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. 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 to report on the damage inflicted by Iran, many of which have been arrested. Organizations publishing satellite imagery of damage to Israel and US bases are being prevented from doing 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.

12bytes: There's been no news from Tehran Times since Saturday morning. It appears their offices were hit.

UPDATE 5

Interview examines Iran conflict: claims of civilian infrastructure targeting-pharma facilities, schools, hospitals, water resources. Iran's missile/drone production continues 24/7; underground bases remain operational. Warnings issued to Gulf states hosting foreign military bases about retaliation. Topics include potential NPT withdrawal, Hezbollah's resilience in Lebanon, and criticism of Western media coverage and international organizations. Economic warfare, market manipulation, and European positions analyzed. Iran seeks reparations and strategic leverage via Strait of Hormuz to deter future aggression. Emphasis on Iran's determination to protect sovereignty amid ongoing airstrikes, sanctions, and regional tensions. Discussion highlights resistance perspectives and calls for understanding realities beyond mainstream narratives.

Iranian armed forces and resistance groups across the region continue to carry out retaliatory military operations against the United States and the Israeli regime.

On Tuesday, March 31, 2027, 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 88 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 March 31:

Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC):

  • An "MQ9" drone belonging to the American-Israeli coalition was intercepted and successfully targeted by the Army Air Defense system in Isfahan and destroyed. With this one, the total number of drones destroyed by the integrated network of the country's Joint Air Defense Headquarters has reached 146.
  • The IRGC Navy, in the 88th wave of Operation True Promise, under the blessed code name "O Fatimah Al-Zahra (PBUH)," launched a heavy assault against targets of the US and Israeli regime, delivering lethal blows to them.
  • A container ship belonging to the Israeli regime, named "Halfong Express," was struck by ballistic missiles in the central waters of the Persian Gulf.
  • A gathering point of American Marines on the coast of the United Arab Emirates, which had been hidden in a covered location outside a military base for fear of IRGC missiles, was precisely struck by attack drones.
  • The anti-drone system (HAWK) of the American Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, which was deployed outside the base and around Manama Airport, was destroyed by attack drones. Two early warning advanced aerial radars at the American "Jaber Al-Ahmad" base were struck by a barrage of drones.
  • The operation involved Emad, Khorramshahr-4, and Ghadr solid- and liquid-fueled super-heavy missile systems.
  • The achievements of this major operation are dedicated to the martyred IRGC Navy commander Rear Admiral Martyr Alireza Tangsiri and other martyrs of the IRGC Navy.
  • Two "Lucas" drones were intercepted and destroyed in the skies of Bandar Abbas and Minab by the IRGC's new advanced air defense system, under the control of the integrated defense network.

Iranian Army:

  • An American-Israeli spy drone, "Lucas," was intercepted and successfully fired upon by the Iranian Army Air Defense Force system in the Qeshm region.
  • With this one, the number of drones shot down by the integrated network of the country's Joint Air Defense Headquarters has reached 147.
  • Targeted important and strategic communication, telecommunication, and industrial centers affiliated with the Israeli military in the occupied territories with a barrage of drone attacks.
  • The industrial centers of Siemens, Telecom, and AT&T of the regime's army in Ben Gurion and Haifa were targeted with attack drones.
  • The Siemens industrial software center in the central regions of the occupied territories (near "Ben Gurion" airport) focuses on advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence and industrial automation for the Israeli military, and is used to optimize weapons production lines and design military systems.
  • The AT&T telecommunication center, located in Haifa, is one of the American research and development centers that operates in the fields of advanced networking, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence technologies for the occupying regime.

Hezbollah:

