TYB
Moscow ready to cooperate based on mutual respect
5 Feb, 2026 14:48
Russia is open to broad cooperation with the US, but while Washington under President Donald Trump has voiced similar intentions, it continues to drag its feet on Ukraine and sanctions, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.
Lavrov made the remarks in an exclusive interview with RT’s Rick Sanchez on Wednesday, ahead of Russia’s Diplomats’ Day.
He noted that Russia-US relations, which had been effectively severed under former President Joe Biden, have seen a positive shift since Trump returned to the White House in early 2025.
“At that time, [US Secretary of State] Marco Rubio said that the US administration would be guided by national interests, and that it recognizes that Russia also has national interests,” Lavrov said.
He noted that both sides acknowledged their interests “will not always coincide,” but agreed that when they don’t, “this divergence must not be allowed to degenerate into a confrontation, let alone a hot conflict.”
“I said that this was absolutely our approach – that we were ready to collaborate on a wide range of projects based on such a mutually respectful attitude toward one another,” Lavrov stated, noting that this shared understanding has been repeatedly emphasized by Washington. However, the top Russian diplomat called into question the US commitment to it.
“They said the conditions required to make these rosy prospects unfold boiled down to just one thing: ‘We inherited Ukraine from Biden… we need to settle it… then we will engage in mutually beneficial joint projects for the good of our peoples,’” he stated.
“But the settlement of the Ukraine conflict continues to be kept in play, and with ever new dimensions being added… ever new conditions and demands being imposed on Russia.”
Lavrov also noted that the Trump administration has not moved to lift Ukraine-related sanctions, including the freeze on Russian assets.
This, he suggested, also raises questions about Washington’s sincerity, stressing that US overtures about future cooperation must be backed by “concrete actions.”
https://www.rt.com/russia/632049-lavrov-us-russia-relations/
Russia and Ukraine exchange dozens of POWs
5 Feb, 2026 12:10
Russia and Ukraine have conducted their latest exchange of prisoners of war, with each receiving 157 troops, the Russian Defense Ministry announced on Thursday.
Additionally, three civilians abducted by Ukrainian forces during their incursion into Kursk Region were freed, the statement said.
The exchange was announced earlier in the day by US special envoy Steve Witkoff, who said the agreement was sealed during Washington-backed talks between Moscow and Kiev in Abu Dhabi.
The Russian Defense Ministry marked the role that the government of the United Arab Emirates played as a mediator of the exchange.
Witkoff said the exchange served as proof that “sustained diplomatic engagement is delivering tangible results and advancing efforts to end the war in Ukraine.”
The two-day meeting was the second this year. Participants reported making progress in formulating a peace deal, but no breakthrough was announced.
https://twitter.com/SEPeaceMissions/status/2019354305661137340
https://www.rt.com/russia/632048-russia-ukraine-prisoner-swap/
other RT
https://www.rt.com/russia/632022-zelensky-military-casualties-discrepancy/
https://www.rt.com/russia/631853-peace-wont-save-ukraine/
https://www.rt.com/russia/632033-ukraine-lawmakers-quit/
Ukraine strikes Russia's Oreshnik launch site in Kapustin Yar with Flamingo missiles, General Staff says
February 5, 2026 12:12 pm
Ukrainian air strikes have damaged a key hub for Russia's intercontinental ballistic missiles over the past month, officials say, damaging a hangar and other infrastructure.
The General Staff wrote in a Feb. 5 post on Telegram that the Armed Forces of Ukraine had inflicted a series of strikes on the Kapustin Yar airfield in Russia's Astrakhan Oblast over the course of January.
"Based on current information, on the territory of the testing ground a part of the buildings have taken on various degrees of damage, one of the hangars was significantly damaged, and part of the personnel was evacuated from the territory," the post reads.
What is Russia's Oreshnik?
Kapustin Yar is a Soviet-built airfield that has long served as hub for Russia's ballistic missile program.
The Oreshnik is a much-ballyhooed intermediate-range ballistic missile that seems to be a modification of the surface-to-surface Rubezh missile, itself a modification of various ballistic weapons designed by the Soviet Union.
Russia first used an Oreshnik in Ukraine on the city of Dnipro in Nov. 2024. As far as public information goes, Russia most recently used an Oreshnik to hit Lviv Oblast in Western Ukraine on Jan. 9.
It remains a largely experimental weapon, with Russia's stockpiles the subject of much speculation, though certainly limited.
Russia's rare deployments of Oreshniks typically accentuate political statements.
British intelligence referred to the Lviv strike as retaliation for alleged Ukrainian attacks on Russian President Vladimir Putin's residence, and that Russia "highly likely only has a handful of Oreshnik missiles."
What is Ukraine's Flamingo?
