the Beqaa region, and in parts of Beirut.

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Trump on Iran attack: ‘The big wave hasn’t happened yet.’

In an interview with CNN, Donald Trump said this: “The ‘big wave’ of attacks against Iran is yet to come.”

“We have not yet begun to hit them hard,” the president said.

In a nine-minute phone interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, Trump asserted, “We’re crushing them.” “I think it’s going very well. It’s very powerful. We have the largest military in the world, and we’re using it.”

Asked about the length of the war, Trump said he “doesn’t want to see it go on very long.” Earlier, his defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, was aggressive with reporters and insisted he would not set any time limits for the conflict.

“I always thought it would be four weeks.” Trump informed CNN, “We’re slightly ahead of schedule.”

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US-Israel war with Iran: Did Iranian state media post a photo of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in ‘paradise’ with 72 virgins? | world News

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Iran took revenge on Khamenei; 'A decisive, regret-inducing punishment is coming'. Watch

In the wake of widespread online claims that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was depicted in “paradise” surrounded by 72 virgins by state media after his death was reported, a viral image has circulated on social platforms. Posts on

Iran took revenge on Khamenei; ‘A decisive, regret-inducing punishment is coming. ‘Watch

The claim is false. There is no verified evidence that any Iranian state media organisation published such an image. People have falsely attributed the digitally manipulated footage circulating online to official sources.

what is going viral

The image depicts Khamenei sitting in a garden-like “heavenly” setting, surrounded by several young girls. Many users have linked the scene to the controversial “72 virgins” motif, leading to outrage and accusations of depravity. However, several key facts weaken this claim: There is no record of the image on official Iranian outlets such as Press TV, IRNA, Mehr News Agency, Tasnim or Khamenei’s official channels. The image does not appear in archived posts from verified state media accounts. Searches and archive checks reveal no evidence of publication by any authenticated Iranian outlet. The image appears to have been widely re-shared during a highly charged online moment and incorrectly attributed to state media.

what exactly is the image

A viral photo is a digitally created photo. It appears to have been created by taking authentic photographs from past events in which Khamenei met with groups of schoolgirls during official ceremonies and inserting them into a fabricated “heaven” or heaven-style background. Those original photos are publicly available and are several years old. Additionally, some versions of the viral image include a forged screenshot layout, falsely attributed to the Iranian state-affiliated outlet Mehr News Agency. There is no evidence that Mehr News or any other official Iranian organisation published the image.

What Iranian state media is really posting

Contrary to viral claims, Iranian state media coverage following Khamenei’s reported death has included traditional condolence material. Official outlets have presented him as a martyr, using the following:

  • black-themed graphics
  • Quran verses
  • formal condolence message
  • traditional language of state mourning

No verified Iranian state outlet has published:

  • Any image depicting Khamenei in heaven
  • No mention of the “72 virgins” has been made.
  • Any fiction involving children in an afterlife context

conclusion

The claim that Iranian state media has depicted Khamenei in heaven with “72 virgins” is not supported by evidence. The viral image is a manipulated mix using real photographs of past public events, combined with a fabricated background and, in some cases, a forged media screenshot. There is no record of its publication by any official Iranian outlet.

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This war has a wide impact on the world economy. ed conway

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Why is there war in the Gulf? Very dangerous for global development.

There is no other place on the planet with such concentrated reserves of energy as the Arabian Gulf.

This is the great paradox that has both haunted and sustained the region for decades; This is part of the reason why so many countries around the world are interested in what’s happening there – and that’s the main reason why war in the gulf Very dangerous for global development.

It’s tempting, given that it’s 2026, not 1976, to assume that oil prices no longer matter. And it is certainly true that the direct contribution of oil to global GDP is much lower today than it was 50 years ago. However, disruption of hydrocarbon supplies from the Gulf remains of significant importance today for two reasons.

Latest Markets: Key developments as war engulfs the Middle East

First, we are not just talking about oil. We are talking about fertilisers (derived from natural gas). We’re talking about plastics (from many petrochemicals produced from gas and oil). We’re talking about the composite materials used to make the fuselages in the latest passenger jets and Formula One cars. It all starts with oil and gas coming out of the ground. And there are no greater reserves of those hydrocarbons anywhere on the planet than here.

That’s point number one. Point number two is that most of those hydrocarbons have to exit the Gulf through a single, narrow sea corridor known as the Strait of Hormuz. And since this strait borders Iran to the north, the important question arises as to how easily we can obtain these essential materials for human civilisation in the future.

20% of global oil and gas exports to transit through the Strait of Hormuz in 2024
image:
20% of global oil and gas exports will transit through the Strait of Hormuz in 2024

Point number three raises a significant doubt about our ability to establish the project from the outset. The biggest event affecting the market today was the news that Qatar is closing the Ras Laffan facility. Very few people have heard of Ras Laffan or the North Field, the gas reservoir into which it is plugged. But Ras Laffan is the largest gas terminal on the planet and the North Field is the largest gas field. In fact, it is much more than that. It is the largest source of energy anywhere – bigger than any oil field or any uranium mine.

