'Lucky Larry' is back!; US loses 2nd C-130; Iran, US forces collide; Hezbollah hits ship, tanks; 'Open the Fuckin' Strait', cries Trump - IRAN WAR NEWS - 5-Apr-2026 (update 3)

April 5, 2026

12bytes: In the purist spirit of 'FAFO' (fuck around, find out) Trump initiated a religious war at the direction of his Chabad-Lubivitch Zionist masters that he has been losing badly since 165 school girls were slaughtered by 2 US Tomahawk missiles during the opening salvos. Any delusions Trump had of achieving his ever-changing goals in the Middle East have since evaporated. US bases in the region have been largely destroyed and abandoned, leaving their hosts and Israel blind to incoming munitions and no one can stop Iran's hypersonic and multi-warhead missiles. Israel and the Gulf states are running out of interceptors. Their reporting of incoming missiles/drones being "intercepted" are largely lies and many of the "missiles" being intercepted are decoys. The damage to Israel is immense and worsens by the hour. The "Iron Dome" has been dismantled and reduced to providing Israeli's with a 1-2 minute warning to shelter, if any at all. It is strictly forbidden for people to report on the damage inflicted by Iran, many of whom have been arrested. Organizations publishing satellite imagery of damage to Israel and US bases are now forbidden to do so.

Trump seeks an exit ramp, but his back is against the Wailing Wall and 'plan B' is being fabricated on-the-fly. Worse still, it is a near certainty that even if the US pulled out, the Iranian's will continue attacking Israel until the parasitic Zionists have paid a price that Iran deems sufficient and that price increases with every bomb the US/Israel drops on their people, their leaders and their infrastructure. Meanwhile, Iran controls shipping in the Hormuz Strait, a primary shipping lane of global importance, and thus has its enemies by their proverbial balls until its demands are met, including US withdrawal from the region and the elimination of sanctions. What will the end look like? Will the US and/or Israel deploy nuclear weapons? Russia and China are unlikely to allow Iran to fall.

Stay tuned.

UPDATE 3

Iran says 100,000 civilian sites including universities damaged in strikes | Middle East Eye

Dozens of universities, schools and research facilities in Iran have been damaged by US-Israeli air attacks, a government spokesperson said.
Iran's English-language Press TV quoted spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani as saying civilian infrastructure has been widely affected.

True Promise 4: Iran and resistance axis ops. against US-Israeli assets on April 5

