TYB
https://united24media.com/latest-news/russia-preparing-mass-naval-drone-strikes-in-black-sea-ukrainian-intel-warns-16008
other Russia and Ukraine
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/70263
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/70289
https://euromaidanpress.com/2026/02/18/ukrainian-drones-hit-240-targets-in-russia-and-occupied-territories-since-start-of-2026-usf-commander-reports/
https://united24media.com/latest-news/fire-erupts-at-key-russian-missile-plant-after-drone-strike-16017
https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/night-assault-defense-forces-target-enemy-1771435582.html
https://en.defence-ua.com/news/ukraines_nemesis_brigade_targets_russian_9k33_osa_system_in_precision_drone_strike_video-17547.html
https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/elite-ukrainian-unit-destroys-rare-russian-1771429184.html
https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-weighs-passport-requirement-for-sim-card-sales-amid-russian-drone-threat/
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/4092676-drones-attack-factory-in-cheboksary-that-manufactures-antennas-for-shahed-drones.html
https://militarnyi.com/en/news/volodymyr-zelensky-russia-deploys-relay-transmitters-in-belarus-for-drone-strikes-on-northern-ukraine/
https://english.nv.ua/nation/flash-explained-how-russians-control-fpv-drones-over-ukraine-50585048.html
https://united24media.com/latest-news/mystery-jet-drone-from-quantum-systems-and-airbus-may-hold-strike-role-for-ukraine-16022
https://english.nv.ua/nation/russian-oil-shipments-rise-despite-drone-attacks-on-refineries-50584889.html
Russia Preparing Mass Naval Drone Strikes in Black Sea, Ukrainian Intel Warns
Feb 18, 2026 11:40
Russia is preparing to expand the use of naval drones in its war against Ukraine, with plans indicating a potential shift toward mass deployment in the Black Sea.
According to RBC-Ukraine on February 18, citing Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR), Russia has not yet achieved systematic or effective combat use of these systems with significant battlefield impact.
However, intelligence officials state that production plans point to preparations for broader application.
HUR told RBC-Ukraine that no “systemic or effective use of these assets with significant combat impact” has been recorded so far.
At the same time, intelligence officials noted that plans to manufacture up to 40 units per month of certain platforms, including the “Skat” type naval drone, “indicate the enemy’s intention to shift to tactics of mass deployment.”
Among the systems under development is the “Triton” naval drone, reportedly capable of reaching speeds of up to 100 km/h. Ukrainian intelligence assesses that this platform could be intended for attacks against civilian shipping and port infrastructure.
HUR also highlighted the development of the autonomous underwater vehicle “Prosveet-1,” reportedly designed to counter Ukrainian underwater unmanned systems.
Dmytro Pletenchuk, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Navy, told RBC-Ukraine that Russia is not copying a specific Ukrainian platform but rather the broader operational model behind Ukraine’s naval drone campaign.
“They are not copying a specific drone. They are copying the logic: a fast platform, low visibility, modularity, an attempt at integration into a system,” Pletenchuk said.
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Russia has moved over the past year from conceptual design to active testing and attempts at serial production. Most projects remain in development or limited operational testing phases.
In addition to “Triton” and “Skat,” open sources referenced by RBC-Ukraine mention other concepts, including “Odduvanchik,” “Murena,” “Vizir,” and “Katran.”
These reportedly range from direct strike platforms with large explosive payloads to sensor-equipped systems intended for surveillance roles.
Some designs are described as carrier-type unmanned surface vessels capable of launching smaller FPV drones closer to shorelines or protected infrastructure.
However Ukrainian intelligence assesses that Russia continues to face challenges in communications, navigation, and access to key components—factors that limit operational reliability.
According to RBC-Ukraine, sources in Ukrainian military and political circles indicate that the Kremlin views naval drones as part of a broader strategy aimed at exerting pressure on Ukrainian shipping and establishing a de facto blockade in the Black Sea.
Russia has continued missile and drone strikes against port infrastructure in Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Izmail, and naval drones are being considered as an additional instrument within that pressure campaign.
HUR stated that in the strategic dimension, the development of naval unmanned systems is viewed by Russia as part of a long-term military policy aimed at asymmetric confrontation with technologically advanced naval powers.
