


President Trump raised the possibility of killing Iran’s supreme leader, demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender” and said he was no longer in the mood to negotiate in the hours before meeting today with his national security staff. The president’s comments added to the mounting evidence that the U.S. was considering joining Israel’s bombing campaign.
“We now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran,” Trump said, tying himself to Israel’s war effort. Follow here for the latest updates.
The president, who has long professed opposition to getting involved in foreign wars, has shifted his position since Israel attacked Iran five days ago. After first calling for peace, he is now seriously considering sending in American aircraft to help refuel Israeli combat jets and to try to take out Iran’s nuclear site deep underground at Fordo with 30,000-pound bombs.
If the U.S. does get involved, Iran is preparing missiles to possibly strike American bases in the Middle East, according to U.S. officials who have reviewed intelligence reports.
For more:
Israel said it had killed Iran’s top military commander. Here are maps showing recent strikes.
Israeli airstrikes achieved “direct impacts” on the underground area of the Natanz nuclear site, where Iran enriches uranium, U.N. officials said.
Analysts said Israel’s attacks threatened the survival of Iran’s government. That raises difficult questions about “regime change.”
Elsewhere in the Middle East: Dozens of Palestinians were killed this week near aid distribution sites, including 50 today in Khan Younis, according to local officials. The Israeli military said it “regrets any harm to uninvolved individuals.”