On Sunday, April 5, 2026, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and the Iranian Army conducted multiple operations as part of Operation True Promise 4, which was launched immediately after the US-Israeli coalition carried out an unprovoked act of aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran on February 28.
Iranian armed forces have so far carried out 97 waves of missile and drone strikes with advanced weaponry targeting Israeli military facilities in the occupied territories, as well as US occupation bases and assets scattered across the West Asia region.
[...]
Below is a list of operations carried out by the Iranian armed forces, as well as resistance movements in Lebanon and Iraq, against the US and the Zionist regime on April 5:
Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC):
Downed an American MQ9 drone in the skies over Isfahan. With it, the number of MQ9 drones destroyed in the skies over Isfahan in the past five days has reached four.
Following the desperate actions of the American enemy to rescue the pilot of the downed fighter jet and the entry of enemy aircraft into the center of the country, during a joint operation (Aerospace Force, Ground Force, popular mobilization, Basij, and the Faraja), the enemy aircraft were destroyed, and America has once again suffered a shameful defeat, just like the 1980 Tabas operation.
Following the American-Israeli aggression on the B1 Karaj bridge and the Mahshahr petrochemical industries, in addition to the operations of the forces affiliated with the IRGC against specific military targets, a retaliatory operation was initiated in response to this clear aggression in wave 96 of the True Promise 4 operations, with the sacred codename "Ya Ruqayyah (peace be upon her)" and dedicated to all the martyred girls.
The operation was carried out within the operational schedule, and during the joint operation between the naval and air forces of the IRGC by setting fire to Israeli targets and American economic interests in the countries of the region.
A severe attack was carried out against a refinery supplying fuel for the American-Israeli fighter jets in Haifa, which led to the destruction of its main sections.
An attack was carried out against American gas facilities (Exxon, Mobil, and Chevron) located in Habshan, UAE.
A missile attack on US petrochemical facilities producing fuel materials for the American armed forces and military products for the Israeli regime in Al-Ruwais, UAE, caused a widespread fire.
An intensive attack with attack drones was carried out on American petrochemical facilities in Sitra, Bahrain, which led to a widespread fire and the destruction of important parts of this industry, which plays a role in producing oil derivatives required by the American military.
An attack on American petrochemical facilities in Shuaiba, Kuwait, led to a widespread fire and the complete shutdown.
Iranian Army:
An Israeli-American "Hermes 900" drone was intercepted and hit by the fire of the Army Air Defense Force system in Isfahan. With it, the number of drones destroyed by the integrated network of the country's Joint Air Defense Headquarters has reached 162.
Targeted petrochemical industries and oil product storage tanks in the south of the occupied territories near "Dimona", and depots of equipment, satellite communication units, and the headquarters of the American terrorist army forces at the enemy military base located in Bubiyan, Kuwait, with drone attacks.
The petrochemical industries, petroleum products, and underground emergency fuel reserves of the Israeli regime, which provide for the energy needs in the south of the occupied territories, are of high importance to this regime.
The enemy military base located in Bubiyan, Kuwait, as one of the key centers of the US Central Command in the region, plays a central role in supporting them in West Asia.
A "Lucas" drone belonging to the enemy was intercepted and struck by the surface-to-air missile system of the Army Air Defense Force near Kharg and was destroyed.
Including this one, the number of drones destroyed by the integrated network of the country's Joint Air Defense Headquarters has reached 163.
Hezbollah:
In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and vehicles in the Al-Sidr area in the town of Ainata with a rocket barrage.
In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and vehicles near the "Al-Malikiyah" settlement with a rocket barrage.
In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and their vehicles in the Al-Sadr area in the town of Aita Al-Shaab with a rocket barrage.
In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Zar'it" barracks with a swarm of attack drones.
In defense of Lebanon and its people, and within the framework of responding to the Israeli bombing of villages and cities, destroying infrastructure, and displacing civilians, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted an Israeli military warship 68 nautical miles off the Lebanese coast that was preparing to carry out aggression against Lebanese territory. The targeting operation was carried out with a naval cruise missile after monitoring the target for hours, and it was confirmed to have been directly hit.
In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted infrastructure belonging to the Israeli army in the "Yesud HaMa'ala" settlement with a rocket barrage.
In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Kafr Szold" site with a rocket barrage.
In defense of Lebanon and its people, and within the framework of the warning issued by the Islamic Resistance to a number of settlements in northern occupied Palestine, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the settlements of "Avivim" and "Yiron" with rocket barrages.
In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted infrastructure belonging to the Israeli army in the "Ma'alot Tarshiha" settlement with a rocket barrage.
In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Meron" air control and operations management base in northern occupied Palestine with a rocket barrage.
Targeted the "Stella Maris" base belonging to the Israeli army in the occupied city of Haifa with a barrage of qualitative missiles.
In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers at the Al-Malikiyah site with a rocket barrage/
In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted infrastructure belonging to the Israeli army in the "Katsrin" settlement in the occupied Syrian Golan with a rocket barrage.
In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted infrastructure belonging to the Israeli army in the occupied city of Safad with a rocket barrage.
In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and their vehicles in the Al-Sadr area and the Al-Ghadmatha hill in the town of Ainata with rocket barrages.
In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers at the Al-Malikiyah site with an attack drone.
In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted infrastructure belonging to the Israeli army in the "Karmiel" settlement with a rocket barrage
In defense of Lebanon and its people, fighters of the Islamic Resistance detonated an explosive device targeting an Israeli force in the vicinity of the castle of Shamaa town, resulting in confirmed casualties.
In defense of Lebanon and its people, and within the framework of the warning issued by the Islamic Resistance to a number of settlements in northern occupied Palestine, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Nahariya" settlement with a rocket barrage.
In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers at Tallet Friez in the town of Ainata with a rocket barrage.
In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers at Al-Ghadmatha Hill in the town of Ainata with a rocket barrage.
In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Meron" base for surveillance and air operations management in northern occupied Palestine with a rocket barrage.
In defense of Lebanon and its people, and within the framework of the warning issued by the Islamic Resistance to a number of settlements in northern occupied Palestine, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Metulla" settlement with a rocket barrage.
In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and vehicles east of the Khiam detention center with rocket barrages.
In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers at the Hadabat Al-Ajal site north of the "Kfar Yuval" settlement with a swarm of attack drones
In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted an administrative logistics support base belonging to the Northern Region Command of the Israeli army north of the occupied city of Akka with a qualitative attack drone.
Islamic Resistance in Iraq:
Targeted the interests of the American occupation forces in Kuwait in response to the attacks on the Shalamcheh border crossing using appropriate weapons.

Iran Army conducts drone strikes against US bases in UAE, Kuwait

Iran's Army has conducted new drone strikes targeting US military positions in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, as the US-Israeli war against the Islamic Republic entered its sixth week.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the army said its forces targeted a radar system used for the detection and identification of missiles and combat drones, as well as aluminum industries in the UAE, using Arash 2 drones.
It added that drone strikes were also carried out against US command headquarters of mechanized, armored and helicopter units in Kuwait.
The statement said some Arab media outlets had reported explosions in both Kuwait and the UAE.

Israeli air strike hits crowd in Gaza City | Gaza | Al Jazeera

Several Palestinians were rushed to hospital with severe injuries after an Israeli air strike hit a crowd near the Al Jazeera Club in central Gaza City. Near-daily Israeli attacks have killed more than 700 people since the so-called "ceasefire" entered into effect in October 2025.

Drone strikes hit Iraq's Sulaimaniyah, explosions reported | Middle East Eye

Explosions were seen in Iraq's Sulaimaniyah after drone attacks, with footage showing fire and smoke rising over the city in the Kurdish region.
The strike came shortly after another drone attack damaged a separate building.
The incidents come as Iraq is increasingly drawn into the US-Israeli war on Iran, with Iraqi militia groups launching attacks on American assets in the region.

Trump Begs for Ceasefire, Iran Says 'Go Pound Sand' + Gulf Sheikhs Face Existential Choice - Patrick Henningsen talks to Dialogue Works - 21st Century Wire

This weekend has been a disaster for Donald Trump and his increasingly unhinged Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, as their operation inside Iran ended with multiple US planes being shot down, and the President resorting to wild tweets where he continues to threaten Iranian people with "total obliteration" if they don't accept an unconditional surrender from Washington. It's reported that Trump and Hegseth begged Tehran for a 48 hour ceasefire in order to clean up their mess after their mission went bad, but Tehran ignored US pleas. Meanwhile, the Gulf monarchies continue to try and stay in the US camp-despite their economies and security position rapidly deteriorating both regionally and internationally. Entitled Gulf regimes seem to believe they can continue to collude against Iran and still maintain their privileged positions in the Persian Gulf. If history is any guide, their shortsightedness may lead to their demise. All this and more.

