INTERNACIONAL
Republican senators say leaked Iran damage report was inaccurate, politically motivated
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Republican senators told Fox News Digital that after receiving a fuller intelligence report on airstrikes authorized by President Donald Trump against Iran’s nuclear facilities that they believe the initial leaked reports underestimating the damage were inaccurate and politically motivated.
«I think the leaked intelligence report was not accurate, and given the 14 bunker-buster bombs that were dropped on the Iranian nuclear weapons facility, I think that the clear evidence is the damage was overwhelming,» said Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.
In response to why so many media outlets ran with the leaked story, Cruz told Fox News Digital that «clearly there was a political agenda at play.»
Earlier this week, CNN, citing people familiar with the assessment, reported that the early consensus within the Defense Intelligence Agency is that the strikes on Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan didn’t destroy key components of Iran’s nuclear program nor destroy its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
TRUMP TOUTS ADMINISTRATION’S PROGRESS ON PEACE DEALS, SAYS WORLD LEADERS ‘RESPECT OUR COUNTRY AGAIN’
Republican Sens. Josh Hawley (Mo.) and Ted Cruz (Texas), as well as Maryland Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen talked to Fox News Digital about the intelligence assessments on the Iran airstrikes. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana and screencap from Forbes footage and AP)
The outlet also reported that the strike likely only set back Iran’s nuclear program by several months, not years, as touted by the Trump administration.
Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth railed against the «fake news» media during a NATO summit press conference for casting doubt that the U.S. strikes on Iran obliterated the country’s nuclear program.
«A statement came in from the Atomic Energy Commission of Israel,» Trump said during a Wednesday press conference from The Hague as he wrapped up his NATO summit trip in the Netherlands. «They’re very serious people, as you know.»
«‘The devastating U.S. strike on Fordow destroyed the site’s critical infrastructure and rendered the enrichment facility totally inoperable,’» Trump read from the letter. «‘It was devastated. We assessed that the American strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities had set back Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons for many years to come. This achievement can continue indefinitely if Iran does not get access to nuclear material.’»
HEGSETH TEARS INTO REPORTERS, ALLEGING THEY ‘CHEER AGAINST TRUMP’ AND IRAN STRIKES
Trump said on Saturday that the United States had completed a «very successful» strike against Iranian nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, saying that Iran’s nuclear enrichment installations have been «obliterated.» (Fox News)
Senators received a classified intelligence briefing on the strikes from top national security officials on Thursday.
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., told Fox News Digital that widespread reporting on the leaked report was to «try to undermine Trump, of course.»
«Listen, we walked through this in the briefing, without getting into things I shouldn’t talk about. Basically, that is not an accurate picture, and it didn’t purport to be,» said Hawley. «What they were quoting was actually not a full intelligence report; it was more akin to an after-action, early assessment guess. So, without saying more, basically it was very misrepresented.»
«And the thing is,» he went on, «any reporter who covers the Pentagon and covers national security, they would know that. So, I have to say, kind of bad faith, I think, by our reporter friends in the liberal media who are clearly just trying to undermine the president.»
TRUMP ACCUSES AYATOLLAH OF ‘LIE’ ON IRAN STRIKE: ‘HIS COUNTRY WAS DECIMATED’
This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows damage at the Fordow enrichment facility in Iran after U.S. strikes, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (Maxar Technologies via AP)
At least one Democratic senator, meanwhile, was also pleased with what was said during the briefing.
«Most of my questions were answered. I think it was a good briefing,» said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H. «I think Iran should not have a nuclear weapon. Hopefully, this has set back that program dramatically. And ultimately, we will see them go to the negotiating table, because that’s the real long-term solution.»
While many Democrats have called the strikes an unconstitutional move by the president, Shaheen said, «it was a limited, contained strike» and «I think if it dramatically set back Iran’s nuclear program – initial reports are that it has – that’s a good thing.»
Other Democratic senators, however, were still not so mollified by the briefing.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., told Fox News Digital that the briefing «has not changed» his prior assessment that the strikes were a «clear violation of our Constitution» and that «Trump is yet again betraying Americans by embroiling the United States directly in this conflict.»
TRUMP WOULD STRIKE IRAN ‘WITHOUT QUESTION’ IF IT RESTARTS NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Donald Trump (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via Reuters/Elizabeth Frantz/File Photo)
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., told Fox News Digital that the briefing «didn’t change my view, but I think I’d rather just leave it there, because it’s all classified.»
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Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., was more vague on whether his opinion had been changed.
«I can’t tell you what I learned in a classified briefing. I can tell you that it was destructive,» said Coons. «We do not yet have a full and complete picture of exactly what capabilities were degraded or destroyed and what additional risks we may face or what decisions the Iranian regime may make.»
Fox News Digital’s Emma Colton contributed to this report.