At the same time, analysts note that Russia continues to rely primarily on aerial drones and missile systems, which are already integrated into large-scale strike operations.
Defense expert Oleh Katkov told RBC-Ukraine: “They have missiles. They have ‘Shaheds,’ which operate regularly and against a broad spectrum of targets. Why complicate the scheme and bring in a naval drone if the effect is significantly smaller?”
Katkov also noted that Ukraine does not operate large naval groupings in open waters, making maritime drone hunting operations more complex and potentially less cost-effective.
Ukrainian intelligence concludes that while Russian naval drones have not yet altered the balance in the Black Sea, development is consistent and systematic.
Officials warn that the risk lies in potential combined use—integrating naval drones with aerial unmanned systems, reconnaissance assets, and missile strikes as part of multi-layered operations.
Expanded deployment of such systems could also increase risks to international commercial shipping routes if used beyond direct combat scenarios.
Earlier, on February 16, Russian state media claimed that Moscow’s new “Sarma” multiple launch rocket system—positioned as a domestic analogue to the US-made HIMARS—was already undergoing combat trials in Ukraine.
The system is described as using 300-mm rockets with a range of up to 120 kilometers and a six-tube launcher designed for rapid “shoot-and-scoot” strikes, although no visual confirmation of its battlefield deployment has emerged.
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IDF will stay on offensive against Hezbollah, division cmdr. reassures Lebanon border mayors
Updated: FEBRUARY 18, 2026 17:37
IDF 91st Division commander Brig.-Gen. Yuval Gaz talked with a group of leaders from the northern border region, assuring them that the military's plans are to keep on the attack against Hezbollah.
The military will stay “on the attack” against Hezbollah, 91st Division Commander Brig.-Gen. Yuval Gaz told a group of northern border region leaders on Wednesday.
“Our responsibility is that we don’t only react but also to preempt, to initiate [attacks] in order to [better] defend. Any place where the IDF needs to act – we will act,” Gaz told the regional leaders, alongside the Defense Ministry northern coordinator Nochi Mendel.
The commander said, “I am here to tell you that we are preparing for various scenarios. We have operational plans to act immediately, and our forces are distributed along the entire border and deep into the territory.”
Although Israel withdrew most of its forces from southern Lebanon within months of the November 2024 ceasefire with Hezbollah, it has kept five outposts in southern Lebanon, along the border, with some several hundred to 1,000 or so soldiers stationed there to ensure there will be no surprise attack penetration into Israel.
Next, Gaz said that regarding “any operational challenge, we will be on the frontlines so that the enemy will encounter the military and not civilians,” noting the IDF is aware of the public discourse on the issue and will make sure to guarantee civilian safety at all times.
“This is our command, and this is the standard to which we are committed: full defense of the residents at all times and in every scenario,” he said.
During the meeting, Gaz presented the regional leaders with the most up-to-date operational situation, a summary of the division’s recent activities, and goals that the unit has set for 2026, such as continuing to improve the defenses of northern border towns.
According to Gaz, tight cooperation with the regional leaders and their local security coordinators is a core aspect of the security concept for the area, which multiplies the overall power brought to bear to defend the area.
Concerns over Hezbollah attack during possible war with Iran
There have been some raised tensions on the border given the increased possibility of a US-Iran-Israel conflict on the horizon, with some officials worried that Hezbollah might also attack the Jewish state if the Iranian regime appeared to be on its last legs.
