Aletho News

The US build-up around Iran constitutes strategic war option, not ‘deterrence’

By Amro Allan | Al Mayadeen | February 23, 2026

The confrontation forming around Iran is increasingly defined not by diplomacy or de-escalatory statecraft, but by infrastructure: aircraft, tankers, ships, interceptors, forward bases, and the logistics that bind them into a usable strike system. What is being assembled around Iran is coercion by force posture—a regional arrangement designed to make the use of violence not only possible, but administratively routine.

The danger is not simply that the United States is “sending a message.” It is those messages, once backed by operational capability and sustained logistics, that develop their own momentum—especially in a region where a single incident, whether staged, misattributed, or opportunistically interpreted, can push escalation beyond the point where political actors can plausibly reverse it. That is how wars become “inevitable”: not because they must happen, but because the architecture is built until restraint begins to look like an admission of weakness.

What is underway is best understood as a transition from episodic pressure to a posture designed to make sustained operations feasible. Deterrence theatre is reversible: it can be intensified, paused, or theatrically concluded. War-enabling posture is different. It organizes the region for a campaign that could last weeks, not hours—requiring refuelling depth, airborne command, electronic warfare, forward munitions, missile defense, and a permissive regional geography. In other words, it is not the language of crisis management; it is the language of readiness for force. … continue

Only 20 percent of US adults support Trump’s war on Iran: Poll

The Cradle | February 23, 2026

A University of Maryland Critical Issues Poll released on 15 February revealed that a mere 21 percent of adults in the US support President Donald Trump’s plans of war against Iran, while 49 percent of respondents oppose it.

The study was led by Shibley Telhami and conducted by SSRS between 5 and 9 February among 1,004 adults in the US.

When asked, “Do you favor or oppose the United States initiating an attack on Iran under the current circumstances?” 21 percent of respondents favored an attack, 49 percent opposed it, and 30 percent said they did not know. … Full article

Iran to US: Sanctions and war failed; try diplomacy and respect

Press TV – February 23, 2026

A top Iranian diplomat says the time is ripe for the United States to abandon its “fruitless” sanctions and failed policy of war against Iran, urging genuine respect for diplomacy as the only viable path forward.

“Iran’s enemies may start a war, but they will not be able to determine the end,” Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi said in an address to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, on Monday.

“You have tried sanctions and war in relation to Iran and got nowhere. Now it is time to experience diplomacy and respect,” he said.

He said Iranians do not seek aggression against other countries but will firmly stand against any military or political conspiracy against the Islamic Republic and will defend their homeland. … continue

China supplies Iran with radar, surveillance tech to track US stealth aircraft: Report

The Cradle | February 23, 2026

China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) has provided Iran with new technology in an effort to prevent infiltration by US and Israeli intelligence, and to help Tehran defend itself from advanced US and Israeli warplanes in the case of a renewed war, according to a 10 February report by Modern Diplomacy.

The report states that Beijing is urging its ally, Tehran, to abandon US and Israeli-made software and replace it with closed, encrypted Chinese systems that are difficult to penetrate.

This includes supplying Iran with advanced Chinese sensor systems and radars, such as the YLC-8B, capable of tracking stealth aircraft and conducting electronic surveillance.

Defense Security Asia stated that according to one analyst, the “YLC-8B is one of the few radars of its type in the world which can continuously detect and track a Western fifth-generation (stealth) aircraft at long range.” … continue

Rival Demonstrations in Caracas

By Craig Murray | February 23, 2026

There are two things which are extremely difficult to find in Venezuela – government repression and opposition support. I am pretty long in the tooth and very experienced in understanding politics and people around the world, and I have found it difficult to locate either.

I would particularly warn you against accepting the political prisoners narrative. There have been excesses, particularly after the unrest following the last disputed elections, but the large majority of those claimed to be political prisoners have been involved in actual, physical attempts to overthrow the government by force, or are involved in drugs related gangs. A combination of credulity, disinformation and the activity of NGOs supported by Western security agencies has presented you with an entirely false picture. I am sorry to say that generally decent organisations like HRW and Amnesty have been particularly credulous.

I absolutely do not support the claim that the opposition achieved two thirds of the vote at the last election. It is an absurdity. There were one million people at Maduro’s closing rally and 50,000 people at the opposition closing rally. Many of the alleged voting tallies the opposition published were obviously fake. There simply is no groundswell of anti-government opinion here, below or above ground.

The bars in which I spend my evenings generally cater to the wealthier and are in the opposition heartlands of Altamira and Las Mercedes. People naturally assume a westerner is anti-Chavismo. The wealthy speak English so they are more or less the only people I can relax into conversation with. Talking to people in bars is my natural milieu. There is no domestic appetite for regime change and literally not one person has ever expressed enthusiasm for Machado. … continue

Putin vows to bolster Russia’s nuclear triad

RT | February 23, 2026

Russia will continue to improve its military and technological capabilities, and the nuclear triad is an “unconditional priority” in this regard, President Vladimir Putin has said. […]

“The development of the nuclear triad, which guarantees Russia’s security and enables us to effectively ensure strategic deterrence and balance of power in the world, remains our unconditional priority,” he said.

The address came less than a month after the expiration of the New START Treaty – the last remaining nuclear arms control agreement between Russia and the US. The deal, signed in 2010, limited both sides to 1,550 deployed strategic nuclear warheads on 700 delivery systems and required regular on-site inspections.

Despite the expiration of the treaty, Moscow stressed that it has no intention of being “the first to take steps towards escalation” and increasing the number of warheads, on condition that the US takes the same approach.

The New START Treaty expired after the administration of US President Donald Trump signaled that it wants future nuclear arms control deals to include China – which has rejected the idea as “neither fair nor reasonable,” arguing that its arsenal is vastly inferior to that of Russia and the US. – Full article

Zelensky rejects territorial concessions to Russia

RT | February 23, 2026

Kiev will never rescind its territorial claims on formerly Ukrainian regions lost to Russia and is set on seizing them back in the future, Vladimir Zelensky has stated, once again ruling out withdrawing from Donbass.

In an interview with the BBC published on Monday, Zelensky reiterated his refusal to withdraw from the areas of Donbass still under Ukrainian control, claiming such a move would only “divide” the country’s society.

A withdrawal has been one of the key Russian demands and the main issue of the ongoing US-mediated talks between Moscow and Kiev. Moreover, the Ukrainian leader said the country remains set on getting back all the territories it has lost to Russia.

“We’ll do it. That is absolutely clear. It is only a matter of time,” he stated.

Zelensky admitted that Ukraine is currently unable to accomplish this because it lacks both sufficient funds and troops.

