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First Gaza, then the world: The global danger of Israeli exceptionalism

By Ramzy Baroud | MEMO | February 11, 2026

While many nations occasionally resort to a “state of exception” to deal with temporary crises, Israel exists in a permanent state of exception. This Israeli exceptionalism is the very essence of the instability that plagues the Middle East.

The concept of the state of exception dates back to the Roman justitium, a legal mechanism for suspending law during times of civil unrest. However, the modern understanding was shaped by the German jurist Carl Schmitt, who famously wrote that the “sovereign is he who decides on the exception.” While Schmitt’s own history as a jurist for the Third Reich serves as a chilling reminder of where such theories can lead, his work provides an undeniably accurate anatomy of raw power: it reveals how a ruler who institutes laws also holds the power to dismiss them, under the pretext that no constitution can foresee every possible crisis.

It is often argued that Israel, a self-described democracy, still lacks a formal constitution because such a document would force it to define its borders—a problematic prospect for a settler-colonial regime with an insatiable appetite for expansion.

But there is another explanation: by operating on “Basic Laws” rather than a constitution, Israel avoids a comprehensive legal system that would align it with the globally accepted foundations of international law. Without a constitution, Israel exists in a legal vacuum where the “exception” is the rule. In this space, racial laws, territorial expansion, and even genocide are permitted so long as they fit the state’s immediate agenda. … continue

Netanyahu pushing to turn US into ‘slave state for Israel’s expansionist dreams’: Analyst

Press TV | February 11, 2026

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been deliberately steering the United States toward confrontation with Iran in an escalation that pushes America into a “slave state for Israel’s expansionist dreams,” says an American analyst.

In an interview with the Press TV website, Michael Rectenwald, an author and former professor, pointed to the strong Zionist influence in the US policy-making.

“The Zionist stranglehold on US policy prioritizes Israel’s aggression over American sovereignty. Netanyahu knows that provoking Iran draws in US forces and funds, turning our country into a slave state for Israel’s expansionist dreams,” he said.

He noted that Tel Aviv’s push to see an all-out Iran-US war is not “just a willingness” but “a calculated strategy to bleed America dry.”

Rectenwald, founder of the Anti-Zionist America Political Action Committee (AZAPAC), said Trump’s record stood in stark contrast to his campaign vows to end wars.

“He ran on ending endless wars and putting America first,” Rectenwald said, adding that in practice, his administration had “served as Israel’s munitions depot and ATM, bombing countries like Yemen, Iraq, Syria, and others at Israel’s behest while funneling billions in arms and aid to support Israel’s genocidal actions in Gaza and beyond.”

In Rectenwald’s assessment, the expansion of US military assets in the region signaled preparation for direct confrontation with Tehran. “Now, with increased US military presence in [West Asia], Trump is preparing strikes on Iran—not for American interests, but to appease his Zionist bosses,” he said.

“This isn’t ‘peace’; it’s escalating conflicts to advance Greater Israel fantasies, displacing millions and looting American taxpayers,” he added. […]

For Rectenwald, the stakes extended beyond a single military decision. The broader issue, he argued, concerned sovereignty and governance. “We must end this control and reclaim American governance for Americans,” he said. – Full article

Iran received no concrete US proposal in Oman talks: Security chief

Press TV – February 11, 2026

Iran’s security chief says the country received no concrete proposal from the United States during the first round of talks aimed at resolving disputes around Tehran’s nuclear program.

Ali Larijani, who leads Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), said in remarks published on Wednesday that Tehran and Washington had only exchanged messages in talks held in Oman last week.

However, Larijani said that Washington has taken the “wise and logical” decision to enter talks with Iran rather than threatening the country with military action.

He said that talks with the US will continue and that Iran views them positively, while insisting that countries in the region are also contributing to efforts aimed at bringing the Iran-US talks to a successful conclusion. … continue

US mulling new pressure tactic on Iran – WSJ

RT | February 11, 2026

The US is considering seizing tankers carrying Iranian oil in a bid to push Tehran toward a deal on its nuclear program, the Wall Street Journal has reported, citing American officials.

Washington has long accused Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, while Tehran has maintained that its program is strictly civilian. The US has seized several vessels transporting Iranian oil in recent months as part of a broader campaign targeting sanctioned tankers linked to Venezuela. The ships are part of an alleged ‘shadow fleet’ used to move crude from heavily sanctioned countries to China and other buyers.

Senior officials in the administration of US President Donald Trump have debated whether to confiscate Iranian vessels but have stopped short of acting, wary of retaliation from Tehran and potential disruption to global oil markets, the WSJ reported on Tuesday. The option, one of several under discussion at the White House to pressure Tehran into agreeing to limits on its nuclear program, faces significant hurdles, US officials told the outlet.

Iran would likely retaliate against any stepped-up US enforcement campaign by seizing tankers carrying oil from American allies in the region, which could send oil prices sharply higher, posing political risks for the White House, the WSJ said. The US Treasury Department has sanctioned more than 20 vessels allegedly involved in transporting Iranian oil this year, potentially making them candidates for seizure. … continue

US Distorts China’s Nuclear Policy to Reach Nuclear Hegemony – Chinese Foreign Ministry

Sputnik – 11.02.2026

BEIJING – The US distorts China’s nuclear policy in order to achieve nuclear hegemony and evade its own responsibility for nuclear disarmament, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Wednesday.

Last week, US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Thomas DiNanno said that Washington has evidence that China allegedly conducted nuclear explosive tests in violation of moratorium and tried to hide it.

“The US position is not new, Washington continues to distort and denigrate China’s nuclear policy, which, in fact, is a political manipulation on the part of the United States in order to achieve nuclear hegemony and evade its own responsibility for nuclear disarmament,” Lin told reporters.

The United States is the largest source of chaos for international nuclear order and global strategic stability, the spokesman said, expressing hope that Washington will resume dialogue on strategic stability with Moscow and stop accusing China of conducting nuclear tests.

World on the verge of uncontrolled deployment of nuclear weapons in space

By Ahmed Adel | February 11, 2026

The militarization of space threatens to trigger a new global arms race and undermine stability and security. The world is already on the brink of uncontrolled deployment of nuclear forces and assets regarding American plans to establish dominance in space.

International law, especially the Soviet-American agreement of 1967, prohibits the placement of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction in space, as well as military activities in orbit, such as exercises and maneuvers. The agreement remains in place, but the issue of space militarization has resurfaced.

Although the law remains in effect and all space states are respecting it for now, other questions arise. … continue

Zaporozhye Nuclear Plant’s Satellite City Deliberately Targeted by Ukrainian Forces

Sputnik – 11.02.2026

SIMFEROPOL – The Ukrainian armed forces are deliberately attacking Energodar, the satellite city of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), with the aim of applying psychological pressure on civilians, ZNPP spokeswoman Yevgenia Yashina told Sputnik.

“The Ukrainian army is carrying out periodic attacks on infrastructure and residential buildings. These actions are deliberate and aim not only to cause physical damage, but also to make life unbearable for civilians by putting them under constant mental stress,” Yashina said.