Read more:
What are the risks to petrol prices?
Why is the Strait of Hormuz vital?

All of this helps explain why gas prices soared as much as 50% when the news broke. Currently most of Qatar’s gas goes to Asia but in the coming years many countries, including Britain, are expected to become increasingly dependent on Qatar for liquefied natural gas. Now, however, there’s a big question mark over that supply — not to mention when Ras Laffan will start pumping it again and when liquefied natural gas tankers will be able to safely pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

Now, what the situation means for the UK economy is still unclear. If gas prices fall sharply again, the impact on bills will be minimal. Wholesale prices are still far lower than they were in 2022, even with today’s spike. However, the longer the situation goes on, the bigger the impact will be on Europe and the UK. Having barely recovered from the energy price shocks of recent years, we are unlikely to run into another problem.

In short, we should all view events in the Gulf with real concern.

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‘Whatever it takes’: Trump says Iran operation could last a month or longer

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WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump suggested Monday that a war with Iran could last a month or longer.

“It’s OK,” he continued, “if even more time is needed to complete the operation,” dismissing potential readiness concerns, even as he said plans were ahead of schedule.

“We’ve already significantly exceeded our initial timeline.” But whatever the timing, it’s OK,” Trump said during a Medal of Honour ceremony at the White House honouring four service members killed in Iranian retaliatory strikes over the weekend. “Whatever it takes… From the beginning, we anticipated four to five weeks, but we can go much longer than that.”

He said a four-week plan to remove Iran’s military leadership had already been completed. “And as you know, it was done in about an hour,” he said. “Therefore, we’re significantly ahead of our original timeline.”

Trump listed four objectives for the US military campaign, known as “Epic Fury”: reducing Iran’s missile capabilities, destroying Iran’s navy, ensuring it could never obtain nuclear weapons and ensuring that Iran “cannot continue to arm, fund, and direct terrorist armies outside its borders”.

He said the army was prepared to continue operations “as long as necessary.”.

During his remarks, Trump also emphasised that he might lose interest in the conflict if it continued for “a week or two”, adding, “I don’t get bored.”

“There’s nothing boring about it,” Trump said.

He justified the timing of the strikes, saying it was “our last best chance” to target the threat from the Iranian regime after talks failed to reach an agreement last week.

“We thought we had an agreement and they backed out,” he said.

A senior Trump administration official said the talks took place in Geneva, where Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told his US counterparts that Iran has an “indispensable right” to enrich uranium. He told NBC News in an interview on Sunday that they decided to attack when “they were not ready to stop their nuclear research.”

Other military leaders have said the war with Iran would not be “endless”, although the full scale and scope of the mission remain unclear. Trump has also issued different deadlines.

Trump has acknowledged the potential need for combat forces.

Earlier on Monday, Trump, in an interview, had ruled out the possibility of sending troops to Iran, suggesting the New York Post so that he can keep his shoes on the ground. He said that other leaders may have objections to doing this, but he does not.

“I have no objection to boots on the ground – as every president says, ‘There will be no boots on the ground. ‘I don’t say that,” Trump said.

In the same interview, when asked about the timeline, Trump predicted that the operation “is going to move very quickly.”

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The interests of America and Israel may soon diverge regarding Iran. Israel-Iran conflict

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As the US-Israeli war over Iran heads for another disastrous day, pundits and politicians are eager to turn uncertainty into clear narratives that justify their long-held views. Israel talks about “transforming the Middle East”. The US talks about “protecting the American people”. Both parties consistently reiterate the concept of “regime change,” despite its uncertain prospects in the Iranian context.

So far, the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has failed to trigger the large-scale uprising within Iran that Israel and the US had called for. Meanwhile, pundits have consistently reiterated that a change in power cannot occur spontaneously.

Nevertheless, the outcome of the war is inevitable. So who is winning?

The immediate impulse is to assume victory for Israel and America. Finally, both countries pulled off a major surprise and appeared to be eliminating the Islamic Republic leadership from the air and sea. Apart from “Massacre,” what could be a bigger achievement than this one?

Given the EU’s weak responses and Asia’s absence from emerging events, the impression becomes stronger that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump have won. Nobody appears capable of proposing a feasible substitute for the Israeli-American dominance.

I would like to suggest a different perspective on the current situation. In short, I propose that Netanyahu and Trump may have won the first round of hostilities, the most strategic and immediate round, although even this “victory” is questionable. This has happened because of the convergence of their extremely short-term interests. But this revived alliance’s life expectancy is as long as it takes for each party to exploit its successes for their own gain.

The first converging interest is political survival. In Israel, Netanyahu will have to distance himself from his leadership credentials and Israel’s serial failures in Gaza and the West Bank. While Israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people continues, Israel is also finding that its complete control over Gaza is slipping away from its grip. So far, its efforts to prevent Turkey and Qatar from having any role have failed.

