TYB
Europe's most powerful rocket launches for 1st time, carrying 32 Amazon internet satellites to orbit
February 12, 2026
Europe's new Ariane 6 rocket just notched another milestone.
The most powerful version of the Ariane 6 — known as the 64, because it sports four strap-on solid rocket boosters — lifted off for the first time ever today (Feb. 12).
The Ariane 64 launched from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana at 11:45 a.m. EST (1645 GMT; 1:45 p.m. local time in Kourou), carrying 32 satellites aloft for the Amazon Leo broadband constellation.
If everything goes according to plan, all of the spacecraft will be deployed in low Earth orbit (LEO) by one hour and 54 minutes after liftoff.
Today's launch was the sixth overall for the Ariane 6, a heavy lifter that's operated by the France-based company Arianespace.
The 203-foot-tall (62-meter-tall) rocket — the successor to the recently retired Ariane 5 — debuted with a test flight in July 2024 and aced four operational missions last year.
However, all of those previous missions featured the Ariane 62, which has two solid rocket boosters. Today's flight was the first of the 64 version, which can haul more than 20 metric tons of payload to LEO — about twice as much as the 62.
It was also the first Ariane 6 launch for a commercial customer — the others lofted government-operated spacecraft — and the first to feature the rocket's jumbo 65-foot-long (20-meter-long) payload fairing.
Amazon Leo, previously known as Project Kuiper, is Amazon's version of SpaceX's Starlink broadband megaconstellation.
Amazon Leo will eventually consist of more than 3,200 satellites, which will reach orbit on more than 80 launches performed by a variety of rockets — SpaceX's Falcon 9, United Launch Alliance's Atlas V and Vulcan Centaur, Blue Origin's New Glenn and the Ariane 6.
Today's launch was the eighth in the Amazon Leo buildout phase (not counting an October 2023 mission that lofted two prototype satellites). Those eight flights have sent 185 spacecraft to the final frontier.
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/ariane-64-rocket-debut-launch-amazon-leo-internet-satellites
https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Launch_vehicles/Ariane_6_overview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtF4LPNv5wk
China aces test of next-gen lunar capsule and rocket in effort to land humans on moon before NASA (video)
February 11, 2026
China just took another step toward landing astronauts on the moon.
On Wednesday (Feb. 11) local time, the nation conducted a low-altitude abort test of its next-gen Mengzhou ("Dream Vessel") capsule, which could carry crews to the moon as soon as 2030.
Mengzhou performed as designed during the test, which lifted off from the Wenchang Space Launch Site on Hainan Island.
The capsule successfully maneuvered itself away from its Long March 10 rocket and splashed down in the ocean under parachutes, showcasing capabilities that would be needed in the event of a launch emergency.
The Long March 10 is a key piece of China's moon plans as well: It's a new heavy lifter that will launch the nation's astronauts to Earth's nearest neighbor. And the rocket aced an important trial of its own on Wednesday.
The Long March 10's first stage is designed to be reusable, like that of SpaceX's workhorse Falcon 9 rocket. On Wednesday, the booster guided itself to a powered, vertical splashdown in the ocean after Mengzhou went its separate way.
The Long March 10 is still in development, and Wednesday's flight did not come close to reaching orbit. But the rocket's splashdown success was still a major milestone on the road to recovery and reuse.
China has also made progress recently with its crewed lunar lander, a vehicle named Lanyue. As a result, many space experts give the nation a real chance of winning the crewed race back to the lunar surface.
NASA aims to put boots on the moon in 2028 on the Artemis 3 mission, which will use a modified version of SpaceX's Starship vehicle as its lander. But it's unclear if the mission will be able to meet that timeline.
A lot depends, for example, on the success of Artemis 2, a crewed trip around the moon that could launch as soon as next month. Artemis 2 will employ NASA's Space Launch System rocket and Orion capsule but will not incorporate Starship.
https://www.space.com/astronomy/moon/chinas-next-gen-capsule-rocket-for-crewed-moon-missions-ace-key-test-video
CSO opens Commandant’s Lecture Series at Johns Hopkins University
Feb. 11, 2026
Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman delivered opening remarks for the U.S. Space Force Delta 13 Commandant’s Lecture Series at Johns Hopkins University in Washington, D.C.,
Feb. 4. Space Delta 13, Detachment 3, manages the Space Force Joint Professional Military Education Program, which prepares Guardians to lead within the space warfighting domain.
