Aletho News

ΑΛΗΘΩΣ

Current News and Analysis

Israel commits harrowing massacres across Lebanon, kills and injures hundreds

Al Mayadeen | April 8, 2026

A massive wave of Israeli airstrikes hit large parts of Lebanon on Wednesday, including Beirut, the south, and the eastern Bekaa, in a continued brutal Israeli aggression that has left growing numbers of civilian casualties and strained medical services.

Approximately 150 airstrikes were carried out across Lebanon within two hours, underscoring the scale of the Israeli aggression.

Al Mayadeen’s correspondent reported that Israeli occupation forces carried out heavy firebelt strikes on Beirut’s Southern Suburb, targeting densely populated neighbourhoods including Bir Hassan, Haret Hreik, Chiah, Hay al-Sellom, and al-Rihab. … Full article

Ceasefire for all or for none: Iran shuts Hormuz over Lebanon attacks

Al Mayadeen | April 8, 2026

Iran says maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz is suspended following Israeli strikes on Lebanon, vows decisive response. … continue

Strait of Hormuz is Iran’s ‘nuclear weapon’ that forced US retreat: Medvedev

Press TV – April 8, 2026

Russia’s former president, Dmitry Medvedev, says Iran’s undisputed command over the Strait of Hormuz has become its true “tested nuclear weapon” that forced the United States to retreat.

Iran and the US agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday after Donald Trump was forced to accept a 10-point proposal from Tehran. This proposal includes a permanent end to the war, the lifting of all sanctions, and the withdrawal of US combat forces from the region.

Hours after the announcement, Medvedev—currently Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council—wrote on X, “It’s not clear how the truce between Washington and Tehran will play out.”

“But one thing is certain—Iran has tested its nuclear weapons. It is called the Strait of Hormuz. Its potential is inexhaustible,” Medvedev added. … continue

Energy crisis will last for months – Kremlin envoy

RT | April 8, 2026

Global energy markets will take months to recover from the shock caused by the US‑Israeli war on Iran, Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev has warned, noting that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz is unlikely to have an immediate effect.

His comments come after US President Donald Trump announced a “double-sided” two-week ceasefire with Iran to negotiate a long-term peace agreement based on Tehran’s 10-point plan that would see it retain control over the strait.

While oil prices have dropped in response to the news, Dmitriev, who serves as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy for investment and economic cooperation, has warned that energy markets “will take months to normalize even if the Strait of Hormuz remains open.” … continue

Europe’s quiet role in the war on Iran

By Leila Nezirevic | Al Mayadeen | April 8, 2026

European leaders have responded to the war on Iran with a familiar language: calls for restraint, appeals to diplomacy, and renewed commitments to international law. From Brussels to Berlin, the language has been measured, even cautious. Yet the gap between what Europe says and what it does has rarely been so stark.

While European governments publicly distance themselves from escalation, their infrastructure, alliances, and policies continue to sustain the very war effort they claim to oppose. Military bases, logistical networks, and intelligence frameworks tied to NATO remain fully operational.

Arms flows continue. Political backing, though often indirect, is unmistakable.

This contradiction is not simply a matter of hypocrisy. It reveals something deeper about Europe’s position in the global order, one defined less by autonomy than by structural dependence on the United States. The war on Iran is not creating this reality; it is exposing it. … continue

Iraqis celebrate Iran’s victory as resistance groups commit to ceasefire

Press TV | April 8, 2026

Tens of thousands of Iraqis have gathered in major cities to celebrate Iran’s victory over US and Israeli aggression, hours after the United States agreed to Iran’s conditions for a ceasefire.

The largest of the gatherings on Wednesday took place in al-Tahrir Square in Baghdad, where demonstrators expressed support for the Axis of Resistance and marked the agreement as a triumph for their cause.

The crowds waved flags of Iran, Hezbollah, and other resistance groups while holding up portraits of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the martyred leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the martyred leader of Hezbollah, alongside other fallen figures. … Full article

Forty days that shook the Empire: How Iran turned the tables on US and prevailed

By Sarwar Abbas | Press TV | April 8, 2026

Forty days into the war imposed illegally on the Islamic Republic of Iran, the unthinkable has happened. The United States has retreated unceremoniously, and Iran has declared a “historic victory,” stamping its authority as a new global superpower.

And the enemy, despite unleashing overwhelming force, has been forced to accept a 10-point Iranian proposal that includes a permanent ceasefire, the removal of all primary and secondary sanctions, and the withdrawal of US combat forces from the region. … continue

Netanyahu unilaterally declares Lebanon outside of ceasefire deal

Al Mayadeen | April 8, 2026

Just a couple of hours after a ceasefire deal was reached, “Israel’s” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Wednesday that his government supports the US decision to suspend strikes on Iran for two weeks, but immediately breached the agreement by declaring it does not extend to Lebanon.

In a statement posted on the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office X account, Netanyahu said the Israeli regime backs Washington’s efforts to ensure Iran “no longer poses a nuclear, missile and terror threat,” and acknowledged that the United States had communicated its commitment to achieving these goals in upcoming negotiations.

However, buried at the end of the statement was a unilateral carve-out: “The two-week ceasefire does not include Lebanon.”

The Israeli regime has already violated the ceasefire before the ink had dried, targeting an ambulance in southern Lebanon alongside bombing several towns in the South. … continue

What on earth just happened? Trump, Iran, and the unlikely ceasefire

By Trita Parsi | April 8, 2026

Yesterday began with Donald Trump issuing genocidal threats against Iran on social media and ended—just ten hours later—with the announcement of a 14-day ceasefire, on Iran’s terms. Even by the volatile standards of Trump’s presidency, the whiplash is extraordinary. What, then, have the two sides actually agreed to—and what might it mean? … continue

Israeli leaders: ‘Not a single goal’ achieved in war with Iran

Press TV – April 8, 2026

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid has sharply criticized prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu for supporting a temporary ceasefire between the United States and Iran, calling it a “political disaster.”

