The US military is planning for a potential sustained campaign against Iran should President Donald Trump order an attack, two senior US officials told Reuters.

The officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, emphasised that the move could trigger a significant Iranian retaliation, risking a prolonged regional conflict which could be far more serious than previous confrontations.

They added, without providing detail, that US strikes would not just target nuclear infrastructure, but also Iranian state and security facilities. US attacks on the country last year primarily targeted nuclear sites.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/43164098

Israeli fire kills one and wounds several in Gaza. Palestinian paramedic dies in Israeli detention. Whistleblowers say CPJ held back its index to protect Israel. Western governments move to oust UN rapporteur over remarks on Gaza, UN refuses to support her. Trump to launch Gaza reconstruction fund and Stabilization Force at first “Board of Peace” meeting. Palestinian citizens of Israel suffer disproportionately from crime wave. Widespread Israeli military assaults and settler attacks in the occupied West Bank. Trump administration dismantles the federal government’s ability to regulate greenhouse gases. New York Fed says Americans bear most of the cost of Trump tariffs. New DOJ files reveal hidden-camera footage from Epstein’s Palm Beach office and references to secret recording equipment. Trump administration announces end to ICE operation in Minnesota. Attorney says detained 13-year-old attempted suicide at Texas ICE facility before her family’s deportation. Raskin calls conditions at Baltimore ICE facility “disgraceful” after surprise oversight visit. U.S. to deploy second aircraft carrier to the Middle East. UK High Court rules Palestine Action ban unlawful in landmark victory. Israeli attacks hit southern Lebanon villages. Bangladesh Nationalist Party claims victory in first post-uprising election. Dubai’s DP World replaces chief amid scrutiny over Epstein ties. Mexican aid ships arrive in Havana as U.S. tightens fuel pressure on Cuba. Cuba says no dialogue underway with United States. Russia launches major missile and drone barrage into Ukraine. Turkey says United States and Iran show flexibility on reviving nuclear deal. Turkey and Armenia move toward direct land trade via Georgia in normalization push. Syrian forces take control of former U.S. al-Tanf base as American troops withdraw.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/43145123

President Donald Trump urges Iran negotiations and praises Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for conduct in Gaza. VP JD Vance says Trump wants a deal that blocks Iran’s nuclear program. Netanyahu, wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court, signs onto Trump’s “Board of Peace.” Hamas leadership meets with an Iranian representative. U.S. draft proposes gradual disarmament of Hamas. Prominent Palestinian leader assaulted and starved in prison. Israel revokes citizenship of two Palestinians. GHF “security provider” in talks with Trump’s Board of Peace about a future role in Gaza. Attorney General Pam Bondi heads to the Hill, where she is confronted by Epstein survivors and Rep. Becca Balint. Bondi’s “Burn Book.” The House passed the Save America Act, which guts mail-in voting and aims to make casting a ballot harder: The IRS improperly shared taxpayer data with DHS in immigration crackdown. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright meets with Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodriguez. The government lost hard drives and withholds surveillance footage in an ICE abuse lawsuit. U.S. sanctions Lebanese gold firm accused of financing Hezbollah. After El Paso airspace closure, Mexico denies evidence of cartel drone activity. Israeli forces escalate attacks across south Lebanon. China offers support to Cuba amid U.S.-driven fuel shortage. Deadly clashes erupt in Ataq, Yemen as an STC-linked crowd storms a government building. Five police officers are killed in an ambush in northwest Pakistan. Rebel attacks kill pilots and a soldier in Indonesia’s Papua region. Russia says it will observe expired nuclear treaty if the U.S. does the same. Russian drone strike kills three children and their father in Kharkiv. Russia moves to block WhatsApp. Thousands of UK passport holders served in Israeli military during Gaza genocide, records show.

Commentators and figures from the United Arab Emirates are coming to the defence of two state-linked Emirati figures mentioned in the Epstein files.

Sulayem was on Friday replaced as the chairman and chief executive of DP World, the global UAE-owned logistics company, following days of criticism over his friendship with Epstein.

The 71-year-old had been chair of the company - which handles a tenth of the world’s container trade - since 2007, and chief executive since 2016.

“A million thanks to Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem; you have sufficed and fulfilled, and given the very best you have,” wrote Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, a prominent academic seen as a voice representative of the UAE's ruling establishment.

