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US Air Force’ B-2 Stealth Bomber Armed With AGM-158C LRASM Could Hunt Enemy Aircraft Carriers Across Indo-Pacific

gulftimes — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 16:41:00 +0000

Gulf News: UAE's largest news aggregator across the GCC

The United States Air Force has significantly expanded the combat role of its iconic B-2 Spirit stealth bomber by integrating the AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM), a move that could dramatically strengthen America’s ability to counter hostile naval forces in the Indo-Pacific region.

In a major milestone announced by Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) on June 29, 2026, a B-2 Spirit bomber successfully launched an AGM-158C LRASM during a live-fire sinking exercise (SINKEX) conducted as part of Exercise Valiant Shield. The event marked the first publicly disclosed instance of the stealth bomber firing the advanced anti-ship missile and highlighted a new dimension in the aircraft’s operational capabilities.

The development represents a significant enhancement of the US military’s long-range maritime strike arsenal and is widely viewed as a strategic response to growing naval challenges posed by China in the Western Pacific.

“With the deployment of the LRASM from the B-2 Spirit, the Pacific Air Forces takes a major step forward in countering maritime threats,” PACAF stated. “This milestone showcased impressive high-end innovation, reinforcing the US military’s commitment to safeguarding national interests and maintaining global security.”

Although the Air Force did not provide detailed information about the target vessel involved in the exercise or disclose timelines for broader operational integration, the announcement confirmed for the first time that the B-2 is now capable of employing one of the world’s most sophisticated anti-ship weapons.

For decades, the B-2 Spirit has been synonymous with strategic bombing missions against heavily defended land targets. Designed during the Cold War and renowned for its distinctive flying-wing configuration, the stealth bomber can penetrate advanced air defense systems and deliver precision strikes deep inside hostile territory.

The aircraft recently demonstrated that capability during high-profile combat operations in the Middle East. In June 2025, B-2 bombers participated in Operation Midnight Hammer, employing GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs against Iranian nuclear facilities. Earlier in 2026, the aircraft was also used during Operation Epic Fury, targeting military assets in Iran.

However, the latest LRASM integration indicates that the Air Force increasingly views the B-2 as more than a strategic land-attack platform. Instead, the aircraft is being transformed into a versatile long-range strike asset capable of threatening enemy naval forces far from American shores.

The shift is particularly relevant in the Indo-Pacific, where maritime power plays a central role in military competition. As China continues to expand its naval presence and deploy aircraft carriers into the Western Pacific, Washington is investing heavily in systems capable of holding those assets at risk.

General Kevin B. Schneider, Commander of Pacific Air Forces, emphasized the strategic importance of the development.

“The B-2’s impressive performance underscores the US military’s commitment to adaptability and flexibility in the face of emerging security challenges,” Schneider said. “By prioritizing counter-maritime strike operations, we can maintain a decisive edge over adversaries, protect our national interests, and ensure the free and open Pacific that underpins our global security.”

The AGM-158C LRASM has already become a key anti-ship weapon within the US military, but until now, publicly acknowledged launch platforms were limited.

The missile is operational on the B-1B Lancer bomber and the Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. Efforts are also underway to integrate the weapon onto additional aircraft, including the F-35 Lightning II, F-16 Viper, F-15E Strike Eagle, F-15EX Eagle II, P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, and eventually the B-52 Stratofortress.

The addition of the B-2 introduces a unique capability. Unlike most other launch platforms, the stealth bomber can approach contested areas with a much lower probability of detection. Combined with the missile’s own stealth characteristics, the pairing creates what many analysts describe as a “stealth-on-stealth” strike capability.

This combination could prove especially valuable in future conflicts involving advanced military powers equipped with sophisticated air-defense and electronic warfare systems.

The LRASM launch follows earlier efforts by the Air Force to expand the B-2’s maritime strike mission.