On Tuesday, the Zaporozhye facility’s press service said that as a result of the Ukrainian armed forces’ attack on the industrial zone of Energodar, critical infrastructure facilities of the city and the ZNPP itself were damaged. One of the two external power lines supplying the ZNPP, the Ferrosplavnaya-1 line, was taken out of service. The power supply to the station required to meet its needs is currently maintained by the second line, Dneprovskaya. … Full article

Russia warns of countermeasures if Greenland militarized

Al-Mayadeen | February 11, 2026

Russia has signaled it will take “adequate countermeasures”, including military-technical measures, should Greenland be militarized in a way that targets Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Wednesday.

Speaking at the government hour in the State Duma, Lavrov stated, “Of course, in the event of the militarization of Greenland and the creation of military capabilities there aimed at Russia, we will take adequate countermeasures, including military-technical measures.”

Arctic tensions, NATO activity

Lavrov emphasized that resolving Greenland’s status is unlikely to affect the broader situation in the Arctic, noting NATO’s efforts to turn the region into a theater of confrontation. “Militarization is underway, and Russia’s indisputable rights over the Northern Sea Route are being challenged,” he said, citing past provocations, including French vessels entering the Northern Sea Route without prior notice or permission.

The minister expressed confidence that such provocations at sea would soon decline as their organizers recognize the potential consequences. … continue

EU’s Kallas wants to cap Russian Army

RT | February 11, 2026

The EU intends to demand restrictions on the size of the Russian armed forces as part of any settlement of the Ukraine conflict, the bloc’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, indicated on Tuesday.

The EU is not part of US-mediated Russia-Ukraine peace talks and has long refused diplomatic engagement with Moscow. Kallas, however, told reporters that she is drafting a list of demands and believes Brussels will shape the conflict’s outcome.

“Everybody around the table, including the Russians and the Americans, needs to understand that you need Europeans to agree,” she said, as quoted by news agencies. “And for that, we also have conditions. And we should put the conditions not on Ukrainians… but on the Russians.”

“The Ukrainian army is not the issue. It’s the Russian army. It’s the Russian military expenditure. If they spend so much on the military they will have to use it again,” Kallas claimed. Her office will present the list to member states within days. … Full article

Estonian Intelligence Acknowledges That Russia Not Planning to Attack Estonia, NATO

Sputnik – 11.02.2026

Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service Director General Kaupo Rosin acknowledged that, according to his agency’s latest assessments, Russia does not intend to attack Estonia or any other NATO member.

“There is, however, no cause for panic. In the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service’s assessment, Russia has no intention of militarily attacking Estonia or any other NATO member state in the coming year. We are likely to reach a similar assessment next year,” Rozin said in the Foreign Intelligence Service’s 2026 report on Tuesday.

In 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with US journalist Tucker Carlson that Russia would not attack NATO allies. Putin said that Western politicians were trying to distract voters from domestic problems with the “Russian threat” and that “smart people understand very well” that this is a lie.

Brussels and Kiev have declared war on Hungary – Orban

RT | February 11, 2026

Brussels and Kiev have declared war on Budapest, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said. His comments come amid reports that the EU is seeking to offer Ukraine a form of ‘membership lite,’ despite the opposition of certain member states.

According to Politico, EU officials want to relax admission criteria and offer Kiev limited privileges in a membership offer scheduled for 2027. Orban has been identified as the main obstacle to the controversial move, with sources suggesting he must be removed in Hungary’s forthcoming election, whether through foreign pressure or EU procedures suspending Budapest’s voting rights.

“This new plan is an open declaration of war against Hungary. They disregard the decision of the Hungarian people and are determined to remove the Hungarian government by any means necessary,” Orban wrote on X on Wednesday.

He urged supporters to mobilize for his Fidesz party ahead of April’s parliamentary election, which Politico called a potential opportunity for Brussels to neutralize its long-time critic. … Full article

Von der Leyen to have new security unit under her command

By Lucas Leiroz | February 11, 2026

Apparently, the European Commission President fears some kind of political plot or reprisal against her within the bloc. For this reason, she launched plans to create an intelligence agency under her direct command, bypassing European institutions and further monopolizing her power. However, internal pressure within the bloc has forced the Commission President to scale back her ambitions, which is why her project is expected to be reduced to a simple additional security unit – rather than an intelligence cell.

The controversy arises amid an internal dispute between EU factions. Von der Leyen has shown signs of disagreement with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, as well as other European officials, in recent months. The Commission President is accused of acting in an authoritarian manner and attempting to monopolize the European decision-making process under her command – disrespecting both other commissioners and other institutions of the European bloc.

In response to internal pressure, von der Leyen avoided yielding to the opposition, but attempted to further expand her personal power. She proposed creating an additional intelligence cell within the EU, under her direct command. … continue

Ukrainian agents illegally bugged investigator probing Zelensky ally – officials

RT | February 11, 2026

Ukrainian security service agents illegally bugged the home of a senior investigator with the Western-backed National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU), officials announced on Tuesday.

The targeted detective leads a team probing defense-sector graft and was involved in NABU’s investigation of businessman Timur Mindich, a longtime ally of Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky who was charged with running a $100 million extortion scheme at a state-owned nuclear energy company.

NABU Director Semyon Krivonos commented on the case at a joint briefing with the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), saying the bug was installed during repairs at the female detective’s home without a court warrant. SAPO head Aleksandr Klimenko said the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) had dedicated “significant resources to probing the detective’s supposedly undeclared property” in violation of its mandate and the law. … continue

Epstein and the Structure of Impunity

By Alice Johnson | The Libertarian Institute | February 10, 2026

Public discussion of the Epstein files has largely centered on individual misconduct and reputational fallout. That emphasis risks overlooking the more consequential question raised by the Justice Department’s response to the disclosure mandate. The episode is less instructive as a scandal than as an example of how executive institutions behave when transparency carries political cost. What is at stake is not the identity of those named in the records, but how legal obligations are treated once compliance becomes inconvenient.

Congress attempted to limit executive discretion through the Epstein Files Transparency Act. It was signed into law on November 19, 2025. The statute required the release of all unclassified Justice Department records related to Jeffrey Epstein within thirty days. It was unusually explicit, narrowing permissible redactions and barring withholding for reputational or political reasons. By design, the law sought to reduce delay by removing ambiguity rather than relying on voluntary cooperation.

That effort fell short. The Department of Justice missed the statutory deadline, released only a portion of the required records, and applied extensive redactions without a detailed public explanation at the time. Subsequent reporting indicated that several documents initially posted were later removed from the department’s website, according to Al Jazeera. The department also indicated that additional materials would be released at a later date, effectively extending a deadline Congress had already set. … continue

Grooming the Gulf: How Epstein Forged Emirati Elites Into Tools for Israel

By Freddie Ponton | 21st Century Wire | February 10, 2026

In the last 48 hours, the U.S. Department of Justice has begun dumping what officials say amounts to more than three million pages of material tied to Jeffrey Epstein—an archive so vast it includes thousands of videos and hundreds of thousands of images. The tranche is only a fraction of what exists. Officials acknowledge that millions of additional documents remain under review, meaning the public has seen just a sliver of the government’s total Epstein archive. What is being unloaded into the public domain is not just evidence of private depravity; it is an inadvertent blueprint of how power really works when no one is supposed to be watching, an industrial‑scale influence machine whose files casually braid together billionaires, cabinet‑level officials, and strategic infrastructure from New York to the Horn of Africa. And even now, the public is being allowed to see only what officials deem manageable, with redactions still shielding some of the most sensitive names and millions of pages kept out of sight.