Stanislav Krapivnik: Iran Just SLAMMED the Door on America's Ceasefire Offer the Strait Stays Closed

A detailed discussion examines the escalating Iran-US conflict, focusing on a costly rescue mission that reportedly led to significant equipment losses and casualties. It highlights ongoing military tensions, disputed narratives about negotiations, and claims of strategic misinformation affecting markets. The conversation explores risks of wider regional war, including threats to energy routes, infrastructure, and global supply chains. It also warns of potential humanitarian and economic consequences, from food shortages to geopolitical instability, suggesting the situation may worsen without a clear exit strategy.

Max Igan: Major Escalation Approaching

"It isn't the rebels who create the troubles of the world, it's the troubles who create the rebels."

Fars: 15 ships pass through Hormuz in 24 hours with permission from Iran | Middle East Eye

The figures come as access to the strategic waterway remains restricted.
Maritime traffic through the strait is about 90% lower than before the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran, the report said.

IRGC says Hormuz will 'never return to former state' for US and Isreal | Middle East Eye

The statement said Iran is in the final stages of operational preparations for what officials describe as a "new order" in the Gulf.
The remarks follow moves in Iran's parliament to advance draft legislation that would impose transit fees, restrict passage for the United States and Israel, and limit access for countries enforcing sanctions on Tehran.

UPDATE 2

Trump and the Pentagon Will Collapse America Into Darkness. Pete Hegseth is a "Weapon of Mass Destruction" - Global Research

There are varying reports regarding the number of generals and admirals Hegseth has fired, with numbers ranging between now 23 to 34.
The reason is clear - Trump will only tolerate 'Yes Men' and Hegseth complies while depleting not just the highest ranks, but destabilizing war and troop strategies that will put thousands of lives in imminent danger.
The idea of Marines on the ground is suicide.
The idea that some two-bit former Fox News Host can fire a 4-star general is insanity. It is incredibly demeaning. The outcome should result in mutiny. It is like putting sailors on a ship with no captain or parachutists on a plane with no pilot.

IRGC Navy pounds key US-Israeli targets in wave 97 of Operation True Promise 4

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has announced that its naval forces conducted a large-scale combined missile-and-drone operation against pivotal American and Zionist targets.
The operation was carried out as part of the 97th wave of Operation True Promise 4 on Sunday afternoon, the IRGC stated.
Among the key targets was a hideout used by American commanders and officers at a location near the Mohammad al-Ahmad naval base in Kuwait.
The site was obliterated by precision strikes using multiple ballistic missiles and attack drones, the IRGC said.
Reports indicate that the heavy concentration of ambulances in the area points to substantial casualties among enemy forces.
The attack, which follows Saturday's strike on a US command centre and training facility in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has so far killed or injured 25.
Meanwhile, an Israeli commercial vessel was struck by a naval Qadir cruise missile in the channel of Jebel Ali Port in the UAE. "The ship is currently on fire," the IRGC said.
The IRGC further stated that its naval forces have been preventing the transit of several vessels through the Strait of Hormuz since Saturday.
The vessels, it said, did not possess transit authorization and were therefore directed to the western and eastern anchorages of the waterway.
To transit the Strait, the IRGC Navy said oil tankers and commercial vessels in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman must contact one of the IRGC Navy stations via international Channel 16 on marine radio.
It also warned vessel crews not to endanger their safety by paying attention to "false news."
Iran imposed restrictions on the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz days after the US and Israel launched an unprovoked war against the Islamic Republic late in February.
As part of the operation, the IRGC Aerospace Force also targeted an industrial zone affiliated with the Israeli military in Beersheba. The attack came in response to "the atrocities of the brutal Zionist regime" against the Iranian nation, the statement added.
On Sunday morning, the IRGC Navy and Aerospace Force set fire to enemy targets in the UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait in response to US-Israeli airstrikes against Iran's civilian facilities.
However, the IRGC emphasized that what has occurred so far represents only a portion of its response, warning that if attacks on civilian facilities are repeated, the next phase of the operation will be more intense and broader in scope.
Iranian armed forces and resistance groups across the region continue to carry out retaliatory military operations against the United States and the Israeli regime.
So far, 97 waves of missile and drone strikes have been carried out with advanced weaponry targeting Israeli military facilities in the occupied territories, as well as US occupation bases and assets scattered across the West Asia region.

Irans army hits Israeli, US targets in renewed reprisal attack

The Iranian army has launched fresh attacks on Israeli and US targets as part of its reprisal campaign against the ongoing US-Israeli aggression on the country.
The army said in a Sunday statement that it had carried out successful attacks on a petrochemical complex and oil products storage facility in the southern Israeli-occupied territories, as well as on a makeshift facility used by the United States military for keeping its equipment and satellite communication units in Kuwait.
It said that the Israeli petrochemical and oil products site targeted in the attacks included underground emergency storage installations that played a key role in energy supply to the southern occupied territories controlled by the Israeli regime.
The statement added that the US military facility on Kuwait's Bubiyan Island has been used as a major command and control center for American forces operating in the West Asia region and has hosted munition depots, key missile systems like HIMARS, as well as communication and supervision equipment.

Watch: Hezbollah destroys Israeli Hummer vehicle with drone strike - Yemen Press Agency

BEIRUT, April 05 (YPA) - The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon (Hezbollah) released video footage showing its fighters targeting a Hummer vehicle belonging to the "Israeli" enemy army in the vicinity of Meiss El Jabal hospital in southern Lebanon with an attack drone.

