Spain has firmly denied claims by the White House that it agreed to cooperate with US military operations in the Middle East. During a press briefing on Wednesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Spain had agreed to cooperate, but Spain’s foreign minister, Jose Manuel Albares, quickly contradicted this, saying the government's position had not changed “one iota”. A government spokesperson added: “It is not true. We categorically deny any change.”
The dispute comes as the US continues its strikes on Iran, with the US Navy confirming that a submarine sank an Iranian warship. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth made the announcement, though details of the operation remain limited. The White House has faced questions about whether it did enough to evacuate Americans from the region before the strikes, with thousands reportedly stranded after airlines cancelled flights.
Leavitt said 17,500 Americans had safely returned home from the Middle East, including 8,500 on Tuesday. She urged citizens to register with the State Department for travel options. However, reports indicate that some Americans calling the State Department hotline as recently as Tuesday evening were told they could not receive evacuation assistance.
French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese leaders on Wednesday, calling for an immediate ceasefire. He urged Hezbollah to cease attacks and Israel to refrain from a ground offensive, stressing the need to preserve Lebanon’s territorial integrity.
Leavitt also addressed a reported strike on an Iranian girls’ elementary school that killed 175 people, denying US responsibility and stating that the Pentagon is investigating. “The United States of America does not target civilians,” she said. Meanwhile, Dubai authorities confirmed that sounds heard across the emirate were from air defence interceptions, with no injuries reported.
President Donald Trump plans to attend the dignified transfer of six US service members killed since the war with Iran began, Leavitt announced, expressing grief for the fallen and their families.
