Recently surfaced footage from pro-Democracy protesters in Iran show demonstrators climbing scaffolding, kicking, and ultimately tearing-down portraits of recently slain General Soleimani.
Weird…. CNN told me they loved him pic.twitter.com/Z9VFu2fieg
— Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) January 12, 2020
Top Democrats clammed-up this week after blasting President Trump’s US Drone Strike against a top Iranian General; largely dismissing the growing pro-Democracy protests sweeping the streets of Tehran and beyond.
“Democratic congressional leaders and presidential candidates who were unsparing in their criticism of President Trump for the escalation with Iran over the past two weeks largely have gone silent now that the protests on the streets of Tehran and beyond have turned their rage toward the regime — and not the Trump White House,” reports Fox News.
“Even as videos emerged online Monday that purportedly show Iranian police and security forces firing live ammunition to disperse protesters, so far among the 2020 Democratic candidates only former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., have spoken out in support of the people,” adds Fox.
“The Iranian people walk around the US and Israeli flags on the ground – rather than walk on them,” posted Richard Grenell, the US Ambassador to Germany.
The Iranian people walk around the US and Israeli flags on the ground – rather than walk on them. https://t.co/omAao3KV9G
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) January 12, 2020
“Videos emerged online Monday that purportedly show Iranian police and security forces firing live ammunition to disperse demonstrators protesting against the Islamic Republic after the country mistakenly downed a Ukrainian airline plane shortly after takeoff from Tehran,” reports Fox News.
“There was no immediate report in Iranian state-run media on the incident near Azadi, or Freedom, Square in Tehran, but, if true, could be seen as an act of defiance against President Trump who warned the regime against the use of deadly force,” adds Fox.
President Trump tweeted his support for the Iranian demonstrators on social media, warning leaders in Tehran “Don’t kill your protesters.”
مشاور امنیت ملی امروز عنوان کرد كه تحریم ها و اعتراضات، ایران را«به شدت تحت فشار»قرار داده است و آنها را مجبور به مذاكره می كند.در واقع، اصلا برایم اهمیتی نداردکه آیا آنها مذاکره می کنند یا نه.این کاملاً به عهده ی خودشان است، اما سلاح هسته ای نداشته باشیدو«معترضان خود را نکشید.» https://t.co/DBGGs8QFcJ
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 13, 2020
As the people of Iran take to the streets to protest the murderous regime, America stands with them in their fight for freedom. #IranProtests2020 pic.twitter.com/kfyZODhN8H
— Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) January 12, 2020
Read the full report here.
DEVELOPING NOW: Ukraine-Bound Passenger Jet Crashes in Iran Killing 176
A Boeing 737 jetliner traveling to Kiev, Ukraine crashed in Iran Wednesday; killing all 167 passengers and nine crew members on board.
“The plane crashed shortly after 6 a.m. local time, minutes into the flight. Press photos showed emergency workers combing through a wide field of wreckage outside of Tehran,” reports CNBC.
82 Iranians, 63 Canadians and 11 Ukrainians were on board the plane https://t.co/KVACERHDeb
— TIME (@TIME) January 8, 2020
“The cause of the crash was not immediately known, and such determinations take months, but Iran’s Fars news agency reported that the jet crashed due to technical problems, without providing more detail. The Ukrainian embassy in Iran said engine failure had caused the crash, citing preliminary information. However, it later removed that statement and said ‘any statements regarding the causes of the accident prior to the decision of the commission are not official,’” adds the website.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Source: CNBC
REPORT: Pentagon Officials Believe Ukraine Passenger Jet Shot Down by Mistake by Iranian Missile
Officials at the Pentagon believe a Ukrainian commercial jet may have been accidentally destroyed by Iranian Surface-to-Air missiles this week; downing the aircraft shortly after take-off from Tehran’s International Airport.
“The Ukrainian plane that crashed shortly after taking off from Tehran’s international airport was shot down by mistake by an Iranian anti-aircraft missile,” Pentagon officials told Fox News.
Iran mistakenly shot down Ukrainian passenger plane that crashed on Wednesday near Tehran, US media report https://t.co/JMUJhBWG6V
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) January 9, 2020
“Ukraine earlier said it was examining whether a missile strike brought down the aircraft – but Iran ruled this out,” reports the BBC. “The crash came just hours after Iran carried out missile strikes on two airbases housing US forces in Iraq.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.