Aletho News

ΑΛΗΘΩΣ

Current News and Analysis

IRGC strikes critical Israeli military sites with Khorramshahr-4 missiles in latest wave

Press TV – March 5, 2026

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) announced early Wednesday that its aerospace force targeted the critical Israeli military infrastructure with heavy Khorramshahr-4 ballistic missiles in the 19th wave of True Promise 4 Operation.

In a statement, the IRGC said the super-heavy missiles, each fitted with a one-ton class warhead, were launched in the pre-dawn hours.

The targets of the strike were central Tel Aviv, Ben-Gurion Airport and Squadron 27 of the Israeli Air Force at the airport, according to the statement.

It said the strategic salvo was preceded by attack drones and that the strike package penetrated “seven layers” of regional and domestic air defenses to reach its objectives. … continue

105 civilian facilities hit, 21 hospitals damaged in US-Israeli aggression: IRCS

Press TV – March 5, 2026

Iran’s Red Crescent Society (IRCS) says at least 105 civilian structures and buildings have come under attack, and some have been badly damaged during the ongoing US-Israeli aggression against the country.

In a statement on Thursday, the society said that the criminal regimes of the US and Israel have carried out a total of 1,333 strikes on Iran since the onset of the joint offensive on February 28, affecting 174 towns and cities across the country.

At least 636 locations have been bombed by the United States and Israel.

The statement added that the targeted residential areas are situated in the cities of Maragheh, Urmia, Lamerd, Isfahan, Hamedan, Kordestan and Kermanshah, besides some districts in the capital Tehran like Narmak, Shahid Keshvardoust, Qaem residential neighborhoods.

The IRCS further noted that seven of its bases were also hit by US-Israel strikes, and three of its ambulances were rendered out of service.

Furthermore, at least 15 medical facilities, including the Blood Transfusion Center and the Gandhi Hospital in Tehran, the Taleqani Hospital in Urmia and the Minab Clinic in the southern Hormozgan Province, sustained damage in the onslaught. … Full article

Iran slams US-Israeli attack on Tehran’s 12,000-seat Azadi sports complex as war crime

Press TV – March 5, 2026

Iran’s sports minister has strongly condemned an American-Israeli aggression against facilities inside Tehran’s 12,000-seat Azadi Sports Complex, calling the attack a violation of international law and a war crime.

Speaking in a live video call with the IRIB’s News Network, Sports and Youth Minister Ahmad Donyamali said several sports venues had been targeted in Thursday’s attack.

He said such strikes violate international rules protecting sports facilities during wartime.

“Unfortunately, today several of our stadiums were targeted,” Donyamali said. “According to the Olympic Charter and global rules, attacking sports venues is a war crime.”

According to Iranian officials, a 12,000-seat indoor volleyball arena inside the Azadi complex was destroyed in the strike.

The attack also leveled dormitories and a newly built building belonging to Iran’s Cycling Federation, while blast waves shattered windows in nearby facilities, including the complex’s swimming pool.

Donyamali said the stadiums were empty when they were struck but added that civilians in surrounding areas were injured by the blasts.

“Although the stadiums were empty, people in the surrounding areas were wounded and harmed as a result of the military attack,” he said. … Full article

New American copium: Ghost of Kuwait

By Drago Bosnic | March 5, 2026

As the unprovoked US aggression on Iran isn’t going as planned (mildly speaking), the mainstream propaganda machine desperately keeps trying to cope with the incompetence of the American military, particularly the failures of the USAF, which is often presented as “invincible”. This is especially true when it comes to the humiliating loss of three F-15E multirole strike fighters. The mainstream propaganda machine first reported that they “crashed due to a malfunction“, then that it was a “Patriot” SAM (surface-to-air missile) system and now it’s supposedly a Kuwaiti F/A-18 fighter jet. The only excuse that hasn’t been used yet is a bird strike (although such propaganda is not unheard of).

Namely, the Wall Street Journal claims that “a catastrophic ‘friendly fire’ incident” involving the Kuwaiti jet fighter resulted in “an accidental shootdown” of three American F-15s. To quote “anonymous US officials and those familiar with initial reports”, a Kuwaiti F/A-18 pilot launched three missiles at the American aircraft, resulting in the loss of all three jets. The incident was supposedly triggered by “an environment of extreme tension” and “a breakdown in battlefield identification”. The report says that shortly before the shootdown, an Iranian drone successfully penetrated Kuwaiti air defenses and struck “a tactical operations center at a commercial port, killing six US troops”. … continue

Radar Follies: The Delicate Golden Thread

By Bill Buppert | The Libertarian Institute | March 5, 2026

What happens when billions of dollars of Western radars are shattered and decimated? Once fire direction can’t translate & collate Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) inputs to operable cueing and precise targeting for munitions, efficacy of fires falls off a cliff. You can have mountains of missiles and munitions but the tyranny of angles and location in a dynamic conflict demand precision targeting.

These billion+ dollar radar architectures are complex with long lead times to completion. The cost means the templating geographic coverage does not have very much redundancy.

These are connected to data processing facilities and SATCOM/communications infrastructure in a complex choreography that demands high levels of tightly synchronized coordination. That radar is the reception locus for cueing from a number of sources (including the radar coverage itself) and contributes to airspace deconfliction by naming the priority of threats after determining through Positive Identification (PID) and Combat Identification (CID). The vast inputs are binned into threats, friendly, neutral and unidentified objects and prioritized by apparent threat level prioritized to proximity.

I’m boring you with that to emphasize how important these technological marvels are in peer conflict in the missile age.

Gallium is crucial to build radars. Guess what? China controls 98% of gallium production.

The Iranians are making claims to radar destruction.

Apparently destroyed by Shahed drones.

US racks up billions in losses during first four days of war as Iran pummels key Pentagon assets: Report

The Cradle | March 4, 2026

Iran’s retaliatory strikes on US assets in the Persian Gulf have caused at least $2 billion in losses for Washington since the start of the war against the Islamic Republic, Anadolu Agency reported on 4 March.

Almost fifty percent of the losses result from Iran’s destruction of a US AN/FPS-132 early warning radar system at Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which is worth $1.1 billion.

The Islamic Republic also took responsibility for shooting down three F-15E Strike Eagles over Kuwait on Sunday, an incident US Central Command (CENTCOM) claims was caused by “friendly fire” from Kuwaiti forces. The estimated cost to replace the jets is $282 million. … continue

US F-15E Strike Eagle multi-role attack fighter jet downed by IRGC air defenses

Press TV – March 5, 2026

An American F-15E Strike Eagle multi-role attack fighter jet has been successfully targeted and downed by the Iranian air defense systems.

In a statement on Thursday, the public relations wing of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) confirmed that the high-end fighter jet had been downed,

The statement added that the IRGC’s modern aerospace defense systems targeted the fighter jet on Wednesday morning on the outskirts of the country’s southwestern borders.

Some sections of Israeli media had earlier reported on the downing of an advanced American fighter jet over the Iranian skies.

The fate of the pilot is not known yet.

It comes amid the continued American-Israeli war of aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran, which has claimed over 1,000 lives, mostly civilians, so far.

Iranian retaliatory operations, under the banner True Promise 4, have targeted Israeli military and intelligence deep inside the occupied territories as well as American occupation military bases scattered across the West Asia region.

The US government remains tight-lipped about the real death toll of its soldiers in the Iranian strikes, even though Iran’s top security official, Ali Larijani, on Wednesday said over 500 American soldiers have been killed in the first few days of the imposed war. … Full article

US and Israeli Claims of Depleted Iranian Arsenals are Just Military Propaganda – Expert

By Ekaterina Blinova – Sputnik – 05.03.2026

American officials claim Iran’s arsenal is dwindling and launchers are running low — but there’s no objective proof, veteran Russian military observer Yury Lyamin, senior researcher at the Moscow-based Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, tells Sputnik.

“Such statements should be treated with great skepticism and seen as standard military propaganda,” Yury Lyamin says. “I believe Iran’s total number of launchers is generally underestimated.”

Yes, the number of missile launches has dropped – but why? … continue

Saudi journalist says ‘not all attacks’ on Gulf coming from Iran, fears US-Israel dragging monarchies into war

The Cradle | March 5, 2026

In an interview broadcast on Asharq News on 3 March, Adhwan al-Ahmari, the editor-in-chief of Independent Arabia and the president of the Saudi Journalists Association, said that “not all attacks” targeting Persian Gulf nations come from Iran, and stressed fears that the US–Israeli alliance wants to “trap” Gulf nations into joining the war.

“Some believe this war is an American-Israeli trap to implicate the Gulf countries and draw them into a confrontation with Iran,” Ahmari said. “This hypothesis, I think, increases every day.”

“What if the US announces after a week, 10 days, or two weeks that it has achieved all its goals in this war and that the war is over and then leaves the Gulf states in an open confrontation?” he asked. … Full article

Iran denies attacking Azerbaijan, suggests Mossad involvement

Al Mayadeen | March 5, 2026

Iran’s armed forces denied on Thursday that they launched drones toward Azerbaijan after Baku accused Tehran of carrying out UAV attacks in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

The statement was issued by the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces and carried by the Iranian state broadcaster IRIB. … continue

Iranian Armed Forces say no missile fired from Iran into Turkey

Press TV – March 5, 2026

Iran’s Armed Forces say they did not fire any missiles into Turkey, stressing Tehran’s respect for the neighboring country’s territorial integrity.

“The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran dismiss firing any missile into Turkey,” the Chief Staff of the Armed Forces said in a statement on Thursday.

It added that the Iranian Armed Forces respect the sovereignty of the neighboring and friendly country of Turkey.

The statement came after Turkey’s Ministry of National Defense claimed that NATO air defense systems had destroyed a ballistic missile fired from Iran and heading into Turkish airspace.