Lapid made the remarks in a post on his X account on Wednesday, after Netanyahu’s office said Israel supports US President Donald Trump’s decision for a two-week ceasefire.

“There has never been such a political disaster in all of our history,” Lapid said, adding that Israel “wasn’t even at the table when decisions were made concerning the core of our security.”

Lapid also stressed that Netanyahu “failed politically and strategically in achieving “even a single one of the goals that he himself set.” … continue

Alberta Bill Would Fine Political Deepfakes $10,000 Without Satire Exemptions

By Cindy Harper | Reclaim The Net | April 7, 2026

Alberta’s government wants the power to fine people $10,000 for creating a political deepfake. The bill makes no distinction between a fake video designed to suppress votes and a satirical meme poking fun at the premier.

Justice Minister Mickey Amery tabled Bill 23, the Justice Statutes Amendment Act, 2026, on March 30.

The legislation would prohibit individuals and entities from creating or distributing deepfakes that are likely to mislead voters about the conduct or statements of a party leader, minister, leadership or nomination contestant, MLA candidate, the chief electoral officer, the election commissioner, Elections Alberta employees or election officers.

The ban’s reach is notable for what it doesn’t say. There is no carve-out for satire, no exemption for parody, no protection for political memes. A deepfake clearly labelled as humor could still be prosecuted if someone, somewhere, decided it was “likely to mislead voters” about a politician’s statements. Who decides what’s likely to mislead? The election commissioner, the same office empowered by the bill to issue directions to stop the creation, distribution, or publication of content it deems in violation.

Officials said the prohibition would apply at all times, not only during the election cycle. The ban operates year-round, every year, regardless of whether Albertans are anywhere near a ballot box. It applies to content about sitting politicians even when no one is voting. … continue

IRGC strikes US bases across Gulf, warns of wider escalation

Al Mayadeen | April 8, 2026

Iran launched a series of coordinated strikes on US interests and military bases across the Gulf on Tuesday evening, targeting locations in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Kuwait.

Earlier on Tuesday, the United Arab Emirates reported that the satellite communications company “Thuraya,” based in Sharjah, had come under attack. The company serves as the space services arm of the “Space42” group and provides coverage across more than two-thirds of the globe.

In a statement issued today, Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) delivered a direct warning to the “ignorant” US leaders, accusing them of sacrificing their country’s interests for the sake of “Israel”. … Full article

Iran declares ‘historic victory’ over US, says enemy forced to accept its proposal

Press TV – April 7, 2026

Iran has declared a “historic and crushing defeat” of the United States and the Israeli regime after 40 days of war, announcing that Washington has been forced to accept a 10-point Iranian proposal that includes a permanent ceasefire, the lifting of all sanctions, and the withdrawal of US combat forces from the region.

In a statement addressed to the “noble, great, and heroic nation of Iran,” the Supreme National Security Council said the enemy had suffered an undeniable defeat and now saw “no way forward but to submit to the will of the great nation of Iran and the honorable Axis of Resistance.”

The announcement comes on Day 40 of the US-Israeli war of aggression on Iran, which began with the assassination of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and top-ranking commanders on February 28.

According to the statement, the United States has agreed to a 10-point proposal that fundamentally commits Washington to… continue

Trump Claims Ceasefire, Reopening of Strait of Hormuz Agreement with Iran

By Kyle Anzalone | The Libertarian Institute | April 7, 2026

President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that Iran had agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and a two-week truce would begin.

“Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE!” the President posted.

Trump did not specify if Israel was a party to the truce. Iran has not confirmed that it agreed to the ceasefire or to reopen the Strait.

The President explained that the pause in fighting will give time for the two sides to work out a peace deal based on a framework proposed by Iran. “We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate. Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated,” he wrote.

A US official previously described the 10-point proposal as Iran’s “maximalist” position. The proposal called for establishing protocols for shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a permanent end to the conflict, war reparations, and the lifting of sanctions.

Trump made the ceasefire announcement just 90 minutes before a deadline he imposed on Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz was set to expire. He vowed to permanently destroy the country of Iran if Tehran did not reopen the strait by 8 PM on Tuesday.

Two Palestinians, foreign solidarity activist injured in settler attack south of Al-Khalil

Palestinian Information Center – April 7, 2026

AL-KHALIL – Two Palestinian civilians and a foreign solidarity activist were injured on Tuesday in an attack carried out by Jewish settlers in the Masafer Yatta area, south of al-Khalil.

Local activist Osama Makhamra reported that settlers from the “Ma’on” settlement, illegally built on Palestinian land, assaulted the family of Ahmad Barghash Al-Shawahin while they were grazing their sheep in the Wadi al-Jawaya area. The attack also targeted two foreign activists, leaving brothers Hamza and Saddam Al-Shawahin, along with one foreign activist, injured.

Palestinian Red Crescent crews provided first aid at the scene and transferred the injured to Yatta Governmental Hospital.

Makhamra added that the settlers smashed and stole the phone of Hamza Al-Shawahin, as well as the phones of the injured foreign activist and another solidarity activist.

The attack comes amid escalating tensions in the West Bank and a surge in settler violence. On Monday evening, three Palestinians, including a 70-year-old man, were injured in separate attacks. The elderly man was beaten in the town of Mikhmas, northeast of Occupied Jerusalem, while two young men were hospitalized after an assault in Deir Bzi’ west of Ramallah, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent. … Full article

Ten Palestinians killed in Israeli bombing of civilian gathering in Gaza

MEMO | April 7, 2026

Ten Palestinians were killed and others wounded on Monday in an Israeli occupation bombing and gunfire attack targeting a gathering of civilians east of the Maghazi refugee camp.

