CAIRO: Egypt’s State Information Service (SIS) handed the BBC Cairo bureau a protest note over its controversial report on alleged forced disappearances the report claimed were carried out by Egyptian authorities.
SIS chief Diaa Rashwan handed the BBC’s Cairo bureau chief Safaa Faisal the objection note reacting to the report, saying the body demands “an official apology” from the British broadcaster over the report.
The head of BBC Cairo bureau, Safaa Faisal, praised the dialogue taking place between SIS and BBC, vowing that the British news network would seriously study the notes sent by SIS, local newspaper reports said.
“The Shadow Over Egypt” was a BBC report published in February that claimed Egypt’s security apparatuses participated in the enforced disappearance of Egyptian citizens.
Zubeida Ibrahim, an Egyptian woman mentioned in the report as one of those “forcibly disappeared,” has appeared on Egyptian television to refute the BBC disappearance and torture claims.
The incident stirred wide controversy between the Egyptian state and the British network, with the SIS accusing BBC of fabricating the story.
Egypt hands BBC protest note over report on alleged ‘forced disappearances’
Egypt hands BBC protest note over report on alleged ‘forced disappearances’
Western media refute Trump’s claims Iran possesses Tomahawk missiles
- Speaking to journalists, Trump suggested Tehran used US-made cruise missile in school attack that killed over 170, calling the weapon ‘very generic’
- CNN, Sky News and analysts said that ‘neither Israel nor Iran use Tomahawk missiles,’ urged accurate identification to ensure credibility in public discourse
LONDON: Western media outlets and defense analysts have pushed back against claims by US President Donald Trump that Iran possesses Tomahawk cruise missiles, after he raised the possibility while discussing a recent strike on an Iranian school that has drawn international scrutiny.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Trump suggested Iran may have used Tomahawks in the attack, calling the weapon “very generic” and implying that multiple countries, including Iran, could have access to the system.
However, journalists and weapons experts swiftly disputed that assertion. They noted that Tomahawk missiles are US-manufactured cruise missile systems that Washington supplies only to a small number of close allies, primarily the UK and Australia. There is no credible evidence that Iran has ever obtained the weapon.
CNN anchor Erin Burnett referenced an investigation by correspondent Isobel Yeong that concluded “neither Israel nor Iran use Tomahawk missiles, according to experts.” Sky News and other Western outlets also challenged Trump’s remarks.
Analysts pointed out that Iran has developed its own domestic cruise missile systems, such as the Soumar and Hoveyzeh, which are believed to be based partly on older Soviet-era designs.
While these systems resemble cruise missiles in concept, experts say they differ significantly from the Tomahawk in design, propulsion configuration and operational characteristics.
While Iran has made substantial advances in ballistic and domestically produced cruise missiles over the past two decades, defense analysts said there is no verified evidence that Tehran holds the American-made system.
The episode reflects a broader pattern in which statements about military technology are rapidly scrutinized by open-source investigators and defense experts.
Experts say the distinction is important: accurately identifying the type of missile used in a strike can provide clues about the likely actor responsible, the launch platform involved and the broader geopolitical consequences of a strike.
Analysts also say that accurate identification of military systems remains essential for avoiding misinformation and for maintaining credibility in public discourse surrounding regional security.
Despite the growing body of evidence, the precise circumstances of the school attack nonetheless remain unclear, with investigators hampered by a lack of weapons fragments and limited access to the site.
Norway-based rights group Hengaw said the school was holding its morning session at the time of the reported attack and had at least 168 children and 14 teachers.
Trump said the US was continuing to investigate the incident. “Whatever the report shows, I’m willing to live with that report,” he said.