The ministry announced on Wednesday that the missile was shot down after passing over Syria and Iraq. The target of the missile has not been determined. … continue

The myth of military ‘decapitation’

By Lucas Leiroz | Strategic Culture Foundation | March 5, 2026

The recent escalation in the Middle East has brought back to the center of strategic debate a recurring concept in Western military doctrine: the so-called “decapitation strike.” The idea is simple in appearance and politically seductive – eliminate the leadership of an adversary state in order to trigger institutional collapse, military disorganization, and ultimately regime change. However, historical reality shows that such an approach is far from the magic solution its proponents often imagine.

The bombings carried out by the United States and Israel against Iran, culminating in the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, were clearly conceived under this logic. The expectation seemed to be that by removing the main political and religious authority of the Islamic Republic, the system would either collapse outright or face sufficient internal unrest to enable a forced transition. At the same time, it was assumed that Iran’s response would remain limited, as in previous confrontations.

That calculation proved mistaken. Instead of disintegration, there was internal consolidation. Thousands of Iranians took to the streets across the country, even under bombardment, to support the Islamic Republic and chant “death to America.” Moreover, there was no strategic paralysis among Iranian decision-makers, who promptly responded by striking targets throughout the Middle East.

This gap between expectation and reality stems from a structural characteristic of contemporary Western military thinking. … continue

Zelensky issues military threat to Orban

RT | March 5, 2026

Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has issued an apparent military threat to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban over his blocking of EU aid for Kiev.

Orban last month vetoed Brussels’ planned €90 billion ($106 billion) emergency loan for Kiev in response to Ukraine preventing Russian oil supplies to Hungary via the Druzhba pipeline.

Speaking at a press conference in Kiev on Thursday, Zelensky stated: “We hope that one person in the EU will not block the €90 billion… Otherwise, we will give the address of this person to our armed forces, to our guys, so that they call him and communicate with him in their own language.” … continue

Is the International Norm Against Assassination Dead?

By Sophie Duroy and Luca Trenta – Verfassungsblog – March 2, 2026

On 28 February 2026, the United States and Israel assassinated the supreme leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei. The joint operation marked the first time either state has directly killed a sitting head of state. As with the US’s January 2026 operation against Nicolás Maduro, what stands out is not only the gravity of the act but the manner in which it was justifiedPublic statements emphasised Khamenei’s record and the sophistication of US-Israeli intelligence cooperation, but they did not articulate a credible legal basis for the strike.

Khamenei’s assassination represents a new stage in the erosion of the international norm against assassination. This norm has long been understood as part of a broader framework protecting sovereignty and prohibiting the use of force outside armed conflict. Under international law, the killing of a state official outside an armed conflict will almost invariably violate the prohibition on the use of force, state sovereignty, and/or international human rights law. In an influential piece written two decades ago, Ward Thomas observed that “the directly targeted killing of foreign adversaries, once rejected as beyond the pale, has become a prominent issue in debates over U.S. security policy”. For Thomas, the shortsighted policies driving the US’s so-called “global war on terror” were undermining the norm and risked spilling over to justify the killing of state officials. Yet, in 2005, he wrote with some relief that “the word ‘assassination’ itself still carries a considerable stigma”. In the wake of Khamenei’s assassination, this statement no longer seems to hold true.

Since the early 2000s, the gradual normalisation of state-sponsored assassination has lessened the stigma attached to the practice to the point that assassinating a sitting head of state without any legal justification has now become a reality. While the international norm against assassination may not yet be fully dead, its recent trajectory offers little hope for its restoration. … continue

US-Israeli massacre of schoolgirls a human sacrifice to ‘Epstein cult’ – Iranian envoy

RT | March 5, 2026

The strike on an Iranian school that killed at least 160 pre-teen students and teachers on the first day of the US-Israeli regime-change operation resembles satanic rituals allegedly enabled by pedophile American financier Jeffrey Epstein, an Iranian diplomat has claimed.

The attack in Minab, for which US and Israeli forces have not yet acknowledged responsibility, occurred last Saturday as the Pentagon and IDF struck targets across Iran in an attempt to decapitate and paralyze its government.

Alireza Sanei, Iranian ambassador to Belarus, alleged on Wednesday that Epstein was part of a mystical cult and that the same forces targeted the Minab school in “some ritual of child sacrifice” meant to bring success to the US-Israeli military operation. […]

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova similarly described the Minab incident as a “sacrifice to the forces of evil” in a message condemning the EU’s framing of the Iran war as giving “new hope” for Iranians to determine their future. The attitude is “satanism in full display,” Zakharova said. … Full article

Security Researchers Warn Age Verification Laws Are Building a Global Surveillance System

By Ken Macon | Reclaim The Net | March 3, 2026

Three hundred and seventy-one security and privacy academics from 29 countries signed an open letter this week calling on governments to halt age verification rollouts until the privacy and security implications are properly understood.

The letter arrives as lawmakers across the world race to ban children from social media, pushing platforms to implement age checks before anyone has settled on what those checks should actually look like.

The signatories are unambiguous. Deploying large-scale identity verification systems without a clear grasp of what they do to user security, autonomy, and freedom is, in their words, “dangerous and socially unacceptable.” … continue

Iraqi resistance leader urges Americans to ‘reclaim’ country from Israeli ‘puppet Trump

Press TV – March 4, 2026

A senior Iraqi resistance leader, in a message addressed to the American people, has urged them to “reclaim” their country and “prevent the bloodshed” of their children.

Abu Alaa Al-Walae, Secretary-General of the Sayyed Al-Shuhada Brigades in the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, released the message on Wednesday amid the Israeli-American war against the Islamic Republic of Iran.

He said US President Donald Trump has seized the democracy of Americans, stressing that the only real threat is Trump “turning into a puppet” to fulfill Israeli regime premier Benjamin Netanyahu’s “desires under the slogan Israel First.”

“Trump and Netanyahu have seized your democracy, taken your taxes, and sent your sons into hell after convincing you that an imminent threat was looming over you,” he wrote.

“You should take action as soon as possible to reclaim your country and prevent the bloodshed of your sons. Trump and his administration are lying to you.”

Referring to the unprovoked Israeli-American aggression against Iran and genocide in Gaza, Al-Walae said what is happening right now in the West Asia region “is a tragic waste of your human and financial resources.” … Full article

Spanish foreign minister rejects White House claims of shift in military base policy

MEMO | March 4, 2026

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares “categorically” denied Wednesday that Spain has agreed to military cooperation with the US following tensions over base access amid the ongoing US-Israeli offensive on Iran, Anadolu reports.

Speaking at Cadena SER radio, Albares denied claims made by the White House, stressing: “The Spanish Government’s position regarding the war in the Middle East and the bombings in Iran, regarding the use of our bases, has not changed by a single comma.”

The denial follows statements from White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, who told reporters Wednesday that Spain had agreed to cooperate after President Donald Trump threatened to “cut off all trade” with the European ally. Trump’s ultimatum came after Madrid prohibited the US from using bases on Spanish territory to launch attacks against Iran.

“With respect to Spain, I think they heard the president’s message yesterday loud and clear, and it’s my understanding … they’ve agreed to cooperate with the US military and so I know that the US military is coordinating with their counterparts in Spain,” Leavitt told the reporters. … Full article

Colonizers Shoot Two Palestinians, Escalate Attacks Across West Bank

IMEMC | March 4, 2026

Israeli forces and illegal paramilitary Israeli colonizers carried out a coordinated wave of attacks across the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, shooting two Palestinians, abducting several others, and invading multiple villages, Bedouin communities, and agricultural areas from Hebron in the southern West Bank to Jericho in the eastern West Bank, Tubas in the northeastern West Bank, and Salfit in the central West Bank.

Residents and local officials described the escalation as part of a sustained campaign to pressure Palestinian communities off their land and expand colonial control.

Armed colonizers attacked Palestinian homes in the Hamroush area of Sa’ir, northeast of Hebron, firing live rounds at residents and their houses and injuring two Palestinians.

Israeli forces then invaded the area to protect the colonizers, broke into several homes, and abducted a resident identified as Nabil Al‑Tarwa, while assaulting unarmed civilians who attempted to repel the attack.

Witnesses said colonizers tried to reach several homes to set them on fire and inflict further damage on property. … Full article

Israeli Forces Shoot Five Palestinians in Jenin

IMEMC | March 5, 2026

Israeli forces shot and injured five Palestinian young men, including one critically, on Wednesday night, in the northern West Bank city of Jenin.

Media sources reported that five wounded citizens, one of whom was critically injured, arrived at the Al-Razi Hospital emergency room in Jenin city.

The critically injured young man was shot in the back with live ammunition and the bullet exited through his chest; his identity was not known at the time of this report.

Occupation forces stormed the Cinema Roundabout at the city center while it was crowded with local citizens, and proceeded to open fire, resulting in the five injuries. … Full article

Palestinian woman killed by Israeli gunfire in Al-Mawasi, Rafah

Palestinian Information Center – March 4, 2026

GAZA – A Palestinian woman was killed Wednesday evening by Israeli army gunfire in the southern Gaza Strip.

According to the PIC correspondent, the woman was shot and killed, and another person was injured, by Israeli forces in the Al-Mawasi area of Rafah in southern Gaza.

Following the incident, the number of people killed in the Gaza Strip since Wednesday morning has risen to three, in addition to several others who were wounded.

Earlier in the day, two Palestinians were killed by Israeli army fire in the town of Bani Suheila, east of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza. … Full article

Hezbollah fighters repel Israeli advance in Khiam, drones attack bases

Al Mayadeen | March 4, 2026

The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon – Hezbollah carried out a series of operations against key Israeli military sites on Wednesday in retaliation for the recent Israeli attacks that targeted dozens of Lebanese cities and towns, including the southern suburbs of Beirut.