“To do it today would mean losing a huge number of people – millions of people – because the [Russian] army is large, and we understand the cost of such steps,” he said. “And we also don’t have enough weapons. That depends not just on us, but on our partners.” … continue

Hungary Blocks 20th Package of Anti-Russia Sanctions, $106B Loan to Ukraine – Szijjarto

Sputnik – 23.02.2026

Hungary blocked the 20th package of anti-Russia sanctions, as well as the 90 billion euro ($106 billion) loan to Ukraine, due to Kiev’s shutdown of the Druzhba oil pipeline, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Monday.

“At today’s meeting, I made it clear that we do not support the 20th package of sanctions and do not give permission for this. And I made it clear that we would not agree to Ukraine receiving a military loan of 90 billion euros. Because the Ukrainians cannot blackmail us, they cannot jeopardize the security of Hungary’s energy supply by conspiring with Brussels and the Hungarian opposition,” Szijjarto told reporters, following a meeting of the EU Council of Foreign Ministers.

Hungary considers Ukraine’s suspension of Russian oil transit through Druzhba as encroachment on its sovereignty, Szijjarto concluded.

The termination of Russian oil supplies via Druzhba pipeline was the result of collusion between Kiev and Brussels, Szijjarto said.

“It turned out to be a shocking fact that Ukraine is really colluding with Brussels, really colluding with the European Commission headed by von der Leyen in terms of blocking the supply of [Russian] oil [via Druzhba pipeline]. It was finally revealed and proven today,” Szijjarto told reporters, following a meeting of the EU Council of Foreign Ministers. … continue

German leader of EU’s largest faction sounds the alarm of possibility of right-wing forces coming to power in France, Poland

Manfred Weber, a vocal critic of any EU state that pushes back against a more powerful Brussels, has openly embraced Orbán’s opponent in Budapest

Remix News | February 23, 2026

German politician Manfred Weber, the leader of the European People’s Party (EPP), spoke on ZDF about a common European army, saying, among other things, that the European Union must “draw conclusions from its own experiences, including in military matters.”

Weber spoke about the danger to the EU establishment posed by the presidential elections in France and the parliamentary elections in Poland, both to be held in 2027. Weber is concerned that there is a high probability of victory for forces that do not support the continuation of the EU’s centralization; forces that instead advocate for a Europe of sovereign nations. He said that EU must have the strength necessary, even by way of a common military, to presumably counter such possible outcomes.

Specifically mentioning Poland’s Law & Justice (PiS) leader, Jarosław Kaczyński, and France’s National Rally (RN) leader, Jordan Bardella, he said: “I hope that we now have the strength… to create a Europe that cannot be destroyed and that will weather the storms of the world order together… Now we need the same approach on the military front. We must prepare for scenarios in which Bardella becomes president of France and Kaczyński returns to power in Poland.” … continue

NATO Must Return to 1997 Borders for Peace in Ukraine – Finnish Politician

Sputnik – 23.02.2026

NATO must revert to its 1997 borders to secure lasting peace in Ukraine, while European leaders pursue de-escalation and respect the alliance’s pledge against eastward expansion “one inch” toward Russia, Armando Mema, member of the Finnish national-conservative party Freedom Alliance, said on Monday.

“In order to achieve a lasting Peace in Ukraine and Europe, NATO must return to 1997 borders … The EU leaders must work in the coming years for a de-escalation, respect NATO historical promises of not expanding to one inch toward Russia,” Mema said on X.

NATO’s “disastrous policies of enlargement” will exact a heavy toll on Europeans, as well as Europe’s rapid rearmament and its “disastrous policies in Ukraine” send dangerous signals for the future, the politician said.

“Finland and Sweden should be among first countries to exit NATO as soon as possible,” he added.

In recent years, Russia has raised concerns about unprecedented NATO buildup along its western borders. The Kremlin argues that Russia poses no threat to anyone, but will not ignore actions potentially dangerous to its interests. In an interview with US journalist Tucker Carlson, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia had no intention of attacking NATO allies and accused Western politicians of scaremongering.

Astroturf Alert: $2 Billion in Foreign Cash Behind America’s “Grassroots” Climate Movement?

By Charles Rotter | Watts Up With That? | February 19, 2026

Well, well, well.

For years, climate skeptics have been told they are nothing more than the paid mouthpieces of “Big Oil.” The accusation has been repeated so often that it has hardened into something resembling doctrine. Any challenge to prevailing climate narratives is brushed aside with a knowing smirk and the word “funded.” The implication is clear: dissent is artificial. Manufactured. Astroturf.

And yet, the latest development out of Montana suggests that the truly industrial-scale astroturf operation may be sitting on the other side of the political aisle.

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, joined by 18 other state attorneys general, has formally urged the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate more than 150 U.S.-based climate organizations for potential violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). The request follows a report detailing nearly $2 billion in funding from five foreign climate foundations flowing into American activist networks over roughly the past decade.

The foundations named include the Oak Foundation (Switzerland), the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (United Kingdom), the Quadrature Climate Foundation (United Kingdom), the KR Foundation (Denmark), and the Laudes Foundation (Switzerland). According to the report cited by the attorneys general, these entities have collectively poured extraordinary sums into U.S. groups engaged in litigation, regulatory advocacy, public relations campaigns, and organized pressure efforts aimed at reshaping American energy policy.

FARA exists for a reason. It requires individuals or entities acting “for or in the interest of” foreign principals in a political capacity to disclose that relationship. Transparency is not optional under the statute. If organizations are advancing policy goals aligned with foreign funders, the public has a right to know.

The letter from the AGs does not assert guilt. It requests investigation. That distinction matters. Skepticism demands suspension of judgment pending evidence. But the scale of the funding alone raises legitimate questions.

If a comparable sum had flowed from domestic oil companies into policy think tanks questioning renewable mandates, it would dominate headlines for months. Congressional hearings would be scheduled before the ink dried. Editorial pages would thunder about corruption and capture.

Instead, much of this foreign-sourced funding has operated under the halo of philanthropy.

That halo deserves examination. … Full article

Israeli FOIA Data Reveals Massive Heart Injury Spike in Children Immediately After mRNA Shot Rollout

By Nicolas Hulscher, MPH | Focal Points | February 20, 2026

For years, the public was told that COVID-19 mRNA injection–induced cardiac injury in children was rare. That reassurance formed the backbone of adolescent vaccination campaigns across the world. But what if the underlying safety data were never fully processed or disclosed?

What if hundreds of adverse event reports submitted by frontline clinicians were simply left unanalyzed during the very period when policymakers were declaring the injections safe for teens?

According to Israel’s State Comptroller, approximately 279,300 adverse event reports submitted during the vaccination campaign by Clalit Health Services — Israel’s largest health provider — were never processed by the Ministry of Health.