Lebanese resistance targets Israeli enemy positions in Safed, Golan Heights - Yemen Press Agency

BEIRUT, April 05 (YPA) - The Lebanese resistance announced on Sunday that it had carried out a series of rocket attacks targeting Israeli enemy army positions in northern occupied Palestine and the occupied Syrian Golan Heights.
The resistance explained in successive statements that it had bombed enemy infrastructure in the occupied city of Safed, and also targeted the settlement of "Katzrin" in the occupied Golan with a similar missile salvo.
It added that the attacks also targeted a gathering of enemy soldiers at the al-Malikiyah site, confirming direct hits on the targeted sites.

Nima R. Alkhorshid: Trump Confirms Pilot Rescue as Military Planes Keep Getting DECIMATED

Why an attack on Bushehr nuclear plant would be catastrophic for the Gulf | US-Israel war on Iran News | Al Jazeera

The US and Israel have repeatedly hit the nuclear power plant, raising risks of radioactive contamination far beyond Iran's borders.

Rented power, borrowed strength: The illusion of Gulf power in war - Middle East Monitor

What, in real terms, would they contribute? These are not societies organised around production, resilience, or civic responsibility. They are systems engineered around comfort, insulation, and the systematic outsourcing of effort to foreigners. Routine functions are delegated. Expertise is imported. Labour is externalised. The result is a culture of entitlement that has not merely softened expectations but extinguished any serious demand for self-reliance.

Sanaa reveals physical evidence of Riyadh, Abu Dhabi's involvement in war on Iran - Yemen Press Agency

SANAA, April 05 (YPA) - An official in the Sanaa authority has revealed physical evidence of Saudi and Emirati involvement in the aggression against Iran, within an overt alliance alongside America and "Israel."
Hizam al-Asad, a member of the Ansarallah Political Bureau and the Shura Council in Sanaa, posted on his (X) platform account during the past hours: "The (Wing Loong 2) are Chinese-sourced aircraft acquired by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which were used in the aggression against the Yemeni people, where several of them were shot down."
Al-Asad pointed out that the downing of that aircraft yesterday in the airspace of the Islamic Republic exposes the falsehood of Saudi-Emirati 'neutrality' and reveals their clear alliance with the Zionist entity and America in the aggression against Iran.

The bomb and the ayatollah: Islamic just war and the nuclear question in post-Khamenei Iran - Middle East Monitor

The killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the opening phase of the US-Israeli war against Iran has generated a striking argument in strategic and theological circles alike: that the killing may have removed not merely a political leader but a normative brake on Iran's possible march toward nuclear weapons. Reports indicate that Iranian decision-making has since hardened under intense military pressure and an increasingly securitised internal environment.

At least 14 people killed in Israeli strikes across Lebanon | Israel attacks Lebanon News | Al Jazeera

Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs on Sunday killed at least four people while 10 people - including a family of six - were killed in Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon.

UPDATE 1

Trump warns 'crazy bastards' in Iran to open the 'fuckin' strait' in Truth Social rant | Middle East Eye

12bytes: And this fat Zionist pig has control of the nuclear launch codes??? I told a friend of mine the other day that i'm glad that, as an American, i live in America because i'd be embarrassed to admit that if i lived in any another country.

Trump says 'good chance' of deal with Iran, but he will 'blow up' everything if not | Middle East Eye

US President Donald Trump told a Fox News journalist that he believes there is a "good chance" of making a deal with Iran on Monday.
"They are negotiating now," the president said. "If they don't make a deal and fast, I'm considering blowing everything up and taking over the oil."

Trump says he granted amnesty to Iranian negotiators in order to keep talks alive - Middle East Monitor

US President Donald Trump said Sunday there was a strong chance of reaching an agreement with Iran as soon as Monday, while also threatening to escalate attacks dramatically if Tehran fails to deliver quickly, Anadolu reports.
Speaking to Fox News, Trump said he was considering "blowing everything up" and "taking over the oil" if Iran does not move fast enough toward a deal.
He also said he had granted amnesty to Iranian negotiators to ensure talks could continue, though there was no immediate response from Tehran. Trump said previously that Washington was in contact with Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf.
Iran did not respond immediately to Trump's claim that an agreement may be near.
The remarks came on the same day Trump issued a stark warning on his social media platform Truth Social declaring that Tuesday would be "Power plant day, and bridge day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran" - referring to his threats to target Iran's infrastructure - adding: "There will be nothing like it!!!" He also told Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz "or you'll be living in hell - just watch!"

12bytes: My response...

Why Are Upbeat US Claims About Mission to Rescue Pilot 'Highly Questionable'?

President Donald Trump earlier wrote on Truth Social that the US carried out an operation to rescue an F-15 airman "without a single American killed, or even wounded."
"Success in military terms is measured not only by the extraction of personnel but also by the cost incurred. If the US indeed lost aircraft and other equipment during the mission, then the operation cannot be deemed an unqualified success," former colonel of Pakistan's Air Force Sultan M. Hali told Sputnik.
"Rescue missions involving dozens of warplanes penetrating hostile airspace and engaging Iranian defenses are inherently dangerous. Historically, governments often downplay or delay acknowledgment of casualties to maintain morale and political optics," Hali explained.

12bytes: The US lost at least 4-6 aircraft associated with the rescue effort in addition to several other aircraft lost in the last few days.

