US Officials: Iran Shot Down Ukrainian Airliner With Two Russian Missiles

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By Greg Norman, Lucas Tomlinson. The Ukrainian passenger plane that crashed shortly after taking off from Tehran’s international airport Wednesday was shot down by mistake by an Iranian anti-aircraft missile, Pentagon officials told Fox News. . .

“An absolute tragedy,” one U.S. official told Fox News. “They just screwed up and it is tragic.”

The revelations come as Ukrainian investigators reportedly are awaiting permission from Iranian authorities to examine the crash site and look for missile fragments. Iran’s head of civil aviation was quoted by the ISNA News Agency as saying Thursday that “scientifically, it is impossible that a missile hit the Ukrainian plane, and such rumors are illogical,” according to Reuters. Iranian officials have blamed a technical malfunction for the aircraft’s doom.

The U.S. official told Fox News that a Russian-made SA15 missile, which is part of the Tor surface-to-air missile system, was the kind that brought down the aircraft. Russia delivered 29 Tor-M1 systems to Iran in 2007 as part of a $700 million contract signed in December 2005. Iran has displayed the missiles in military parades as well. (Read more from “Iran Shot Down Airliner” HERE)

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CNN Reports “Two Russian Missiles” Brought Down Airliner

By Barbara Star. The Ukrainian plane that crashed Wednesday was shot down by two Russian-made surface to air missiles (SA-15), according to a US official familiar with the intelligence.

The US saw Iranian radar signals lock onto the jetliner, before it was shot down. (Read more from “Iran Shot Down Airliner” HERE)

Iran Hits Two US Bases With Ballistic Missiles, Kills No Americans; Warns Any Retaliation Will Result in Strike on Israel, Dubai

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By The Blaze. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has reportedly issued a statement claiming responsibility for missile strikes hitting U.S.-linked facilities in Iraq on Friday.

According to a translation provided by Axios, the IRGC released a statement following the attacks, saying, “The brave soldiers of IRGC’s aerospace unit have launched a successful attack with tens of ballistic missiles on Al Assad military base in the name of martyr Gen. Qasem Soleimani…We warn all allied countries of the U.S. that if attacks are launched from bases in their countries on Iran, they will be a target of military retaliation.”

(Read more from “Iran Hits 2 US Bases, Claims Responsibility” HERE)

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Preliminary Assessment: No American Casualties

By Shawn Snow and Howard Altman. Iran fired more than a dozen ballistic missiles at two Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops, but preliminary reports suggest there are no U.S. casualties yet, two sources with direct knowledge of actions on the ground told Military Times Tuesday night.

The Pentagon and U.S. Central Command have not provided a formal battle damage assessment.

A U.S. defense official told Military Times that Iran shot 15 missiles at Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops from inside Iran Tuesday night — 10 missiles hit al-Asad airbase, one missile hit Erbil International Airport in in the north, and four missiles failed in flight. (Read more from “Iran Hits 2 US Bases, kills no one” HERE)

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Iran Launches Missile Attack, Warns U.S. Not to Retaliate

By Politico. Iran struck back at the United States for the killing of a top Iranian general early Wednesday, firing a series of surface-to-surface missiles at two Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops and warning the United States and its allies in the region not to retaliate.

U.S. officials confirmed the strikes, though Iran only initially acknowledged targeting one base. There was no immediate word on injuries.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard warned the U.S. and its regional allies against retaliating over the missile attack against the Ain Assad air base in Iraq’s western Anbar province. The Guard issued the warning via a statement carried by Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency.

“We are warning all American allies, who gave their bases to its terrorist army, that any territory that is the starting point of aggressive acts against Iran will be targeted,” The Guard said. It also threatened Israel.

Ain Assad air base is in Iraq’s western Anbar province. It was first used by American forces after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein, and later saw American troops stationed there amid the fight against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria. It houses about 1,500 U.S. and coalition forces. (Read more from “Iran Hits 2 US Bases, Warns U.S. Not to Retaliate” HERE)

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Iran says it will hit Haifa and Dubai, next

By Spencer Neale. Iran has threatened to unleash a third wave of attacks in Haifa, Israel, and Dubai, United Arab Emirates, if the United States retaliates after ballistic missiles hit an Iraqi-U.S. coalition military base in western Iraq.