Medical sources reported that the bodies of ten Palestinians, along with a large number of wounded, were transferred to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, following the attack. No further details were immediately available regarding the circumstances of the strike.

The attack comes as Israeli occupation forces continue to violate the ceasefire agreement on a daily basis through shelling and gunfire. … Full article

Israeli tank fire killed UN peacekeeper in Lebanon, UNIFIL investigation finds

MEMO | April 7, 2026

A projectile that killed a UN peacekeeper in Lebanon last month was fired by an Israeli military tank, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said Tuesday, concluding its investigation into the deadly incident, Anadolu reports.

Based on analysis of the impact site and fragments recovered at the position, UNIFIL said the round was a 120mm tank main armament projectile fired by an Israeli Merkava tank from the east, in the direction of Ett Taibe.

UNIFIL noted that it had provided the Israeli military with the coordinates of all its positions and facilities March 6 and again March 22, weeks before the incident, in an effort to reduce risk to its personnel.

The peacekeeper was killed on the night of March 29 when a projectile struck a UNIFIL position near Adchit Al Qusayr. A second peacekeeper was critically injured in the strike. At the time, UNIFIL said the origin of the projectile was unknown and launched an investigation.

In its initial statement, UNIFIL said deliberate attacks on peacekeepers constituted grave violations of international humanitarian law and UN Security Council Resolution 1701 that ended the 2006 Lebanon War, and could amount to war crimes.

The US-Israeli War on Science is an Assault on our Future

International Union of Scientists | April 1, 2026

The International Union of Scientists condemns the American-Israeli killings of scientists and bombing of universities.

On 12 March 2026, the Israeli military killed Dr. Hussein Bazzi, chemistry professor and Dean of the Faculty of Sciences, and Dr. Mortada Srour, Professor of Chemistry and Physics, two scientists at the Lebanese University’s Rafik Hariri Campus in Hadath. This killing of scientists occurred in the context of Israeli bombings and invasion that have displaced around one million Lebanese and killed over 1100, a crisis that has been compared to the Nakba of 1948 and the ongoing Gaza Genocide. Israel has been destroying housing, including the apartments of surgery professor Haytham Kaafarani and chemistry professor Bilal Kaafarani.

On 23 March, US-Israeli forces killed Dr. Saeed Shamghadri, a distinguished professor of engineering at the Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST), along with his two children and others in his building. Since then, the US and Israel have bombed at least 20 of  Iran’s universities, including the IUST in Tehran and the Isfahan University of Technology. This destruction is part of a larger pattern of US-Israeli scholasticide in Iran, including the massacre of more than 170 people, mostly schoolchildren, at an elementary school in Minab, and the targeting of more than 600 schools across Iran. The US military also tested a new weapon on a school in Lamerd, killing 21, mostly children. … continue

Russia, China block Bahrain-sponsored UN resolution on Strait of Hormuz

Press TV – April 7, 2026

Russia and China vetoed a UN Security Council resolution on Tuesday that called for states to coordinate efforts to protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

The draft resolution, prepared by Bahrain and supported by the United States, received 11 votes in favor, two against and two abstentions – Pakistan and Colombia.

The text was already diluted from the initial goal of obtaining clearance to “unblock” the strait by force. … continue

Trump’s Promise to Bomb Iran ‘Like Never Before’ Faces Brutal Logistics — Expert

Sputnik – 07.04.2026

Destroying Iran’s power grid and bridges is easier said than done, according to former Pakistan Air Force colonel Sultan M. Hali.

Here’s why:

  • No Yugoslav-style campaign: Iran’s vast size and limited tanker basing options rule out a repeat of the 1999 Kosovo air war
  • Vulnerable tankers: Long distances force refueling aircraft to operate from exposed forward bases or on risky long-range missions
  • Layered air defenses: Russian-made Tor-M1 and indigenous Bavar-373 systems threaten low/medium-altitude strikes
  • Dual threat to carriers: Drone swarms can overwhelm defenses, while short-range ballistic and cruise missiles can target ships and bases

“The danger is not absolute, but it is significant enough to force US planners into cautious, resource-intensive operations,” the expert said.

Germany seeks to restrict stays abroad for men of fighting age – Berliner Zeitung

RT | April 7, 2026

German men who remain abroad for more than three months without prior approval may start facing penalties under a military-related legal requirement, according to the Berliner Zeitung.

The rule obliges men of fighting age, between the ages of 17 and 45, to obtain permission before extended stays abroad. It came into force on January 1, 2026, but April is when the first three-month period expires and enforcement may begin, the outlet has said.

Germany is in the process of a massive military buildup, with plans to spend reportedly more than €500 billion (around $580 billion) on defense by 2029. German officials have set 2029 as the deadline for the armed forces to be “war-ready” for a potential conflict with Russia. … continue

Ukrainian drone strike kills 12-year-old boy and parents in Russian region

RT | April 7, 2026

A twelve-year-old boy and his parents have been killed in an overnight Ukrainian drone attack in Russia’s Vladimir Region, according to Governor Aleksandr Avdeev. The family’s five-year-old daughter survived with burns.

Emergency crews extinguished a fire that broke out after the family’s home was struck in the attack. […]

Also on Tuesday, Zaporozhye Governor Evgeny Balitsky reported that a Ukrainian drone had struck a school in the village of Velikaya Znamenka, injuring five children and one adult.

The Russian Defense Ministry has said 45 Ukrainian drones were intercepted overnight over several regions. … Full article

Evidence points to Ukraine being behind TurkStream attempted sabotage, but that should come as no surprise

Remix News | April 7, 2026

Secret service documents allegedly prove that the Ukrainians planned to blow up the Turkish and Blue Stream pipelines years ago, permanently cutting Europe off from cheap Russian gas, reports Magyar Nemzet, citing a report out of Ellenpont.