These reports were not publicly examined during mid-2021, when vaccine eligibility was expanded to adolescents. They were not incorporated into real-time risk–benefit assessments. They were not disclosed to parents deciding whether to vaccinate their children.

Only years later, following repeated Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, the raw dataset — containing 294,877 adverse event reports — was released.

We analyzed that dataset using a deliberately conservative methodology. Our findings have now been peer-reviewed and published in the International Journal of Cardiovascular Research & Innovation… continue

What is Zionism? And what is anti-Zionism?

By David Miller | Tracking Power | January 25, 2026

I am asked to give definitional answers to this question quite often. So, here, for the record are the key extracts from my witness statement written in August 2023 (some weeks before the launch of Al Aqsa Flood by the Palestinian Resistance ion 7 October of that year.

Glancing over the statement at this distance I am struck by how long and detailed it is – 97 pages – and how, even then I was naive about malevolence of Zionism. If you look below you will see that I refer to Zionism as being inherently genocidal. This was not a popular view then, but it has certainly been more than amply borne out by the events since.

I should note that it was on the basis of my statement and my testimony under cross examination that the Tribunal determined that my anti-Zionist views were worthy of respect in a democratic society which is the legal test for philosophical beliefs to be protected under the Equality Act 2010. The definition of Zionism I have used is thus of greater import than just my own views and beliefs it has been accepted by the court as satisfying the five key elements of the so-called ‘Grainger’ test of which being worthy of respect is the fifth. … continue

Over 1,000 UK councilors pledge support for Palestine ahead of May local elections

MEMO | February 21, 2026

More than 1,000 councilors across England have pledged their support for Palestinian rights ahead of the crucial local elections in May, as campaigners aim to make Palestine a central electoral issue, Anadolu reports.

The Councillor Pledge for Palestine, launched by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) in December and backed by the Vote Palestine 2026 coalition, commits elected representatives to act to uphold Palestinian rights and ensure their councils are not complicit in Israel’s violations of international law.

Measures include divesting council pension funds from companies implicated in these violations.

Thirty-one councils have already passed motions or issued statements supporting pension fund divestment, a position backed by 46% of voters and opposed by just 14%, according to data by PSC.

“The mass movement for Palestine – which has brought millions onto Britain’s streets – is not going away. Vote Palestine will take our demands into the May elections and deliver a message to those seeking office: if you want our votes, stand up for Palestine,” Dan Iley-Williamson, political organizer at PSC, said in a statement on Saturday. … Full article

Zionist Forces Kill Palestinian Teen in Nablus Amid West Bank Arrest Campaign

Al-Manar | February 22, 2026

A Palestinian youth, Mohammad Hannini, was fatally shot, and a 16-year-old was injured as Israeli occupation forces unleashed a violent crackdown in Beit Furiq, east of Nablus, part of a broader wave of raids and arrests across the occupied West Bank.

The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that Hannini, 20, was shot in the head and later succumbed to his injuries. Another teenager, 16, was shot in the leg during the Israeli incursion.

The town of Beit Furiq had been under Israeli military raids since Saturday afternoon, following an attack by settlers on the local Officers’ Neighborhood. Soldiers reportedly fired at vehicles and smashed windows during the raid, while a 14-year-old was also wounded by live fire while attempting to resist the assault.

Israeli forces carried out extensive overnight and morning operations across the West Bank on Sunday, involving house raids, searches, and harassment of residents, including on-site interrogations after hours of detention. Operations were particularly focused in Qalqilya and Al-Arroub refugee camp in Hebron. … Full article

Palestinian woman killed by Israeli gunfire in Gaza

Palestinian Information Center – February-2026

GAZA – A Palestinian woman was martyred by Israeli gunfire in northern Gaza on Sunday, amid ongoing ceasefire violations in different areas of the war-ravaged coastal enclave.

Palestinian media sources reported that 27‑year‑old Basma Banat was killed after being shot by Israeli forces near the square of Beit Lahia town in northern Gaza.

Meanwhile, eyewitnesses reported that Israeli warplanes targeted the eastern areas of Rafah in southern Gaza.

Israeli armored vehicles also opened heavy fire towards the eastern parts of Khan Yunis, while gunboats fired at the city’s shoreline.

In Gaza City, warplanes launched raids on eastern neighborhoods, amid concurrent artillery shelling in the area.

Overnight, Israeli forces carried out demolitions in the eastern part of the Gaza Strip, while also targeting areas sheltering displaced people.

Hezbollah has ‘no choice’ but to defend itself after deadly Israeli strikes: Official

Press TV | February 22,2026

A senior Hezbollah official says the Lebanese resistance movement “has no longer any option” but to defend itself after the deadliest Israeli strikes in weeks hit the Beqaa Valley in eastern Lebanon and killed eight members of the group, including high-profile commander Hussein Mohammed Yaghi.

“What happened yesterday in the Beqaa is a new massacre and a new aggression, exceeding all the previous levels of aggression against Lebanon,” Mahmoud Qamati, deputy head of Hezbollah’s political council, stated in a speech broadcast by Hezbollah’s al-Manar television network during a protest in the capital Beirut on Saturday.

“What option do we have left to defend ourselves and our country? What option do we have other than resistance?” he noted.

The remarks came as two officials with Hezbollah said earlier on Saturday that eight members were killed in strikes near the village of Rayak in northeast Lebanon late on Friday. … Full article

Iran’s layered arsenal primed to deter – and decimate – US warships in Persian Gulf

By Ivan Kesic | Press TV | February 22,2026

… Iran’s capability to threaten a US aircraft carrier does not rest on a single magic bullet but on a diverse and layered portfolio of weapons systems, each designed to complicate the defensive calculus of a Carrier Strike Group.

The backbone of this naval strike capability remains its family of anti-ship cruise missiles. Advanced systems like the Noor and its upgraded variants, the Qader and Ghadir, have been developed over the years, extending their reach from 120 kilometers to an estimated 300 km.

These missiles are designed for sea-skimming flight, traveling mere meters above the wave tops to delay radar detection and compress reaction times for point-defense systems.

They form the high-volume, coastal-defense layer of Iran’s maritime shield. Building on this foundation, Iran has pushed the technological envelope with longer-range systems.

The Abu Mahdi cruise missile, with a reported range exceeding 1,000 kilometers, represents a paradigm shift. Equipped with artificial intelligence and a dual-mode seeker, it can be launched from deep within Iranian territory and is designed to resist jamming while striking moving vessels at sea. Similarly, the Qader-380 extends this reach, described by Iranian commanders as a weapon capable of creating insurmountable challenges for enemy vessels far from Iran’s immediate coastline.

Beyond the cruise missile arsenal, Iran has invested heavily in the more complex realm of anti-ship ballistic missiles. This class of weapon, exemplified by the Khalij Fars, fundamentally alters the engagement dynamics.

