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US-Israeli strikes on Iran

US intelligence warned of risk of Iran striking Arab countries — Reuters

The White House apparently ignored this information, the agency believes

WASHINGTON, March 17. /TASS/. Before the operation against Iran, US military intelligence repeatedly warned its leadership of the high risk of retaliatory strikes by the Islamic Republic against targets in Arab countries in the Middle East, Reuters reported, citing White House sources.

President Donald Trump previously stated that Iran’s retaliatory strikes on Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait came as a "surprise" to the US. However, US intelligence warned not only of strikes by the Islamic Republic but also of the risks of closing the Strait of Hormuz, with all the negative consequences for the global economy. The White House apparently ignored this information, the agency believes. So, the US administration did not order diplomatic staff to depart from several regional embassies until after the air strikes began, according to Reuters.

The United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran on February 28. Major Iranian cities, including Tehran, were struck. The White House justified the attack by citing alleged missile and nuclear threats from Iran. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a retaliatory operation, targeting sites in Israel. US military bases in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE were also hit. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and some other key Iranian leaders were killed in the joint US-Israeli attack.

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Friedrich Merz says this "will make the already dire humanitarian situation in Lebanon even worse"

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Valery Gerasimov also set further combat tasks

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Ali Mojtaba Rouzbehani emphasized that even international institutions were unable to act against these aggressors

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Dmitry Kuzyakin noted that after the system identifies targets, the UAV-destroying capabilities are activated

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British PM refuses to send warships to Strait of Hormuz — newspaper

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EU has no money to mitigate energy shock caused by conflict in Iran — WSJ

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Press review: Tehran pursues attrition as Trump delays China visit amid Iran tensions

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, March 17th

Roscosmos to carry out over 20 rocket launches in 2025 — head

Bakanov emphasized the importance of the International Space Station and the need to make ISS missions more comfortable

US-based Colombian national enlists mercenaries for Ukrainian army

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Witkoff to brief US senators on progress of operation against Iran on March 17

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American sailors set fire to USS Gerald R. Ford to avoid fighting — Iranian army

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Russia honors $44.1 mln Eurobond coupon payment — Finance Ministry

Payments were made in accordance with the decree of the Russian Federation on the temporary procedure of honoring state debt liabilities of the Russian Federation to residents and foreign creditors

US miscalculated on Iran, will face consequences for its deeds — ambassador

According to Alireza Haghighian, Iran is full of determination to punish the aggressor and make it regret its actions

Iran vows continued fight until Trump realizes US war on it is 'wrong' — top diplomat

Abbas Araghchi also stressed that victims must be compensated

Ukraine's FP-1 drones used to attack Moscow based on Nazi-era tech — expert

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Iran never declared war on its Middle East neighbors, Iranian top diplomat says

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As of now, there is no information on which US or Israeli facilities were attacked

Killing of Ayatollah Khamenei did not split Iranian society— Iranian ambassador

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US allies not willing to join Strait of Hormuz coalition — news outlet

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Trump wanted Iranian military to bow to him, but this scenario failed — ambassador

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Germany’s MFA threatened Hungary, demanding change in approach to Ukraine — Szijjarto

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