Donald Trump (3:56)

Over the past 36 hours, the United States and its partners have launched Operation Epic Fury, one of the largest, most complex, most overwhelming military offensives the world has ever seen. Nobody has seen anything like it. We have hit hundreds of targets in Iran, including Revolutionary Guard facilities, Iranian air defense systems. Just now it was announced that we knocked out nine ships plus their naval building, all in a matter of literally minutes. Iran's formerly supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, is dead. This wretched and vile man had the blood of hundreds and even thousands of Americans on his hands and was responsible for the slaughter of countless thousands of innocent people all across many countries. Last night, all over Iran, the voices of the Iranian people could be heard cheering and celebrating in the streets when his death was announced. The entire military command is gone as well, and many of them want to surrender into saving their lives. They want immunity. They're calling by the thousands. Combat operations continue at this time in full force, and they will continue until all of our objectives are achieved. We have very strong objectives. They could have done something two weeks ago, but they just couldn't get there. Earlier today, CENTCOM shared the news that three US Military service members have been killed in action. As one nation, we grieve for the true American patriots who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. Even as we continue the righteous mission for which they gave their lives. We pray for the full recovery of the wounded and send our immense love and eternal gratitude to the families of the fallen. And sadly, there will likely be more before it ends. That's the way it is, likely be more, but we'll do everything possible where that won't be the case. But America will avenge their deaths and deliver the most punishing blow to the terrorists who have waged war against basically civilization. They have waged war against civilization itself. Our resolve, and likewise that of Israel, has never been stronger. America is now again the richest, most powerful nation in the world by far. But the only reason we enjoy the quality of life that we do and the freedom and security is we have done things that others are unable to do. But it's because of warriors who are willing to lay down their lives to do battle with our enemies. And they do battle better than anybody. An Iranian regime armed with long range missiles and nuclear weapons would be a dire threat to every American. We cannot allow a nation that raises terrorist armies to possess such weapons. Would allow them to extort the world to their evil will. Not going to let it happen. We're not happening to us, and we're not going to let it happen to others. The United States has the strongest military the world has ever seen. I rebuilt our military in my first term. There's never been a military like we possess and frankly, there's nobody even close. But we are now using that military for good. We want to have it for good purpose. We're undertaking this massive operation not merely to ensure security for our own time and place, but for our children and their children, just as our ancestors have done for us many, many years ago. This is the duty and the burden of a free people. These actions are right and they are necessary to ensure that Americans will never have to face a radical, bloodthirsty terrorist regime armed with nuclear weapons and lots of threats. For almost 50 years, these wicked extremists have been attacking the United States while chanting the slogan death to America or death to Israel or both. They are the world's number one state sponsor of terror. We are the world's greatest and most powerful nation, so we can do something about what they do. These intolerable threats will not continue any longer. I once again urge the Revolutionary Guard, the Iranian military police, to lay down your arms and receive full immunity or face certain death. It will be certain death won't be pretty. I call upon all Iranian patriots who yearn for freedom to seize this moment, to be brave, be bold, be heroic, and take back your country. America is with you. I made a promise to you and I fulfilled that promise. The rest will be up to you, but we'll be there to help. Thank you. God bless you to our incredible warriors, and God bless the United States of America. Thank you.

Ben Ferguson (9:45)