However, the IDF has kept up a steady – and sometimes even increasing – pace of attacks on Hezbollah operatives and locations recently, both to deter such a scenario and to kinetically remove Hezbollah’s capacity to attack Israel with rockets even if it wanted to do so.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-887120
other Israel
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/ex-idf-military-intelligence-chief-suggests-us-action-against-iran-could-come-within-days/
https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/02/18/idf-iran-likely-to-target-israel-if-us-launches-strike/
https://jewishinsider.com/2026/02/israel-home-front-iran-u-s-conflict/
https://vinnews.com/2026/02/18/idf-demolishes-home-of-hamas-terrorist-behind-two-deadly-attacks-in-judea-samaria/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-first-idf-says-female-officer-to-command-navy-warship/
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-886901
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/gaza-cemetery-graves-9.7093884
https://www.iranintl.com/en/liveblog/202602154712
other Iran
https://theweek.com/politics/trump-witkoff-kushner-diplomac-iran-ukraine
https://www.wboc.com/news/u-s-in-dialogue-with-iran-russia-ukraine/video_7d14b0a4-f939-50bb-ace6-ce2e64584042.html
https://wpde.com/news/nation-world/former-pentagon-official-breaks-down-latest-developments-in-usiran-nuclear-talks-defense-department-amber-smith-uss-gerald-ford-president-donald-trump-middle-east-israel-draft-war-february-military
https://www.fdd.org/in_the_news/2026/02/18/will-there-be-an-iran-conflict-after-geneva-nuclear-talks/
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/israel-raises-alert-level-amid-signs-of-imminent-us-israeli-strike-on-iran-report/3833967
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/intense-us-naval-air-power-buildup-sets-stage-for-potential-iran-war/article70648980.ece
Trump signals military option if Iran rejects deal
February 18, 2026
Summary
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Iran’s teachers’ union said a Wednesday strike to honor students and teachers killed in the protests led to school closures in several cities.
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After a round of US-Iran nuclear talks in Geneva, reports pointed to a mounting US military buildup and warnings from Israeli officials that a broader confrontation could unfold within days if diplomacy breaks down.
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US Vice President JD Vance said Iran is not yet willing to acknowledge some of President Donald Trump’s red lines following the latest round of negotiations in Geneva on Tuesday.
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Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said talks with the United States had made good progress on Tuesday, with both sides agreeing on guiding principles to begin drafting a possible agreement, though he cautioned that reaching a deal would be difficult and not imminent.
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IRGC-affiliated media said parts of the Strait of Hormuz would close for several hours during a naval drill, as the Guards’ navy commander said his forces could shut the waterway “in the shortest possible time” if ordered.
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The United States has deployed more than 50 F-35, F-22 and F-16 fighter jets to the Middle East region in the past 24 hours, Axios reported, citing flight radar data and a US official.
13 minutes ago
BREAKING NEWS
Trump says US may use Diego Garcia if no deal with Iran
US president Donald Trump says if Iran refuses to make a deal, the United States may need to use Diego Garcia, hinting at possible military action from the strategic Indian Ocean base.
22 minutes ago
‘Many arguments’ for Iran strike, White House says
"There are many arguments one can make in favor of a strike against Iran. President Trump prefers diplomacy. Iran would be wise to make a deal,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday.
“There was a little bit of progress made (during Iran-US talks in Geneva), but we’re still very far apart on some issues. I believe the Iranians are expected to come back to us with some more detail in the next couple of weeks, and so the President will continue to watch how this plays out,” Leavitt added.
1 hour ago
UN rapporteur says military action on Iran ‘not a magic solution’
The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran said she is strongly critical of any potential US military action against Iran.
"I am very critical of any kind of military action without the approval of the UN Security Council," Mai Sato said in an interview with Spanish newspaper, El País.
"When there has been military action elsewhere, it has not provided clear solutions. I do not see military action as a magic solution to resolve the problems in Iran," she added.
When asked whether the Islamic Republic had committed crimes against humanity during recent protests, Sato said, “It would be very irresponsible of me to say yes, because this is a very serious accusation that requires investigation.”
"Even if we ask ourselves 'Why can’t we define it that way?' The answer is that we don’t act that way in our own criminal justice systems either. I wouldn’t define someone as a murderer without a conviction for that crime, even if there are videos showing the alleged crime," she added.
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1 hour ago
Iran, Russia, China envoys meet IAEA chief on nuclear developments
The ambassadors of Iran, Russia and China to international organizations in Vienna met International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi to discuss developments related to Iran’s nuclear program, state media reported.
During the meeting, the ambassadors submitted a joint letter outlining their shared positions and emphasizing coordination and joint engagement on the issues, the report said.
1 hour ago
Security deployed at Isfahan cemetery during protester memorials
Security forces and military vehicles were deployed around Behesht-e Rezvan cemetery in Isfahan during fortieth-day memorial ceremonies on Wednesday for protesters killed in nationwide January protests, a video sent to Iran International shows.
2 hours ago
Iran fears nuclear talks gap with US may be unbridgeable - WSJ
While Iran’s foreign minister publicly said Iran-US talks had made progress, Tehran now fears the gap between what it is willing to offer and what Washington is prepared to accept may be unbridgeable, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing an Iranian official.