Watergate 2.0

The Trump team is hastily looking for legal ways to destroy as much official documentation as possible. It is already obvious that following the results of Trump's stormy cadence, the White House apparatchiks will be dragged through the courts. It will take a very long and hard time to justify everything.
In the second month of the war with Iran, the White House is painfully rejoicing at the success of the rescue operation with the rescue of the pilot of the downed F‑15. However, it was possible to implement it only on the second attempt. And during the operation, we first lost two A‑10 attack aircraft, along with two helicopters, and then also tanker planes. Whether it will still be during the ground operation.
The military, dissatisfied with Trump, continues to leak information to the press about the depletion of the Pentagon's arsenals. During the month of the war, almost 1,900 high-precision JASSM missiles had to be spent out of the total reserves of 2,300. The cost of each rocket is one and a half million dollars. The standard versions of the JASSM have not been produced for 10 years, and the longer-range JASSM-ER are only produced at 300 per year.
Now the scarce missiles have to be hastily dragged from the Indo-Pacific direction. China will be the beneficiary of this, because the United States is burning through military resources in the Middle East, which have been accumulating for a long time to confront China. The same applies to tomahawks, of which only 50 are produced per year, and anti-aircraft missiles.
There are new high-profile resignations ahead in the White House, with FBI Director Cash Patel and Commerce Secretary Howard Latnick set to leave. The situation is painfully beginning to resemble the Nixon cadence - the chaos in Vietnam, political scandals, the collapse of ratings, the collapse of the presidential team. And it is unlikely that cleaning up the documentation will allow us to avoid impeachment hearings and trials in the near future.

King of Bahrain urges end to Iranian attacks across the region | Middle East Eye

The King of Bahrain, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, said in a statement that Iranian attacks against the kingdom and other countries in the region targeted civilians and infrastructure, stressing the need to "stop it immediately".

12bytes: All these ignorant, corrupt, coke-sniffing, cry-baby perverts need to do if they want the bombing stopped is kick the US out of their countries. Instead, they cry and stomp their feet and blab about making plans to open the strait because militarily, there's not a damn thing they, or the US can do.

SCOTT RITTER: We Don't Control the Skies Over Iran! - YouTube

12bytes: Scott Ritter is a American former United States Marine Corps intelligence officer, former United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) weapons inspector, author, and commentator.

SCOTT HORTON: TRUMP HAS NO EASY WAY OUT OF IRAN, CAN'T ADMIT WAR WAS 'TERRIBLE' DECISION

Scott Horton (https://TheFactsAboutIran.com), the founder of the Scott Horton Institute of Foreign Policy and Freedom, and editorial director at AntiWar.com, spoke to The Trends Journal's Edmund DeMarche about President Donald Trump's speech about the Iran War, and how the president could be stuck in a forever war like recent predecessors.

US-Israeli air strike hits airport in southwestern Iran | Middle East Eye

"The Shahid (Qasem) Soleimani international airport was hit in an airstrike carried out by US and Zionist forces," IRNA wrote, citing deputy governor of Khuzestan province Valiollah Hayati.

Eighth Israeli attack reported in Beirut's southern suburbs | Middle East Eye

Lebanon's state media is reporting Israeli strikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut, the eighth wave of attacks targeting the capital today.

Around 3,000 ships stranded around Hormuz Strait, passage down 94%: Data

Energy and cargo transit through the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway in the Persian Gulf responsible for a fifth of global oil demand, has fallen by some 94% since the start of the US-Israeli aggression on Iran in late February, data shows, amid growing concern that the blockage could lead to irreparable damage to the global economy.

Israeli occupation continues systematic detention of 350 Palestinian children - Yemen Press Agency

QUDS, April 05 (YPA) - The Palestinian Prisoners' Media Office said on Sunday that Israeli occupation's authorities continue to detain Palestinian children as part of what it described as a systematic policy targeting minors. It noted that more than 1,700 children have been detained since October 7, with some later released while others remain in custody.
In its report, the office stated that about 350 children are currently held in occupation's prisons, mainly in juvenile sections at Ofer and Megiddo facilities. It also indicated that dozens of children from the Gaza Strip have been detained during the ongoing war.
The office added that arrests are often accompanied by a range of violations, including enforced disappearance, denial of access to lawyers, and restrictions on family contact, which complicate efforts by human rights groups to verify numbers and detention conditions.
According to the report, the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child prohibits the arbitrary detention of minors and stresses that detention should be used only as a last resort and for the shortest possible time, while ensuring humane treatment. It said these standards-particularly Article 37, which bans torture and guarantees legal rights-are being violated.
The report further stated that conditions inside prisons affect all detainees, including children, citing allegations of torture, starvation, medical neglect, and the spread of disease.
It added that arrest practices have intensified since October 7, frequently involving violent nighttime raids in which children are taken without being allowed to gather belongings or say goodbye to their families.
It also said that detained children are often handcuffed, blindfolded, and beaten during transfer and interrogation, which reportedly takes place without legal representation and under conditions that breach international norms.

END UPDATES

USA Could Engage in Provocations for a Global Attack Against Iran

Had Tehran possessed nuclear weapons, Israel and the US would not have attacked Iran.
No more than 30% of US citizens support President Trump's Middle East policy. Opponents of the US president's gamble include both Democrats and Republicans [...]. They consider the war with Iran illegal and reckless, draw parallels with the start of the Iraq War, initiate anti-war resolutions and bills, and demand restrictions on the president's martial powers.
Donald Trump cannot clearly explain to American society and his allies why there was a fire on the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier and the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. [...]
The Iran war is becoming the "black swan" capable of ruining Donald Trump's second term. The US president has no way of rapidly and triumphantly concluding the war with Iran. [...] How can Trump maneuver this crisis to consolidate American society against Iran?
Does Larry Silverstein know something we don't?
[...]
Seven weeks before the tragic events in New York, 70-year-old Larry Silverstein secured an agreement on renting the World Trade Center for 99 years for $3.2 billion and insuring the towers for $3.55 billion. The document included a bullet on insurance in the case of...a terrorist attack. [...]
[...]
Now "genius insurer" Larry Silverstein is back in the spotlight in connection with the second US-Israeli military campaign against Iran. The new case for the now 95-year-old Silverstein involves the insurance he took out in March 2026 on the 73-story US Bank Tower in Los Angeles, California, a building he had purchased in September 2020 for $430 million. Once again, the insurance includes a clause covering terrorist attacks on the skyscraper - and this comes amid escalating conflict with Iran.