Unlike low-flying cruise missiles, ballistic missiles travel at supersonic or hypersonic speeds, arcing high into the atmosphere before descending at steep, nearly vertical angles.

This trajectory makes them exceptionally difficult to intercept with traditional anti-air systems. The Khalij Fars (Persian Gulf), with a range of 300 kilometers, is equipped with an optical seeker for terminal guidance, allowing it to home in on a large heat source like a carrier’s superstructure.

This is followed by the Hormuz family of missiles, some variants of which are designed as anti-radiation weapons, specifically programmed to target the powerful radar emissions of Aegis-equipped warships, effectively blinding the enemy’s primary sensor before a larger strike unfolds.

The Zolfaghar Basir extends this threat envelope to 700 kilometers, pushing the potential engagement zone well into the Gulf of Oman and the northern Arabian Sea, areas once considered safe sanctuaries for American power projection in the region.

At the apex of this technological pyramid stand Iran’s hypersonic missiles, the Fattah-1 and Fattah-2. While the full extent of their operational deployment remains a matter of strategic ambiguity, their stated capabilities—speeds reaching Mach 15 and extreme maneuverability—are designed to defeat even the most advanced missile defense systems. The very existence of such weapons forces US naval commanders to account for a threat that can change course unpredictably at velocities that leave virtually no margin for error or reaction.

The missile potential, however, is only one dimension of Iran’s multi-layered strategy. Under the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, a different kind of danger lurks.

Iran operates a mixed submarine force, including Russian-built Kilo-class boats and a range of smaller, indigenous midget submarines like the Ghadir and Nahang classes.

These vessels are optimized for the region’s shallow and acoustically complex waters. Their primary mission in the event of a war would not be to engage in open-ocean fleet actions but to conduct ambushes and, critically, to lay naval mines.

Iran is assessed to possess one of the largest mine inventories in the region, numbering in the thousands, including advanced influence mines that can be triggered by a ship’s magnetic field or acoustic signature.

Even the mere suspicion of a minefield in the choke point of the Strait of Hormuz would have a catastrophic effect on global energy traffic and would force the US Navy into a slow, dangerous, and resource-intensive mine countermeasure campaign, all conducted under the umbrella of Iranian coastal missiles.

Complementing this is the Hoot torpedo, a supercavitating weapon of extraordinary speed of 360 km/h that, once launched, is nearly impossible for a target to outrun or outmaneuver.

In the realm above the surface, Iran’s drone program adds a critical layer of intelligence and attack capability. Recent events have demonstrated Iran’s ability to maintain persistent surveillance on US naval assets in the region. … Full article

Hungary’s Blocking of EU Loan to Ukraine May Jeopardize IMF Funding – Reports

Sputnik – 22.02.2026

Hungary’s blocking of a 90 billion euro ($106 billion) EU loan to Kiev could impact a loan to Ukraine worth over $8 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that has not yet been approved, the Financial Times newspaper reported on Sunday.

On Friday, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said that Budapest would block the EU’s loan as Kiev failed to restore oil transit via the Druzhba pipeline. On Saturday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that Budapest, following Bratislava, was weighing cuts to electricity supplies to Ukraine.

According to the report, the IMF loan depends on plugging Ukraine’s anticipated budget shortfall, which was slated for closure by April using EU funds.

“Without that [EU and IMF] support, Ukraine’s economy would most likely collapse,” Maksym Samoiliuk, an economist at the Kiev-based Centre for Economic Strategy, was quoted as saying by Financial Times. … Full article

West, Global Corporations Now Control Nearly All Ukrainian Assets – Ex-Prime Minister

Sputnik – 22.02.2026

Foreign corporations and Western countries have seized nearly complete control of Ukraine’s lands and subsoil, former Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov told Sputnik.

“The share is almost 100%. All the land under various types is owned by the largest agricultural corporations like [US’s] Monsanto,” Azarov said.

Volodymyr Zelensky had given away the mineral resources of Ukraine to the United Kingdom and the United States for free under relevant agreements, the official said. In modern Ukraine, the population owns nothing, he added.

“I cannot understand why people are dying. For Zelensky to fill his pockets?” Azarov said.

On April 30, 2025, the United States and Ukraine signed an agreement on rare earths, which envisaged the creation of an investment fund in Ukraine with a 50/50 distribution of management and contributions between the parties. The document stipulated investment in the development of Ukraine over 10 years, as well as Kiev receiving military aid from the US, which will be counted as Washington’s contribution to the fund.

Was MAHA Too Good to Last in the Trump Administration?

By Adam Dick | Peace and Prosperity Blog | February 21, 2026

Donald Trump’s presidential administration has been a big disappointment in several major areas, including the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) prospect of reducing government spending and the America First prospect of the United States government pursuing a foreign policy much less interventionist than before. On both counts, the Turmp administration has led the government in the opposite direction than what was promoted in Trump’s presidential campaign. Spending and the national debt have grown. At the same time, the Trump administration has continued the Biden administration’s Ukraine, Israel, and other wars, while stirring up new wars in Venezuela, Iran, and beyond.

As far as Trump’s campaign promise to empower Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to help make America healthy again (MAHA) there has been some progress. Significant moves toward MAHA achieved under Kennedy’s direction include curtailing the US government’s role as a drug promoter and shrinking the US government’s childhood vaccine schedule. Kennedy went astray at times from pursuit of MAHA as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, including when he jumped in to help lead and promote the Trump administration’s crackdown on free speech critical of Israel at American educational institutions. Still, it seems that in the area of drug policy Kennedy has been on net carrying through on the promise to act to improve the health of Americans.

As if to confirm the saying that all good things must come to an end, Amanda Chu reported Saturday at Politico that indications are that the Trump administration is stepping in to restrain Kennedy from pursuing much of the MAHA program. … continue

NIAID-funded scientists engineer mutant influenza virus and ‘expand its host range’: Journal ‘Nature Communications’

By Jon Fleetwood | February 16, 2026

Scientists funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) engineered influenza viruses and introduced mutations that expanded the virus’s host range—an outcome that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) itself formally defines as gain-of-function research under a 2025 Executive Order implementation notice.

The study, published in Nature Communications last week, confirms the work was funded through a NIAID influenza research center.

The authors state:

“Funding was also provided, in part, by … CRIPT (Center for Research on Influenza Pathogenesis and Transmission), a National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) funded Center for Influenza Research and Response (CEIRR, contract 75N93021C00014…).”

The CEIRR network is one of NIAID’s primary federally funded influenza research programs.

The current Director of NIAID—allowing such risky influenza lab engineering—is Dr. Jeffery Taubenberger, who holds a patent on the technology behind the Trump administration’s $500 million influenza vaccine platform.