The General Staff attributed Ukraine's January strikes to "using long-range strike weapons of Ukrainian production, particularly the FP-5 'Flamingo.'"
The Flamingo is a cruise missile advertised as having a distance of some 3,000 kilometers, capable of carrying a 1,000 kilogram warhead, and being manufactured within Ukraine at a rate of up to eight daily.
Fire Point, the missile maker, said in August that the missile was already in mass production.
The General Staff has noted a handful of strikes on Russian-held territory as being the work of the Flamingo.
Fire Point has also been a major recipient of funding from European benefactors, and is currently trying to kick off production of its own rocket fuel at a plant in Denmark.
Evidence of successful strikes have been relatively scarce, however, leaving manufacturer Fire Point under persistent scrutiny.
As the Kyiv Independent first reported, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine was investigating Fire Point when President Volodymyr Zelensky tried to pass legislation that would put the bureau under the control of his appointed prosecutor general.
https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-strikes-russias-oreshnik-launch-site-in-kapustin-yar-with-flamingo-missiles-general-staff-says/
other Russia and Ukraine
https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-war-latest-update-2026-02-05/
https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/two-people-hurt-in-russian-overnight-drone-on-kyiv-mayor-says
https://112.ua/en/ataka-droniv-na-odesu-pid-zavalami-zitlovogo-budinku-mozut-buti-ludi-138042
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/bomb-disposal-experts-neutralise-russian-154500321.html
https://unn.ua/en/news/a-drone-targeting-a-critical-infrastructure-facility-was-shot-down-in-lviv-sadovyi
https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/drone-air-defense-units-set-record-for-downed-1770312850.html
https://www.twz.com/air/watch-ukraines-minigun-firing-drone-hunting-turboprop-in-action
IDF strikes Hezbollah tunnel shafts, weapons storage in response to 'repeated' ceasefire violation
Updated: FEBRUARY 5, 2026 20:32
The IDF struck several Hezbollah tunnels used as weapons storage facilities across Lebanon, the military announced on Thursday.
According to an IDF statement regarding the operation, "following the strikes, secondary explosions were identified, indicating the presence of weapons in the area."
Hezbollah terrorist activity, "constituting a violation of the ceasefire understandings between Israel and Lebanon," had been observed at the sites prior to the strikes
The IDF emphasized that they will "continue to operate to remove any threat against the State of Israel" moving forward.
IDF operations in Gaza
Earlier on Thursday, IDF troops operating in the Gaza Strip near the Yellow Line identified a terrorist approaching and posing an immediate threat to soldiers.
The IDF acted to remove the threat and killed the terrorist, the military confirmed, asserting that "IDF troops in the Southern Command remain deployed in accordance with the ceasefire agreement and will continue to operate to remove any immediate threat."
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-885769
IDF Intelligence Unit Steps Up Effort To Block Hezbollah Regrouping
February 4, 2026
The Israel Defense Forces are intensifying targeted operations along the northern border in an effort to prevent Hezbollah from restoring its military capabilities, with a specialized intelligence collection unit playing a central role in the campaign.
The 869 “Shachaf” unit, which focuses on real-time battlefield awareness, has been deeply involved in detecting hostile activity, guiding precision fire, and monitoring attempts by the Lebanese group to reposition fighters and weapons.
Military officials describe a tightly coordinated system in which surveillance assets, advanced sensors, and field intelligence feed directly to air and ground units.
When suspicious movement, weapons transfers, or efforts to repair damaged infrastructure are detected, the information is transmitted quickly to operational commands that can authorize and carry out strikes within a short window of time.
This rapid targeting cycle is designed to disrupt Hezbollah activity before it matures into a direct threat along the border or deeper inside Israeli territory.
The ongoing operations focus on a wide spectrum of targets, including observation posts, storage sites, and routes used to move rockets, drones, and other weapons.
By repeatedly striking such assets and tracking patterns of movement, the IDF aims to make it more difficult for Hezbollah to reestablish stable command-and-control networks or to reconstitute launch capabilities degraded in earlier rounds of fighting.
Persistent surveillance also allows the army to build a detailed picture of how the organization adapts, which in turn feeds into planning for future operations.
These efforts form part of a broader strategy to maintain deterrence on the northern front while limiting the risk of a wider war.
Israeli leaders have repeatedly signaled that they intend to prevent Hezbollah from exploiting any lull in fighting to rebuild its arsenal or improve its deployment near the border communities displaced by months of attacks.
