"No one wants to fight for Israel"; war expands; Iran breaks out its big guns - IRAN WAR NEWS - 5-Mar-2026 (update 3)

March 5, 2026

Iran War Updates: For nearly live updates, see the 'Iran War Tracker Live Feed'. Built by Ian Carroll, the site links to many external sources and videos, including videos of strikes on Israel.

UPDATE 3

Recap: Key developments of US-Israel war on Iran | Middle East Eye

Here are the latest developments related to the US-Israeli war on Iran, which enters its seventh day on Friday:
Iranian attacks struck two hotels and a residential building in Manama, causing property damage but no casualties were reported.
The United States says it has sunk more than 30 Iranian vessels since the start of joint operations with Israel. A US official said an Iranian "drone carrier" was recently struck and left burning.
Riyadh said it intercepted three missiles heading toward Prince Sultan Air Base, which hosts US forces.
Yemen's Houthi leader said the group is ready to launch attacks "at any time" if the conflict escalates.
Lebanese authorities say Israeli strikes since Monday have killed 123 people and injured 683.
Iranian missile launches triggered warning sirens and explosions in Tel Aviv. Israeli emergency teams reported damage but no casualties.
Israel ordered troops to push further into southern Lebanon and warned of possible ground operations while continuing strikes in the region.
Israel's military chief said operations against Iran will enter a "next phase," promising further actions against Tehran.
A plane sent by France to repatriate citizens from the UAE turned back mid-flight due to missile fire reported in the area.
Oil prices surged and global stock markets fell amid fears the conflict could disrupt energy supplies and fuel inflation.
Iranian state media claimed drones struck the US aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, but the US military denied the claim.
Nato said it has strengthened its ballistic missile defence posture due to ongoing Iranian attacks in the region.
Iran's foreign minister said Tehran is prepared for a possible ground invasion and warned it would be a "disaster" for its enemies.
Donald Trump said he should be involved in selecting Iran's next supreme leader and rejected the idea of Mojtaba Khamenei succeeding his father.

Iranian Khayber missiles pierce Tel Aviv's defenses in massive joint strike

IRGC aerospace forces launched the 21st wave of Operation True Promise 4 early Friday morning, utilizing swarms of suicide drones and the advanced Khayber missiles with cluster warheads to saturate and bypass the Zionist regime's multi-layered air defenses.
The sophisticated coordinated assault was codenamed "Ya Mu'izz al-Mu'minin."
Video footage emerging from the heart of Tel Aviv confirmed that the Khyber missiles employed a sub-munition tactic.
Upon diving toward their targets, the missiles fragmented into dozens of smaller, high-velocity warheads, which rendered the Israeli interceptors, including the much-vaunted Iron Dome and David's Sling, completely ineffective.
Eyewitness accounts and international media reports, including Haaretz, confirmed widespread destruction of buildings in central Tel Aviv.

IRGC pounds bases of anti-Iran terrorist groups in Iraqi Kurdistan

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) carried out a wave of missile and drone strikes against the main bastions and headquarters of the anti-Iran terrorist groups in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region of northern Iraq.

Alex Krainer: This MILITARY COMEBACK Works, NOTHING Will Be the Same

Analysis of the U.S.-Israeli military escalation against Iran and its global implications. Examines strategic vulnerabilities of external powers versus Iran's home-field resilience and capacity for prolonged attrition warfare. Discusses closure of the Strait of Hormuz, disruption to global energy flows, and severe economic repercussions for Europe. Questions inconsistent justifications for war and whether decision-makers were coerced into action. Highlights historical evidence that regime change via air power alone fails without ground forces. Explores risks of regional escalation, proxy force mobilization, and potential NATO-Russia confrontation. Addresses concerns about false flag operations, targeting of critical infrastructure, and humanitarian impacts across the Middle East. Urges viewers to critically assess official narratives, recognize the human cost of conflict, and support diplomatic pathways toward lasting peace. Emphasizes that sustainable security requires dialogue, not endless war.

Saudi Arabia intercepts ballistic missiles targeting air base hosting US troops | Middle East Eye

12bytes: How about that, every U.S. Gulf base is reporting that all but a tiny number of Iranian missiles and drones are being intercepted and that the remainder are causing only superficial damage. Bullshit.

Saudi Arabia said its air defence forces intercepted and destroyed three ballistic missiles targeting Prince Sultan Air Base, which hosts US military personnel.

Bahrain says Iranian attack hits sites in Manama | Middle East Eye

Bahrain's Interior Ministry on Thursday said that an Iranian attack overnight struck three locations in the capital, Manama, causing property damage but no casualties.

Kuwait says air defences intercept missile as sirens sound in Bahrain | Middle East Eye

Kuwait's Ministry of Defence said its air defences intercepted a missile that had entered the country's airspace. The ministry later said debris from the intercepted missile caused only minor damage.

US says it struck 200 targets across Iran in past 72 hours | Middle East Eye

12bytes: How many were decoys?

US Central Command said it has carried out strikes on around 200 targets across Iran over the past 72 hours.

Hezbollah missiles, drones target Israeli occupation sites in Lebanon, occupied Palestine - Yemen Press Agency

LEBANON, March 06 (YPA) - The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon (Hezbollah) announced on Thursday a series of military operations targeting Israeli occupation army positions and assemblies.
The resistance stated these attacks are in response to the ongoing aggression against Beirut's southern suburb and dozens of Lebanese towns.
The field operations included targeting the "Naftali" base west of Lake Tiberias with rocket barrages, striking a vehicle assembly in the town of Markaba for the second time, and targeting forces at "Hadab al-Ajal" and the "Blat" border site with a guided missile, as well as executing a drone strike using combat UAVs against the "Ya'ara" barracks.

We warned repeatedly about the limit to our patience: Hezbollah leader

Hezbollah's secretary-general says the Lebanese resistance movement's recent military response followed more than a year of restraint, reminding how the group had warned repeatedly about the limits to its capacity for self-restraint in the face of Israeli aggression.
"For a year and three months, the Israeli and American enemy has continued its aggression. We adhered to the ceasefire agreement of November 27, 2024, alongside the Lebanese state, but Israel did not adhere to a single clause," Sheikh Naim Qassem said during an address on Wednesday.
The day saw the Israeli regime and the movement conclude the agreement, with Tel Aviv pledging to cease its intensified deadly escalation towards Lebanon that had cost thousands of lives.
Sheikh Qassem noted that, throughout the timespan that has passed since conclusion of the deal, the regime has claimed the lives of around 500 people throughout Lebanon.
He also noted that the period has featured more than 10,000 Israeli land, sea, and air violations against the Lebanese soil.

UPDATE 2

Military Situation In The Middle East On March 5, 2026 (Map Update)South Front

One of the IRGC headquarters in Sanandaj was attacked;
An airstrike was carried out on a police headquarters in Kermanshah;
The police headquarters building in Khorramabad was destroyed as a result of seven airstrikes;
Multiple strikes were carried out on Tehran, particularly on the Parchin military-industrial complex, the IRGC's Parand base, the Fifth Intelligence Police Base, the District 18 Municipality building, the "Waterfall" public park, and the headquarters of Iranian intelligence;
The "Imam Ali" base in Dushan, a Kurdish border town in Iran, was hit;
Strikes targeted the Ashura brigade headquarters in Tabriz;
Strikes were carried out on a police station in Eyvan (Ilam province, Iran);
Strikes targeted weapons depots in Damavand;
Air defense positions and ballistic missile launchers in Qom were hit;
Israeli forces struck S-300 launchers in the Isfahan area;
A powerful explosion occurred at an Iranian army ammunition depot in Bushehr;
An Israeli F-35I fighter jet shot down an Iranian Yak-130 over Tehran;
According to a spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Health, 926 people (including 180 individuals under 18) were killed and 6,186 wounded as a result of U.S. and Israeli attacks.
Iranian forces struck the Al Jufair naval base in Bahrain; strikes were also reported near the Bahrain Petroleum Company facility;
Iranian forces struck Kurdish bases in Iraqi Kurdistan;
Numerous interceptions were reported over Abu Dhabi, near Zayed International Airport;
An oil leak began following an explosion on a tanker off the coast of Kuwait;
Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that drone attacks on Nakhchivan were carried out from Iranian territory. The General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces denied involvement;
The Iranian Armed Forces denied reports of a missile launch toward Turkish territory, stating that Tehran respects Turkey's sovereignty;
According to the IRGC, Iranian forces attacked a hotel in Kuwait where U.S. soldiers were stationed;
Qatar reported shooting down two Iranian Su-24 bombers approaching Al-Udeid Air Base;
UAE Ministry of Defense: The UAE air defenses intercepted 6 ballistic missiles and 131 drones;
At least 100 U.S. Marines were killed in the attack on Dubai (UAE), according to the Iranian Air Defense Headquarters;
Approximately 20,000 sailors were trapped on vessels due to the halt of traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran is "very weak", has "no missiles left" -- Pentagon

