US 'begged' Israel not to strike Iran but request was embarrassingly ignored

The United States allegedly begged Israel not to carry out a counterattack against Iran in the early hours of Friday, but the Israeli decision to ignore Washington is part of an "embarrassing" trend, Politico reported, citing a US official.

"The US begged [Israel] not to do it, and literally no one from the Pentagon to the Joint Chiefs to the CIA to the intel community thinks this is a good thing," the official was quoted by Politico as saying on Friday. "At this point, it’s truly embarrassing how much Israel does not listen to us, but yet this doesn’t keep President Biden from blind fealty."

The US' silence on this Israeli strike on Iran is part of an effort to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East between Israel and Iran, according to the report.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to comment on the matter during an earlier briefing, and the Pentagon and US Central Command also declined to comment to Sputnik on this matter.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's only comment on this matter was to rule out any US involvement in the Israeli attack.

Earlier on Friday, Israel carried out an airstrike against Iran in response to Tehran's missile and drone attack over the weekend, media reported.

Explosions were reported near the city of Isfahan. Air defense systems responded to the approach of drones in a number of the country's provinces.

Israeli drones shot down over the city of Isfahan by Iranian air defenses caused no damage, but pro-Israel media are trying to exaggerate the impact of the airstrike, according to Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian.

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Fifty Ukrainian UAVs were destroyed and intercepted by by Russian air defense forces, including twenty-six over the territory of the Belgorod region, ten over the territory of the Bryansk region, eight over the territory of the Kursk region, two over the Tula region and one each over the territories of the Smolensk, Ryazan, Kaluga and Moscow regions, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

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Israel fired three air-launched ballistic missiles into Iran overnight, targeting an Iranian airbase, NBC News reported, citing officials familiar with the operation.

The officials rejected reports that Israel also struck a target near Baghdad as part of Friday's response, although the missile parts found on the ground in Iraq were related to Israel’s strikes on Iran, they reportedly added.

US media reported that Israel on Friday carried out a “limited” retaliatory strike on sites in Iran. Explosions were reported near the city of Isfahan.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said the drones shot down over Isfahan did not cause any damage and accused "pro-Israel" media of trying to exaggerate the impact of the Israeli attack.

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A man who set himself on fire outside a New York City courthouse where an anti-Trump case was being heard has died, the New York Post reports.

US has developed ‘microwave’ weapons able to obliterate electronics of Iran's nuclear facilities - report

The US Air Force has operational missiles that could take out the electronics of Iran's nuclear facilities using high-power microwaves, the Daily Mail reported.

The microwave weapons equipped with an electromagnetic pulse cannon are fitted into cruise missiles and can be delivered from B-52 bombers.

Boasting a range of 1,126 km, the weapons can infiltrate enemy airspace at low altitude and target electronic devices with pulses of high power microwave energy. The microwave weapon generates a concentrated beam of energy aimed at generating a voltage surge in electronic equipment, thus disabling it. These missiles are allegedly designed to leave civilians unharmed.

The report comes amid the latest dramatic escalation of tensions in the Middle East, with Israel carrying out an airstrike against Iran on Friday in response to Tehran's missile and drone attack over the weekend.

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Catch up with the latest news:

US 'begged' Israel not to strike Iran, request was ‘embarrassingly’ ignored - report

Why Israel can't afford escalation with Iran and Gaza? Expert reveals to Sputnik

The US is about to make a move that will transform its posture in West Africa

North Korea conducts a test of a "super-large warhead" for a strategic cruise missile

Does the West want him gone? A possible reason behind the alleged Zelensky assassination attempt

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Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu was presented with advanced drones and small arms at the Moscow Military District training range.

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Hamas leaders are considering moving their current headquarters out of Qatar as the Gulf state is under increasing pressure to push the group into indirect hostage negotiations with Israel in exchange for a ceasefire, The Wall Street Journal reported.

“The talks have already stalled again with barely any signs or prospects for them to resume any time soon, and distrust is rising between Hamas and the negotiators,” the newspaper quoted an Arab mediator as saying.

Hamas has recently contacted two countries in the region about hosting its leaders, one of which is Oman, the reports noted.

Negotiations between Israel and Hamas to secure a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages have recently stalled as the parties have been unable to agree on the terms of a ceasefire.

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The targeted assassination of Izvestia journalist Semyon Yeremin is another confirmation of the Zelensky regime's terrorist nature, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

Russia demands that the relevant international organizations and human rights structures strongly condemn the murder of journalist Yeremin, she added.

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The US has produced its first 90 kg of enriched uranium, President Biden said during the IBEW Construction and Maintenance Conference in Washington. He added that the country is “on track to produce nearly a ton by the end of the year, enough to power 100,000 homes."