Among the bases targeted by the Resistance was the Ein Shemer airfield, an Israeli air defense site, nearly 75 kilometers away from the Lebanese-Palestinian border in Hadera. The base houses Arrow anti-ballistic missile batteries and an EL/M-2080S Green Pine radar used for search, detection, tracking, and interceptor missile guidance for anti-ballistic missile operations. It also hosts the control station for the Israeli Air Force’s medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) drone, the IAI Heron (Shoval), as well as hangars and maintenance facilities.

Additionally, the Resistance announced that it targeted the radar array located at the main Iron Dome air defense base in the north, in Kiryat Eliezer, in Haifa. […]

Hezbollah’s ground forces block Israeli advance

Amid Hezbollah’s long-range strikes against strategic Israeli targets, the Resistance is engaged in fierce confrontations with Israeli occupation forces in the Lebanese border towns. Fierce battles were recorded in al-Dhayrah on the western section of the border and Khiam, near the al-Jalil Panhandle. Hezbollah also scored direct hits against an Israeli armored personnel carrier (APC) and a Merkava tank in the village of Houla. … Full article

Iraqi Resistance reports drone attacks on US targets in Erbil

Al Mayadeen | March 4, 2026

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq – Saraya Awliya al-Dam announced that its fighters carried out an attack using a swarm of drones targeting a US forces base near Erbil International Airport, a hotel in Erbil used by US forces as accommodation for their soldiers, and a vital target in Jordan.

The group said the operations came in retaliation for the assassination of Iranian Leader Sayyed Ali Khamenei, and as a deterrent against the aggression that led to the martyrdom of several young Iraqi resistance fighters.

In a separate statement, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq said its fighters carried out 27 operations on Tuesday, using dozens of drones and missiles targeting “enemy bases in Iraq and across the region.”

In a related development, the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) announced that US occupation forces targeted one of the headquarters belonging to the Al-Jazira Operations Command in Jurf al-Nasr, confirming that the attack did not result in any casualties or losses. … continue

Report- U.S. and Israel Are Targeting ‘Hospitals, Residential Buildings And Schools Across Tehran’

The U.S. and Israel Are Repeating The Gaza Strategy In Iran

The Dissident | March 4, 2026

Failing to achieve regime change, the U.S. and Israel are bombing civilian areas in Tehran, in an attempt to destroy Iran as a nation.

A report in the Telegraph, a mainstream British newspaper, wrote , “Tehran an ‘apocalypse’ of hospitals in flames and children buried beneath rubble”.

The report noted, “American and Israeli aircraft bombed hospitals, residential buildings and schools across Tehran on Tuesday in what residents described as ‘an apocalypse’” adding, “Millions of civilians are trapped under relentless bombardment as food and medical supplies dwindle and the death toll mounts.”

One resident of Tehran told the paper, “They have been bombing us without pause today, and the sound of explosions never stops. They don’t care where they are hitting. I have felt the shockwaves several times already”.

He added, “They are striking buildings where families live. After each explosion, people rush to help – and then another bomb hits the same area.” … continue

Witkoff undermined Iran talks by peddling lies to build case for military aggression: Report

Press TV – March 4, 2026

US President Donald Trump’s special envoy to West Asia, Steve Witkoff, undermined the negotiations with Iran by peddling lies to build a case for military aggression, according to a report citing regional diplomats.

“In that first meeting, both the Iranian negotiators said to us directly, […], that they controlled 460 kilograms of 60%,” Witkoff said Monday in a Fox interview, referring to the uranium’s level of enrichment.

“And they’re aware that that could make 11 nuclear bombs, and that was the beginning of their negotiating stance,” he claimed.

“They were proud of it,” Witkoff further claimed. “They were proud that they had evaded all sorts of oversight protocols to get to a place where they could deliver 11 nuclear bombs.”

However, a Persian Gulf diplomat with direct knowledge of the talks told MS NOW that Witkoff’s description of the conversation was false. … continue

Iran warns all Israeli embassies ‘legitimate targets’ if Lebanon embassy attacked

Press TV – March 4, 2026

Iran has warned that all Israeli embassies worldwide will be legitimate targets if its diplomatic mission or representatives in Lebanon are hit by the regime.

The warning, issued by General Abolfazl Shekarchi, spokesman for the Iranian Armed Forces, follows an ultimatum from the Israeli war machine demanding that Iranian representatives leave Lebanon immediately within 24 hours.

In a statement, General Shekarchi addressed recent Israeli threats against the Iranian embassy in Lebanon. “Until now, out of respect for the countries of the world, despite our capabilities, we have not taken action against Israeli embassies around the world,” General Shekarchi stated.

However, he warned that any strike on Iranian diplomatic soil would result in a total shift in that policy. … continue

Russia could end gas supplies to EU immediately – Putin

Hungary to become new EU powerhouse while Germany degenerates in more ways than one

RT | March 4, 2026

Russia may withdraw from the European gas market and redirect its supplies elsewhere without waiting for the EU to ban its imports, President Vladimir Putin has said.

The president made the remarks on Wednesday after he hosted Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto at the Kremlin.

“There’s no political motive here. But if we’re going to get shut off in a month or two, we’d be better off stopping now and moving to countries that are reliable partners, and establishing ourselves there. But that’s not a decision yet, it’s just me thinking out loud, so to speak. I’ll definitely instruct the government to work on this issue with our companies,” Putin told Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin.

Moscow could redirect supplies to “emerging markets” instead, given the EU’s repeatedly stated intention to phase out Russian resources completely, Putin suggested. The energy crisis in the EU is the result of the “misguided policies” pursued by the bloc’s authorities over “many years,” he said.

Russia “has always been and remains a reliable energy supplier” for all its partners, including the European nations, the president noted. Moscow is ready to continue work in such a manner with those partners “who are themselves reliable,” he added.

“For instance, with those in Eastern Europe, Slovakia, and Hungary. We supply them with our energy resources, both oil and gas, and we intend to continue to do so in the future. And the leadership of these countries will pursue the same policy as today, namely, being reliable for us,” the president explained. … continue

Veteran War Correspondent Reveals How to Tell When Analysts Talking About Iranian Losses Are Lying

Sputnik – 04.03.2026

“In every war, destroying a launcher is a very popular claim because it implies that the Israelis have reduced future attacks. This is a domestic and international message that ‘we have achieved the main objectives of the military campaign’,” says Elijah Magnier, a prolific journalist and war reporter covering Middle East conflicts since the 80s.

“But the standard of evidence it’s another matter,” the veteran observer told Sputnik.

“What is credible is before and after imagery. So showing an identifiable launcher vehicle, and they have to be authentic, not a decoy. And then geolocated strike footage, with clear launcher signature, and [a] pattern of fire decline consistent with launcher attrition,” Magnier explained.

“The Americans and the Israelis can claim that they’ve hit a ‘suspected’ launch site and they’ve used this term a lot, which means there is no proof of a launcher present, or there are strikes on empty pads or decoy equipment,” Magnier stressed.

Pointing to the intensity of Iran’s counterstrikes in the first days of the conflict, and its adoption of the strategy learned during the June 2025 war that enemy defenses start running out of interceptors after a few days of intense fire, Magnier says the real measurable sign of whether enemy attacks are degrading Iran’s capabilities will be whether its missiles continue firing after ten days or more.

Did Kuwait really shoot down three US F-15s?

There are some technical holes in the Pentagon’s official “friendly fire” story

RT | March 4, 2026

The US military wants you to believe that its worst day of air combat losses since the Vietnam War was the result of a “friendly fire” mishap. But do some digging and that story begins to look far-fetched. … continue

CIA planning to arm Kurdish militants to cause unrest in Iran after US failure in war: Report

Press TV – March 4, 2026

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) intends to arm Kurdish militants in a bid to trigger a civil war in Iran after the United States failed to achieve its goals in the unprovoked war against the Islamic Republic, a report says.

The administration of President Donald Trump has been in active talks with Iranian opposition groups and leaders of Kurdish militia factions in Iraq about providing them with military support, the CNN reported on Tuesday, citing multiple unnamed sources.

Meanwhile, the American president spoke with the head of the so-called Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (KDPI), Mustafa Hijri, the report added. … Full article

Trump’s Iran war will put him in the history books, but…

By Martin Jay | Strategic Culture Foundation | March 4, 2026

Did Marco Rubio just admit that Israel dragged the U.S. into the war with the first strike? The whole world is just waking up and realizing that the war is based on no strategy whatsoever. How very Trump.

Churchill’s comment about history being kind to him, because it will be him (Churchill) who will write it, isn’t going to apply to Donald Trump, who is the first U.S. president to succumb to Israel goading America into a war with Iran.

Things aren’t going very well for Israel and the U.S. in the war with Iran. … continue

The murder of Iranian schoolchildren cannot be whitewashed

By Eva Bartlett | RT | March 4, 2026

In Iran, under ongoing US-Israeli attacks, a mass funeral took place today for 168 Iranian schoolgirls aged 7-12, killed by an Israeli airstrike on February 28.

The strike hit the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ primary school in Minab, southern Iran, in broad daylight, when the children were at school. Fourteen teachers were also killed in the bombing. The bombing occurred as part of US-Israeli attacks sadistically dubbed ‘Operation Epic Fury’, attacks which have to date targeted schools, hospitals, residential areas and other civilian infrastructure.

It was a scene all too familiar to Palestinians: grief-stricken parents collapsing sobbing at the site of their daughters’ murders, clutching bloodstained backpacks, pulling out schoolbooks and personal items of their slain daughters. Children’s desks covered in debris from the bombing. A child’s shoe in the rubble. Death where life had flourished.

None of this is being conveyed by Western legacy media – only ghoulish gloating over the US-Israeli bombardment of Iran and the murder of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, and his young granddaughter and children. … continue

Massacre of Iranian school girls ‘deliberate’ US-Israeli attack to inflict maximum civilian casualties

The Cradle | March 4, 2026

An investigation published by Al Jazeera on 3 March suggests that the US and Israel deliberately massacred over 165 schoolgirls during an attack on the Shajareh Tayyebeh elementary school in Minab, southern Iran, was a deliberate effort to cause maximum civilian casualties, consistent with a pattern of previous US-Israeli attacks on civilian targets.