US-Israeli Efforts to Degrade Iran's Missile Might Failed - Military Researcher

The intensity of Iranian missile attacks against the US and Israeli assets in the Middle East does not seem to abate, despite the United States' claims to the contrary, Konstantin Sivkov, a member of the Russian Academy of Rocket and Artillery Sciences, tells Sputnik.
Despite losing a number of its missile launchers, as is expected during war, Iran has been successfully destroying US radar systems, satellite communication stations and data processing facilities in the region.
"Iran is striking at the target designation system - the brains, the decision making system, the early warning system," Sivkov remarks.
Iranian missile launchers, he explains, are either deployed under extensive air defense protection or hidden in underground shelters, which they leave briefly to unleash their deadly payload upon the enemy.
The US military thus has a very brief window to track down and attack these launchers while they are in the open.
The active use of decoys by Iran also makes destroying these missile launchers problematic for the US.

IRGC declares 20th wave of "True Promise 4 Operation" against US-Israeli sites - Yemen Press Agency

TEHRAN, March 05 (YPA) - The public relations department of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Thursday that the 20th wave of the operation known as "True Promise 4" targeted what it described as American and Israeli positions.

USS Abraham Lincoln flees after precision strike by IRGC drones in Sea of Oman

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy has successfully targeted the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier using advanced domestically-produced drones, forcing the strike group into a rapid retreat near Iranian territorial waters.
A spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters confirmed the operation on Wednesday, stating that the carrier was intercepted approximately 340 kilometers from Iran's maritime borders in the Sea of Oman.
The vessel had moved into the area, part of the US military buildup against Iran, with the intent to monitor and control the strategic Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing war.
Following the impact, the USS Abraham Lincoln and its accompanying destroyers were observed fleeing the engagement zone at high speed.
"The carrier group has since retreated more than 1,000 kilometers away from the region," the spokesperson noted, emphasizing that the US military presence failed to achieve its objective of intimidation.

Iran's Air Defense ACTIVE, Missiles POUND U.S. Bases + Hezbollah AMBUSHES Israel | Robert Inlakesh

The Trump Admin is less than one week into a war on Iran was initially supposed to last for just "four days," and now reports say the Pentagon is trying to figure out how to prepare for the war to continue until September.
This, as Iran continues to fight back, hitting U.S. Military sites across the region, and as Hezbollah joins Iran in attacks on Israel, making it clear that Axis of Resistance is still alive and well.
Independent Journalist Robert Inlakesh noted that the U.S. and Israel are facing their worst case scenario, because in addition to refusing negotiations, Iran is now dictating this war militarily:
"The Iranian air defenses are still there. They still have naval assets. They still have an Air Force. Their military is extremely powerful. Their allies are over-performing ... and now, the ONE MAN who was in the way of Iran getting a nuclear weapon has been ruthlessly murdered by the Americans, who are claiming that Iran can't have a nuclear weapon."

Hezbollah fires missiles at Israeli base near Lake Tiberias | Middle East Eye

Hezbollah said it launched a barrage of missiles at the Naftali base west of Lake Tiberias in northern Israel.
In a statement, the group said the attack took place at about 18:45 GMT (20:45 local time) as a response to Israeli strikes on Lebanese cities and towns.
Hezbollah also said it targeted a group of Israeli army vehicles at a site near the town of Markaba in southern Lebanon around 15:00 GMT (17:00 local time).

Iran sees no reason to negotiate with US, foreign minister says | Middle East Eye

12bytes: Well well well, now isn't this a bit at odds with the sewage being pumped out of Washington!

In an interview with NBC, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is "not asking for a ceasefire" and sees no reason to negotiate with the US.
"When we negotiated with them twice, every time they attacked us in the middle of negotiations," he said. Araghchi also said Iran has not closed the Strait of Hormuz, adding that ships and tankers have chosen not to pass through the waterway.
"We have no intention to close it right now, but as the war continues, we will consider every scenario," he said.
In a separate post on X, Araghchi addressed US President Donald Trump directly, saying Washington's plan for "a clean rapid military victory" had failed. He added that the opportunity for a "unique deal" was lost during the latest negotiations, concluding: "'Israel First' always means 'America Last'."

Iran Decimates U.S. Air Defenses In Middle East | South Front

On March 3, it was confirmed that Iranian strikes hit both of the United Arab Emirates' Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems. The AN/TPY-2 radars of the systems, both deployed near the Emirate capital of Abu Dhabi, were struck.
The very next day, March 4, it was confirmed that two additional THAAD systems were successfully targeted by the Islamic Republic.
One of the systems was deployed at Prince Sultan Air Base in the center of Saudi Arabia. Just like in the UAE, the strikes hit the AN/TPY-2 radar. The other system, deployed by the U.S., was hit at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in central-eastern Jordan. Again, the Iranian strikes took out the AN/TPY-2 radar.
The THAAD was designed to shoot down short, medium, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles at a distance of 150 to 200 kilometers. A single system could cost as much as $3 billion. The cost of the AN/TPY-2 radar alone could be well over $500 million.
Also on March 4, it was confirmed that the American-made AN/FPS-132 radar site near Al Udeid Air Base close to the Qatari capital, Doha, was hit. The large radar is used for long-range early warning of ballistic missile attacks. It costs $1,1 billion and has a range of up to 5,000 kilometers.
In addition to the radar, several communication terminals were hit by Iranian strikes at Al Udeid Air Base, further degrading U.S. capabilities there.
On the same day, the destruction of an AN/GSC-52B and AN/TSC-86F satellite terminals in the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet headquarters in the Bahraini capital, Manama, was confirmed.
What has been confirmed so far is likely only a fraction of the damage caused by Iranian missile and drone strikes. In Israel, losses are being kept under tight wraps. Still, there are clear signs that the air defenses of the U.S. and its allies in the Middle East have been degraded in a significant manner.

Iran's Army and IRGC destroy seven more Hermes, MQ-9 drones in retaliatory ops

Iran's Army and Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) have successfully destroyed seven more advanced enemy drones while launching precise retaliatory strikes against enemy positions across the West Asian region.

Trump says he would support Kurdish offensive against Iran | Middle East Eye

US President Donald Trump said he would back Kurdish forces launching an offensive against Iran, in comments made during an interview with Reuters.
"I think it's wonderful that they want to do that. I'd be all for it," Trump said.

Iran Says Strikes Hit CIA-Backed Kurdish Opposition Groups, Iraq's Kurdistan Declares Neutrality (Videos) | South Front

In a statement, the Islamic Republic's Intelligence Ministry said that the strikes targeted posts of "separatist groups" that intended to enter through western borders, adding that they had sustained heavy losses.
The ministry statement, carried by state media, noted that Iranian forces were cooperating with "noble Kurds" to thwart the "Israeli-American" plan to attack Iranian soil.