Hidden within those documents, leaks, screenshots, and email excerpts now circulating online, are connections that stretch far beyond Manhattan, Palm Beach, or even Paris. They reach deep into the Persian Gulf, into Dubai’s executive suites, and into the personal inboxes of officials in the United Arab Emirates.

These emails offer a unique glimpse behind the opulent shadows of Dubai’s towers, where untraceable billions flow like oil. In that world, a convicted pedophile whispers ministerial appointments to a UAE diplomat while discussing port deals that could move cargo and secrets across continents. According to persistent intelligence‑linked information surrounding his operations, Jeffrey Epstein was not acting alone or merely chasing thrills; he was allegedly operating as a geopolitical asset, cultivating leverage over Gulf elites, with places like Somaliland emerging as potential pawns in a larger strategic game. It is in such an environment that figures like Epstein thrive the best, because their private perversions double as statecraft. … continue

US lawmaker names DP World CEO as sender of ‘torture video’ to Jeffrey Epstein

The Cradle | February 10, 2026

Republican US Representative Thomas Massie said on 10 February that prominent Emirati businessman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem was the sender of the “torture video” received by convicted pedophile, sex trafficker, financier, and intelligence asset Jeffrey Epstein.

The revelation comes after several US representatives obtained access to unredacted parts of Epstein’s emails from the Department of Justice (DOJ).

“In response to my posts on X today, DOJ unredacted an FBI file that LABELS two individuals as co-conspirators, unredacted a file that lists several men who might be implicated, and tacitly admitted that Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem was the sender of the torture video,” Massie said on X.

“Until tonight no one knew who sent the torture video to Epstein. I went to DOJ, unredacted the email, and reverse searched the email to discover it was a Sultans. Our law requires VICTIM’s information to be redacted, not information of men who sent Epstein torture porn!” … Full article

Iran: Epstein scandal may be part of Israel’s political project

Press TV – February 10, 2026

Iran says the global scandal surrounding convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein may go beyond a criminal case and be part of a geopolitical “project” intended to serve the Israeli regime’s interests.

A newly released tranche of Epstein files has sent shockwaves across media, politics, academia, finance, and even Hollywood, forcing prominent figures to account for their ties to Epstein.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told reporters on Tuesday that the documents should not be downplayed or seen as an issue limited to the United States or a single individual.

He said that “given multiple reports indicating that the Israeli regime or others have exploited these cases and related proceedings to advance their political objectives, it strengthens the suspicion that the entire affair may be part of a long-running and extensive project to further the political goals of certain parties, particularly the Israeli regime.”

Baghaei described the scandal as a “human and civilizational catastrophe,” which has deeply wounded the global public conscience and could be considered a crime against humanity.

The revelations, he said, indicate a deep moral crisis within Western governance systems, particularly given the involvement of senior political figures in corruption-related cases.

Baghaei also questioned why no formal judicial proceedings have been publicly pursued so far. … continue

Lavrov comments on Epstein-Russia spy claims

RT | February 10, 2026

Claims by Western media that US financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein may have had ties to Russian intelligence are little more than gutter journalism, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.

The diplomat was responding to unproven recent allegations in Western media and comments by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk suggesting that Epstein may have been a Russian intelligence asset.

Officials in Moscow have said allegations linking Epstein to Russian intelligence are being deliberately amplified to divert attention from a scandal that has exposed the hypocrisy of powerful figures in the US and Europe.

“You’re drifting into yellow journalism. This isn’t even worth discussing. It’s an attempt to provoke irritation in countries that certain circles in other countries happen not to like,” Lavrov said in an interview with NTV aired on Sunday.

He added that such speculation was aimed at influencing both the Republican and Democratic parties in the US, as well as governments in Europe.

“[Recruiting Epstein] never interested us at all. Instead, they’re trying to hunt for some kind of Russian trace in this heap of millions of pages,” the minister stated. … Full article

Netanyahu Visits Trump for the Seventh Time Amid More Threats of a U.S. Attack on Iran

Will the US base its policies toward Iran on its own interests, or fight a pointless but costly war against Israel’s prime enemy in the Middle East?

By Glenn Greenwald| February 10, 2026

… Despite the best propaganda efforts of the Ellison-owned, Bari Weiss-led CBS News to convince Americans that Iran’s ballistic missiles somehow pose a threat to the U.S. rather than just Israel, the reality is that Iran cannot and does not pose a threat to the U.S., particularly if there is an agreement in place to ensure Iran cannot produce nuclear weapons (such an agreement had been in place that, by all accounts, provided a comprehensive inspection regime at Iranian facilities before it was nullified in 2017 by the U.S.).

The very idea that the U.S. should even consider sending its own citizens to fight a war against Iran is the consummate example of Israel having Americans fight wars that serve Israel’s national interest but not Americans’ interests. In the days leading up to Netanyahu’s latest in a series of visits to the U.S., Israeli officials began publicly threatening that they would attack Iran on their own if Trump refused to do it for them.

If Israel actually wants war with Iran, Israel can go fight it itself. Invite their most impassioned, loudmouthed American advocates, such as Mark Levin and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), to join that fight. But leave the U.S. out of it.

The towering question, as always, is how much Trump is actually willing to defy not only Israel but his top Israel-centered donors and advisors, such as Miriam Adelson and Stephen Miller. The record on that front has been quite poor thus far. One once again watches to see whether the U.S. will make policy and war decisions not based on its own interests but on the interests of this one foreign country. – Full article

Dozens arrested in Australia during violent police crackdown on anti-genocide protests

The Cradle | February 10, 2026

Australian police violently cracked down on anti-genocide protests in Sydney on 9 February, sparked by the visit of the Israeli president, arresting dozens and critically injuring several protesters.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside Surry Hills Police Station in response to the violence, at a rally organized by the Palestine Action Group (PAG), after police sealed off the perimeter of nearby Harmony Park following clashes the previous evening. […]

During the crackdown, a 69-year-old woman, identified as Jann Alhafny, was hospitalized with four fractured vertebrae after a police officer pushed her “very violently” and “without warning” during the protest. … Full article

US judge blocks deportation of Turkish student detained in pro-Palestine crackdown

Press TV – February 10, 2026

A US judge has prevented the deportation of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish PhD student at Tufts University, who was detained last year amid the Trump administration’s crackdown on pro-Palestinian activists.

Ozturk’s lawyers provided a detailed account of the ruling in a formal letter filed on Monday with the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals.

Ozturk was detained last March while walking on a public street. Masked US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents handcuffed her and placed her in an unmarked vehicle. Her arrest took place as the Trump administration intensified its targeting of foreign students and activists advocating for Palestinian human rights.

The sole reason authorities offered for revoking her visa was an editorial she co‑authored for Tufts’ student newspaper a year earlier, condemning her university’s response to Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.