For residents and local authorities in northern Israel, the success of units like 869 is closely linked to the timeline for a safe return home, as the military seeks to ensure that cross-border fire and infiltration attempts remain constrained and costly for Hezbollah.
https://5townscentral.com/2026/02/04/idf-intelligence-unit-steps-up-effort-to-block-hezbollah-regrouping/
other Israel
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sk0zdfzdbg
https://www.agcnews.eu/israeliranwar-tehran-lets-resume-dialogue-after-the-12-day-war-idf-soldier-hit-in-gazas-yellow-line-tents-of-displaced-persons-bombed/
https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/defense/artc-idf-eliminates-hamas-terrorist-responsible-for-murder-of-captive-soldier-noa-marciano
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-suspected-gaza-smuggling-phenomenon-is-major-risk-to-state-security/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-said-to-damage-gaza-cemetery-containing-graves-of-allied-troops-from-world-wars/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/settler-activists-caught-by-idf-troops-after-crossing-into-gaza/
https://www.iranintl.com/en/liveblog/202602011665
https://www.iranintl.com/en/202602041548
Iran's foreign minister heads to Muscat for US talks
February 5, 2026
Summary
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Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has left Tehran for Muscat ahead of Friday’s “nuclear negotiations” with the United States, foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said in a post on X.
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The New York Times reported that Iran and the United States made mutual concessions to set up Friday talks in Oman that would focus on Iran’s nuclear program while also covering missiles and militant groups.
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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany is ready to increase pressure on Iran and engage in talks aimed at a swift end to Iran’s nuclear program.
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said US envoy Steve Witkoff was ready to attend the planned meeting and that the United States prefers dialogue, even though he said he was unsure whether a deal with Iran could ultimately be reached.
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Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson on Tuesday said negotiations with Tehran should cover all issues and without excluding any country, after reports that Tehran demanded bilateral talks with the US only on its nuclear file.
5 minutes ago
Shamkhani says Araghchi has leadership’s full trust ahead of US talks
Iran’s Supreme Defense Council secretary, Ali Shamkhani, praised Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as a skilled negotiator, saying he has the full trust of the country’s top leadership and military and intelligence institutions, ahead of talks with the United States.
“Soldiers of the nation in the armed forces & generals of diplomacy, acting under the order of the Leader (Ali Khamenei), will safeguard the nation’s interests,” he added.
18 minutes ago
Video: Security forces fire at bystanders in Tehran at close range
https://twitter.com/IranIntl_En/status/2019475540034384331
1 hour ago
Iran says Araghchi departs for Muscat to attend US ‘nuclear talks’
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has departed for Muscat ahead of Friday’s “nuclear negotiations” with the United States, foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said in a post on X.
“This diplomatic engagement is being carried out with authority and with the aim of reaching a fair, mutually acceptable and honorable understanding regarding the nuclear issue,” he added.
Baghaei also thanked neighboring and regional countries for what he called their responsible role in facilitating the process and said Iran hopes the United States will participate with “responsibility, realism and seriousness.”
1 hour ago
Hezbollah political wing warns attack on Iran would spark regional war
The political wing of Hezbollah in Lebanon’s parliament warned that any US attack on Iran would trigger a wider regional war.
“Iran’s firm and resilient stance will enable it to withstand any potential aggression,” the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc said, adding that if the United States launched a war, it would be unable to control the consequences and the conflict would engulf the Middle East.
2 hours ago
Kushner, Witkoff arrive in Doha ahead of Iran talks - Al Jazeera
US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and US envoy Steve Witkoff have arrived in Doha ahead of talks between the United States and Iran in Oman scheduled for Friday morning, Al Jazeera reported, citing a White House official.
2 hours ago
Iran's president appoints Shamkhani as secretary of defense council
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian in a decree appointed Ali Shamkhani as the Secretary of Iran's Supreme Defense Council.
Shamkhani, a navy admiral, was already serving as the Supreme Leader's representative at the Defense Council. He previously served as Iran's defense minister, secretary of Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), and a navy commander.
Iran established the Defense Council under the SNSC, aiming to centralize military decision-making and prepare for crises ranging from war to potential leadership transition following the June war with Israel.
According to a statement by the SNSC Secretariat in August 2025, the council’s core responsibility is to enable swift, centralized defense decisions in wartime or national emergencies.
Read more about the council
2/2
3 hours ago
Germany calls on Iran to spare Qatar, region from threats
Germany’s chancellor urged Iran to enter serious negotiations and de-escalate regional tensions.
“I call on Iran’s leadership to genuinely engage in talks, end its aggression and its nuclear program, and above all to spare countries such as Qatar, Jordan and Israel from further military threats,” Friedrich Merz said, adding that Qatar was viewing developments in Tehran with “great concern.”
3 hours ago
Satellite images show new US military deployments across Mideast - BBC
Around a dozen F-15 fighter jets, an MQ-9 Reaper combat drone and several A-10C Thunderbolt II ground-attack aircraft have arrived at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, BBC Verify reported on Thursday, citing satellite imagery it analyzed.