Iran Uses Its Fastest And Stealthiest Drone As It Launches Another Wave Of Strikes Across Gulf (Videos) | South Front

Iran has begun using its stealthiest and fastest suicide drone, the Hadid-110, according to video footage released by state media on March 4.
The jet-powered Hadid-110, which was unveiled last year, features a stealthy faceted design. It is considered the Islamic Republic's fastest drone, with a speed of over 510 kilometers per hour. The drone has a range of 350 kilometers, and carries a warhead weighing 30 kg.
[...]
Another wave of Iranian drone and missile attacks took place on March 5, with Israel being the prime target. Sirens had sounded in Tel Aviv, across central Israel, as well as in the occupied West Bank amid the attack, sending millions of people to shelters. A small number of missiles were launched in the attack, according to an initial assessment by the Israeli military.
No direct impacts were reported by Hebrew media, but missile fragments reportedly landed in several parts of central Israel.
Interceptions were also reported in the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain, which took the brunt of this wave of Iranian attacks.
Several missiles struck a refinery owned by Bahrain's state oil company Bapco to the east coast of the island of Sitra, south of the capital, Manama. A massive fire broke out, but officials said that there were no injuries and refinery operations were continuing, with an assessment of the damage underway.
The UAE from its side said that at least 131 drones were intercepted by its air defenses during the day. Blasts were reported in the capital, Abu Dhabi, and the city of Ras Al-Khaimah, with no reports of any casualties or damage.
During the day, an Iranian military source told the Fars news agency that the Islamic Republic had launched over 500 ballistic and cruise missiles in addition to over 2,000 drones since the start of the war. The report claimed that 40% of the Iranian attacks targeted Israel and the other 60% targeted American sites in the region.
The last wave of strikes shows that Iran's missile and drone capabilities have not been degraded in a notable manner yet. In fact, the use of Hadid-110 drones on the sixth day of the war suggests that the Islamic Republic still has some cards up its sleeve.

Iranian army launches airstrikes on US forces in Iraq, Kuwait - Yemen Press Agency

TEHRAN, March. 05 (YPA) - Iranian forces launched airstrikes on US military positions and headquarters in the region on Thursday.
According to Tasnim International News Agency, the Iranian Navy's drone units carried out an operation hours earlier targeting US forces at Camp Al-Udayri in Kuwait using attack drones.
The agency also stated that the Iranian Army's Public Relations Department clarified that Army Ground Forces attack drones carried out an attack hours earlier targeting the headquarters of the aggressor US forces in Erbil, northern Iraq.
The statement added that the attack resulted in significant damage to the targeted sites.

Kuwait's army says facing new missile attacks | Middle East Eye

Kuwait's army said its air defences are responding to missile and drone attacks in the country's airspace.
"The armed forces note that the sounds heard in scattered areas of the country are the result of the air defenses intercepting the missile attacks and drones," its general staff said in a statement on X.

US closes embassy in Kuwait after Iranian strikes | Middle East Eye

The US State Department announced the closure of its embassy in Kuwait following retaliatory Iranian missile and drone attacks on the Gulf country.

Iran Tightens Hormuz Blockade. US Strikes Intensify. Kurds IN, Ukraine OUT. EU Economic Collapse - YouTube

Iran Tightens Hormuz Blockade. US Strikes Intensify. Kurds IN, Ukraine OUT. EU Economic Collapse

Reuters: tanker Sonangol Namibia damaged by explosion at port in Iraq

Earlier, there were reports that a Maltese-flagged cargo ship was attacked by two missiles in the Strait of Hormuz.
In addition, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed missile strikes on more than ten oil tankers in the same Strait.

Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi leaves presstitute Stunned!

No Amount of Bombs Will Destroy Iran /Prof Omer Bartov & Lt Col Daniel Davis - YouTube

Professor Omer Bartov argues that the U.S. cannot realistically defeat or conquer Iran, a nation of about 90 million people, and that bombing or invading it would not achieve a decisive outcome. They suggest the U.S. government lacks a clear objective in the conflict and may have entered the war partly for domestic political reasons. A collapse of Iran's ruling Ayatollah regime is considered possible but unlikely in the near term, especially since there is no clear replacement leadership.
They warn that if Iran's new leadership abandons previous restrictions against nuclear weapons, the conflict could push Iran to develop nuclear weapons as a deterrent, reinforcing the idea that smaller countries need nukes to prevent attacks by major powers.
On Israel, the speaker argues that Israeli leadership may aim to prolong the conflict to gain political advantage in upcoming elections. Israeli society has become accustomed to living under ongoing security threats, though public opinion could shift if missile strikes cause significant casualties.
The conflict may turn into a prolonged missile exchange, with neither side running out of weapons quickly. The speaker believes U.S. policy is the key factor shaping Israeli decisions-if the United States withdraws support or pressures Israel to stop the war and negotiate, it could quickly change Israeli policy and potentially lead to political change within Israel.

War in Iran is not going as well as they're telling you... - YouTube

12bytes: This was an interesting live-stream by Ian Carroll. A couple points of interest:

a great resource for live updates on a map is the Iran War Tracker Live Feed website which Ian Carroll built
the Iranians set up decoy targets for its enemies to waste munition on, like empty trucks and containers - they did the same thing during the 12 day war - this was known to me, but what i didn't know, and which is even more funny, is that some of the decoys are just painted on the ground and so the U.S. and Israel are bombing what is basically graffiti - this is evident for a couple reasons, one being that the 'target', such as a plane, doesn't move when it's hit and another being that there are no secondary explosions, as there would be if fuel tanks, missiles, etc. were blown up
Tucker Carlson started a tobacco pouch company, Alp, and someone heisted a load of product ... can we guess (((who)))???

Some clarifications:

Israel is absolutely doing everything it can to prevent information leaking about targets hit (in Israel), to include detentions - Ian wasn't entirely sure about this
Iran has started to use some of its more advanced missiles, including hypersonics - Ian didn't know about this
the Iranians hit 4 THAAD's so far, not 1

This is our full Kick livestream from Wed, Mar 4 covering the alleged raid of Epstein island, the developments in the war in Iran, and the propaganda madness that's become everyday life.

Israel behind Azerbaijan drone provocations to frame Iran - envoy - RT World News

Iran did not carry out the drone attacks on Azerbaijan and may itself be the target of a broader provocation campaign by the "Zionist regime," Tehran's ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, has said.
Azerbaijani officials claimed on Thursday that drones flying from the direction of Iran struck the terminal building at Nakhchivan International Airport. Another UAV reportedly crashed near a school in a nearby village, leaving two civilians injured. Tehran has denied any involvement.

Panic Sets In As Iran War Expanding - YouTube

The Trump Administration was warned that any attack on Iran would lead to a regional war in the Middle East, but he chose to ignore voices of caution and went with his "feeling" as the White House described it. Less than a week later, every US military base in the region is damaged or destroyed and other countries in the region are being drawn in. The quick victory promise has given way to increased calls for a US ground invasion. Mainstream media in the US is non-stop war propaganda, but reality is biting the warmakers hard.

This Will End Badly: Israel Pulls U.S. Into Another War - Dialogue Works talks to Patrick Henningsen - 21st Century Wire

Once again, Israel has successful pulled the United States into another disastrous Middle East war. Recent remarks by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirm that the US government is completely beholden to Israel, whose multi-billion dollar lobby machine has gripped both the right and the left, or the American political system in recent years. Israel has forced Washington's hand, even though there was no imminent threat to the United States. We now find ourselves on the precipice of a third world war. All this and more.
Dialogue Works host Nima Alkhorshid talks with editor of 21st Century Wire Patrick Henningsen. Watch:

MIDEAST ON FIRE - Consortium News talks to Patrick Henningsen - 21st Century Wire

CN Live! analyzes the latest developments in the US and Israeli unprovoked war against Iran, and how Iran is fighting back. For West Asia, it's an unmitigated disaster. For the US, this illegal undeclared war of aggression has pulled Washington into a bona fide constitutional crisis. Judging by the rhetoric from the fanatics in the White House, there is no visible off-ramp, and it seems likely that this crisis will escalate into a world war. All this and more.
Consortium News editor Joe Laurie and co-host Elizabeth Vos talks with 21st Century Wire founder Patrick Henningsen. Watch:

IRAN: Operation 'Epic Bill' and the US Protection Racket the Gulf Can't Escape - 21st Century Wire

The cost is no longer measured in Tomahawks expended ($2.2 million each) or Patriot interceptors launched ($44 million per volley), but in Kuwaiti bases incinerated, Qatari radar arrays allegedly obliterated, Bahraini water facilities targeted, and the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, supplying 30% of Israel's oil, now in Tehran's crosshairs.