However, Serbia’s intelligence chief is denying that Ukrainians were the perpetrators, instead claiming that they had reports of a possible attack planned by a certain migrant gang group of radical muslims but had not considered it legitimate intel. However, this same chief also does not rule out that Ukraine was the contractor behind the scheme.

The Serbian section of the Turkish Stream gas pipeline was set on fire in a sabotage operation on Sunday. Since this pipeline supplies Hungary with gas, blowing up the pipeline would have put the country’s gas supply at risk.

The portal also reported that, in response to the explosives found near the TurkStream pipeline in Serbia last weekend, a presenter on one of Zelensky’s propaganda TV stations stated: “If the Ukrainians want to blow up the Turkish Stream, they will blow it up.” … continue

Sri Lanka secures supplies of Russia oil – minister

RT | April 7, 2026

Sri Lanka will purchase crude oil from Russia after reaching an agreement with Moscow amid the energy crisis spurred by the Middle East conflict, the island nation’s transport minister, Bimal Rathnayake, has said.

Rathnayake told TASS on Monday that “energy is our priority today,” adding that the US-Israeli war on Iran has triggered a disruption in supplies to Sri Lanka.

“Russia’s deputy energy minister [Andrey Rudenko] visited Sri Lanka a few days ago. The deputy foreign minister has also visited Sri Lanka. They reached an agreement on oil supplies to the country,” Rathnayake told the news agency.

He added that the first crude supplies from Russia are expected in mid-April. … continue

Nations across Asia strike direct deals with Iran for Hormuz passage

Al Mayadeen | April 7, 2026

As US President Donald Trump threatens to “obliterate” Iran’s energy infrastructure unless it reopens the Strait of Hormuz, a growing number of countries are now negotiating directly with Tehran to secure safe passage for their ships. … continue

IRGC commander declares ‘new phase’ of reprisal attacks against aggressors

Press TV – April 7, 2026

Commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force has declared the start of a “new phase” in Iran’s retaliatory operations against the US aggression, as the elite force warned earlier that any violation of red lines by the enemies will trigger a crushing response.

Posting a video on social platform UpScrolled, Brigadier General Seyyed Majid Mousavi said, “And now, the new phase of the war [has begun] with fresh, twin launchers for Fateh and Kheibar Shekan missiles, all previous strikes doubled.”

In a statement announcing the launch of the wave 99 of Operation True Promise 4, the IRGC reiterated that Iran “has not been and will never be the one to initiate attacks on civilian targets.”

However, it added that the IRGC “will not hesitate to retaliate against despicable aggressions on civilian facilities.”

In response to any further attack on Iran’s civilian infrastructure, the IRGC forces “will inflict such damage on the infrastructure of the US and its partners that they will be deprived of the region’s oil and gas for years to come.”

The IRGC said that Washington’s regional allies need to be aware of the fact that the IRGC has so far “shown great restraint and exercised caution in selecting its targets for retaliation, out of respect for good neighborly relations.”

But the Iranian Armed Forces, the statement added, will cast aside all such considerations and self-restraint from now on. … Full article

Missiles Hit Saudi Arabia’s Key Industrial Hub — Reports

Sputnik – 07.04.2026

A large explosion was reported in the industrial area of Jubail, one of the world’s key petrochemical centers, producing around 60 million tons and accounting for roughly 6–8% of global output, Fars News reported.

The area hosts major projects including Saudi petrochemical giant SABIC, as well as the Sadara complex (with US-based Dow Chemical shareholders) and the Amiral project involving Aramco and TotalEnergies.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense said seven ballistic missiles launched toward the Eastern Region were intercepted and destroyed.

Authorities added that debris fell near energy facilities, with damage currently being assessed.

Israel’s air defenses overwhelmed by cluster-warhead Iranian missiles: Reports

Press TV – April 7, 2026

Iran’s changing tactics in firing missiles toward the Israeli-occupied territories have created a real challenge for the Israeli regime’s missile interceptor systems, according to sources within the regime who say the systems are effectively failing to counter the growing threat of Iranian missiles.

A Tuesday report by IRNA cited analyses published in the Israeli media showing that Iran’s increasing use of missiles equipped with multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRV) has become a major challenge for Israeli air defense systems. … continue

Why The F-15 Pilot Rescue Fiasco Became Iran’s Huge Operational Win

Sputnik – 07.04.2026

Despite ultimately recovering the aviators, the US operation to rescue F-15 crew members downed in Iran “was a debacle,” political analyst Tobias Nase tells Sputnik.

He argues that the true outcome of the Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) effort was concealed from the public “to hide the fact that it turned into a huge operational success for Iran.”

Visual evidence indicates that during the operation, two C-130s and several helicopters were damaged and later destroyed—”either by Iran or by US forces themselves once it became clear they were no longer airworthy,” speculates the political analyst.

“That still marks these aircraft as losses,” he says.

Capturing the pilots would have been a major propaganda win for Iran, but even without that, they scored significant gains: they first shot down an American F-15, then located the CSAR operation base, forcing US forces to retreat in chaos—something Serbia failed to achieve when the stealth Nighthawk was downed during the 1999 Yugoslav war.

As for US casualties, with a CSAR that likely involved 100–200 troops on the ground, even if no bodies were publicly recovered, those troops could still have been retrieved and evacuated, the analyst contends.

“The US is again hiding the real casualties of this war. Every dead soldier risks eroding Trump’s public support,” he observes.

Iranian synagogue destroyed in US-Israeli overnight airstrike on Tehran

Press TV – April 7, 2026

A historic synagogue belonging to the Jewish community in Tehran has been destroyed in a pre-dawn airstrike carried out by the United States and the Israeli regime, Iranian officials and community representatives confirm.