Israel releases video of airstrikes in Iran
The Israel Defense Forces released video it says shows its strikes against Iranian soldiers who were arming missile launchers in Western Iran to fire at the Jewish State. (Credit: IDF)
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Israel pummeled Iranian targets with simultaneous airstrikes from roughly 200 fighter jets in what the Israeli military dubbed its largest ever military flyover in its history.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Saturday published video of its airstrike on missile launchers in western Iran as Israel and the U.S. take part in a joint effort against Tehran.
The IDF said the fighter jets flew under the direction of IDF intelligence and the Israeli Air Force and executed an «extensive attack» against the Iranian regime’s missile and defense systems in western and central Iran.
«This is the largest military flyover in the history of the Israeli Air Force (IAF), conducted following accurate planning and based on high-quality intelligence, while synchronizing hundreds of fighter jets at the same time,» the IDF said.
A map showing the Western strikes against Iran Saturday (Fox News)
Fighter jets dropped hundreds of munitions on about 500 targets, including aerial defense systems and missile launchers, attaining air superiority over Iran and severely degrading its offensive capabilities.
«The military flyover thwarted numerous threats to the IAF’s fighter jets and to Israeli civilians,» the IDF said, adding that the IAF continues to operate in Iran.
WATCH MORE ISRAELI STRIKES ON IRANIAN TARGETS:
Israel announced it had launched an attack on Iran shortly after explosions were heard in Tehran Saturday morning. One of the first strikes hit near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It wasn’t immediately clear where Khamenei was at the time; he hadn’t been seen for days.
HISTORIC US-ISRAEL STRIKES ON IRAN UNDERWAY AS TEHRAN FACES REGIME SURVIVAL TEST
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the attacks across the country as being done «to remove threats.»
Iran’s military, symbols of government and intelligence sites were targeted, an official briefed on the operation told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss nonpublic information.
President Donald Trump said the joint effort was a massive operation to destroy the country’s military capabilities and eliminate the threat of it creating a nuclear weapon.
President Donald Trump holds up a fist after disembarking Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Fla., Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
World leaders were split over the U.S.-Israeli military operation.
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Iran launched retaliatory strikes against U.S. bases in neighboring countries throughout the Gulf, prompting many Arab countries to condemn the regime’s strikes.
Fox News Digital’s Rachel Wolf and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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war with iran,iran,israel,middle east,world
INTERNACIONAL
Tras el ataque a Irán, crece la presión interna en EE.UU. para que Trump termine rápido el conflicto en Medio Oriente
Donald Trump necesita un desenlace rápido de la guerra en Irán. De lo contrario corre serio de riesgo de pagar un elevado costo político en su base de apoyo electoral y dentro de su Partido Republicano, muy en especial en el movimiento MAGA (Make America Great Again) que lo llevó a la presidencia.
“La coalición MAGA quiere resultados rápidos”, advirtió una fuente citada por el sitio estadounidense Axios.
Leé también: Benjamín Netanyahu llamó a los iraníes a salir a las calles “para derrocar al régimen de terror”
La presión tiene fundamento. Este es un año electoral y ningún dirigente republicano quiere lidiar en campaña con una guerra impulsada por un presidente que precisamente prometió dejar de lado los conflictos bélicos y enfocarse en la economía.
Las elecciones están previstas para el 3 de noviembre. Se elegirán 36 gobernadores, 33 senadores y la Cámara de Representantes completa. Muchos van por la reelección. Nadie quiere pagar el precio de un desfile de ataúdes envueltos en la bandera estadounidense.
Donald Trump siente la presión
El domingo se anunciaron las primeras tres bajas de soldados estadounidenses. En Venezuela había logrado que las tropas de asalto que capturaron a Nicolás Maduro el 3 de enero salieran indemnes, más allá de algunos heridos.
Ahora, “el riesgo político depende del resultado. Si frenamos a Irán sin que se produzcan ataques terroristas contra Estados Unidos ni daños a los aliados en la región, será una victoria política para Trump. Pero si esto se convierte en un conflicto prolongado o termina con tropas sobre el terreno, será un lastre”, dijo al semanario Político el estratega republicano Jason Roe. El presidente estadounidense, Donald Trump (Foto: Truth Social/via REUTERS)
Las encuestas no favorecen al mandatario. La mayoría de los votantes no está de acuerdo con esta guerra. En ese escenario, el riesgo es grande: “Pequeñas deserciones de su coalición ganadora de 2024 podrían tener consecuencias descomunales” en los comicios, alertó Político. En juego está el control del futuro Congreso y gobernaciones clave.
En especial, sectores republicanos acusan al presidente de dejar de lado su lema “America first” (Estados Unidos primero). Ahora, todo dependerá de la evolución del conflicto.
Leé también: Irán designó al frente de la Guardia Revolucionaria Islámica a uno de los acusados del atentado a la AMIA
Trump sabe que este es un escenario de riesgo interno elevado pero de alta recompensa. Si la guerra tiene un desenlace rápido favorable a Washington, EE.UU. aumentará en forma notable su influencia en Medio Oriente.
El rol del Congreso
En este panorama, legisladores demócratas buscan forzar el voto del Congreso sobre la guerra, en contraste con los republicanos más duros que respaldan el ataque.