Her legal team first filed a petition for her release in federal court in Boston, later moving the case to Burlington, Vermont.

In May, a federal judge ordered her immediate release, finding that her detention constituted unlawful retaliation in violation of her free speech rights.

Ozturk spent 45 days in a detention center in southern Louisiana but has since returned to the Tufts campus.

The Trump administration appealed that release to the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals; however, the recent decision halts those proceedings for now.

“Today, I breathe a sigh of relief knowing that despite the justice system’s flaws, my case may give hope to those who have also been wronged by the US government,” Ozturk said in a statement released by her lawyers.

Her immigration attorney, Mahsa Khanbabai, confirmed that immigration judge Roopal Patel in Boston issued the decision.

While the ruling itself is not public, the administration could still challenge it before the Board of Immigration Appeals. … Full article

World’s largest shipping firm facilitates US trade with illegal Israeli settlements

The Cradle | February 9, 2026

The world’s largest shipping firm, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), has been transporting goods from the illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank to the US, including via European ports.

According to a joint investigation by Al-Jazeera and the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM) published on 9 February, commercial documents obtained through US import databases show that between 1 January and 22 November 2025, MSC facilitated at least 957 shipments of goods from Israeli settlements to the US.

Of these shipments, more than half transited through European ports, including 390 in Spain, 115 in Portugal, 22 in the Netherlands, and two in Belgium.

MSC is privately owned by Italian billionaire Gianluigi Aponte and his Italian-Israeli wife, Rafaela Aponte-Diamant.

“Israeli settlements are widely considered illegal under international law, because they are built on occupied territory, in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention,” noted Nicola Perugini, senior lecturer in international relations at the University of Edinburgh.

“Commercialising products from these settlements effectively supports the illegal settlements,” she affirmed. … continue

Israeli Forces Demolish Two Homes Near Jenin

IMEMC | February 10, 2026

Israeli occupation forces demolished two Palestinian homes on Tuesday morning in the town of Barta’a, southwest of Jenin in the occupied West Bank’s northern part, in yet another escalation targeting Palestinian residential life in the area.

Media sources said Israeli bulldozers, backed by military units, demolished two homes belonging to the Kabaha family in the Khirbet Khur ad‑Dab’a neighborhood, under the pretext of building without a permit.

Residents reported that soldiers also threatened the owners of nearby homes, warning that they could face the same fate. … Full article

Washington’s Gaza ‘master plan’: A mere PowerPoint presentation

Trump allies are selling Gaza reconstruction as a futuristic AI-powered utopia that not even the Israeli army believes will happen

By Robert Inlakesh | The Cradle | February 10, 2026

“We have a master plan … There is no Plan B,” remarked Jared Kushner last month, during a Board of Peace (BoP) presentation about Gaza reconstruction at the World Economic Forum (WEF) at Davos. What has become apparent is that no coherent Plan A exists either.

Although Kushner’s father-in-law, US President Donald Trump, was granted the legitimacy to build what he calls the BoP on the back of pledges to implement his “20-point peace plan” and Gaza ceasefire, the BoP’s charter is notably absent of any reference to Gaza.

Furthermore, United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution 2803, which legally authorized the BoP and was explicitly about the Gaza ceasefire, was deliberately vague on how any concepts proposed in the resolution would be implemented. It deliberately avoided outlining any mechanisms or obligations for reconstruction. Instead, two parallel schemes emerged. … continue

Including A Child, Army Kills Seven Palestinians In Gaza

IMEMC | February 10, 2026

Medical sources said Israeli soldiers killed seven Palestinians, including a child and a woman, and injured many others in several parts of the devastated and besieged Gaza Strip.

Three Palestinians, including one woman, were killed and several others injured near Deir al‑Balah in central Gaza.

According to medical teams, an Israeli drone fired a missile at an electric bike near the al‑Musaddar village, killing two Palestinians. They added that a woman was also killed by fire from an Israeli military quadcopter in the same village.

Four Palestinians were also killed in an Israeli assassination strike that targeted an apartment in the al‑Nasr neighborhood of Gaza City, as Israeli forces continued widespread bombardment, home demolitions, and ground fire across several areas of the Strip.

An Israeli Apache helicopter fired a missile at the apartment, killing four Palestinians from the town of Beit Hanoun, including a young girl and her father.

The victims were identified as Ibrahim al‑Za’anin, Ahmad Sweilem, Lamia Shabat, and her father Atiyya Shabat. The Israeli army claimed it was targeting a commander in the al‑Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas.

Earlier in the morning, two Palestinians were shot and wounded by advancing Israeli tanks in the al‑Zaytoun neighborhood, southeast of Gaza City. Medical sources said the two were struck near the Shawwa station area.

Israeli occupation forces also continued demolishing homes in eastern Gaza City, accompanied by heavy artillery fire, while military vehicles opened fire east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. The army carried out two additional large‑scale demolitions east of Khan Younis as part of its ongoing operations. … Full article

The Empire of Lies: How the Western Colonial Project Turned Palestine into a Laboratory of Cruelty

By Muhammad Hamid ad-Din – New Eastern Outlook – February 10, 2026

From Washington to Jerusalem: A Chronicle of the Deliberate Destruction of a People Under the Guise of “Democracy” and “Security”.

The Gaza Strip today is not just a territory; it is an open wound on the body of humanity, a laboratory where the West, led by the United States and its puppet Israel, tests new forms of colonial violence. Under the pretext of “fighting terrorism” and “ensuring security,” a systematic destruction of an entire people is taking place—methodical, cynical, paid for by American taxpayers, and approved by the silent consent of European allies.

Trump’s plan for “managing” Gaza is not a solution but a refined form of neocolonial control. It is an attempt to replace open military occupation with a sophisticated system of neocolonial governance, where Palestinians are relegated to the role of perpetual wards, stripped of sovereignty, dignity, and a future. … continue

IOF arrests three young men during incursion in southern Syria

Palestinian Information Center – February 10, 2026

DAMASCUS – The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) arrested three young men during an incursion into the Quneitra countryside in southern Syria, on Monday as part of ongoing violations since December 2024.

According to Syria’s official “Al-Ikhbariya” channel, “IOF soldiers arrested three young men from the town of Jbata al-Khashab in northern Quneitra while they were collecting firewood.”

This comes despite the announcement on January 6 of a communication mechanism between Syria and Israel, under US supervision, aimed at coordinating information exchange, reducing military escalation, and fostering diplomatic engagement and commercial opportunities.

The IOF continues, on an almost daily basis, to repeatedly shell Syrian territory, carry out ground incursions, particularly in Quneitra and Daraa countrysides, arrest civilians, set up checkpoints to search and interrogate passersby, and destroy crops. … Full article

Israeli pesticide spraying damages 80 dunams of wheat in Quneitra, officials say

MEMO | February 10, 2026

Syrian officials have accused the Israeli army of damaging agricultural land in the countryside of Quneitra after repeated spraying of unidentified pesticides over border areas.

Jamal Ali, Director of Agriculture in Quneitra, told the Syrian newspaper Al-Watan that around 80 dunams of wheat in the town of Kodna, in the central countryside of the governorate, were destroyed after exposure to chemicals allegedly sprayed by Israeli aircraft.