The attack, which occurred on Tuesday at approximately 3:00 AM local time, targeted the synagogue located in a residential area of the capital.

The building was completely demolished, and nearby residential homes sustained severe damage.

Homayoun Sameyeh Najafabadi, the Jewish community’s representative in the Iranian Parliament, said no casualties or injuries were reported as the strike took place during early morning hours when the building was empty.

Sameyeh Najafabadi added that the synagogue was a place of worship that held significant historical value as one of Iran’s oldest Jewish houses of prayer.

“The Torah scrolls that were kept in this synagogue, which held a very high status, have also been destroyed and remain buried under the rubble,” he said.

The attack occurred during the Jewish holiday of Passover (Pesach), one of the most significant festivals in the Jewish calendar.

The Jewish community representative strongly condemned the strike, emphasizing that Tehran’s Jewish community has consistently opposed Zionist actions.

“Unfortunately, the criminal Zionist regime targeted a synagogue belonging to the Iranian Jewish community during the days of Passover, in light of the community’s firm stance in condemning the regime’s actions and its anti-Zionist positions,” Sameyeh Najafabadi stated. … Full article

Two pharmacists killed as US-Israeli aggression targets 25 Iranian pharma units in 40 days

Press TV – April 7, 2026

American and Zionist aggressors have so far attacked 25 pharmaceutical companies and units across Iran, killing at least two pharmacists, as nearly 40 days have passed since a US-Israeli military coalition waged an unprovoked war of aggression against the Islamic Republic.

Hadi Ahmadi, head of the Public Relations Office of Iranian Association of Pharmacists, provided the figures in a statement on Tuesday, noting that two major companies, namely Tofigh Daru and Iran’s Pasteur Institute, were directly struck by US and Israeli missiles.

The Tofigh Daru pharmaceutical research and production facility as well as the Pasteur Institute of Iran, which is the oldest and most prestigious research and public health center in Iran and the entire West Asia founded in 1920, were heavily damaged earlier this month. … Full article

Striking Iran’s Infrastructure Would Have Little Military Impact – Report

Sputnik – 07.04.2026

US threats to target Iran’s electricity grid, refineries, and desalination plants would have devastating consequences for civilians while offering little military advantage, even the US-based Atlantic Council acknowledged.

“Striking Iran’s water-related infrastructure will immediately spark a crisis of disease, hunger, and thirst among Iran’s civilian population,” the report said.

The report also warns that targeting Iran’s infrastructure risks destabilizing the entire region. Gulf states, heavily dependent on energy-intensive desalination, could face severe water shortages within days if tensions escalate.

Rather than weakening Iran militarily, such actions could deepen mistrust of the United States and further aggravate the regional conflict.

“Destroying Iran’s civilian energy and water infrastructure would likely only serve to prolong and escalate the conflict,” the authors warn.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump threatened Iran with strikes on its civilian infrastructure in multiple posts on Truth Social.

What’s Behind U.S./Israeli Strikes On Iranian Pistachio Factories?

Inside The Role Zionist Billionaires Lynda and Stewart Resnick Have Played In Shaping The Iran War

The Dissident | April 6, 2026

Open source reports have indicated that “The pistachio warehouses of Iranian Pistachio Company near Rafsanjan Airport were targeted by American/Israeli fighter jets in the first week of Farvardin”, “ which has been described as “the heart of Iran’s pistachio industry.”

This strike was likely a gift to Lynne and Stewart Resnick, the Zionist billionaires who own the California-based Wonderful company, the largest producer of pistachios in the world. … continue

Senior BBC Iran reporter exposed as opposition activist

By Wyatt Reed | The Grayzone | April 7, 2026

After a top reporter at the BBC drew outrage for publishing a quote demanding Iran be nuked, she’s been revealed as a dedicated regime change activist whose career was launched by a CIA-founded propaganda network. Serious questions remain about the BBC’s editorial process. … Read article

BBC Caught Fabricating Quote Of An Iranian Calling For The U.S. To Drop An ‘Atomic Bomb’

The Dissident | April 7, 2026

Ghoncheh Habibiazad, a pro-regime change Iranian reporter living in London, who works for the BBC, has been caught seemingly fabricating a quote of a supposed Iranian citizen supporting the U.S. “using an atomic bomb, or levelling Iran.” […]

By fabricating the most recent quote attempting to paint a picture of Iranian cheering for a U.S. nuclear strike and “levelling Iran” Ghoncheh Habibiazad and the BBC have been fully exposed as propagandists for the war on Iran and the CIA/Mossad/MI6 , masquerading as neutral reporters concerned for human rights. – Read full article

Fungal Infections: The Cleanup Crew

An Essay on Athlete’s Foot, Candida, Ringworm, and Why the Fungus Is Not Your Enemy

Lies are Unbekoming | March 27, 2026

When Tom Cowan was thirteen, he ate a lot of candy and licorice and had athlete’s foot. The doctors told him it was contagious. They gave him creams. The creams didn’t work, or they worked temporarily and the fungus came back. At seventeen, he read a book called Sugar Blues by William Dufty. He quit sugar completely. Within a few months, every trace of athlete’s foot disappeared and never returned.¹

That was over fifty years ago. In the decades since, Cowan built a medical practice where he treated fungal conditions — athlete’s foot, jock itch, ringworm, candida overgrowth — hundreds of times. His approach never changed. No antifungal creams. No nystatin. Clean up the diet, stop the sugar, address the toxic load. In his own account: he never once had to prescribe antifungal medication, and the conditions resolved.²

The question is why that works. And the answer restructures everything conventional medicine claims to know about fungal “infection.” … continue

How I fell foul of the BBC thought police

By Charlie Spedding | TCW Defending Freedom | April 5, 2026

THE BBC recently featured a United Nations report which claimed the Earth’s ‘Energy Balance’ was dangerously disrupted by excess heat caused by rising carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels. This is false for many reasons, but rather than explain why, I want to discuss the BBC.