“Iran is warning that if there is retaliation for the two waves of attacks they launched their 3rd wave will destroy Dubai and Haifa,” tweeted NBC News Tehran bureau chief Ali Arouzi.

“Iran making threats of mass escalation,” wrote NBC foreign chief correspondent Richard Engel. “To attack more bases in Iraq. To unleash Hezbollah. To unleash shiite militias in Iraq. To attack Israel and Dubai. Making it clear it is ready for a [widespread] campaign if this escalates further with a US response.” (Read more about “Iran Hits Two US Bases, Threatens More Retaliation” HERE)

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Two Dozen Arrested for Setting Australia’s Fires

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. . .In a news release issued Monday, the NSW Police Force said legal action has been taken against more than 180 people since late last year. The bushfires have killed 18 people and burned 4.9 million hectares of land, consuming thousands of structures, and millions of animals, the statement said.

In breaking down their figures, the police said “24 have been charged over deliberately-lit bushfires; 53 people have had legal actions for allegedly failing to comply with a total fire ban; and 47 people have had legal actions for allegedly discarding a lighted cigarette or match on land.”

(Read more from “Two Dozen Arrested for Setting Australia’s Fires” HERE)

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Soleimani Was a Monster, Wanted Atomic Cloud Over Tel Aviv; I Saw Qasem Soleimani’s Brand of Evil Firsthand — It’s Worse Than You Could Possibly Imagine; Iran’s General Replacing Soleimani Vows Revenge for U.S. Killing

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By Jerusalem Post. Julian Reichelt, the editor-in-chief of best-selling German newspaper Bild, on Friday authored a barn-burning commentary praising US President Donald Trump for authorizing a military strike to eliminate Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.

“President Trump has freed the world of a monster whose aim in life was an atomic cloud over Tel Aviv. Trump has acted in self-defense – the self-defense of the US and all peace-loving people,” wrote Reichelt.

He added that “the Iranian terror godfather Qassem Soleimani stood for a world that no peace-loving person can want: a world in which you can be torn apart by a bomb at any time because you are in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

The commentary singled out Soleimani’s scorched-earth campaign in the Syrian war: “A world in which entire cities are wiped out – like Aleppo. In which bloodthirsty militia go from door to door and execute civilians.”

Reichelt noted the potential of Iran’s regime to carry out terrorism in Germany and Israel, “in which the kindergartens in Germany could burn up in fireballs at any time because its children are Jewish. In which Israel is under threat of extinction every day.” (Read more from “Soleimani Was a Monster, Wanted Atomic Cloud Over Tel Aviv” HERE)

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I Saw Qasem Soleimani’s Brand of Evil Firsthand — It’s Worse Than You Could Possibly Imagine

By CBN News. Just how evil was Tehran’s former top terror chief, Qasem Soleimani? While reporting in Iraq in 2015, I came face to face with his brand of terrorism and it’s been seared in my mind ever since. . .

I met the family in the above picture at an IDP camp outside of Erbil, Iraq. The father explained their desperate situation, homeless because of the latest ISIS reign of terror.

His body was severely burned, his son lay silent on the cot in the tent. When we asked about these things, he explained how Iranian Shia militias had killed his wife, tortured him and his children, including his young boy. The militias, who would have been under the control of Qasem Soleimani, proceeded to drill holes in the boy’s legs as a means to further threaten the father. . .

Qasem Soleimani was in charge of about 15,000 in Iran’s Quds force, which is mainly responsible for “military” operations that take place out of the country. . .

While it is perfectly understandable to be concerned about what happens next with Iran, it’s hard to look at it as anything but positive that Soleimani is no longer walking the face of this planet. (Read more from “I Saw Qasem Soleimani’s Brand of Evil Firsthand — It’s Worse Than You Could Possibly Imagine” HERE)

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Iran’s General Replacing Soleimani Vows Revenge for U.S. Killing

By Fox News. Esmail Ghaani, the Iranian general taking over for Qassem Soleimani, told state television Monday that “actions will be taken” to revenge the death of his predecessor.

Since Soleimani’s killing last week, Iran has issued a series of threats to the U.S.

President Trump has responded by vowing that any Iranian strike would be perhaps met with a “disproportionate” response.

“God the almighty has promised to get his revenge, and God is the main avenger,” Ghaani said, according to the Associated Press. “Certainly actions will be taken.”

