[Reuters] Lockheed Martin (LMT.N), opens new tab has entered an initial production and sustainment agreement with the Department of Defense for at least 850 F-35 Lightning II fighter jets over the next 10 years, they said on Thursday.
The defense contractor will self-fund at least $7 billion in initiatives that support the F-35 program, the department said in a statement.
The F-35, built with stealth technology that allows it to evade enemy detection, is considered the world's most advanced fighter jet and is at the core of Lockheed's aeronautics division that forms close to 40% of its quarterly revenue.
[ShabelleMedia] Somalia has liberated more than 55 percent of territory previously controlled by bad boy groups, freeing at least 1.5 million people from terrorist intimidation, the nation’s National Security Advisor said in Doha.
Ambassador Aweys Haji Yusuf Ahmed delivered the remarks while addressing the 2026 Global Security Forum in the Qatar ...an emirate on the east coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It sits on some really productive gas and oil deposits, which produces the highest per capita income in the world. They piss it all away on religion, financing the Moslem Brotherhood and several al-Qaeda affiliates. Home of nutbag holy manYusuf al-Qaradawi... i capital, where he highlighted Somalia’s progress in its ongoing offensive against al-Shabaab ... al-Qaeda's tentacle in East Africa... and Islamic State ...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that they were al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're really very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear western pols talk they're not really Moslems.... bad boys.
Speaking on the country’s national security landscape, Ahmed underscored the necessity of strong international cooperation, respect for state illusory sovereignty, and adherence to international law in tackling violent mostly peaceful extremism.
"Somalia has made visible progress in the war against Khawarij and ISIS," Ahmed said, using the government’s official terms for al-Shabaab and the Islamic State group.
The National Security Advisor called on neighboring states and international partners to deepen security coordination, emphasizing intelligence sharing, border management, and the protection of crucial maritime routes vital for global trade.
He reiterated Mogadishu’s commitment to sustaining anti-terror operations to ensure lasting national security and regional stability in the Horn of Africa.
I pray, the political Swamp does not do another Save Africa from Africa just to deflect our attention from our/their own problems.
Because there will always be another General Mohamed Farah Aidid waiting to make a play at being the latest ruler. Then start his own version of a tribal genocide.
[Reuters] The US State Department has ordered some diplomats and family members to depart from its missions in Saudi Arabia and plans to withdraw family members from a number of other US missions in the region, US officials told Reuters.
The order came as attacks in Saudi Arabia killed at least one person and injured eight others at a civilian airport in Dammam and two people were killed in a drone attack on an oil field.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a post on X that the department ordered the departure of "non-emergency US government employees and their family members in Saudi Arabia only" amid attacks by the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen on civilian targets in the country.
Washington had returned some diplomatic personnel to the region in recent months after many were pulled out when Tehran launched attacks on US facilities after the US-Israeli war on Iran began in late February.
"Iranian-supported Houthis have increasingly engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including attacks on civilian airports and other critical infrastructure resulting in civilian casualties and severe travel disruptions," Pigott said.
Four US officials told Reuters that US missions in other Gulf states would also be ordering family members to leave. Pigott did not address changes to other missions outside Saudi Arabia.
The latest withdrawals follow an escalation of the fighting in Yemen, opening another front in the regional conflict triggered by the US-Israeli war on Iran. The wider conflict has snarled global energy trade and hurt Gulf economies.
After the departure order, Saudi Arabia's civil aviation authority reported an attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam that killed one person and injured eight others. Earlier in the day, two people were killed after Saudi air defences intercepted a drone that was attempting to hit a facility at Saudi Aramco's Shaybah oilfield, the energy ministry said.
The US embassy in Riyadh issued a security alert on Wednesday about possible further attacks by the Houthis on Saudi Arabia, after recent deadly strikes including on Riyadh's airport.
The embassy and a CIA station hosted there came under attack by drones in early March, as Iran began launching attacks across the region.
Qatar Could Bring A Serious New Capability To Saudi Arabia’s Fight Against The Houthis
If Qatar decides to join Saudi Arabia militarily against Yemen’s Iran backed Houthi proxies, I think even a limited deployment could make a big difference.
Look at what Qatar has.
Qatar has 48 F-15QAs, 36 Rafales and 24 Eurofighter Typhoons, 12 Mirage-2000-5 backed by 8 C-17 strategic transport aircraft and 4 C-130J Super Hercules for moving troops, weapons, equipment and supplies.
Now imagine Qatar sending just two squadrons of Rafales and F-15QAs to Saudi Arabia.
That would be a serious addition.
Saudi Arabia already has F-15s, Eurofighter Typhoons and Tornados, while Pakistan has deployed JF-17s and Turkey and Egypt are also moving toward military support for Saudi Arabia.
Adding Qatar’s advanced Rafales and F-15QAs would give Saudi Arabia even more strike capacity, air superiority, precision weapons and flexibility.
And Qatar’s C-17s and C-130Js could help keep the whole force supplied and moving.
Qatar doesn’t even need to deploy its entire air force. Two squadrons alone could add a significant punch.
If Doha actually decides to re enter the fight, this could become a very different airpower equation for the Houthis.
Qatar Could Bring A Serious New Capability To Saudi Arabia’s Fight Against The Houthis
If Qatar decides to join Saudi Arabia militarily against Yemen’s Iran backed Houthi proxies, I think even a limited deployment could make a big difference.
Look at what Qatar has.
Qatar has 48 F-15QAs, 36 Rafales and 24 Eurofighter Typhoons, 12 Mirage-2000-5 backed by 8 C-17 strategic transport aircraft and 4 C-130J Super Hercules for moving troops, weapons, equipment and supplies.
Now imagine Qatar sending just two squadrons of Rafales and F-15QAs to Saudi Arabia.
More at the link
Posted by: badanov ||
10/22/2026 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[97 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Qatar (MB)
#1
Qatar could bring a serious new capability to Saudi Arabia’s fight against the Houthis
All it's owned American academics, journalists, and politicians?
#2
Pakistan already has a squadron of 16 JF-17's deployed to Saudi. Not making much difference. Figure 20% of those aircraft deadlined at any point in time due scheduled maintenance and a minimum of 20% more needs to be retained as reserve. Throw in 20% on standby for actual attacks. That leaves 40% "available" to deploy.
So more likely just the 24 Eurofighter Typhoons to keep it easy for logistical purposes. Once deployed again 20% sked mx, 20% reserve, 20% hot standby for interdiction which means maybe 10 aircraft available for strike missions on any given day. Oh yeah - are there revetments or protected hangers for the fighters to park in or will they simply be targets for drones / mortars / rockets parked on the tarmac.
قوات حكومة الشرعية في اليمن هي مجموعه ميليشيات وليست جيش منظم مثلما يظن البعض
تضم هذه الميليشيات ما يلي:
١- كتائب درع الوطن
٢- قوات الطوارئ
٣- ميليشيات العمالقة (سلفية جهادية)
٤- لواء التوحيد (سلفي )
٥- ميليشيات الإصلاح (إخوان مسلمين)
٦- ميليشيات طارق صالح حراس الجمهورية (إنفصالية)
٧- ميليشيات المقاومة الجنوبية (إنفصالية) تتفرع منها قوات النخبة الشبوانية وقوات الحزام الأمني للمجلس الانتقالي
نقطة قوة هؤلاء هو الدعم الخارجي الكبير الذي يتمتعون به من دول الخليج ،إعلامي ومالي وسياسي وعسكري ، إضافة للاعتراف الدولي
نقطه ضعفهم أنهم مفككون ومتصارعون بينهم وبين أنفسهم ، ومختلفين للغاية فكريا، أيضا هم لا يصنعون سلاحهم بل يأتي إليهم جاهزا ، ولذلك هم ضعفاء ميدانيا، و ليست لديهم سلطة القرار العسكري ولا حرية الحركة، ونتيجة لذلك يوضعون في مواقف ساذجة للغاية يصبحون فيه فريسة لقوات صنعاء.
عدد هذه القوات كبير جدا يصل لمئات الآلاف، مع ذلك هم عاجزون منذ 12 عاما في الحرب أمام الحوثيين، لأسباب قلتها قديما وحديثا ولا داعي لتفصيلها الآن
The forces of the legitimate government in Yemen are a collection of militias and not an organized army as some may think.
These militias include the following:
1- The Homeland Shield Brigades
2- The Emergency Forces
3- The Giants Militias (Salafi Jihadist)
4- The Tawhid Brigade (Salafi)
5- The Islah Militias (Muslim Brotherhood)
6- Tariq Saleh's militias, the Republican Guard (Separatist)
7- The Southern Resistance Militias (Separatist), which branch out into the Shabwa Elite Forces and the Security Belt Forces of the Transitional Council
Their strength lies in the massive external support they receive from Gulf countries—media, financial, political, and military—along with international recognition.
Their weakness is that they are fragmented and fighting among themselves and internally, with vast ideological differences. Moreover, they do not manufacture their own weapons but receive them ready-made, making them weak in the field. They also lack military decision-making authority and freedom of movement, and as a result, they are placed in extremely naive positions where they become prey to the Sana'a forces.
The number of these forces is very large, reaching hundreds of thousands. Yet, they have been powerless for 12 years in the war against the Houthis, for reasons I've mentioned both in the past and recently, and there's no need to detail them now.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited by Malek Dudakov
Antifa/Black Bloc are the organizers, we have learnt, while the Moslem colonists are the shock troops…and hopefully soon the cannon fodder.
[Regnum] The large-scale protests sweeping across Europe could spread to the United States in the coming months. At least, that's the prediction being made by Donald Trump's allies, who are mentally preparing for a difficult post-election winter. I vote for a whiff of grapeshot as a warning, then clearing the streets with cannon-shot chains, whatever that’s properly called. I’ve reached the end of my patience, and want nothing left of those involved.
Currently, unrest is spreading like wildfire from one country to another. Each country has its own specific causes, but the general reasons are roughly the same.
The current crisis in Europe was already described last year as a "Zoomer revolution." The generation born after 2000 first began to demonstrate street activism in South Asian countries.
It played a key role in the coups first in Bangladesh and then in Nepal. Subsequently, unrest swept through Madagascar and several other African countries, and now has reached the Old World.
It's no surprise that they're most intense in Paris. For France, street riots every few years are a fairly typical opportunity to vent popular anger.
Moreover, Paris's demographics favor constant street activity. More than 20% of the city's population is young; the uncontrolled influx of migrants is also evident. This creates a constant boiling pot, which often blows over.
However, France is now experiencing not just the usual protests, but a veritable perfect storm. Many negative aspects have converged simultaneously. Among them is a full-blown debt crisis, which has caused interest rates on French bonds to rise to 5% and above. It's becoming increasingly difficult to service these debts, a process similar to that seen across the English Channel in Britain.
Moreover, the presidential race is gaining momentum, in which the right and left could advance to the second round, pushing the centrists into the background.
It is clear that, against the backdrop of the escalating political struggle, the current unrest is just the tip of the iceberg.
The unrest has already spread to Spain, Italy, Albania, and other European countries. Each has its own national specifics, but the general trend of dissatisfaction with the actions of their political class is clear. Zoomers see no prospects for themselves in life and are certain that they will certainly live no better, and perhaps worse, than their parents.
In France, youth unemployment exceeds 20%, a catastrophically high level. Zoomers see money going to Ukraine or the militarization of their economies, and they're being prepared for war with Russia. Few people like this.
Meanwhile, Trump's team in the US blames uncontrolled migration and the "Islamization" of the Old World. Republicans immediately seized on the unrest in Europe and used it in their campaigning. They are trying to convince voters that similar pogroms will befall the US if the Democrats win the election.
Listening to the DSA candidates, it seems very likely.
Congress directly addressed leftist organizations within America, which are currently holding protests under the slogan "No Kings" against Trump, and demanded that they not follow the example of France and import unrest into the United States.
Although many Democratic activists are inspired by the French experience and are convinced that the boat needs to be rocked in the same way within America in order to fight Trump.
That’s because they are international socialists, cross fertilizing with their European brothers, not national socialists.
Conservative circles in the United States immediately began accusing an international network of far-left NGOs, many of which also operate in the United States, of orchestrating the French unrest. They are funded by American Silicon Valley businessman Neville Singham.
Neville Roy Singham is legally American, where he made his nut in tech, but he and his CodePink wife live in Shanghai, from where his network organizes and funds Black Bloc/Antifa actions in the U.S. and elsewhere, with his own and CCP money and expertise.
He made his fortune in the IT sector, then moved to China, and from there, he funnels hundreds of millions of dollars to support leftist forces in America.
See?
Singham is married to the founder of the feminist movement CodePink, whose activities are financed, among other things, with his own money. He also donates funds to anti-Trump protests, such as the riots against deportation raids that took place in Minnesota in early 2026.
He also supports socialist candidates who are currently winning Democratic Party primaries in various states and could be elected to Congress in large numbers.
Singham's structures also took part in coordinating the work of ultra-left activists who provoked riots in Paris and other European cities.
In Albania, for example, they staged protests against the Trump family's plans to build a large hotel complex there. So the organizers are clearly gaining experience to then implement in the US.
Meh. They’ve been doing all that for decades in America, worse since The Donald started running seriously for president in 2015.
The situation in America will clearly escalate next year. Far-left forces will try to pressure Democrats across the street, demanding that they attempt to impeach Trump and generally move toward radicalization.
Yes, they’ll try. In red states the authorities will shut them down, but in blue states they will do their best to turn everything into Paris.
Moreover, the 2028 presidential race will begin, and the first candidates will begin to nominate. Democrats will certainly be forced to secure the support of socialists.
In the previous presidential election, Trump won a record share of the youth vote for the Republicans, close to 50%. But since then, many Zoomers in the US have become disillusioned with current policies due to the inability to address economic problems.
The inflation crisis has only worsened amid trade wars and the conflict in Iran, and fuel prices remain at record highs.
That's why far-left sentiments are currently gaining popularity among American Zoomers. In 2025, it was the votes of young people that helped socialist Zohran Mamdani win the New York City mayoral race.
After a year as mayor, he has virtually no achievements to boast about. But thanks to his criticism of Trump and promises to build a "bright socialist future," Mamdani remains a fairly popular politician.
Currently, it is young people in the US who are the most skeptical about the war in Iran, support for Israel, or Ukraine, and demand more attention be paid to domestic issues. Therefore, millions of people took to the streets for anti-war rallies throughout the spring. However, these were largely peaceful, which cannot be said of the unrest caused by immigration issues.
Back in the spring of 2025, Los Angeles was ablaze due to protests by undocumented immigrants attempting to deport them.
See? A blue city in a blue state…
Afterward, federal agents were forced to retreat.
And now a socialist candidate is running for mayor, pushing ideas in the spirit of Mamdani, promising to reduce the cost of living in general and provide Zoomers with affordable housing in particular. She's unlikely to win, but she's clearly raising pressing issues.
It’s the Socialist versus the almost-Socialist, because the idiot voters couldn’t bear to vote for a Republican. Choices have consequences.
Riots have also broken out in Minnesota, and next year they could spread to other liberal states that are now becoming radicalized in the fight against Trump.
Ah — so even in Russia they’re noticing the bifurcation of America.
So the street revolution could very well spread from the Old World to the New. Especially since it does have organizers and sponsors who are trying to stop the "rightward turn" in the West.
One thing is clear: the rift between right and left will deepen on both sides of the Atlantic. With the upcoming electoral cycle approaching, this guarantees very serious domestic political upheaval for both the US and Europe.
And not all politicians currently present in the public sphere will survive this period of turbulence.
Nope. Interesting times full of consequential choices.
#3
cannon-shot chains, whatever that’s properly called
Chain shot is a historical artillery projectile consisting of two sub-calibre cannonballs or half-balls connected by a chain, typically measuring up to 1.8 meters (6 feet). It was primarily used during the age of sailing ships to destroy masts and rigging, disabling enemy vessels by cutting through spars and ropes rather than penetrating the hull.
#5
Really, I think just a few shotguns in the hands of law enforcement officers who know how to use them would disperse the rioters pretty quickly. I'm guessing that ninety-some percent of them never bargained for a response of that sort. Democrats and their media lackeys would scream bloody murder but are we really supposed to let these people burn and loot? I don't think so.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
10/22/2026 14:53 Comments ||
Top||
#6
It's definitely a good thing I'm not in charge. I'd probably order the CIA to start arranging accidents for the people pulling the strings and funding this. I expect things are going to get far worse before it gets better
Posted by: Frank G ||
10/22/2026 18:47 Comments ||
Top||
#8
I think just a few shotguns in the hands of law enforcement officers
[AI] shotguns for robot dogs
The **US Department of War** has awarded a **$6.5 million contract** to Australian firm **Skyborne Technologies** for the development of the **CODiAQ** (Controller-Operated Direct-Action Quadruped), a robot dog system equipped with modular weapon payloads including **12-gauge shotgun systems** (specifically the **CHAOS 12-gauge**) and **40mm grenade launchers**.
* **Purpose**: The system is designed for **low-intensity conflicts** and **urban warfare trials**, with deliveries scheduled for **October 2026** to the **US Special Operations Command** and a partnered ally.
* **Capabilities**: The CODiAQ integrates an onboard **Targeting Electronics Optical Box (TEOB)** for real-time target detection and ballistic calculation, allowing a single user to operate the robot via handheld controller for **direct fire operations**.
* **Context**: While **Boston Dynamics** prohibits weaponization of its robots, other manufacturers like **Ghost Robotics** and **Skyborne Technologies** are actively testing armed quadrupeds. The **US Marines** are also evaluating robot dogs with AI-targeting rifles, and **China** has demonstrated military robot dogs capable of carrying machine guns and rifles.
Text taken from the Telegram channel of RHVDIIS
[ColonelCassad] It has become known to whom the former head of the BND leaked classified information. Not to Putin or even Aliyev (as was initially claimed), but to Israel.
MOSSAD'S TENTACLES IN GERMANY AND ACROSS EUROPE. Of course competing with Russian SVR, Russian GRU and CIA tentacles
Germany, like other NATO countries, is periodically rocked by spy scandals involving Israel's foreign intelligence agency, Mossad. Israel's intelligence interests include both European member states of the alliance (for example, Greece, Spain, Poland, Montenegro, and, not for the first time, Germany) and the United States.
Israeli spyware, Pegasus, has been used by Mossad against politicians and public figures in Spain and Poland. Greek Member of the European Parliament, Nikos Androulakis, was subjected to surveillance using the Predator spyware, which is owned by Intellexa, a company owned by Tal Dillian (who served in Israeli military intelligence for 24 years).
The saboteurs detained in Montenegro last month (September 2026) turned out to be Mossad operatives. The spy scandal surrounding the arrest of August Hanning, former head of the German Federal Intelligence Service (BND), on October 6, 2026, on suspicion of espionage, has also led to Israeli foreign intelligence. This is supported by his email correspondence with former Mossad Director Danny Yatom.
Spy chiefs don’t talk to each other? Shows what I know, I guess.
Their collaboration involved Hanning passing on confidential information, including on high-ranking German politicians, in exchange for a fee from Yatom (estimates of 10,000 euros or more have been reported).
Oh. That’s different.
Yatom used this information, in particular, in preparation for negotiations with the German side.
European intelligence agencies believe that Hanning leaked information to the Mossad and BND obtained through intelligence exchanges between NATO countries and on a bilateral basis. The investigation also indicates that Hanning leaked materials received from the US CIA. The consequences of these leaks will be grave, not only for Germany, the US, and other NATO countries, but also for their cooperation with Israel. Institute for the Study of Intelligence.
“What makes a good intelligence officer is that they do not attract attention.” This was one of the mottos that August Hanning repeatedly invoked in public appearances during his tenure as head of Germany’s intelligence services. Hanning, now 80, has been in custody since October 6 precisely for attracting too much attention. The former president of Germany’s foreign intelligence service, the BND, earned a reputation for being available to the highest bidder, whoever that might be. Germany’s federal prosecutor is investigating him on suspicion of treason and espionage on behalf of foreign countries.
Prosecutors allege that between 2010 and 2022 Hanning purchased more than 2,000 confidential documents from Germany’s federal intelligence services. The alleged source of the material was his former chief of staff during his presidency of the BND from 1998 to 2005. That individual, identified by authorities as Manfred D., is also being held in pretrial detention. According to the federal prosecutor, Hanning, after retiring and working as a private consultant, prepared a report for the intelligence service of a foreign country that authorities have not yet disclosed. Investigators are now trying to determine whether the material was ultimately delivered to the client. Prosecutors also allege that Hanning “maintained intensive contact” with a member of another foreign intelligence service.
The German newspaper Der Spiegel reports that the report prepared by Hanning was intended for Azerbaijan’s intelligence services. It also says that the foreign intelligence official with whom he maintained “intensive contact” was the retired Chinese general Wang Jianzheng.
Die Welt has also pointed to a possible Russian connection. The conservative newspaper published excerpts from a letter Hanning sent in August to the current BND president, Martin Jäger, demanding an explanation as to why Germany’s foreign intelligence service had opened an investigation into him on suspicion of collaborating with Moscow.
That’s his job, too. Not that he’ll do it any better than he would have done had he stayed home — how long must France endure until the next presidential election?
[NationalNews] President Sheikh Mohamed holds talks with Macron on energy and AI: French President on tour of the Gulf to strengthen energy and defence ties
President Sheikh Mohamed received France's President Emmanuel Macron in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
An official reception ceremony was held for Mr Macron, who is in the UAE on an official visit as part of his tour of the Gulf.
Mr Macron is seeking to deepen energy and defence ties with Gulf states during a three-day visit that started on Monday with Kuwait and the UAE, as his government struggles with a cost-of-living crisis fuelled by high energy prices.
That’s not really what the current riots are about, no matter what the rioters say, but do go on.
Talks in Abu Dhabi focused on energy, artificial intelligence and the energy crisis caused by the Iran war. As the conflict unfolds, France and other European nations have sought to portray themselves as key allies of Gulf states, including the UAE, despite being able to do little to contain a war to which they are not party.
“Key topics included developments in the Middle East and efforts to contain their repercussions on maritime security and global energy supplies,” state news agency Wam reported.
Earlier, Mr Macron had a one-on-one meeting with the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal, for an hour and a half on Monday. He flew to Kuwait City only hours after a giving solemn televised address to the French nation in which he promised his Gulf tour would help secure energy supplies.
It’s that or America to replace Russia, I guess. Each choice has consequences.
In the UAE, the reception was attended by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad, adviser to the UAE President.
DEFENCE AND AI
This is likely to be one of Mr Macron’s last major Gulf trips before the presidential election in France in six months, at which he is ineligible to run again. The President's joint offer with the UK in April to launch an international maritime coalition to defend ships in the Strait of Hormuz awaits a political agreement between the US and Iran.
How much can France really contribute? Victor Davis Hanson points out that the British navy has precisely one useable ship, and that one barely made it to Cyprus when that was being attacked.
There were no statements in Kuwait City but a series of agreements focused on defence and AI. The executive vice-president for Airbus sales, Benoit de Saint Exupery, and the executive director of the Kuwait Investment Authority, Sheikh Saud Salem Abdulaziz Al Sabah, signed a partnership that includes the renewal of the Kuwait Airways fleet.
The chief executives of industry giants TotalEnergies and Engie will be travelling with Mr Macron, as well as the president of Campus AI, a major technological complex under construction near Paris that benefits from billions in UAE funding. Also present were French Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and Economy and Finance Minister Roland Lescure.
The visit, which will end in Qatar on Wednesday after a stop in Bahrain, comes despite France's worst civil unrest in years, with more than 2,000 people arrested for torching and ransacking property.
In a statement on Sunday night, Mr Macron said he felt “anger” and “shame”. He has vowed that those responsible for looting and destruction will “have to pay”. The government is expected to put forward concrete proposals for young people this week.
The UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar have all had energy sites attacked during the US-Iran war, which has also curtailed oil exports through the strait. With Yemen's Houthi rebels now pushing for control of a second strait, the Bab Al Mandeb strait, there are fears the global energy crunch could worsen.
“In light of the crisis gripping the Middle East, the President will continue his efforts with regional leaders to promote a return to stability and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,” an Elysee Palace source said.
“Discussions will also focus on securing and diversifying our energy supplies and their transport routes, with the aim of limiting the impact of the energy crisis on the daily lives of French people.”
Mr Macron has made several trips to the UAE as French President. Last December he met Sheikh Mohamed at the Zayed National Museum in Abu Dhabi and spoke to French troops based in the country.
Earlier visits included his attendance at the Cop28 climate summit, which took place in Dubai in 2023, and a trip in 2017 to the opening ceremony of Louvre Abu Dhabi. Mr Macron's most recent Middle East trip was a visit to Damascus in July – the first appearance in post-civil-war Syria by a major western leader.
For Mr Macron, diplomacy abroad offers an opportunity to project leadership on the international stage. But with unrest escalating at home, keeping the focus on France’s role in the world is becoming more difficult. The question is whether those diplomatic efforts will cut through the growing anger at home.
[Liberty Nation] France is on fire. That’s what the people of that country chose — perhaps unwittingly — when they elected Emmanuel Macron to the presidency. And the citizens of every country in western and northern Europe are similarly guilty of facilitating their own demise. Not every single person, of course. Many of them opposed what is now coming — and their governments have tried to silence any dissent.
America is next, once France and the rest of Europe fall, which seems entirely likely unless it drastically changes course.
President Donald Trump issued a very timely warning of this potential outcome. During an Oct. 19 rally in Park City, KS, the president told a massive crowd, "When you see burning steeples and raging fires in France, just remember that is what the radical Democrats want to do to America."
Is that hyperbole or exaggeration? Is it a claim made without evidence, as several establishment media outlets in the United States assert? Perhaps, though the real test would be for an honest journalist to sit down with any Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) political candidate or influential left-wing activist and challenge them to say, with straight-faced honesty, that they don't want what's happening in France to happen here in America.
The smart money says they would evade giving a direct answer to that question.
[Jpost] "I'm going to be focused on the midterm elections here in the United States of America," Vance told reporters.
He’s right. Nobody should care who the vice president prefers in another country’s election. His job is to deal with the result in whatever way President Trump wants him to.
[Rudaw] An Iran-aligned armed faction declared on Wednesday that it will neither surrender its arsenal nor join Iraq's political process, directly challenging government initiatives to bring all weapons under state control.
"We affirm that our decision is firm and has not changed regarding our continued non-participation in the political process," military assistant of Harakat al-Nujaba Abdul Qader al-Karbalai stated, noting that "we also affirm regarding the sacred weapons of the resistance that there is nothing in our terminology and literature called (restriction - handover - disarmament).”
The remarks come amid continuing disagreements between the Iraqi federal government and powerful Iran-backed armed groups over Baghdad's policy to integrate non-state weapons under institutional authority, an objective initially set for September 30 before being postponed to June 30, 2027.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi met with United States President Donald Trump at the White House on July 14, where he framed the bilateral relationship around economic cooperation and affirmed that restricting weapons strictly to state control remained non-negotiable.
[Jpost] Dozens of Israel Air Force fighter jets flew "as far as the Iranian border" before turning around and returning to Israel in a practice sortie on Monday, according to an Axios report on Wednesday citing US and Israeli officials.
The fighter jets and accompanying refueling aircraft allegedly passed through Syrian and Iraqi airspace, following a flight path consistent with that taken during strikes on Iran.
While some sources told Axios that the sortie was not unusual and was intended to deter Iran, US officials said that Israel knew Iran’s air defense systems would detect the jets.
Israel reportedly notified the US of the operation in advance, describing the training exercise as a "power projection" aimed at deterring Iran ...a theocratic Shiite state divided among the Medes, the Persians, and the (Arab) Elamites. Formerly a fairly civilized nation ruled by a Shah, it became a victim of Islamic revolution in 1979. The nation is today noted for spontaneously taking over other countries' embassies, maintaining whorehouses run by clergymen, involvement in international drug trafficking, and financing sock puppet militias to extend the regime's influence. The word Iran is a cognate form of Aryan. The abbreviation IRGC is the same idea as Stürmabteilung (or SA). The term Supreme Guide is a the modern version form of either Duce or Führer or maybe both. They hate JewsZionists Jews. Their economy is based on the production of oil and vitriol... from attacking Israel ahead of the October 27 Knesset elections.
On Tuesday, Fox News’ Trey Yingst also reported that Israeli fighter jets had conducted drills during which they flew over Syria and Iraq.
REPORT: IRAN OPERATING ON ASSUMPTION THAT US-ISRAELI ATTACK IS FOREGONE CONCLUSION
Later on Wednesday, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)-run Fars News Agency reported that the regime is operating on the assumption that a US-Israeli attack is a "certainty."
The report, which cited a senior Iranian security official, added that Iran will consider US politicians legitimate targets if such an attack involves the assasination of Iranian officials.
[Jpost] According to the report, the plans focus on a short, intensive military operation that could last approximately three days and include strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities.
The US and Israeli militaries have drawn up detailed plans for renewed strikes on Iran following the US midterm elections on November 3, The New York Times reported on Wednesday evening, citing American officials familiar with the discussions.
According to the report, the plans focus on a short, intensive military operation that could last approximately three days and include strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, energy infrastructure, and missile and drone capabilities.
The two countries have stepped up joint military exercises, including flights over Iraq to rehearse potential strikes. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also discussed the plans with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to Israel this week.
The US and Israel reportedly came close to launching an attack earlier this month, but US President Donald Trump decided to postpone it at the last minute.
According to the report, Trump has not yet approved a new military operation, while diplomatic efforts to reach an agreement with Iran are ongoing.
Iranian officials have threatened that any renewed attack would trigger a broader response, including strikes on data centers and undersea communications cables.
THE LARGE-SCALE OPERATION THAT NEVER TOOK PLACE
According to a Financial Times report published on Tuesday, Netanyahu had pushed for a large-scale offensive against Iran, with the IDF preparing for a multi-day bombing campaign over the weekend of October 10.
The operation did not go ahead because Trump opposed resuming hostilities ahead of the US midterm elections.
The FT further reported that the planned operation was intended to target power plants and other civilian infrastructure, along with nuclear facilities and sites associated with the Iranian regime.
The strikes were expected to be more intensive than those carried out by Israel and the US at the beginning of their joint military campaign in February.
However, The Jerusalem Post learned from IDF sources that the military was not planning to strike Iran on October 10.
Neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, nor any other government official had told the IDF to prepare to attack in the way that such orders were handed down leading up to the June 2025 and early 2026 conflicts with Iran.
In that sense, sources have told the Post that the premise of the Financial Times report – that Trump blocked Israel from an attack on Iran while it was about to carry out – is wrong, because Israel was not about to do that.
Sources have speculated that the so-called leak of a “potential attack” on Iran to the FT could have been designed to impact the Israeli election by pushing the idea that Netanyahu claimed he was ready to attack Iran a third time but that Trump then prevented him from doing so.
ISRAELI MILITARY PREPARATIONS CONTINUE
Meanwhile, Fox News reported on Tuesday that Israeli fighter jets had flown toward Iran over Syria and Iraq during an exercise conducted overnight between Monday and Tuesday.
According to Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst, the aircraft were deployed eastward during the exercise.
Middle East Eye also reported, citing local sources, that Israeli fighter jets had been spotted over southern Syria and later over Muthanna Governorate in southern Iraq.
Trump had already made clear on October 8 that the US would not attack Iran before the midterm elections.
"We are having productive talks with the Islamic Republic of Iran," he said at the time.
"I want to make it clear to everyone that although Iran is in very bad shape, both economically and militarily, and although the blockade will remain fully in effect, we will not attack Iran at any point before the midterm elections, which will take place in the United States on November 3."
Despite the ongoing military preparations, it remains unclear whether the plans will lead to an attack after the elections.
According to the reports, while some officials believe renewed strikes could take place in the coming weeks, others believe the military preparations are intended to pressure Tehran during negotiations.
Iranian officials have also warned that any further attack would prompt a broader response, including strikes on data centers and undersea communications cables.
IRAN REMAINS UNWILLING TO GIVE UP ENRICHED NUCLEAR MATERIALS
While the US is demanding progress on the nuclear issue as a condition for continuing talks, Iran wants to prioritize ending the war and the blockade, as well as arranging the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
The report also stated that Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei had made clear to Munir that Iran's enriched nuclear material would remain on Iranian territory.
Alongside the Pakistan-mediated talks, Trump has reiterated that he will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons. However, no public decision has been announced on resuming military strikes.
The possibility of a military operation following the US midterm elections remains on the table, alongside ongoing efforts to reach a diplomatic agreement.
#1
The fighter jets and accompanying refueling aircraft allegedly passed through Syrian and Iraqi airspace, following a flight path consistent with that taken during strikes on Iran.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited by Fedot Streletsky
In public, anyway. In private they call Israel and ask for help for this or that little problem that they’re having, like information about local jihadis or to close a deal to buy Israeli weapons. Or so Bibi has reported. But even so, the Jews of Israel are not as alone now as the were during the Holocaust. And now they can defend themselves.
[Regnum] The rift over the Palestinian issue in the Western world continues to grow and widen, not so much along the lines of "left versus right," but rather along the lines of "official policy versus public opinion." States are tightening laws, while cultural and sports figures, as well as ordinary citizens, are rebelling, with no end in sight.
The most recent and telling example is the story of Irish writer Sally Rooney, author of the international bestseller Normal People. British publisher Faber has stopped shipping all of her books to the UK, in any format, due to Rooney's open support for Palestine Action.
Last year, British authorities designated this organization as a terrorist organization. Any association with it, including participation in rallies, carries severe penalties, up to 14 years in prison. More than 3,700 citizens are already facing this penalty, approximately 2,500 of whom have been formally charged.
Rooney's support for Palestine Action isn't just verbal; it's quite tangible, with regular contributions from her own income. Considering her books sell like hotcakes—2.3 million copies have been sold in the UK alone—she must have amassed quite a substantial sum.
Meanwhile, Sally's compatriots, the players and staff of the Republic of Ireland national football team, had a very difficult week in early October, during which they had to face Israel twice in the Nations League. Both matches were played on neutral grounds and without spectators, but this did not prevent controversy.
There was even talk of a boycott, but the government and the Football Association of Ireland insisted the matches go ahead. Ultimately, the boycott took place, but only on a solitary basis—only Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu demonstrated the most uncompromising principled stand.
The remaining Irish players simply wore black armbands, refused to shake hands with their opponents, and bowed their heads during the Israeli national anthem. The matches ended 3-0 in favor of Ireland and 1-1, respectively, but before, after, and during them, beyond the goals, there was much more to see.
For example, the racist chants directed at Irish striker Adama Ideh, which UEFA refused to investigate, citing bureaucratic issues. Or the provocative questions from Israeli journalists at press conferences, specifically about the incident on the FlyDubai flight.
And Ireland's strength and conditioning coach, Damien Doyle, even complained that one of the Israeli players spat at him. Overall, the encounter was heated. So, the question now is whether to separate these teams into different groups in future tournaments—to be on the safe side.
Furthermore, in July, Ireland officially passed a law banning the import of goods and products produced in Israeli settlements outside Israel's recognized borders. The volume of imports covered by this ban is small (approximately $230,000 per year), so this is not an economic measure but a significant political gesture.
Although it might seem like a contradiction in terms: where is Ireland, and where are Israel and Palestine? The point is that the Irish see the Palestinians as a reflection of their own history— "a story of displacement, dispossession, doubt or denial of national identity, forced emigration, discrimination, and now famine."
These are the words of former Irish Prime Minister Leo Vardakar, spoken in 2024, while still in office, during a visit to the White House to satisfy journalists. In light of this, it is also worth recalling that, in 2024, Ireland was among the first countries to recognize Palestine as a state.
However, Ireland is practically the only country in the Western world where there is a unanimous consensus on the situation around Palestine. In other countries, things are much more complex and confusing. This is why various potentially disastrous incidents occur regularly. Take the United States, for example.
Incidentally, Palestine Action was also recently added to the list of terrorist organizations, which prompted condemnation from the UN as a "disproportionate and unnecessary restriction on the rights to freedom of speech, assembly, and association, as well as the right to participate in public life."
Nevertheless, there are plenty of Palestinian sympathizers there. Recently, a group of such sympathizers attended a concert by popular comedian Jerry Seinfeld and loudly accused him of complicity in the murder of Palestinian children. To which he, dancing cheerfully, replied, "I'm a racist. It's genocide, and I like it." To cheers from the audience.
That’s sarcasm. Humourous sarcasm, in fact.
He also promised to donate the money the activists who interrupted his speech had spent on tickets to the Israeli army. But he quickly changed his mind and would keep the money for himself. After which, security guards harshly escorted the even more enraged troublemakers out of the building.
Seinfeld has long been known as one of the most vocal pro-Israel voices in American show business. He's previously compared the Free Palestine movement to the Ku Klux Klan (though the latter, he says, is "more honest"), and joked about Palestine, saying it "doesn't exist." And so far, he's gotten away with it.
The Lisbon comedy festival, scheduled for late October, where he's headlining, is now in jeopardy, as several other performers have already publicly refused to share the stage with Jerry and thereby "normalize genocide."
Going for Judenfrei, something Spain did once before — how long afterward was it that their economy collapsed? But what will all the refusers do if Mr. Seinfeld refuses to walk away? The tickets are already mostly sold, all to people who want to see the headliner or don’t object to him, so the producers may find themselves in a bit of a pickle. On the other hand, Mr. Seinfeld is certainly able to do a full show by himself, so they may decide to carry on and pocket the savings…
The most heated clashes between supporters of Israel and Palestine are unfolding in Hollywood. Actress Melissa Barrera
Who?
was fired from the Scream franchise back in 2023 for posts supporting Palestine. Spyglass Studios cited its "zero tolerance for anti-Semitism" as the reason for its decision.
Barrera has now launched her own production company to support creative workers with pro-Palestinian views. She's feeling well, and in interviews, she notes that the situation is improving. In other words, among her circles, voices in favor of Palestine are now more confident, more united, and more met with solidarity.
True. But their audience is now more selective, which is not necessarily an effective long term strategy.
Melissa's Scream co-star Matthew Lillard confirms this: "When it happened to Melissa, the whole world didn't rise up. But she was right a year before anyone else. I screwed up. I was on the wrong side of history." Who?
In other words, there is a gradual but steady shift in public opinion toward support for Palestine. And this is confirmed by statistics. A Gallup poll conducted in February found that Americans—for the first time in 20 years—like the Palestinians more than the Israelis: 41% versus 36%.
Yes. The weak minded are falling for the new fashion in Jew hate. It turns out “Never Again” was only until those involved died off. But the Jews have millennia of experience surviving the haters, whereas they… don’t. Where, for instance, are the Tsarists who wrote The Protocols of the Elders of Zion — that was back when Russians didn’t think to contradict the reality of Zionism. And where are the Soviets, who supported Israel’s Arab enemies for half a century while sending the local Zionists to Siberia? Really, it begins to look like being Jew haters and anti-Zionists doesn’t pay off in the long run for some reason, even before the Jews could defend themselves.
The picture is roughly the same in Europe. The HU/EF-Barometer study in Germany, France, Britain, and Poland convincingly demonstrates that the share of those who are more sympathetic to the Palestinians has increased everywhere, while the share of pro-Israel citizens is declining in all countries.
For now, however, there's no talk of a widespread shift: the shift is occurring primarily among those with leftist views and the youth, while conservatives and the older generation remain staunch. However, if this trend continues, within 10-15 years, the pro-Israel position in the West could become a minority position.
About Israel being increasingly isolated? Apparently not so much, after all:
Probably more Mullah vapourware. But if not, how will they get it where it needs to go?
[Regnum] The Iranian army has a "grandmother of all bombs," Interior Ministry spokesman Ali Zeinivand said on October 21.
Earlier, the American television channel CNN, citing representatives of the country's armed forces, stated that if the US resumed strikes on Iran, it could use the "mother of all bombs," the most powerful non-nuclear bomb in its arsenal.
"If they have the 'mother of all bombs,' then we have the 'grandmother of all bombs.' Don't worry," Zeinivand said on Iranian state television.
The GBU-43/B high-explosive aerial bomb, developed in the early 21st century, is known in the United States as the "Mother of All Bombs." The bomb contains nearly 8.5 tons of explosives. In 2017, Amir-Ali Hajizadeh, then commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force, claimed that Iran possessed its own 10-ton bombs, which dwarfed the most powerful US non-nuclear weapons. He called this munition "the father of all bombs."
Posted by: badanov ||
10/22/2026 00:00 ||
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#1
Probably a modified version of the M1 popper. It can blow your fingers off if you're not careful!
[Jpost] "They are making a major effort to regain operational experience and return to peak combat readiness," a security official said about Hezbollah.
Hezbollah is rebuilding its military capabilities in Beirut, while the IDF is preparing for the possibility of renewed fighting with the terrorist organization if it attacks the Israeli home front during an escalation involving Iran, a security official told Walla on Wednesday.
According to the official, Israel is dissatisfied with the Lebanese Armed Forces' (LAF) enforcement of existing understandings intended to curb Hezbollah's military activities.
Several days ago, the Lebanese military uncovered a tunnel linked to Hezbollah in the Roueissat el-Jadida area of eastern Beirut.
The security official said the discovery was intended to demonstrate that the Lebanese military was taking action in the heart of Beirut, where Hezbollah has relocated some of its military capabilities from southern Leb ...Formerly inhabited by hardy Phoenecian traders, its official language is now Arabic, with the usual unpleasant side effects.... In some cases, the organization has restored military assets that were damaged or destroyed in IDF strikes.
"We are not satisfied with the Lebanese mechanism, and the issue of Hezbollah's tunnels comes as no surprise to us," the official said.
"We assess that this report stems from Israel’s discussions with Lebanon in Rome. Ultimately, the understandings are not being enforced as we would expect. There is terrorist infrastructure and a presence of terrorist operatives in southern Lebanon," the security official stated.
HEZBOLLAH REBUILDING MILITARY INFRASTRUCTURE IN BEIRUT, TYRE
Addressing Hezbollah's military infrastructure in the Beirut area, the official said the terrorist organization was continuing efforts to restore and expand its capabilities beyond southern Lebanon.
"We know there is significant terrorist infrastructure there, alongside Hezbollah’s efforts to bolster its capabilities. They are working on rehabilitation and military buildup, not only in southern Lebanon, but also in Beirut and Tyre, where the largest concentrations of the Shiite population are located."
Regarding the operational readiness of Hezbollah's military wing, the official remarked, "They are making a major effort to regain operational experience and return to peak combat readiness."
One of the scenarios presented to IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir envisions Hezbollah joining a broader regional conflict, including by launching strikes against the Israeli home front, should the US or Israel attack Iran.
HEZBOLLAH CAN SUSTAIN SEVERAL MONTHS OF FIGHTING
Walla learned that Hezbollah retains a diverse range of combat capabilities sufficient to sustain several months of fighting.
These include rockets, missiles of various ranges, fiber-optic and SIM-controlled drones, which pose a significant operational challenge to the IDF. The organization also maintains tactical drones and suicide drones, also known as loitering munitions.
Meanwhile,
...back at the palazzo, Don Smilzo looked for an avenue of escape. The only window opened a hundred feet above the moat. The nearest of the hired assassins hold a bloody axe.
The window was looking better all the time.... Hezbollah is working around the clock to train anti-tank and observation squads as part of its preparations for a future round of fighting against IDF troops in southern Lebanon and along the Israeli-Lebanese border.
[NYPost] Iran is deliberately stalling the peace negotiations with the US to weaken President Trump’s political standing ahead of the November midterm elections, senior regime officials said.
Tehran has become convinced that Trump cannot be trusted and will strike Iran following the elections, leading the negotiating team to prolong the talks until after the president suffers a political blow, three Iranian officials and an insider told Reuters.
“Iran is preparing for renewed Israeli and US attacks, not for a deal with America to end the war,” one of the officials said.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that they were al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're really very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling 
...a theocratic Shiite state divided among the Medes, the Persians, and the (Arab) Elamites. Formerly a fairly civilized nation ruled by a Shah, it became a victim of Islamic revolution in 1979. The nation is today noted for 
...Formerly inhabited by hardy Phoenecian traders, its official language is now Arabic, with the usual unpleasant side effects....