US Radars Destroyed: Iran writes handbook for Modern War with Empire | Interview: Sharmine Narwani

The United States and Israel have launched a horrific new war on Iran, but the mainstream media is hiding the true cost to the US military and its installments in West Asia. In this in-depth interview, political analyst and editor of The Cradle Sharmine Narwani joins MintPress director Mnar Adley to break through the "Fog of War" and expose the reality of this military confrontation waged by the Epstein Class.
While CNN censors reports of failing Israeli interceptors, Iran is writing the handbook for how to defeat the US - Israeli empire. From destroyed US FAD radars to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the repercussions of this imperialist aggression against the Islamic Republic have massive global implications and is revealing the true nature of the Arab Gulf states and their commitent to Zionism.
The era of US hegemony could end soon.

Hezbollah says it attacked Israeli troops in northern Israel | Middle East Eye

Hezbollah said it targeted a group of Israeli soldiers in the town of Kfar Yuval in northern Israel.
In a statement, the group said its fighters fired a rocket-propelled grenade at Israeli forces at around 18:05 GMT.
Hezbollah said the attack was carried out in response to Israel's continued strikes on Lebanon.

Diplomats tell Lebanon ban on Hezbollah worthless unless army steps in | Middle East Eye

As Israel pounds Lebanon and orders hundreds of thousands to flee, a second battle is unfolding behind closed doors: one of warnings, ultimatums and increasingly stark diplomatic messages delivered to senior Lebanese officials.
According to diplomatic sources, Israel and western interlocutors have in recent days conveyed a blunt message to Lebanese officials: Israel no longer sees symbolic state measures against Hezbollah as meaningful unless they are followed by action on the ground.

France to provide armoured vehicles, operational support to Lebanese army | Middle East Eye

Macron announced on X that France would provide armored transport vehicles along with operational and logistical support to the Lebanese army, and pledged his "full support" to the Lebanese government.

Putin warning fuels calls in EU to drop sanctions - RT Business News

12bytes: Hilarious! Looks like the EU finally figured out it shot itself in both left feet. Hopefully Putin tells these psychotic morons to fuck off.

EU politicians are stepping up calls to roll back Russia sanctions after President Vladimir Putin warned that Moscow could halt gas supplies ahead of a planned 2027 ban. It has raised concerns over the bloc's energy security amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

Gaza casualties mount: 72,120 martyrs, over 171,000 injured - Yemen Press Agency

12bytes: We now know that the actual number of Palestinians killed is roughly 200,000.

GAZA, March 05 (YPA) - The death toll from the Israeli offensive in Gaza has risen to 72,120 Palestinians, according to medical sources in the Gaza Strip.

Trump demands to choose next Iranian supreme leader | Middle East Eye

12bytes: I'd pinch myself to see if i'm dreaming, but we've already seen and heard what this traitorous Zionist clown is capable of.

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he must be directly involved in choosing the new ruler of Iran, pointing to Venezuela as a model for how he wants to control the country of 92 million people.
Trump dismissed the idea of Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the slain supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, taking over in Iran.
"Khamenei's son is unacceptable to me. We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran," Axios quoted Trump as saying in an interview.

Trump Abandons MAGA Anti-war Plan. Donald Confirms: The U.S. is Prepared to "Wage War Forever" - Global Research

"We have the strongest and most powerful, by far, military in the world, and we will easily prevail (...) We're already substantially ahead of our time projections, but whatever the time is, it's okay. Whatever it takes," Trump said during the conference.
All of this, however, is a fallacy. The US does indeed have a great productive capacity and consequently the ability to keep fighting constantly (not "forever"), but only if these "wars" are low-intensity conflicts against weak adversaries. Large-scale wars completely change this dynamic, as they require more mobilization of human and material resources. No country in the world has the capacity to fight a high-intensity war "forever," even less so when facing countries with great ballistic capabilities like Iran.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Whistleblower Was Ignored After He Provided Information About 9/11 Attacks to CIA - CovertAction Magazine

12bytes: The story of Riconosciuto is fascinating. This guy is a highly intelligent computer programmer who holds many secrets, not all of which he has divulged. Riconosciuto is one of the many people Danny Casolaro interviewed for an extensive investigation he called The Octopus. Casolaro would be murdered for digging into this vast conspiracy. Those wanting to know more should watch the documentary, American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders (you can find a free copy on the high seas).

In December 1998, Michael Riconosciuto was serving out a 26-year prison sentence at Allenwood Penitentiary in Pennsylvania on drug charges when he was given information by a rabbi close to his family about an al-Qaeda plot to hijack airplanes and crash them into the World Trade Center, Pentagon and U.S. military bases around the Washington, D.C., area.
Riconosciuto had been a scientist working for U.S. intelligence agencies and CIA consultant whose family had close ties with people working in Israeli intelligence and in high levels of the Israeli government.[1] Riconosciuto himself mowed CIA Director William Casey's lawn as a child.
There is strong evidence that Riconosciuto had been set up on the drug charges because he knew too much about secret CIA operations, including the theft of computer software known as PROMIS (Prosecutor's Management Information System) from entrepreneur Bill Hamilton that was used by the CIA to facilitate illegal surveillance and money laundering.
Riconosciuto had helped modify the PROMIS software for the CIA and knew about all kinds of CIA criminal activity, including the CIA's paying off drug lords with a vast secret cash supply.[2]
According to Daniel Sheehan, an investigator and attorney who interviewed Riconosciuto at length, the rabbi provided Riconosciuto with the information on the al-Qaeda terrorist plot drawn from Israeli intelligence with the hope that Riconosciuto could negotiate a reduction of his prison sentence after alerting federal authorities about it.
The plan did not work because when Riconosciuto reported his tip to agents from the CIA and a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) agent, nothing was done. A presidential briefing from CIA Director George Tenet to Bill Clinton on December 4, 1998, did note Riconosciuto's warnings about bin Laden preparing to hijack U.S. aircraft, though Clinton and the White House did not act on it.
In early 2001, Riconosciuto's lawyer, Louis Buffardi, reached out to then-Secretary of State Colin Powell and Attorney General John Ashcroft, as well as attorney Scott Lassar and Keith Cutri, an FBI Special Agent from the Williamsport, Pennsylvania, office, about the planned attacks involving hijacked planes but was ignored.

UPDATE 1

Iranian government says 1,230 people killed in US-Israeli strikes | Middle East Eye

The Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs announced in a statement that the attacks by the "criminal America and the usurping Zionist regime" had killed 1,230 "martyrs."

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

12bytes: Is bombing empty sports stadiums not a sign of the desperation of the U.S., or have the enemy forces been so blinded due to Iranian attacks on their infrastructure that they can't find anything better to to bomb?

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

US preparing for months-long war with Iran - Politico - RT World News

12bytes: Well, i guess the 4 day thing went out the window, along with the 4 week deal. I can't imagine what went wrong. Maybe something to do with catastrophically underestimating Iran's capabilities? Maybe the seeming lack of a 'plan B'? The U.S. may be able to drop its regime change bombs on Iran for many weeks or months, but it's very quickly losing its capacity to intercept Iran's missiles, of which they have plenty.

The US expects to wage war on Iran for at least another 100 days, or even through September, Politico has claimed.

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

American officials claim Iran's arsenal is dwindling and launchers are running low - but there's no objective proof, veteran Russian military observer Yury Lyamin, senior researcher at the Moscow-based Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, tells Sputnik.
"Such statements should be treated with great skepticism and seen as standard military propaganda," Yury Lyamin says. "I believe Iran's total number of launchers is generally underestimated."