The series is composed of the three most recent Air Force and Space Force service chiefs who mentor students attending both intermediate and senior level professional military education. Saltzman spoke about his experiences as CSO as well as the history of the service branch.
Col. Alison Gonzalez, commander of Space Delta 13, and Col. Kirk Johnson, commandant of Space Delta 13, Detachment 3, were also present for the lecture, lending support for the series that will continue throughout the month.
The general touched on topics such as the importance of controlling the space warfighting domain, readiness and response, innovation, cyber and space battle capabilities and predictions, along with views and ideas for students to consider.
Students had the opportunity to ask questions and receive insight about the chief of space operations’ tasks, responsibilities and goals. Saltzman ended his lecture by congratulating the students and thanking them for their dedicated service.
“It takes dedicated training, education, and experience centered on warfare in the domain in order to be able to build organizations that can control it,” Saltzman said.
Following the general’s visit, the students gained a broader understanding of the future of the space domain and the direct impact that they have on the Space Force mission.
https://www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4404557/cso-opens-commandants-lecture-series-at-johns-hopkins-university/
https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4404557/cso-opens-commandants-lecture-series-at-johns-hopkins-university/
https://www.jba.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4404327/chief-of-space-operations-opens-commandants-lecture-series-at-johns-hopkins/
https://washingtondc.jhu.edu/news/ussf-space-defense/
Honoring the Legacy of Service: Leadership from Buckley Space Force Base Visits Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center During National Salute to Veteran Patients Week
02.11.2026
As part of the National Salute to Veteran Patients Week, senior leaders from Space Base Delta 2 visited the Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Aurora, Colorado, on Feb. 10, 2026, to honor and express appreciation for the nation's local inpatient veterans.
The visit is part of the VA's Eastern Colorado Healthcare System and broader Department of Veterans Affairs’ celebration.
"Our commitment to community engagement, especially opportunities to connect with our veteran community, is one of our highest priorities,” said Lt. Col. Tyler Hughes, SBD 2 director of mission support.
“It is a profound honor to spend time with these veterans who have selflessly served our country.”
The National Salute to Veteran Patients Program is a week-long event that takes place annually around Valentine's Day.
It is designed to pay tribute to veterans, increase community awareness of the role of VA medical centers, and encourage citizens to volunteer.
During this week, VA facilities across the country invite individuals, veteran groups, military personnel, and community organizations to participate in various activities to honor hospitalized veterans.
“We are thrilled to welcome the leadership of Space Base Delta 2 to our facility during National Salute week to honor our Eastern Colorado veterans and pay tribute to their service to our nation.” said Eva Gergely, Voluntary Service Officer and Chief of the Center for Development and Civic Engagement at the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System.
The dedication and sacrifices of the veterans and their families have paved the way for the current fighting force.
This event not only offered a meaningful connection between current military leaders and those who served before them but also highlighted the vital role of the VA system in veteran care.
Ultimately, the National Salute to Veteran Patients Week and visits like this one serve as a powerful reminder of the debt of gratitude owed to these heroes and a call for continued community support for veterans and the institutions that serve them.
https://www.dvidshub.net/news/557976/honoring-legacy-service-leadership-buckley-space-force-base-visits-rocky-mountain-regional-va-medical-center-during-national
Air Force, Space Force senior enlisted advisors emphasize quality of life’s importance in national defense
Feb. 12, 2026
The senior enlisted advisors of the Air Force and Space Force reminded senators Feb. 11 that preserving – and improving – quality of life for military personnel is just as essential in defending the nation as high-tech weaponry and tactics.
“Sixth-generation platforms need Airmen who have a sixth-generation quality of life,” Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force David R. Wolfe, told a Senate Armed Services Subcommittee.
“People and platforms are not competing variables; they are two parts of the same lethality equation. If one is weak, the entire system fails,” he said.
Wolfe appeared before the Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee joined by Chief Master Sgt. of the Space Force John F. Bentivegna, as well as senior enlisted advisors from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The hearing was the latest installment in an annual ritual in which lawmakers gain insights and information from the military’s senior enlisted leaders. As in past hearings, similar topics emerged, including the status of housing and the battle to eliminate mold.
There were questions as well about the availability – and quality – of childcare, efforts to eliminate and combat sexual abuse, and how quality of life impacts recruiting and retention, among other topics.
Also important, the enlisted leaders said, was ensuring a living wage and uninterrupted pay.