The same federal agency funding the creation of mutated influenza viruses is led by the man who helped invent—and could profit from—the vaccine meant to fight them.

Moreover, the study comes as Congress and President Donald Trump have enacted a new law allocating more than $5.5 billion in taxpayer funding for pandemic preparedness, with influenza—the same pathogen engineered in these experiments—named as the only virus explicitly identified in the statute. … continue

FDA Reverses Course, Will Now Review Moderna’s Controversial mRNA Flu Vaccine

What was behind the FDA turnabout?

By Peter A. McCullough, MD, MPH | Focal Points | February 20, 2026

With 10 approved influenza vaccines, on the U.S. market right now, across three main production methods — eggs, cell cultures, and recombinant protein, do we need a genetic mRNA product?

The annual influenza vaccine campaign led by the CDC has become a major public health failure with minimal efficacy and rising concerns of the shots causing more colds and flu while raising the risks of serious conditions like paralysis from Guillain-Barre Syndrome. … continue

Vermont advances bill letting unelected Health Commissioner decide which vaccines ctizens should receive

By Jon Fleetwood | February 19, 2026

The Vermont House of Representatives has passed House Bill 545, a sweeping law that grants the state’s unelected Health Commissioner the authority to issue official recommendations determining which vaccines children and adults in Vermont should receive, explicitly names influenza vaccines in statute—including future reformulations—and shields healthcare providers from civil liability for injuries caused by those injections.

The law also authorizes pharmacy technicians—personnel who historically served in support roles rather than frontline clinical injection roles—to administer influenza vaccines to children as young as five, dramatically expanding the range of individuals authorized under state law to deliver those shots.

You can see which representatives voted in favor of the bill here, with only nine voting against.

House Bill 545 is now advancing through the Vermont Senate, where it has already received favorable committee approval. … continue

Colonizers Shoot Two Palestinians, Burn Farm Near Ramallah

IMEMC | February 21, 2026

Illegal Israeli colonizers shot two Palestinians, including a child in the village of Al-Mughayyir on Saturday, and burned an agricultural facility in the nearby village of Abu Falah, northeast of Ramallah in the central occupied West Bank.

Local activist Mohammad Abu Aliya told the WAFA News Agency that armed paramilitary settlers invaded the village of Al-Mughayyir under army protection, and fired live ammunition at citizens, shooting a child and a young man.

He added that one of the wounded citizens was shot in the chest and the other was shot in the leg; their conditions were not known at the time of this report.

In the nearby village of Abu Falah, a group of colonizers set fire to an agricultural room belonging to the citizen Musa Abu Karsh; no injuries were reported. … Full article

Soldiers Shoot Two Palestinians Near Ramallah

IMEMC | February 21, 2026

Israeli forces shot two Palestinians, including a child, on Saturday, after storming the Al-Amari refugee camp, in the central West Bank governorate of Ramallah and Al-Bireh.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reported that its ambulance crews transported a young man and a child to the hospital, adding that the young man sustained a live gunshot wound to the thigh.

WAFA correspondent reported that the army invaded several neighborhoods in the Al-Amari camp, shooting two citizens and abducting another; their identities were not known at the time of this report.

In related news, occupation forces shot a Palestinian child and opened fire at a civilian vehicle, after storming the northern West Bank town of Beit Furik, southeast of Nablus.

The PRCS reported that its ambulance crews transported a 14-year-old to the hospital after he was shot with live ammunition as soldiers facilitated a settler incursion into Beit Furik town. … Full article

Two Palestinians killed, four others injured in Israeli attacks in Gaza

Palestinian Information Center – February 21, 2026

GAZA – Two Palestinian citizens were martyred and four others were injured in Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, amid other ceasefire violations persisting for the 133rd consecutive day in different areas of the war-ravaged coastal enclave.

A medical source said that a civilian identified as Osama an-Najjar, 46, was killed following a strike from an Israeli drone in the Qizan an-Najjar area, south of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza.

Another young citizen, Majed Abul-Awf, was killed after being targeted by a bomb dropped by an Israeli drone in Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza.

A young woman was also injured in the neck by Israeli gunfire near the Holy Family Church east of Gaza City.

Meanwhile, three other citizens were wounded by Israeli gunfire in Gaza City’s ash-Shuja’iya neighborhood.

Earlier in the morning, the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) reporter said that Israeli armored vehicles opened fire in the east of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza and towards the northern areas of Gaza City, amid artillery fire targeting Gaza City’s al-Tuffah neighborhood.

Israeli aircraft also carried out an airstrike east of Khan Yunis, as gunboats heavily opened fire towards the city’s coastal waters.

US envoy Huckabee claims Israel has ‘biblical right’ to conquer all West Asia

The Cradle | February 21, 2026

During a recent interview with Tucker Carlson, US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee claimed Israel has a biblical right to take over “all” of West Asia.

“It would be fine if they took it all,” Huckabee said when asked whether a passage from the Book of Genesis can be interpreted as granting Israel the right to steal all the land between the Nile River in Egypt and the Euphrates in Syria. … continue

Thousands at large after Syria’s largest ISIS detention camp falls

Al Mayadeen | February 21, 2026

US intelligence agencies have concluded that between 15,000 and 20,000 people, including ISIS militants, are at large following a mass escape from the Al-Hol detention camp, US officials familiar with the figures tell the Wall Street Journal.

Located in Syria’s eastern desert, al-Hol, once described as the largest detention site for families linked to ISIS, is now nearly deserted.

The estimate follows the rapid collapse of security arrangements that had held the facility together for years after Syrian government forces routed the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which long overlooked the camp. Within days, what had functioned as a tightly controlled enclosure fractured under riots and escape attempts.

Western diplomats in Damascus assessed that more than 20,000 people fled in a matter of days. … Full article

Testing the Alliance: Netanyahu’s Washington Visit

By Abbas Hashemite – New Eastern Outlook – February 21, 2026

Netanyahu’s recent rush to the United States signals that Israel seeks Washington to expand the agenda of negotiations with Iran. However, the Trump administration seems to recalibrate its policy alignment with Israel. … continue

Why the US-Israeli alliance will lose against Iran

By Robert Inlakesh | Al Mayadeen | February 21, 2026

While it is impossible to predict precisely what the war on the Islamic Republic of Iran and its regional allies will result in, the winnability of the regional conflict is clear. The only thing driving this attack is sheer Israeli arrogance, as there is no conceivable situation where all out regional war delivers anything short of uncontrollable chaos.

Why is an all out regional war unwinnable? Although there are various reasons as to why this is the case, it suffices to say that the US and Israelis have no way of controlling its outcomes, in addition to this, they simply do not possess the military industrial capacity to wage such a war for a long period of time.

