World
Donald Trump at the Hilton Hotel in Chicago, Illinois, on July 31, 2024. Photo: Scott Olson/AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - United States President Donald Trump notified Congress on Monday that recent strikes on Iran were undertaken “to protect” the US, saying no US “ground forces” were used in the operation.
“These strikes were undertaken to protect United States forces in the region, protect the United States homeland, advance vital United States national interests, including ensuring the free flow of maritime commerce through the Strait of Hormuz, and in collective self-defense of our regional allies, including Israel,” Trump wrote in the letter to Senate President Pro Tempore Chuck Grassley.
Trump’s letter comes as the US and Israel press on with a campaign against Iran launched Saturday, targeting dozens of senior military and security figures in Tehran. Among them, the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed.
“No United States ground forces were used in these strikes,” Trump said, adding that “the mission was planned and executed in a manner designed to minimize civilian casualties, deter future attacks, and neutralize Iran's malign activities.”
At least 555 people have been killed in Iran with strikes hitting multiple locations across 131 cities, Iranian Red Crescent Spokesperson Mojtaba Khaledi, said Monday. Iranian state media said some of the targeted locations were residential areas and that civilians were among the casualties.
Trump reiterated Washington's stance that Iran is one of the world’s leading “state-sponsors of terrorism,” is seeking nuclear weapons, and poses a direct threat to US forces, civilians and allies through its missile arsenal. In the letter, he added that “it is not possible at this time to know the full scope and duration of military operations that may be necessary.”
He said US forces “remain postured to take further action, as necessary and appropriate, to address further threats and attacks upon the United States or its allies and partners, and ensure the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran ceases being a threat to the United States, its allies, and the international community.”
Iran and allied groups in Iraq have vowed retaliation. Attacks have affected several countries in the region, including Bahrain, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The Kurdistan Region has also faced dozens of strikes, many concentrated in Erbil near the airport and US consulate.
The strikes have drawn mixed reactions in Washington. Many Republicans have praised the operation, while some Democrats and a number of Republicans have opposed it and are seeking to block further military action against Iran without congressional approval.
The conflict broke out despite recent Omani-mediated talks between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear program. A round of negotiations in Geneva ended Thursday, with Oman’s foreign minister, Badr al-Busaidi, who is mediating the talks, saying “significant progress” had been made.
“These strikes were undertaken to protect United States forces in the region, protect the United States homeland, advance vital United States national interests, including ensuring the free flow of maritime commerce through the Strait of Hormuz, and in collective self-defense of our regional allies, including Israel,” Trump wrote in the letter to Senate President Pro Tempore Chuck Grassley.
Trump’s letter comes as the US and Israel press on with a campaign against Iran launched Saturday, targeting dozens of senior military and security figures in Tehran. Among them, the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed.
“No United States ground forces were used in these strikes,” Trump said, adding that “the mission was planned and executed in a manner designed to minimize civilian casualties, deter future attacks, and neutralize Iran's malign activities.”
At least 555 people have been killed in Iran with strikes hitting multiple locations across 131 cities, Iranian Red Crescent Spokesperson Mojtaba Khaledi, said Monday. Iranian state media said some of the targeted locations were residential areas and that civilians were among the casualties.
Trump reiterated Washington's stance that Iran is one of the world’s leading “state-sponsors of terrorism,” is seeking nuclear weapons, and poses a direct threat to US forces, civilians and allies through its missile arsenal. In the letter, he added that “it is not possible at this time to know the full scope and duration of military operations that may be necessary.”
He said US forces “remain postured to take further action, as necessary and appropriate, to address further threats and attacks upon the United States or its allies and partners, and ensure the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran ceases being a threat to the United States, its allies, and the international community.”
Iran and allied groups in Iraq have vowed retaliation. Attacks have affected several countries in the region, including Bahrain, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The Kurdistan Region has also faced dozens of strikes, many concentrated in Erbil near the airport and US consulate.
The strikes have drawn mixed reactions in Washington. Many Republicans have praised the operation, while some Democrats and a number of Republicans have opposed it and are seeking to block further military action against Iran without congressional approval.
The conflict broke out despite recent Omani-mediated talks between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear program. A round of negotiations in Geneva ended Thursday, with Oman’s foreign minister, Badr al-Busaidi, who is mediating the talks, saying “significant progress” had been made.
Comments
Rudaw moderates all comments submitted on our website. We welcome comments which are relevant to the article and encourage further discussion about the issues that matter to you. We also welcome constructive criticism about Rudaw.
To be approved for publication, however, your comments must meet our community guidelines.
We will not tolerate the following: profanity, threats, personal attacks, vulgarity, abuse (such as sexism, racism, homophobia or xenophobia), or commercial or personal promotion.
Comments that do not meet our guidelines will be rejected. Comments are not edited – they are either approved or rejected.
Post a comment