Iran war news: CIA reportedly arming Kurdish forces as Trump says US will provide air support for uprising
The CIA is providing arms to Kurdish forces as President Donald Trump says the US military will shadow their ground forces to facilitate an uprising in Iran.
The Central Intelligence Agency is set to provide arms to Kurdish forces as President Donald Trump says the US military will shadow their ground forces to facilitate an uprising in Iran.
The Washington Post is reporting that Mr Trump has spoken to Kurdish leaders in the Middle East and told them a ground insurgency in Iran would be assisted with “extensive air cover” from the US military.
Mr Trump held calls with Iraqi Kurdish leaders Masoud Barzani and Bafel Talabani, as well as Iranian Kurdish leader Mustafa Hijri and told them US warplanes would help pave the way in a march toward Tehran.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take,” Mr Trump has said previously in a rally call to resistance fighters.
The CIA is planning to arm Kurdish forces, according to new reports from CNN as they mass on the northern border of Iran.
Israel has also been hammering areas of western Iran, pointing to an attack from Kurdish forces on multiple fronts.
Bombing runs increase
A US-Israeli campaign against Iran has entered its sixth day with what residents describe as even more intensive bombing, while Iran vowed to retaliate anywhere for a US attack on a ship thousands of kilometres from the battle zone.
Inside Iran, the abrupt postponement of a planned three days of mourning for slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei interrupted apparent plans to swiftly anoint Khamenei’s hardliner son as his successor.
“Today is worse than yesterday. They are striking northern Tehran. We have nowhere to go. It is like a war zone. Help us,” Mohammadreza, 36, told AAP by phone from Tehran.
Iran vowed to take revenge for a US torpedo attack on an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka on Wednesday, which killed more than 80 sailors.
Iran’s foreign minister said the United States would “bitterly regret” the precedent it had set by sinking a ship in international waters without warning.
A commander of the Revolutionary Guards, General Kioumars Heydari, told state TV: “We have decided to fight Americans wherever they are.”
Ukraine asked to support US
The US has asked Ukraine for help defending Gulf allies against Iranian drones, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky.
He said Ukraine’s partners had been reaching out, and there had been “requests from the American side” according to AAP.
Zelensky said he had given instructions “to provide the necessary means and ensure the presence of Ukrainian specialists who can guarantee the necessary security”.
Asked about the Ukrainian offer, US President Donald Trump said: “I’ll take any assistance from any country.”
Trump not concerned about oil prices
Donald Trump has said that he is not concerned about oil prices skyrocketing around the globe, as his priority is ousting the Iranian dictatorship.
Mr Trump told Reuters on Thursday that rising US gas prices driven by the widening Iran conflict were a secondary consideration as the US military continues to fight battles on multiple fronts.
“I don’t have any concern about it,” he said when asked about the higher prices at the pump.
“They’ll drop very rapidly when this is over, and if they rise, they rise, but this is far more important than having the gasoline price go up a little bit.”