Ghaani, 62, is the new leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ elite Quds Force. He had served as Soleimani’s deputy commander since 1997 – and the Treasury Department says he has used his power to direct funding toward terrorist groups like Hezbollah. (Read more from “Iran’s General Replacing Soleimani Vows Revenge for U.S. Killing” HERE)
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Iran offers $80million bounty for Donald Trump’s head after death of general

By Milo Boyd. An $80million bounty has been placed on Donald Trump’s head in Iran in the wake of General Qasem Soleimani’s assassination.

During the televised funeral, an unidentified eulogist speaking on official state television said one US dollar should be tabled for every Iranian in the country, with the cash going to whoever killed the US President.

“Iran has 80 million inhabitants. Based on the Iranian population, we want to raise $80million (£61million) which is a reward for those who get close to the head of President Trump,” it was announced . . . (Read more about Iran’s threatened revenge HERE)

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U.S. General Says We’re Leaving Iraq, Defense Secretary Says Not so Fast

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By Daily Wire. The United States military has informed Iraq this week that it is preparing to “move out” of the country, according to an official letter. . .

President Donald Trump stated over the weekend that if Iraq forces the U.S. military to leave that it will be hit very tough sanctions.

“We have a very extraordinarily expensive air base that’s there,” Trump said of Iraq. “It cost billions of dollars to build. Long before my time. We’re not leaving unless they pay us back for it.”

“If they do ask us to leave, if we don’t do it in a very friendly basis, we will charge them sanctions like they’ve never seen before ever. It’ll make Iranian sanctions look somewhat tame,” Trump continued. “If there’s any hostility, that they do anything we think is inappropriate, we are going to put sanctions on Iraq, very big sanctions on Iraq.” (Read more from “Report: U.S. Forces Preparing Rapid Withdrawal out of Iraq” HERE)

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‘Mistake’: Pentagon Says Iraq Withdrawal Letter Was Not Authorized

By Politico. The Pentagon on Monday disputed that U.S. troops are preparing to withdraw from Iraq — after a leaked letter from a U.S. general suggested plans are underway to prepare troops to leave following the Iraqi Parliament’s Sunday vote calling for their removal.

The misfire added yet another layer of confusion to an already murky situation days after the region erupted in response to the U.S. drone attack that killed Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani at the Baghdad airport. It also raised new questions about the Pentagon’s intentions as it faces new threats from Iranian militias in Iraq even as it seeks to defeat the remnants of the Islamic State terrorist group.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, took the usual step of holding an impromptu question-and-answer session with reporters at the Pentagon after media outlets reported a top US. general on Monday informed an Iraqi counterpart that American personnel are initiating steps for a possible withdrawal. . .

But Milley, agreeing the letter was a “mistake,” told reporters it was only a draft and had not been sent. He said he had just spoken to Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, the head of U.S. Central Command, about it.

(Read more from “‘Mistake’: Pentagon Says Iraq Withdrawal Letter Was Not Authorized” HERE)

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U.S. Informs Iraqi Government About Repositioning of Coalition Forces

By NPR. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper announced on Monday that some forces are being repositioned inside Iraq, not leaving the country.

Two other U.S. officials told NPR that some are going to Kuwait temporarily.

The troop movement — signaled by heavy helicopter traffic out of a U.S. base in central Baghdad — was coupled with confusion about a letter sent by the U.S. military to Iraqi officials. That letter said the movements were in response to the Iraqi call for U.S. forces to leave the country, and the letter implied a withdrawal was underway. Late Monday, Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters that the letter was “poorly worded.” . . .

The Pentagon press office underscored the message, saying in a tweet, “There has been no change in US policy with regard to our force presence in Iraq. We continue to consult with the Iraqi government regarding the defeat-ISIS mission and efforts to support the Iraqi Security Forces.”

(Read more from “U.S. Informs Iraqi Government About Repositioning of Coalition Forces” HERE)

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General Petraeus Reveals What Strike Did for U.S., Likely Response From Iran

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By Daily Wire. In two recent interviews, retired General David Petraeus highlighted just how significant President Trump’s killing of Iranian terrorist leader Qassim Suleimani was and revealed what the U.S. likely gained from the attack as well as what Iran’s likely response to the would be.