In the West Bank, the Israeli state and military are fully committed to aiding and abetting land theft and ethnic cleansing. Although most Israelis do not oppose it, their trust in state institutions continues to decline, which pretend to uphold the law while becoming completely politicised.

To ensure his political future, Netanyahu must look beyond these failures. A “victory” in Iran, the country most Israelis consider their most important enemy, should establish him, once again, as the only leader capable of defending Israel.

The prime minister is accompanied by the Israeli military, despite long-standing tensions between the government and the military over the past year. If Netanyahu is desperate to win, the army is even more desperate. Its high command wants to avoid being held solely responsible for the events of October 7, 2023, and is already demanding a significant increase in the budget. Only a “historic victory” would ensure military impunity.

In America, Trump is desperate not only to win but also to divert attention. His “heroism” in Venezuela has already been forgotten, while his “antics” recorded in the Epstein files echo more powerfully every day.

His use of “regime change” appears to be intentionally vague, open to any and all interpretations, allowing him to declare “mission accomplished” whenever he wants.

Trump is also keen to appear perfectly capable of supporting his vision of a world order, which involves only “making right”. The apparent contradiction between his “no foreign wars” commitment to his base and his pursuit of American exceptionalism and triumphalism is easily resolved when it comes to the Islamic Republic, a perennial quagmire.

All told, Trump and Netanyahu don’t trust each other. Neither side has anything other than an immediate interest in pursuing further cooperation.

Once the distractions stop, an uncertain war will break out between the two. There will be pressure on Trump to end the operation quickly, while Netanyahu will try to prolong it.

Trump lacks the attention and public support needed for a long war. He cannot keep “boots on the ground”, and this is the reason behind his repeated messages to “help” and “be there” for the Iranians when they took over his country. He is facing severe criticism at home not only for launching this war without Congressional approval but also for potential American casualties and the long commitment.

Just like Gaza, Netanyahu has no real plan except destruction and death. He wants the war to last as long as possible to keep out the opposition and ensure his political survival. It is no surprise that the official message about the war is that Israel will be in it “for as long as it takes” and that it will be “longer than the June War” and a “historic operation”. The more the rhetoric escalates, the more the campaign will become one of endless, indiscriminate bombing, and civilian casualties will increase.

This difference will become self-evident as the US and Israel gradually issue more spaced-out statements, each citing their own particular rationale and timeframe. Trump will continue to send his views as the Islamic Republic begins the constitutional process to elect a new supreme leader, meaning the Islamic Republic is still standing. Israel will remain deliberately vague as it describes its progress in glowing, nondescript terms like “true regime change”.

Wait for this unholy alliance to slowly grow and then rapidly collapse in the immediate time frame. His best victory is a terrible victory.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance of Al Jazeera.

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Iran, the US, and Israel at War Attack Dubai, Tehran, Kuwait, Qatar, Lebanon, Bahrain Today’s Latest News Updates

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US-Iran War Live News Updates: The US-Israel war on Iran has witnessed a third day of intense escalation, with the Pentagon confirming the killing of three US service members in Kuwait, and President Trump vowing to continue the operation until the objectives are achieved. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and 40 top officials were killed in the attacks, after which Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks on Israeli and US bases in the Gulf. US forces have struck more than 1,000 targets inside Iran, while Israel has issued orders to evacuate dozens of villages in southern Lebanon amid rising tensions with Hezbollah.

American war deaths: CENTCOM has confirmed that three US service members were killed and five seriously injured during “Operation Epic Fury.”

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Target on Tehran: Israeli forces are targeting the “heart” of the Iranian capital; Several explosions were reported near government districts. The Israel Defence Forces have also launched attacks on Beirut, the Lebanese capital and Hezbollah stronghold.

Provisional leadership: A 3-member Leadership Council (President Pezeshkian, Chief Justice Mohseni-Ezei, and Guardian Council member Ayatollah Arafi) now rules Iran in accordance with Article 111 of the Constitution.

Ultimatum to Gulf countries: Tehran has officially warned Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain that they are “legitimate military targets” if they assist Western forces.

Citizen Toll: Iranian news agency IRNA reported the death toll of 165 people after an attack on a primary school for girls in southern Iran (Minab).

Iran’s transitional power structure

Following the assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei, President Massoud Pezeshkian announced a provisional leadership council. This body will perform the duties of the Supreme Leader until the Assembly of Experts elects a permanent successor.

Regional growth and economic impact

The “barrier” of retaliatory attacks from Iran has significantly disrupted the global landscape:

  • Aviation: Airspace is closed over much of the Middle East; the major hubs of Dubai and Doha report significant delays and security alerts.
  • market: Gold prices have soared above $5,200 an ounce as investors flocked to safe-haven assets.
  • Energy: Global oil markets are monitoring the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world’s oil passes, following threats to maritime security.

This blog synthesises reports from CENTCOM, IRNA, and other news outlets. Although we strive for 100% accuracy, the situation on the ground in Tehran and the Gulf is extremely volatile.

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