Iran Condemns US For Welcoming Israeli PM

23 May 2023, Israel, Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives a statement in the Knesset. (dpa)
23 May 2023, Israel, Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives a statement in the Knesset. (dpa)
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Iran Condemns US For Welcoming Israeli PM

23 May 2023, Israel, Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives a statement in the Knesset. (dpa)
23 May 2023, Israel, Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives a statement in the Knesset. (dpa)

Iran on Thursday denounced the US government and Congress for welcoming the Israeli prime minister amid the deadly war in Gaza that is raging into its 10th month.

"Palestinian children are slaughtered every day by the Tel Aviv butcher, and in the face of all these crimes, the American government and Congress are welcoming this executioner with applause," said Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani in a post on X, AFP reported.

"The criminal prime minister of a fake regime is embraced by his supporters after nine months of genocide and infanticide," he added, referring to Benjamin Netanyahu, who addressed the US congress on Wednesday.

The remarks came after Netanyahu called for an alliance against what he described as an Iranian "axis of terror", claiming Tehran is behind almost all sectarian killing in the Middle East.

"America and Israel today can forge a security alliance in the Middle East to counter the growing Iranian threat," he told US lawmakers.

Out of 251 people taken hostage that day, 111 are still being held inside the Gaza Strip, including 39 who the military says are dead.

More than 39,100 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's military campaign in the Gaza Strip since the war began, according to the health ministry of Hamas-run Gaza.

Iran had hailed the October 7 attack but said it was not involved in it.



Russia and Chinese Nuclear-Capable Bombers Patrol Near United States 

A H-6K bomber of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force is accompanied by a Russian Sukhoi Su-30CM jet fighter during joint Russian and Chinese military plane patrols near the US state of Alaska, in this still image from video released July 25, 2024. (Russian Defense Ministry/Handout via Reuters)
A H-6K bomber of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force is accompanied by a Russian Sukhoi Su-30CM jet fighter during joint Russian and Chinese military plane patrols near the US state of Alaska, in this still image from video released July 25, 2024. (Russian Defense Ministry/Handout via Reuters)
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Russia and Chinese Nuclear-Capable Bombers Patrol Near United States 

A H-6K bomber of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force is accompanied by a Russian Sukhoi Su-30CM jet fighter during joint Russian and Chinese military plane patrols near the US state of Alaska, in this still image from video released July 25, 2024. (Russian Defense Ministry/Handout via Reuters)
A H-6K bomber of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force is accompanied by a Russian Sukhoi Su-30CM jet fighter during joint Russian and Chinese military plane patrols near the US state of Alaska, in this still image from video released July 25, 2024. (Russian Defense Ministry/Handout via Reuters)

Russian and Chinese nuclear-capable strategic bombers patrolled near the US state of Alaska in the North Pacific and Arctic on Thursday, the two countries said, a move that prompted the United States and Canada to scramble fighter jets.

Russian Tu-95MS "Bear" strategic bombers and Chinese Xi'an H-6 strategic bombers took part in patrols over the Chukchi and Bering seas and the North Pacific, Russia's defense ministry said.

"During the flight, Russian and Chinese crews cooperated in the new area of joint operations during all stages of the air patrol," the Russian ministry said in a statement.

"At some stages of the route, the air group was accompanied by fighters from foreign countries," it said.

On the five-hour flight, the Russian and Chinese bombers were escorted by Russian Sukhoi Su-30SM and Su-35S fighters. No foreign airspace was violated, Russia said.

The US military's North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said that US and Canadian fighter jets had intercepted the Russian and People's Republic of China (PRC) aircraft in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).

"The Russian and PRC aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace," NORAD said.

"This Russian and PRC activity in the Alaska ADIZ is not seen as a threat, and NORAD will continue to monitor competitor activity near North America and meet presence with presence."

The joint patrol had deepened strategic mutual trust and coordination between the two militaries, a spokesperson for China's defense ministry said.

It had "nothing to do with the current international situation", said Zhang Xiaogang.

"The event was held as part of the implementation of the military cooperation plan for 2024 and is not directed against third countries," Russia said.