  • In defense of Lebanon and its people, Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a "Merkava" tank on the road between the towns of Al-Qantara and Al-Taybeh in southern Lebanon with a guided missile.
  • In defense of Lebanon and its people, Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a military checkpoint in the "Misgav Am" settlement with a swarm of attack drones.
  • In defense of Lebanon and its people, Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the air defense system in the "Ma'alot Tarshiha" settlement with a swarm of attack drones.
  • 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, Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Metulla" settlement with a rocket barrage.
  • In defense of Lebanon and its people, Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and their vehicles in the "Avivim" settlement with a rocket barrage.
  • In defense of Lebanon and its people, Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and their vehicles in the "Avivim" settlement with a rocket barrage.
  • In defense of Lebanon and its people, Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Adamit" barracks with a swarm of attack drones.
  • In defense of Lebanon and its people, Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a Merkava tank at Tillet Friez in the town of Ainata with an attack drone.
  • In defense of Lebanon and its people, Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and their vehicles at the Al-Sadr-Friz triangle in the town of Ainata with a rocket barrage.
  • In defense of Lebanon and its people, Islamic Resistance fighters targeted communication and surveillance equipment at a newly established position of the Israeli army east of the town of Taybeh with a rocket barrage.
  • In defense of Lebanon and its people, Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and their vehicles at Tallet Friez in the town of Ainata with artillery shells.
  • Targeted two Israeli troop carriers and a Humvee vehicle in the town of Al-Bayada, southern Lebanon, with attack drones.
  • In defense of Lebanon and its people, Islamic Resistance fighters targeted gatherings of Israeli soldiers and their vehicles in the "Avivim" settlement with rocket barrages.
  • In defense of Lebanon and its people, Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and their vehicles at Al-Farez Hill in the town of Ainata with a rocket barrage.
  • In defense of Lebanon and its people, Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a high-ranking Israeli military command convoy on Al-Owayda Hill with rocket barrages and artillery shells.
  • In defense of Lebanon and its people, Islamic Resistance fighters targeted an armored personnel carrier in the town of Taybeh with an attack drone.
  • In defense of Lebanon and its people, Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and their vehicles in the "Avivim" settlement with a rocket barrage.
  • In defense of Lebanon and its people, Islamic Resistance fighters ambushed an armored force belonging to the Israeli military during its advance in the town of Beit Lif. Upon the force's arrival at the kill point, the fighters detonated explosive devices and engaged its personnel using light and medium weapons, simultaneously targeting it with rocket fire and artillery shells, achieving direct hits. The fighters then targeted the reinforcement force that arrived at the scene with guided and direct missiles, which led to its personnel being killed and wounded, including a battalion commander in the Nahal Brigade.
  • In defense of Lebanon and its people, Islamic Resistance fighters targeted an Israeli force positioned inside a house in the town of Al-Qawzah with a guided missile.
  • In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the enemy's persistence in shelling civilians, displacing them, and demolishing homes, Islamic Resistance fighters targeted infrastructure belonging to the Israeli army in "Krayot," north of the occupied city of Haifa, with a rocket barrage.
  • In defense of Lebanon and its people, Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and their vehicles at the newly established Balat site with a rocket barrage.
  • In defense of Lebanon and its people, Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and their vehicles in the town of Yaroun with a rocket barrage.
  • In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the enemy's continued shelling of civilians, displacement, and demolition of homes, and as part of the Khaybar 2 operations series, Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Stella Maris" base (a strategic base for maritime monitoring and surveillance on the northern coast) with a barrage of qualitative missiles.
  • In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the enemy's persistence in shelling civilians, displacing them, and demolishing homes, and as part of the Khaybar 2 operation wave, Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Nesher" base, southeast of the city of Haifa, with a barrage of qualitative missiles and a swarm of attack drones.
  • In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the enemy's continued bombardment of civilians, displacement, and demolition of homes, and as part of the Khaybar 2 operations series, Islamic Resistance fighters targeted infrastructure belonging to the Israeli army in the "Krayot" area north of the occupied city of Haifa with a barrage of qualitative missiles.
  • In defense of Lebanon and its people, in response to the enemy's persistence in bombing civilians, displacing them, and destroying homes, and as part of the Khaybar 2 operations wave, Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Tefen" base east of the occupied city of Akka with a barrage of qualitative missiles and a swarm of attack drones.
  • In defense of Lebanon and its people, in response to the enemy's continued bombing of civilians, displacement, and demolition of homes, in the "Khaybar 2" operation wave, and within the framework of the warning issued by the Islamic Resistance to the occupied city of "Nahariya" in northern occupied Palestine, Islamic Resistance fighters targeted it with a rocket barrage.
  • In defense of Lebanon and its people, in response to the enemy's continued bombing of civilians, displacement, and demolition of homes, in the "Khaybar 2" operation wave, and within the framework of the warning issued by the Islamic Resistance to the occupied city of "Nahariya" in northern occupied Palestine, Islamic Resistance fighters targeted it with a rocket barrage.
  • In defense of Lebanon and its people, in response to the enemy's persistence in bombing civilians, displacing them, and demolishing homes, as part of the Khaybar 2 operations wave, and within the framework of the warning issued by the Islamic Resistance to a number of settlements in northern occupied Palestine, Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Zar'it" settlement with a rocket barrage.
  • In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the enemy's persistence in bombing civilians, displacing them, and demolishing homes, and as part of the "Khaybar 2" series of operations, and within the framework of the warning issued by the Islamic Resistance to a number of settlements in northern occupied Palestine, Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Shlomi" settlement with a rocket barrage.
  • In defense of Lebanon and its people, in response to the enemy's continued shelling of civilians, displacement, and demolition of homes, as part of the Khaybar 2 operations wave, and within the framework of the warning issued by the Islamic Resistance to a number of settlements in northern occupied Palestine, Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Shomera" settlement with a rocket barrage.
  • In defense of Lebanon and its people, Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a "Merkava" tank in the town of Rshaf with a guided missile, which led to its destruction.
  • In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and their vehicles in the town of Deir Sirian with appropriate weapons and artillery shells.
  • In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted Israeli army soldiers and a Humvee vehicle in the town of Al-Qantara with an attack drone.
  • In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the enemy's persistence in shelling civilians, displacement, and the destruction of homes, and within the framework of the Khaybar 2 operations wave, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Meron" base for air surveillance and operations management in northern occupied Palestine.
  • In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the enemy's continued shelling of civilians, displacement, and demolition of homes, and within the framework of the Khaybar 2 operations series, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Birya" base (the main air defense and missile base belonging to the Northern Command) north of the occupied city of Safad with a rocket barrage.

Islamic Resistance in Iraq:

  • Launched a barrage of drones at the Haris base of US occupation forces in Erbil.
  • Launched a barrage of drones at the Ahmed Al-Jaber Air Base of US forces in Kuwait.

President Donald Trump said regime change in Iran was not a goal of the US military operation, adding that preventing Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons was the main objective.

"That goal has been attained. They do not have nuclear weapons," Trump said in remarks from the Oval Office.

"Regime change was not a goal," he added, despite earlier comments suggesting leadership changes in Iran.

Trump also said the United States could end the war without reaching a negotiated settlement, indicating that a deal with Tehran is not necessary for the conflict to conclude.

12bytes: How 'bout that! Iran doesn't have the nuclear weapons that it never wanted.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, US President Donald Trump says the US could leave Iran "in two or three weeks." He said the US does not need a deal with Tehran to withdraw and claimed oil prices would fall after that.

