Transcript
A (0:01)
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Amy Held. Sixteen days into the widening war in the Middle east, some 1200 civilians have been killed in Iran. According to authorities there. Thirteen U.S. service members have lost their lives. The White House says the war has cost $12 billion so far, the price of oil rising to a three and a half year high. President Trump is calling on nations to protect the Strait of Hormuz, a key passageway for oil supply. NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports from Seoul. That's causing a dilemma for US Allies Japan and South Korea.
B (0:34)
South Korea's presidential office says it will carefully consider how to respond to President Trump's request without elaborating. Trump's request will likely top the agenda as Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visits the White House on Thursday. Japan's laws strictly limit overseas military deployments, and Tokyo has suggested that operations in the Strait of Hormuz might not pass legal muster. The US has strained its alliances with both Seoul and Tokyo by asking both to help the US Counter China. The US has also triggered local concerns by reportedly withdrawing Marines from Japan and missile defense batteries from South Korea to send to the Middle east, although neither has been officially confirmed by the U.S. anthony Kuhn, NPR News, Seoul.
A (1:17)
Lebanon's president is proposing ceasefire talks with Israel, but Israel is not publicly weighing in. Ittai Stern reports from Tel Aviv, speaking
C (1:25)
with reporters at the site of an Iranian missile strike in northern Israel. Foreign Minister Gidon Sar would not comment on the reports, but the person familiar with the matter, not authorized to speak publicly, tells NPR that Ron Dermer, a confidant of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has been appointed to lead potential negotiations with Lebanon. This comes after a weekend of heavy rocket fire from Hezbollah toward northern Israel. Israel has responded with large scale airstrikes across Lebanon, and officials say they are not ruling out an Israeli ground campaign in Lebanon. Lebanese authorities say the fighting has displaced around 800,000 people. For NPR News, Amitai Stern in Tel Aviv.
A (2:12)
The war is unpopular among U.S. voters. The latest NPR PBS Marist poll showing 56% do not approve of military action in Iran, and that includes some in the president's own base. NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben reports. Trump appears worried about perception of U.S. actions.
D (2:28)
President Trump has been angrily criticizing press coverage of the war. In one social media post, he said the news media, quote, actually wants us to lose the war. So then yesterday, when FCC chair Brendan Carr threatened the licenses of broadcasters running, as he put it, hoaxes and news distortions, it was easy to connect that to the president's anger at war coverage.