115 strikes: Iran targeted U.S. air defenses in Mideast bases
An AP analysis verified that more than 115 Iranian and militia attacks damaged equipment on 26 U.S. military sites, causing billions of dollars in losses.
By Larissa Bell ·
Iran prioritized early-warning systems in its campaign against United States military installations in the Middle East before striking aircraft and support buildings, according to an analysis by The Associated Press. This sequencing of attacks resulted in billions of dollars worth of equipment damage across the region.
The analysis independently verified damage to American targets using satellite imagery from multiple providers. The AP also spoke to four regional officials who were briefed on the incidents or possess firsthand knowledge of the specific targets that were hit.
Through August, more than 115 drone or missile strikes claimed by Iran or Iranian-backed militias damaged or destroyed structures. These impacts were recorded at 26 military bases and other sites that housed U.S. equipment.
In Washington, a federal judge dismissed a $10 billion lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump against The Wall Street Journal and media mogul Rupert Murdoch. U.S. District Judge Darrin Gayles ruled with prejudice that the president failed to prove the defendants made defamatory statements with actual malice.
Judge Gayles described the lawsuit as an attempt to manufacture flaws in the Journal’s investigative reporting regarding the president’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein. The dismissal is permanent, preventing the case from being refiled.
In Alaska, state attorneys urged a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed at the direction of the U.S. Department of Justice. The state government argued that the demand to halt certification of a potential Democratic win in the U.S. Senate race was meritless. U.S. District Court Judge Sharon L. Gleason set a deadline for arguments on whether to dismiss the case without a hearing.
The dispute centers on a possible victory for Democrat Mary Peltola. The Justice Department complaint seeks to pause certification until it is determined if voters were confused by a second candidate on the ballot sharing the name of her main rival, Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski.
In New York, the FBI attributed the largest cryptocurrency heist in history to North Korean hackers. The bureau stated that the theft of billions of dollars from Binance was orchestrated by an entity known as TraderTraitor, the same actors linked to a $1.5 billion hack of Bybit last year. The FBI reported that the group converted the stolen assets primarily into ethereum.
In Paris, hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets for a third consecutive weekend of demonstrations. Inspired by frustrated high school students, the rallies focused on living costs and education. About 70,000 police and gendarmes were deployed across France after Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez warned of a high risk of disorder.