Ali said the wheat crop had died completely, describing it as a significant agricultural loss that would adversely affect the livelihoods of farmers who rely primarily on agriculture and livestock grazing. He added that field inspections of the affected areas revealed extensive environmental and agricultural damage, including the total destruction of grasses and wild plants.

Ali Ibrahim, Director of Environment in Quneitra, said the villages of Koudna, Al-Ashah and Al-Rafid, located along the ceasefire line, were sprayed with unknown chemical substances on 25th January by an Israeli agricultural aircraft. He characterised the action as a violation of international agreements. … Full article

Iran advises US to act independently of ‘destructive’ Israeli influence amid nuclear talks in Oman

Press TV – February 10, 2026

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman has advised the United States to avoid “destructive” Israeli influence as Washington engages in indirect nuclear negotiations with Tehran, citing the drawn-out history of Tel Aviv-manufactured regional crises.

Esmaeil Baghaei made the remarks during a press conference in Tehran on Tuesday, identifying the US as Iran’s sole negotiating counterpart that had to decide whether it was willing to act independently of Israel’s “destructive” pressures that harmed regional stability and even contradicted Washington’s own interests.

Baghaei said one of the main challenges in US foreign policy in the West Asia region was its alignment and compliance with the demands of the Tel Aviv regime, which he said has been the primary source of insecurity in the region over the past eight decades. … continue

Is Nixing Aid to Israel a Poison Chalice?

Ending the existing arrangement could result in even more extensive forms of involvement

By Kelley Beaucar Vlahos | The American Conservative | February 9, 2026

There is a lot of talk about getting rid of the massive agreement that guarantees Israel billions of dollars in military aid each year. And it’s not just critics of Israel: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Senator Lindsey Graham have even said they want to “taper off” the money because Israel is ready to stand on its own two feet.

But while a debate over the annual package would be a most welcome one given the enormous sums of American taxpayer money that has flowed to Israel’s wars in recent years, it is important to keep an eye on what might be a bait and switch: trading one guarantee for a set of others that might be less transparent and more expensive than what’s on the books today. … continue

Moscow, Paris resume technical levels talks as Macron urges ‘re-engagement’ with Russia

The Cradle | February 10, 2026

Russia and France have resumed diplomatic contacts at a technical level, the Kremlin confirmed on 10 February, marking a cautious reopening of dialogue after years of strained relations.

The development was reported by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, following remarks by French President Emmanuel Macron published the same day in the German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung.

Peskov said Moscow and Paris have restored technical-level communications, while adding that no talks between presidents are currently planned.

He added that renewed contacts “would allow swift organization of top-level dialogue, should it be required and necessary,” but noted that Russia has received “no indication it is required.”

Macron’s comments signaled a clear shift from earlier western efforts to isolate Moscow. … Full article

Anchorage was the Receipt: Europe is Paying the Price… and Knows it

By Gerry Nolan | Ron Paul Institute | February 10, 2026

Sergey Lavrov didn’t hedge. He didn’t soften. He lit the match and let it burn.

“In Anchorage, we accepted the United States’ proposal.”

And now, he says, Washington is no longer prepared to implement what it itself put on the table — not on Ukraine, not on expanded cooperation, not even on the implied promise that a different phase of US–Russia relations was possible.

That line matters because it shatters the performance. The offer was real enough for headlines — but not real enough to survive contact with the sanctions machine.

And then he let the contradiction sit there in plain sight — because while Washington was talking about cooperation, its navy and enforcement arms were busy doing something else entirely: tracking, boarding, and seizing oil tankers across oceans. … continue

Japan to Sign Up For NATO’s Ukraine Arms Pipeline

Sputnik – February 10, 2026

Japan has allegedly pledged significant financial support for Ukraine, and committed to providing specialized equipment, with reports indicating long-term assistance.

Doubling down on its US-pushed militarization drive, Japan is moving closer to NATO by signing on to the alliance’s Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) program, which facilitates the flow of military equipment to Ukraine, according to NHK.

Sources cited by the outlet claim Japan will soon officially announce its participation in the initiative, announced during the NATO Summit in July 2024 and headquartered in Wiesbaden, Germany.

The equipment that Japan is expected to procure for Ukraine reportedly includes body armor, vehicles, and, potentially, radar systems.

The NSATU mechanism coordinates the donation of military equipment from Allied and partner nations to Ukraine’s armed forces, aligning their capabilities with NATO standards.

Russia has repeatedly argued that Western weapons shipments to Ukraine undermine any prospects for a negotiated settlement and amount to NATO’s direct involvement in the conflict. Russia has also warned that convoys delivering arms to Ukraine would be treated as legitimate military targets.

Türkiye-NATO: Strategic Security Or Strategic Revision?

By Alexandr Svaranc – New Eastern Outlook – February 9, 2026

Currently, Turkish interests and NATO logic are diverging increasingly. Turkish society and expert circles are actively discussing both the prospects of maintaining NATO membership and the possibility of leaving the bloc. … continue

The Kosovo war trial looks like damage control: How far can accountability go without reaching NATO?

Justice is allegedly catching up with Hasam Thaci – that is until it reaches the edge of Western involvement

RT | February 10, 2026

Prosecutors at The Hague are seeking 45 years in prison for Hashim Thaci, accusing the former president of command responsibility for war crimes the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) committed during and immediately after the 1998-99 conflict that tore up Yugoslavia.

To an observer attuned to the history of the Balkans, this belated, carefully managed reckoning protects the core Western triumphalist narrative of Kosovo’s “independence” while limiting how far responsibility can travel back to Washington, Brussels, and NATO. … continue

EU Pressured Social Media Giants to Censor Americans’ Speech

By Michael Nevradakis, Ph.D. | The Defender | February 9, 2026

The European Union (EU) pressured U.S. tech platforms to censor Americans’ online speech on topics including the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccines, according to a U.S. House of Representatives interim report published last week.

The House Judiciary Committee published the 160-page report, which French newspaper Le Monde described as “scathing.”

The report accused the EU of “trying to make an end-run around the First Amendment and censor US speech that does not align with its preferred narratives.”

According to the report, EU officials have held over 100 closed-door meetings with representatives of social media platforms since 2020. They pressured tech firms to apply EU speech laws, including the Digital Services Act (DSA), to U.S. content.

The report described these actions as an effort to “censor the global internet.”

“Though often framed as combating so-called ‘hate speech’ or ‘disinformation,’ the European Commission worked to censor true information and political speech about some of the most important policy debates in recent history — including the COVID-19 pandemic,” the report states.

The report noted that the EU targeted political satire, “populist rhetoric,” “anti-government/anti-EU” postings and “meme subculture.” … continue

Palestinian journalist and Press TV contributor briefly arrested by UK police

Press TV – February 10, 2026

Palestinian journalist and Press TV contributor, Latifa Abouchakra, was arrested by British police as she made her way to an anti-Zionist political meeting but was released from detention after almost 24 hours in custody.

Abouchakra, herself a displaced Palestinian living in the UK, was due to appear as a panelist at the launch of a coalition of activists seeking to challenge the Zionist stranglehold over the British state.