Iran war: What is happening on day 37 of US-Israeli attacks? | US-Israel war on Iran News | Al Jazeera

Iran says US-Israeli attacks have killed five people and wounded 170 others at the Mahshahr Petrochemical Zone, and that more than 30 universities have been targeted since the war was launched on February 28.
Here is what we know about the latest developments:
In Iran
The airman, who Trump said held the rank of colonel, was the second of the two crew of an F-15E that Iran said on Friday had been brought down by its air defences. He was rescued after what was described as a "heavy firefight". Iran has yet to comment.
Strikes killed five people overnight in Iran's southwest during the rescue of the missing US crewmember, Iranian media reported on Sunday.
The IRGC on Sunday claimed that Iranian forces destroyed two C-130 aircraft and two Black Hawk helicopters during the operation to rescue the US pilot in southern Isfahan. Earlier, claimed to have destroyed the MQ-9 Reaper drone in Isfahan, according to the Fars news agency.
US-Israeli strikes in Ardabil province near Iran's northwestern border with Azerbaijan killed three people, Iranian media cited an official as saying.
Russia has evacuated another 200 staff members from the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant following a deadly attack on the site's perimeter, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warning that such raids expose the entire region to the risk of radioactive contamination.
The Tehran Prosecutor's Office has ordered the seizure of assets and freezing of bank accounts of more than 100 high-profile individuals accused of "supporting the enemy abroad".
In the Gulf
Two Kuwaiti power and water desalination plants were damaged by a drone attack from Iran, the Ministry of Electricity and Water said on Sunday, noting the attack caused "the shutdown of two electricity generating units".
Earlier on Sunday, Kuwait's military said its air defences were working to intercept missiles and drones. An Iranian drone attack had also caused "significant" damage to a government building in Kuwait City on Saturday evening, a Ministry of Finance statement said, adding there were no injuries.
Later on Sunday, the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation reported "significant material losses" after an Iranian drone attack on several of its facilities, according to the KUNA news agency.
Bahrain's Gulf Petrochemical Industries said on Sunday that several of its operational units were subjected to an attack by Iranian drones.
Bahrain's Bapco Energies said an oil tank at one of its storage facilities caught fire following an Iranian attack, and that the blaze had now been extinguished.
Earlier in the day, Bahrain's Ministry of Interior said that civil defence teams extinguished a fire at an unspecified "facility" following an Iranian attack, noting there were no reported deaths or injuries.
Authorities in Abu Dhabi said on Sunday that operations at petrochemicals company Borouge's factory were suspended after fires broke out at the facility following the fall of debris. Earlier, The Ministry of Defence of the United Arab Emirates said its air defences were responding to missile and drone attacks after Iran said it was targeting the country's "aluminium industries".
Mohamed ElBaradei, a former director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, has urged Gulf countries to act after Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran. In a post in Arabic on X, he wrote, "Please, once again, do everything in your power before this madman turns the region into a ball of fire."
In the US
The US president has confirmed the rescue of the missing officer from an F-15E jet. "WE GOT HIM!" he wrote on his Truth Social platform, calling the search operation "one of the most daring... in US History".
Planet Labs, the satellite imaging company, has said it will indefinitely withhold visuals of Iran and the region of conflict in the Middle East to comply with a request from the Trump administration.
Two family members of slain Iranian general Qassem Soleimani have been arrested in the US after their residency permits were rescinded, the State Department said. However, Iranian media spoke with two daughters of Soleimani, who said the detained individuals were not related to him.
In Israel
The Israel Broadcasting Authority said on Sunday that alarms have been activated throughout the country's north, including the port city of Haifa after Iranian missiles were fired towards the country.
Earlier in the day, the Israeli military said it had detected a missile launched from Yemen towards Israeli territory, the fifth such attack since the start of the war on Iran.
Yemen's Houthis, alongside Iranian forces and Hezbollah, have claimed a joint long-range attack on Israel, targeting Lod airport in the Jaffa area and key military targets.
Several loud explosions were heard over Jerusalem after the Israeli military warned it had detected missiles inbound from Iran. Reporters of the AFP news agency reported hearing at least six blasts. Earlier in the day, missile attacks on Tel Aviv and parts of central Israel wounded five Israelis, said the rescue services.
Later in the day, Israeli media reported that a factory in the Ramat Hovav area, south of Beersheba, was hit.
Israeli fire and rescue services reported a hazardous materials incident at Ben Gurion airport following the arrival of a package emitting smoke, according to Ynet News.
In Lebanon and Syria
The Israeli military claims to have killed 90 "terrorists" in southern Lebanon since the resumption of hostilities with Hezbollah.
Our colleagues at Al Jazeera Arabic reported that Israeli forces launched air attacks on the town of Kfar Hatta in the southern Sidon district hours after the Israeli military issued forced orders for residents there to flee their homes. The strike killed seven people, including a four-year-old girl, according to Lebanon's state-run National News Agency.
The Lebanese army also announced the killing of one of its soldiers in an Israeli strike in Kfar Hatta.
Israel's military renewed strikes on the southern Lebanese city of Tyre after issuing evacuation warnings, following attacks on nearby buildings that damaged a hospital.
Al Masnaa border crossing has been evacuated on the Lebanese side and closed from the Syrian side after Israel warned on Saturday that it would bomb the border crossing. Israel alleged that Hezbollah was using the border crossing for "military activity." It provided no proof for its claims.
At least five people were killed in the town of Maarakeh after Israel bombed the town.
The Israeli army attacked the Jnah neighbourhood in Beirut's southern suburbs.
The National News Agency reported that an Israeli air raid on the town of Siddiqine in the Tyre district killed three people.
Energy crisis and the Strait of Hormuz
The deputy foreign ministers from Oman and Iran met to evaluate options for ensuring the "smooth and safe passage" of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
Members of the oil-producing grouping OPEC are set to meet on Sunday to decide on their output policy for May. The meeting comes as the Iran war has disrupted the global energy market. Crude prices have crossed $100 per barrel from $65 before the war.
Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited Saudi Arabia and Qatar. She is expected to visit the UAE on Sunday as oil and gas supplies have been disrupted amid the war.
Japan's Mitsui OSK Lines says the Indian-flagged LPG tanker Green Sanvi, which is owned by one of its subsidiary companies, made the crossing on Saturday after being stuck in the Gulf following the outbreak of war.
An oil tanker loaded with Iraqi crude passed through the Strait of Hormuz close to the Iranian coast a day after Iran said Iraq was exempt from any restrictions to transit the vital sea route, data from LSEG and Kpler showed. Iraq has been plunged into severe economic distress as it exports most of its oil through the strait, which effectively remains blocked.