During the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise in 2024, a B-2 successfully employed the QUICKSINK weapon to destroy the decommissioned amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa. QUICKSINK is a low-cost precision-guided capability designed to rapidly convert conventional bombs into effective ship-killing weapons.

That test attracted considerable attention because of its relevance to potential future operations in the Pacific. Military planners have long sought affordable methods to target enemy surface fleets, particularly in scenarios involving China.

The successful integration of LRASM represents a substantial step beyond QUICKSINK. While the earlier weapon offered a cost-effective anti-ship solution, LRASM provides significantly greater range, survivability, autonomy, and lethality.

As a result, the B-2 now possesses a much more capable maritime strike option that can engage targets without requiring the aircraft to approach heavily defended naval formations.

Developed by Lockheed Martin, the AGM-158C LRASM is derived from the combat-proven Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) family.

According to the manufacturer, LRASM is “a precision-guided intelligent anti-ship missile devised to interdict a variety of surface threats at very long range, navigating semi-autonomously to the target, and delivering a precise payload from safe, standoff range.”

The missile was developed to address shortcomings associated with older anti-ship weapons such as the Harpoon missile, which many defense experts consider increasingly vulnerable in modern contested environments.

One of LRASM’s most important advantages is its range. The missile can travel more than 200 nautical miles, or approximately 370 kilometers, before striking its target. This allows launch aircraft to remain far from enemy defenses while still holding hostile vessels at risk.

Beyond surface warships, the missile can reportedly engage a variety of targets, including aircraft, drones, land-based objectives, and even submarines operating in shallow waters.

Its versatility makes it a valuable asset in complex maritime environments where multiple threats may be present simultaneously.

A defining characteristic of LRASM is its sophisticated guidance and targeting architecture.

The missile initially navigates toward a designated target area using a GPS-assisted Inertial Navigation System. However, unlike many traditional precision-guided munitions, LRASM was specifically designed to operate in environments where GPS signals may be degraded or denied.

Once en route, the missile can rely on an onboard electronic support measures package and advanced route-planning capabilities to continue its mission. This significantly reduces dependence on external intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, or communications networks.

The weapon’s ability to function with limited external support is particularly important in modern warfare, where adversaries are expected to aggressively jam communications and disrupt satellite navigation systems.

During the terminal phase of flight, LRASM employs a passive infrared imaging sensor to identify and strike targets. Because the sensor operates passively, it is difficult to detect and is largely resistant to traditional electronic jamming techniques.

The missile can also analyze radio-frequency emissions from hostile systems, adjusting its trajectory as necessary and using those emissions to improve target identification.

These capabilities enable LRASM to autonomously locate, classify, and engage targets even in heavily contested electronic warfare environments.

Another major advantage of LRASM is its low-observable design.

Like the B-2 bomber itself, the missile incorporates stealth characteristics intended to reduce detection by enemy radar systems. This makes interception significantly more difficult and increases the likelihood that the weapon will successfully reach its intended target.

When paired with the B-2, the result is a layered stealth approach. The bomber can penetrate or approach contested regions while minimizing its exposure to enemy sensors, and the missile can continue the mission while remaining difficult to detect.

This combination complicates defensive planning for potential adversaries.

Instead of confronting a visible strike package supported by tankers, escorts, and electronic warfare aircraft, defenders may face a stealth platform capable of launching multiple low-observable missiles from long distances.

Such an attack profile significantly compresses reaction times and increases uncertainty for naval commanders attempting to protect high-value assets.

The B-2’s existing compatibility with the JASSM family suggests it could carry a substantial number of LRASMs.

The stealth bomber is capable of carrying up to 16 AGM-158A JASSM missiles. Since LRASM is derived from the same missile family and maintains a similar form factor, analysts believe the B-2 could potentially carry an equivalent load of anti-ship missiles.

If operationally configured in this manner, a single bomber could unleash a large coordinated salvo against a naval task force.

Each LRASM carries a 450-kilogram high-explosive blast-fragmentation penetrator warhead designed to inflict severe damage on large surface combatants.