This story was on the evening news and also on the website. I read many of the comments posted online. The majority were worried and adamant that we must ‘do something before it is too late’. I wanted to reassure people that there is nothing happening to the climate that could be described as a crisis and carbon dioxide is not the control knob of planetary weather patterns. I decided it was best to direct them towards some of the world’s leading physicists rather than attempt to explain it myself. This is what I tried to post on the BBC website:

‘May I respectfully suggest that everyone worried about a man-made climate crisis do some research. I recommend the work of Prof Richard Lindzen, Prof William Happer, Prof Willie Soon, Nobel Laureate John Clauser and the CO2 Coalition. Most people don’t realise how much we are all manipulated by vested interests including the mainstream media. Be smarter than most and learn from world experts.’

The website moderators informed me that my post had been deleted because it broke their house rules: ‘We reserve the right to fail comments which . . . are considered likely to disrupt, provoke, attack or offend others, are racist, sexist, homophobic, sexually explicit, abusive or otherwise objectionable; contain swear words or other language likely to offend.’

I appealed against their decision… continue

UK police arrest activists protesting US aggression on Iran near RAF base

The UK has authorized the US to use British military bases to carry out “defensive” operations against Iran

Press TV – April 6, 2026

The British police have arrested seven people over supporting the banned group Palestine Action at an anti-war protest near a Royal Air Force (RAF) air base in eastern England used by US armed forces for aggression on Iran.

The five men and two women arrested at a peace encampment just outside the Lakenheath airbase had gathered with other activists on Sunday to protest the use of the base as a departure point for US aircraft involved in the US-Israeli war of aggression on Iran.

The Lakenheath Alliance for Peace, which organized the protest, said the seven had been arrested wearing clothing with the message saying, “We oppose genocide, we support Palestine Action.”

Police said the protesters had been arrested “on suspicion of supporting a proscribed organization.”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government banned Palestine Action as a “terrorist” organization last year, making it a criminal offence to belong to or support the group.

In February, a court ruled that the ban was “disproportionate” and interfered with the right to free speech. But the government has appealed, and the ban remains in effect.

More than 2,700 people have been arrested and hundreds charged over rallies in support of the group, according to protest organizers Defend Our Juries. … Full article

Army Kills Palestinian, Shoots Child in Gaza

IMEMC | April 6, 2026

On Sunday evening, Israeli soldiers killed a Palestinian and injured several others, in addition to shooting a child in the head, in the devastated Gaza Strip.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said Israeli military drones fired at displaced Palestinians in the Shuja’iyya neighborhood, east of Gaza City, killing one Palestinian and wounding several residents, some seriously.

The slain Palestinian has been identified as Abdul-Rahman Amer Al-Khodari and was killed near the Al-Jazeera Club in Gaza city.

Th Health Ministry said, besides Abdul-Rahman, four Palestinians were injured, and were rushed to a hospital.

It added that the soldiers also shot a 3‑year‑old child, Malik Abu Luli, in a separate Israeli attack involving live fire targeting displaced families in the coastal enclave. … Full article

The End of NATO

By Salman Rafi Sheikh – New Eastern Outlook –  April 6, 2026

The war between the United States and Iran has become not only a military crisis in the Middle East but also a turning point for the transatlantic alliance, exposing deep divisions between Washington and its European allies.

When Donald Trump publicly derided NATO as a “paper tiger” and threatened to withdraw the United States from the alliance over Europe’s refusal to back the Iran war, it signaled more than frustration; it exposed a strategic rupture. As this conflict unfolds, Washington is discovering that military strength without allied support is not dominance, but isolation. The Iran war may yet end on the battlefield, although it is unlikely to be a US victory. But politically, it is already reshaping—and dramatically weakening—the foundations of American global power. … continue

Ukraine Attacks Caspian Pipeline Consortium Facilities to Put Economic Damage on US Energy Companies

Sputnik – 06.04.2026

On the night of April 6, the Ukrainian regime, in an attempt to destabilize the global hydrocarbon market and halt the supply of petroleum products to European consumers, attacked facilities of the marine transshipment complex in Novorossiysk using fixed-wing attack drones, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The Ukrainian regime deliberately targeted facilities of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, an international oil transport company, in order to inflict maximum economic damage on its largest shareholders – energy companies from the US and Kazakhstan.

As a result of the Ukrainian drone strikes, the pipeline of the offshore berthing facility and the loading/unloading pier were damaged, and four petroleum product storage tanks caught fire.

In addition, on the night of April 6, Ukrainian drones also attacked civilian infrastructure in the city of Novorossiysk, including apartment buildings and private residential homes, resulting in injuries to civilians, including children.

The Caspian Pipeline Consortium is the largest route for transporting oil from the Caspian region to global markets.

The pipeline, stretching over 1,500 kilometers, connects oil fields in western Kazakhstan to a marine terminal in Novorossiysk.

The consortium brings together major fuel and energy enterprises from Russia, the United States, Kazakhstan, and several Western European countries.

Notably, it includes the American company Chevron. … Full article

37 days of war on Iran cost US staggering $42bln, tracker shows

Al Mayadeen | April 6, 2026

The US aggression against Iran has cost American taxpayers over $42.1 billion in nearly 37 days of war, according to the Iran War Cost Tracker portal.

The portal’s real-time tracking is based on a Department of War briefing for the US Congress on March 10, which stated that Washington spent $11.3 billion in the first six days of its aggression on Iran and plans to spend an additional $1 billion each subsequent day of the war. … continue

Baghdad tells Asian refiners, traders to begin loading Iraqi crude amid Iranian exemption

The Cradle | April 6, 2026

Baghdad has told Asian traders and refiners they can begin loading Iraqi oil into tankers for transit through the Strait of Hormuz following an Iranian exemption to transit the strategic waterway.