Iran's IRGC declares retaliatory strikes on regional oil, petrochemical facilities - Yemen Press Agency

TEHRAN, April 05 (YPA) - Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared on Sunday that it had targeted multiple oil and petrochemical facilities linked to the American-Zionist enemy, in retaliation for strikes on the B1 bridge in Karaj and petrochemical sites in Mahshahr city if Iran.
In a statement, the IRGC said the operation was part of wave 96 of operation "True Promise 4," carried out alongside other military actions and dedicated to "the martyr girls."
It added that the first phase of the response had been completed by the morning through a joint effort between its naval and aerospace forces, involving attacks on what it called Israeli targets and American economic interests in the region.
According to the statement, the operation included a large-scale strike on a refinery in Haifa that supplies fuel to Israeli aircraft, reportedly causing significant damage. It also claimed attacks on gas facilities operated by ExxonMobil and Chevron in Habshan, UAE.
The IRGC's statement further stated that it launched missiles at a petrochemical complex in Ruwais, UAE, sparking a major fire, and carried out a drone strike on the Sitra facility in Bahrain, causing extensive damage. Another attack reportedly targeted the Shuaiba petrochemical facility in Kuwait, leading to a large fire and a complete shutdown.
It accused its adversaries of failing in security, naval, and ground operations, and of being unable to sustain air operations due to repeated drone losses.
The statement added that they had instead turned to targeting civilian infrastructure to mask their setbacks, adding that the current strikes represent only the first phase of a broader response.
The IRGC's warned that continued attacks on civilian sites would trigger a more severe and expansive second phase, with escalating consequences.

Oman and Iran hold talks on reopening Strait of Hormuz | Middle East Eye

"Oman and the Islamic Republic of Iran held a meeting at the deputy ministers level in the foreign ministries of the two countries, with the attendance of specialists from both sides," the news agency posted on X.
Omani territory borders the Strait of Hormuz, which has been largely sealed off by Tehran since the beginning of the US-Israeli attack on the country in February.
The news comes as Israel and the US continue to pummel Iran from the air.

Hezbollah hits Israeli warship off Lebanon's coast, sets it aflame

Fighters from the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement have carried out an operation in retaliation for the Israeli acts of aggression against Lebanon, targeting a military vessel off the coast of the Arab nation before it could launch any hostile action.
According to a statement issued by the group on Sunday, Hezbollah members targeted an Israeli military ship 68 nautical miles off the Lebanese coast, stressing that the vessel was preparing to carry out its aggressions against Lebanese territory.
"The targeting operation was carried out with a naval cruise missile after monitoring the target for hours, and it was confirmed to have been directly hit," the statement noted.

In Video: Hezbollah destroys two Israeli Merkava tanks with drone strikes - Yemen Press Agency

BEIRUT, April 05 (YPA) - The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon (Hezbollah) released video footage showing its fighters targeting two "Merkava" tanks belonging to the "Israeli" enemy army in Wadi Al-Oyoun, southern Lebanon, with attack drones.

Yemen's Houthis claim cluster missile attack on Israel's Ben Gurion airport | Houthis | Al Jazeera

Yemen's Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Saree, has claimed responsibility for a strike on Israel's Ben Gurion airport in Jaffa, saying drones and cluster munitions were used.

IRGC claims hits on Gulf petrochemical plants | Middle East Eye

Iran's Revolutionary Guard claimed responsibility for attacks on petrochemical plants in the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain.
In a statement, the IRGC warned its attacks against American economic interests would be intensified if civilian targets continue.

Fires reported at Abu Dhabi's petrochemical plant, operations halted | Middle East Eye

"Operations at the plant have been immediately suspended pending a damage assessment," the Abu Dhabi Media Office said, adding that emergency teams are responding.