President Trump, keeping it very clear and very simple about exactly what will be coming moving forward, he made it clear the US And Israel military campaign against Iran would continue until all objectives are achieved. President Trump emphasized The strikes are part of what he called a righteous mission against Iran's leadership and the threat that they pose to the US and the rest of the world. He also issued a stern warning to the Iranian regime to surrender or face certain death, framing the campaign as necessary to counter Iran's influence and prevent future threats through them and their terrorist proxies. Trump also highlighted the US Forces have destroyed key Iranian military assets, including naval vessels. And he underscored the severity of the conflict, acknowledging that more U.S. troop casualties are quote, unquote likely as the operation persists. The president making it clear that we are not done yet. Do not expect this to be over in the next couple of days. Now story number two. There have been a lot of people that have also asked another question. Why are we doing this? Now, let me just give you a highlight of a timeline of, well, the last 47 years the Iranian regime has been regularly targeting and killing Americans. It's important to give you some examples of Iran hurting America and also terrorizing the world. Let's start back in 1979 when the Iranian regime took over the US embassy in Tehran, resulting in a 444 day hostage crisis. They were released after Ronald Reagan was sworn into office because Jimmy Carter showed weakness and they realized they could keep our hostages in essence as long as they wanted to. You Fast forward to 1983. The Iranian regime provided material support to Hezbollah for the Beirut marine barracks bombing that killed 241 US service members. One year later, in 1984, the Iranian regime's proxy Hezbollah kidnapped CIA station chief William Buckley in Beirut. Buckley then died in captivity. Also in 1984, the Iranian regime's proxy Hezbollah carried out the truck bomb attack on the US embassy annex in Beirut, killing another 24 people. In 1985, the Iranian regime's proxy Hezbollah hijacked TWA Flight 847, during which a US Navy diver was murdered. In 1988, the Iranian regime carried out mass executions of prisoners and it is still a episode that is under international scrutiny for the size of that mass execution event. 1989, the Supreme Leader issued a regime fatwa calling for salaam death, including murder abroad. In 1992, Iranian regime operatives assassinated a Kurdish dissident in Berlin, later tied by German authorities to senior Iranian decision makers. Again, this is just an example of some of the things they've done. 1994, Argentina's top criminal court blamed Iran for directing Hezbollah to bomb the Jewish center in Buenos aires that killed 85 innocent people. In 2007, for example, US courts held Iran Response responsible for providing material support to Hezbollah for that 1983 Beirut attack, underscoring the long standing regime's obsession with killing innocent people. In 2012, for example, the Iranian regime and Hezbollah operatives carried out bomb attacks targeting the Israeli embassy staff in India and in Georgia. In 2012, investigators also linked the Bangkok blast to the same wave of suspected Iranian regime operations that were targeting Israeli diplomats. Israeli officials in 2012 in 2012 explicitly blame the regime's IRGC coup forces for masterminding that diplomatic targeting attack wave that went around the world. In 2015, Iranian forces fired on and boarded a tanker in the Gulf, seizing that vessel altogether. In 2016, the IRGC forces detained not one, not two, not three, not four, not five, not six, not seven, not eight, not nine, but 10 US Navy sailors after their boats entered what they claimed was Iranian waters. What did they do? They used public humiliation as coercion. And of course a guy by the name Barack Obama gave in. No problem. Reuters in 2017 report a sharp rise in IRGC detentions of dual nationals hostage style leverage, a pattern the regime used repeatedly because America was weak. In 2018, Denmark said an Iranian intelligence service planned an assassination on Danish soil. In 2018 as well a Belgian court case centered on an Iranian diplomat convicted for planning another bomb attack near Paris. 2019 the IRGC shut down a US military drone. 2019 Again the Iranian regime exceeded the nuclear deals enrichment uranium stockpile limit, of course that Barack Obama said was working, accelerating the proliferation risk significantly. In 2019, the regime further breached nuclear deal constraints. Again, this is after Barack Obama had no problem bowing down to the Iranians. In 2019, the IRGC also seized a British flag tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, yet again flexing their muscles in 2019, the regime ordered a lethal crackdown on nationwide protests. It was reported that more than 1,500 of their own citizens were killed. In 2020, Iran launched ballistic missiles at bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq. A direct regime strike in 2020. U.S. officials also confirmed American troops were treated for concussions after the Iranian missile attack. And it was a big one. In 2021, a drone attack on the tanker Mercer street killed two crew. The incident was attributed to by US and UK and Israeli officials directly tied to Iran. In 2021, US prosecutors charged Iranian intelligence officials with plotting to kidnap a journalist from New York for retention to Iran. In 2021, the DOJ charged Iranian nationals for a cyber enabled campaign to intimidate U.S. voters and undermine confidence in the 2020 election. In 2022 U.S. authorities charged an IRGC member with plotting to assassinate John Bolton inside the United States of America. 2022 Again, Asha Amini died after detention by the regime's morality police, triggering a nationwide uprising against state violence. In 2022, Iran agreed to supply Russia with more drones and more missiles, enabling strikes that hit Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. In 2023, Reuters detailed a US Iran detainee exchange that hinged on regime detention of Americans. An example of Iran's state hostage leverage in 2023 the October 7 attacks where Iran backed Hamas terrorists murdered more than 1,200 innocent men, women and children including 46Americans. In 2023, Iranian backed Hezbollah exchanged fire with Israel as regional violence expanded after October 7th. In 2023 again Hezbollah launched rockets from Lebanon and Israel struck back, demonstrating Iran's proxy pressure on Israel's northern border. US forces in Iraq were also targeted by drones as Iran aligned groups resumed a sustained attack pattern on US interests. US Officials said they expected more Iran backed attacks on US troops, underscoring the regime's proxy warfare. The White House said Iran was in some cases actively facilitating rocket and drone attacks by their terrorist proxies on US Bases. Iran aligned Houthis escalated attacks on commercial shipping, triggering widespread rerouting and supply chain disruption. 2024 persistent Iranian backed Houthi strikes continued on shipping trying to hurt the rest of the world. A drone strike by an Iranian backed militia killed three U.S. troops at Tower 2020 or 22 in Jordan, a major escalation against U.S. forces directly Iraq's coup forces commander visit Baghdad and help modulate militia attacks, demonstrating regime command influence over even Iran's proxies. Iran provide Russia with ballistic missiles, deepening Tehran's role in the war affecting European security. Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles directly at Israel, an unprecedented overt regime attack. The IRGC seized other vessels, including boarding one that was connected to Israel by helicopter and diverting it to Iran. Another state policy and piracy style cohesion. Iran's overseas murder for hire style plots also continue to grow in 2024 and 2024. 5 and then last year the IRGC sees a foreign tanker in the street of Hormuz continuing regime maritime attacks affecting the global market. Now that's just some of what Iran has done. So if you're asking yourself the question why now? I didn't even mention what they were doing with nuclear weapons, so don't forget that either. The nuclear weapons, well that's what Iran was ultimately all about. And that's exactly why Donald Trump had to act. Thank you for listening to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson. Please make sure you hit subscribe wherever you're listening to this podcast right now. And for more in depth news, also subscribe to the Ben Ferguson Podcast and we will see you back here tomorrow.

Donald Trump (20:33)

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