The missile also possesses a datalink that allows it to receive threat updates while in flight. Furthermore, multiple LRASMs can cooperate during coordinated attacks, sharing information and optimizing target engagement strategies.

Such swarm-like behavior can overwhelm defensive systems and improve overall mission effectiveness.

The strategic significance of the B-2/LRASM combination becomes particularly apparent when viewed through the lens of a potential conflict involving Taiwan.

China has spent decades developing an extensive anti-access/area denial network intended to limit the ability of US and allied forces to operate near its coastline.

This network includes advanced surface-to-air missile systems, anti-ship ballistic missiles, long-range radars, electronic warfare assets, fighter aircraft, submarines, and an expanding fleet of modern warships.

Collectively, these capabilities are designed to make military intervention by outside powers more difficult.

The First Island Chain, stretching from Japan through Taiwan and the Philippines, occupies a central place in Chinese military planning. Beijing has steadily increased its military presence within this region and frequently deploys naval forces, including aircraft carriers, into surrounding waters.

In a conflict scenario, Chinese naval formations could play a critical role in enforcing blockades, projecting power, and supporting military operations.

The ability to strike those formations from long distances therefore carries considerable strategic value.

Military simulations and war games have repeatedly highlighted the importance of long-range anti-ship weapons in a Western Pacific conflict.

Analysts have argued that standoff attacks against naval forces represent one of the most effective methods for slowing or disrupting an invasion force before it reaches its objectives.

The B-2 and LRASM combination appears tailored for precisely this type of mission.

A stealth bomber operating from distant bases could approach contested regions, launch multiple anti-ship missiles, and withdraw without entering the most heavily defended areas.

Meanwhile, the missiles themselves could navigate independently toward targets while resisting detection and electronic interference.

This approach leverages traditional American strengths in stealth technology, precision strike, and long-range power projection.

It also provides a means of offsetting some of China’s geographic advantages near its home territory.

While Beijing benefits from operating close to its own bases and support infrastructure, the United States can exploit advanced technologies that complicate Chinese planning and increase the risks faced by naval forces operating in contested waters.

The successful firing of an AGM-158C LRASM by a B-2 Spirit bomber marks a notable evolution in the aircraft’s mission set and reflects broader changes in US military strategy.

No longer limited primarily to strategic bombing missions against land targets, the B-2 is increasingly becoming a versatile platform capable of conducting sophisticated maritime strike operations against some of the most heavily defended targets in the world.

By combining a stealth bomber with a stealth anti-ship missile, the United States has introduced a powerful capability designed to challenge advanced naval forces and preserve operational freedom in contested regions.

As tensions continue to shape the security environment in the Indo-Pacific, the B-2’s new maritime strike role is likely to become an increasingly important element of American deterrence and warfighting plans.

For Washington, the integration of LRASM onto the B-2 is more than a technical achievement. It represents a strategic investment in maintaining an edge against near-peer competitors and ensuring that hostile fleets remain vulnerable even in the most challenging operational environments.

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US Navy Launches Hunt for Hybrid ‘AWACS Killer’ Missile Capable of Striking Targets in Air and Ground

gulftimes — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 03:52:00 +0000

Gulf News: UAE's largest news aggregator across the GCC

The U.S. Navy has begun exploring options for a new long-range anti-radiation missile that would not only home in on hostile radar emissions to dismantle enemy air defense networks, but also engage aerial targets — a capability that could transform how the service conducts suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) and long-range air combat.

The proposed weapon, referred to as the Advanced Emission Suppression Missile (AESM), is being examined by Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) through its Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons (PEO U&W). In a recent contracting notice, NAVAIR announced it is conducting market research to identify potential sources capable of delivering an advanced anti-radiation guided missile weapon system — or key subsystems — with greater range than current Navy inventory.

What sets AESM apart is a single, crucial requirement: it must be able to engage both air-to-ground and air-to-air targets.