While thanking Congress for providing a recent bump in pay, Bentivegna said, “we must continue to ensure compensation remains responsive to the real-market conditions our Guardians encounter.
“Beyond direct compensation, we know that the well-being of our Guardians is paramount to readiness. Access to affordable childcare and food security, for example, are essential to quality of life,” he said.
While echoing the senior enlisted advisors on many points, Bentivegna also noted the importance of food security and efforts under current law to help personnel have access to and afford enough food.
“To continue this positive trend, both quality of life and quality of service challenges must remain our combined focus,” he said.
“We must continue to invest in flexible solutions to strengthen licensing portability for spouses and increase telehealth service access for members and our families.”
Wolfe, Bentivegna along with the other enlisted advisors all agreed that there is a direct and crucial link between readiness and ensuring quality of life for active-duty personnel and their families.
Airmen and Guardians were described as sophisticated and advanced weapon systems.
“Like any advanced system, it requires precise maintenance to function under pressure,” Wolfe told senators.
“This maintenance is measured in the stability of their family, education, spousal employment, the quality of their housing, and their access to care.
If our Airmen are distracted by family instability or financial hardship, their performance degrades. In our profession, degraded performance can mean mission failure and lives lost.”
The enlisted leaders agreed that although progress has been made on some issues, including the state of housing and barracks, they acknowledged that more work must be done.
Wolfe told senators his goal was to provide them “an honest accounting of where we are succeeding, where we are facing challenges, and where we require your support.”
Progress has been realized to add capacity for childcare, he said, noting that 17 of 35 military construction requirements have been funded.
That effort will reduce “the projected childcare space shortfall by over 60% when complete. However, despite this work, nearly 2,600 children remain on the unmet need waitlist,” he said.
In an effort to improve substandard housing and especially remove mold from buildings, Wolfe said the Air Force has invested $1.1 billion in the last four years to attack those longstanding problems.
To date, 149 projects have received money with another 31 scheduled to collect funding this year.
Additionally, both the Air Force and Space Force have strengthened the services’ Tenant Bill of Rights and mechanisms for resolving disputes with landlords.
While the 2-hour hearing was polite, senators directed a number of questions about efforts to reduce the waiting list at childcare centers and to improve mental health and reduce suicides.
Wolfe and Bentivegna said there has been progress on making childcare available thanks in part to additional funding Congress provided.
But they acknowledged more must be done on that issue as well as on ensuring there are sufficient tools to reduce suicides and mental health services available to any Airman or Guardian who needs it.
https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4405184/air-force-space-force-senior-enlisted-advisors-emphasize-quality-of-lifes-impor/
https://euromaidanpress.com/2026/02/12/ukraine-flew-drones-almost-to-the-urals-and-hit-an-oil-refinery-1700-km-away-russia-thought-was-out-of-reach/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ra0dF-GuCKQ
other Russia and Ukraine
https://militarnyi.com/en/news/strike-drones-attack-progress-defense-plant/
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/4090462-kyivs-left-bank-targeted-in-russian-missiledrone-attack-two-civilians-injured.html
https://moldova1.md/p/68582/kyiv-drone-attack-russian-jet-engine-found-inside-high-rise-apartment-on-february-12
https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/ukrainian-drone-strike-paralyzes-russia-s-1770910679.html
https://unn.ua/en/news/volgograd-oil-refinery-suspends-operations-after-drone-attack-reuters
https://www.rferl.org/a/odesa-dnipro-strikes-russia-war/33676204.html
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/fire-erupts-at-oil-refinery-in-russian-republic-of-komi-from-ukrainian-drone-strike/3828271
https://112.ua/en/zelenskij-pro-zahist-neba-ukraina-stvorue-okremij-napramok-protidii-dronam-139752
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/russia-ukraine-war/russian-village-evacuated-after-ukrainian-drone-strike-hits-defense-ministry-facility/3827970
https://interestingengineering.com/military/ukraine-laser-weapon-counter-russian-drone-swarms
https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/russian-drone-spotted-in-t-rkiye-details-1770904058.html
Ukraine flew drones almost to the Urals — and hit an oil refinery 1700 km away Russia thought was out of reach
12/02/2026
Ukrainian drones struck a Lukoil oil refinery in Ukhta, Komi Republic, roughly 1,700 km from Ukraine in a straight line, in what appears to be the longest confirmed drone strike of the war, while a separate overnight wave set fire to a defense plant in Tambov Oblast and disrupted power across Bryansk Oblast.