Military Knowledge: Khorramshahr-4 Ballistic MissileSouth Front

Khoramshahr-4 ballistic missile is the 4th generation of Iran's Khorramshahr series of missiles, which was unveiled on May 25, 2023 by the Ministry of Defense of Iran. The range of this missile is 2000 km and its 1500 kg warhead is considered one of the heaviest warheads of Iranian missiles. The use of hypergolic fuel, the advanced "Arvand" engine, the speed of Mach 16 outside the atmosphere and Mach 8 inside the atmosphere, and the ability to guide and control the warhead in the mid-phase exoatmosphere are among the distinctive features of Khorramshahr-4.
[...]
The point here is that in this warhead, guiding micromotors are used to control and adjust its trajectory outside the Earth's atmosphere. For example, by reducing the weight of the warhead by half and increasing the amount of fuel, and with the use of guiding micromotors in the mid-phase in exoatmosphere, the range of this missile can easily be increased up to twice the declared range.

Hadid-110: Iran's Kamikaze Drone With Superior Capabilities

Iran's fastest unmanned combat aerial vehicle, the jet-powered Hadid-110, is a stealth platform designed to neutralize enemy's air defense, radars, command nodes, and key military infrastructure.
Designed for deep strikes into hostile territory, it minimizes detection opportunities and reduces the reaction time for maximum battlefield impact.
The specifics below highlight its exceptional performance:
Speed: around 510 km/h
Warhead: 30-kg high-explosive fragmentation warhead
Navigation: GPS/GLONASS, inertial navigation system

'Trump is desperate. Trump is lost' - Stanley Cohen

Human rights attorney Stanley Cohen joins the discussion from New York to analyze the rapidly escalating Middle East crisis and the role of the United States.
In this explosive interview, Cohen argues that the current military escalation is not about security or democracy, but about political survival and deflection from domestic crises. He draws comparisons to the Iraq War, criticizes the U.S.-Israel alliance, and warns that the conflict could expand across the Gulf region.

Judge Napolitano 3/4/2026

12bytes: The Judge interviews Col. Douglas Macgregor.

Trump's War: A Mess of His Own Making

Donald Trump has gone mad over the Israel-Iran war - George Galloway

George Galloway, former British MP and host of The Mother of All Talk Shows, joins RT to discuss the escalating confrontation involving Iran, the United States and regional actors across the Middle East.

Lavrov: Russia will do everything' to make US-Israeli aggression against Iran 'impossible'

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that Russia "will do everything" in its power to create conditions that would render an American-Israeli war of aggression against Iran "impossible."
Lavrov made the remarks on Thursday during a roundtable discussion with ambassadors, amid escalating US-Israeli aggression against Iran.

UK embassy says 'temporarily' withdrawing some staff from Bahrain | Middle East Eye

The United Kingdom said on Thursday it was "temporarily" withdrawing some staff and their dependants from its Bahrain embassy as Iran presses on with its retaliation campaign in the Gulf.
"Due to the ongoing security situation, the UK has taken the precautionary step of temporarily withdrawing some Embassy staff" and their families, it said in a statement on Instagram.

The war on Iran has ignited rare civil unrest in Bahrain | Middle East Eye

Bahraini authorities are cracking down violently on protesters angry at US role in the state, and detaining people for posting videos of Iranian attacks

Hegseth Says U.S. Strike Killed an Iranian Who Plotted to Assassinate Trump - The New York Times

12bytes: Yet another bullshit reason being floated for the U.S.-Israel war on Iran, this one being perhaps the most laughable of all. The White House will of course never provide any creditable evidence to support the claim. Beyond that, Trump has largely lost his MAGA base, many of which would be happy if Iran assassinated the cowardly Zionist draft-dodging clown, myself among them.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that the leader of the Iranian covert unit that planned to assassinate President Trump in 2024 had been killed in the U.S. strikes on Iran.
The Pentagon provided few details, but the Trump administration has said that Iran's plotting to kill U.S. officials - particularly Mr. Trump - is one reason the United States launched its bombing campaign.

X Users Find Their Real Names Are Being Googled in Israel After Using X Verification Software "Au10tix"

A wide range of anonymous X (Twitter) users have reported that their real names are suddenly being Googled in Israel shortly after they began criticizing the country for its actions in Palestine. Some connected the phenomenon to Au10tix, the software X requires users (even anonymous ones) to use in order to verify their real identities.
Au10tix is an Israeli company founded and staffed by former Israeli spies from the elite Israeli military intelligence group Unit 8200. MintPress News investigates this disturbing phenomenon.

END UPDATES

US Marine veteran: No one wants to fight for "Israel" - YouTube

US Marine veteran Brian McGinnis was dragged out of the Senate on Wednesday after speaking out against the US-Israeli aggression on Iran.
"No one wants to fight for Israel," McGinnis shouted before being manhandled by cops.
Interestingly enough, Montana Senator Tim Sheehy, who helped cops push the veteran out of the Senate hall, has received $641,337 in funding from pro-Israeli lobbies and their mega donors, according to independent watchdogs.

US-Israeli war on Iran plunges Middle East into chaos: Live Updates (PHOTOS, VIDEOS) - RT World News

More than 1,200 people have been killed in Iran since the campaign began, including civilians, according to monitoring groups. At least 12 people have been killed in Israel by retaliatory Iranian strikes.
Iran has continued its retaliatory strikes against Israeli and US targets, with explosions reported in Jerusalem and other areas overnight.
Israel said it launched a new wave of strikes on Tehran and intensified attacks on what it claims are Hezbollah positions in Beirut, further widening the regional conflict.
The US military says it will begin "striking progressively deeper" into Iran, with CENTCOM confirming the operation involves over 50,000 US troops, about 200 fighter jets, two aircraft carriers and strategic bombers.
An American submarine has sunk an Iranian frigate in the Indian Ocean. Sri Lankan authorities say sailors were rescued after the attack on the vessel carrying about 180 crew members, while dozens are feared dead or missing.
Iranian drone and missile strikes have targeted US military bases, airfields and radar sites across the Gulf, including facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain, as the conflict spreads across the region.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says it has established control over the Strait of Hormuz - a vital chokepoint for global oil and natural gas shipments - prompting turmoil in energy markets and forcing many commercial vessels to avoid the waterway amid fears of a wider regional war.
US lawmakers have rejected a measure that would have limited US President Donald Trump's ability to launch further strikes on Iran, allowing the campaign to continue without congressional approval.
Russia has condemned what it called the US "practice of political assassinations and the 'hunting' of leaders of sovereign states," with the Kremlin saying Russian President Vladimir Putin "is making every effort" to help de‑escalate the crisis.

America's Hopes for a Quick Win over Iran Go up in Smoke - Global Research

The USAF continued launching virtually incessant airstrikes since February 28, hitting hundreds of targets across Iran. The attacking force also deliberately targets civilians, including schools, hospitals, maternity wards and residential areas. In one primary school in Minab, southern Iran, nearly 200 schoolgirls aged 7-12 were killed, with well over a 100 wounded. Gandhi Hospital in Tehran was also hit, forcing the medical personnel to evacuate prematurely born babies (just like the 1990s NATO aggression on Serbia).
This is only a fraction of the atrocities committed by the warmongers and war criminals at the Pentagon. The full extent of crimes against the people of Iran is far worse. Tehran retaliated with hundreds of ballistic missile strikes on American bases across the Middle East. The mainstream propaganda machine is trying to frame this as an "all-out unprovoked attack on a dozen countries", but it's pretty clear that the Iranian military is primarily targeting US military assets. What's more, in many of these countries, the local populace even cheers on as Iranian ballistic missiles and drones rain down on American occupation forces. The Pentagon keeps trying to hide the actual number of casualties among its troops, claiming it's less than half a dozen. Although the real figure could already be in the hundreds, we're highly unlikely to find out the truth anytime soon.