That dual-role demand signals the Navy’s interest in fielding a missile that can suppress ground-based air defense radars while also targeting high-value airborne assets such as airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft — often referred to colloquially as “AWACS killers.”

At first glance, AESM’s requirements appear strikingly similar to those of the AGM-88G AARGM-ER (Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile-Extended Range), the Navy’s next-generation evolution of the venerable AGM-88 High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM). The AARGM-ER incorporates hardware and software modifications designed to extend range, increase survivability, and improve effectiveness against modern and future threats.

AESM must offer:

Extended standoff range
Broad frequency coverage
Advanced anti-radiation seeker technology
Robust electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM)
GPS/INS navigation with anti-jamming capability
Compatibility with existing launch platforms

However, AESM goes further. Prospective bidders are explicitly required to “describe ability to engage air-to-air and air-to-ground targets.” That air-to-air mandate is the defining distinction.

Compatibility requirements include the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, the EA-18G Growler, and the F-35 Lightning II. The notice also references compatibility with infrastructure supporting current anti-radiation missile inventory across both Navy and Air Force fleets.

The language leaves ambiguity as to whether AESM is envisioned as a supplement to, or eventual successor of, AARGM-ER — or potentially a further evolution of it.

The concept of a very-long-range anti-radiation missile capable of targeting airborne radar platforms dates back to the Cold War. The idea was straightforward: neutralize enemy airborne early warning aircraft to cripple battle management and situational awareness.

Aircraft such as the E-3 Sentry — the iconic U.S. Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) platform — function as flying radar nodes, detecting threats at long distances and coordinating fighter responses. Destroying or suppressing such aircraft dramatically reduces an adversary’s operational coherence.

AEW&C aircraft typically orbit far behind the front lines, often protected by layers of fighters and long-range surface-to-air missiles. Engaging them requires weapons with substantial reach, precision targeting, and resilience against electronic warfare.

An AESM-type missile could exploit the very emissions these aircraft rely upon. By homing in on radiofrequency output, such a weapon could attack high-value airborne targets without requiring continuous radar lock from the launching aircraft.

In addition to AEW&C planes, potential aerial targets could include electronic warfare aircraft, jamming platforms, and possibly even fighters emitting powerful radar signals.

The Navy and Air Force have explored hybrid anti-radiation and air-to-air missile concepts before.

In the mid-2000s, the services collaborated on the Joint Dual-Role Air Dominance Missile (JDRADM), intended to replace both the AGM-88 HARM and the AIM-120 AMRAAM. The project evolved into the Next Generation Missile (NGM) before being publicly terminated in 2013, reportedly due to cost concerns.

A more secretive effort, known as the Triple Target Terminator (T-3), reportedly continued development work, and by 2017 references surfaced to a Long Range Engagement Weapon (LREW). The status and scope of those initiatives remain unclear.

AESM may represent the most concrete revival yet of the dual-role missile concept — but with lessons learned from prior attempts.

The AESM notice emphasizes robust electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM) capabilities to defeat enemy techniques including chaff, flares, jamming, and anti-ARM tactics.

Chaff and flares are commonly associated with airborne platforms, reinforcing the likelihood that AESM is envisioned to operate effectively in air combat environments.

Modern adversaries employ sophisticated anti-ARM strategies such as radar shutdown tactics, frequency hopping, decoys, and emission control procedures. AESM’s seeker would require broad frequency coverage and advanced processing to discriminate real targets from deception.

AARGM and AARGM-ER incorporate active millimeter-wave radar seekers to engage fleeing ground targets. A similar architecture, possibly augmented with active radar or imaging infrared guidance and networked datalink targeting, could enable AESM to prosecute airborne targets beyond visual range.

The renewed interest in long-range anti-radiation and air-to-air hybrid missiles comes amid growing focus on potential high-end conflict in the Indo-Pacific.