West Midlands Police stopped Abouchakra as she drove to the venue in the city of Birmingham on Sunday; a statement later released by that police force said that she had been arrested for alleged incitement to racial hatred.

In the same statement, the police made an astonishing confession that they were engaging in political censorship and interference by targeting the meeting of the anti-Zionist movement, and that they were working on the direct orders of the local Zionist Jewish community in Birmingham. … Full article

UN urged to act as Kashmiri journalist Irfan Mehraj remains jailed

Al Mayadeen | February 9, 2026

Two leading human rights organizations have called on the United Nations to intervene in the case of Kashmiri journalist Irfan Mehraj, whose prolonged detention without trial they say violates international law.

Mehraj, who was scheduled to appear in court the same day, remains jailed nearly three years after his arrest.

Mehraj, an independent journalist and human rights defender from Kashmir, was arrested on March 20, 2023, by India’s National Investigation Agency, a counter-terrorism body.

He has since remained in prolonged pre-trial detention in a maximum-security prison in New Delhi, more than 500 miles from his home city of Srinagar, Kashmir.

Despite multiple court hearings, his trial has not begun, and his bail application remains undecided. Indian courts have repeatedly extended his detention without conviction.

“Trial by jail”: legal process as punishment

“Mehraj’s case exemplifies India’s practice of ‘trial by jail,’”  said Human Rights Foundation Legal and Research Officer Hannah Van Dijcke. “Dissidents are subjected to indefinite pre-trial detention, whereby the legal process itself becomes the punishment.”

HRF and FORUM-ASIA argue that Mehraj’s arrest is part of a broader trend where Kashmiri journalists and human rights defenders face criminalization and persecution for their legitimate work. […]

Kashmiri human rights defender Khurram Parvez also remains in detention under the same case. … Read full article

FBI chief vows to ‘hunt down’ those who kill American citizens – except Israel

By Maryam Qarehgozlou | Press TV | February 9, 2026

US Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on Friday that Zubayr al-Bakoush, a suspect in the 2012 attack on the US embassy in Benghazi, Libya, has been arrested and transferred to the United States.

Bondi claimed that al-Bakoush played a central role in the attack that killed four Americans and will face charges including murder, arson, and terrorism-related offenses. He is the third individual to be criminally charged in connection with the Benghazi attack. Two others – Ahmed Abu Khatallah and Mustafa al-Imam – are currently serving lengthy prison sentences, while another suspect, Ali Awni al-Harzi, was killed in a US airstrike in Iraq in 2015.

Al-Bakoush faces an eight-count indictment, including murder, attempted murder, arson, and conspiracy to support terrorism, according to Jeanine Pirro, the top US prosecutor in the District of Columbia.

Following al-Bakoush’s arrest, FBI Director Kash Patel said that killing an American citizen is an act of terrorism, and perpetrators will be prosecuted in the United States.

“I’m extremely thankful to the CIA and director [John] Ratcliffe and our other law enforcement partners for making sure that the world knows that if you kill an American citizen in an act of terrorism, we will hunt you down, we will bring you to justice, and you will face justice here in America, not in another court, and not in any other proceeding around the world, but here,” he said.

After Patel shared a video of his remarks on X, formerly Twitter, users quickly pointed out a glaring exception: the Israeli regime.

From Rachel Corrie, crushed by an Israeli military bulldozer in 2003, to Khamis Ayyad, who died from smoke inhalation during a settler arson attack in 2025, at least thirteen American citizens have been killed by Israeli regime forces over the past two decades. These victims included journalists reporting from the field, aid workers delivering food, peace activists protesting home demolitions, teenagers shot at checkpoints, and a 78-year-old grandfather detained and left to die.

Yet in cases involving Israeli forces, the US government has consistently deferred to Israeli military investigations – probes that human rights organizations have long condemned as whitewashes.

Rights groups have repeatedly documented that Israeli occupation forces are almost never held accountable within the regime’s legal system when they kill or seriously harm Palestinians.

To date, no one has been charged or held accountable for the killing of any American citizen by Israeli forces, and the successive US administrations have chosen not to take up the issue.

US citizenship, according to activists, offers no protection from violence at the hands of the Israeli regime – and no guarantee of justice when that violence proves fatal.

Nor are Palestinian Americans the only ones at risk. Several US citizens who are not Palestinian have also been subjected to lethal force by Israeli forces and illegal settlers on Palestinian land.

For decades, Washington has shielded Israel from international scrutiny. It has never seriously engaged with mounting evidence of Israel’s systematic violations of international law, including the killing of American citizens.

What follows are the names, stories, and circumstances of American citizens killed by Israeli forces – and the complete absence of accountability that followed. … continue

Thousands mobilize to protest Israeli president visit to Australia

The Cradle | February 9, 2026

Thousands of anti-genocide demonstrators rallied across Australia on 9 February to protest a visit by Israeli President Isaac Herzog, with large gatherings in central Sydney and further actions planned nationwide.

Police clashes were reported as protests spread beyond Sydney, with thousands rallying in Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, and other cities, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

Officers were seen restraining demonstrators in Sydney as crowds chanted slogans opposing Herzog’s visit.

In Sydney, police used pepper spray and clashed with protesters as authorities warned that participants would risk arrest if they joined a march from Sydney Town Hall to the New South Wales Parliament, an area designated as a protected zone during the Israeli president’s visit. … Full article

Colonizer Attack Injures Several in Masafer Yatta

IMEMC | February 9, 2026

Several Palestinian residents were injured, and another was abducted, on Sunday after illegal paramilitary Israeli colonizers launched an attack on the village of Khirbet Imneizil in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron in the occupied West Bank’s southern region.

Osama Makhamra, a media activist in Masafer Yatta, said that groups of colonizers assaulted residents while they were present on their land, beating them and attempting to seize a livestock herd belonging to the Rashid family.

Makhamra added that the assault resulted in multiple injuries among the residents before Palestinian medics treated them.

He also stated that Israeli forces arrived shortly after the attack and invaded the homes of the Rashid family, detaining several women, children, and young men.

The soldiers then abducted Akef Rashid after assaulting him, while Mahmoud Ali Rashid sustained injuries and was transferred to Yatta Governmental Hospital for treatment.

These attacks come amid an ongoing escalation of colonizer violence targeting residents and their property across Masafer Yatta, as part of a sustained pattern of intimidation and pressure aimed at forcing Palestinian communities from their land. … Full article

Israeli Forces Shoot One, Assault Another, Near Hebron

IMEMC | February 9, 2026

Israeli occupation forces shot and injured a young Palestinian man and severely assaulted another on Monday in the towns of Ethna and Beit Ulla in the southern part of the occupied West Bank.

Medical sources said the soldiers shot a young man in his twenties in the leg with live ammunition while he was near the illegal Annexation Wall in the Wadi Al‑Kheil area of Ethna, west of Hebron. Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) medics transported him to hospital, where his condition was described as moderate.

In Beit Ulla, northwest of Hebron, Israeli forces invaded the town, closed several roads with earth mounds, searched multiple homes, and assaulted Sakhr Al‑Ajouri, causing bruises and contusions. PRCS medics transferred him to hospital for treatment.