After the US and Israel began their unprovoked attack on Iran over one month ago, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to target vessels linked to the US and Israel with missile and drone strikes.

The move forced Iraq to cut its oil production by some 70 percent, as Baghdad had no major alternate route for exporting oil, which funds 90 percent of the state budget, and as its oil storage facilities quickly reached capacity.

Iraqi oil exports subsequently plunged by roughly 97 percent, to an average of 99,000 barrels per day (bpd).

However, in a notice sent on Sunday, Iraq’s State Organization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO) announced that Iraqi oil shipments were now “exempt from any potential restrictions.”

It asked Asian buyers to begin loading crude into vessels, saying export terminals, including in the city of Basra on the Persian Gulf, were “fully operational.” … continue

Befooled by Iran’s grand strategy, Trump hits out. But to what end?

By M. K. BHADRAKUMAR | Indian Punchline | April 6, 2026

… It is a wrong notion that Iran’s foreign policy simply reflects its revolutionary values or theocratic government. Far from it; the country’s resistance to the US, its nuclear ambitions, and its pursuit of influence and proxies across the Middle East are driven by a grand strategy based on the legacy of colonialism and a constant search for independence and security. Thus, Iran will never capitulate. Trump will learn this home truth ultimately, and it is going to be a humbling personal experience that may even destroy his presidency. – Full article

Under fire, Moscow and Tehran close ranks

US–Israeli escalation is accelerating, rather than weakening, the Russia–Iran axis, reshaping the Caspian into a contested strategic corridor.

By Hazal Yalin | The Cradle | April 6, 2026

Hours after the US and Israel – increasingly referred to in some circles as the “Epstein coalition” – attacked Iran on 28 February, Russia’s Foreign Ministry issued a sharply worded response, describing the assault as “a deliberate, premeditated, and unprovoked act of armed aggression against a sovereign and independent UN member state, in direct violation of the fundamental principles and norms of international law.”

When interpreting diplomatic texts in general – and Russia’s statements in particular, given its near-obsessive adherence to traditional diplomacy – the importance of terminology is often overlooked. The concept of “aggression” is not an ordinary one; it signifies a violation of the very spirit of the UN Charter, especially Article 2(4). … continue

Iran, US receive Pakistan-mediated plan for ceasefire then final deal

Al Mayadeen | April 6, 2026

Iran and the United States have received a plan to end hostilities that could come into effect on Monday and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported, citing a source aware of the proposals.

A framework to end the US-Israeli war on Iran has been put together by Pakistan and exchanged with Tehran and Washington overnight, the source told Reuters, outlining a two-tier approach with an immediate ceasefire followed by a comprehensive agreement.

“All elements need to be agreed today,” the source said, adding the initial understanding would be structured as a memorandum of understanding finalized electronically through Pakistan, the sole communication channel in the talks. … continue

Iran submits demands for end to war as mediators scramble ahead of Trump deadline

The Cradle | April 6, 2026

Iran announced on 6 April that it has conveyed its demands on a potential ceasefire with the US and Israel through intermediaries, as US President Donald Trump’s threat to bomb Iranian energy and water infrastructure looms.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told a news briefing that Tehran has communicated its demands “based on national interests” through regional mediators.

“We have formulated our own set of demands based on our interests and considerations. We are not ashamed to voice our legitimate and logical demands,” he said when asked about the prospect of an end to the war.

Iranian officials have previously stated that Tehran has four main conditions for an agreement: an end to the war and guarantees against future military attacks, compensation for losses during the conflict, recognition of formal control of the Strait of Hormuz, and no limits on its ballistic missile program.

Baghaei stressed that Iranian leaders are committed to continuing the war to defend the country from US-Israeli attacks if necessary.

“Expressing our positions quickly and courageously should not be interpreted as backing down,” he said.

The ministry at the same time expressed doubts about US intentions, stating that “America destroyed the path of diplomacy in months in the worst way, and the world sees that its claims do not match its actions.”

“America gives no value to the security of the region’s countries, and its only obsession is maintaining the existence of the Zionist entity,” the statement added. … continue

Iran Threatens Retaliatory Strike on Stargate AI Project in UAE

OpenAI, Oracle, NVIDIA, Cisco, and SoftBank stand to lose $30 billion.

By Kurt Nimmo | Another Day in the Empire | April 6, 2026

Iran has threatened to follow through on its threat to strike tech operations in Israel and the Persian Gulf emirates. Brigadier General Ebrahim Zolfaghari, IRGC Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters spokesperson, in a video released on April 5, singled out the AI Stargate data center in the UAE. He threatened “complete and utter annihilation” of the $30 billion facility in Abu Dhabi and extended the threat to other US and Israeli tech targets.

In early March, the IRGC attacked Amazon’s AWS data centers in Bahrain and Dubai, triggering outages. It was the first time a “hyperscale cloud provider” suffered a military attack, notes Tom’s Hardware. Earlier this month, the IRGC claimed to have hit Oracle’s data center in Dubai, although this was denied by Oracle.

“Should the USA proceed with its threats concerning Iran’s power plant facilities the following retaliatory measures shall be promptly enacted,” warned Zolfaghari. “All power plants, energy infrastructure, and information and communications technology of the Zionist regime, and all similar companies within the region that have American shareholders shall face complete and utter annihilation.” … continue

Barak Ravid Launders Deception To Allow Trump To Back Off Of His Power Plant Threat – Again

The Dissident | April 6, 2026

The Trump administration is seemingly creating another deception, claiming that Iran wants to give concessions to the United States to yet again back off on its threat to target Iranian power plants and bridges if they do not agree to open the Strait of Hormuz. … continue

US sent ‘a lot’ of arms to Iranian protesters – Trump

RT | April 6, 2026

The US sent “a lot” of weapons to Iranian protesters during unrest in January, President Donald Trump has told Fox News.