Iranian state media reported that at least 180 schoolgirls were killed in the strike.

“The findings reveal that the school had been clearly separate from an adjacent military site for at least 10 years,” the Al Jazeera report read.

The investigation found that images dated 6 September 2016 show internal walls built to isolate the school area, two watchtowers removed, and “three new external gates” opened directly onto the public street. … continue

Another girls’ school targeted in US-Israeli attacks on Iran

Press TV – March 4, 2026

The US and Israel have targeted another girls’ school in Iran, a day after the funeral of dozens of schoolgirls who were killed at the start of the unprovoked aggression against Iran.

The Director General of Education of West Azerbaijan Province announced that Esmat girls’ high school in District 1 of Urmia was seriously damaged by Israeli and American missiles and has become “unusable.”

“Fortunately, this criminal Zionist attack didn’t cause any casualties,” he added. … Full article

Iraq halts Kurdistan oil exports as regional war rattles Gulf energy flows

The Cradle | March 4, 2026

Iraq has suspended crude exports from the semi-autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan Region (IKR) through the Kirkuk–Ceyhan pipeline to Turkiye, Bloomberg reported on 3 March, citing people familiar with the decision who said that producers reduced output amid the escalating war in West Asia.

Roughly 200,000 barrels per day (bpd) have been taken off the market, according to those sources, who asked not to be named because the information is not public.

Production has dropped to about 50,000 bpd, and that volume is being reserved for domestic use.

The pipeline carries northern Iraqi crude to the Turkish Mediterranean port of Ceyhan, and is a key export route for the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), providing vital access to international markets and foreign currency revenues. … Full article

European nations facing ‘hell’ over Iran war energy disruption – Serbia

RT | March 4, 2026

European nations are facing “a literal hell” due to an energy price surge caused by the US-Israeli war with Iran, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has said.

Tehran’s retaliation to the regime-change military action launched on Saturday has disrupted crude and liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime choke point. With markets already in shock, import-dependent nations are on the brink of a major crisis, Vucic warned on Tuesday.

“We are entering an impossible situation. If this continues everyone in Europe will have a literal hell,” he told journalists. … Full article

Ukrainian drone attacked Russian LNG tanker in Mediterranean Sea

RT | March 4, 2026

Ukraine has carried out a drone attack on a Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker in the central Mediterranean off the coast of Malta, the Transport Ministry in Moscow has said.

Kiev has for months been attempting to target Russia-linked shipping both in the Black Sea and beyond, with Moscow accusing Kiev of “terrorism.” The attack on the tanker in Mediterranean waters represents a clear escalation in Ukraine’s war on Russian shipping.

In a statement on Wednesday, the ministry confirmed the raid on the Russia-flagged Arctic Metagaz vessel, which had been en route from Murmansk “with cargo processed according to all international rules” when Ukrainian unmanned boats launched from the Libyan coast struck the vessel.

All 30 Russian crew members abandoned the ship and were saved thanks to a rescue operation mounted by Russian and Maltese emergency services.

“We believe the incident to be an act of international terrorism and maritime piracy, a gross violation of the fundamental norms of international maritime law,” the ministry said.

It suggested that such “criminal actions” had been committed in part because EU members had turned a blind eye to Ukrainian policies, adding that they “should not remain without assessment by the international community.” … continue

Ukraine blocks EU mission to inspect Russian oil pipeline – FT

RT | March 4, 2026

Ukraine has rejected a proposed EU mission to inspect the Soviet-era pipeline that transports Russian oil through Ukrainian territory to Central Europe, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday, citing diplomats and officials. … continue

Slovakia to terminate emergency Ukraine electricity scheme

RT | March 4, 2026

Slovakia will terminate an emergency electricity supply contract with Ukraine, state-owned energy operator SEPS has announced.

The move comes amid the continuing row between Kiev and Bratislava over the Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline, which carried crude from Russia to Slovakia and Hungary. The pipeline went offline in late January, with Kiev claiming it was damaged by Russian long-range strikes, which Moscow has denied. Slovakia and Hungary have echoed Russia’s stance, accusing Ukraine of deliberately disrupting the supply for political reasons and threatening retaliation.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico ordered a halt to emergency electricity supplies from his country to Ukraine last week while threatening “further reciprocal steps” if oil supplies are not resumed. Announcing the halt, Fico reiterated that Ukraine’s actions were a “purely political decision aimed at blackmailing Slovakia.”

The contract with Ukrainian energy operator Ukrenego, which covers the emergency supply, is now set to be terminated, the director of SEPS, Martin Magath, told reporters on Wednesday after a government meeting. Over the past week, Ukraine reached out to Slovakia for an emergency electricity supply, but the request was turned down, he revealed.

Kiev has been increasingly reliant on electricity imports to stabilize its power grid, which has been battered by Russian strikes on Ukraine’s critical dual-use infrastructure. According to the Slovak authorities, Kiev received twice as much electricity from the country this January compared to the entire year of 2025. … Full article

Kindergartens damaged in Ukrainian drone attack on Russia

RT | March 3, 2026

A Ukrainian drone raid injured seven people in the Russian city of Novorossiysk overnight and caused extensive damage on the ground, including to kindergartens, local officials reported on Wednesday.

Five of the seven victims were hospitalized, though none are in life-threatening condition, the regional Health Ministry said. Mayor Andrey Kravchenko visited a 15-year-old boy and a 67-year-old woman being treated at the main city hospital, according to his Telegram updates. … Full article

Ethnic Hungarian with mental health issues dragged to Ukraine front line and is now missing, family says

By Thomas Brooke | Remix News | March 3, 2026

An ethnic Hungarian man described by relatives as mentally unwell was allegedly seized from outside his home in Transcarpathia and sent to the Ukrainian front line, where he is now listed as missing, according to his family.

As reported by Mandiner, the case of Hungarian-born Balázs Veres, who lived in the village of Szernye near Berehove, began two months ago with a desperate message to his father. “My father, they dragged me away from the gate, they shoved me into a car and took me to the army,” he wrote.

According to relatives, Veres was first taken to Lviv and later transferred to Kharkiv. The last contact the family received indicated that his unit had been deployed on a reconnaissance mission and that soldiers were not allowed to carry mobile phones for fear of being tracked by Russian forces. Since then, there has been no direct communication.

The family is concerned for his welfare and told Hungarian media that he suffers from poor mental health. His father, Attila Veres, who has lived in Hungary for three decades, and his aunt, Krisztina Bence, both told reporters that Balázs had long struggled with psychological problems. He was described as withdrawn and quiet, and barely able to speak Ukrainian beyond a few basic words.

According to his aunt, he may not even have understood what officers were demanding from him at the time of his detention. She said the family had previously taken him to a doctor, but his condition had not been formally documented in a way that would have guaranteed exemption from military service.

Veres was born in Nyíregyháza but did not hold Hungarian citizenship. His relatives argue that, given his health, he should have been exempt from conscription. “They should not have taken him away — they just took him,” his aunt said.

The family has since been informed that the army has registered him as missing. They say no further details have been provided about his whereabouts or fate.

Adding to their distress, Attila Veres said he later received a message from his son’s phone claiming that securing his release would cost $14,000. The message reportedly included details of where the money should be transferred. The father said he did not have that sum and would not have trusted the demand in any case. He claimed to know of another instance in which money was paid, yet the individual was allegedly intercepted at the border and returned, leaving both “the boy and the money lost.” … Full article

Brazilian mercenaries say they learned ‘guerrilla warfare’ in Ukraine

By Lucas Leiroz | Strategic Culture Foundation | March 3, 2026

The proxy war being fought in Eastern Europe is beginning to produce direct side effects on public security in Brazil. A recent report by the television program Fantástico, aired by TV Globo, revealed that Brazilian citizens with no prior military experience traveled to fight in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia after being lured by misleading financial promises. Upon returning, they bring with them practical knowledge of irregular combat learned on the battlefield – knowledge that, in a country already marked by heavily armed criminal factions, can easily be absorbed by organized crime. … continue

Moscow warns of worrying NATO buildup in Arctic

RT | March 2, 2026

NATO is attempting to curb Russia’s freedom of navigation in the Arctic, Moscow’s ambassador to Norway, Nikolay Korchunov, has said.

In an interview with Izvestia on Monday, Korchunov argued that Norway was seeking to squeeze Moscow out of the Spitsbergen archipelago, where Russia – the only country besides Norway to have carried out economic activity there for decades – has no intention of scaling back its operations.

A Norwegian territory, Spitsbergen has a Russian presence in the form of the Arktikugol mining company and the mining community of Barentsburg. Russia enjoys an equal right to engage in commercial activities on the archipelago alongside 13 other nations in accordance with the 1920 Svalbard Treaty, which also made the territory a demilitarized free-trade zone while recognizing Norway’s sovereignty over it.

Korchunov said Oslo was deliberately hindering Arktikugol operations and curbing movement and economic activity in parts of the archipelago, while pointing to a NATO-driven military buildup marked by more frequent visits from Norwegian aircraft and warships. He warned that bloc members “possess significant naval capabilities” and had shown a readiness to use them to curb freedom of navigation in breach of international law. … continue

Two Palestinians killed in settler attack on Qaryut village near Nablus

MEMO | March 3, 2026

Two Palestinian brothers were killed and several others wounded after armed settlers attacked the village of Qaryut, south of Nablus, on Tuesday, according to medical and local sources.

Medical officials confirmed the deaths of Muhammad Taha Muammar, 25, and Fahim Taha Muammar, 48, following what residents described as a violent assault by dozens of settlers.