Pentagon prepares for Israeli-US war on Iran that could last 'until September' | Middle East Eye

The Pentagon is rushing to expand intelligence operations as Washington prepares for a prolonged war on Iran launched alongside Israel, with military planning now stretching well into the autumn.

IRGC launches 19th missile wave toward 'Israel' - Yemen Press Agency

TEHRAN, March 05 (YPA) - Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced early Thursday the launch of the 19th wave of Operation True Promise 4, describing the operation as a coordinated missile and drone assault.
According to the IRGC, the operation targeted "enemy Zionist sites in the heart of occupied lands and US bases in the region, causing massive explosions."
Israeli media reported that missiles were fired from Iran toward central Israel and occupied Jerusalem, as well as toward US military positions in the region. Air raid sirens sounded across large areas shortly afterward.
According to Israeli Home Front Command statements, sirens were first activated in the central region before expanding across 143 settlements in the Gush Dan area, and later to 194 settlements in the same region.
Explosions were reported in Tel Aviv and the surrounding areas. Israeli media said between 15 and 20 blasts were heard across the central region.
Israeli media reported that some of the missiles may have carried cluster munition warheads, while Iranian officials have previously said their missile arsenal includes hypersonic weapons.

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

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) announced early Wednesday that its aerospace force targeted the critical Israeli military infrastructure with heavy Khorramshahr-4 ballistic missiles in the 19th wave of True Promise 4 Operation.
In a statement, the IRGC said the super-heavy missiles, each fitted with a one-ton class warhead, were launched in the pre-dawn hours.
The targets of the strike were central Tel Aviv, Ben-Gurion Airport and Squadron 27 of the Israeli Air Force at the airport, according to the statement.
It said the strategic salvo was preceded by attack drones and that the strike package penetrated "seven layers" of regional and domestic air defenses to reach its objectives.
Khorramshahr-4 is one of Iran's most advanced weapons, a roughly 13-metre missile with a boost weight of nearly 30 tonnes and a maneuverable re-entry warhead (MaRV) capable of carrying over 1,000 kilograms of explosive payload.

Iran pounds Israel, US seeks to save face - Tehran Times

GOA, India - Trump and Netanyahu must have dreamed wild dreams of an across-the-board victory, almost-instant victory after launching the war against Iran. Alas, the war surges, and Israel is under attack with citizens pleading for a stoppage. Fighter jets in U.S. bases in Persian Gulf states have fled in fear.
Considering the muscle Iran has shown and its resilience, the chances of U.S. bases relocating in the Persian Gulf are, but remote.
Fighting massive stockpiles with depleted, depleting stockpiles
Israel and the U.S. have some common bad news. Their stockpiles are depleting rapidly, while Iran has enough and more. Trump has started to announce that he was receiving offers of a ceasefire from Iran. That's a load of BS. Iran has not time and intent to talk to the liar Trump, and the thoughtless, mindless Netanyahu.
A ceasefire may be a good idea but the bloated egos of Israeli-U.S. leaders have sent them packing into a quiet corner looking for fibs to tell their people.

U.S. Reportedly Lost F-15 Fighter Jet Over Iran, Extracted Pilots In Daring Operation (Videos) | South Front

An F-15E Strike Eagle of the United States Air Force reportedly crashed early on March 4 while carrying out a mission over southwestern Iran.
The news was reported by OSINTdefender, an X account specialized with open-source intelligence, which citied several direct sources.
The U.S.-based X account, which has more than two million followers, stated that the cause of the crash is still unknown, noting that at least one source attributed it to Iranian air defenses. Both the pilot and weapons system officer eject successfully over the Islamic Republic, according to the account.

Trump Abandons MAGA Anti-War Plan | South Front

Iran's rapid and strong response shocked Americans and their Israeli partners. Tehran retaliated by bombing American bases throughout the entire Middle East, which impressed many analysts who expected a slower and more moderate reaction. This clearly had a strong impact on American public opinion, as Trump can no longer use the argument that the operation in Iran is merely a quick and one-off operation. Clearly, a high-intensity war is beginning, and the US will have to prepare for yet another conflict abroad - something Trump promised he would avoid.
In another recent statement, during a conference at the White House, Trump attempted to appease anti-war sentiments in public opinion by saying that the US has the "most powerful military in the world." Trump is clearly trying to promote war propaganda to disguise the strategic errors committed on the Iranian issue. His intention is to convince the American public that no concern is necessary, since supposedly the US has the "best military" and the capacity to fight "forever."
"We have the strongest and most powerful, by far, military in the world, and we will easily prevail (...) We're already substantially ahead of our time projections, but whatever the time is, it's okay. Whatever it takes," Trump said during the conference.
All of this, however, is a fallacy.

Trumps 'peace through strength stained with blood of innocent kids: Larijani

In a post on X on Thursday, Larijani, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, condemned the brutal crime carried out by Washington and Tel Aviv.
"With the mass martyrdom of innocent girls in a Minab school at the hands of American-Israeli criminals, the theory of 'peace through strength' has been stained with blood," he wrote.

The Limits of US and Israeli Air Power

The West, including Israel, refuses to learn from history with regards to the use of air power to achieve regime change. The decision of Israel and the United States to attack Iran on February 28 and force a change of regime is a colossal failure. The murder of the Ayatollah Khamenei, along with the Minister of Defense and the head of the IRGC, and the killing of 165 school girls aged 6 to 12, instead has galvanized the Iranian public to unite around the Islamic Republic and eliminated the chance that there will be a negotiated settlement to the war on terms acceptable to the West. Iran refuses to surrender to the US and Israel and is fully committed to removing the US from the Persian Gulf region and devastating Israel.
Donald Trump, at the urging of his Zionist cheerleaders, broke his promise to his base to not start an unnecessary war and chose instead to start a war that is bleeding US offensive capabilities. Trump, through ignorance or hubris, bet his presidency on the belief that a combination of air and naval power could effect regime change. But history shows that air power alone has never toppled a determined regime.

Analyst Davis: due to the lack of US air defense systems, Iran is hitting new targets

Due to the lack of US air defense assets, Iran manages to hit new targets. This opinion was expressed by military analyst, retired Lieutenant Colonel of the American army Daniel Davis on the air of the YouTube channel.

Russia says Iran has not requested military aid | Middle East Eye

12bytes: Contrary to the U.S. which is running out of air defense interceptors and scrambling to enlist the Kurd's in a ground war in Iran and begging other countries to join the fight, Iran seems confidant in its ability to wreck havoc on U.S. and Israeli forces without begging for assistance.

Russia says Iran has not asked Moscow for military assistance since the United States and Israel began striking the country last week.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow had received no such request from Tehran.

Iranian attacks will intensify in coming days: IRGC spokesman - Tehran Times

"The enemies should expect continuous attacks from Iran," the military official stated. "The gates of hell will open wider for the U.S. and the Zionist regime every moment."
[...]
Since the war began, Iran has simultaneously and incessantly struck U.S. bases in the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Iraq, as well as Israeli positions in the occupied territories. The resulting damage has been unprecedented in the history of the U.S. military. Iran has also downed three American F-15 fighter jets in Kuwait, 19 Hermes drones, three MQ9 drones, and destroyed two THAAD air defence systems in the region.
Meanwhile, reports from American media suggest the Pentagon is running out of interceptors to fend off Iranian missiles and drones. Korean media has reported that the U.S. is requesting ammunition from South Korea and Japan.
During an appearance on Iran's national TV on Tuesday, the spokesman for Iran's Defence Ministry said the country is prepared to fight for an extended period.