Now, when this argument is made, it is not done from an idealistic point of view. Therefore, it is important to preface this piece on the fact that there is a clear Israeli-US superiority in terms of technology and the kinds of weapons they possess. Nobody disputes this. There is also clear superiority in the field of their intelligence agencies.

So, let us first assume that the United States and the Zionist entity manage to score all of their desired tactical victories. Working on this assumption will then definitively prove the injudicious nature of the endeavour. … continue

Dozens of US Warplanes Spotted at Jordan Base Amid US-Iran Tensions – Reports

Sputnik – 21.02.2026

Dozens of US warplanes have been spotted at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan amid tensions between the United States and Iran, the New York Times has reported, citing satellite photos and flight data.

Images taken on Friday show more than 60 attack aircraft, which is about three times their usual amount, the daily reported. According to flight tracking data, at least 68 transport aircraft have landed at the base since February 15. More fighter jets may be in shelters.

Satellite images show F-35 stealth fighter jets, which are more modern than those usually stationed at the base. Several drones and helicopters, as well as new air defense systems have also been spotted. … Full article

US pulls hundreds of troops from Qatar, Bahrain amid Iran war buildup: Report

The Cradle | February 21, 2026

Hundreds of US troops have been evacuated from military bases in Bahrain and Qatar in what officials described as a “precautionary move” amid preparations for a US strike on Iran, the New York Times reported on 21 February, citing anonymous Pentagon sources.

The pullout involved personnel from Al Udeid Air Base in Doha, the largest US military installation in West Asia with about 10,000 troops, as well as facilities in Bahrain, where the US Navy’s 5th Fleet is based, amid fears of Iran’s retaliation to the attack.

US officials later denied the troops were withdrawn over fears of Iran’s retaliation, instead claiming the personnel had been repositioned for “other missions and operations.”

Roughly 30,000 to 40,000 troops remain stationed across 13 military bases across West Asia. … Full article

Britain is once again poisoning peace diplomacy with Russia and fueling war in Europe

Strategic Culture Foundation | February 20, 2026

For discerning observers, there was an obvious attempt this week by Britain to poison a delicate stage in peace negotiations for ending the conflict in Ukraine.

The sabotage effort was as vivid as, well, how should we put it?, as vivid as a brightly colored dart frog from the South American rainforests.

Five European governments signed a joint statement this week that dramatically claimed that Russian opposition figure Sergey Navalny was murdered two years ago in a Siberian prison by poisoning.

The scripted drama and media orchestration always betray a psychological operation intended for public consumption, which warrants the rapid prescription of healthy scepticism as an antidote. … continue

EU state issues ultimatum to Zelensky over Russian oil supplies

RT | February 21, 2025

Slovakia will cut its emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine unless Kiev resumes deliveries of Russian oil by Monday, Prime Minister Robert Fico has warned.

The standoff centers on the Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline, the main artery carrying Russian crude to Hungary and Slovakia. When supplies stopped in late January, Ukraine blamed a Russian airstrike. Moscow, however, insisted that Kiev was using energy to blackmail the two EU countries, which have been critical of the bloc’s support for Ukraine. Both Slovakia and Hungary echoed Moscow’s stance.

Writing on Saturday on X, Fico issued a direct ultimatum to Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky while hinting at Kiev’s ingratitude over past humanitarian assistance and readiness to host around 180,000 Ukrainian refugees.

Zelensky, he said, “refuses to understand our peace-oriented approach and, because we do not support the war, he is behaving maliciously toward Slovakia.”

Fico recalled that Ukraine had already halted Russian gas supplies to Slovakia, a move he said costs the country €500 million ($589 million) per year. “Slovakia cannot accept Slovak-Ukrainian relations as a one-way ticket benefiting only Ukraine,” he said. … continue

Russian fuel tanker to test US sanctions amid Cuba crisis

Al Mayadeen | February 21, 2026

A tanker believed to be carrying Russian fuels is heading toward Cuba, putting US sanctions on Cuba to the test as President Donald Trump intensifies pressure on the island amid a worsening energy crisis.

The vessel Sea Horse is expected to arrive in early March carrying urgently needed fuel supplies, according to Bloomberg, which cited maritime intelligence firm Kpler Ltd.

Cuba is facing acute shortages of fuels essential for cooking, transportation, and power generation, and authorities are struggling to maintain electricity supply. Available power output has declined sharply since the start of the year, with satellite imagery indicating that nighttime light levels across the island have fallen by as much as 50%.

The Sea Horse loaded its cargo through a ship-to-ship transfer off the coast of Cyprus. Kpler’s lead oil analyst Matt Smith estimates the tanker is transporting nearly 200,000 barrels of Russian gasoil, according to Bloomberg. … continue

How Modern Medicine Hijacked Death and How to Reclaim a Better Way to Die

Monopolizing death is one of the most detrimental things the medical industry has done to humanity. In most cases, dying at home is better.

A Midwestern Doctor | The Forgotten Side of Medicine | February 19, 2026

Story at a Glance

• Scott Adams, who recently passed from an aggressive, rapidly progressing prostate cancer, openly shared his final journey with a wide audience, offering valuable insights for others facing the dying experience.
• Over centuries, the medical industry has increasingly monopolized death and dying, fostering a cultural view that treats death as something to fear, deny, and exclude from life—rather than a natural companion to accept.
• This distortion makes dying far more arduous in our society, fueling an escalating medicalization of death in which expensive, often futile interventions are imposed on patients—frequently against their deepest values and wishes.
• In contrast to the materialist scientific view that consciousness emerges solely from brain activity, compelling evidence indicates consciousness can persist independently of the brain and, in some cases, even transfer between individuals or contexts (e.g., via organ transplants or near-death accounts).
• Recognizing the spiritual dimensions of dying and how they intersect with modern medical discoveries. Many ancient and enduring traditions regard this moment as one of the most significant in human life.

Prior to the COVID-19 vaccines being released, many concerns were raised about these experimental gene therapies, including their potential for causing infertility, autoimmune diseases, and cancer (e.g., many of the theoretical autoimmune issues were summarized by Stefanie Seneff shortly after the vaccines hit the market).