Eyewitnesses told local media that armed settlers carrying rifles and iron bars stormed homes in the southern part of the village and opened fire on residents. At least five people were injured in the attack. Two of the wounded, reported to be in critical condition, later succumbed to their injuries.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said its crews treated several gunshot casualties, including individuals shot in the head. Among the injured were a 30-year-old man with a shoulder wound, a 32-year-old man with a knee injury, and a 15-year-old boy who sustained a gunshot wound to the shoulder. … Full article

Hezbollah targets upper al-Jalil with rockets in retaliatory operation

Al Mayadeen | March 3, 2026

The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon launched a rocket barrage at 10:50 AM targeting the Ma’ayan Baruch site in the Upper al-Jalil, northern occupied Palestine.

The group said in a statement that the attack came in response to the ongoing Israeli aggression that has struck dozens of Lebanese cities and towns, including Beirut’s Southern Suburb.

Earlier in the day, the Islamic Resistance announced that it had deployed a swarm of attack drones against the Meron air surveillance and operations management base in northern occupied Palestine. According to the statement, the operation resulted in damage to one of the base’s radar systems and a command building.

As part of the same response, Hezbollah said it fired a large rocket barrage at the Nafah base, the headquarters of the 210th Bashan Division, in the occupied Syrian Golan.

In the morning, the group also targeted radar sites and control rooms at the Ramat David Airbase in northern occupied Palestine using a swarm of attack drones.

In a separate statement, Hezbollah stressed that Israeli aggression against Lebanon has continued for fifteen months, involving killing, destruction, land clearing, and various forms of criminal activity. The group noted that political and diplomatic efforts have so far failed to curb the aggression or compel “Israel” to implement the agreement.

Hezbollah added that it had repeatedly warned that continued aggression without response would not be sustainable, emphasizing that assassinations and destruction cannot persist indefinitely. It affirmed that the objective is to put an end to the aggression by all available means and through effective and active measures. … Full article

‘Israel’ bombs Al Manar TV, Al Nour Radio overnight

Al Mayadeen | March 3, 2026

Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Beirut confirmed that Israeli occupation forces carried out violent airstrikes at dawn targeting the headquarters of Al-Manar TV in the Southern Suburb of Beirut, in addition to striking Al-Nour Radio. Another strike hit a building in the Haret Hreik area.

Earlier, Israeli occupation forces had bombed several areas in the Lebanese capital. Hours before the attack on Al Manar, a building adjacent to Al Mayadeen’s headquarters in the Jnah area of Beirut was also bombed.

Our correspondent had previously reported that a residential building threatened by the occupation in the Southern Suburb housed a library and several shops, adding that the area has been subjected to multiple intense attacks throughout the day. … Full article

Bahrain Charges Social Media Users for Celebrating Iranian Retaliatory Attack

teleSUR | March 3, 2026

Bahrain began arresting social media users on March 1 after they publicly celebrated Iran’s recent retaliatory missile and drone attack on U.S. military targets in the country, Manama officials confirmed. […]

The Ministry warned that legal action will be taken against those detained, charging them with endangering national security. … Full article

Failing Solidarity: How Cultural Prejudice Shapes Leftist Narratives on the War Against Iran

By Alain Marshal | March 3, 2026

The so-called progressive political and media elites have cynically normalized the assassination of Iran’s leader, dressing up regime change as a moral necessity while denying Iranians the right to self-determination. In doing so, they expose a racist double standard that humanizes Israeli victims, dehumanizes Iranian lives, and buries the very principles of freedom, dignity and international law they claim to defend. … continue

Trump orders Spain trade cutoff over ban of bases use against Iran

Al Mayadeen | March 3, 2026

US President Donald Trump directed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to “cut off all trade with Spain” after Madrid’s refusal to allow the United States to use its military bases to launch strikes against Iran.

“Spain has been terrible,” Trump said during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the White House.

The US president added, “I told Scott to cut off all dealings with Spain. We are going to stop all trade. They have great people, but not great leadership.”

Trump pushed aside opposition by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, stating, “If we want, we can just fly in and use it. Nobody is going to tell us not to use it.” … Full article

How Germany became Israel’s enabler-in-chief

By Tarik Cyril | RT | March 3, 2026

Say what you will about Germany’s current ‘elites’, but they are consistent: Once they don’t give a damn about international law, elementary fairness, rudimentary human decency, and, last but not least, basic logic, they really won’t quit before their country’s reputation is ruined as it has not been since 1945. Hyperbole, you think? Can it really be that bad, you wonder?

Leave it to Chancellor Friedrich Merz and company to achieve what seems almost impossible. For almost two-and-a-half years, not one but two German governments have been, in effect, complicit in Israel’s continuing Gaza genocide. Under former Chancellor Olaf Scholz from the centrist Social-Democrats – otherwise remembered for gutless evasion when US ex-president Joe Biden announced, in essence, that he was going to blow up Nord Stream – as well as under the unusually dishonest Merz from the centrist Christian-Democrats, Berlin has supplied Israel with arms (and probably misled the International Court of Justice about it), diplomatic cover, legal supportmedia propaganda, and the often brutal suppression of protests against Israel’s crimes.

Indeed, recently a UN special rapporteur has identified the “use of anti-terrorism laws to restrict advocacy for Palestinian rights” as “a primary concern” in a report warning that the “space for freedom of expression is shrinking” in Germany.

Against this awful and shameful background, the fresh war of aggression launched by Israel and its American auxiliaries – that’s the technically correct term for troops serving a foreign nation – could, conceivably, have been a very late wake-up call. Perhaps, an eternal optimist may have thought, the sheer brazenness of the attack will make even Berlin hesitate. Nope. Instead, Friedrich Merz and official Germany in general have radicalized their virtually nihilistic denial of law, ordinary ethics, and common sense. … continue

‘Blatant war crime’: Iran denounces US-Israel strikes on Gandhi hospital in Tehran

Press TV – March 3, 2026

Iran has denounced the recent US-Israeli attack on Tehran’s Gandhi hospital, which came in the wake of bombings of schools and massacre of more than 160 girls in Minab.

In a post on his X account on Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei stated that the bombings come despite the aggressors’ claims of possessing the most advanced military hardware and precision-targeting systems.

He emphasized that the deliberate targeting and destruction of civilian infrastructure, medical facilities, schools, and media institutions by the United States and Israel, with the aim of paralyzing civilian life, “constitute blatant war crime and crimes against humanity.”

“No responsible state can remain silent in the face of these atrocities,” he added.

On Sunday, the US-Israeli airstrikes hit parts of the Gandhi hospital, including its neonatal ward and two nearby multi story buildings. … Full article

Araghchi: American, Iranian blood shed for ‘Israel First’ agenda

Al Mayadeen | March 3, 2026

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Washington on Tuesday of sacrificing both American and Iranian lives to advance an “Israel First” agenda, following remarks by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defending recent strikes on Iran.

In a statement posted to social media, Araghchi said Rubio’s latest comments confirm that the United States entered a “war of choice” aligned with Israeli objectives rather than acting in response to an imminent threat to US security.

“There was never any so-called Iranian threat,” Araghchi wrote, arguing that the “shedding of both American and Iranian blood” rests with those in Washington who prioritize “Israel’s” strategic calculations.

“The American people deserve better and should take back their country,” he added. … Full article

Iran denies attacks on Oman as it warns of US-Israeli ‘false-flag’ ops

Press TV – March 3, 2026

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Iran has denied any involvement in military strikes against the territory or ports of the Sultanate of Oman, following reports of drone attacks at the Duqm and Salalah ports.

In a statement released via its Communications Center, the General Staff categorically rejected claims of aggression against its “friend and neighbor,” Oman. The denial comes as regional energy infrastructure reportedly faces a wave of unexplained aerial strikes.

According to the Oman News Agency, a fuel tank at the Duqm commercial port was struck by several unmanned aircraft on Tuesday. … continue

Iran UN: Timing not suitable for any form of negotiation with US

Al Mayadeen | March 3, 2026

Iran’s UN envoy in Geneva dismissed the possibility of talks with the United States amid ongoing aggression, reaffirming Tehran’s defensive military focus and highlighting efforts by the US and “Israel” to provoke attacks in neighboring states

Iran’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Reza Bahreini, stated on Tuesday that “the only language to deal with the United States now is the language of defense.”

Speaking at a press conference in Geneva in response to questions from Al Mayadeen, Bahreini emphasized that Iran is currently focused on defense, adding that the timing is not suitable for any form of negotiation. … continue

IRGC says second US THAAD anti-missile unit destroyed

Press TV – March 3, 2026

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says its Aerospace Force has successfully targeted and neutralized a second US-operated Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in West Asia.

According to a statement released by the IRGC’s Public Relations department, the advanced anti-missile system was struck by “precision-guided missiles,” rendering it completely non-operational.

The statement did not point to the location of the attack.

The IRGC stated that the elimination of these defensive batteries removes a major obstacle for Iranian missile operations.

“With the destruction of these two systems, the missile hand of the Islamic Republic of Iran is now open to successfully strike targets,” the statement read.

This latest report follows the IRGC announcement that it had destroyed a THAAD radar installation located at the Al-Ruwais base in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The THAAD system is one of the United States’ most sophisticated defensive tools, designed to intercept short, medium, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles during their terminal phase.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has not yet issued a formal statement on the attacks.

Iran no longer has any reason for restraint

By Samuel Geddes | Al Mayadeen | March 3, 2026

Tehran may well refuse US-Israeli pleas for a ceasefire until the region is transformed.

Both Trump and Netanyahu find themselves in an extraordinarily vulnerable position. They have given their greatest ideological opponent the means and the justification to extract maximum damage from them, as well as ceasefire conditions that would truly make this conflict a turning point in modern history.

President Trump clearly believed, at Netanyahu’s encouragement, that assassinating Iran’s Leader would pressure it to soften its negotiating position on the nuclear file. What he did instead was to shatter nearly a decade of Iranian restraint in the face of relentless provocation. … continue

How Close Were Iran Negotiations Before Trump Flipped the Table?