"What is happening now does not amount to negotiations, but is limited to an exchange of messages," Araghchi said, adding that the communication is being conducted within a formal government framework.

He said Iran has not responded to a reported list of US proposals and has not submitted any proposals or conditions of its own, adding that Iran would require guarantees against future attacks and compensation for damages before any resolution to the conflict.

"The Iranian people cannot be threatened, and the American president must address them with respect," he said, adding that the Strait of Hormuz remains open but "will only be closed to those who wage war against Iran."

Iranian missile strikes are shifting toward higher-value targets in Israel, even as the number of launches declines, according to reports from the region.

Al Jazeera reported that recent strikes hit key infrastructure, including an oil refinery in Haifa, a chemical facility in Beersheba and a major power station in Hadera.

At the same time, Hezbollah has intensified its attacks, launching large barrages of rockets toward northern Israeli cities including Nahariya, Acre and Haifa.

Reports also indicated multiple impact sites, with some areas experiencing temporary power outages following the strikes.

The escalation comes as Israel remains under a state of emergency, with daily life continuing under heightened security measures. The alert status is expected to remain in place even as Israelis mark the Passover holiday.

"Today, we attacked the accommodation site of American pilots and flight personnel in al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia, using drones and missiles, and struck a gathering of 200 people," Commander of the IRGC's Aerospace Force, Brigadier General Majid Mousavi, wrote in a post on X on Tuesday.

"Now, in addition to the AWACS aircraft, tankers, and fuel storage facilities, a list of casualties and injuries among flight crews has also been added to [US President Donald] Trump and [War Secretary Pete] Hegseth's toll of losses and damages," he added.

Together with the Israeli regime, the United States began its latest bout of unlawful aggression against the Islamic Republic late last month.

Momentarily afterwards, the Corps began its retaliatory Operation True Promise 4 that has so far witnessed implementation of at least 88 rounds of reprisal against sensitive and strategic American and Israeli targets across the West Asia region.

American warplanes and surveillance aircraft as well as the logistical apparatuses supporting them have sustained significant damage during the counterstrikes that have seen the Corps' fire hundreds of ballistic and hypersonic missiles as well as attack drones against designated targets.

An Iraqi armed group claimed responsibility for a series of attacks on US military bases, saying it carried out five strikes in the past 24 hours.

On March 31, two United States Air Force EA-37B Compass Call electronic warfare aircraft were observed arriving at RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom after departing from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base via Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

Open-source flight tracking data and imagery indicate a likely onward deployment toward Turkey in support of the ongoing American-Israeli war on Iran.

The EA-37B was developed by the U.S. L3Harris and British BAE Systems on the bases of the Gulfstream G550 business jet. Its main mission is to disrupt enemy command and control networks, significantly hindering adversary coordination. The first such aircraft entered service in 2024.

[...]

The deployment came following rumors that the U.S. Air Force lost two older generation EC-130H Compass Call electronic warfare aircraft in the March 29 Iranian strike on Prince Sultan Air Base in the heart of Saudi Arabia.

Deep dive into escalating US-Iran tensions: questioning evidence transparency in recent high-profile cases, analyzing military strategy risks, and exploring potential global economic consequences. Discussion covers regional instability, humanitarian impacts of prolonged conflict, and challenges to official narratives. Experts warn of recession risks from expanded warfare, examine Middle East dynamics including Israel's domestic challenges and Arab state positions, and assess the viability of proposed ground operations. The conversation also addresses misinformation concerns, the role of media in shaping public perception, and calls for greater accountability in foreign policy decisions affecting global stability. A critical look at the human cost of empire and the urgent need for diplomatic solutions over military escalation.

US-Iran tensions escalate amid conflicting negotiation claims. Iran's missiles challenge Israeli defenses as Hezbollah and Houthis join the fight. Drone warfare undermines traditional military advantages. Strait of Hormuz disruptions threaten global energy and food security, risking inflation worldwide. US and Israeli domestic politics, including elections, may limit conflict duration. Economic pressures and public opinion could force diplomatic resolution. Key insight: asymmetric warfare and global interdependence constrain prolonged escalation.

UPDATE 4

So after complete obliteration of Iran and its military capabilities, USA and Israel have achieved the following:

  1. Iran's regime is still in place and is more hardline than it ever was before
  2. Iran is selling more oil and at $100
  3. Oil sanctions are no longer effective
  4. Middle Eastern economies have been devastated and oil infrastructure damaged with medium term consequences
  5. Israel is being pounded from three directions with considerable damage that has been suppressed by force
  6. U.S. navy has run away from the Persian Gulf
  7. Oil prices doubled.
  8. Iran now controls 20% of world oil flows which may increase to 30% if Iran decides to close shipping in the Red Sea. (through Houthis)
  9. Strait of Hormuz will remain under Iran's control for foreseeable future.
  10. Iran is likely to get out of NPT and develop nuclear weapons.
  11. Trump has done so well in the war that he is likely to lose midterms.
  12. Netanyahu who used to shamelessly roam around has been mostly in hiding
  13. U.S. bases in the Gulf have been obliterated and Iran says U.S. must leave Middle East now
  14. The world is likely to experience inflation and low economic growth in the next year.
  15. The entire world opinion has changed in favour of Iran.
  16. NATO and European allies have refused to participate in the war.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says the country is ready to end the ongoing fight against the US-Israeli aggression if it receives firm guarantees that it will not be attacked again in the future.

Pezeshkian said in a Tuesday phone conversation with President of the European Council Antonio Costa that the only solution to normalizing the situation that has resulted from the US-Israeli aggression on Iran is for the aggressors to cease their attacks.

"We have never sought tension or war at any stage, and we have the necessary resolve to end this war if the required conditions are met, especially the necessary guarantees to prevent a recurrence of aggression," he said.

The president said Iran respects the sovereignty of its neighboring countries and has never sought to attack them, adding that the country has been left with no option but to attack the US bases that are located in those countries.

"These nations have not fulfilled their international responsibility to prevent the use of their territory for attacks against Iran," Pezeshkian said in the phone call.

He also criticized the European Union for its inaction to condemn the ongoing US-Israeli aggression, saying the aggression is a flagrant violation of the rule of law and an assault on all the principles and rules that the EU has claimed to uphold.

"Instead of adopting a destructive approach against Iran, the EU should calibrate its policies and stances based on international law and in line with the rules of constructive and professional interaction with other parties," he said, based on a Farsi-language statement published by his office.

Costa, for his part, said in the phone call that EU countries have never supported the aggression against Iran and view it as a violation of international laws and regulations.

He also emphasized the need for ending the confrontation in the region while expressing concerns about its negative political and economic repercussions.

12bytes: No idea what to make of this. There's much that could be said, but it's too early to comment.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has confirmed that messages had been exchanged with the United States, either directly or through countries in the region, amid the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran.

During an interview with Al Jazeera, Araghchi said that the contacts with the US did not mean that Tehran was in negotiations with Washington.

As the US keeps issuing statements about the talks with Iran, Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi declared the following:

  • No negotiations are taking place - merely an exchange of messages, either direct or through intermediaries
  • The messages include warnings and opinions on certain matters, transmitted via regional channels
  • Iran will not agree to a ceasefire, seeking instead to end the war in the region completely
  • The Strait of Hormuz is closed only for the countries who wage war against Iran. All measures have been taken to ensure safe passage of friendly nations' ships through the strait
  • Iran stands ready to repel any ground invasion

The Iranian Army has announced a new wave of drone operations targeting strategic industrial and communication centers linked to Israel.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Army said its forces had launched retaliatory strikes in response to recent attacks by Israel and the United States on Iran's vital infrastructure.

According to the statement, since early Tuesday, the Iranian forces have carried out drone strikes against key industrial, telecommunications, and communications facilities associated with companies such as Siemens, Telecom, and AT&T.

The targets were located in areas including Ben Gurion Airport and Haifa.

The statement said an industrial software center affiliated with Siemens, situated in central occupied territories near Ben Gurion Airport, focuses on advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and industrial automation.

It said these technologies are employed to enhance weapons production lines and support the design of military systems.

Additionally, a telecommunications research and development center linked to AT&T in Haifa was identified as another target.

The facility was described as being involved in advanced networking technologies, cloud computing, and AI systems supporting Israeli military operations.

In a series of statements, the group said it shelled Israeli soldiers and vehicles near the town of Ainata at around 11:00 local time (08:00 GMT), followed by a rocket barrage on the same area later in the day.

It also said rockets were fired at Israeli forces in Avivim in northern Israel.

US forces have begun conducting their first overland B-52 bomber missions over Iran as part of Operation Epic Fury, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Tuesday, Anadolu reports.

"Given the increase in air superiority, we've successfully started to conduct the first overland B-52 missions, which allow us, as we've before, to continue to get on top of the enemy," Gen. Dan Caine said at a news conference alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The US has struck more than 11,000 targets over the past 30 days, Caine said.

In a statement, the organization said 90,063 homes, 21,059 commercial facilities, 760 educational centers, and 18 facilities affiliated with the Red Crescent were damaged.

It added that three relief helicopters were also damaged as a result of the attacks.

IN OTHER NEWS...

From selling out to the US to admitting green-power failures to aiding the war on Iran, the bloc is wearing out its knee pads at a record pace

UPDATE 3

Mohamad Safa, a UN representative for the Patriotic Vision Association (PVA), a non-governmental organisation that holds special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (Ecosoc), said that he resigned from his role in order to "leak the information", before claiming that some senior figures at the UN had been "serving a powerful lobby" and not the UN itself.

"This is a picture of Tehran. For you uneducated, untraveled, never-served, warhawks licking your chops at the thought of bombing it. It's not some low population desert," he wrote in a social media post accompanied by a photo of the Iranian capital.

"There are families, children, family pets. Regular working class people with dreams. You're sick to want war. Tehran is a city of nearly 10,000,000 people. Imagine nuking Washington, Berlin, Paris, London, or beyond, bombed with nuclear weapons," he said.

"I don't think people understand the gravity of the situation as the UN is preparing for possible nuclear weapon use in Iran... I gave up my diplomatic career to leak this information. I suspended my duties so as not to be part of or a witness to this crime against humanity," he added.

Channel 12 said on Sunday that if the United States launches a ground assault, "Israeli soldiers will not be participating on the ground", indicating that Israel would leave any such operation to US forces alone.

US conventional military power is being stretched to the breaking point in its war against Iran, Russian military observer Igor Korotchenko tells Sputnik.

It's not just about fast-depleting Tomahawks - every missile fired at Iran chips away at the broader air- and missile-defense reserves simultaneously, he underscores.

"This is indeed a problem that Americans feel acutely right now," he says.

At the current monthly rate of 850 Tomahawk cruise missiles - as highlighted by Sputnik's analysis of Navy budget documents - the US retains only about a three-month supply.

While current stocks still permit ongoing strikes against Iran, it's crucial to remember there's no clear end in sight to the campaign the US is waging mostly on its own, underscores the pundit.

The U.S. and Israel are continuing to terrorize the Iranian people for refusing to overthrow their government and embrace their oppressors. Recent bombings have targeted residential neighborhoods, religious sites, schools, hospitals and cancer treatment centers, etc. An endless list of war crimes "made in the USA."

Iranian missile and drone strikes became much more effective recently, starting from March 29, when the strategic Prince Sultan Air Base at the heart of Saudi Arabia was hit in an attack that left 12 American troops wounded and several aircraft destroyed or damaged.

More impacts were reported across the region in following days, from the city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, all the way to Israel, where impacts were reported in the refineries near the city of Haifa in the north, in the suburbs of the city of Tel Aviv in the center, and close to the port city of Eilat in the south.

Videos posted to social networks showed several cases where air defenses completely failed, and others where it was clear that the operators were hopelessly firing all interceptors at their disposal. In some cases, the interceptors were detonated right after launch, likely because the operators fired them hastily.

These strikes left little doubt about the fact that the air defense networks in these countries are getting less effective for a wide range of reasons.

Israeli authorities reported 232 injuries within 24 hours, including 80 in the past 12 hours, as the total number of wounded since the start of the war with Iran on 28 February rose to 6,088, according to the Israeli Ministry of Health.

In a statement issued on Monday evening, the ministry said that 6,088 injured people had been evacuated to hospitals since the beginning of the US led Israeli war on Iran, up from 6,008 reported earlier the same day. The figures indicate a sharp increase in casualties over a short period.

The ministry added that 110 people remain in hospital, including one in critical condition, 16 in serious condition, 24 in moderate condition, 69 with minor injuries and one case of acute panic.

While official Israeli sources have not released comprehensive fatality figures, estimates from the Israeli Institute for National Security Studies suggest that 24 people have been killed since the start of the war.

12bytes: I would guess that 1 or 2 zero's can be added to the reported numbers.

Israel's army has said it has conducted over 230 strikes across Iran in the last 24 hours.

It said the attacks are aimed at degarding Iranian military capacity, but Iran has reported multiple US-Israeli attacks on civilian infrastructure.

An Israeli air strike in southern Gaza killed a father and his five-year-old son, according to health officials at Nasser hospital, where the bodies were taken.

Family members and mourners gathered in the hospital courtyard for funeral prayers, carrying the bodies wrapped in white shrouds.

Israeli fire and strikes have continued almost daily despite a ceasefire reached in October, with nearly 709 Palestinians killed since then, according to Gaza's health ministry

12bytes: Again, the health ministry figures are only a fraction of the real numbers.

Three Palestinians were injured Tuesday after being attacked by a group of Israeli occupiers in the town of Tayasir in the Tubas governorate of northern West Bank, Anadolu reports.

In the space of a week, two young women linked to Palestine Action have been arrested in the United Kingdom.

RABAT, March 31 (YPA) - A Moroccan court has sentenced a young rapper, known for criticizing his country's ties with the Israeli occupation and highlighting government corruption, to eight months in prison, in what observers see as part of a broader crackdown on a new generation of artists.

The mayor of the British city of Bath has been forced to resign for sharing social media posts suggesting that the arson attack last week on Jewish charity-owned ambulances in London was a false flag.

Is it more market manipulation, or is President Trump really looking for a way out of the Iran war he launched last month. Either way, he may soon find that it's a lot easier to get out of a war than to get into a war. Also, Hegseth still breathing fire from the podium, giving out mixed messages from the Administration.

UPDATE 2

The Israeli Air Force on March 29 released a photo of F-16I Sufa fighter jets taking part in strikes on Iran, armed with what appears to be cluster bombs.

"In parallel, the Air Force struck sites used for storing and launching ballistic missiles, which pose a direct threat to the citizens of the State of Israel, as well as several defense systems of the terror regime. More than 150 fighter jets struck, over the past day, weapons production sites throughout Tehran," the Israeli Air Force wrote in a Hebrew language post on X accompanying the picture. "The strikes on the regime's military industries in Tehran continue at this hour as well. The Air Force continues to deepen the strikes on the regime's military industries in order to deny the production capabilities it has built up over [the] years."

Iran's IRGC has confirmed that top military general Jamshid Eshaghi has been killed along with his family in an attack.

This comes after Iranian state media reported that a funeral for IRGC Navy Commander Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, who was also killed in an Israeli attack, will be held on Monday.

The Iranian Red Crescent is reporting that US-Israeli attacks on Iran have damaged over 90,000 residential units, more than 300 health facilities and 760 schools.

A hospital in southern Lebanon has been subjected to Israeli attacks for a fifth time, as Israeli forces advance further into an invasion of the south. The hospital has taken damage, yet doctors and healthcare workers stand firm despite the elevated danger.

This is the newest update of the 'U.S. Carrier Strike Groups Locations Map' exclusive series showing the approximate locations of U.S. Carrier Strike Groups.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says Iran's advanced air defense systems have shot down two Low-cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System (LUCAS) drones and a cruise missile over the country's sky.

‎In a short statement on Tuesday, the IRGC said one LUCAS drone was neutralized over Bandar Abbas and another over Minab in southern Iran.

‎The LUCAS drones are made in the US but are in fact a reverse-engineered copy of the kamikaze Iranian Shahed drone.

‎Also, an AGM-158 JASSM cruise missile fired by an offensive aircraft was shot down over the sky of Dehloran.

‎In another statement released on Tuesday, Iran's Army stated that the country's air defense systems managed to successfully shoot and destroy a US-made MQ-9 Reaper.

The administration of US President Donald Trump has proposed to transfer control of the Strait of Hormuz to a multinational consortium, The Telegraph newspaper writes, citing diplomatic sources.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has dismissed reports that Tehran fired missiles at Turkey as "completely baseless".

Iran's foreign ministry said that Araghchi had offered to undertake a joint investigation into the claims on a call to his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan.

He further warned against "false flag operations" aimed at undermining regional ties.

Turkey has reported a number of missiles fired by Iran towards its airspace, which have been downed by Nato air defence systems. The latest reported incident was on Monday.

Israel and the US continue their illegal war on Iran. At least 1,500 Iranians, including 230 children, have been killed, and nearly 25,000 have been injured since 28 February, according to Iranian health authorities.

And Iran continues to defend itself against US and Israeli aggression. Its forces have been hammering Israeli and US assets throughout the region - including the nuclear site in Dimona over the weekend of 21 March.

"The United States would probably get out of this war if it could but not at the price of admitting any kind of failure or defeat," said co-host Ali Abunimah on The Electronic Intifada Livestream on 26 March.

"This is a massive strategic failure and historic setback for the US empire, with global implications," said Abunimah during his report.

UPDATE 1 (CRITICAL UPDATE)

Mohamad Safa, who has served as the Permanent Representative of the Patriotic Vision Organization (PVA) to the UN for nearly twelve years, quit over the international body's preparation for "possible nuclear weapon use". He said that the seniors at the UN are not serving the body but a powerful lobby. Safa also said the UN "abandoned" him at a time when he was receiving death threats, financial penalties and censorship.

In his resignation letter last week, Safa said he has been wanting to resign since 2023 after it became clear to him "that some UN seniors are serving a powerful lobby and not the UN". "I cannot in good conscience be part of or witness to what is happening at a time when the top UN officials refuse to describe what is happening in Gaza as genocide, what is happening in Lebanon as war crimes and ethnic cleansing, that the war on Iran is illegal under international law, that Iran posed no imminent threat to world peace, and clearly they do not want to accuse Israel and the United States of violating international law and committing war crimes-effectively shielding decision-makers from such designation-all due to pressure from powerful lobby," he accused.

Safa said he has long supported the goals of the UN to promote peace and prosperity after World War II but the powerful lobby imposed a "new world order" by the end of 2023, starting with Gaza.

"I received death threats for me and my family, and the UN has abandoned me. I received financial penalties, and the UN has abandoned me. Now, I am being censored at the UN, denied my right to freedom of expression," he said referring to the UN seniors, who he accused of abusing their power to serve the powerful lobby.

"Early this year, senior officials and influential diplomats, supported by global media and social media algorithms, deployed a misinformation campaign claiming an Iran nuclear threat and sowed pro-war sentiments to encourage a war with Iran but throughout the region, further their own agenda. This lobby was used to deceive you into believing that Iran posed an imminent threat to world peace. This was a lie and is the same tactic used to commit genocide in Gaza and the same tactic is being used now to ethnic cleansing and the occupation of Lebanon," he said.

In a more recent post - today - Safa said people perhaps do not understand the gravity of the situation as the "UN is preparing for possible nuclear weapon use in Iran".

He said nuking Tehran that has a population of around 10,000,000 people is like nuking Washington, Berlin, Paris, or London. "I gave up my diplomatic career to leak this information. I suspended my duties so as not to be part of or a witness to this crime against humanity, in an attempt to prevent a nuclear winter before it is too late," he said.

Safa, referring to the US' 'No Kings' protest, urged people to take to the streets and protest for humanity and the future.

Demonstrators protested against Trump's deportation policies, war in Iran, and other actions in rallies across the United States on Saturday. This was the third round of the "No Kings" rallies. Over 3,200 events were planned in all 50 states. Large gatherings took place in New York, Dallas, Philadelphia, and Washington.

US Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, a critic of Trump, spoke at the event in Minnesota. Sanders said, "We will not allow this country to descend into authoritarianism or oligarchy in America. We, the people, will rule."

Trump, with his utter ignorance of history, no compassion for human life, out of control ego and deranged mind, might give okey to Israel to use nuclear bomb on Iran as he is in a desperate situation, a war he started at Israel's urging. But he is losing and cannot stop it any more. He might give a green signal to Israel to nuke Iran and then lie that he was not informed. This is quite a possible scenario.

Western strategists are probably aware of the impasse. Unable to wage a parity war using cheap drones, the coalition may try to artificially raise the stakes by turning the conflict into an atomic plane. This means the risk of using tactical nuclear weapons in the coming months.

However, such a step will not change the course of hostilities, because nuclear strikes will not stop the production and launch of drones from dispersed mobile workshops. And the deaths of civilians and the appearance of "radioactive pockmarks" on the map of Iran will only finally rally the population against the aggressor, turning the conflict into an existential battle.

Poland does not intend to provide the US with its Patriot missile defense systems, Minister of National Defense of the Republic Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz stated.

On Tuesday, the publication Rzeczpospolita reported that the US was demanding that Poland redeploy one of its two Patriots to the Middle East.

"Our Patriot batteries and their missiles are being used to protect Polish airspace and NATO's eastern flank. Nothing has changed in this regard, and we have no plans to redeploy them anywhere!" Kosiniak-Kamysz wrote on the social network X.

Italian press reports that the government has refuse to authorise US to land bombers at a base in Sicily for transit to the Middle East, where they could be used to strike Iran.

At least three civilians have been killed and a dozen others sustained injuries when a US-Israeli airstrike targeted the premises of a prominent mosque in Iran's northwestern city of Zanjan, where Muharram mourning ceremonies are held.

Ali Sadeghi, deputy director of political, security and social affairs at the provincial governor's office, said the aerial raid took place at around 5 a.m. local time (0130 GMT) on Tuesday, and hit the Grand Hussainiya of Zanjan.

He added that rescue teams have so far managed to recover three dead bodies from under the rubble.

According to reports circulating on Hebrew-language news platforms, the fighting involved two separate incidents - one using a drone and the other involving explosive devices. The incidents reportedly left soldiers with very critical injuries, while intensive air evacuations were carried out to hospitals inside Israel, with a large number of helicopters involved.

At the same time, Hezbollah said it had carried out several operations. These included detonating an explosive device targeting an Israeli force between the towns of Aitaroun and Ainatā, causing deaths and injuries. The group also said it targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers near Naqoura with a drone, and struck another force inside a house in Ainatā with a guided missile, claiming direct hits.

Toby Walsh of University of New South Wales Sydney explains the role of AI in the US-Israeli war on Iran.

IN OTHER NEWS...

Dominique Tardif, Deputy chief of the French Air Force, said in an interview with Politico that the country needs to prepare its air forces for the outbreak of a possible conflict with Russia.

END UPDATES

On March 19, 2026, an event occurred that, in a normal political system, should have caused an earthquake. Joe Kent, the director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, resigned. But not for family reasons or due to "differences over strategic issues"-the euphemisms Washington typically uses to cover up the departure of those who have fallen out of favor. Kent stepped down with a public statement that reads like an indictment: "I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran."

This is not just a resignation. It's the removal of a seal behind which lay the ugly truth about how foreign policy decisions are actually made in the United States. Kent, a veteran of special forces and the CIA, a man whose wife died in Syria while on duty, stated what Washington usually prefers to keep quiet: the Trump administration launched a war with Iran under pressure from Israel and its powerful lobby.

Iran did not pose an "imminent threat" to the United States. This was acknowledged by a man who, by virtue of his position, had access to the most classified information on terrorist threats. Yet America found itself drawn into a full-scale military conflict that has already cost the lives of American service members-at least 13 killed and about 200 wounded (at the time of this writing).

How did this become possible? The answer to this question leads straight to Jerusalem, to the office of Benjamin Netanyahu, who found a way to use the U.S. president as a tool to achieve his own political and personal goals.

12bytes: The 13 killed and 200 wounded figures are nonsense. A more reliable estimate of US killed is 600-800 and wounded would be roughly 3x that.

Iranian media reported that initial investigations indicated strikes in central Iran had hit some "military sites", without specifying the locations.

"Initial investigations indicate that some military locations in Isfahan were targeted," the Fars news agency quoted Akbar Salehi, a security official at the governor's office in Isfahan province, as saying.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy has carried out four operations against American and Israeli terrorist targets in the early hours of Tuesday, delivering blows as part of the 88th wave of Operation True Promise 4.

The IRGC Public Relations Department announced that the naval forces launched a "heavy" offensive against enemy positions.

A container ship belonging to the Israeli regime, named Express Halfong, was struck by ballistic missiles in the middle waters of the Persian Gulf, according to the statement.

In a second combined operation, it added, a hideout of US Marines along the coast of the United Arab Emirates, where they had taken cover outside military bases fearing Iran's destructive missiles, was precisely targeted and destroyed by explosive drones.

The IRGC Navy also destroyed a counter-drone system belonging to the US Fifth Fleet that had been deployed outside its base near Manama airport in Bahrain, said the statement, adding that additionally, two advanced early warning radars at the "Jaber al-Ahmad" US terrorist base in Kuwait were hit by drones.

The IRGC statement reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz is fully and firmly under the control of its forces.

"The smallest movement of enemies will be met with missile and drone strikes," the statement warned.

The 88th wave of Operation True Promise 4 is the latest in a series of near-daily Iranian retaliatory strikes since the United States and Israel launched an unprovoked war of aggression against Iran on February 28.

Thirty-one days into the US-Israeli war on Iran, which began with the assassination of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, on February 28, the military aggression has continued to target Iranian civilian and industrial infrastructure.

On the evening of March 27, 2026, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force carried out one of the most devastating single strikes against American air power in decades.

The operation employed a coordinated barrage of ballistic missiles and drones, successfully breaching the multi-layered defenses of Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.

The strike resulted in the complete destruction of a $700 million E-3 Sentry AWACS surveillance aircraft, a key asset for airborne command, control, and surveillance.

In addition, two EC-130H Compass Call electronic warfare planes were severely damaged, while multiple KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft were crippled, significantly reducing the operational capabilities of US occupation forces in the region.

Military analysts are describing the retaliatory strike as a strategic turning point in the ongoing US-Israeli aggression against Iran. The precision and scale of the operation underscore the growing capabilities of the IRGC Aerospace Force and signal a marked shift in the balance of power in the region.

The operation, carried out from Iranian territory in direct retaliation for weeks of American-Israeli aerial bombardment, represents the culmination of a carefully calibrated Iranian military strategy. It targeted not only frontline combat aircraft but also the critical infrastructure that enables US air superiority across the region.

Throughout March, American officials had boasted that Iranian air defenses had been "flattened" and claimed that Tehran's military capabilities were on the verge of collapse.

