Blasts kill nearly 100 at slain commander Soleimani’s memorial, Iran vows revenge
Dubai, United Arab EmiratesReuters Two explosions killed nearly 100 people and wounded scores at a ceremony in Iran on Wednesday to commemorate commander Qassem Soleimani who was killed by a US drone in 2020, Iranian officials said, blaming unspecified “terrorists”. Iranian state television reported a first and then a second blast after 20 minutes during […]
“Clerics get lost!”: Iran protests rage after plane disaster
Dubai, UAEReuters Protesters denouncing Iran’s clerical rulers took to the streets and riot police deployed to face them on Monday, in a third day of demonstrations after authorities acknowledged mistakenly shooting down a passenger plane. Iran’s president called last week’s downing of the Ukrainian plane a “disastrous mistake” on Saturday, saying its air defences were […]
Trump avoids escalating crisis, says Iran is “standing down”
Washington, US/Baghdad, Iraq/Dubai, UAEReuters US President Donald Trump on Wednesday backed away from days of angry rhetoric against Iran as the two countries tried to defuse a crisis over the American killing of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani. In an address from the White House, Trump said the United States did not necessarily have to […]
Iran missile attacks target US forces in Iraq; Trump says ‘All is well!’
Updated: 6pmBaghdad, Iraq/Washington DC, USReuters Iran launched missiles at US-led forces in Iraq on Wednesday in retaliation for the US drone strike on an Iranian commander whose killing last week stoked fears of a new Middle East war. Iranian state television said Iran had fired 15 missiles at US targets in Iraq early on Wednesday. […]
Amid US-Iran escalation, Pope Francis and Catholic leaders call for restraint, dialogue
Vatican CityRNS Concern about the growing tensions between the United States and Iran has been bubbling within the Vatican, as Pope Francis and high-ranking prelates urge global leaders to employ self-restraint and dialogue. “Dear brothers and sisters, in many parts of the world there is a terrible feeling of tension in the air,” Pope Francis […]
Iraq wants foreign troops out after air strike; US urges leaders to reconsider
Reuters Iraq’s parliament called on Sunday for US and other foreign troops to leave amid a growing backlash against the US killing of a top Iranian military commander that has heightened fears of a wider Middle East conflict. In a war of words between Iran and the United States, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo […]
Faith leaders offer mixed response after missile strike kills Iranian commander
RNS Religious leaders were split along liberal and conservative lines in their responses to a US drone strike that killed Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani early Friday, although even President Trump’s staunchest evangelical Christian supporters appeared unsettled about the potential blowback from the attack. Prominent clergy of all stripes called on people of faith to […]