Iran has hit bases, a US destroyer and an airport in Israel

According to the Tasnim news agency, units of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps used hypersonic missiles and drones. The targets were the building of the Israeli Ministry of Defense and Ben Gurion Airport, while the American THAAD missile defense systems were unable to intercept the attacking means. In the Indian Ocean, Qadr 380 and Talaiyeh missiles hit an American destroyer while refueling 650 km off the coast of Iran.
CNN, based on satellite images and video recordings of eyewitnesses, recorded strikes on at least nine American bases in two days. Among them are four facilities in Kuwait, two bases in the UAE, one each in Bahrain, Iraq and Qatar. The Iranian command also announced the death of more than 100 American Marines in a strike on a base in Dubai, where, according to reports, there were about 160 military personnel.
Nour News noted that since the beginning of the conflict, the Iranian Navy has attacked more than ten vessels, including oil tankers, trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. On the fourth day of the fighting, traffic across the Strait completely stopped. The ban applies to all vessels associated with the United States, Israel and the United Kingdom.

IRAN HITS $1 BILLION U.S. RADAR, TAKES OUT 3 THAAD SYSTEMS IN ATTACKS ON GULF BASES | Carl Zha

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is boasting that the U.S. Military attacked and sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, because "it thought it would be safe in international waters." What he didn't mention was that the ship wasn't in active combat, and was returning from routine naval drills in India, and the U.S. left dozens of sailors and crew members to die.
Carl Zha, a geopolitical analyst and Host of the Silk & Steel Podcast, noted that while President Trump may be claiming to have an endless supply of weapons, Iran just took out a $1 Billion U.S. radar system, AND it's being reported that Iran has hit at least three of Washington's 11 THAAD missile defense systems. A reminder that the Trump Admin seriously underestimated their opponent when they waged this war...

Why Trump's proposed ship escorts will likely never happen - Tehran Times

Trump is powerless to counteract the situation regarding U.S. bases that are under constant Iranian assault. For now, he has resorted to censorship, refusing to disclose the extent of the damage or the actual number of U.S. casualties.
While he attempts to devise a solution to prevent the consequences of the destruction of U.S. bases from damaging him in the future, the repercussions of the Strait of Hormuz closure are already catching up to him. He campaigned to become the U.S. president who would "make America affordable again," and now gas prices are poised to become the most expensive they have been in several decades.
To attempt some damage control, Trump took to social media on Tuesday to claim he had found a solution to halt the rising gas prices. He stated the U.S. Navy would escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz "if necessary."

IRGC hits American oil tanker in Gulf waters - Yemen Press Agency

TEHRAN, March 05 (YPA) -Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Thursday that its naval forces had struck a US oil tanker with a missile in the northern Gulf waters, claiming the vessel was "now burning."
According to Iranian media sources, The IRGC said it had previously warned that according to international law and regulations, during wartime, the navigation rights through the Strait of Hormuz will be under the control of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Iran drains US air defense resources with cheap drones - NYT

Iran is actively using low-cost drones for precision attacks in the Middle East, creating an economic problem for the United States and its allies, The New York Times (NYT) wrote.

Explosions rock skies over Doha as air defences intercept missiles | Middle East Eye

Multiple explosions are being heard across the skies above Qatar's capital, Doha, as air defence systems respond to an apparent missile attack.
Blasts have continued to echo over the city, with repeated detonations reported closer to central districts.
The Qatar Ministry of Defence said its air defence systems are intercepting incoming missiles.

UAE says it intercepted six missiles and 131 drones | Middle East Eye

The United Arab Emirates says its air defence systems have intercepted ballistic missiles and drones targeting the country.

Bahrain says air defences down 75 missiles and 123 drones | Middle East Eye

The Bahrain Defence Force said on Thursday that its forces had destroyed 75 missiles and 123 drones targeting the country.

49 killed in US-Israeli airstrikes in Iran's West Azerbaijan province - Yemen Press Agency

TEHRAN, March 05 (YPA) - Regional escalation continued to intensify for the sixth straight day of the war that erupted after the joint US-Israeli attack on Iran, with heavy exchange of strikes reported between the two sides.
Earlier today, massive explosions heard in western and northwestern Tehran, prompting Iran to activate its air defenses, according to local media reports.
Explosions were also reported in several other Iranian cities, including Bandar Abbas on the Gulf coast and Tabriz in the northwest.
The Iranian Red Crescent announced that the US-Israeli airstrikes resulted in the killing of 49 civilians of Iran's West Azerbaijan province.
Iran's Health Ministry said late Wednesday that 926 people have been killed and more than 6,186 injured since the conflict began on Saturday morning, amid ongoing air raids targeting multiple cities across the country.

Iran says US and Israel targeting civilians in strikes | Middle East Eye

Iran's foreign ministry said that the United States and Israeli strikes are deliberately hitting civilian areas across the country.
In a post on X, foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said the attacks were also triggering economic shockwaves beyond Iran.
"The strikes reverberate through global markets, driving up energy prices, destabilizing currencies, and eroding the purchasing power of ordinary people around the world."
He added: "Yet for us Iranians, the cost is immeasurably higher: our people are being brutally slaughtered as the aggressors deliberately target civilian areas and any location they believe will inflict the maximum possible suffering and loss of life."

Iran says Israeli-US strikes hit schools, hospitals and medical facilities | Middle East Eye

"The Israeli-American enemy has so far targeted 20 educational centers, 11 hospitals, 13 ambulance centers and 14 pharmaceutical facilities."

Scott Ritter: Iran Wins the Long War - U.S. & Israel Losing Ground!

Middle East escalation, US-Iran conflict & military strategy questions. Examines Iranian missile tactics, THAAD redeployment from Asia, Gulf state vulnerabilities & US-Israel policy alignment. Covers logistical challenges of potential ground operations, air defense effectiveness vs ballistic threats, and Iran's asymmetric warfare using decoys & strategic patience. Discusses US political divisions over foreign policy, proxy forces, and implications for global power structures including BRICS nations. Emphasizes need for honest assessment of military capabilities, regional politics, and the human cost of ongoing conflicts. Speakers critique official narratives, question war timeline claims, and analyze how regional actors navigate escalating tensions. A candid conversation about power, legitimacy, and the future of West Asia.

Matthew Hoh: The Desperation Play: Why Trump & Netanyahu Need This Iran War

In-depth discussion of the Middle East war starting February 2026. Analyzes contradictory government messaging on objectives, timeline, and rationale. Covers four stated goals: Iran's missile program, navy elimination, ending regional alliances, nuclear weapons. Addresses US military preparedness concerns, depleting air defense stocks, and Iran's asymmetric strategy targeting command/control infrastructure regionally. Explores Iranian public resilience, Gulf monarchies' vulnerability, questions about US base utility, and low US public support (only 1 in 4). Warns of escalation risks, civilian casualties, potential for prolonged conflict, and lack of coherent strategy. Examines political divisions, Kurdish separatist concerns, and economic pressures on Americans amid ongoing warfare.

France authorises US forces to use bases amid its war on Iran | Middle East Eye

France has authorised United States forces to use French military bases during the conflict involving Iran, according to a report by BFMTV.
The broadcaster said the decision would allow US armed forces access to facilities on French territory as the war continues to expand across the region.

Italy set to send air defence aid to Gulf countries | Middle East Eye

Italy is planning to send air defence assistance to Gulf countries, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Thursday.
"Like the United Kingdom, France and Germany, Italy intends to send assistance to Gulf countries, specifically in the field of defence and in particular air defence," Meloni told radio station RTL 102.5.

Iranian Armed Forces say no missile fired from Iran into Turkey

12bytes: If there was a missile fired, there is a reasonable chance that Israel fired it in order to expand the war.

"The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran dismiss firing any missile into Turkey," the Chief Staff of the Armed Forces said in a statement on Thursday.
It added that the Iranian Armed Forces respect the sovereignty of the neighboring and friendly country of Turkey.

Azerbaijan says Iranian drones hit passenger terminal of airport | Middle East Eye

12bytes: Again, this smells. Iran doesn't target civilians, so this could be an Israeli false-flag, or possibly the terminal targeted was used by military personnel.

Iranian drones struck the passenger terminal of an airport in Azerbaijan, the latter's foreign ministry said, marking the first instance of the Israeli-US conflict with the country spilling over into Iran's northern neighbour.
The airport is located Nakhchivan near the border with Iran. The Azerbaijani foreign ministry said "retaliatory measures" were being planned.