Ukraine's General Staff confirmed hits on the Progress defense factory and several more attacks. Amid Russia's ongoing full-scale invasion, Ukraine continues its deep-strike drone campaign against Russian military-industrial and energy targets, progressively stretching Russia's layered air defenses across thousands of kilometers.
The attacks aim to degrade Russian military fuel logistics and production capabilities.
Drones reach Lukoil refinery near Ural Mountains
Attack drones hit the Lukoil-Ukhtanaftepererabotka refinery in Ukhta on the morning of 12 February, sending thick black smoke over the facility, Russian news Telegram channel Astra reported.
Published footage showed drones in flight resembling Ukraine's long-range Liutyi kamikaze drone.
The Ukhta refinery processed about 2 mn tons of crude oil in 2020.
The Liutyi is a Ukrainian attack drone with a claimed range of about 2,000 km, Militarnyi notes. It carries a 50-75 kg warhead and uses artificial intelligence for autonomous navigation, making it resistant to Russian electronic warfare systems that spoof GPS signals.
The Ukhta strike likely sets a new distance record for Ukrainian drone attacks. Prevous record strikes were hundreds kilometers shorter.
In May 2024, Ukrainian drones hit a Russian early-warning radar in Orsk, near the Kazakhstan border, roughly 1,500 km from the front line. Last October and November, the drones struck an oil facility in the same town.
Ukrainian drones have also repeatedly targeted Russia's Shahed drone plant in Yelabuga, Tatarstan, about 1,150 km from Ukraine's border.
Multiple media outlets have reported the distance to Ukhta as 2,000 km, but this figure appears to be based on road routes on Google Directions rather than the straight-line distance of about 1,700 km. Drones notably don't use highways.
Defense plant producing missile guidance systems struck for second time Attack drones hit the Michurinsk Progress Plant in Tambov Oblast overnight on 12 February, Militarnyi reported. A fire broke out on the plant's premises after the strikes.
Tambov Oblast Governor Yevgeny Pervyshov confirmed the attack.
1/2
Before the explosions, locals heard small-arms fire as Russians attempted to shoot down the drones. A series of blasts followed, igniting a fire on the factory grounds.
The plant produces gyroscopic instruments for stabilization and control, course indicators and autopilots for navigation and automatic flight control, and angular velocity sensors and other elements of piloting and navigation systems.
This equipment goes into Russian aircraft, helicopters, and missile systems.
Smoke rising over Michurinsk, Tambov Oblast, after a drone attack on the Progress defense plant, 12 February 2026. Photo: Telegram/Exilenova+
This was the second confirmed attack on the Progress plant. Drones first struck the facility in June 2025, causing significant damage.
Drone attack disrupts Bryansk Oblast power supply
As Russia continues its daily campaign of strikes against Ukraine's energy grid, Ukrainian forces carried out a retaliatory strike in Bryansk Oblast that caused energy disruptions.
Ukrainian Telegram channel Supernova+ published video of one of the hits, which produced a powerful flash.
"Lights are periodically flickering in residents' homes," local outlet Novosti Bryanskoy Oblasti reported.
Some streets lost power entirely, while other districts experienced sharp voltage surges. Fires were also reported, likely caused by debris or direct hits.
Russia's defense ministry claimed its air defenses intercepted 106 Ukrainian drones overnight across 15 oblasts, including 21 over Bryansk Oblast and 13 over Tambov Oblast. The report didn't mention the Komi Republic.
Ukraine's General Staff confirms multiple targets
Ukraine's General Staff confirmed the strike on the Michurinsk Progress Plant, describing it as an enterprise producing high-tech equipment for aviation and missile systems that supports the Russian army.
A fire broke out on the plant's territory, according to preliminary information, with damage still being assessed.
The General Staff also reported hits on Russian ammunition depots near the settlements of Terpinnia and Rozivka in the Russian-occupied part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
The General Staff also said that overnight on 12 February, Ukrainian forces also struck a GRAU (Main Missile and Artillery Directorate) arsenal for comprehensive storage of missiles, ammunition, and explosives near Kotluban in Volgograd Oblast, using the FP-5 Flamingo long-range missiles.
Additionally, the GenStaff confirmed results of the 11 February strike on the Lukoil Volgogradneftepererabotka refinery in Volgograd Oblast.
The strike damaged the main primary oil processing unit ELOU-AVT-1, elements of the AVT-3 unit, and infrastructure on the refinery's territory, the military says.
