U.S. and world news for June 23

Wake of U.S. bombing of Iran

Hundreds of thousands of Iranians have turned out in the streets of that country to protest the U.S. bombing of three Iranian nuclear sites. Joining in the protests are people who have been critical of the Iranian ruling authority. The crowds have been calling for prompt Iranian retaliation for the U.S. strikes. Israel today reported it fired missiles at one of the nuclear sites, indicating that it was not obliterated as claimed by President Trump. The Iranian envoy to the U.N. condemned the U.S. and Israel for their “acts of aggression” and asked the Security Council to address such “injustice and gross violations.” Iranian hardliners and members of parliament took to social media to call for retaliation after the U.S. strikes, including attacks on American bases in the region, the disruption of oil shipments in the Strait of Hormuz and a possible withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Israel and Iran stage new attacks on each other

With the Israel-Iran conflict in its 11th day, both countries have launched a fresh wave of strikes on each other. About 20 Israeli fighter jets attacked military targets in Tehran and the western Iranian city of Kermanshah. The Israel Defense Forces said the strikes took out several surface-to-surface missile launch and storage sites. Six Iranian airports were also targeted overnight and at least 15 fighter jets and helicopters were reportedly destroyed. In retaliation, Iran reportedly fired missiles at Israel, prompting people across the country to take shelter. Although the IDF attributed the sounds of explosions to interceptions or fallen projectiles, teams of first responders were still dispatched to reported impact sites.

Suicide bomber attacks Greek church in Syria

A suicide bomber attacked a Greek Orthodox church in Syria on Sunday, killing at least 20 people and injuring dozens more, the country’s health ministry said. The attacker reportedly opened fire on the congregation of Mar Elias Church in Damascus and then blew himself up using an explosive vest. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but Syria’s Ministry of Interior Affairs told CNN that it was carried out by a “suicide bomber affiliated with the terrorist organization ISIS.” The United States’ Special Envoy for Syria, Thomas Barrack, called the attack an act of “cowardice.”

Trump appeals decision freeing Mahmoud Khalil

Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil reunited with his wife and met his newborn son for the first time after being detained for 104 days at an ICE facility in Louisiana. A judge ordered Khalil’s release on bail Friday after finding he was not a flight risk and not a danger to public safety. The Trump Administration is appealing the judge’s action and asking that he be returned to ICE so he can again be locked up. Although he is a lawful permanent resident and is married to a U.S. citizen, Khalil was one of the first people the Trump administration arrested in its crackdown on student activists.

Louisiana’s Ten Commandments law found unconstitutional

A panel of three federal appellate judges ruled on Friday that a Louisiana law requiring the Ten Commandments to be posted in public school classrooms is unconstitutional. “This is a resounding victory for the separation of church and state and public education,” said Heather L. Weaver, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union. “…The Fifth Circuit has held Louisiana accountable to a core constitutional promise: Public schools are not Sunday schools, and they must welcome all students, regardless of faith.” Over the weekend, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a similar bill requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in all public school classrooms. He also signed legislation that allows school districts to provide students and staff with a daily voluntary period of prayer or time to read religious texts during school hours.

Heat wave builds

More than 250 daily temperature records could be broken today and tomorrow Monday and Tuesday as a heat wave continues to build across the eastern part of the country. This stretch of heat is building just as the seasons officially change. The summer solstice was on Friday at 10:42 p.m. Eastern Time, the moment the Northern Hemisphere is tilted closest to the sun. The solstice brings the highest sun angles and longest days of the year, meaning more solar energy is available to fuel extreme heat. Forecast highs are around 97 degrees in New York City Sunday through Tuesday and could break daily records. In Washington, D.C., the temperature could reach 100 – matching or breaking records on both days. Boston is expected to be around 90 degrees on Monday and 94 on Tuesday, just shy of daily records set in the mid-90s.