The demonstrations, initially driven by economic grievances and marred by violence, were openly incited at the time by Trump, who threatened the Iranian authorities with retaliation for suppressing the unrest. Tehran described the demonstrations as foreign-instigated and accused the US and Israel of fueling the movement, blaming armed provocateurs for deadly clashes.

In a phone interview on Sunday, Trump told reporter Trey Yingst that Washington had carried out a covert effort to arm demonstrators. He claimed the plan had little effect because Kurdish intermediaries allegedly kept the weapons instead of delivering them. … continue

Another Iranian petrochemical plant bombed in US-Israeli aggression

Press TV – April 6, 2026

Iran’s Oil Ministry says US-Israeli attacks have targeted petrochemical complexes in the southern Iranian province of Bushehr, just days after similar plants came under attack in the southwestern province of Khuzestan.

The National Petrochemical Company (NPC) said in a Monday statement that utility and marginal facilities located in the Pars Special Economic Energy Zone, which hosts major Iranian petrochemical plants in the coastal county of Asaluyeh, had come under attack earlier in the day.

The NPC said it was investigating the scale of the damage inflicted on the facilities, adding that fire caused by the attack had come fully under control.

The company said there had been no dangerous chemical leaks or fatalities from the attacks.

Another statement from Persian Gulf Mobin Energy, a company providing utility services to petrochemical plants in the region, said that the US-Israeli attacks had inflicted damage on parts of its installations. … Full article

Iran slams US-Israeli attack on heavy water facility as ‘crime against human health’

Press TV – April 6, 2026

The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) says US-Israeli attack on Iran’s heavy water facility is a crime against science and human health, vowing to continue the path of scientific progress despite the aggression.

“Our scientific progress will not be halted, nor will our resolve to serve global peace/health,” the body wrote in a post on X on Monday.

This determination, it noted, is immune to the aggressors’ February 28-present atrocities against Iran’s peaceful nuclear energy facilities, including the sites used towards advancing nuclear medicine, such as the country’s heavy water facilities.

The AEOI, meanwhile, highlighted the gravity of the attacks targeting such installations, stating, “Heavy water & its derivatives are vital for medicine, disease treatment & advanced industries. US-Israeli attack on Iran’s heavy water facility is a crime against science & human health.”

So far throughout their imposed aggression, the United States and the Israeli regime have struck such facilities as the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in southern Iran, the Khondab heavy water complex in the central Iranian city of Arak, and a yellowcake production facility in Ardakan, Yazd, which is similarly located in the country’s central areas.

The AEOI has denounced the strikes as instances of “war crimes.” … Full article

IRGC intel. chief Majid Khademi martyred in US-Israeli aggression

Al Mayadeen | April 6, 2026

The Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the martyrdom of Brigadier General Majid Khademi, a senior intelligence official, following a joint US-Israeli attack carried out at dawn.

In an official statement, the IRGC said Khademi, who headed both the Intelligence Protection Organization and the Intelligence Organization of the force, was killed as a result of aggression targeting the Islamic Republic.

According to the statement, Khademi had spent nearly five decades serving Iran’s national security apparatus, playing a central role in countering hostile plots and safeguarding the country’s internal stability. … Full article

Dozens killed, including 10 children, in overnight US-Israeli air raids across Iran

Press TV – April 6, 2026

Following overnight US-Israeli air raids across Iran, dozens of civilians, including six children, have been martyred.

The Public Relations Office of Tehran EMS reported early Monday that four girls and two boys under the age of ten were among the victims — children who, the agency stated, “fell victim to violence that had no connection to their innocent and childlike lives.”

The agency added that further details — including the precise location of the incident, the number of possible injured, and the status of rescue operations — would be announced later.

Earlier, Baharestan county’s governor said residential areas in the county were targeted in the early hours of the morning in US-Israeli strikes.

He stated that two residential units in the Qaleh Mir housing complex were destroyed, with 15 people confirmed dead and 20 injured so far, all transferred to medical facilities.

Search and rescue teams remain on site, he added, and operations are continuing to locate any additional victims.

Meanwhile, Morteza Heydari, Deputy Governor for Political and Security Affairs in Qom Province, who visited the scene, reported that a strike on a residential area in the city of Qom at around 1:00 a.m. has so far killed nine residents and injured 19 others.

The political deputy of Shahriar’s Governor’s Office reported that a US-Israeli strike targeted two residential buildings in the Shahedshahr area, resulting in nine fatalities and the complete destruction of both homes.

According to the official, the victims include four children, two women, and three other individuals who were on the upper floors of the buildings at the time of the attack.

Rescue teams are continuing debris removal and search operations, as one child remains trapped under the rubble. … Full article

Ukrainian drone smashes into apartment block in Russia

RT | April 6, 2026

A Ukrainian drone struck an apartment block in the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk during a large-scale attack on cities in southern Russia, which left eight civilians injured, officials said.

Krasnodar Region Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said air raid sirens rang in several coastal cities from Sunday through Monday, including the resort town of Sochi.

In Novorossiysk, a home to a commercial port and a naval base, two children and one adult were injured in a small house, while three others were injured in an attack on an apartment block. In a separate incident, two people were injured on a road between Novorossiysk and one of the villages.

Kondratyev said six apartment blocks and two individual houses were damaged, while drone fragments fell on several industrial sites.

The Russian Defense Ministry said 148 drones were intercepted in different regions on Sunday night.

On Friday, a Ukrainian drone sank the Russian grain ship Volgo-Balt 138 in the Sea of Azov, killing one person on board, a local official said.

The Kremlin said that the US-mediated talks were placed on hold due to the war in the Middle East.