What recent events have impacted U.S. military operations in the Middle East?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Rahm. The U.S. military says three American service members have been killed and five seriously wounded as part of the joint U.S.-Israeli operation against Iran. They're the first reported U.S. casualties. NPR's Greg Myhre reports.
U.S. Central Command, which is responsible for operations in the Middle East, says that in addition to those killed and seriously wounded, others sustained minor shrapnel injuries. The brief statement did not provide details. However, the reference to shrapnel wounds suggests the casualties were caused by the missiles or drones that Iran is firing at U.S. forces in the region on land and at sea.
U.S. and Israeli airstrikes last June and in the current air campaign have significantly weakened Iran's military, but it still has the ability to carry out deadly attacks. In another lethal Iranian strike, a missile hit a civilian area near Tel Aviv on Sunday, killing at least nine people. Greg Myhre, NPR News, Washington.
European leaders are calling for a negotiated solution between Iran, Israel, and the U.S. NPR's Rob Schmitz reports European Union ambassadors are holding an emergency meeting today.
Germany's foreign ministry said it was informed in advance of the attack on Iran. In a joint statement, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom stressed they did not participate in the strikes by the U.S. and Israel, and they condemned Iran's counterattacks, urging Tehran to seek what they called a negotiated solution.
The joint statement drew a blistering response from Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who accused Western Europe of having gone pathetically soft and urged them to back efforts to confront Tehran. The sharp language highlights tensions in the transatlantic relationship as European leaders brace for a confrontation that could further strain Western unity in the days ahead.
Rob Schmitz, NPR News, Berlin.
Shiite communities in South Asia erupted in anger as news emerged of the assassination of the Iranian supreme leader. and Karachi, Pakistan, nine protesters were killed in clashes with police. NPR's Dia Hadid reports.
According to an eyewitness, protesters armed with guns and Molotov cocktails set fire to part of a military base in Skardu, that's in the Pakistani-administered territory of Baltistan in the Himalayan mountains. As the eyewitness spoke to NPR, there was an audible spurt of gunfire.
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