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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Kris Swales

Afternoon Update: ‘Trump’s war’ on Iran under fire; PM tables Liberals’ leaked election review; and how to see the blood moon eclipse

Donald Trump arrives in the East Room of the White House.
Donald Trump arrives in the East Room of the White House. Photograph: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Good afternoon.

At least 200 civilians have been killed in Iran since the US and Israel launched “pre-emptive strikes” on the weekend, as Washington’s surprise decision to follow Israel into the conflict comes under fire on home soil – including from conservative media.

“This is Trump’s war,” senior Democrat Chuck Schumer said. “He has no strategy, he has no endgame.” President Trump used his first in-person speech of the conflict to suggest the military campaign had four key goals and was projected to last four to five weeks, but could “go far longer than that”.

The defence minister, Richard Marles, has confirmed troops posted at the ADF’s headquarters in the United Arab Emirates are all accounted for after a retaliatory drone strike by Iran on the weekend. Foreign governments have to date arranged only a handful of evacuation flights out of the Middle East, with more than 1 million passengers in and outside of the region affected by cancellations.

Top news

In pictures

South Australian artist Alex Frayne explores the fractured psyche of modern America through photography. Shot almost entirely on analog film across nine states, Frayne’s Manifest Destiny series focuses on the fringes of the west, deep south and Bible belt.

What they said …

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“They weren’t built by the Romans … they genuinely have been put up in recent times.” – Chris Minns

The NSW premier has rejected the idea that industrial silos being demolished to build 8,500 new homes in inner Sydney have architectural value, indicating that further sites in the city may have to come down to build more housing.

Full Story

Four weeks or forever: How long will Trump’s war last?

Since Donald Trump’s decision to join Israel in a war on Iran, the world has been asking “why?” and “what’s the plan?” Washington bureau chief David Smith speaks to Reged Ahmad about how long the war could go on for and what’s really motivating Donald Trump.

Listen to the episode here

Before bed read

Australia will tonight be treated to a rare total lunar eclipse known as a “blood moon”. It’s your last opportunity to see this celestial phenomenon for nearly three years, and you won’t even have to set an alarm – here’s when to look to the skies.

Daily word game

Today’s starter word is: OURS. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.

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