China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has invested heavily in AEW&C aircraft and electronic warfare platforms to support its expanding air and naval power projection capabilities. Simultaneously, Beijing has pursued longer-range air-to-air missiles designed to threaten U.S. support aircraft operating from standoff distances.

U.S. AEW&C platforms, tankers, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft are critical enablers in Pacific operations. A conflict environment where both sides possess the ability to target high-value airborne nodes at extreme ranges fundamentally alters the risk calculus.

For the Navy, AESM could serve as a counterbalance — enabling carrier air wings to reach deeper into contested airspace and threaten adversary battle management aircraft.

AESM would join an evolving ecosystem of advanced air combat missiles.

In 2024, the Navy officially unveiled the AIM-174B, an air-launched variant of the Standard Missile 6 (SM-6). Designed to dramatically extend air-to-air engagement range from platforms like the Super Hornet, AIM-174B marked a significant expansion of naval aviation’s reach.

Rear Adm. Michael “Buzz” Donnelly, then director of the Air Warfare Division (N98), indicated in 2025 that increasing range and reach remains a central priority.

Meanwhile, the Navy and Air Force are jointly developing the AIM-260 JATM, intended as a longer-range successor to the AIM-120 AMRAAM.

Within this expanding arsenal, AESM would provide something distinct: a single missile capable of suppressing ground radars and engaging airborne emitters in one package.

One of AESM’s potential advantages lies in flexibility and magazine efficiency.

Modern stealth aircraft such as the F-35 rely on internal weapons carriage to preserve low observable characteristics. If AESM were designed with a form factor compatible with internal bays — similar to AARGM-ER’s slim profile — it could provide stealth platforms with both SEAD and long-range anti-air capability without sacrificing survivability.

Conversely, an externally carried variant could prioritize maximum range and speed.

Scalable missile concepts have been discussed in defense circles, wherein a core guidance and propulsion architecture can be adapted for different carriage modes or mission requirements. AESM could potentially follow such an approach.

There is also the possibility that AESM requirements could be satisfied through further evolution of AARGM-ER technology.

The U.S. Air Force is already acquiring a high-speed strike derivative known as the Stand-In Attack Weapon (SiAW). Northrop Grumman has proposed additional variants, including a surface-to-surface concept called the Advanced Reactive Strike Missile (AReS).

Whether AESM becomes a derivative of these programs or a clean-sheet design remains to be seen. The Navy’s current “market research” phase is intended to identify available solutions across industry.

The contracting notice also highlights potential exportability. Allied air forces facing similar anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) challenges — particularly in Europe and the Indo-Pacific — may see value in a dual-role anti-radiation and anti-air missile. International participation could help distribute development costs and accelerate production.

SEAD missions have traditionally focused on ground-based threats: surface-to-air missile batteries, radar sites, and command nodes.

AESM signals a possible doctrinal evolution — one that recognizes airborne sensors as equally critical components of modern integrated air defense systems.

In highly networked battle environments, radar nodes may reside on ships, trucks, or aircraft. A missile capable of autonomously homing in on hostile emissions across domains offers operational flexibility and rapid response.

Even in scenarios where adversary air defenses are partially degraded, an unexpected airborne emitter could appear mid-mission. A dual-role AESM would allow strike aircraft to adapt without requiring specialized loadouts.

Much remains unclear about AESM’s precise performance thresholds. The Navy has not specified a minimum range beyond requiring “significant standoff distances.” Nor has it detailed propulsion concepts, though high-speed or ramjet-based solutions could be contenders.

What is evident is that the Navy has initiated a renewed search for a weapon blending anti-radiation lethality with long-range air combat capability — effectively resurrecting the long-discussed “AWACS killer” concept within a modernized framework.

If realized, AESM could represent one of the most versatile missiles in U.S. naval aviation inventory — capable of dismantling ground-based radar networks, threatening high-value airborne nodes, and adapting dynamically within contested battlespaces.

As competition intensifies in the Indo-Pacific and beyond, the ability to neutralize an adversary’s eyes and ears — whether mounted on towers, trucks, ships, or aircraft — may prove decisive.