Sky News: the drone that attacked the British base in Cyprus was not launched from Iran

The drone that attacked the British Akrotiri base in Cyprus was not launched from Iran, Sky News reported, citing a representative of the British Ministry of Defense.

Israel's False Flag: Mossad Agents Arrested in Saudi Arabia

Did Israel just blow up Saudi Arabia's biggest refinery - and blame it on Iran?
New evidence suggests Mossad agents were arrested in the Gulf right before the attack. Meanwhile, thousands are storming US embassies in Iraq and Pakistan, and a former CIA director says Iranians should "be decent" and join the West.
Rick breaks down the war map, the Strait of Hormuz shutdown, and who really benefits from this escalation.

Azerbaijan Threatens To Respond After Alleged Iranian Drone Attack On Key Airport (Videos)South Front

The Iranian military later denied launching drones towards Azerbaijan, saying in a statement that Israel conducted a false flag operation "to turn Muslim countries against the Islamic Republic".
"The Islamic Republic of Iran, while respecting the sovereignty of all countries, especially Muslim and neighboring countries, denies the launch of drones by the armed forces towards the Republic of Azerbaijan," the General Staff said in a statement.
"Such actions by the fake Zionist regime to disrupt relations between Muslim countries have been preceded in various ways, and according to investigations, such action was taken by that regime to incriminate the Islamic Republic of Iran," it added.

'Israel' intensifies strikes on Lebanon amid clashes with Hezbollah fighters - Yemen Press Agency

BEIRUT, March 05 (YPA) -Israeli bombardment of Lebanon continued for a third consecutive day as Israeli occupation forces reportedly tried to launch ground incursions in the country's south.
In a statement, Hezbollah said: "After the heroic clashes by the fighters of the Islamic Resistance with Israeli enemy forces in the town of Khiam, the enemy was forced to withdraw the remaining vehicles and soldiers to Tal al-Hamamis."
Late Wednesday and early Thursday, Israeli forces intensified airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs after issuing a series of evacuation warnings.
At the same time, the Israeli military expanded its strikes across Lebanese territory.
In early Thursday, a residential apartment in the Beddawi refugee camp in the northern city of Tripoli was targeted, leaving two people dead.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah said it carried out 23 attacks on Israeli military positions on Wednesday.

International concern grows as US-Israeli assault on Iran sparks Strait of Hormuz crisis - Tehran Times

Since the outbreak of hostilities, shipping activity has slowed sharply, insurance premiums have surged, and major carriers have either suspended voyages or delayed entry into the Persian Gulf. Clarksons Research estimates that over 3,000 vessels are currently idle in the Persian Gulf region, representing roughly four percent of global ship tonnage, while about 500 ships are waiting outside the Persian Gulf near ports off the UAE and Oman. The scale of disruption underscores how quickly the conflict has reverberated through global supply chains.
On Wednesday, the IRGC announced that the Strait of Hormuz is now under the complete control of the Islamic Republic's Navy, declaring it "impossible for any ships to pass through" and reporting that multiple oil tankers had been targeted.

Iran's regional war strategy and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz - Tehran Times

The closure of the strait is therefore not merely a military maneuver but the political, economic, and strategic expression of Iran's long‑declared commitment to wage an inclusive regional war if forced into confrontation by the United States and Israel. It is the moment when Iran's warnings, often dismissed by its adversaries as rhetorical, have materialized into a decisive geopolitical reality.

The Strait of Hormuz and Iranian leverage on energy prices - Tehran Times

Roughly one fifth of the oil consumed globally, alongside significant volumes of liquefied natural gas, normally passes through this corridor. The strait is not simply a commercial route. It is a structural hinge of the global energy system. For decades, uninterrupted transit was assumed to be guaranteed by an architecture led by the United States, even as that same architecture subjected Iran to sanctions, military encirclement and periodic open threats of regime change.
That arrangement relied on a fragile premise: that Iran would continue to underwrite a system designed to constrain it. The current disruption marks the exhaustion of that premise.

War was decided before diplomacy concluded - Tehran Times

The Geneva channel had made progress. Iran had made compromises that exceeded 2015 nuclear agreement which Donald Trump tore. A deal was structurally possible. So much so, that a date for another round of negotiations, with technical teams included, had already been scheduled in Vienna.
Yet Muscat appeared to conclude that what was reaching President Donald Trump did not accurately reflect the state of negotiations. Instead, the reporting from the U.S. negotiators, Steve Witkoff and Jerard Kushner, was being framed in a way that aligned with a pre-existing preference for confrontation. It became obvious that the two were representing Benjamin Netanyahu's war agenda.

Witkoff lying about nuclear talks' content, says Iranian negotiator - Tehran Times

TEHRAN - During his weekly press conference at a Tehran school damaged by American and Israeli bombs, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said U.S. Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff is lying about the substance of recent nuclear talks, adding that this deception is intended to justify Washington bombing the negotiating table for a second time in less than eight months.

America, an Empire on Its Last Leg: To be Kicked Out from the Middle East? - Global Research

US Troop Withdrawal: Yankee Go Home (2020)
While a major US troop withdrawal is unlikely in the foreseeable future, "America's War on Terrorism" is in jeopardy. Nobody believes that America is going after the terrorists.
In Iraq and Syria, everybody knows that all Al Qaeda, ISIS-Daesh affiliated entities are supported by US-NATO.
The "Yankee Go Home" process has commenced. The US is not only being ousted from Iraq and Syria, its strategic presence in the broader Middle East is also threatened. And these two processes are intimately related.
In turn, several of America's former allies including Turkey, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Egypt have normalized their relations with Iran.

Bulgaria demanded the withdrawal of American troops due to the threat of Iranian strikes

Hundreds of Bulgarians came out to protest in the center of Sofia, demanding the immediate withdrawal of American military aircraft from the country. The demonstration, organized by the "Vozrozhdenie" party, took place outside the building of the Council of Ministers, Plov 24 reported.

Analyst McGregor: The United States will have to leave the Middle East region

Iran is likely to survive the conflict, and the United States will eventually have to leave the Middle East region. This opinion was expressed by former adviser to the head of the Pentagon, Douglas McGregor, on the air of the YouTube channel.

Trump's Reasons for War on Iran: Fact Check - Antiwar.com

The U.S. has yet to lay out a case for a war that is clearly in violation of the UN charter and international law. There was no Security Council approval, and there was no imminent threat to defend against. Trump laid out a litany of reasons, both historical and contemporary, but none of them justify the war.

UAE tycoon to Trump: 'Who gave you the authority to start Iran war?' | Middle East Eye

"Who gave you the authority to drag our region into a war with Iran? And on what basis did you make this dangerous decision?," asked the Emirati billionaire founder and chairman of the Al Habtoor Group.
"Did you calculate the collateral damage before pulling the trigger? And did you consider that the first to suffer from this escalation will be the countries of the region itself!," said Habtoor.
The letter marks a rare public expression of dissent in the UAE, where political concerns are often communicated through private channels. It also reflects growing unease in the region that Gulf states are bearing the brunt of America's war.
"The peoples of this region have the right to ask as well: Was this your decision alone? Or did it come as a result of pressures from #Netanyahu and his government?," Habtoor went on to add.

More important than Oil - Ryan Dawson's Anti-neocon Report

The clock is ticking. We all know how much closing Hormuz affects the Gulf state sponsors of ISIS, routine ankle grabber for Israel, in regards of not being able to ship oil and gas.
But in addition to that, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE and Kuwait import 80 to 90% of their food. It is also not safe to ship through Iraq.
They did this to themselves. And let's face it the US and Israel do not care. They are attacking Iran's water and Iran could respond in kind by attacking water supplies of their enemies.

Spy Pollard: Israel Threatened to Use Nukes in 1973 - Video #291

Israel is being run by complete psychopaths that would even use nukes, as revealed by convicted spy Jonathan Pollard.