2 hours ago
Iran denies defense in protester group death sentence case, lawyer says
Nineteen-year-old protester Mohammadamin Biglari has been sentenced to death in a group case tried alongside six other defendants, with the maximum punishment issued for all individuals in the case, Tehran-based news outlet Emtedad reported, citing his lawyer.
"The head of Branch 9 did not grant us permission to review the case file nor permission to present a defense," Emtedad quoted Biglari's lawyer Hassan Aghakhani as saying.
He added that Mohammadamin had been under his grandmother’s guardianship since childhood and had been working two jobs at the same time.
3 hours ago
Russia's energy minister meets Iran’s president in Tehran
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian met Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev on Wednesday to discuss the implementation of a comprehensive program of strategic cooperation between the two countries, the Russian Embassy in Tehran said on X.
Negotiations between Sergei Tsivilev and the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian were held on February 18.
🤝🏻 The parties discussed the implementation of the comprehensive program of strategic cooperation between the two countries. pic.twitter.com/KO2cjzxJdJ
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Lethal Kinetic Strikes, Feb. 16, 2026
Feb. 17, 2026
Late on Feb. 16, at the direction of the commander of U.S. Southern Command, Marine Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted three lethal kinetic strikes on three vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations.
Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and were engaged in narco-trafficking operations.
Eleven male narco-terrorists were killed during these actions, 4 on the first vessel in the Eastern Pacific, 4 on the second vessel in the Eastern Pacific, and 3 on the third vessel in the Caribbean. No U.S. military forces were harmed.
https://www.southcom.mil/News/PressReleases/Article/4407222/lethal-kinetic-strikes-feb-16-2026/
Sudan: Rights chief alarmed after at least 57 killed in drone attacks in two days
18 February 2026
Volker Türk was alarmed by the reports, which said that at least 15 children were among the victims.
“These latest killings are yet another reminder of the devastating consequences on civilians of the escalating use of drone warfare in Sudan,” he said.
The attacks occurred between 15 and 16 February and in four states across Sudan, where the national army and a paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), have been at war since April 2023.
Market, schools and IDP shelter hit
Mr. Türk said an alleged Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) drone struck the Al Safiya market in Sudari locality, North Kordofan state, on 15 February, reportedly killing 28 civilians and injuring 13 others.
The following day, in West Kordofan, an alleged SAF drone struck a shelter for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Al Sunut, killing 26 civilians, among them 15 children. Fifteen others were injured.
That same day, alleged RSF drones hit two primary schools in Dilling, South Kordofan, but casualties have not yet been determined.
Elsewhere, an alleged RSF drone =struck the Al-Mazmoun Hospital in Sennar state on 15 February, reportedly killing at least three civilians and injuring at least seven others.
On the same day, an alleged SAF drone struck a fuel store within a local market in Adikong, West Darfur. Casualties were reported but remain unconfirmed.
“The continued attacks by all parties on civilian objects must stop,” the rights chief said. “The parties must take urgent measures to protect civilians, including by refraining from the military use of civilian objects.”
UN convoy arrives in South Kordofan
Meanwhile, a multi-agency UN convoy has brought vital humanitarian supplies to two cities in South Kordofan – Dilling and nearby Kadugli – which have been largely cut off from aid for more than two years.
The 26 trucks transported essential medical, food, nutrition, health, water and sanitation (WASH), and education supplies for over 130,000 people.
The items included food commodities to support nearly 70,000 people – among them 21,000 mothers and children – with specialised nutritious food to prevent malnutrition.
Five months of HIV, TB and malaria medication and lifesaving medicines also were on board. The convoy was led by the World Food Programme (WFP), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the UN Development Programme (UNDP).
‘A critical lifeline’
“The arrival of this convoy is a critical lifeline for children who have been cut off from assistance for far too long,” said Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative in Sudan.
Due to intensified hostilities and insecurity along the main route from Al Obeid, the convoy was forced to halt for more than 40 days which delayed the mission and exposed communities to further risk.
The trucks ultimately reached Dilling by navigating a longer and more difficult offroad route – underlining how humanitarian convoys push forward even in extremely challenging conditions, said Makena Walker, acting WFP Country Director for Sudan.