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Israel PM attacks Qatar probe as ‘witch hunt’ after aides arrested

gulftimes — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 01:43:00 +0000

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EPA

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the police of holding the two men as “hostages”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denounced an investigation into possible links between his aides and Qatar as a “witch hunt”, after he gave testimony to police.

An adviser and a former spokesman were arrested on Monday over alleged payments from the Gulf Arab state as part of the probe, which has been dubbed “Qatar-gate”. They have denied any wrongdoing.

Netanyahu, who has not been named as a suspect, accused the police of holding the two men as “hostages”, adding: “There is no case.”

A Qatari official also dismissed the probe as a “smear campaign” against Qatar, which has played a key role as a mediator between Israel and Hamas during the war in Gaza.

It comes as Netanyahu faces escalating protests in Israel over his policies, including the resumption of Israel’s offensive against Hamas before securing the release of all the remaining hostages, the dismissal of the director of the Shin Bet internal security agency, and the advancement of a controversial plan to overhaul the judiciary.

On Monday, Israel’s police force announced that two suspects had been detained as part of an investigation into ties between the prime minister’s office and Qatar. It provided no further details, citing a court-imposed gag order on the case.

Israeli media reports subsequently identified them as Yonatan Urich, a very close adviser to Netanyahu, and Eli Feldstein, a former spokesman in the prime minister’s office, and said they were suspected of contact with a foreign agent, money laundering, bribery, fraud, and breach of trust.

Netanyahu later cut short an appearance at his separate trial on corruption charges, which he denies, to provide recorded testimony to police investigating the case at his office in Jerusalem.

After being questioned, Netanyahu posted a video online in which he condemned both the arrests and the wider investigation.

“I understood that it was a political investigation but I didn’t realise how political it was,” he said. “They are holding Jonatan Urich and Eli Feldstein as hostages, making their lives miserable over nothing.”

“There is no case, there is absolutely nothing, just a political witch hunt, nothing else.”

The prime minister’s Likud party also issued a statement accusing the attorney general’s office and the Shin Bet chief of “fabricating” the case and attempting to “terrorise Yonatan Urich in order to extract from him false testimony against the prime minister through blackmail”.

On Tuesday, a judge at Rishon LeZion Magistrates’ Court extended Urich and Feldstein’s detention by three days, saying there were “reasonable suspicions” that required a thorough investigation. The police had requested a nine-day extension.

Judge Menahem Mizrahi said in a decision that investigators suspected that the two men had acted to “promote Qatar in a positive light” and “spread negative messages about Egypt” and its role as another mediator in the Gaza ceasefire talks.

For this purpose, the judge said, a “business and economic connection” was created between a US lobbying firm working for Qatar “through the mediation of [Urich] in return for monetary payments which were passed to [Feldstein]” through an Israeli businessman.

Last week, Israeli media published a recording in which the businessman was heard saying that he had transferred funds to Feldstein on behalf of a US lobbyist working for Qatar.

At the time, Feldstein’s lawyers said the payments were “for strategic and communications services Feldstein provided to the prime minister’s office, not for Qatar”. They also said Feldstein was not aware of any connection between the businessman and other parties, including Qatar. Ulrich’s lawyers said he denied involvement.

A police representative told Judge Mizrahi on Tuesday that Urich was also suspected of passing journalists messages from a source linked to Qatar, which were presented as if they came from senior Israeli political or security officials.

Ulrich’s legal team, which includes Netanyahu’s defence lawyer Amit Hadad, said they would submit a request to lift the gag order on the case to expose “the injustice done to him”. The judge went on to approve the request, saying the gag order had been repeatedly violated.

A Qatari official told the Financial Times: “This is not the first time we have been the subject of a smear campaign by those who do not want to see an end to this conflict [the Gaza war] or the remaining hostages returned to their families.”