BBC Verify said it also tracked the guided-missile destroyer USS Delbert D. Black sailing through Egypt’s Suez Canal from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea, and a US Navy MQ-4C Triton surveillance drone operating over the Persian Gulf last week.
4 hours ago
Iraq says it backs Oman-hosted Iran-US negotiations
Iraq’s foreign minister said on Thursday that Baghdad supports ongoing negotiations between Iran and the United States being held in Oman, warning that the region is in a sensitive period and must be kept out of war.
“The region is going through a sensitive period, and keeping it out of the throes of war is a duty for all countries, especially neighboring and (Persian) Gulf states,” Fuad Hussein said at a joint press conference in Baghdad with his French counterpart, according to a statement by Iraq’s foreign ministry.
4 hours ago
Iran, Saudi Arabia FMs discuss regional tensions
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a phone call with his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan on Thursday afternoon to discuss regional developments and “efforts aimed at preventing the escalation of tensions,” according to a statement by Iran’s foreign ministry.
4 hours ago
Israel arrests two over alleged Iran-linked security offenses
Israeli security forces have arrested two Israeli citizens in their 20s on suspicion of carrying out missions for Iranian intelligence in exchange for digital payments, following a joint investigation by police and the Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic security agency, authorities said on Thursday.
The suspects, residents of the Jerusalem area, were arrested in January on suspicion of committing serious security offenses involving contact with Iranian intelligence operatives.
Israeli police said the investigation found the two had been in direct contact with Iranian intelligence elements for several months and carried out security-related missions while fully aware they were acting under Iranian direction.
Authorities said the suspects allegedly received payments transferred to digital wallets. Prosecutorial statements were filed on Thursday by the Jerusalem District Attorney’s Office at the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court, and formal indictments are expected to follow.
4 hours ago
EXCLUSIVE
Iran prepared shoot-to-kill response for Jan protests years in advance, ex-official says
Iran’s security forces planned in advance to deploy snipers and use shoot-to-kill tactics during the nationwide protest crackdown on Jan. 8 and 9, a former Iranian interior ministry official told Iran International.
The former official, who spoke on condition of anonymity and previously also served in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said preparations dating back to 2022 included “marking and identifying elevated locations for sniper deployment” and “ideological theoretical training and psychological preparation to kill, including firing final shots at protesters.”
He said the planning also involved “training and educating criminal elements to play the role of leaders in gatherings, both to identify people and to steer street movements.”
Verified video of the protests showed security forces firing live ammunition from elevated positions, using pellet guns, raiding hospitals and shooting wounded protesters.
The former official said the Jan. 8-9 crackdown was not a short-term response but the result of long-term structural and operational preparation by security bodies.
5 hours ago
Trump says Iran negotiating to avoid US military strike
US President Donald Trump said Iran was engaging in negotiations with Washington because it wanted to avoid military action, pointing to a growing American military presence in the region.
“They are negotiating. They don't want us to hit them. You know, we have a big fleet going over there,” Trump said Thursday during remarks at National Prayer Breakfast.
2/2
One killed in drone attack on Kadugli hospital
4 February 2026
At least one person was killed, and eight others were injured on Wednesday when a drone belonging to an alliance of the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement struck a military hospital in the South Kordofan capital, Kadugli.
The strike on the facility occurred less than 24 hours after a similar attack on another medical site in the city killed at least 15 people, including seven children.
Razan al-Mahdi, spokesperson for the Sudanese Doctors’ Network, said in a statement that the RSF and the SPLM targeted the hospital with a drone. She noted the facility continues to provide essential medical services even as nearly 50% of the city’s health infrastructure has been knocked out of service by shelling and a blockade.
The spokesperson said the systematic targeting of medical facilities and civilian neighbourhoods violated international law and caused widespread harm to unarmed civilians.
On January 3, the army and its allies from the Joint Force and mobilization units reached Kadugli following fierce battles against the RSF and the SPLM, ending a siege of the city that had lasted for more than two years.
https://sudantribune.com/article/310256
Object believed to be drone found off Istanbul coast
February 05, 2026 12:07 PM GMT+03:00
Fishermen discovered an object believed to be an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in the sea off Karaburun in Istanbul’s Arnavutkoy district on Thursday, authorities said.
According to Türkiye Today's initial analysis, the discovered object is a Russian-made Geran-2, which is based on Iran's Shahed-136 model kamikaze unmanned aerial vehicle.
Turkish Coast Guard Command teams were dispatched to the area after the fishermen reported the find. An examination of the object is ongoing.
Authorities have not yet issued an official statement regarding the ownership of the drone as investigations continue.
The incident is not the first involving drones within Turkish borders. In recent weeks, several drones have either been shot down or crashed after entering Turkish airspace.
Last December, Türkiye shot down a drone that violated its airspace and discovered two more crashed drones over a five-day period.
https://www.turkiyetoday.com/nation/object-believed-to-be-drone-found-off-istanbul-coast-3214070
3 accused in Ontario explosives investigation were developing anti-drone weapons system
Feb 04, 2026 2:59 PM PST
The three Ontario men accused of storing materials that could be made into explosives had been looking for money to back the production of a military system designed to prevent drone attacks.
The accused, Jerry Tong, Zekun Wang, and Fei (Frank) Han, had created videos to pitch the project, which include footage of a device that could be transported in the back of a pickup truck. The most recent video, viewed by CBC News, was uploaded on Oct. 25, 2025.
"We are building a mobile and low-cost system capable of detecting and defeating micro and mini uncrewed aerial systems," Tong said in the one of the three videos, titled MORSLAB Pitch Presentation.
He goes on to explain that the group is "taking on the challenge of stopping weaponized drones armed with a hand grenade and small explosives."
Tong, Wang and Fei, alongside Feiyang (Astrid) Ji who is not featured in the videos, are all facing charges stemming from a trespassing call that police received from Western University on Jan. 24, 2026.
After Tong and Wang were arrested, police spent days searching a nearby home where Wang, Fei and Ji lived. Their search expanded to two additional homes connected to Orleans and Gatineau, Que.
The group was subsequently charged with offences ranging from possession of a loaded restricted firearm, to firearms manufacturing and being in possession of high explosives and the chemicals used to make them.
In the videos that CBC News has verified were filmed in Western University's Claudette MacKay-Lassonde Pavilion, Tong explains the drone defence system would be fully operational by August 2026.
He said the group is looking for funding from "several different military research development programs", and is responding to "the Canadian Armed Forces and the NATO military demand". He cites increasing use of drone warfare in Ukraine.
The videos contain multiple renderings and animations of the weapons system itself. Mounted on the back of a modified pickup truck, the system is said to detect drones using infrared sensors.
The accused claim the system would be capable of tracking and dispatching the drones by destroying their on-board electronics with bursts of microwaves radiation.
The pitch video shows clips of someone mixing chemicals in a flask, and of a fiery chemical reaction. "We have our own chemical lab on site capable of synthesizing primary and secondary energetics," Tong said.
Tong also said in the video, while showing a clip of Wang working on the system in the bed of a pickup truck that CBC News has verified was parked at 212 Chesham Pl., that the group had several vehicles equipped to test the system.
More details on the accused emerge
The pitch video also sheds light on the backgrounds of the three men accused in the crime.
Tong explains that he studied integrated engineering at Western University, during which he founded a 3D printing business that benefitted from the Western Accelerator program that funds young entrepreneurs and connects them with mentors.
"Currently, I work as a contractor investigating international fraud," Tong said. A spokesperson at National Bank Financial confirmed he was once an employee.
Wang, who graduated from Western with a Master's in Engineering Science, said he's been the recipient of two awards funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
He explains it was "for designing and fabricating high speed motion controls and vacuum systems."
Han, who confirms he graduated from Western with a Master's of Engineering, specializing in mechanical and materials engineering, describes his involvement in the project as "handling the core electromagnetic analysis."
He said he also focused on the [radio frequency] "simulation for our horn and slotted antennas."
All four of the accused remain in police custody, with bail hearings scheduled in London court in the coming days.
The RCMP's Integrated National Security Enforcement Team, which works to counter terrorism and other national security threats, said Tuesday it was assisting London police with the investigation.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/3-accused-in-ontario-explosives-investigation-were-developing-anti-drone-weapons-system-9.7074515
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.7074898
Underwater drone ignites while being transported on truck in Tiverton
Updated Thu, February 5, 2026 at 10:26 AM
TIVERTON, R.I. (WJAR) — An underwater drone caught on fire while being transported in Tiverton Wednesday afternoon.
Acting Chief Joshua Ferreira said firefighters received a call shortly before 3 p.m. for a vehicle fire on Route 24 near the Sakonnet Bridge.
Crews said they arrived to the area to find a large underwater drone on fire on the back of the trailer.
The on ramp was closed to drivers as crews worked to contain the fire.
Ferreira said the ramp was closed for approximately three hours.
He also said the drone contained a large amount of lithium-ion batteries that ignited the fire.
The Department of Environmental Management and East Providence hazmat teams were called to help extinguish the fire.
Ferreira said the drone is approximately 12-feet and has military-style applications.
https://turnto10.com/news/local/underwater-drone-ignites-truck-transported-tiverton-police-officers-firefighters-route-24-sakonnet-bridge-february-4-2026
Pete Hegseth stages extraordinary drone draft to unleash 30,000 'kamikaze' weapons
Updated: 13:18 EST, 5 February 2026
In a major move to revolutionize the modern battlefield, the Pentagon has officially fired the starting gun on a high–stakes race to build a massive fleet of 'kamikaze' drones.
The Department of War unveiled a list of 25 small technology and drone companies that have been hand–picked to compete for a chance to transform the future of American warfare.
The mission? To quickly field thousands of low–cost, one–way attack drones that can be deployed in swarms to overwhelm and destroy enemy targets.
The announcement marks a radical shift in military strategy, as the US looks to move away from multi–billion–dollar platforms in favor of 'small, smart, and cheap' technology that can be mass–produced at lightning speed.
Defense giants Kratos SRE Inc. and Halo Aeronautics are two of the more than two dozen vendors in the Department of Defense's ambitious Drone Dominance Program, according to an official statement released by officials.
'Drone dominance is a process race as much as a technological race,' Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a July 2025 memo.
'We are buying what works –– fast, at scale, and without bureaucratic delay. Lethality will not be hindered by self–imposed restrictions.'
In a move to reclaim the skies, Trump signed a sweeping executive order designed to turn the United States into a global 'drone superpower.'
The directive, signed in June 2025, outlines military expansion plans focused on keeping it 'Made in the USA.'
The 'Gauntlet' which is the determination first phase, reportedly starts Feb. 18 at Fort Benning, Georgia and finishes in the beginning of March.
After they evaluate the company's systems, the Department of War will purchase roughly $150 million in prototype drones.
These sample drones will then be sent out over the next five months, the DOD explains.
They plan to have 12 vendors produce 30,000 drones at about $5,000 per unit.
The department lead said back in December that the US military is burning through taxpayer cash at an 'unaffordable' rate to fight the drone wars of the future.
Over the course of the invasion, Ukraine has used kamikaze drones so effectively that they are now seen as a cornerstone of modern war, proving their worth through four years of continuous combat with Russia.
The Pentagon's $1.1 billion program will roll out in four phases, centering its evaluation process on 'warfighters' to determine which drones are actually fit for the field.
The competitive cycles for improving these drones will be 'measured in months, not years,' the Pentagon said.
Hegseth's drone program hopes to quickly assemble hundreds of thousands of drones by 2027.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15531715/Pete-Hegseth-stages-extraordinary-drone-draft-unleash-30-000-kamikaze-weapons.html
https://kyivindependent.com/pentagon-invites-2-ukrainian-drone-makers-to-the-gauntlet-1-1-billion-in-contracts-at-stake/
Are UFOs and Bigfoot Connected? Study Finds Hundreds of Sightings Happening Within Days of Each Other
05 February 2026, 1:08 PM GMT
A new analysis exploring decades of strange encounters has ignited fresh debate about one of the most bizarre mysteries in modern folklore.
Researchers behind the Sentient Orbs project claim hundreds of Bigfoot and UFO sightings happened within days and short distances of each other, raising questions about whether these unexplained events share a deeper link or simply reflect coincidence and human perception.
The analysis combined two massive public databases, roughly 4,000 Bigfoot or cryptid reports from the BFRO and more than 130,000 UFO or UAP sightings from NUFORC.
Each Bigfoot report was treated as an anchor event, with researchers searching for nearby UFO sightings within a 100 kilometre radius and a 72 hour window.
The results showed 944 correlation cases where both phenomena appeared close together in time and space.
Around 10 incidents occurred on the same day and roughly at the same time, while 485 took place within one day of each other.
he data runs through 2020 and has been made available as an interactive tool allowing users to explore patterns, locations and timelines.
Real Cases That Fuel the Connection Debate
Several examples highlighted in the research have captured public attention. In October 2013 in Hamilton County, Ohio, a motorist reported a possible Bigfoot sighting near the Little Miami River.
Within the same day and the following 24 hours, at least 15 UFO sightings were logged nearby, many describing orange fireballs splitting into multiple objects and performing precise aerial manoeuvres.
Another case occurred in August 2006 near Mount Rainier in Washington State.
A forest worker reported a strange encounter, followed by six UFO sightings within three days, including black triangular craft and erratically moving lights.
These clusters have become central talking points for believers who argue that repeated patterns deserve serious investigation.
Why Experts Urge Caution About the Findings
Despite the eye catching numbers, researchers stress the analysis is exploratory and does not claim any proven connection.
Temporal and geographic proximity does not prove one phenomenon causes the other. No statistical significance testing has yet been conducted, meaning the results remain descriptive rather than scientific proof.
Data accuracy also remains a challenge. One reported correlation had to be removed after an error was discovered in a Bigfoot dataset where the date was unclear.
Critics argue that without rigorous controls and independent verification, correlations could simply reflect reporting biases or random clustering.
The Big Questions Raised by the Study
The findings have prompted discussion about potential geographic hotspots and whether environmental factors such as weather patterns or geological conditions might influence sightings.
Some psychologists suggest witnesses who experience one unusual event may become more alert and report additional anomalies.
Others speculate about deeper explanations, ranging from unknown natural phenomena to advanced technology or even extraterrestrial links.
Supporters believe the repeated overlaps hint at a shared origin, while sceptics warn that statistical noise and cultural fascination with the unexplained may be driving the patterns.
For now, the study has achieved one clear outcome. It has reignited public curiosity and debate about mysteries that continue to blur the line between folklore and possible reality, leaving scientists, enthusiasts and critics searching for clearer answers.
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/are-ufos-bigfoot-connected-study-finds-hundreds-sightings-happening-within-days-each-other-1776638
https://sentientorbs.com/intel/reports/intel-001
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJY1lYCRpKE (Missing 411: The UFO Connection)
https://missing411.com/
https://www.youtube.com/@canammissingproject
https://x.com/canammissing
Trump Girl 🇺🇲🦅🇺🇲
@MAGA__Patriot
They've been hiding how Obama was placed to destroy the nation. A weapon they never wanted you to see
7:44 AM · Feb 5, 2026
https://x.com/MAGA__Patriot/status/2019436869197656383
https://exopolitics.org/?s=desouza
https://www.johntamabooks.com/
https://x.com/johnxdesouza
American Airlines Pilot Confirms 'Disturbing' UFO Sightings and Drones Threatening Planes in Viral Cockpit Confession
04 February 2026, 10:42 PM GMT
When you settle into your seat and look out the window, the view from 30,000 feet usually looks like a quiet painting of clouds and landscapes.
It is the perfect setting for reading a book or sleeping, safe in the knowledge that the professionals up front have everything under control.
We generally assume their view is just as boring as ours. But a viral confession from an American Airlines pilot has shattered that illusion, revealing that the skies are far more cluttered—and dangerous—than passengers realise.
The Truth About Unidentified Flying Objects
Captain Steve, known to his 426,000 TikTok followers as @captainsteeeve, recently peeled back the curtain on the aviation industry during a candid Q&A session.
When a follower asked the burning question—'Have you ever seen anything weird or unexplained while flying?'—Steve didn't shy away.
He admitted that while he hadn't seen aliens in the 'traditional sense', the reality of what zips past his windscreen is often bizarre enough.
'Well, yeah, kind of. Sometimes weather formations are a little weird,' Steve explained. 'You know, I think you're getting after the 'Have you ever seen a UFO?'
Not in the traditional sense of a UFO, every once in a while you'll be flying and something will go right by you fast, and usually it's like a balloon, like there was a kid's parade and there's a helium balloon that goes by.'
Why Rogue Drones Are Creating A Nightmare For Pilots
While balloons are a curiosity, Steve's tone shifted when he addressed a far more modern menace. 'I've seen drones go by before. That's disturbing,' he admitted. His concern is well-founded and points to a growing crisis in aviation safety.
The threat of drones is not merely hypothetical. In 2024 alone, unmanned aerial systems caused 64 per cent of all near-midair collisions near the 30 largest US airports.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) now receives roughly 100 safety reports every month involving drones flying dangerously close to commercial aircraft.
However, pilots have reported terrifying close calls that could have turned into disasters.
For example, a flight crew coming into San Francisco in November 2024 spotted a drone just 300 feet from the cockpit. Earlier that year, a pilot taking off from Newark reported a drone buzzing within 50 feet of the wing.
To put a stop to this, regulators have rolled out massive fines. Reckless pilots could get hit with a bill for £60,000 ($75,000) per violation. It sounds expensive, but the penalty has to match the risk of endangering hundreds of people.
Weird Lights Over The Canadian Maritimes
Steve moved the conversation away from physical threats like drones to discuss something else entirely. He described visual phenomena that frequently confuse pilots.
He described seeing strange, shifting lights that could easily be mistaken for otherworldly craft, particularly when flying over specific regions like the North Atlantic.
'Also when you fly through the Canadian Maritimes, there's a lot of those satellites and sometimes the sun hits them just right and they all kind of light up. And that looks weird,' he said.
Steve is likely referring to Starlink satellite trains, which have become a frequent source of confusion for pilots and the public alike.
Reports from the Pentagon's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) confirm that many recent 'UAP' sightings are actually these low-orbit satellite constellations.
Their large solar arrays can catch the sun at high altitudes while the ground below is in darkness, creating a 'flare' effect that makes them appear to appear and disappear or move erratically.
'It might be black at night where you are but the sun is hitting them from all over here and can't see the sun now,' Steve noted, debunking the mystery with pilot logic. 'It causes them to light up and not light up.
So sometimes it can look they're moving around but they're not. They're actually stationary and yeah that's kind of a little weird.'
While Captain Steve's viral cockpit confession clarifies that not every light in the sky is an alien visitor, it serves as a stark reminder.
The airspace is getting crowded, and for the pilots responsible for our safety, distinguishing between a harmless satellite and a dangerous drone is becoming a critical part of the job.
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/american-airlines-pilot-confirms-disturbing-ufo-sightings-drones-threatening-planes-viral-1776441
https://www.tiktok.com/@captainsteeeve
The Hidden Cities Beneath Us: 21 Trillion Missing, Elite Agendas Revealed/Catherine Fitts
February 5, 2026
Catherine Austin Fitts (born December 24, 1950) is an American investment banker and former public official who served as managing director of Dillon, Read & Co. and, during the Presidency of George H. W. Bush, as United States Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for Housing.
She has widely written and commented on the subject of public spending and has alleged several large-scale instances of government fraud.
Catherine joins the podcast to reveal the true nature of the spending and the elites plan for humanity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usmbujGukxg
https://www.youtube.com/@thesolarireport
https://x.com/ninoboxer
https://x.com/solari_the
Are the Nazca Tridactyl "Alien" Mummies Real?
Feb 4, 2026
In this report, Timothy Alberino discusses the Nazca tridactyl "alien" mummies of Peru.
Are these bizarre three-fingered beings authentic, or an elaborate hoax?
Review the scientific data at tridactyls.org
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_m0JMAy2I0
https://x.com/TimothyAlberino
HUMAN ORIGINS - Are we an amphibian-reptilian humanoid from the Pleiades?
Feb 5, 2026
In this episode, Elisabeth Hancock explores the fascinating stories of the Nummo from the Dogon tribe, delving into their spiritual origins, physical descriptions, and the implications of their creation myths.
The conversation connects the Nummo to the Pleiades, discusses the consequences of their genetic experiments, and examines the influence of the Jackal on modern society.
The episode emphasizes the importance of wisdom and spiritual awakening in understanding our true origins and connection to the universe.
Takeaways
The Nummo are linked to the Dogon tribe's spiritual beliefs.
The Pleiades is considered the ancestral home for many cultures.
The Nummo were described as amphibious beings with serpent-like traits.
Mermaids and reptilians are probably true stories, not myth
Creation myths involve genetic experiments that led to human forms.
The Jackal represents a failed creation that lacks spiritual connection.
Human sacrifice practices may stem from the Nummo's ancient beliefs
The Anunnaki and Nummo share similar creation narratives.
Modern society reflects the influence of the Jackal's bloodline.
Human DNA may contain remnants of Nummo spiritual DNA.
The pursuit of wisdom is key to awakening and reconnecting with the universe.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Nummo and Dogon Tribe
01:41 The Pleiades Connection and Spiritual Origins
03:39 Physical Descriptions and Historical Accounts of the Nummo
06:42 Creation Myths and Genetic Experiments
10:11 The Jackal and the Consequences of Creation
14:03 The Role of the Nummo in Human Sacrifice and Cannibalism
17:50 The Anunnaki and Their Connection to the Nummo
21:21 The Jackal's Influence on Modern Society
24:13 The Legacy of the Nummo in Human DNA
26:26 The Spiritual Nature of the Universe and Human Connection
29:53 The Great Awakening and the Pursuit of Wisdom
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7xzm15fsBw
https://x.com/elisabethancock
Hoover Dam's Hidden Purpose
Feb 3, 2026
Beneath Hoover Dam is a story hidden in plain sight.
From immense power and celestial alignments to sealed underground tunnels, submerged towns, eerie rituals, and forgotten workers, the evidence suggests this was never just a water project.
How were massive structures with impossible detail completed in months—with no modern tools, no roads, and no signs of struggle?
We examine buildings that don’t fit the timeline, forgotten tunnel systems, and theories of Old World technology tied to energy, control, and reality itself. What are they really protecting behind those walls?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IaOXjwhDAY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9EGk4wlLO0 (The Dam Gold Rush: Sinking the Gold)
https://x.com/MYLUNCHBREAK_
LIZ CROKIN
@LizCrokin
Jeffrey Epstein worked for the Rothschilds.
These demonic freaks who harm children have been ruling the world.
Eyes Wide Shut was a documentary.
From
Red Panda Koala
The Rothschild Surrealist Ball held in 1972
The Rothschilds are an old banking family that have been pulling strings and financing wars since at least the Napoleonic era
Epstein said he works for the Rothschilds and they deal in "prehistoric products"
10:12 AM · Feb 5, 2026
https://x.com/LizCrokin/status/2019474102700982560
https://x.com/RedPandaKoala/status/2019293133604024813
https://www.youtube.com/@RedPandaKoalaII