According to the US Department of Energy, Russia exports enriched uranium to more than 90 commercial reactors in the US, making it the country's number one foreign supplier.

The US has become the main buyer of Russian uranium in 2023, increasing imports by 19 percent to 702 tons, Sputnik’s calculations based on data from national statistical services show.

Despite this dependence, last year the US approved a bill to ban imports of low-enriched uranium of Russian origin until 2040.

This signal from Washington on the possible abandonment of Russian uranium is at odds with the needs of the United States, CEO of Rosatom said. The stated intentions have led to an increase in prices on the world market, he noted.

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Izvestia war correspondent Yeremin was killed as a result of a targeted attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the Russian Investigative Committee said.

Investigators will identify all those involved in the death of Yeremin as a result of an attack by Ukrainian forces in the Zaporozhye region, the committee added.

US government’s controversial spy program to stay on until 2026

The US Senate has voted to extend a spy program that allows the government to conduct surveillance on foreign citizens through “electronic communications service providers” (ECSP) such as phone and email providers.

The Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act (RISAA) is legislation to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) for two more years. The bill was earlier passed by the House, and now goes to President Joe Biden for signing.

Section 25 of the bill expands the definition of ECSP, with critics concerned it might cover everything from data centers and shared workspaces to business landlords.

Section 702 was added to FISA in 2008 in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Before this amendment, the government had to seek a court warrant based on “probable cause” to obtain the communications.

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❗️The Russian air defense systems have shot down a Ukrainian Su-25 aircraft and 213 drones, as well as 5 French-made AASM Hammer guided bombs, the Russian Ministry of Defense has announced.

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❗️Russian troops hit the Ukrainian aviation fuel storage and two military transport facilities.

🇷🇺🪖 More statements from the daily briefing of the Russian Defense Ministry on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine:

🔺Russian Battlegroup Zapad repelled three Ukrainian attacks, resulting in the deaths of 30 Ukrainian militants.

🔺Ukrainian losses amounted to 120 militants and 4 ammunition depots due to the work of the Russian Battlegroup Vostok.

🔺Ukraine lost up to 355 militants due to the active combat operations of the Russian Battlegroup Tsentr.

🔺Russian Buttlegroup Youg has improved its position along the front line, resulting in Ukraine losing its 610 militants.

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🇷🇺 Direct fire from the Russian crew of the Nona-S self-propelled gun destroyed the Ukrainian observation post on the right bank of the Dnepr

During the reconnaissance and search operations, a Ukrainian nationalist observation post was discovered. The crew of the Nona-S from the Black Sea Fleet engaged the stronghold with direct fire, destroying the manpower of Ukrainian militants who were stationed there.

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Betrayal of the year?

US House Speaker Mike Johnson has spent months promising Republican voters that he will not support any Ukraine aid package until America’s southern border is secured.

Now he’s pushing a $61 billion Ukraine funding package with no strings attached.

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The Palestinian authorities will be reviewing bilateral relations with the United States in light of the veto on Palestine's admission to the UN, Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas says.

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Houthis too hot to handle? German warship ends mission against Yemeni militia, heads home

The Hessen, a German frigate deployed to the Red Sea in late February to take part in Operation Aspides – the European Union-led mission to protect regional shipping against attacks by Yemen’s Houthi militiamen, wrapped up its mission and departed from the region early Saturday morning.

The Bundeswehr said the 143 meter-long anti-air and anti-ship missile-equipped warship was heading back to Germany after roughly eight weeks of service escorting 27 merchant ships – the equivalent of about one commercial vessel every two days.

The Hessen is the latest warship from two separate Western coalitions (the EU’s Operation Aspides and the US-UK Operation Prosperity Guardian) to leave the Red Sea region.

The German warship reported intercepting a Houthi missile on April 6. Before that, on March 21, the Bundeswehr reported that the Hessen had destroyed an unmanned sea vehicle launched by the militia.

The Houthis have forced US, British and European warships to expend missiles worth $1 million or more to destroy aerial and naval drones which cost thousands of dollars to make. Since January, the US and the UK have attempted to degrade Houthi capabilities through a series of air and missile strikes inside Yemen, but have so far failed to lift what is effectively a partial blockade of the Red Sea enforced by the militia since November 2023.

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The Ukrainian army lost five Abrams tanks in two months mainly due to drones — The New York Times

The drone combat in Ukraine that is transforming modern warfare has begun taking a deadly toll on one of the most powerful symbols of American military might — the tank — and threatening to rewrite how it will be used in future conflicts.

"Depending on their size and technological sophistication, the drones can cost as little as $500 — a paltry investment for taking out a $10 million Abrams tank," the NYT added.

The New York Times also reports that Ukraine has lost 796 tanks in total since the beginning of the conflict.

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