Middle East Watch

Blurb:

Former Vice President Kamala Harris condemned President Donald Trump’s strike on Iran, accusing the president of dragging the US into a war the American people did not want.

“Donald Trump has dragged us into a war the American people do not want,” Harris told Fox 2 ahead of a meeting in Detroit. “He has put American troops in harm’s way. I unequivocally oppose this war of choice and everyone should. And the bottom line, when it comes down to it, is that if we want to stop Donald Trump with this random decision that he has arrived at, then Congress must act, and Congress must act immediately. The American people do not want our sons and daughters to go into this unauthorized war of choice. And I unequivocally oppose it.”

Blurb:

The United Kingdom has confirmed that an Iranian kamikaze drone impacted one of its airfield’s in Cyprus, marking the first time the ongoing hostilities in the Middle East have directly impacted one of the nation’s military installation. The attack came just hours after UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer — alongside French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz — indicated that they were open to joining offensive strikes against Iranian missile and drone targets.

The impact was confirmed at RAF Akrotiri, a Royal Air Force installation located within the United Kingdom’s Sovereign Base Area in southern Cyprus.

Blurb:

 

Condolences and prayers to our fallen troops and their families. May their memories be a blessing. They fell in defense of our people and our liberties against a relentless foe that has made “Death to America” a cornerstone of its policies.

3 US service members killed, 5 seriously wounded in Iran operation

Others had minor injuries, CENTCOM says

By Fox News, March 1st, 2026

Three U.S. service members were killed and five others were seriously wounded as part of Operation Epic Fury, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said Sunday morning.

In addition, several others sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions and are in the process of being returned to duty, CENTCOM announced.

“The situation is fluid, so out of respect for the families, we will withhold additional information, including the identities of our fallen warriors, until 24 hours after next of kin have been notified,” CENTCOM said.

Blurb:

Separate statements from European leaders and the Gulf States indicate that multiple countries may be willing to join a coalition effort against Iranian drone and missile launch sites.

Shortly after Iranian retaliatory attacks commenced against American and Israeli military installations in the Middle East, France, the U.K. and Germany, often referred to as the E3, released a joint statement indicating that they would be willing to participate in defensive measures.

Blurb:

Two Iranian drones impacted a warehouse at Al Salam Naval Base in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The base, also known as Camp de la Paix, hosts French forces under a bilateral agreement with the UAE.

According to the UAE Ministry of Defense, specialised teams responded to the incident, which caused a fire in two containers holding general materials. No casualties occurred among Emirati or French personnel.

The UAE described the event as resulting from an attack by two Iranian drones, likely Shahed model kamikaze drones. Footage from the scene shows smoke billowing from the site of the impact.

 

Blurb:

President Donald Trump said Sunday that potential new leadership figures inside Iran have signaled a willingness to open talks, even as U.S. and Israeli military operations continue across the country.

According to Trey Yingst, a senior White House official told Fox News: “President Trump said new potential leadership in Iran has indicated they want to talk and eventually he will talk.”

“For now, Operation Epic Fury continues unabated.”

Blurb:

President Donald Trump described the three American military personnel killed during the conflict with Iran as “great people” in a Sunday interview with the Daily Mail.

United States Central Command (CENTCOM) reported three service members were killed in action and at least five others were wounded as of 9:30 a.m. EST Sunday. Trump told the U.K.-based outlet there could be more casualties during Operation Epic Fury. That interview was initially published Sunday before the president posted a six-minute address to Truth Social.

Blurb:

The United States and several countries in the Middle East, such as Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Qatar, issued a joint statement strongly condemning Iran’s “indiscriminate and reckless missile and drone attacks.”

In a press release from the Department of State, the U.S., Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) explained that the “unjustified strikes targeted sovereign territory” and also endangered civilians.

The statement from the countries comes as Iran has launched missiles and drones at several of its neighboring countries in response to the U.S. and Israel launching joint strikes, targeting Iran’s missiles.

Blurb:

A shocking headline caught my attention today amid the chaos in the Mideast.

Two things stood out.  No — THREE things stood out.

10,000 ships are currently at threat of electronic warfare being fielded over the last 24 hours.

And the headline I ran with — more than 1,000 ships have ALREADY been ‘attacked’ in the waters off the coast of Iran.

And the third thing that rattled me…

Blurb:

Things in the Middle East may be getting even spicier than they already were. On Sunday, Fox News correspondent Bret Baier too to his X account with a report that a coalition of Persian Gulf states is preparing to join the fight against Iran. If this is true, as someone once said, it’s a big freakin’ deal.

Blurb:

At least 555 people have been killed in US-Israeli strikes across 131 counties in Iran, the Iranian Red Crescent Society says, amid another wave of intensive attacks and Iranian counterstrikes on Israel and US assets in the Middle East region.

At least 35 people were killed on Monday morning in southern Iran’s Fars province, according to the Mehr news agency. The outlet also reported more than 20 people killed in an attack on Niloofar Square in Tehran.

Recommended Stories

Blurb:

Oil prices rose and stock markets came under pressure on Monday after intense US-Israeli strikes on Iran prompted fears of significant global economic disruption.

Brent crude jumped by as much as 13% during early trading – to hit $82 per barrel, a 14-month high – as the effective closure of the strait of Hormuz, one of the most important arteries for global trade, intensified concerns over oil supplies.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 fell by nearly 2.4% as traders in Asia responded to the weekend’s developments. It later pulled back, to trade down 1.5%. Pre-market trading also put Wall Street on course to open lower on Monday.

Blurb:

A former FBI official is warning of potential Iranian-linked attacks inside the United States following US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

Chris Swecker, a former assistant FBI director, said Iran-linked groups such as Hezbollah could escalate efforts to carry out attacks against the US after Operation Epic Fury, including attacks on American soil. In comments to the Daily Mail, Swecker said, “We’ve got a cornered animal here, and if ever we’re going to see attacks on the United States, this would be the catalyst for that.”

“It’s a tinder box right now,” he added. “You’ve got the leadership of Iran in a state of desperation.”

Blurb:

Police in York Region have not officially said whether the Thornhill shooting is connected to international developments.

An Iranian-owned boxing gym north of Toronto was struck by gunfire early Sunday morning, a day after US President Donald Trump confirmed reports that Iran’s Supreme Leader had been killed.

York Regional Police said officers responded to reports of shots fired around 3 am near Yonge Street and Steeles Avenue West in Thornhill. When they arrived, they found evidence that multiple rounds had been fired at a commercial building. The property was unoccupied at the time. No injuries were reported.

Blurb:

U.S. President Donald Trump briefly laid out his case for a possible attack on Iran in his State of the Union speech to Congress on Tuesday, saying he would not allow the world’s biggest sponsor of terrorism to have a nuclear weapon.

Even while assembling a massive military force in the Middle East, Trump has done little to explain to the American public why he might be leading the U.S. into its most aggressive action against the Islamic Republic since its 1979 revolution.

In his speech, Trump pointed to Tehran’s support for militant groups, its killing of protesters and the country’s missile and nuclear programs as threats to the region and the
United States.

Blurb:

A dozen of the world’s most advanced fighter jets touched down in Israel this week, signaling a sharp escalation in America’s military posture as President Donald Trump warned Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions or face consequences.

According to The Times of Israel, twelve U.S. F-22 stealth fighters arrived Tuesday at an Israeli Air Force base as part of the American buildup across the Middle East. Open-source flight tracking data showed the aircraft departing from Royal Air Force Lakenheath in the United Kingdom, though one jet reportedly turned back because of a technical issue before completing the trip.

Blurb:

An Iranian opposition group took credit for a coordinated assault on Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s Tehran headquarters this week, reporting “heavy clashes” with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that allegedly left more than 100 of its fighters killed, wounded, or arrested.

The Command Headquarters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) said the operation began at dawn Monday, February 23, during the call to morning prayer, and continued into the afternoon around the Motahari Complex in central Tehran — one of the Islamic Republic’s most heavily fortified seats of power.

Blurb:

While Iran engages in fake negotiations to stall, deceive, and lie to the Trump Administration, they announce that they will be buying anti-ship missiles from China. President Trump must stop these asinine negotiations with Iran. Iran’s butchers will never honor an agreement with the U.S, most especially when President Trump leaves office in January 2029. History will not be kind to President Trump if he signs a bad nuke deal with Iran.

Related – ‘Complete game-changer’: Iran close to buying supersonic anti‑ship missiles from China

Blurb:

Washington — President Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with what aides describe as the limits of military leverage against Iran, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter who spoke to CBS News under condition of anonymity to discuss national security issues.

Unlike previous targeted operations, including the recent one removing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power, Mr. Trump has been told that any strike on Tehran’s assets would almost certainly not be a singular, decisive blow. Instead, limited strikes could open the door to a wider confrontation — one that risks drawing the United States into a protracted conflict in the Middle East.