Americans Are Mostly Paying the Import Tariffs Themselves By Aïda Brands, Economics Correspondent — NOS News • today, 16:55 The costs of the import tariffs introduced by President Trump last year are being paid almost entirely by American companies and consumers. According to the U.S. Federal Reserve, as much as 90 % is paid by Americans themselves. � NOS Last year, the U.S. president introduced a large number of new import taxes. Currently there is a 50 % tariff on steel, iron and aluminum products worldwide. After months of negotiations, it was also agreed this summer that a general import tariff of 15 % applies to products from the European Union. � NOS Many other countries saw their products become significantly more expensive in the United States over the past year. Last summer, tariffs shot up in all directions: Chinese goods were briefly subject to a 125 % tariff, although after a deal with China this was reduced again. According to calculations by the Federal Reserve, the average import tax in the United States rose last year from 2.6 % to 13 %. � NOS America Pays Because almost all foreign products have become considerably more expensive, prices in the United States have also risen — contrary to what Trump had promised. The White House hoped that with the tariffs American products would become more attractive and that foreign companies would bear most of the cost. � NOS An import tariff is always paid by an importer, but an exporting company could choose to lower its price slightly so that the product doesn’t become drastically more expensive in the U.S. However, this barely happens in practice. � NOS In December, life in the U.S. had become 2.7 % more expensive compared with a year earlier. In January this figure fell to 2.4 % — higher than the 2 % inflation rate economists consider ideal. Still, this is not a shocking inflation increase, suggesting the impact of the tariffs may not be as extreme as feared. � NOS Philip Marey, a U.S. analyst at Rabobank, says: “We can already see it in the inflation figures, but it’s somewhat deceptive. Goods are rising much more sharply in price than services.” He estimates that without the tariffs, U.S. inflation would likely have remained around 2 %. � NOS Midterm Elections The peak effects of the tariffs are expected to be felt in the U.S. over the next six months. According to U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs, most of the tariffs have already been priced in. Additionally, midterm elections are scheduled later this year. Analysts from the bank do not expect Trump to introduce many additional tariffs in the coming year, which would further increase prices in the U.S. � NOS There is now “even a clear incentive to reduce certain tariffs,” says Marey. “He will mainly look at products for consumers because his popularity is dropping sharply.” For this reason, Trump also lowered tariffs on products such as bananas and coffee from Brazil at the end of last year. � NOS According to the Financial Times, Trump is reportedly even considering easing tariffs on steel, iron and aluminum, which currently remain at 50 %. The White House expanded the list of products subject to these tariffs last summer, but some items may now be removed from that list. � NOS

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/43104844

full url : https://imgur.com/a/israeli-group-uri-tzafon-has-entered-southern-lebanon-planted-trees-advocated-jewish-settlement-region-under-israeli-military-control-they-declared-south-lebanon-is-part-of-ancestral-land-with-jewish-presence-thousands-jdGdVoz

Sources

https://xcancel.com/KrpsL52952/status/2021980333374333137

https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/b1hhkujpbx

https://www.srugim.co.il/news/1296802

Excerpt:

The movement stated: "South Lebanon is a part of our ancestral land, where Jewish settlement has existed for thousands of years. In order to ensure the security of the residents of the north, the construction of a civilian settlement in South Lebanon must be promoted, near IDF posts. Only a combination of military control over all of South Lebanon and civilian settlement will bring about complete security on the northern border," it said.

https://archive.ph/oQx7f

The United States government actively tried to ignore the practice – an open secret in military and diplomatic circles. However, as it was withdrawing from the country, the State Department belatedly released a report admitting that, for nearly 20 years of occupation, there existed, “a government pattern of sexual slavery on government compounds.” U.S.-trained and funded authorities, it noted, “continued to arrest, detain, penalize, and abuse many trafficking victims, including punishing sex trafficking victims for ‘moral crimes’ and sexually assaulting victims who attempted to report trafficking crimes to law enforcement officials.” NGOs who helped the children, the report noted, advised them not to go to the police, as they were often the ones responsible for enslaving them in the first place.

Bacha bazi was primarily practiced by high-status individuals put in power by U.S. occupation forces – police, military, teachers, and government officials. Many of these people lived with their boys on U.S. compounds. This meant that, in practice, the U.S. taxpayer was subsidizing the widespread rape of children, one of the many reasons that American personnel were so unpopular with the local population, and why the U.S.-installed government fell within days of the 2021 military pullout. As Harp stated:

“The whole time that the U.S. was in Afghanistan, they were working with, protecting, funding, and arming guys who were systematically raping little boys, keeping them in chains on U.S. military bases – chained children on U.S. bases who were raped on a nightly basis! What can we even make of this? I struggle to wrap my mind around not only the evil of it, but how little anybody ever said about it.”

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/43119723

Feb. 12, 2026
[from weekly newsletter about Cuba from the Belly Of The Beast news/video collective. Their videos can be found at: https://peertube.world/c/cuba_botb_videos/videos]

Donald Trump said on February 1: "We're talking to the people from Cuba, the highest people in Cuba, to see what happens. I think we’re going to make a deal." But according to Drop Site News, no such talks are taking place.

Meanwhile, in Cuba, the U.S.’ de facto oil blockade has already led to a shutdown of some essential services. Belly of the Beast spoke with Cubans about the fuel crisis and their concerns for the future.

Also:

• Interview With Cuban Jazz Legend Arturo O'Farrill
• With Jet Fuel Scarce, Canada and Russia Cancel Flights
• Mexico Sends Food — But Not Oil
• US Offers Cuba “Aid” While Crushing its Economy
• Guatemala Sends Cuban Medical Mission Packing
• UN Warns of Humanitarian Collapse

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/43127301

Israel bombs areas east of Khan Younis. Israel continues to harass Palestinians returning to Gaza. Far-right Israeli bill would mandate death penalty for Palestinians. FAA closes, then reopens, airspace around El Paso. Justice Department unmasks alleged Epstein co-conspirators. President Donald Trump to meet Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House to discuss Iran. Grand jury rejects Trump-backed effort to indict Democratic lawmakers over military dissent video. Trump weighs second U.S. aircraft carrier deployment to Middle East. Progressive challenger Analilia Mejia wins Democratic primary in New Jersey special House race. Instagram suspends AIPAC tracker. Children in Texas ICE family detention experience fear, illness, and months without school. Footage from Nancy Guthrie’s Nest camera raises privacy concerns. Children zip-tied during militarized immigration raid at Idaho horse racing venue, lawsuit claims. VP JD Vance’s office deletes post referencing Armenian genocide during Armenia visit. U.S. to deploy 200 troops to train Nigerian forces against Islamist militants. Israeli strikes hit multiple towns in southern Lebanon. Iranian security chief holds Oman talks. Erik Prince deployed private forces in Congo in December to help retake a border city from M23 rebels, according to Reuters. Hungary’s opposition leader says he learned his sex tape will be released against his will, accusing the ruling party of blackmail. PKK fighters withdraw from Syria as part of a U.S.-brokered deal reshaping Kurdish forces. Colombia’s president says helicopter attack was narrowly avoided amid rising political violence. Nine are killed in a mass shooting at a rural British Columbia high school.

The UK’s High Court has ruled the Home Office’s decision to ban Palestine Action under anti-terrorism laws was unlawful following a legal challenge.

Dame Victoria Sharp said the proscription of Palestine Action “did result in a very significant interference with the right to freedom of speech and freedom of assembly”.

Abdel Qader Sabbah and Sharif Abdel Kouddous
Feb 10, 2026

Hammad spent weeks clearing away tons of rubble and then began to dig. “I was able to recover my brother, his wife, and their children. When I reached the living room in my home, it became clear that it was completely burned. I realized that the fate of my children was unknown—that they were burned and their bones had melted away. I then went to the room where my wife had been and I found her bones,” Hammad told Drop Site News. “How did I know it was my wife? First, the location of the room. Second, the bones of the unborn child were found in the same place, because the pregnancy was complete.”

He spoke crouching in a large hole, several feet deep, surrounded by the remnants of his destroyed home. Neighbors helped in the effort, digging with shovels, hoes, and their bare hands through the earth before placing small mounds in a sifter for him to sort through.

“I am now collecting her piece by piece. With what? With this sifter. This sifter is normally used to sift flour… Today, I am using it to collect the bones of my wife and children,” he continued.

WASHINGTON, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Israel has joined U.S. President Donald Trump's "Board of Peace" initiative, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday during his visit to Washington where he met Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Visuals released earlier on Wednesday after the Netanyahu-Rubio meeting showed them holding a document, opens new tab with Netanyahu's signature on Israel joining the board. Netanyahu said on X he "signed Israel's accession as a member of the "Board of Peace.""

https://shop.olympics.com/en/olympic-games/mens-natural-1936-berlin-games-olympic-heritage-t-shirt/t-10259387+p-0222349001530+z-7-4279097087

Wayback Link in case they react to backlash: https://web.archive.org/web/20260211181136/https://shop.olympics.com/en/olympic-games/mens-natural-1936-berlin-games-olympic-heritage-t-shirt/t-10259387+p-0222349001530+z-7-4279097087

After the US cut off diplomatic relations with Cuba in January 1961, the British embassy in Havana functioned as a proxy for US covert action and intelligence gathering against Castro’s government.

British operations, undertaken by the Foreign Office’s Information Research Department (IRD), were designed to delegitimise Cuba’s promotion of wealth distribution and to support US attempts to overthrow Castro.

The IRD, a cold war propaganda unit, sought to censure key Cuban officials and even plotted to spread homophobic rumours about Fidel’s second in command and brother, Raúl Castro.

Newly-released British files also show that during the 1970s, the IRD produced forged documents in an attempt to attack Cuba’s anti-apartheid campaigns in Africa.

[...]

While the US effort to overthrow Castro is infamous, very little is known about British operations in Cuba.

In August 1962, Leslie Boas, Britain’s regional information officer for Latin America based in Caracas, Venezuela, circulated a report on the leading political personalities in Cuba. “Having read the report”, Boas noted, “it has occurred to me that we could make effective use of some of the information it contains for propaganda purposes”.

He continued: “We could put out, in a completely unattributable fashion, a leaflet entitled ‘Personalities of the Cuban Revolution’ in which the more dubious aspects of the leading figures in the Cuban scene would be highlighted”.

The IRD was asked to “do some research” in order to produce additional “ammunition” on Castro’s aides.

To this end, senior IRD official Rosemary Allott suggested the unit “might include suitable stories circulating in Cuba (I heard one in Havana – since forgotten – on Raul Castro as a homosexual). In fact we might ask Havana for other purposes to send us all counter-revolutionary jokes and stories”.

[...]

In March 1962, shortly after the US initiated Operation Mongoose, a British embassy official in Washington wrote to the Foreign Office in London about a meeting with the US State Department and “our Friends”, a reference to the CIA.

“They would… be very grateful for facts on what is going on in Cuba which they can use in their propaganda and any suggestions the Embassy in Havana may have on useful topics and themes”, the British embassy official noted.

In a document marked Top Secret, Foreign Office official Robert Marrett noted that: “It seems to me to be a sound idea that our Embassy in Cuba should also assist the Americans discreetly by supplying anti-Castro material”.

By June 1962, an operation to send “useful items to the Americans for propaganda purposes” had been “approved by the Foreign Office”.

Israeli attacks kill at least six Palestinians across Gaza. Red Crescent evacuates patients from Gaza under Israeli restrictions. Israel detains at least 30 Palestinians, including children, in West Bank raids. Indonesia prepares possible troop deployment to Gaza. U.S. military kills two in 38th vessel strike. The U.S. military boards a Venezuela-linked oil tanker in the Indian Ocean after a long pursuit. Former police chief says U.S. President Donald Trump knew of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse in 2006. Lawmakers who viewed unredacted Epstein files say DOJ blacked out the names of men who are “likely incriminated.” The White House pushes Republicans to restrict mail-in voting. NYC nurses reach a deal to end their strike at two major hospital systems. Hundreds are reported dead in RSF-run prison in western Sudan. Turkey says Iran–U.S. talks show no signs of imminent military conflict. Lebanese municipal worker killed by Israeli forces in border town. Leaked messages show U.K. health secretary privately accusing Israel of war crimes. Turkey has no plans to withdraw troops from northern Syria. Five abducted mine workers are confirmed dead in Mexico’s Sinaloa state. Somalia signs a military cooperation deal with Saudi Arabia. Bangladesh secures lower U.S. tariffs in trade deal.

“You are one of my most trusted friends in very [sic] sense of the word, you have never let me down, not once, not half of once.”

Those were the words used in June 2013 by Jeffrey Epstein, the financier and convicted sex offender, to describe Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem.

Sulayem is one of the most powerful business figures in the United Arab Emirates. Born in Dubai to a well-connected family, his father was an adviser to the city’s ruling Al Maktoum family.

Sulayem has been its chair since 2007, and its chief executive since 2016. The role has made him a leading Emirati business figure on the global stage. He frequently appears in international forums, often alongside UAE royalty.

Now, emails released by the US Department of Justice, as well as further emails seen by Bloomberg and Drop Site News, reveal that Sulayem had maintained a decades-long professional and personal relationship with Epstein.

The Emirati figure is mentioned thousands of times in the Epstein files.

Today, in a symbolic act, Iranians set fire to the flags of Israel and the United States, as well as an obelisk and a statue of Baal—which they described as a symbol of Satan—in various cities across Iran in response to the release of the Epstein documents.