The White House plans to restrict classified intelligence sharing with Congress after media leaks contradicted President Donald Trump’s claims about the success of U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, setting up a tense briefing with lawmakers.
A senior Trump official confirmed the move followed media reports, including a CNN leak, suggesting the 13 June airstrikes set back Iran’s nuclear program by months but did not destroy it entirely.
In response, top officials - Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Gen. Dan Caine - will brief senators on Thursday. Absent will be Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who previously said Iran wasn’t building a bomb. Trump called her assessment “wrong” and has sidelined her in recent strategy talks.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer slammed the decision, saying Congress “deserves information” and that the administration “has no right to stonewall” lawmakers on national security matters.
The briefings were delayed from earlier this week due to Trump’s NATO travel and ceasefire efforts. Meanwhile, the administration is working to shift the narrative. Ratcliffe said the strikes “severely damaged” Iran’s nuclear facilities - a refinement of Trump’s earlier “obliterated” claim. Gen. Caine said full damage assessments are still pending but confirmed “extremely severe” destruction.
Trump also announced a Pentagon press conference to defend U.S. pilots, reacting to negative media coverage. He exaggerated mission details, saying they flew through enemy territory for 36 hours - conflating total flight time with time over target.
Democrats have cited the War Powers Resolution, which requires prompt congressional briefings after military action. Trump sent a memo on Monday citing his constitutional authority to act in defence of U.S. interests.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Türkiye on Wednesday as part of a large delegation for talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan....
Russia has attempted to "fully block" Meta Platforms-owned WhatsApp in the country, a company spokesperson told Reuters on Wednesday, as Moscow promot...
The suspect in a deadly school shooting in western Canada was an 18-year-old woman who allegedly killed her mother and stepbrother before attacking he...
Israel has joined U.S. President Donald Trump's 'Board of Peace' initiative, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday (11 February) during ...
Bangladesh, South Asia’s second-largest economy, stands at a decisive crossroads. As voters head to the polls in a watershed election, the country f...
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Türkiye on Wednesday as part of a large delegation for talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Bangladesh, South Asia’s second-largest economy, stands at a decisive crossroads. As voters head to the polls in a watershed election, the country faces a defining question: can it move from revolutionary upheaval to a stable, sustainable democracy?
The United States is set to deploy an additional 200 troops to Nigeria as part of expanded counterterrorism cooperation, according to a senior Nigerian military source.
BMW is recalling a mid six figure number of vehicles worldwide after identifying a potential fire risk linked to the starter motor.
The United States and Azerbaijan signed a strategic partnership in Baku on Tuesday (10 February) encompassing economic and security cooperation as Washington seeks to expand its influence in a region where Russia was once the main power broker.
Buckingham Palace said it is ready to support any police investigation into allegations that Prince Andrew shared confidential British trade documents with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as King Charles expressed “profound concern” over the latest revelations.
“Peace is not just about signing treaties - it’s about communication, interaction and integration,” Sultan Zahidov, leading adviser at the AIR Center, told AnewZ, suggesting U.S. Vice President JD Vance's visit to the South Caucasus could advance the peace agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis arrived in Ankara on Wednesday, where Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held an official welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace, marking the start of high-level talks between the two NATO allies.
Europe heads into the Munich Security Conference, 13 February, amid deepening unease over U.S. policy, as President Donald Trump’s hard-line stance on defence, trade and territory fuels doubts about Washington’s long-term commitment to transatlantic security.
Russia has attempted to "fully block" Meta Platforms-owned WhatsApp in the country, a company spokesperson told Reuters on Wednesday, as Moscow promotes home-grown platforms and seeks greater control over its internet space.
The suspect in a deadly school shooting in western Canada was an 18-year-old woman who allegedly killed her mother and stepbrother before attacking her former school. Investigators have not provided a motive for what is being described as one of the worst mass killings in Canada.
Bangladesh, South Asia’s second-largest economy, stands at a decisive crossroads. As voters head to the polls in a watershed election, the country faces a defining question: can it move from revolutionary upheaval to a stable, sustainable democracy?
The United States is set to deploy an additional 200 troops to Nigeria as part of expanded counterterrorism cooperation, according to a senior Nigerian military source.
Italy will not join U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace because of constitutional constraints, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Wednesday, confirming Rome’s decision to stay out of the initiative.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment