Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Sources to Al Mayadeen: Extending the snapback mechanism deadline will test how independent Europeans truly are from the US.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: Activating the snapback mechanism will nullify the Cairo Agreement, shut the door on cooperation between the IAEA and Tehran, and bar inspections.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: The diplomatic window remains open, but signs of activating the snapback sanctions mechanism on Iran are increasing.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: Although the Cairo Agreement meets an important part of European demands, they have begun speaking of new conditions in recent communications.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: European countries show no independence in their stance toward Iran during the talks.
Israeli occupation forces issued bombing threats to bomb civilian buildings in Southern Lebanon.
Israeli media: Person behind shooting operation at Allenby Crossing is a Jordanian Army soldier.
Israeli media citing Emergency Services: Both wounded in Allenby shooting operation now dead.
Israeli media: One soldier wounded at Allenby crossing now confirmed killed.
Israeli media: Preliminary reports of shooting operation at Allenby crossing with Jordan.

US maintains option of nuclear first strike: Pentagon official

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 19 Jul 2024 21:29
3 Min Read

The most probable use of nuclear weapons in the current and future security environment would stem from a prolonged and intense conventional conflict, the Pentagon official said.

Listen
  • x
  • AP photo
    In this image provided by the U.S. Air Force, Senior Airman Jacob Deas, 23, left, and Airman 1st Class Jonathan Marrs, 21, right, secure the titanium shroud at the top of a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile on Aug. 24, 2023, at the Bravo 9 silo at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana (AP)

The US has not ruled out the possibility of a nuclear first strike against an adversary, acting US Assistant Defense Secretary for Space Policy Vipin Narang said in an interview with the Center for a New American Security on Friday.

"We still leave open the possibility that we may have to use and employ nuclear weapons first against a strategic attack or to deter a nuclear attack," Narang said.

However, Narang noted that the primary challenge is how to deter Russia from using nuclear weapons.

Narang stated that Russia is a nuclear peer to the US, while China is developing its capabilities but is not yet at the same level. He also cautioned against underestimating the DPRK's nuclear potential.

Narang stated that the most probable use of nuclear weapons in the current and future security environment would stem from a prolonged and intense conventional conflict.

Read more: Ukraine striking Russia to lead to nuclear confrontation, analyst says

Related News

DPRK defies US, says nuclear state status 'permanently enshrined'

DPRK slams US-Japan-South Korea war games as ‘reckless’

Experts and observers believe that Russia and China are less likely to do so because their policies are inherently focused on stability, deterrence, and avoiding escalations that could lead to disaster for their respective nations and the world at large.

Yesterday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told reporters that Moscow is not ruling out the deployment of nuclear missiles in reaction to the US deploying long-range missiles in Germany.

According to Ryabkov, if the German government believes it can carry out such "inflammatory activities", then Russia will "respond with retaliatory measures we deem appropriate."

Russia must not feel "internal constraint" as it calibers its response over what to deploy and where, Ryabkov noted, citing NATO's combined capabilities.

"It’s not about threatening anyone, it’s a way to find the most effective method to respond to the changing challenges, particularly in terms of costs," Ryabkov affirmed, citing a "wide range of options."

On January 27, a report by The Telegraph uncovered several documents indicating the US intent to transfer nukes to UK, marking a first since 2008. In March, a report by CNN revealed that the US began "preparing rigorously" since 2022 for Russia's potential use of a nuclear weapon in Ukraine.

Read more: Russia begins tactical nuclear weapon preparation and training

  • DPRK
  • Pentagon
  • Russia
  • US DoD
  • nuclear war

Most Read

Why is Choose Love using a firm with British and US intelligence connections to run a pro-Palestine musical event? (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Together for Palestine: Troubling questions about the organisers of this huge event

  • Opinion
  • 17 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

  • Palestine
  • 14 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A Hezbollah supporter who lost his sight in a pager attack carried out by "Israel" on Sept. 17, 2024, covers his eyes with a red headband inscribed with the name "Hussein" during Ashoura, July 6, 2025 (AP)
Politics

'We Have Recovered': Lebanon marks 1st anniversary of Pager Attack

The Arab neighborhood of El Za'im, on the outskirts of east Occupied Al-Quds in the West Bank, near where Israeli government says housing units will be built as part of the E1 settlement project, Thursday, August 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Palestine

'Israel’s' deliberate policies drive West Bank economy toward collapse

Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Politics

Ben & Jerry’s co-founder resigns over parent company curbing activism

Trump’s approval rating falls to new low in second term: Poll
US & Canada

Trump’s approval rating falls to new low in second term: Poll

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS