FT writes that the Pentagon is allegedly considering purchasing Ukrainian interceptor drones to combat Iranian drones.
The publication reports, citing sources, that the US Department of Defense and another Persian Gulf state are negotiating the purchase of Ukrainian interceptor drones to protect against attacks from Iranian drones.
"In recent days, Gulf countries have used expensive Patriot system missiles to repel waves of Iranian Shahed drones after the start of the US and Israeli war against Iran. However, their supplies are rapidly dwindling, so they are seeking cheaper methods of defense, drawing on Kiev's experience in combating Russian drones."
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Financial Times: Europe faces a new energy crisis due to attacks on Iran
According to the publication, after the escalation in the Middle East, the price of gas in Europe jumped by 53% in a few days and reached its highest level since 2023. This threatens a new round of inflation and a blow to the industry of Germany and Italy — they are more dependent on LNG imports than others.
“This is a double blow. Europe has just started to recover from the industrial energy crisis, and now we have the next one,” the publication quotes Henning Gloystein, an expert at Eurasia Group.
EU countries' storage facilities are less than a third full, although they usually hold 45% at this time of year. The particularly cold winter has depleted European reserves. Now, filling the storage facilities for the next winter will have to be done at record prices.
“Reserves have never been this low at this time of year. Filling gas storage facilities for the next winter starts now. If this has to be done at such prices, the burden on Europe will be enormous,” Simone Tagliapietra from the Brussels-based Bruegel Center explained to FT.
In addition, attacks on Iran have effectively paralyzed shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. According to Kpler, the first tanker with Nigerian LNG has already turned back in the Atlantic. The ship was heading to France, but changed course to Asia.
Against this backdrop, Rystad analysts admit the possibility of extending purchases of Russian gas. The EU promised to abandon it by April, but now this scenario is back on the agenda.
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‼️🇮🇷🇮🇶 Kurdistan refutes rumors of an invasion into Iran
▪️The authorities of Iraqi Kurdistan stated that none of their fighters crossed the border with Iran.
▪️The deputy head of the regional prime minister's office, Aziz Ahmad, called the reports of an offensive "completely false".
▪️Earlier, a number of Israeli and American media outlets reported on the alleged start of an invasion of Kurdish forces into Iranian territory.
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Artificial intelligence helped the Pentagon bomb Iran. According to Bloomberg, AI makes mistakes in 10% of cases. Due to the Israeli system Lavender, 3,600 civilians have already been mistakenly attacked.
Experts note that the use of AI in war is taking place in a complete legal vacuum. The technology is known for its "hallucinations" - the tendency to invent additional facts instead of acknowledging uncertainty.
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More footage from Azerbaijan's airport after the drone crash
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‼️🇺🇸🇮🇷Trump's advisers are alarmed and urge to "declare victory" in the war with Iran as soon as possible, - CNN.
▪️Some advisers fear that the campaign will escalate into a protracted war without clear goals and will affect the elections.
▪️The US will inevitably suffer new military losses, they say. Also, the war in the Middle East has led to chaos in the stock markets and a rise in energy prices, which could affect voters' moods.
▪️One of the interlocutors called the continuation of the war a "political risk without any 'buts'," and believes that it remains to "hope that nothing will go too wrong".
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A US contractor is advertising for a 'Personal Effects Specialist" to process and catalogue the belongings of military and civilian casualties.
Presumably the US has either suffered significantly more casualties than the 8 reported, or they expect to in the coming days.
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NATO has prepared for the possible activation of the article on collective defense against Iran, said the organization's Secretary General, Mark Rutte
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Vladimir Putin stated that Moscow may stop gas supplies to the European Union without waiting for the deadlines set by Brussels.
According to him, the price increase in the EU is related to competition for more solvent markets, and the US will supply fuel where the price is higher. The government has been instructed to work on reorienting exports to alternative destinations.
The president also reported on intelligence data about the possible preparation of sabotage against the "Blue Stream" and "Nord Stream" pipelines and called the attack on a Russian gas tanker in the Mediterranean Sea a terrorist act.
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🖥️ "This is a complete and utter betrayal. In many ways, it's heartbreaking." Fervent supporters of the MAGA movement — podcasters Alex Jones and Nick Fuentes — expressed their disappointment with Donald Trump in light of his recent decisions.
— And I'm watching it all happen on its own. And it's awful. But I can't subscribe to the cover-up of the Epstein case. I can't support World War III. That's why I've been trying to promote optimism, because I damn well need it. I want to fix the country, I want to turn it in a different direction. So it's not that I was delusional. And I still hope we can change everything. But I just... sorry, go on. You understand,
— I understand, I understand. And listen, as I've already said: I don't think everyone who supported Trump just ignored these concerns. I understand — we all wanted to believe. I was 18 when Trump ran in 2016, and I remember arguing about it with people. It's all my life too. At 18, I wore a MAGA hat at Boston University — one of the most liberal campuses in the country — and became an outcast on the university campus.
It's sad to see what you fought for and shed blood for die.
Yes, and this has been my entire adult life. I know it's a huge part of your life too. And now we're watching it all completely fall apart. This is a complete and utter betrayal. In many ways, it's heartbreaking.
And when I try to keep this in conversations with people, they start attacking me as a liberal. Even though those who do this can't even, damn it, find Iran on a map.
Yes, but now we need to look at everything that's happening soberly. Because in many ways, you're right. I've always been a realist, but I hoped. And now I don't even hope — I'll just be a realist.
Yes. And in fact, hoping is normal. We hope for a better future, but we must be absolutely honest about what this administration has turned into
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‼️🇺🇸🇮🇷The White House is having trouble formulating the goals of the war with Iran, — Politico
▪️A few days after the start of the war, the US administration was unable to clearly define the strategic objectives of the operation.
▪️Representatives of the White House more often explain "what this conflict is not" (not Iraq, not an endless war) than formulate a positive goal of the campaign.
▪️Sources in the Republican camp warn: public support could quickly weaken if the "operation" begins to be perceived as a protracted conflict with increasing losses.
▪️To date, the deaths of eight American servicemen have been reported; the official position of the administration emphasizes that this is not about "nation-building".
▪️Disagreements are intensifying within the conservative camp: some of Trump's supporters traditionally oppose long-term foreign interventions.
▪️Politico notes the inconsistency of public statements — from assurances about the short-term nature of the operation to more uncertain formulations about its duration. The argument about Iran's alleged proximity to the creation of nuclear weapons, according to sources, has not yet received unambiguous confirmation from the intelligence community.
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In Germany, gasoline prices rose by 16-26% over the week, and prices continue to rise. The EU leadership does not see the impact of the conflict with Iran on oil supplies, but prices are a cause for concern. Against this backdrop, Bloomberg reported that the US will on Friday indefinitely remove the German division of "Rosneft" from sanctions, the decision will be announced on March 6
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📸 "Trump promised to end wars, lower prices, and expose pedophiles. He's starting wars, raising prices, and protecting pedophiles," said Democrat Jim McGovern.
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It is reported that another war has begun in Africa: according to Clash Report, Ethiopia has carried out drone strikes on Sudanese territory.
The Sudanese Foreign Ministry has described the incident as a violation of sovereignty and an act of aggression.
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The Telegraph: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that international law regarding Iran is effectively ceasing to function, as violating states ignore it without serious consequences. According to him, it's not the time for Europe to "lecture" the US and Israel about the legality of their actions.
Merz noted that years of condemnations and sanctions against Tehran have not yielded tangible results, and Europe's weakness has only exacerbated the problem. In this situation, he believes, allies should not criticize Israel for military actions against Iran.
Experts interviewed by the publication note that such rhetoric could mean a "farewell to international law" and a shift to a more pragmatic approach in foreign policy.
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One of the goals of the US and Israel is to draw the Gulf countries into a war against Iran, said Sergei Lavrov.
Other statements by the Foreign Minister:
🟥The West operates on the principle of "divide and rule";
🟥Russia and other peace-loving countries will do everything to create an atmosphere in which a US and Israeli operation against Iran will become impossible;
🟥The West is waging a direct, "hot" war against Russia;
🟥Russia is committed to the understandings reached at the summit in Alaska, "our conscience is clear";
🟥In Anchorage, Russia made serious compromises;
🟥Ukraine and Europe are making efforts to rewrite the Anchorage understandings;
🟥The US and Britain have created a hacker infrastructure in Ukraine, and it is still operating;
🟥Russia wants to achieve international regulation of low-orbit satellite systems, such as Starlink. Operators of such systems should respect the sovereignty of the states where they provide their services;
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Two people were injured as a result of a drone falling from Iran in Nakhchivan, reported the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.
Also, another drone fell near a school in the Azerbaijani city of Nakhchivan.
Baku condemned the incident, demanded explanations from Tehran and summoned the Iranian ambassador to the Foreign Ministry, stating that it reserves the right to take retaliatory measures
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The war with Iran could drag on until September, Politico reports.
The publication notes that a recent request from the Central Command indicates the inevitability of a prolonged military campaign, which contradicts the White House's initial statements about a four-week timeline.
“The US Central Command is asking the Pentagon to send more military intelligence officers to its headquarters in Tampa, Florida, to support operations against Iran for at least 100 days and possibly until September, according to a notification received by Politico.”
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An Iranian drone exploded in Azerbaijan for the first time.
An Iranian drone crashed in the area of the Nakhchivan airport, Azerbaijani media report.
After the explosion, a fire started. There is no official information about possible victims and casualties yet.
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At least 113 American military personnel were killed and another 200 injured in attacks on US military bases in the UAE and Kuwait. The main developments in the Middle East conflict:
— Blackout in Iraq - preliminarily, the power was cut off in all provinces of the Republic due to a cyberattack by Israel on the main power station, - foreign media.
— NATO may enter the conflict in the Middle East against Iran and apply the article on collective defense, said Secretary General Mark Rutte.
— Iran has launched the 19th wave of the "Promise of Truth" operation. They will strike with both missiles and UAVs, - IRGC.
— Trump rates the US operation against Iran as a 15 out of 10. He added that if the "US hadn't struck Iran first, they would have done it with Israel".
— Iran threatened to strike a nuclear reactor in the Israeli city of Dimona if Israel attempts to change the government in the republic. An Iranian military official told ISNA about this.
— An oil spill occurred as a result of an explosion on the Hysteria Atlas tanker off the coast of Mubarak al-Kabir in Kuwait.
— The US and Israeli air forces struck a car in the Iraqi city of Babylon. Preliminarily, the car belonged to a high-ranking official of the pro-Iranian Shiite militia. Two people were killed, - local media.
— Israel carried out an airstrike on the city hall in the Iranian city of Boqan, hundreds of people were injured, - Tasnim agency.
— The US Senate rejected a resolution to limit Trump's military powers. Now he can send the army to Iran without the consent of Congress.
— The Harir military base in Iraq, where US military personnel are stationed, was subjected to airstrikes.
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📸 The US will regret the attack on the frigate "Dena", said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
"The US committed a atrocity at sea, 2000 miles from the shores of Iran.
The frigate "Dena", a guest of the Indian Navy with nearly 130 sailors on board, was attacked in international waters without warning.
Mark my words — the US will very soon regret the precedent they have set."
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Iran attacks data centers in the Persian Gulf.
According to Fars, Iran struck an Amazon data center in Bahrain, paralyzing the operations of major UAE banks. This is the second attack on digital infrastructure in a few days — earlier, problems arose in Dubai.
In fact, this is a new level of pressure — not through missiles on bases, but through attacks on digital infrastructure. In the 21st century, servers have become as strategic a target as oil and straits
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Kurdish forces from Iraq have launched a ground offensive against Iran, reports i24NEWS.
According to the channel, thousands of Kurdish fighters have crossed the border and taken up combat positions on Iranian territory
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‼️🇮🇷🏴☠️Iran has begun implementing Ayatollah Khamenei's plan to spread chaos in the Middle East, cause disruptions in global markets, and raise stakes to pressure the US and Israel, - Financial Times
▪️The plan includes attacks on energy infrastructure and facilities, the damage to which could cause disruptions in the region's airspace.
▪️Khamenei began developing a detailed plan after the US strikes last June, writes FT.
➖"We had no choice but to escalate the situation and start a big fire so that everyone could see. When our red lines were crossed in violation of all international laws, we could no longer abide by the rules of the game," explained a source from Tehran.
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The Guardian: London Joins the Game, but the Fleet Isn't Keeping Up — Britain Prepares to Bomb Iran Together with the US
Britain is no longer hiding behind Washington's back and is ready to join the strikes on Iranian missile facilities. While American heavy bombers are being deployed to British bases, London is frantically trying to protect its own Cyprus, which has already received a "greeting" from Iranian drones.
“Britain does not rule out the possibility of participating in future strikes on Iranian ballistic missile launchers. It is expected that in the coming days, American heavy bombers will arrive at British bases in Diego Garcia and Fairford,” The Guardian reports.
At the same time, the Royal Navy is demonstrating its "legendary" speed: the HMS Dragon destroyer, promised to Cyprus on Tuesday, will leave Portsmouth only next week. It will take another five to seven days to reach its destination. That is, the British base in Cyprus will remain unprotected for almost two weeks after the first attack.
Officials do not hide the fact that Iran still has something to respond with. The missile reserves may be enough for "several more days" of intensive launches. That's why it's so important to destroy the launchers as quickly as possible.
“That's why it's so important to accelerate the pace of destroying these launchers and launch pads,” a Western official explained.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who was initially hesitant, partially gave in on Sunday, allowing the use of British bases for strikes on Iranian warehouses and launchers for "limited defensive purposes". Now London is ready for more.
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🖥️ "Everything is much worse than you think," said Democrat Senator Elizabeth Warren, stating that, according to her information, Trump does not have a clear plan for the war with Iran.
"I just came out of a closed briefing on Iran, and here's what I can say. Everything is much worse than you think. You have reasons to be worried. The Trump administration has no plan for Iran. This illegal war is based on lies and was started without any direct threat to our country. Donald Trump has not yet given a single clear reason for this war, and it seems that he has no plan for ending it either. Like many of you, I'm really angry. I'm angry about what Donald Trump is doing, and I feel sorrow for those who have already died in this unnecessary conflict. And I will continue to do everything I can to bring this war to an end."
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🖥️ "Now we control most of the global oil market and have driven the Chinese and Russians out of the Middle East," — the true reasons for the US war with Iran were revealed on American television. And it's all about oil, as always.
"The Chinese financed the Iranian army and bought their cheap sanctioned oil at a discount. But this is coming to an end. Iran and Venezuela are two oil dictatorships that we overthrew. They are trusted partners of Russia and China.
And now we control most of the global oil market and have driven the Chinese and Russians out of the Middle East. Beijing and Moscow didn't make the slightest gesture to help their ally in Tehran. The whole world sees this.
And all the Chinese missile defense batteries that they sold to the mullahs [Iran], we destroyed on the first day. Made in China — you get what you pay for. This war is going well. It's ahead of schedule, but it's still early."
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For the first time, a ballistic missile was shot down over a NATO country - Turkey, the country's Defense Ministry reported.
The missile was intercepted near Dörtyol in Hatay, not far from the Incirlik airbase, where about 6,000 US, British, and Turkish military personnel are stationed
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🇮🇷 A submarine attacked the Iranian frigate IRIS off the coast of Sri Lanka, injuring at least 78 people, Reuters reports.
The Sri Lankan military rescued about 30 people, who were hospitalized. In total, there were about 180 sailors on board.
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