Secondary processing facilities at the site either reduced output or halted operations entirely.
2/2
Netanyahu Presses Trump for IDF Freedom of Action
February 12, 2026
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump met at the White House yesterday evening.
Their previous meeting took place in Florida in December. Since then, the situation with Iran has evolved from internal protests to warnings of possible military action.
Ynet reports that Netanyahu is concerned that certain U.S.-Iran agreements could limit the IDF’s freedom of action against Iran should the regime act aggressively toward Israel.
He urged Trump to pursue a deal that would address Iran’s ballistic missile program in addition to its nuclear weapons capabilities.
Israeli officials have expressed concern that a U.S.-Iran agreement could restrict Israel’s ability to act militarily against Iran’s leadership.
After the 2015 nuclear deal negotiated under former president Barack Obama, Israel said it would not consider itself bound by the agreement and would act if necessary, but it ultimately did not carry out military action.
In that context, Israeli officials told CNN on Tuesday that Netanyahu would emphasize to Trump the need for military freedom of action against Iran even if a new agreement is signed.
According to assessments cited by Israeli officials, Iran could possess approximately 2,000 ballistic missiles “within weeks.”
Ynet military and defense analyst Ron Ben-Yishai noted this week in that context that an agreement that does not restrict Iran’s missile program or its nuclear weapons could cause Israel to lose its freedom of action to independently thwart and strike inside Iranian territory, even if those projects reach dimensions that pose a tangible threat to Israel. Ynet also reported that the official IDF Persian-language social media account, which is directed at the Iranian people, invited them to contact an Israeli communication channel for “any type of cooperation.”
Trump additionally shared reports that another aircraft carrier is preparing to deploy to the region.
Over the past several months, internal tensions within the Islamic Republic have remained high, with threats of intervention and attacks surfacing intermittently.
During these uncertain times, The Fellowship and our supporters trust in the will of God and pray that whatever path is taken, it will lead to shalom—peace.
https://www.ifcj.org/news/stand-for-israel-blog/netanyahu-presses-trump-for-idf-freedom-of-action
other Israel
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-february-12-2026/
https://worldisraelnews.com/watch-idf-sniper-neutralizes-explosives-planted-by-palestinian-terrorists/
https://www.heraldousa.com/latestnews/israel-defense-forces-announce-execution-of-hamas-sniper-chief-20260211-0090.html
https://www.jns.org/idf-seizes-terrorists-weapons-in-samaria-raids/
https://www.jfeed.com/news-israel/idf-farsi-warning-iranians
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-886467
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422317
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422341
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-886503
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/bkaumhsvze
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/h1vygwodzx
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-no-operational-harm-from-alleged-polymarket-bets-made-using-classified-info/
https://www.thenational.scot/news/25848951.2000-britons-served-israeli-military-gaza-genocide/
https://www.iranintl.com/en/liveblog/202602011665
other Iran
https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-deal-us-israel-netanyahu-missile-program/33676188.html
https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-crackdown-52aae887976ec1bbb0f77c42abd600b8
https://www.iranintl.com/en/202602103377
Trump administration covertly sent Starlink terminals to Iran - WSJ
February 12, 2026
Summary
-
Israel's prime minister said on Thursday Trump’s tougher stance toward Tehran could push Iran to accept terms for a new agreement, but stressed that he is skeptical and that any deal must address its ballistic missiles and regional proxy groups.
-
The Trump administration covertly sent thousands of Starlink satellite internet terminals into Iran following a deadly crackdown on demonstrations and sweeping internet shutdowns, The Wall Street Journal reported citing US officials.
-
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said Iran’s 60%-enriched uranium stockpile could theoretically yield “maybe a dozen” nuclear devices and inspectors still lack access to key bombed sites.
-
President Trump said he insisted on pursuing diplomacy with Iran in his meeting with Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Wednesday.
-
The Pentagon has told a second aircraft carrier strike group to prepare for possible deployment to the Middle East as the US military prepares for a potential attack on Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported.
1 hour ago
BREAKING NEWS
Netanyahu says Trump terms could secure 'good deal' with Iran
Israel's prime minister said on Thursday Trump’s tougher stance toward Tehran could push Iran to accept terms for a new agreement, but stressed that he is skeptical and that any deal must address its ballistic missiles and regional proxy groups.
"President Trump believes that the Iranians have already learned who they are dealing with. He thinks that the conditions he is creating, combined with the fact that they surely understand they made a mistake last time when they didn’t reach an agreement, could create the conditions for achieving a good deal," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said before departing for Israel.
"I won’t hide from you that I expressed general skepticism about the nature of any agreement with Iran.
But I said that if an agreement is indeed reached, it must include the elements that are very important to us - to Israel - and in my view not only to Israel. It’s not just the nuclear issue, but also the ballistic missiles and the Iranian proxies in the region," he added.
2 hours ago
Iran denies 14-year-old detainee access to asthma medication, family says
A 14-year-old Turkmen protester arrested in the northeastern city of Gonbad-e Kavus is under psychological pressure in custody and has been denied full and regular access to his asthma medication, sources close to his family told Iran International.
Eiltay Akhoundi was detained on Friday, January 9, 2026, in Gonbad-e Kavus. After being held for three days in a detention facility run by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ intelligence unit, he was transferred to the Juvenile Correction and Rehabilitation Center in Gorgan.
Akhoundi, who suffers from asthma, has not had consistent and full access to his prescribed medication while in custody, raising concerns about his health condition, according to the sources.
Family sources said the teenager has been subjected to repeated interrogations during his detention and has faced both psychological and physical pressure.
They added that at the time of his arrest and during questioning, he was denied access to a lawyer or any form of legal representation.
2 hours ago
BREAKING NEWS
Trump administration covertly sent Starlink terminals to Iran - WSJ
The Trump administration covertly sent thousands of Starlink satellite internet terminals into Iran following a deadly crackdown on demonstrations and sweeping internet shutdowns, The Wall Street Journal reported citing US officials.
Roughly 6,000 terminals were smuggled into the country after Iranian authorities suppressed unrest in January by killing thousands of protesters and restricting connectivity, marking the first time Washington has directly sent Starlink kits into Iran, the report said.
The State Department had purchased nearly 7,000 terminals in prior months — most in January — to help anti-government activists bypass internet blackouts, officials said, adding that some funding was redirected from other internet freedom programs to finance the purchases.
President Donald Trump was aware of the deliveries, officials said, though it was unclear whether he or another official directly approved the operation.
1/2
2 hours ago
US Congressman says Khamenei’s 'regional rule' nearing end
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s “days as regional despot are numbered,” US Congressman Pat Fallon said on X.
"Iran’s proxies are now a shadow of their former selves thanks to President Trump's maximum pressure campaign. The IRGC's capabilities have taken a major hit, and the Ayatollah's regime is on the back foot," he added.
3 hours ago
Spain pulls out of soccer match with Iran's national team - report
Spain’s football (soccer) federation has withdrawn from a planned friendly with Iran’s national team, Tehran-based football outlet Football 360 reported, one month after Iranian authorities quashed nationwide protests with deadly force.
“Officials from the Spanish Football Federation have backed down and, at the current stage, have no decision to hold a friendly match with Iran’s national team,” the report said.
3 hours ago
Russia says US strike on Iran cannot be ruled out
A new US military operation against Iran cannot be ruled out, Russia’s deputy foreign minister said, warning that the Middle East situation remains alarming amid Washington’s military deployments, Russian state news agency TASS reported.
“The situation in the Middle East, where the Americans have deployed huge numbers of attack systems, increasing pressure by the day and threatening to use force … raises some alarms.
Another military operation there cannot be ruled out,” Sergei Ryabkov said at the Zhirinovsky Readings international scientific and expert forum in Moscow.
"The Americans and their allies in China’s geopolitical circle are simultaneously ramping up their military buildup in the Asia Pacific which poses risks not only to the PRC (People’s Republic of China) but also to Russia," he added.
4 hours ago
Khamenei thanks supporters for turnout at state rally in new video message
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei released a new video message from an undisclosed location on Thursday, thanking supporters for their turnout at the February 11 state-organized rallies marking the anniversary of the 1979 Revolution.
Khamenei said the rallies “disappointed enemies who seek to force the Iranian nation into submission.”
4 hours ago
Hilton assesses Frankfurt hotel ownership tied to Mojtaba Khamenei - Bloomberg
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. is conducting an internal review of a hotel it manages in Frankfurt and weighing whether to terminate its management agreement following scrutiny over the property’s ultimate beneficial owner, Bloomberg News reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
The US-based operator is assessing whether continuing to manage the Hilton Frankfurt Gravenbruch could expose it to sanctions risks after a Bloomberg investigation found the hotel’s ultimate owner to be Mojtaba Khamenei, the second-eldest son of Iran’s Supreme Leader, who has been under US sanctions since 2019.
5 hours ago
Trump shares report of second aircraft carrier being deployed to Mideast
US President Donald Trump reshared a Wall Street Journal story about Pentagon preparing a second aircraft carrier to be deployed to the Middle East on his Truth Social account.
5 hours ago
Iran president says authorities at fault for protests
Authorities are to blame when the youths take to the streets to protest, said Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian on Thursday, acknowledging a failure to address their concerns.
“If our youths were in the streets, we are at fault and we were unable to properly respond to their concerns and worries,” he said during a visit to Golestan province.
2/2
Drone strike attack in Dilling marks the latest grim chapter in the Sudan Civil War
February 12, 2026
On Wednesday, the Rapid Support Forces (a rogue paramilitary force) launched a drone strike on Dilling, a city in Sudan’s South Kordofan state. The attack killed dozens and injured many more.
This came just two days after the Sudanese Armed Forces announced they had ended a long RSF siege on the town, briefly raising hopes for less violence.
Instead, the new attack showed that the conflict is not moving toward peace, but is changing in how it is fought.
Dilling matters to both sides because of its location. The city sits at the centre of competing interests, with both the SAF and RSF fighting for control.
It is also close to areas influenced by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North, a group with its own disputes with Khartoum. Because of this, whoever controls Dilling can affect more than just the people living there.
While the SAF’s announcement about the siege seemed important, the RSF’s drone strike showed that losing ground does not stop its ability to attack.
”Remote aerial attacks have become more common and now target both military and civilian sites in different regions”
The use of drones marks a bigger shift in Sudan’s war. Remote aerial attacks have become more common and now target both military and civilian sites in different regions.
Recent reports say that drone warfare has killed hundreds in Kordofan and other areas, with civilians hit in markets, health centres, and schools. In cities like Dilling, drone strikes are often not as precise as intended.
Drones let armed groups attack without sending in ground troops, but they also raise the risk of civilian deaths and make it hard to hold anyone responsible, especially when command structures are unclear.
Seeing Sudan’s war as just a fight between two sides misses the many layers of the conflict. South Kordofan has long seen local struggles involving the SAF, RSF, and SPLM-N.
The history of tension between SPLM-N and Khartoum goes back decades, making it harder to bring stability. As violence continues, local groups risk being pulled deeper into a conflict that began as a national power struggle.
These shifting alliances and front lines make diplomacy and negotiations more difficult.
”Sudan’s civil war has caused one of the world’s largest displacement crises, with over 9 million people forced from their homes and more than 4 million fleeing to neighbouring countries”
The renewed violence has had a severe humanitarian impact. Sudan’s civil war has caused one of the world’s largest displacement crises, with over 9 million people forced from their homes and more than 4 million fleeing to neighbouring countries.
Aid groups and medical workers have often called for safe routes to help civilians, warning that the health system is falling apart. Hospitals do not have enough supplies, staff are overwhelmed, and basic services are disrupted by insecurity and limited access.
Drone strikes like the one in Dilling make things worse by causing more civilian casualties and putting extra pressure on the already weak medical system. They also make aid agencies more cautious about working in dangerous areas because the airspace is unsafe.
This leads to more people being displaced. In South Kordofan and other front-line areas, families are forced to flee and return again and again, unable to find lasting safety as each new round of fighting destroys homes, crops, and community ties.
The political outlook is bleak. The SAF’s announcement about lifting the siege could have opened the door to restraint or talks, at least locally. Instead, the RSF’s drone strike shows a continued focus on using force rather than negotiation.
Both sides seem stuck in a cycle of retaliation, with little reason to compromise as long as they can gain ground, even if only for a short time.
The attack on Dilling is more than just one event. It shows that the conflict is becoming more advanced in technology, more divided, and more harmful to civilians.
Without strong international efforts for ceasefires, better humanitarian access, and a political process that takes Sudan’s regional differences into account, drone strikes and similar tactics will likely continue.
For most Sudanese, this means not a win for any side, but more suffering and displacement.
https://www.palatinate.org.uk/drone-strike-attack-in-dilling-marks-the-latest-grim-chapter-in-the-sudan-civil-war/
https://www.khaama.com/drone-strike-on-sudan-mosque-kills-three-children/