Petraeus, who also served as CIA Director in the Obama administration, told Foreign Policy that it was “impossible” to “overstate the importance” of the U.S. military taking out Suleimani.

“It is more significant than the killing of Osama bin Laden or even the death of [Islamic State leader Abu Bakr] al-Baghdadi,” Petraeus said. “Suleimani was the architect and operational commander of the Iranian effort to solidify control of the so-called Shia crescent, stretching from Iran to Iraq through Syria into southern Lebanon. He is responsible for providing explosives, projectiles, and arms and other munitions that killed well over 600 American soldiers and many more of our coalition and Iraqi partners just in Iraq, as well as in many other countries such as Syria. So his death is of enormous significance.”

In a subsequent interview on CBS News’s “Face The Nation,” Petraeus noted that killing Suleimani was “the equivalent in U.S. terms of the CIA director, CENTCOM Commander, JSOC Commander, and presidential envoy for the region for Iran. And- and the most powerful figure in Iran for the solidification of the Shia Crescent and also the operational commander of the actions that they were pursuing.” . . .

“The question is now, what will Iran do?” Petraeus said. “Will they dare to respond directly with Iranian missiles against our forces, our embassies, our bases, our shipping or what have you? Or do they continue to operate through proxies, which I’m pretty confident they will do.” (Read more from “General Petraeus Reveals What Strike Did for U.S., Likely Response From Iran” HERE)

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Iran’s President to Trump: ‘Remember the Number 290’

By Newser. . .The Wall Street Journal reports the White House on Saturday provided Congress with a notification of the Friday strike that took out Soleimani as required by law. The contents—which the Journal says would cover the “circumstances necessitating” the action, the “constitutional and legislative authority” for it, and “the estimated scope and duration of the hostilities”—were classified. Top Senate Democrats including Chuck Schumer and ranking Foreign Relations Committee member Robert Menendez are calling on it to be declassified and made available to the public.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani took to Twitter to respond to President Trump’s threat to target 52 sites of cultural importance if Iran retaliated for Soleimani’s killing. “Those who refer to the number 52 should also remember the number 290. #IR655 Never threaten the Iranian nation.” Trump’s 52 referred to the 52 Americans held hostage in Iran for more than a year beginning in 1979; Rouhani was referring to Iran Air Flight 655, which US missiles took down in 1988. All 290 on the passenger jet perished. (Read more from “Iran’s President to Trump: ‘Remember the Number 290′” HERE)

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Iraqi Parliament Calls for Expulsion of Foreign Troops; Trump Warns of Sanctions

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By Aljazeera. Iraq’s parliament has passed a resolution calling on the government to expel foreign troops from the country as Iran-US tensions escalate following the killing of a top Iranian military commander and Iraqi armed group leader in a US strike in Baghdad.

In an extraordinary parliamentary session on Sunday, parliament called on the government to end all foreign troop presence in Iraq and to cancel its request for assistance from the US-led coalition which had been working with Baghdad to fight the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

“The government commits to revoke its request for assistance from the international coalition fighting Islamic State due to the end of military operations in Iraq and the achievement of victory,” the resolution read.

“The Iraqi government must work to end the presence of any foreign troops on Iraqi soil and prohibit them from using its land, airspace or water for any reason.” (Read more from “Iraqi Parliament Calls for Expulsion of Foreign Troops” HERE)

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Trump Warns of Sanctions If Iraq Tries to Expel U.S. Troops

By AP News. President Donald Trump insists that Iranian cultural sites are fair game for the U.S. military, dismissing concerns within his own administration that doing so could constitute a war crime under international law. He also warned Iraq that he would levy punishing sanctions if it expelled American troops in retaliation for a U.S. airstrike in Baghdad that killed a top Iranian official.

Trump’s comments Sunday came amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following the killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s elite Quds force. Iran has vowed to retaliate and Iraq’s parliament responded by voting Sunday to oust U.S. troops based in the country.

Trump first raised the prospect of targeting Iranian cultural sites Saturday in a tweet. Speaking with reporters Sunday as he flew back to Washington from his holiday stay in Florida, he doubled down, despite international prohibitions. (Read more from “Trump Warns of Sanctions If Iraq Tries to Expel U.S. Troops” HERE)

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Iran Abandons Nuclear Deal Over Slaying of General

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By Politico. Iran said Sunday it would no longer abide by any of the limits of its unraveling 2015 nuclear deal with world powers after a U.S. airstrike killed a top Iranian general in Baghdad, abandoning the accord’s key provisions that block Tehran from having enough material to build an atomic weapon.