By Ted Snider | The Libertarian Institute | March 3, 2026

Iran has an “inalienable right” to enrich uranium for civilian use, Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, told the U.S. delegation with frustration in the final round of talks before the bombs started to fall on Iran.

And the United States has an “inalienable right” to stop you, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff answered with hubris.

Araghchi is right; Witkoff is wrong. Though the U.S. and its partners have presented the public with a war that was caused by Iran’s refusal to compromise on its civilian nuclear program, as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran has “the inalienable right to a civilian program that uses nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.”

That Iran was enriching uranium for peaceful purposes has been verified by the multiple consecutive International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reports that followed the JCPOA nuclear agreement with Iran and by the 2022 U.S. Department of Defense Nuclear Posture Review and, most recently, by the 2025 U.S. Annual Threat Assessment.

Despite their “inalienable right,” Iran made the major concession of negotiating significant limitations on its nuclear program that could have met U.S. redlines. Instead, the negotiations were interrupted by bombs falling on Iran in an attack that was neither necessitated by the immediate need to defend against an attack nor sanctioned by the Security Council. Negotiations on Iran’s legal nuclear program were answered by an illegal war. … continue

US ‘stonewalls’ Gulf calls for more interceptors as supplies quickly run out: Report

The Cradle | March 3, 2026

Washington has been “stonewalling” its Gulf allies’ requests for a replenishment of air defense missiles, Middle East Eye (MEE) reported, coinciding with intensifying Iranian attacks on US bases and assets across the region.

“At least one Gulf state that has come under attack from Iran asked US officials about replenishing supplies that have been depleted since the joint US-Israeli attack on Iran, but was brushed off,” a former US official familiar with the matter told MEE.

The former official said a separate Gulf state “responded to US requests to use air bases in their country with enquiries about the US’s commitment to their air defense systems,” and added that Washington’s Arab allies will “be left wanting if they expect new supplies of interceptors.”

“Whatever munitions were produced in the last couple of months, we have shot several years’ worth of production in the last few days,” the source went on to say. … continue

US running out of stand-off munitions, copies Iranian drones to compensate

By Drago Bosnic | March 3, 2026

The American and Western style of warfare relies heavily on achieving complete air dominance, followed by devastating bombing attacks designed to cripple the military infrastructure of a targeted country. If that doesn’t work, the US/NATO then resorts to unadulterated terrorism, targeting noncombatants and civilian infrastructure. During the early stages of the (First) Cold War, this approach was used against Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and numerous other countries. However, it never resulted in a strategic victory. On the contrary, it only galvanized the resistance of the local populace, strengthening their resolve in the face of American/Western terror bombing strategy.

This military doctrine suffered a failure over Indochina, where the heroic resistance of the Vietnamese people resulted in a crushing and humiliating defeat for the invading Americans. With the help of Russia, which sent thousands of military advisors and the most advanced air defense systems of the time, the Vietnamese military managed to shoot down approximately 12,000 US aircraft, saving millions of lives in the process. Just like in Korea, Washington DC employed an indiscriminate terror bombing of Vietnamese cities. The estimates for the total number of casualties go upwards of 5 million for Indochina, as American occupation forces heavily bombed the entire region. … continue

War on Iran shifts to attrition phase: Bloomberg

Al Mayadeen | March 3, 2026

An analysis published by Bloomberg on Tuesday suggests that only days after open hostilities began, the confrontation between the United States and Iran has shifted into a prolonged war on attrition.

According to the report, waves of Iranian drones, particularly the Shahed-136, have continued targeting US military installations and infrastructure across the Gulf following the initial strikes launched by Washington and Tel Aviv. While Gulf officials claim interception rates exceeding 90% through US-supplied Patriot missile batteries, the economic imbalance of the battlefield tells a different story. Each PAC-3 interceptor costs millions of dollars, dramatically outweighing the comparatively modest cost of the drones they attempt to neutralize.

The disparity recalls lessons from previous conflicts, including the 12-day aggression on Iran in June 2025, where sustained barrages exposed the limits of even advanced air defense architectures. High-end Western interceptor systems can be placed under strain when deployed continuously against lower-cost aerial platforms. Analysts say this dynamic creates mounting financial and logistical pressure on US regional partners, raising persistent questions about the long-term sustainability of such defensive operations. … continue

Attrition Advantage: Why Iran Holds Upper Hand

By Ekaterina Blinova – Sputnik – 03.03.2026

The US cannot sustain a full-scale war of attrition in the Persian Gulf at the current pace of munition deliveries, veteran Russian combat pilot Maj. Gen. Vladimir Popov tells Sputnik.

“The Americans are operating ‘off the truck,’ [and are heavily dependent] ‘on resupply,’” veteran Russian combat pilot Maj. Gen. Vladimir Popov tells Sputnik. “This involves massive logistics—lengthy and time-consuming processes. And it’s far from easy to sustain that across an ocean from the American continent.”

The existing stockpiles in warehouses and arsenals of air and naval US bases across the region, including Israel, contain a limited number of shells, bombs and drones, according to the pundit.

  • “Without regular resupply from the US mainland—from the main weapons storage bases—their current stockpile would last roughly two weeks, no more than that”
  • Rotating troops could turn into a major headache for the Americans
  • Next comes the logistics of maintenance and rear-line support for supplying weapons to the region—extremely costly processes

“I think the advantage will clearly be on Iran’s side,” Popov says. “The calculations might suggest the Americans are in a far worse position than Iran. It’s also worth noting that the Israelis sparked this conflict—and their arsenal is similarly limited and unlikely to last long.”

EU gas prices surge 50% right as Germany and France face down lack of energy reserves after cold winter

Remix News | March 2, 2026

Natural gas markets across Europe experienced a violent price surge on Monday following news that Qatar has suspended operations at the world’s premier liquefied natural gas facility, which accounts for 20 percent of global output. EU leaders are reportedly preparing for a crisis scenario if the war drags on due to already low gas reserves in the biggest member states, particularly Germany and France.

Prices went as high as 50 percent before settling back down to the current level of 45 percent at the time of publication, resulting in the current price of €46 per megawatt-hour. Similar price jumps were seen in the United Kingdom’s NBP benchmark index.

Adding to a potential crisis, EU storage levels have dropped below 30 percent capacity at the end of the winter season, significantly lower than the 40 percent recorded at this time last year. However, some of the biggest countries are facing the lowest levels of gas. Gas Infrastructure Europe shows German storage at 20.5 percent and French reserves at 21 percent. These low inventories leave the bloc increasingly susceptible to price swings and supply shortages if an LNG crunch worsens. … continue

The Purim War Against Iran

By Israel Shamir | Unz Review | March 2, 2026

The US, UK, France and Germany are flattered to call themselves “the West”, but it is more realistic to call them the Jewish-State-in-progress, or “Epsteinia”. We have just learned that President Trump had already made up his mind to go to war against Iran weeks ago, and that the pretence of diplomacy carried out by two Jewish real estate dealers (Witkoff and Kushner) on his behalf was little more than a nothingburger to keep Iran busy until the Chosen moment. So what exactly was the purpose behind Trump’s diplomatic pause before commencing hostilities? There is a reason; quite shameful, but true. Trump and his superior, Bibi Netanyahu, were guided by Kabbalah magic. They agreed to carry out this historic attack on a particularly auspicious date in the Jewish calendar, called Remembrance Shabbat, the last Saturday before the feast of Purim. The facts are overwhelmingly clear: International Jewry decreed the attack day and the US military jumped like obedient dogs to a Jewish whistle. … continue

Stuck in Another Disastrous Middle East War

By Ron Paul | March 2, 2026

Unfortunately, President Trump listened to the neocons and Benjamin Netanyahu instead of his MAGA base and other voices of caution as he launched a surprise attack on Iran over the weekend. For the second time in nine months, the US Administration used negotiations with Iran as a cover to launch a pre-planned attack. … continue

UK Government Secretly Tracked 25 Million People as Potential EV Owners

By Cindy Harper | Reclaim The Net | March 2, 2026

The UK government spent two years tracking 25 million mobile devices to build a picture of who drives electric cars. Not suspects or criminals. Just ordinary people whose browsing history mentioned EVs often enough to flag them as worth following.

The Department for Transport paid telecoms company O2 £600,000 ($809,000) to run the operation. According to the Telegraph, O2 trawled through its customers’ web browsing histories and app records, flagging anyone who visited an EV-related site at least once a month across two or more months.

That pool extended beyond O2’s own customers to include people on Tesco Mobile, GiffGaff, and Virgin Mobile, networks that run on O2’s infrastructure and whose users had no idea their data was being packaged and sold to a government agency.

Once flagged as a “potential EV owner,” your physical movements were traced across the country. London, the North-West, and the East of England received particular attention. … continue

Israel launches Bible study program targeting US evangelicals

The new initiative features Israeli soldiers, West Bank settlers, and a pastor of Messianic Judaism as key voices

By Nick Cleveland-Stout and Connor Echols | Responsible Statecraft | February 28, 2026

An Israeli-funded firm is hoping to boost evangelical support for Israel through a guided Bible study program that features interviews with Israel Defense Forces soldiers, theologians, and West Bank settlers, according to a new website uncovered by RS.

The firm, California-based Show Faith by Works, is launching a new initiative called “Hear from us,” featuring an eight-part series of lessons that mix typical Bible study prompts with stories about the importance of modern Israel.

Show Faith by Works previously sparked outrage among some evangelical communities after proposing a campaign to geofence churchgoers’ phones during worship hours to deliver pro-Israel advertisements. Since September, the Israeli government has invested over $3 million in the firm. … continue

Jewish settlers kill two Palestinians, injure others after attacking West Bank town

Palestinian Information Center – March 2, 2026

NABLUS – Two Palestinian brothers were killed and three other citizens were injured by Israeli gunfire during a settler attack on the town of Qaryut, south of Nablus in the northern occupied West Bank.