“Routes must stay open and predictable so vital assistance can reach people without interruption, including communities that have been cut off for far too long,” she said.
The UN agencies underscored that sustained, predictable, and safe access is urgently required to prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian situation across South Kordofan.
Step up support
“The arrival of lifesaving medicine in South Kordofan is a huge relief for patients who have watched stocks dwindle during the war. But now the clock starts ticking again,” said Luca Renda, UNDP Sudan Resident Representative.
“To keep patients alive, we have to ramp up support for national systems that can maintain regular deliveries all across Sudan, even while war continues.”
https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/02/1166988
https://twitter.com/UNHumanRights/status/2024133267318845636
Mexico prepares for possible drone threats during the World Cup
Tue, February 17, 2026 at 5:12 PM PST
The Mexican military is preparing to confront the potential threat of non-authorized drones in stadiums used for this summer's football World Cup.
Mexico is co-hosting the tournament with the United States and Canada between June 11 to July 19, and on Tuesday, soldiers at a military base in Mexico City demonstrated the anti-drone equipment they would use to protect the nation's stadiums.
The prevention tactics are a response to growing use of internet-bought drones by drug cartels to hit rivals and civilians in regions plagued by organized crime.
These areas are in fact far from the three World Cup venues: Mexico City in the center of the country, Guadalajara in the west, and Monterrey in the north. They will host 13 of the tournament's 104 matches.
"(Drone prevention) is going to be focused in the stadiums and where there are crowds, which could be the 'Fan Fest' events, or any point where there are meetings of people," army Captain Jose Alfredo Lara, a communications and electronics engineer, told AFP.
The soldiers will use two types of anti-drone equipment. One is a semi-mobile system that will establish a perimeter within which "no unauthorized drone will be allowed to fly."
The other is a portable system that a soldier can adjust to aim towards wherever a non-authorized drone may be flying.
Once the military team locates a drone, it cuts off the pilot's communication with the apparatus. "The device loses control and won't be able to come close," Lara explained.
Once stopped, and depending on its configuration, the device can retreat, try to exit the range of digital interception or may totally lose control.
The captain said use of drones by organized crime groups has grown over the past five years, leading the Mexican military to take actions "to be able to mitigate these types of threats."
The Sinaloa cartels, the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), and the Familia Michoacana all have drones in their arsenal.
According to analysts from Insight Crime, their usage is concentrated in the states of Michoacan in the west, Chihuahua in the north and Guanajuato in the center of the country.
In October last year, installations of the state prosecutors of the state of Baja California, in the border city of Tijuana, were attacked by drones that dropped artisanal explosives.
https://www.aol.com/articles/mexico-prepares-possible-drone-threats-011239550.html
Apache helicopters downed drones in air-to-air combat with 30mm proximity ammo
Feb 18, 2026, 03:32 AM
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — The U.S. Army’s Apache attack helicopter AH-64 broke new ground by firing 30mm proximity ammunition at drones in air-to-air combat during a December exercise in Yuma, Arizona, according to the service.
The live fire test saw Apache pilots engage drones flying on ranges at Yuma Proving Ground using the 30x113mm XM1225 Aviation Proximity Explosive, called APEX.
The APEX rounds have proximity fuzes that cause them to detonate when they close in on a target, releasing a wide radius of blast fragments.
The 30mm rounds are designed to be fired at targets requiring precision to hit, such as small boats, drones and enemy combatants, without requiring changes to the Apache’s existing weapon system.
The fragments excelled at destroying drones in flight, the service has stated, in addition to being effective against ground targets.
“The XM1225’s proximity fuze has the potential to increase soft-skinned ground and aerial target vulnerability, providing the Attack [Division] community an additional capability so long as those targets are susceptible to detection, classification, and tracking,” Maj. Vincent Franchino, test pilot and Attack Division chief at Redstone Test Center in Huntsville, Alabama, said in a statement.
The APEX technology was developed in-house by the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command’s Armaments Center, with support from Picatinny Arsenal and Northrop Grumman.
Proximity fuzes have a long history within the U.S. military. The first were developed by the United States during World War II and were used against aircraft and Germany’s V-1 flying bombs.
The move to upgrade helicopter weapons capabilities for drone warfare is part of the Army’s drive to modernize combat units to address and incorporate unmanned systems.
Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George announced last month that the service will begin fielding the Bell MV-75 tiltrotor aircraft by the end of this year and that larger unmanned aerial systems classed in Groups 3, 4 and 5 are being integrated into Army combat aviation brigades.
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2026/02/18/apache-helicopters-downed-drones-in-air-to-air-combat-with-30mm-proximity-ammo/
>Fort Huachuca Army Base
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-15571445/Trump-poised-historic-UFO-disclosure-daughter-law-confirms-extraterrestrial-speech.html
https://www.uniladtech.com/science/space/ufo-expert-obama-alien-656906-20260218
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/every-us-president-who-claimed-to-see-ufos-after-obamas-groundbreaking-comments/ar-AA1WnF7k
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/whistleblower-alien-bodies-nasa-korea-1779585
https://www.motorbiscuit.com/congressman-ufo-hiding-purpose-built-structure/
https://www.femalefirst.co.uk/bizarre/ufo-obsessive-mark-christopher-lee-says-threatened-following-donald-trump-alien-disclosure-claims-1437825.html
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/every-us-president-who-claimed-to-see-ufos-after-obamas-groundbreaking-comments/ar-AA1WnF7k
Trump is rumored to have a historic disclosure speech ready, Burlison, Luna, Burchett and others are talking about craft to big to move and contact and etc, and it is crickets from a lot of outlets.
Meanwhile, Obama jumps in and says aliens are real ahead of any Trump announcement and all the media that weren't previously reporting on such matters explode with his comments.
Trump poised for historic UFO disclosure as daughter-in-law confirms extraterrestrial speech
Updated: 13:32 EST, 18 February 2026
Whispers of a looming UFO disclosure are growing louder after President Donald Trump's daughter-in-law hinted a bombshell announcement could be coming.
Speaking on the Pod Force One podcast, Laura Trump said she and her husband, Eric, asked the president about rumors he has a speech ready for the historic moment.
'He played a little coy with us. And so that, of course, led us to believe… Eric and I were like, "Oh my gosh, if he won't even fully tell us, maybe there's more to it,"' she said.
She suggested President Trump had mentioned having a speech prepared that he plans to deliver at the 'right time,' touching on the possibility of extraterrestrial life.
The rumors were sparked by claims from Mark Christopher Lee, a UK-based director and ufologist, who told Daily Mail 'an advisor to the Trump administration' told him that the president 'has been given authority by the other major world leaders to make this announcement.'
The speech, according to Lee, was initially planned for the United Nations General Assembly in September. However, Lee said it has been moved up to coincide with Roswell's 79th anniversary on July 8.
He told the Daily Mail that 'new intelligence developments have made it a matter of urgency.'
The White House previously declined to comment on the matter.
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Trump has expressed support for increased transparency and 'disclosure' regarding UFOs, though his personal interest in the subject has historically been described as skeptical or limited.
'Am I a believer? No, I probably can't say I am. But I have met with people who are serious people who say there are some really strange things that they see flying around out there,' Trump said during an appearance on YouTuber-turned-WWE star Logan Paul's podcast last year.
Laura said this week that she has heard Trump mention having a speech prepared, which he plans to deliver at the 'right time,' and that it may address some form of extraterrestrial life.
The president's daughter-in-law had also alluded to the speech on her own podcast earlier this month. Taking questions from fans, she read aloud: 'What do you or the president know about UFOs? Can you share?'
Laura replied: 'I hear that the President has something in the queue to share with us about all of this.'
She suggested the president is preparing to share information on the subject, recalling that after his first term, Eric asked what he could reveal and received only vague answers.
'He was a little hesitant to give us any real info, which makes me think like he's got a lot of info out there and is waiting for the right time to drop it,' Laura said.
With recent reports circulating about a potential UFO-related speech, she added that the president's unusual reserve on the topic has fueled her belief that 'there's more to come.'
'Now, here's the thing that I'll say: What do I know about UFOs? What I do know is that this, our universe, is so enormous,' Laura said.
'It actually, if I start thinking about it, makes me a little crazy. You think about just our solar system, okay? And then you think about how many solar systems like ours are in our galaxy.
And when you think about how many galaxies are in the universe, the whole thing is kind of mind-boggling.' She then admitted to fully believing that something is out there.