Iran insisted in a state television broadcast it remained open to negotiations with European partners, who so far have been unable to offer Tehran a way to sell its crude oil abroad despite U.S. sanctions. It also didn’t back off of earlier promises that it wouldn’t seek a nuclear weapon.

However, the announcement Sunday represents the clearest nuclear proliferation threat yet made by Iran since President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the accord in May 2018. It also further raises regional tensions, as Iran’s longtime foe Israel has promised never to allow Iran to be able to produce an atomic bomb.

The announcement came Sunday night after another Iranian official said it would consider taking even-harsher steps over the U.S. killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani on Friday. Hundreds of thousands of people flooded the streets Sunday in Iran to walk alongside a casket carrying the remains of Soleimani, the former leader of its expeditionary Quds Force that organizes Tehran’s proxy forces in the wider Mideast. (Read more from “Iran Abandons Nuclear Deal Over Slaying of General” HERE)

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Iran’s Response to Us Will Be Military — Khamenei’s Adviser

By CNN. The military adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader said Sunday that Tehran’s response to the killing by the United States of its most most influential general will “for sure be military.”

In an exclusive interview with CNN in Tehran, the adviser — Maj. Gen. Hossein Dehghan — made the most specific and direct threat yet by a senior Iranian official following the killing of Gen. Qasem Soleimani in a US drone strike in Baghdad.

Dehghan said Iran would retaliate directly against US “military sites.” (Read more from “Iran’s Response to Us Will Be Military — Khamenei’s Adviser” HERE)

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Irwin Family’s Wildlife Hospital Rescues Animal Number 90,000

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The Irwin family’s wildlife hospital recently treated animal number 90,000 as wildfires continue to ravage parts of Australia.

Thursday, the late Steve Irwin’s son, Robert, posted the photo of the hospital’s special patient on Twitter.

Many of the animals rescued recently by the Irwin family’s Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors hospital were injured by the fires spreading across the country, according to WFLA. . .

“Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors was established in 2002 by Steve and Terri Irwin as a way to include and involve other caring people in the protection of injured, threatened or endangered wildlife – from the individual animal to an entire species,” its website stated. . .

Sadly, the animal death toll from the fires has been estimated at nearly half a billion in one area alone. However, experts believe the burned forests will recover and that koalas, kangaroos, and other species affected by the wildfires will return in the future. (Read more from “Irwin Family’s Wildlife Hospital Rescues Animal Number 90,000” HERE)

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Three Americans Killed in Terror Attack on African Military Base

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On Sunday, an Islamic terror attack by Al-Shabaab on a military base in Kenya where U.S. troops were stationed resulted in the deaths of three Americans.

The attack on the military base in the early morning hours on Sunday comes as U.S. forces are on alert across the world for potential terrorist attacks after the U.S. military killed Qasem Soleimani, the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, which is a designated terrorist organization. . .

U.S. Army General Stephen Townsend, Commander, U.S. Africa Command, said, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of our teammates who lost their lives today. As we honor their sacrifice, let’s also harden our resolve. Alongside our African and international partners, we will pursue those responsible for this attack and al-Shabaab who seeks to harm Americans and U.S. interests. We remain committed to preventing al-Shabaab from maintaining a safe haven to plan deadly attacks against the U.S. homeland, East African, and international partners.”

“The work that our U.S. forces are doing in East Africa bolsters partnerships, counters malign influence, and maintains critical pressure on terrorist networks,” Townsend continued. “Our efforts directly contribute to counterterrorism, maritime surveillance, and intelligence sharing missions with our Kenyan partners. This activity enables enhanced security and stability in the region and for America.” . . .

“Three rockets landed inside the heavily fortified Green Zone in Baghdad, Iraq, home to the US Embassy and the seat of Iraq’s government, city residents said on Sunday,” The Times of Israel reported. “Police sources told Reuters that the projectiles were Katyusha rockets. Witnesses told AFP they saw two rockets hit near the US embassy.” (Read more from “Three Americans Killed in Terror Attack on African Military Base” HERE)

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