Iran Ordered to Pay $879 Million over Khobar Towers Blast

A US Air Force sergeant stands in front of a bomb crater during a tour of the wreckage of Khobar Towers in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia June 29, 1996. (Photo by Scott Peterson/Getty Images)
A US Air Force sergeant stands in front of a bomb crater during a tour of the wreckage of Khobar Towers in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia June 29, 1996. (Photo by Scott Peterson/Getty Images)
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Iran Ordered to Pay $879 Million over Khobar Towers Blast

A US Air Force sergeant stands in front of a bomb crater during a tour of the wreckage of Khobar Towers in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia June 29, 1996. (Photo by Scott Peterson/Getty Images)
A US Air Force sergeant stands in front of a bomb crater during a tour of the wreckage of Khobar Towers in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia June 29, 1996. (Photo by Scott Peterson/Getty Images)

A Washington, D.C. federal court has ordered Iran to pay $879 million in its decision after finding the Iranian defendants directed the 1996 terrorist bombing of the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia where US forces were housed.

Lead attorney Adora Sauer, of MM~LAW LLC, said, “Justice has not forgotten these brave US Air Force veterans and their families. It is an honor and privilege to fight for justice and compensation for these families. The passage of over two decades since the Khobar Towers attack has not thwarted our efforts. We will continue to seek to hold the Government of Iran accountable for this terrorist attack as long as is necessary.”

According to The Associated Press, the plaintiffs, which include 14 injured US Air Force members and 21 of their immediate family members, brought the lawsuit under the terrorism exception to the US Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. The defendants are Iran, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps and the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security.

The court ruled that the Iranian government directed and provided material support to Hezbollah terrorists that detonated a 5,000-pound truck bomb at the Khobar Towers complex in Dhahran. The blast killed 19 US airmen and injured more than 400 others at the site charged with monitoring Iraqi compliance with United Nations security council resolutions.

US District Judge Beryl A. Howell found the defendants liable and awarded plaintiffs $132 million for pain and suffering as well as prejudgment interest for a total compensatory damage award of $747 million and $132 million for punitive damages.

The plaintiffs will be eligible for partial payments from the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund, the concept and legislation of which was originated by MM~LAW, to compensate American victims of acts of international terrorism with funds obtained from fines and forfeitures levied against companies caught illegally laundering money for sanctioned countries and persons.

The attorneys also intend to pursue enforcement of the judgments through litigation intended to seize Iranian assets, AP said.



China Accuses Australia of 'Hyping' Chinese Naval Drills

FILE PHOTO: Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian attends a press briefing in Beijing, China August 31, 2023. REUTERS/Yew Lun Tian/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian attends a press briefing in Beijing, China August 31, 2023. REUTERS/Yew Lun Tian/File Photo
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China Accuses Australia of 'Hyping' Chinese Naval Drills

FILE PHOTO: Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian attends a press briefing in Beijing, China August 31, 2023. REUTERS/Yew Lun Tian/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian attends a press briefing in Beijing, China August 31, 2023. REUTERS/Yew Lun Tian/File Photo

China’s defense ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said on Sunday that Australian complaints over recent Chinese live-fire naval drills in international waters between Australia and New Zealand were "hyped up" and "inconsistent with the facts”
Australia Defense Minister Richard Marles said on Saturday that Beijing had failed to give satisfactory reasons for what he called inadequate notice for live-fire drills a day earlier, which he said had forced airlines to divert flights.
Qian said in a post from the Chinese defense ministry that China had issued repeated safety notices in advance, and that its actions complied with international law and did not affect aviation flight safety.
"Australia, fully knowing this, made unreasonable accusations against China and deliberately hyped it up," Qian's post said, according to Reuters. "We are deeply surprised and strongly dissatisfied."
New Zealand said on Saturday it had also observed the Chinese navy conducting a second day of live-fire exercises and that it was monitoring a fleet of Chinese vessels.