The March 27 strike, however, revealed a starkly different reality.

At least four Israeli troops have been killed in southern Lebanon as fighters from the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah carried out waves of operations against the occupation forces in defense of Lebanon and its nation.

[...]

This comes as Hezbollah stated that several Israeli troops holed up inside a house in Khallat al-Jawar area of Beit Lif town in southern Lebanon were targeted with a guided missile. The strike left an unspecified number of soldiers killed and wounded.

Hezbollah fighters also targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and military vehicles east of al-Khiam detention center with a salvo of rockets.

Additionally, the fighters launched a range of rockets at the settlements of Metula, Dovir, Avivim and Kiryat Shmona, as well as al-Ghajar and al-Malikiya sites.

Furthermore, Hezbollah forces struck the Gilot base, which serves as the headquarters of Unit 8200 of the Israeli Military Intelligence, on the outskirts of Tel Aviv with a barrage of rockets.

In a related development, a gathering of Israeli soldiers and military vehicles in the town of Deir Seryan was targeted with a barrage of artillery rounds.

Repeated waves of rockets and artillery shells also slammed into gatherings of Israeli soldiers at El-Friz Hill in the town of Ainatha.

Hezbollah resistance fighters also targeted and destroyed an Israeli Merkava battle tank in the al-Sedr district of the town of Ainatha with a number of explosive devices.

Hezbollah's recent campaign has been characterized by an intense and unprecedented operational tempo.

In recent days, the fighters of the resistance movement have carried out two offensive operations per hour.

Footage circulating on social media shows the aftermath of missile strikes in Tel Aviv, occupied Palestine.

Israeli media reported that several explosive missile warheads fell in Bnei Brak.

Moreover, at least 13 injuries were reported in Tel Aviv, Bnei Brak, and Petah Tikva as a result of Iranian missile strikes, according to Israeli media.

Iran said its air defence units shot down a United States MQ-9 drone near Isfahan, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.

The report said the drone was intercepted and destroyed earlier Tuesday.

Iranian officials said the downing marked the 146th drone shot down during the conflict.

The MQ-9 Reaper, widely used for surveillance and strike missions, has an estimated cost of about $30 million per unit.

A US amphibious assault ship carrying about 1,800 Marines is operating in the Indian Ocean as speculation grows over a possible ground operation against Iran, US Central Command said.

The USS Tripoli, part of an amphibious ready group, was shown in a recent image sailing in the region, though its exact distance from Iran was not disclosed.

CNN reported that the ship is carrying troops from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, with additional US forces, including elements of the 11th MEU and the Army's 82nd Airborne Division.

Chechen military units have announced their readiness to deploy to Iran to support the Iranian armed forces in the event of a US ground invasion, according to reports.

The Israeli army's chief of staff, Eyal Zamir, is warning that the Zionist military is "going to collapse in on itself" if it does not get more reinforcements, saying: "The reserves will not last, I am raising 10 red flags."

Journalist Esteban Carrillo, Co-Host of the Cradle News Round-Up, noted that Israel is in a dire situation as Iran, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Ansar Allah in Yemen, stand together in this existential war, while Tel Aviv and Washington run low on munitions and morale.

The administration of President Donald Trump believes that attempts to secure the chokepoint "would push the conflict beyond his timeline of four to six weeks" and intends to "press allies in Europe and the Gulf to take the lead on reopening the strait," the Wall Street Journal reported.

NATO's war after all?

Previously non-involved nations have refused to deploy their militaries to help the US unblock the Strait of Hormuz. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said of Trump's call for participation: "It is not our war; we did not start it."

The US leader responded by threatening to call off US support of Ukraine, saying Kiev's conflict with Russia "isn't my war." After taking office, Trump refused to donate weapons to Kiev, forcing European nations to pay for them, while continuing to share crucial intelligence with Ukrainian military commanders.

The publication says that the administration of Donald Trump is exploring the possibility of resuming nuclear testing after a thirty-year hiatus.

"The administration is also considering the possibility of transferring confidential uranium enrichment technologies to Saudi Arabia," the agency noted.

Earlier, Donald Trump said that a peace deal with Iran could be reached in the near future.

The Gray Zone required ambiguity to function. Ambiguity requires all parties to prefer it. The moment one actor decides the cost of restraint exceeds the cost of action, the entire architecture collapses. That is precisely what happened. And once it collapses, it does not reassemble itself. What we are experiencing now is not a crisis within the old order. It is the construction of a new one.

We do not yet know what it will look like, who will shape it, or what the entry price will be. What we do know is this:

The GCC's assumption that geographic distance and American security guarantees provided a buffer has been permanently challenged. The assumption that Iran would always stop short of striking Gulf capitals is gone. The assumption that energy infrastructure was effectively off-limits in any conflict involving the world's major powers is gone.

The question is no longer whether the Middle East has changed but whether the people in this region are thinking fast enough to navigate what it has become.

Pete Hegseth's Morgan Stanley broker contacted BlackRock in February about a multimillion-dollar investment in a defense ETF - shortly before the US launched strikes on Iran, the Financial Times reported.

The United Arab Emirates' stock markets in Dubai and Abu Dhabi have lost around $120bn in value since the start of the US-Israel war on Iran, placing them among the hardest-hit financial markets worldwide.

Outrage and widespread condemnation has followed Israel legalising the death penalty for Palestinians, making execution by hanging mandatory for any convicted of deadly attacks. European governments, rights groups, and Palestinians are appalled, calling it a violation of international law that must be repealed.