The army also blocked the rugged access routes connecting Ethna to Route 35 with earth barriers, further restricting Palestinian movement in the area.

In the village of Susiya, in the Yatta area south of Hebron, Israeli forces detained teacher Khader Al‑Nawaj’a for an hour while he was on his way to Palestine Mixed Elementary School in Khirbet Ashkara in Masafer Yatta.

At dawn on Monday, Israeli soldiers invaded several areas across the West Bank, abducting at least 64 Palestinians, demolishing a residential room, confiscating vehicles, and imposing widespread movement restrictions through military roadblocks and road closures.

Israeli forces kill 9 Palestinians in Gaza in new ceasefire violation

MEMO | February 9, 2026

Israeli forces killed nine Palestinians in fresh attacks in various parts of the Gaza Strip on Monday, amid daily violations of a ceasefire agreement in effect since Oct. 10, medical sources said, Anadolu reports.

In the latest developments, a medical source told Anadolu that the death toll from an Israeli strike targeting a residential apartment on Al-Nasr Street, west of Gaza City, has risen to three.

Al-Nasr Street lies outside areas of Israeli military deployment under the ceasefire agreement.

Earlier, a Palestinian fisherman was injured by Israeli fire off the coast of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

The sources told Anadolu that a 54-year-old Palestinian was killed by Israeli gunfire in the vicinity of Abu Tammam School in the town of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza, outside the army’s deployment areas.

A farmer was also killed by the army in east of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, the sources added.

Four more Palestinians were earlier killed by Israeli forces in the southern Gaza Strip.

An Israeli military statement claimed that its forces had identified four gunmen allegedly emerging from an opening along an underground route in eastern Rafah. … Full article

Three-Year-Old Child Among Four Martyrs as Israeli Enemy Strikes Car in Southern Lebanon

Al-Manar | February 9, 2026

A drone strike in southern Lebanon killed three civilians on Monday, including a three-year-old child, as the enemy continued its daily violations of the ceasefire—once again placing children and non-combatants within its target bank.

Al-Manar’s correspondent reported an Israeli drone strike targeting a car in the southern town of Yanouh, in the district of Tyre, leaving casualties.

Ambulances rushed to the scene of the attack as pillars of smoke rose in the area, according to our correspondent.

Lebanese Health Ministry then said the strike in Yanouh killed three citizens including a 3-year-old child. … continue

Made-for-Israel Wars: America’s Dangerous Habit of Forgetting

By Jamal Kanj | MEMO | February 9, 2026

As argued in last week’s article, economic coercion is never an end in itself, it is the prelude. When sanctions fail, when financial pressure cannot bend reality to the satisfaction of Washington’s Israel-first demands, the next instrument is always the same: war. The US has fallen into this trap repeatedly, ignoring the lesson every time, especially when Israel’s interest sits at the core.

Promoted as counterterrorism and the export of democracy, US interventions in Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Yemen, and beyond were nothing but proxy wars waged to secure Israel’s regional military supremacy, cement its occupation of Palestine, and preserve and expand a system of Jewish apartheid. The result was predictable and perverse: mushrooming terrorism, new dictators, pulverized states, endless wars, and a region locked into engineered chaos and permanent instability.

These were not failures of execution but successes of design. It was the precise prescription of the Israel-first ideologues in Washington. Wars that were marketed by an Israeli-managed media and paid for in American life and money. Israel-first Zionists, in coordination with Israeli operatives, manufactured the “Weapons of Mass Deception,” transforming the US military into Israel’s hired muscle, leaving US soldiers marooned in Israel-made-swamps for more than twenty years, and still counting. … continue

IAEA to Inspect Several Iranian Nuclear Facilities in Next Few Days – Iran Vice President

Sputnik – 09.02.2026

TEHRAN – The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will inspect a number of Iranian nuclear facilities in the coming days, Iranian Vice President and head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Mohammad Eslami said on Monday.

“After the war [between Iran and Israel in June 2025, IAEA inspectors] conducted an inspection of facilities that were not attacked, and in the coming days they will inspect a number of other facilities,” Eslami said, as quoted by the Tasnim news agency.

The country had earlier urged the UN nuclear watchdog to clearly define and codify what measures should apply “if a country’s nuclear industry, which is under the agency’s supervision, comes under a military attack.”

Israel launched surprise attacks on Iran’s nuclear and military sites in June, sparking a 12-day war that saw the US bomb Iran’s civilian nuclear program facilities.

Decades of broken promises, aggression, Israeli pressure leave Iran no reason to trust US: Analyst

By Press TV | February 9, 2026

Decades of broken promises, military aggression, and Israeli pressure have left Tehran with no reason to trust Washington, says a US-based analyst. … continue

Iran Willing to Dilute Enriched Uranium If US Lifts All Sanctions

By Kyle Anzalone | The Libertarian Institute | February 9, 2026

A top Iranian official said that Tehran would be willing to dilute its stockpile of highly enriched uranium if Washington agrees to remove sanctions completely.

Iran’s atomic energy chief, Mohammad Eslami, proposed that Tehran would dilute its 60% enriched uranium to a lower level if “all sanctions would be lifted in return.” Iran is estimated to have 400-600 kg of highly enriched uranium. Eslami explained that Tehran was unwilling to sell or transfer the nuclear material to a third country.

American and Iranian officials met for talks in Oman last week. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran is “very serious in negotiations” and is eager to “achieve results”. However, he said, “There is a wall of mistrust towards the United States, which stems from America’s own behaviour.”

Tehran says it is willing to agree to a deal with Washington that imposes restrictions and inspections on its civilian nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief and the US abandoning its aggressive policy towards Iran. … continue

Iraqis volunteer en masse to fight in support of Iran

The Cradle | February 9, 2026

Nearly 5,000 Iraqis have volunteered to help defend Iran and Iraq in the event of a US-Israeli attack on the countries, amid ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran to avert war.

“We announce our readiness to volunteer to support our security forces, the Popular Mobilization Forces [PMU], and the Islamic Republic of Iran, and we categorically reject American intervention in the Islamic Republic,” a statement from the volunteers read.

Ammar al-Tamimi, a leader in the Badr Organization, said the volunteers were not associated with any specific armed faction.

“Rather, we are volunteers ready to serve as a reserve force for the security forces,” Tamimi stated.

“We came forward to defend our families and our people after sensing danger. We volunteered for the sake of God Almighty. We do not need money,” one volunteer stated. … continue

Why didn’t China protect Venezuela from the US?

Beijing is regrouping to adapt to the new hemispheric world order, but not retreating from Latin America

By Ladislav Zemánek | RT | February 9, 2026

The US military intervention in Venezuela in January 2026 – known as Operation Absolute Resolve – sent shockwaves far beyond Caracas. By striking targets in the Venezuelan capital and capturing President Nicolás Maduro, Washington signaled a decisive return to hard power in the Western hemisphere. The operation was not merely a tactical move against a hostile regime; it was a strategic message about influence, hierarchy, and control in the Americas. For China, which had invested heavily in Venezuela’s political and economic survival, the intervention raised immediate questions about the limits of its global reach and the evolving rules of great-power competition in an increasingly multipolar world.