Qatar has long championed the Palestinian cause and host political leaders of Hamas, which is proscribed as a terrorist organisation by Israel, the UK, the US and other countries.

Between 2018 and the start of the current war, which was triggered by Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack on Israel, the Gulf state provided hundreds of millions of dollars of aid for Gaza.

Israeli governments allowed the money to be transferred to pay the wages of civil servants in Gaza’s Hamas-run government, support the poorest families, and fund fuel deliveries for the territory’s sole power plant. However, critics asserted that it was helping Hamas to stay in power and fund its military activities.

Since the war, Qatar has helped, along with the US and Egypt, to broker two ceasefire and hostage release deals between Israel and Hamas.

The most recent lasted between 19 January and 18 March, when Israel renewed its air and ground campaign, blaming Hamas for rejecting a new US proposal for an extension and the release of its 59 remaining hostages. Hamas accused Israel of violating the original deal.

Netanyahu claimed that the “sole purpose” of the Qatar-gate investigation was to prevent the dismissal of the director of the Shin Bet domestic security agency, which has been participating in the probe, and to “topple a right-wing prime minister”.

The government fired Ronen Bar on 21 March, saying it had lost trust in him over the failure to prevent Hamas’s deadly attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, which triggered the war in Gaza.

However, the supreme court suspended the dismissal pending a hearing on 8 April in response to petitions from opposition political parties and a non-governmental organisation, which said the move was made for inappropriate reasons and constituted a severe conflict of interest.

Bar will remain in post until the supreme court rules on the petitions, although the court permitted the prime minister to interview potential replacements in the meantime.

On Tuesday, Netanyahu’s office announced that he had reversed a decision made the previous day to appoint former navy commander Vice Adm Eli Sharvit as the next Shin Bet chief.

“The prime minister thanked Vice Adm Sharvit for his willingness to be called to duty but informed him that, after further consideration, he intends to examine other candidates,” a statement said.

That decision came after Likud officials criticised Sharvit’s participation in the 2023 mass protests against the judicial overhaul.

US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham also described Sharvit’s appointment as “problematic” in response to a recent article criticising President Donald Trump’s policies on climate change.

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Swiatek crashes out but Djokovic still in hunt at Wimbledon – Dubai Eye 103.8

gulftimes — Sun, 07 Jul 2024 07:02:29 +0000

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BEN STANSALL/ AFP

Top seed Iga Swiatek crashed out of Wimbledon in the biggest shock of this year’s Championships so far but Novak Djokovic avoided joining her through the exit door despite another below-par performance on Saturday.

Poland’s Swiatek, who clocked up her fifth Grand Slam title at last month’s French Open, was beaten 3-6 6-1 6-2 by Yulia Putintseva in the third round as she again struggled on grass.

“I know what I need to change, and I’ll do that,” the world number one told reporters after her 21-match winning streak came to an end on Court One.

“My tank of really pushing myself to the limits became suddenly empty. I was kind of surprised.”

Seven-time champion Djokovic moved into the fourth round but only after dropping the opening set to Alexei Popyrin.

The 37-year-old Serb, seeded two, stayed on course for a record 25th Grand Slam title with a 4-6 6-3 6-4 7-6(3) win to set up a clash with Danish dynamo Holger Rune.

“It was another tough match,” Djokovic, who also dropped a set against British wildcard Jacob Fearnley in the second round, said on court. “It was a very challenging match mentally today.”

“Each match it’s getting better,” added Djokovic, who is yet to win a title this year and needed knee surgery last month.

Britain was left with only one singles player out of the 19 who started as Alexander Zverev beat Cameron Norrie and China’s Wang Xinyu dumped out local favourite Harriet Dart.

Emma Raducanu will fly the flag alone for the hosts on Sunday and perhaps with that in mind she pulled out of her highly anticipated mixed doubles with Andy Murray.

Her decision, put down to protecting a sore wrist, effectively ended British great Murray’s illustrious Wimbledon career in rather anti-climactic fashion.

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