According to Lee's insider, President Trump's UFO disclosures speech will reportedly highlight several high-profile cases, including the 2004 USS Nimitz Tic Tac encounter, the 2015 USS Roosevelt GoFast and Gimbal incidents, and the 1947 Roswell event.
'He will confirm that forensic analysis of recovered off-world vehicles and non-human biologics has established their extraterrestrial origin, marking the first official acknowledgment of this reality by any world leader,' Lee added.
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https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/us-air-force-scrambles-f16s-ufo-sighting-northern-california-1779811
https://www.tiktok.com/@joeycontino2/video/7607580526496517406
California UFO Sightings Forced US Air Force to Deploy F16s on Intercept Mission—Public Seeks Answers
17 February 2026, 9:03 PM GMT
A sudden military response over Northern California has reignited national debate over unidentified aerial phenomena. Residents across parts of Northern California reported unusual aircraft activity after what witnesses described as a UFO was detected in restricted airspace.
Within minutes, the US Air Force had scrambled F-16s on an intercept mission, prompting alarm and renewed scrutiny of how authorities handle unidentified objects in American skies.
The incident gained widespread attention after a viral TikTok video posted by Joey Contino appeared to show fighter jets streaking across the sky.
In the clip, the creator claims the aircraft were responding to a UFO sighting in Northern California, asking viewers: 'Why are F-16s flying so low right now?'
Viral Footage Sparks Questions
The TikTok video quickly accumulated thousands of views, with users speculating about what triggered the sudden US Air Force activity.
Contino narrates the scene in real time, stating that something unusual had been spotted in the area. Whilst social media often amplifies rumours, the speed and formation of the F-16s suggested an urgent intercept rather than a routine training exercise.
Military aircraft are frequently deployed for airspace violations, but officials rarely confirm the nature of the object involved unless it poses an immediate public threat. That ambiguity has fuelled public curiosity in this case.
What Prompted the Intercept?
According to online accounts tied to the footage, an unidentified flying object had entered monitored airspace in Northern California, prompting authorities to launch an intercept mission.
The US Air Force maintains protocols for responding to unknown or unauthorised aerial objects. When radar systems detect an anomaly, fighter aircraft such as F-16s are often scrambled to identify the target visually.
An intercept does not automatically confirm extraterrestrial origins. In military terminology, a UFO simply refers to an object that has not yet been identified.
However, the use of F-16s signals that officials deemed the situation serious enough to warrant immediate airborne verification.
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Residents Describe Low-Flying Jets
Witnesses reported hearing loud engine roars and seeing jets flying at relatively low altitude. For communities in Northern California, the sudden military presence was unsettling.
'I've never seen them fly like that before', one local wrote in response to the video. 'It felt different — urgent'. Such reactions underscore the human impact of aerial defence operations. Even when no danger materialises, the visible show of force leaves an impression.
The US Air Force has not publicly detailed the outcome of this specific intercept. That silence has intensified speculation about what exactly the F-16s encountered.
Official Silence and Growing Curiosity
Public trust hinges on transparency, particularly in an era where government disclosures about unidentified aerial phenomena have increased. In recent years, US defence officials have acknowledged investigating hundreds of unexplained sightings.
Whilst most are later attributed to drones, weather balloons, or airborne debris, a small percentage remain unresolved. The Northern California incident now joins that broader conversation.
Without a formal statement clarifying the nature of the UFO, online theories continue to circulate. Some suggest a drone incursion. Others speculate about classified technology testing.
What remains undisputed is that an intercept mission occurred, and that F-16s were deployed in response to something authorities could not immediately identify.
Why These Incidents Matter
Airspace security is not merely a military concern; it directly affects civilian safety. When an unidentified object appears in monitored skies, it raises questions about surveillance gaps, foreign incursions, and the resilience of national defence systems.
Deploying F-16s for an intercept demonstrates readiness, but it also signals that unknown objects can and do enter restricted zones.
For residents in Northern California, the sight of US Air Force jets overhead is a reminder that global tensions and technological uncertainties can quickly become local events.
Public Seeks Clearer Answers
The viral TikTok clip has amplified calls for clarity. Viewers continue to ask what the UFO was and whether there was any risk to nearby communities.
