Republican Congressman Warns of ‘Serious’ National Security Threat

Republican chair of the US House of Representatives Intelligence Committee Mike Turner during a session in September 2021. (Reuters)
Republican chair of the US House of Representatives Intelligence Committee Mike Turner during a session in September 2021. (Reuters)
TT
20

Republican Congressman Warns of ‘Serious’ National Security Threat

Republican chair of the US House of Representatives Intelligence Committee Mike Turner during a session in September 2021. (Reuters)
Republican chair of the US House of Representatives Intelligence Committee Mike Turner during a session in September 2021. (Reuters)

Representative Mike Turner, Republican chair of the US House of Representatives intelligence committee, has issued a statement warning of a "serious national security threat."

"I am requesting that President Biden declassify all information relating to this threat so that Congress, the Administration, and our allies can openly discuss the actions necessary to respond to this threat," Turner said Wednesday.

He said he was making information on the matter available in a secure location to all members of the House in accordance with chamber rules.

Two sources familiar with the matter and a US official told CNN the threat is related to Russia.

ABC News first reported that the intelligence related to a Russian space-based nuclear capability.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan said he was “surprised” that Turner had made the existence of the intelligence public, noting that he was already scheduled to brief the top Republican and Democratic leaders of the House on Thursday.

“We scheduled a briefing for the House members of the Gang of Eight tomorrow,” Sullivan said. “That’s been on the books. So I am a bit surprised that Congressman Turner came out publicly today in advance of a meeting on the books for me to go sit with him alongside our intelligence and defense professionals tomorrow.”



First International Airline Lands at Tehran Airport since Flight Suspension

Reuters file photo of an IranAir plane
Reuters file photo of an IranAir plane
TT
20

First International Airline Lands at Tehran Airport since Flight Suspension

Reuters file photo of an IranAir plane
Reuters file photo of an IranAir plane

FlyDubai became the first international carrier to land at Tehran's Imam Khomeini Airport on Friday at the end of a 20-day suspension of flights that was imposed due to Israeli attacks on Iran, the official IRNA news agency reported.

The arrival of Flight FZ1930 at Iran's biggest airport from the airline's base in the United Arab Emirates marked the start of a gradual return to normal operations in Iranian airspace, IRNA said.

FlyDubai is a low-cost carrier and a sister airline to Emirates.

Local authorities described the landing as a sign of restored stability and effective crisis management in the country's aviation sector, Reuters said. Passenger services were carried out under full safety and security protocols, IRNA reported.

International and domestic air traffic had been halted following Israeli airstrikes and heightened security concerns across Iranian skies.

Iran's airports have reopened for domestic and international flights, except for those in the cities of Isfahan and Tabriz, and the country's airspace is also open for international transit flights, state media reported.