Iranian military: Complete failure of US military operation to rescue Pilot - Yemen Press Agency

TEHRAN, April 05 (YPA) - Colonel Ibrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters affiliated with the Iranian armed forces, stated on Sunday that the operation described by the US military as a "rescue mission" for a pilot was a complete failure.
In an official statement, Zolfaghari explained that the operation had been planned as a deceptive maneuver involving a rapid withdrawal under the guise of rescuing a pilot whose aircraft had been downed at an abandoned airport south of Isfahan. However, he said, the plan collapsed due to the swift and timely response of the Iranian armed forces.
He further noted that subsequent field investigations revealed the destruction of two US C-130 military transport aircraft and two Black Hawk helicopters.

Iranian media claims clashes with US forces during rescue of American airman - Middle East Monitor

Clashes broke out between Iranian forces and US troops during a rescue operation of an American pilot in which a US C-130 support aircraft was reportedly downed, Iranian media claimed Sunday, Anadolu reports.
According to Defa Press Agency, Iranian law enforcement special units destroyed several US assets, including a special operations aircraft HC-130, two Black Hawk helicopters, and multiple drones.
Following the clashes, fighting reportedly continued on the ground between Iranian units and surviving or supporting US personnel, it added.
Earlier in the day, Iran claimed that it had shot down a US C-130 support aircraft in southern Isfahan.
Fox News also reported that several US service members were injured during a mission to extract the second crew member of an F-15 fighter jet downed over Iran.

Rocket reportedly hits factory in southern Israel, Israeli reports say | Middle East Eye

A rocket reportedly hit a factory in the Neot Hovav industrial zone in Beersheba, southern Israel, according to Israeli media.
The Israeli Home Front Command earlier announced a warning after detecting missile launches from Iran towards Beersheba and Dimona. Sirens were also activated in the Upper Galilee after rockets were fired from Lebanon.

Bahrain says Bapco fire extinguished after Iranian attack | Middle East Eye

Earlier, the interior ministry said "Civil Defence is taking measures to control a fire that broke out as a result of the Iranian aggression targeting one of the facilities," and confirmed that sirens were sounded, urging residents to remain calm and move to the nearest safe place.

Kuwait's power, water plants damaged as Iran keeps attacking Gulf states | News | Al Jazeera

Kuwait has said Iranian drone attacks damaged two power and water desalination plants and sparked a fire at an oil complex, without causing injuries.

Israel says it hit 120 Iranian air defence systems in 24 hours | Middle East Eye

The Israeli military said its air force struck more than 120 targets in central and western Iran over the past 24 hours, including air defence systems and missile infrastructure.
In a statement, it said the targets included "ballistic missile array sites in the IRGC, UAV production and launching sites, and air defence sites".

Israel says 108 hospitalised with war injuries in past 24 hours | Middle East Eye

12bytes: Always "injuries", never deaths. I wonder what the real numbers are?

A total of 138 people are currently hospitalised, while more than 6,800 people, including soldiers and civilians, have been treated for war-related injuries since fighting began on 28 February.

US-Israeli strikes kill five IRGC fighters | Middle East Eye

US-Israeli strikes on Iran killed five fighters from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), state media reported.

Nine killed in US strikes in Iran's Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province | Middle East Eye

Citing a medical official, Fars reported that five people were killed and eight wounded in Koh Siah in Kohgiluyeh County, while four others were killed in the Vazg and Kakan areas of Boyer-Ahmad County.
Al Jazeera reported that the US has been conducting attacks in Iran's Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, where the rescue operation for the missing US airman from the downed F-15E jet took place.

Israeli strikes rain down on Lebanon | Middle East Eye

The Israeli army struck Beirut's southern suburbs following an expulsion threat minutes earlier in the Ghobeiry neighbourhood.
Two Israeli air strikes were also reported on the towns of Beit Yahoun and Aaitit, located in the south of the country.

Israel's attack on UNRWA is central to its genocide of the Palestinians | Israel-Palestine conflict | Al Jazeera

It is time for the United Nations to accept that Israel's attack on its agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) is an essential part of the Israeli genocide of the Palestinian people. This is not an accusation coming from a critic of Israel. It is a clear, on-the-record statement from the deputy mayor of Jerusalem, Arieh King, who, in January, invoked divine Jewish authority, proudly proclaiming, "God willing, we will expel, kill, eliminate, and destroy all UNRWA personnel."

Washington University removes professor who condemned US-Israeli war on Iran

The University of Washington has removed a professor from his role as director of its West Asia Center after he criticized the illegal US-Israeli aggression against Iran and condemned Zionism.

War with Iran: The Outcome is Predictable-but It Remains to be Seen just How Deep the Blood Will be Through Which the World Will Be Wading.

It is truly staggering to realize that the Western media still have not recognized that this war against Iran-which Israel and the United States are waging in a manner that defies every legal and moral standard-is already lost, and that the consequences are already written in bold letters on the wall: Western hegemony is a thing of the past; the fate of the EU and NATO hangs by a thread; West Asia will have new masters; and Iran, as one of the oldest civilizations on Earth, will once again assume its rightful role in the future.

Satellite imaging company Planet Labs has said it will indefinitely withhold visuals of Iran and the region of conflict in the Middle East to comply with a request from United States President Donald Trump's administration.

American mercenaries hired by UAE to kill in Yemen - BBC World Service Documentaries - YouTube

Jan 23, 2024
BBC Arabic has secured the first on-camera interviews with US mercenaries from Spear Operations Group, hired by the UAE for targeted killings in Yemen. These mercenaries openly discussed their deadly operations with the BBC.
The investigation brought to light alarming evidence that Spear Operations didn't just carry out targeted killings; they also trained Emirati officers in assassination techniques.
These skills were then used by the Emiratis to target and eliminate Yemeni civilians whom the UAE considered political enemies. Targeted killings in Yemen continue to this day.