La experta en comunicación estadounidense Mary Arda, líder del grupo de voluntarios de la campaña de Hillary Clinton en 2015/2016, dijo a TN que esta ofensiva conjunta israelí-estadounidense contra Irán “marca un quiebre histórico en el equilibrio de poderes de Washington”.
“Con la ‘Operación Furia Épica’, la administración Trump ha descabezado al régimen iraní, eliminando al ayatolá Alí Jamenei y a otros altos mandos en un ataque sorpresa sin precedentes y sin mediar una declaración de guerra del Congreso“, indicó.
Leé también: Irán busca extender la guerra para desgastar a Trump, mientras pone en marcha la sucesión de Alí Jamenei
Además, señaló: “Este golpe estratégico, que desmanteló el centro neurálgico del poder en Irán, consolida una doctrina de acción unilateral ya vista en las incursiones contra objetivos nucleares en 2025 y la caída de Nicolás Maduro en Venezuela. Al tratar a jefes de Estado como ‘combatientes enemigos’ para justificar su eliminación, la Casa Blanca ha marginado de facto el Artículo 1 de la Constitución, que reserva exclusivamente al Legislativo el poder de iniciar una guerra”.
“Mientras el oficialismo celebra el fin de la ‘era Jameneí’, la escalada ya cobra vidas estadounidenses; el Pentágono confirmó las primeras tres bajas en combate tras las represalias iraníes. Con Irán bajo un consejo transitorio y el Congreso estadounidense exigiendo una resolución de Poderes de Guerra, la crisis en Teherán ha forzado un choque inevitable sobre los límites de la autoridad presidencial en una era de guerra ejecutiva total», afirmó.
En el Congreso la guerra divide aguas. Mientras avanzan las “explicaciones” en las distintas comisiones, los demócratas se mueven en ambas cámaras del Capitolio para forzar votaciones que limitarían la capacidad de Trump de tomar acciones militares adicionales contra Irán sin la aprobación del Congreso. Pero es una lucha perdida de antemano: salvo que haya una deserción masiva de republicanos (algo muy poco probable), la iniciativa no tiene mayores posibilidades de avanzar.
Irán, Israel, Donald Trump
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At least nine people are dead and more than two dozen injured after violent clashes outside the U.S. Consulate in Karachi, Pakistan.
Hundreds of protesters stormed the diplomatic compound in a sharp escalation of anti-American demonstrations.
The unrest followed reports that Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli strike, sparking anger among Shiite Muslims in Pakistan.
Witnesses told The Associated Press that many of the protesters were Shiite Muslims who expressed outrage over Khamenei’s reported death and alleged U.S. involvement. Protesters chanted anti-American and anti-Israel slogans, and attempted to breach the consulate’s perimeter.
At least nine people were killed after protesters clashed with security forces outside the U.S. Consulate General in Karachi, Pakistan. More than two dozen others were injured. (AP Photo/Muhammad Farooq)
Security forces deployed police and paramilitary units as clashes intensified outside the compound.
Between 25 and 30 people were wounded in the clashes, according to local officials.
Pakistani authorities tightened security around the consulate and other U.S. diplomatic missions in Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar amid fears the unrest could spread. The U.S. Embassy in Pakistan issued a security alert urging American citizens to monitor local news, avoid large crowds and remain vigilant.
IRAN GOES DARK AMID ‘REGIME PARANOIA’, BLACKOUT FOLLOWS ISRAELI, US STRIKES ON COMPOUND
Hundreds of demonstrators stormed the U.S. Consulate compound in Karachi after reports that Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a U.S.-Israeli strike. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)
«We are monitoring reports of ongoing demonstrations at the U.S. Consulates General in Karachi and Lahore, as well as calls for additional demonstrations at U.S. Embassy Islamabad and Consulate General Peshawar,» the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad said on X. «We advise U.S. citizens in Pakistan to monitor local news and observe good personal security practices, including being aware of your surroundings, avoiding large crowds, and ensuring your STEP registration is up to date.»
The violence comes amid escalating tensions between Iran and the United States over Tehran’s nuclear program, regional influence and support for proxy groups.
IRANIANS CELEBRATE WORLDWIDE AFTER SUPREME LEADERS ARE KILLED IN ISRAELI STRIKES
Pakistani police and paramilitary forces respond as protesters attempt to breach the perimeter of the U.S. diplomatic mission in Karachi. (AP Photo/Ali Raza)
Pakistan has seen protests over what demonstrators describe as Western aggression.
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The unrest comes as U.S. and Israeli forces continue coordinated strikes targeting Iranian military infrastructure, air defenses and command centers. The Pentagon named the mission Operation Epic Fury, while the Israel Defense Forces called its portion Operation Lion’s Roar. U.S. officials said the strikes aim to degrade Tehran’s military capabilities and neutralize what they describe as imminent threats to the United States and its allies.
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war with iran,pakistan,defense
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