Photo: Science Photo Library RF
1 Israel Launches Strikes On Iran, Including Its Nuclear Program
Israel’s air force launched surprise raids across Iran early Friday, hitting what commanders called “dozens” of nuclear and military targets around Tehran and the enrichment center at Natanz. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the goal is to “roll back the Iranian threat” and warned the attacks will continue “for as many days as it takes.” Iranian state TV reported explosions, casualties, and the death of Revolutionary Guard chief Hossein Salami, and it’s been reported that the entire General Staff of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who vowed a “harsh response,” was hit in the attacks as well. US officials told CBS News the United States had no role in planning or intelligence and is focused on protecting its own troops; Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed that point publicly. The U.S. Embassy in Israel ordered staff to shelter in place, and President Donald Trump convening an emergency National Security Council meeting this morning. The strike lands amid stalled US–Iran nuclear talks and follows US warnings that Israel was poised to act. Analysts note that without American heavy bombers, Israel may lack the firepower to destroy Iran’s deeply buried sites completely, but Israeli spokespeople called the opening wave only the “first stage.”
2 Judge Blocks Trump From Deploying National Guard In California, Appeals Court Blocks The Order
A federal appeals court ruled late yesterday that President Trump may keep more than four thousand California National Guard troops under his command in Los Angeles while judges review the case. The Ninth Circuit issued the temporary stay and set a June 17th hearing after the Justice Department said the troops are needed to shield immigration agents during raids. Gov. Gavin Newsom had announced just hours earlier that a lower-court order would return control of the Guard to him by noon today; the appeals ruling paused that hand-off. The earlier decision, by U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, said Trump broke procedure and the Tenth Amendment when he federalized the Guard without the governor’s okay. Breyer wrote that Los Angeles protests “fall far short” of the armed rebellion that Title 10 law requires and compared unchecked presidential power to rule by monarchy.
3 "No Kings" Protests Set For Tomorrow, Law Enforcement Prepares For Potential Problems
On Flag Day and President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday tomorrow, activists plan nearly 2,000 “No Kings” protests across all 50 states. The 50501 Movement (50 states, 50 protests, one movement) says the events push back against Trump “acting like a king” and against big-money power in politics. The flagship march will be in Philadelphia; none are scheduled in Washington, D.C., where Trump will host a giant parade with tanks and jets to celebrate the Army’s 250th birthday. Texas has already mobilized thousands of Guard troops, but organizers stress the rallies are non-violent and urge participants not to bring weapons.