So, when Pfizer’s regulatory submission to Europe’s FDA (the EMA) was leaked on December 9, 2020, I read through it in detail and discovered that Pfizer simply had been allowed to exempt itself from testing the vaccine for the above three key issues (despite that testing being required for gene therapies). Pfizer concluded their best option was to simply claim plausible deniability by insisting they “didn’t know” their vaccines would do all of that (because they’d “never” tested for them). … continue

High-Dose Vitamin C Cuts Death Risk from Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer by 54% and Doubles Survival Time

By Nicolas Hulscher, MPH | Focal Points | February 12, 2026

Before we dig into the extremely promising randomized trial, it’s important to understand that over 100 studies and decades of evidence reveal that vitamin C exerts anti-cancer effects through four powerful mechanisms: pro-oxidative cytotoxicity, epigenetic reprogramming, signaling-pathway suppression, and immune activation. A recent comprehensive review paper titled, High-dose vitamin C: A promising anti-tumor agent, insight from mechanisms, clinical research, and challenges, analyzed 150+ studies and found that when vitamin C reaches true pharmacologic levels (20–30 mM), it behaves like a targeted, tumor-selective therapy — something past trials missed by under-dosing.

Now, a recently published randomized controlled trial has reported striking results in one of the deadliest cancers: Stage IV pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Researchers tested whether adding high-dose intravenous vitamin C (75 grams, 3 times per week) to standard chemotherapy could improve survival outcomes. […]

In a disease where median survival has historically hovered around 8–11 months, doubling survival warrants serious attention and larger confirmatory trials.

This study represents one of the strongest modern clinical signals supporting high-dose vitamin C as an anti-cancer agent. – Read full article

STUDY: Vitamin C + Grape Seed Extract Outperforms Chemotherapy for Tumor Reduction in Mice

By Nicolas Hulscher, MPH | Focal Points | January 15, 2026

A recent preclinical cancer study produced a striking result: in a mouse solid tumor model (Ehrlich carcinoma), a combination of Grape Seed Extract (GSE) + Vitamin C reduced tumor volume more than chemotherapy. Researchers compared multiple treatment arms—including doxorubicin (DOX, nicknamed the “red devil”) as the chemo comparator—and found that the GSE + Vitamin C group showed the greatest mean tumor volume reduction, outperforming DOX in this experiment. […]

This is a compelling head-to-head preclinical comparison—but it remains a mouse study. Still, the effect size, the chemo comparator, and the immune remodeling signals make it a result worth serious attention and follow-up.

In this mouse tumor model, GSE + Vitamin C outperformed the “red devil” chemotherapy, achieving 76.61% vs. 68.82% mean tumor volume reduction, while also showing tumor marker and immune-environment changes consistent with true anti-cancer activity. And this isn’t surprising—a large body of research has documented anti-cancer mechanisms of vitamin C across multiple tumor systems, especially through oxidative stress–mediated tumor injury and immune support. – Full article

Travelers Take a Pass on Visiting America

By Adam Dick | Peace and Prosperity Blog | February 20, 2026

Donald Trump, who started his second term as United States president a little over a year ago, likes to talk about how he is making America great again. But, for foreigners planning their trips abroad, it appears Trump has played a significant role in reducing their perception that America is great — at least as a travel destination. … continue

EU members divided on 20th Russia sanctions package – media

RT | February 20, 2026

EU ambassadors reportedly failed to reach an agreement on a 20th sanctions package against Russia during a meeting on Friday, Reuters has reported, citing diplomatic sources.

The proposed measures, which Brussels said it hopes to finalize by the fourth anniversary of the Ukraine conflict’s escalation on Monday, face opposition from several member states over key provisions.

The main sticking point is a proposed full ban on maritime services for Russian oil tankers which would scrap the existing price cap system, prohibiting all EU companies from providing insurance, banking, shipping, or port access to any vessel carrying Russian crude. … continue

Hungary blocks EU loan to Ukraine

RT | February 20, 2026

Budapest has imposed a veto on a €90 billion ($106 billion) EU loan for Ukraine agreed in December, the Financial Times has reported. Hungary, along with several other EU members, had previously opted out of the scheme, which was expected to be covered through joint EU borrowing.

The Hungarian representative raised an objection, the outlet said on Friday, citing four people familiar with the matter. The report did not provide any details. Brussels requires the unanimity of its 27 EU members to move forward with the plan. … Full article

‘Israel’ commits new massacre in East Lebanon: 8 killed, 25 injured

Al Mayadeen | February 20, 2026

At least eight people were killed and dozens were injured on Friday in a series of Israeli airstrikes targeting eastern Lebanon, Al Mayadeen’s correspondent reported.

Eight people were killed and at least 25 others were wounded, in a non-final toll, after Israeli warplanes struck several areas in the Bekaa, eastern Lebanon, including the towns of Riyaq, Bednayel, Qsarnaba, and the Tamnine plain, the correspondent reported.

Earlier in the day, an Israeli strike targeted the Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp in the southern city of Saida, killing two people and wounding several others. … Full article

Lawyers ask police to investigate Elbit Systems UK for alleged war crimes complicity

MEMO | February 20, 2026

A London-based law firm has urged the Metropolitan Police to investigate the potential complicity of Elbit Systems UK directors in atrocities in the Gaza Strip, Anadolu reports.

The Public Interest Law Centre (PILC), with the support of Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT), submitted a detailed complaint Thursday to the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command.

The complaint said they asked the division to open a criminal investigation into four current and former British directors of Elbit Systems UK for “possible complicity in war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in Gaza.” … continue

Scotiabank Divests From Israeli Arms Company Following Public Pressure

By Alex Cosh ∙ The Maple ∙ February 18, 2026

A Scotiabank subsidiary has sold all of its remaining shares in an Israeli arms company, according to reports on recent regulatory filings.

The news comes after more than three years of public campaigns calling on Scotiabank to divest from Elbit Systems, a company that plays a key role in arming the Israeli military as it commits genocide in Gaza.

As reported by The Intercept in 2023, Scotiabank’s 1832 Asset Management held an estimated $500 million stake in Elbit Systems, making the Canadian bank the largest foreign shareholder in the Israeli arms company at the time.

Activists promptly organized pressure campaigns calling on Scotiabank to cut ties with Elbit Systems. This ramped up after Israel launched its genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023.

Over the course of 2024, 1832 Asset Management significantly reduced its stake in Elbit Systems. The Scotiabank subsidiary did slightly increase its stake last year, before dissolving all remaining shares in the most recent reporting period.

The campaign calling on Scotiabank to cut ties with Elbit Systems included a protest at the prestigious Giller Prize gala in November 2023, an event that was sponsored by Scotiabank at the time. As reported by The Breach, two activists took to the stage and unfurled a banner reading “Scotiabank Funds Genocide.”

Later in the evening, another activist mounted the stage shouting “Scotiabank is complicit in the genocide of the Palestinian people!” All three were charged with mischief and use of a forged document.

The protest galvanized a coalition of hundreds of writers and artists, who came together to form No Arms In The Arts. The charges against the protesters were ultimately dropped, and the Giller Prize eventually cut ties with Scotiabank in February 2025, ending a 20-year relationship.

Other actions included flash protests, sit-ins at Scotiabank branches and national days of action.

