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Exclusive: U.S. fears Iran's response to Israeli strike would be mass casualty event
Axios ^ | 6/12/2025 | Barak Ravid

Posted on 06/12/2025 9:48:06 AM PDT by marcusmaximus

White House envoy Steve Witkoff privately warned top Senate Republicans last week that Iran could unleash a mass casualty response if Israel bombs their nuclear facilities, according to a U.S. official and a source with direct knowledge.

-snip-

Last Thursday, Witkoff held a closed-door briefing on Iran with a group of Republican senators. Among them were Sens. Risch (R-Idaho), Graham (R-S.C.), Barasso (R-Wyo.), and Ricketts (R-Nebr.), the source with knowledge said.

Witkoff told the Senators that military strikes by Israel are on the table if no agreement is reached.

He then brought up Iran's ballistic missile capabilities. The U.S. is concerned Israel's air defenses would not be able to handle an Iranian response involving hundreds of missiles, the sources said.

Such an attack, Witkoff told the group, could cause massive casualties and damage.

Witkoff also raised concerns about Iran's ballistic missile arsenal during a speech in New York on Wednesday, calling it "as big of an existential threat" for Israel as Iran's nuclear capabilities.

(Excerpt) Read more at axios.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: 1stiranianstrike; iran; islam; stevewitkoff
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To: jjotto

Good idea.


21 posted on 06/12/2025 10:37:02 AM PDT by cowboyusa (YESHUA IS KING OF AMERICA, AND HE WILL HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE HIM!)
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To: marcusmaximus

Nothing will be achieved by negotiations unless Russia is involved too. They provide the uranium to Iran.

Trading away the Donbas territories, in exchange for help reining in the mullahs, as bad as it may look, may be the only option to avoid a Middle East carnage.


22 posted on 06/12/2025 10:47:37 AM PDT by rfp1234 (E Porcibus Unum)
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To: marcusmaximus

One lesson from Iran’s last missile attack is that their missiles lacked the precision to be effective against military targets that are hardened or dispersed. But they are plenty accurate against population centers and other targets where missing by a few hundred yards doesn’t matter. On a large target like Dimona, they might not hit the reactor, but with enough missiles, they could certainly cause massive damage. Or you might get really lucky. The question is, how does Israel react to a large scale attack against population centers?


23 posted on 06/12/2025 11:04:59 AM PDT by ETCM (“There is no security, no safety, in the appeasement of evil.” — Ronald Reagan)
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To: gitmo

One would think so.


24 posted on 06/12/2025 11:05:03 AM PDT by Cobra64 (ECommon sense isn’t common anymore.)
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To: marcusmaximus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D9LxjV3uWI
Bomb,bomb,bomb Iran.


25 posted on 06/12/2025 11:06:10 AM PDT by Da Coyote
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To: marcusmaximus; All

Procrastination will not improve the predicament. Now or never.


26 posted on 06/12/2025 11:06:54 AM PDT by Cobra64 (ECommon sense isn’t common anymore.)
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To: marcusmaximus

For starters I write news summaries each day so I avoid emotions seeking some facts.

But ultimately getting mad at anyone not good.

I don’t use the term “Masterhating” lightly.

Getting enraged goes alongside lust and pornography in my experience as expressed in my social media post and blog writing.


27 posted on 06/12/2025 11:10:30 AM PDT by Nextrush (FREEDOM IS EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS, REMEMBER REV; NIEMOLLER)
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To: Nextrush

You should be enraged at Putin for funding Iran’s drone factories.


28 posted on 06/12/2025 11:20:05 AM PDT by marcusmaximus
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To: marcusmaximus

I keeping my mind out of that place and my hands out of my...


29 posted on 06/12/2025 11:56:06 AM PDT by Nextrush (FREEDOM IS EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS, REMEMBER REV; NIEMOLLER)
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To: Nextrush

Putin’s Russo-Iranian drones are threatening US soldiers deployed to our bases in the Middle East. Be outraged at Putin for funding those drones.


30 posted on 06/12/2025 12:06:38 PM PDT by marcusmaximus
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To: marcusmaximus

The U.S. is concerned Israel’s air defenses would not be able to handle an Iranian response involving hundreds of missiles, the sources said.

Such an attack, Witkoff told the group, could cause massive casualties and damage.


Its far better for Israel to suck it up and wait for Iran to nuke them because massive casualties and damage now are worse than those after being nuked ... or something.

Witkoff koffed up his wits apparently.


31 posted on 06/12/2025 1:15:00 PM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
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To: Nextrush

Are you talking some jive?


32 posted on 06/12/2025 1:20:37 PM PDT by dennisw (💯🇺🇸 Truth is Hate to those who Hate the Truth. 🇺🇸💯)
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To: dennisw

Jive Talkin was a Bee Gees song as I recall.


33 posted on 06/12/2025 4:27:08 PM PDT by Nextrush (FREEDOM IS EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS, REMEMBER REV; NIEMOLLER)
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To: dennisw

Jive Talkin was a Bee Gees song as I recall.


34 posted on 06/12/2025 4:27:08 PM PDT by Nextrush (FREEDOM IS EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS, REMEMBER REV; NIEMOLLER)
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