China’s response to Operation Absolute Resolve was swift in tone but cautious in substance. Official statements from Beijing condemned the US action as a violation of international law and national sovereignty, framing it as destabilizing and emblematic of unilateral hegemony. Chinese foreign ministry officials repeatedly urged Washington to respect the UN Charter and cease interference in Venezuela’s internal affairs, positioning China as a defender of state sovereignty and multilateral norms.

Yet the rhetoric was not matched by escalation. … continue

US Boards Oil Tanker that Departed Venezuela

By Kyle Anzalone | The Libertarian Institute | February 9, 2026

US forces boarded and quarantined an oil tanker in the Indian Ocean.

“Overnight, U.S. military forces conducted a right-of-visit, maritime interdiction and boarding on the Aquila II without incident in the INDOPACOM area of responsibility,” the Department of War posted on X. “The Aquila II was operating in defiance of President Trump’s established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean. It ran, and we followed.”

President Donald Trump ordered a total blockade of Venezuelan oil last year. Even after US forces captured President Nicolas Maduro, American soldiers have continued to seize tankers carrying Venezuelan oil.

Aquila II departed Venezuela a month ago, and was tracked by the Pentagon. The Department of War tracked and hunted this vessel from the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean,” the statement explained.

“No other nation on planet Earth has the capability to enforce its will through any domain. By land, air, or sea, our Armed Forces will find you and deliver justice.” It continued, “You will run out of fuel long before you will outrun us.”

The US has seized several tankers in the Caribbean and a Russian-flagged vessel in the northern Atlantic Ocean.

Ukrainians ‘fed up with fighting’ – Budapest

RT | February 9, 2026

Ukraine’s forced mobilization has become an “open manhunt,” with civilians being detained and forced into military service against their will, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has said.

Commenting on the detention in Ukraine of a Hungarian citizen who allegedly attempted to help a group of Ukrainians cross the border, Szijjarto said people were “fed up with the fighting.”

“The Ukrainian people do not want to die, yet every day there are images of violence playing out like a series – open manhunts unfolding on the streets of Ukrainian cities,” he wrote on Facebook on Sunday. … Full article

Orbán calls Ukraine an ‘enemy’ of Hungary

By Lucas Leiroz | February 9, 2026

Tensions between Hungary and Ukraine continue to escalate. The constant pressure against Hungarian-Russian energy cooperation and the policies of ethnic cleansing through military recruitment in Ukraine have caused fury in Hungary. Furthermore, the pragmatic and pro-peace stance of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is absolutely antagonistic to the neo-Nazi and warmongering ideology of the Ukrainian regime, making both countries irreconcilable rivals.

In a recent statement, Orbán said that Ukraine is Hungary’s “enemy.” The Hungarian leader’s words were extremely strong and signaled a radical shift in Hungary’s stance, moving from moderate opposition to Ukraine to open enmity – a logical and inevitable consequence of Ukraine’s constant provocations against the Hungarian people.

The trigger for the diplomatic crisis that prompted Orbán’s statement was Ukraine’s insistence on demanding that Hungary end its energy cooperation with Russia. The Kiev regime continues to provoke Hungary through its European partners, encouraging them to pressure Budapest to stop buying Russian oil and gas. For Orbán, these provocations are a red line, which is why Ukraine has ceased to be seen as a simple adversary in the international arena and has become a true enemy of Hungary. … continue

No Grounds for Talks About New Negotiations With US on New START – Russian Deputy FM

Sputnik – 09.02.2026

There are no grounds for talking about launching new negotiations with the United States on the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Monday.

“There is currently no basis for discussing the launch of such a negotiation process. We have repeatedly spoken about the need to see deeper, far-reaching changes for the better in the US approach to the issues we are discussing,” Ryabkov said on the sidelines of the BRICS Sherpa meeting in New Delhi, adding that when US policy towards Russia changes for the better, then the preconditions for launching a corresponding dialogue will arise.

Russia regrets that the US administration perceives the New START Treaty as something that requires replacement with something else, the deputy foreign minister added.

“In any such hypothetical process, nothing would come of it without the involvement of the United Kingdom and the French Republic, as the United States’ closest allies, both possessing nuclear weapons and, in the current, highly tense international situation, pursuing a highly aggressive course toward our country. Therefore, ignoring their nuclear arsenals would be irresponsible. They must be at the negotiating table, I repeat, if and when something like this becomes relevant,” Ryabkov also said.

UK proposes North Sea drone fleet to target tankers – Sunday Times

RT | February 9, 2026

Britain is planning to launch a seaborne drone fleet to seize oil tankers it claims are linked to what it calls a Russian “shadow fleet,” the Sunday Times has reported. … continue

Russia vows ‘all possible assistance’ to Cuba as Washington moves to starve island

The Cradle | February 9, 2026

The US is “strangling” Cuba, Russia warned on 9 February, stressing that the Kremlin is looking for ways to assist the island nation to withstand Washington’s intensified blockade.

“The situation in Cuba is indeed critical … We are aware of this, and we maintain close contact with our Cuban friends through diplomatic and other channels,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday.

He added that “the stranglehold imposed by the United States is already causing a lot of difficulties for Cuba,” noting that Moscow and Havana are discussing “possible ways to resolve these problems or at least provide all possible assistance.” … continue

South American countries’ pragmatic reassessment of ties with China amid US hegemonism, protectionism

Global Times | February 8, 2026

A quiet but profound shift is reshaping the geopolitical map of South America, as revealed by an exclusive Reuters report, “Brazil signals new openness to Mercosur-China talks as Beijing seeks deeper ties”: For the first time, senior Brazilian officials are considering a push for a “partial” trade agreement between the Mercosur bloc and China.

This represents a major shift for Latin America’s largest economy. While Washington is busy raising tariffs and fortifying protectionist walls, countries in the Western hemisphere are recalculating their survival strategies. The result? A pragmatic reassessment of ties with Beijing.

We are already seeing the ripple effects of US pressure on neighbors like Mexico and Panama, but the shifting mood in the wider region is far more significant. The degree to which Latin American nations are pivoting is directly correlated to the economic squeeze they feel from the North. … continue

Epstein’s Ukrainian nexus: modeling agencies, trafficking, and elite connections

By Uriel Araujo | February 9, 2026

Passports and political correspondence place Ukraine at the heart of the Epstein network. From Kyiv-based agencies linked to abuser Jean-Luc Brunel to references involving Zelensky and Western financial elites, the files reveal a pattern that clashes with prevailing media narratives. The silence surrounding these connections is quite telling in today’s narrative war. … Read article

Epstein case reveals ‘satanism’ of Western elites – Lavrov

RT | February 9, 2026

The decadent lifestyle of disgraced US financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his entourage is a testament to the moral decay of Western elites, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.

Last month, the US Department of Justice released a large trove of emails, photos, and videos from the Epstein state, prompting renewed scrutiny of high-profile individuals who associated with Epstein despite his conviction for sex crimes.

The files “have revealed the face of the West and the deep state, or rather a deep union that rules the entire West and seeks to rule the whole world,” Lavrov said in an interview with NTV aired on Sunday. … continue