The Palestinian health ministry said that armed settlers shot and killed Mohamed Muammar, 52, and his brother Faheem, 47.

According to local sources, a horde of armed settlers attacked citizens’ homes south of Qaryut, firing live bullets at residents and their homes.

The Red Crescent reported that Mohamed was fatally shot in the head, while his brother succumbed to a gunshot wound to the pelvis.

The Red Crescent added that its ambulance crews provided medical assistance for three other wounded citizens in the town following the settler attack and transported them to the hospital.

Hezbollah bombs northern ‘Israel’, occupation bombards Beirut, South

Al Mayadeen | March 2, 2026

The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon announced that it launched a salvo of missiles and a swarm of drones at the Mishmar HaCarmel air defense site south of Haifa late Sunday into early Monday, stressing that the operation was in retaliation for the assassination of Iranian Leader Sayyed Ali Khamenei and in response to ongoing Israeli attacks on Lebanon.

Hezbollah said the strike targeted the Israeli occupation forces’ air defense position near the occupied city of Haifa, framing the attack as a “legitimate defensive response” to repeated Israeli violations and assassinations.

The statement said the operation came “in defense of Lebanon and its people” and warned that continued Israeli aggression over the past 15 months would not go unanswered, stressing that the resistance reserves the right to respond “at the appropriate time and place.” … Full article

52 killed, 154 injured in Israeli aggression on Lebanon

Al Mayadeen | March 2, 2026

“Israel” has killed 52 Lebanese civilians and injured 154 others during the aggression on Lebanon, the Lebanese government’s Disaster Management Unit announced on Monday, adding that at least 28,500 have been forcibly displaced from their homes.

Moreover, the Israeli occupation launched six missiles in an attack targeting a building facing Al Mayadeen’s headquarters in Jnah, Beirut, earlier tonight.

In recent hours, Israeli occupation forces also struck branches of the Al-Qard Al-Hassan Association, alongside five air raids on the Manshiyeh neighborhood in Beirut’s Southern Suburb, leveling three buildings completely.

Earlier attacks on Lebanon

The new escalation in the Israeli aggression began during the early hours of dawn, with Israeli occupation artillery targeting the outskirts of Aita al-Shaab and Israeli raids hitting the towns of al-Shahabiya in Tyre District and al-Sultaniya in Bint Jbeil District, killing three civilians in al-Shahabiya and four in al-Sultaniya. Strikes also hit Burj Qalaway, while occupation forces simultaneously targeted Nabatieh, Adshit, Harouf, Toul, and Kfour. … Full article

Iranian Red Crescent: Death toll rises to 555 since start of Israel-US offensive

Palestinian Information Center – March 2, 2026

The Iranian Red Crescent announced on Monday that the death toll has risen to 555 people as a result of the ongoing US-Israeli military offensive over the past two days.

In a statement, it said the joint Israeli-American attacks have targeted 131 residential areas across Iran, according to the Fars News Agency. The organization confirmed that 555 people have been killed but did not provide updated figures on the number of injured.

The last reported toll, released by the Iranian Red Crescent on Saturday, indicated 201 deaths and 747 injuries. … Full article

US-Israeli attacks damage 5 hospitals, medical centers in Iran: MP

Press TV – March 2, 2026

A member of the Iranian Parliament says five hospitals and medical centers have been damaged or destroyed during the US-Israeli terrorist attacks on the Islamic Republic.

“Unfortunately, this illegal act of aggression resulted not only in the destruction of the buildings of hospitals and medical centers but also the injury of a number of students and local residents,” Fatemeh Mohammad Beigi, a member of the Parliament’s Health and Treatment Commission, said on Monday.

She added that a number of these medical centers have been evacuated in fear of more attacks.

According to Mohammad Beigi, relief and rescue teams of the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) and emergency medical services are active in all provinces across the country.

The lawmaker explained that the “swift” process of relief operations, rubble removal, and transfer of the injured is underway “with full coordination.” … Full article

Netanyahu Again Uses Genocidal Rhetoric And Compares Iranians To ‘Amalek’

The Dissident | March 2, 2026

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is using the same genocidal rhetoric towards Iranians as he did towards Palestinians in Gaza.

At the site of an Iranian missile attack in Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu said, “If this regime of terror obtains nuclear weapons, they will threaten all of humanity. Therefore, we went out in order to remove that danger first and foremost from ourselves, but we are acting here together with the United States, in the name of and for the sake of all humanity,” adding, “We read in this week’s Torah portion, ‘Remember what Amalek did to you.’ We remember, and we act”.

By comparing Iranians to the Amalek, Benjamin Netanyahu is signalling to genocidal hardline religious zealots in the IDF that Iranian civilians are fair targets.

For context, the UN’s report on the Genocide in Gaza documented that Netanyahu comparing the Palestinians to “Amalek” before the genocide in Gaza was seen as a green light by the IDF to slaughter civilians in reference to the Hebrew bible passage which states, “Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have; do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey”. … continue

Unlike US, Iran prepared for a long war: Security chief

Press TV – March 2, 2026

Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), Ali Larijani, says Iran did not initiate the current war, but it remains fully prepared to sustain a long-term conflict, unlike the United States.

“Iran, unlike the United States, has prepared itself for a long war,” Larijani stated in a post on the social media platform X on Monday.

Echoing historical precedents, Larijani added, “As in the past 300 years, Iran did not start this war, our brave armed forces have not engaged in a single offensive operation, acting solely in self-defense.”

The Security Council chief pledged that Iran would “fiercely defend itself and its six-thousand-year-old civilization regardless of the costs,” promising that the enemies would “regret their miscalculation.” … Full article

‘Any ship attempting to pass through Hormuz will burn’: IRGC

Al Mayadeen | March 2, 2026

Iran has officially closed the Strait of Hormuz, and any ship attempting to pass through will burn, Brigadier General Ebrahim Jabbari, the Advisor to the Commander of the IRGC, warned on Monday.

Jabbari further raised the stakes and said that Iran will prevent the export of oil from the region. “Not one drop of oil will be allowed to leave the region,” he said, adding that oil pipelines may also be targeted, estimating a drastic rise in oil prices to “$200 in the coming days.” … Full article

‘Trump’s Gift to Iran’: Iranian Media Shows 165 Graves for Minab School Bombing Victims

Sputnik – 02.03.2026

Iranian media have published a shocking aerial photo showing the diggi9ng of 165 graves for the young victims of the Minab school attack.

The victims, girls aged between seven and 12, were killed in a devastating attack by US and Israeli forces.

The photo is captioned: “Trump’s gift to the people of Iran.”

The school in Hormozgan province was hit on Saturday morning in the first wave of US-Israeli missiles.

Iran has condemned the attack as a brutal act of terror, accusing the US and Israel of committing war crimes by targeting innocent children.

The attack has drawn widespread condemnation within Iran, with many calling it a violation of international law and a stab at the very heart of Iranian society.

Bahraini police assaults crowds mourning loss of Ayatollah Khamenei

Press TV – March 2, 2026

Bahraini police forces have assaulted demonstrators across the Persian Gulf kingdom, where people were mourning the martyrdom of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei in the US-Israeli aggression against Iran.

The mourners condemned the US and Israeli strikes on Iran, and chanted slogans. They carried pictures and placards of the martyred Leader.

The Bahraini forces’ assault on the mourners led to confrontations between the two sides.

There were no immediate reports of injuries. … Full article

Future of the Middle East after the Killing of Khamenei

By Abbas Hashemite | New Eastern Outlook | March 2, 2026

The US and Israeli ambition of regime change in Iran has not been achieved yet, despite the killing of the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, making the region more volatile.

The Illusion of Diplomacy and Violation of International Norms

The United States, at the behest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, attacked Iran on February 28, 2026. Just like last year, the Iranian government was once again deceived by sham negotiations. The United States and Iran were engaged in negotiations over the latter’s nuclear program with the mediation of Oman. The first session of talks was held in Muscat on February 6, 2026. Soon after this round, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Washington.

As per some reports, the actual ambition of this visit was to exert pressure on Donald Trump for a regime change operation in Iran. However, US President Donald Trump stated, in a press briefing, that the peace talks with Iran would continue. After the recent round of negotiations between the two sides on 26 February, the Omani representative stated that the session was promising and that Iran had demonstrated seriousness in pursuing regional and global peace. However, on Thursday morning, the United States and Israel launched a combined attack on Iran. Many Iranian leaders and officials were targeted in this attack. The Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was also killed in this attack, sparking a huge response from Iran. … continue

Next Iranian leader should be killed too if hostile to US – Lindsey Graham

RT | March 2, 2026

The US should assassinate those who come to power in Iran if they remain hostile toward American interests, according to veteran war hawk Senator Lindsey Graham.

The targeted killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior officials was the opening part of a US-Israeli regime change operation launched on Saturday.

In a Fox News interview on Sunday, Graham pushed for continued political assassinations abroad. “This regime is in its death throes. Finish them off!” he said. “The ultimate safety comes when people in charge of Iran don’t want to kill us.” … continue

Decapitation attacks don’t work against strong countries

By Lucas Leiroz | March 2, 2026

A new war has begun in the Middle East. After months of tension, the US and Israel launched an attack against Iran on February 28th. With the failure of negotiations for a nuclear agreement, war seemed inevitable, and many analysts anticipated that both sides were merely preparing for an imminent conflict, which proved true.

The Israeli-American attack was an attempt to “decapitate” the Iranian government. The country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, was killed, along with almost his entire family, in a bombing of his residence and office. There were also serious violations of humanitarian law with attacks against a primary school, resulting in the deaths of over one hundred children.