The bank has previously denied that public pressure influenced the decisions made by its portfolio managers. Scotiabank did not respond to an emailed request for comment from The Maple for this story. … Full article

Israel tightens entry restrictions to al-Aqsa on 1st Friday of Ramadan

MEMO | February 20, 2026

Israel tightened restrictions Friday on Palestinian worshippers seeking to enter occupied East Jerusalem from the West Bank to pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque on the first Friday of Ramadan, enforcing strict measures and requiring prior security approval for entry.

Hundreds of Palestinians gathered early in the morning at military checkpoints surrounding Jerusalem in an attempt to reach the mosque, but Israeli forces barred many from entering despite some holding previously issued permits, an Anadolu correspondent reported.

The Israeli army deployed large numbers of troops at checkpoints leading into the city, with senior military officers present and a heavy security presence in place.

“Thousands of West Bank residents are crowded at the Qalandiya checkpoint, and the occupation authorities are refusing to allow them to enter on the grounds that the permitted number for Friday, set at 10,000 people, has been reached,” the Palestinian Jerusalem Governorate said.

Israel raised its security alert level in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, with the start of Ramadan on Wednesday.

In recent weeks, Israeli authorities have stepped up arrests and issued expulsion orders in East Jerusalem ahead of Ramadan, a Palestinian rights organization said. … Full article

Israeli Forces Shoot, Abduct a Young Man Near Jerusalem

IMEMC | February 20, 2026

Israeli forces shot and abducted a Palestinian young man on Thursday, while he was in the vicinity of the Apartheid wall in the town of Ar-Ram, north of occupied Jerusalem.

Media sources reported that occupation forces shot an unidentified young man near the Apartheid wall in Ar-Ram town, before abducting him; his condition was not known at the time of this report. … Full article

Israel turns homes into military posts in Qabatiya amid escalating settler raids in northern W. Bank

Palestinian Information Center – February 20, 2026

JENIN – Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Friday converted several Palestinian homes into military outposts in the town of Qabatiya, south of Jenin, forcing residents to evacuate, according to local sources.

Witnesses said Israeli troops entered the town in the early morning hours, took over multiple houses and turned them into military barracks after expelling the families inside. Soldiers also raided and searched additional homes, detained several residents and conducted on-the-spot interrogations.

The incursion began the previous night, with Israeli forces deploying across several neighborhoods in Qabatiya and sending infantry units into the streets.

In a separate development, hundreds of settlers, under Israeli military protection, stormed open areas in the northern Jordan Valley on Friday, local sources said.

Settler attacks in the northern Jordan Valley have intensified in recent weeks, leading to the complete displacement of the al-Maita and al-Burj communities.

On Thursday night, dozens of settlers reportedly attacked residents in Hammamat al-Maleh, injuring one person, damaging two vehicles and setting fire to uninhabited tents in the area.

Gaza’s resistance security claims it neutralised suspected collaborator cells

MEMO | February 20, 2026

A security officer in the Rad’a Force, the field wing of the Resistance Security in the Gaza Strip, said on Thursday that specialised units had, over the past week, neutralised a number of members of what he described as collaborator gangs.

The officer said investigations with those detained had revealed that individuals with extremist “takfiri” views had joined the groups as part of a plan aimed at destabilising the internal front and serving hostile agendas.

He stressed the need for coordinated official and public efforts to confront what he termed the phenomenon of collaboration. … Full article

Two killed, several injured in Israeli strike on Lebanon

Al Mayadeen | February 20, 2026

Israeli forces launched an attack on Lebanon on Friday, targeting the Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp in the southern city of Saida.

The airstrike on the Hittin neighborhood of the camp resulted in at least two confirmed martyrs and several others injured, according to Al Mayadeen’s correspondent.

Following the airstrike, Israeli drones continued to patrol the skies over Ain al-Hilweh, and the surrounding areas.

This attack echoes a previous massacre on November 18, 2025, when Israeli forces struck the camp with three rockets targeting an open-air car garage in the camp’s Lower Street, killing 14 people and wounding many others. … Full article

Israel ready to strike Iran-backed armed groups – media

RT | February 20, 2026

Israel’s military is preparing to launch large-scale pre-emptive strikes on Iran-backed armed groups across the Middle East in order to prevent them from lending support to Tehran in any potential regional conflict, the Saudi daily Asharq Al-Awsat reported on Friday.

Israeli military sources told the newspaper that West Jerusalem has engaged mediators to warn Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group, Yemen’s Houthi rebels, and armed factions in Iraq that any attack against Israel would be met with a “massive and unprecedented response.”

The sources said that Israeli defense officials believe Tehran is pushing its regional allies to take part in any potential escalation after concluding that their limited involvement in the 12-day Israel-Iran war was a strategic mistake. … continue

Behind US war drums against Iran: No goals, no plan, no off-ramp

Al Mayadeen | February 20, 2026

As the United States continues to amass unprecedented military firepower in West Asia, the largest such build-up since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, a senior analyst at the Atlantic Council is warning that Washington has yet to answer fundamental questions about what a military campaign against Iran would actually achieve, or what catastrophic consequences it might unleash.

In a piece published this week, Nate Swanson, director of the Atlantic Council’s Iran Strategy Project and senior advisor on Iran policy to successive US administrations, outlined six critical questions that US policymakers appear unable, or unwilling, to answer before potentially launching a “massive, weeks-long” aggression against Iran.

The analysis, while emerging from a Washington policy establishment that has long driven the logic of “maximum pressure” against Tehran, nonetheless lays bare the incoherence and recklessness of the current US posture. … continue

With Ukraine blamed for cutting oil flows to Hungary, Croatia also refuses to transfer Russian oil in violation of EU law

Election interference?

Remix News | February 20, 2026

The energy supply dispute has reached a new level in Central Europe after Zagreb made it clear that it will not allow Russian crude oil to be transported via the JANAF pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced this week that Hungary would stop the transport of diesel fuel to Ukraine, after Ukraine halted the transit of Russian oil to Hungary via the Friendship pipeline on Jan. 27 and has not resumed it since. Shortly afterwards, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico also announced that the Slovnaft oil refinery would stop exporting diesel to Ukraine.

Szijjártó made it clear that Hungary expects Croatia to comply with EU law and step in to fill the shortage created for Hungary and Slovakia due to Kyiv’s refusal to reopen the Druzhba pipeline.

Economy Minister Ante Susnjar has indicated that Croatia is ready to help the two countries with oil from non-Russian sources, in accordance with European Union legislation and OFAC rules, but Hungary has countered that this is not in compliance with EU rules, which Szijjártó has pointed out state that if land transit of Russian crude oil is impossible, Budapest and Bratislava can also purchase from Russia by sea. … continue