Trump says Iran’s military ‘decimated,’ but still not declaring war over
U.S.-Israeli strikes continued to bombard the Iranian capital as fears of a global energy crisis rose Monday. President Donald Trump told reporters Sunday night that even though Iran’s military has been “decimated” in the war, he was “still not declaring it over.”
IDF takes out former supreme leader's aircraft
Israel’s military on Monday announced its forces destroyed the aircraft used by Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The Israeli Air Force “conducted a precise strike and dismantled” the aircraft overnight Monday at Mehrabad Airport in Tehran, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said.
The aircraft was used by the former supreme leader, senior officials and military personnel “to advance military procurement and to manage coordination with axis countries through both domestic and international flights,” the IDF said.
The IDF said the destruction of the “strategic asset” will disrupt the regime’s coordination with its allies, its military force build-up efforts and its ability to restore its capabilities.
Khamenei was killed in the war’s opening salvo two weeks ago. He was succeeded by his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, who was also reportedly injured in those opening strikes.
USS Abraham Lincoln 'sailing close to Iran' for waves of strikes, CENTCOM says
The USS Abraham Lincoln is “sailing close to Iran” to help carry out a wave of back-to-back strikes as part of Operation Epic Fury, U.S. Central Command said Monday morning.
The fifth Nimitz-class aircraft carrier was continuing flight operations “day and night” as the U.S. operation continues in the Middle East, the command said.
The command also shared video of its aircraft taking off its flight deck.
The aircraft carrier left San Diego in November for the Indo-Pacific region and moved to the Middle East in January.
Israel ground forces entering southern Lebanon in 'limited' operation against Hezbollah
Israeli troops have entered southern Lebanon to begin “limited and targeted” ground operations against Hezbollah, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Monday.
The operation targets key Hezbollah strongholds to enhance the forward defense area, the IDF said.
“This activity is part of broader defensive efforts to establish and strengthen a forward defensive posture, which includes the dismantling of terrorist infrastructure and the elimination of terrorists operating in the area, to create an additional layer of security for residents of northern Israel,” the IDF said.
Defense Minister Israel Katz on Monday said that the maneuver will “protect the residents of the Galilee and the North.”
“The hundreds of thousands of Shiite residents of southern Lebanon who have evacuated and are evacuating their homes from southern Lebanon and Beirut will not return to their homes south of the Litani region until the safety of the northern residents is guaranteed,” Katz said.
Katz also said that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have instructed the IDF to “act and destroy the terror infrastructure” in villages near the Lebanese border. He said this was done “to prevent threats and the return of Hezbollah to the area, exactly as was done against Hamas in Gaza in the Rafah and Beit Hanoun areas.”
“Hezbollah will pay heavy prices for its aggression and its activity within the Iranian axis to destroy Israel,” Katz said. “Those who sought to destroy have been destroyed and will be destroyed.”
Trump says Iran’s military ‘decimated,’ claims US wiped out air defenses
President Donald Trump said Sunday that Iran’s military has been “decimated,” claiming the U.S. has wiped out the country’s air defenses and severely weakened its forces.
Asked whether he was ready to officially declare victory against Iran, Trump said he was not declaring it over yet but argued the damage to Tehran’s military has been significant.“There's no reason to,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.
“I think I'd just say they're decimated. … If we left right now, it would take them ten years and more to rebuild. But I'm still not declaring it over.”
Trump said U.S. operations have “taken out” Iran’s air force and air defense systems, leaving the country with “no air defense whatsoever,” and argued Iran’s missile and drone capabilities have also been sharply reduced.
Trump added that the U.S. and Israel have “similar objectives” regarding Iran and that the two countries’ militaries are “very well coordinated.”
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