Unlike previous cases where Israel attacked Iran, this time the Islamic Republic reacted immediately – and not only against Israel. All US-allied countries in the Middle East have been – and continue to be – targeted by Iranian missiles and drones in a relentless bombing campaign. Israel, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Oman, and even British bases in Cyprus have been targeted by Iran.

Tehran is trying to inflict as much damage as possible to all military and energy infrastructure that enables US and Israeli operations. Oil facilities in the Gulf are being destroyed, as well as ships linked to Israel or the West in the Strait of Hormuz – which is currently only partially open, with Iran allowing passage only to ships from certain partner countries.

It is clear that the US and Israel were not prepared for such a profound reaction from Iran. American and Israeli authorities seemed to expect a late and moderate reaction, as occurred in the Twelve-Day War. The intensity and frequency of the Iranian attacks have caused a kind of partial “strategic paralysis” in the US and Israel – as well as in the affected allied countries – which simply could not anticipate the bombings to activate security measures efficiently.

Media reports indicate that the US approached Iran through the Italian government to suggest a ceasefire agreement, which was promptly rejected. … continue

Iran security chief says ‘no negotiations with US,’ confirms readiness for ‘long war’

The Cradle | March 2, 2026

The Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, declared on 2 March that the Islamic Republic “will not negotiate with the United States” as the regional war rages on for a third straight day.

“Trump’s wishful thinking has dragged the whole region into an unnecessary war and now he is rightly worried about more American casualties. It is indeed very sad that he is sacrificing American treasure and blood to advance Netanyahu’s illegitimate expansionist ambitions,” Larijani said in a social media post.

The declaration came as a refutation to a Wall Street Journal report claiming that, hours after US-Israeli strikes halted negotiations, Larijani had pushed to resume nuclear talks with Washington through Omani mediators.

In a separate post, Larijani said Iran is prepared for a prolonged war, unlike the US. … continue

Iran posed no imminent threat to US: Pentagon tells Congress

Press TV – March 2, 2026

As US-Israeli military aggression against Iran continues, Pentagon staff have acknowledged that there was no military threat from Tehran towards US bases and forces in West Asia prior to US aggression, contradicting claims by senior administration officials that Washington started the aggression to prevent Tehran from targeting American interests in the region.

Pentagon staff acknowledged during a congressional briefing on Sunday that Iran was not planning to strike US forces or bases in West Asia unless Israel attacked Iran first, according to multiple people who attended the session.

The acknowledgement undercuts the administration of US President Donald Trump’s false allegations that Iran was planning to preemptively strike US forces and bases.

During several interviews on Saturday, senior administration officials claimed that Israel and the US attacked Iran because they had allegedly received information that Iran was planning to create mass casualty scenario by preemptively striking US bases in the region.

Several American news outlets reported on Saturday that there was no verifiable information or intelligence to support the Trump administration’s false narrative.

During the session, Pentagon had told Congress that Iran’s ballistic missile program and resistance groups across the region posed a threat to US interests.

Sources, however, noted Iran had never used its military capabilities preemptively, but only as a deterrent, as was the case during the 12-day war in July of 2025. As such, the threat of war being initiated by Iran was not true and the Trump administration could not factually support its reasoning for the military aggression against Iran. … continue

IRGC launches tenth wave of Operation ‘True Promise 4’

Al Mayadeen | March 2, 2026

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the launch of the tenth wave of Operation ‘True Promise 4′ early on Monday, deploying Kheibar ballistic missiles in a large-scale escalation in targeting the occupied territories.

The tenth wave saw Kheibar missiles strike the Israeli government complex in Tel Aviv, military and security centers in Haifa, and targets in al-Quds. In a pointed warning, the Corps declared that sirens across the occupied interior would not cease, urging those near military bases and security centers to clear the area.

Iran launches fresh missile wave
A new wave of Iranian missiles struck the occupied territories around noon on Monday, with sirens sounding across Tel Aviv, occupied al-Quds, Beer al-Saba’, Dimona, and the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli Home Front Command confirmed it had detected the incoming barrage, with loud explosions reported across central occupied Palestine.

Monday’s wave is the latest in a sustained Iranian military campaign that has steadily expanded in scope and reach.

The ninth wave alone saw the IRGC target the USS Abraham Lincoln with cruise missiles, destroy a THAAD AN/TPY-2 radar system in the UAE, disable a US naval fuel-support ship near Chabahar, and down two Israeli Hermes drones over northwestern Iran. … Full article

Iran’s Missile Might vs. America’s Arsenal: Who Will Run Out First?

Sputnik – 02.03.2026

“If the US continues to use its missiles in such a manner, their stockpile will swiftly run out,” Russian military expert Yuri Knutov tells Sputnik, commenting on a recent video of apparently 10 Patriot interceptors downing just one Iranian ballistic missile.

Knutov explains that the US missile stockpile includes about 400 Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors, which “may be already exhausted in 10 days even if they are used properly.”

“As for Patriot interceptors, their larger stockpile could be exhausted in around three weeks, especially if 10 such missiles are launched to hit one Iranian air target,” the expert points out.

According to him, the US quickly increasing the production of the aforementioned missiles is unrealistic, given that the monthly output currently stands at merely 55, which is “not serious.” … continue

Iran confirms Natanz facility struck, Grossi warns of radiation leak

Al Mayadeen | March 2, 2026

Iran’s ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed on Monday that the Natanz nuclear facility was struck during the ongoing US-Israeli aggression against the Islamic Republic. While IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi warned that a radiation leak with potentially catastrophic consequences cannot be ruled out, even as the agency acknowledged it had lost contact with Iranian nuclear authorities.

Iran’s ambassador to the IAEA, Reza Najafi, told reporters on the sidelines of Monday’s extraordinary board of governors session in Vienna that Natanz, Iran’s uranium enrichment facility, was hit during US-Israeli operations.

“Again they attacked Iran’s peaceful, safeguarded nuclear facilities yesterday,” Najafi told Reuters, confirming Natanz by name when asked which facilities were targeted. … Full article

First US fighter downed in past 27 years: Iran Armed Forces hit F-15 near Kuwait border

Press TV – March 2, 2026

Iranian Armed Forces have shot down an advanced US F-15 fighter jet near the border with Kuwait – the first downing of an American fighter jet in the past 27 years.

“An F-15 fighter jet [belonging] to the intruding US army which intended to attack the country has been targeted by the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Air Defense and brought down,” Iran’s Khatam Al-Anbiya Air Defense Base said in a statement on Monday.

It added that the jet’s debris has been crashed in Kuwaiti soil.

Kuwait’s Defense Ministry on Monday confirmed the jet’s crash with its video footage widely being circulated in global media.

An American F-117 fighter jet was downed by former Yugoslavia during the Kosovo war some 27 years ago. … Full article

Iran yet to deal its master blow in the region, while U.S. navy looks increasingly vulnerable

By Martin Jay | Strategic Culture Foundation | March 2, 2026

Early on Sunday morning, it was confirmed that Iran’s Supreme Leader had been killed by U.S./Israeli airstrikes, which no doubt will be seen by Trump and Netanyahu as a significant victory in their erroneous goal of regime change. But was it really one to chalk up? Reports from Iran indicate that he will be replaced almost immediately by his son, who had already been playing a key role in the country’s leadership anyway and whose appointment may well be a significantly positive step forward for the country, as many Iranians, while wanting reforms in their country, know only too well that the regime change notion is a trap set by Israel which they reject.

Iran has already scored a number of victories in a mere 24 hours, and their readiness this time was evident which, no matter how you look at the conflict, was certainly a consequence of Trump’s earlier actions in June, when he bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities with the agreement of Iran’s leaders.

No such cosy deal exists today. The Iranians have learned the hard way that Trump is not to be trusted and is not even in control of these decisions. What we are witnessing now is the start of a protracted war which will evolve on several fronts concurrently, with the Iranians in no particular hurry to proceed at a rapid pace. Their significant strikes on a U.S. naval base plus one naval ship is a taste of Iran’s ballistic missile capability which is starting to rain down on Israel itself.

The Supreme Leader’s death actually was not a great victory, given that he made no real effort to go into hiding but was killed in his office. By contrast, Benjamin Netanyahu escaped from Israel and ended up being protected by the country which pulled off the Holocaust. And so Bibi can slowly watch the disintegration of his own country while the region deals with a new reality: oil. … continue

Iranian drone strike shuts Saudi Aramco’s Ras Tanura refinery

Al Mayadeen | March 2, 2026

A drone strike forced Saudi Arabia’s state oil giant Aramco to shut its Ras Tanura refinery on Monday, an industry source told Reuters, in the third day of Iran’s retaliatory campaign against US and Israeli targets across the region.

The Saudi defense ministry confirmed that two drones were intercepted at the facility, with debris causing a limited fire. There were no injuries, and the source said the shutdown was enacted as a precautionary measure with the situation under control.

The Ras Tanura complex, situated on the kingdom’s Gulf coast, houses one of West Asia’s largest refineries with a capacity of 550,000 barrels per day and serves as a critical export terminal for Saudi crude, making it one of the most strategically sensitive energy installations in the world. […]

“The attack on Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura refinery marks a significant escalation, with Gulf energy infrastructure now squarely in Iran’s sights,” Torbjorn Soltvedt, Principal Middle East Analyst at risk intelligence firm Verisk Maplecroft, told Reuters. … Full article

Gas prices spike amid fears of Middle East supply shock

RT | March 2, 2026

Gas markets around the world were rattled on Monday, with benchmark European natural gas prices rising sharply and broader energy markets on edge after Middle East tensions increased the risk to supplies via the critical Strait of Hormuz.

European benchmark gas futures surged by around 50% – their biggest single day move since March 2022 – after LNG tankers largely stopped transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman that carries about a fifth of global oil and gas shipments, over the weekend.

The spike was compounded by a drone strike on QatarEnergy’s major LNG complex at Ras Laffan, which forced production to be halted. … continue