Transparency may ultimately determine how this episode is remembered: as a routine security response or as another unresolved chapter in the growing catalogue of unidentified aerial encounters.
Until officials provide further information, the incident remains officially unexplained. What is certain is that Northern California witnessed a rapid intercept mission involving F-16s, triggered by a UFO sighting significant enough to prompt action from the US Air Force.
For many watching from the ground, that response alone is reason enough to seek answers.
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-15568557/Secret-immovable-UFO-hiding-plain-sight-purpose-built-structure-claims-US-congressman.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtrazl51NGY (Newsmax Finnerty: Rep. Eric Burlison and Steven Greer Discuss Alleged Large UAP Object Located Overseas)
https://x.com/RobFinnertyUSA
https://x.com/RepEricBurlison
https://x.com/DrStevenGreer
Secret 'immovable' UFO is hiding in plain sight in purpose-built structure claims US congressman
Updated: 21:08 EST, 17 February 2026
A US congressman has made shocking claims that a hidden object, so massive it cannot be moved, has had an entire building constructed around it at a secret overseas location.
Rep Eric Burlison said on Monday that the facility is 'guarded like it's some kind of commodity,' adding, 'You have committees that protest their turf.'
The lawmaker acknowledged he has no firsthand proof, saying the information comes from accounts he has heard from government and non-government sources.
'I'm not going to mention the country because I heard of it inside of a closed setting, and I want to protect my classification level,' Burlison said.
He added that the object is 'not in the facility that's been widely reported in the news,' pushing back on speculation about its location.
Burlison also said he has struggled to access UAP-related sites even near his office in Washington, DC, calling attempts to visit foreign facilities 'somewhat insurmountable.' 'But it doesn't mean that I'm not going to continue to try,' he said.
He blamed congressional bureaucracy for blocking oversight, saying committees 'love turning each other down' when jurisdiction overlaps.
Burlison made the comments during an interview on Newsmax's 'Finnerty,' where he discussed his efforts to gain access to classified UAP programs and sites.
He said navigating the congressional system is difficult, describing 'the very nature of the difficulty of the red tape system within, within the bureaucracy of Congress' as a major obstacle.
Despite the barriers, Burlison said he is committed to transparency if definitive evidence of extraterrestrial life is found.
'If I come under any hard evidence, whether it's physical or video evidence that is absolutely definitive, while I'm going to do what I can to protect our national security and our nation's interest, I will not hold back on telling the American people that we are alone or not alone in this universe,' he said.
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He added that such information should not be withheld from the public, arguing, 'That is something that no government has the right to withhold from its people.'
Burlison is a member of the congressional oversight committee involved in the ongoing investigation into Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs), commonly known as UFOs.
While speaking on NewsMax, he was asked if the object's location was in South Korea, but he did not confirm.
Social media users suggested the site could be in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, which is home to a circular structure.
This location has gained notoriety in UFO/UAP communities as the alleged 'Coulthart UFO/UAP Site,' based on claims popularized by investigative journalist Ross Coulthart, podcaster Joe Rogan and others.
It is rumored to house a massive crashed or landed extraterrestrial craft that was reportedly too large to transport, leading to a building or structure being constructed around it for concealment.
However, a South Korean UFO researcher who visited similar sites has disputed these claims, stating that the facility dates back to the 1970s and has no connection to UFOs, with multiple comparable aviation installations existing across the country.
Burlison, who has become a household name in the UAP world, revealed earlier this month that he had requested and was granted access to secure locations, such as Area 51, which have decades-old ties to UFOs and secret government projects.
Speaking on the ALN Podcast, Burlison said that the request to President Donald Trump and his staff included visiting US military bases and facilities where evidence suggests unidentified craft, materials, bodies, or archives allegedly exist.
Although the US government and the Pentagon have officially denied that there has been any physical evidence of UFOs or alien life ever recovered, Congress has heard from multiple whistleblowers claiming that secret programs have covered up the truth.
In fact, Burlison has previously claimed President Trump has been 'fully briefed' on the existence of aliens, UFOs recovered by the military since the 1940s, and alien-human hybrids allegedly living on Earth today.
'The White House has told the DoD to make it happen. The extent to which they've been involved is literally just saying to the Department of Defense, 'we're backing his request. Do what you can to make it happen,'' he said.
Over the years, multiple US military sites have been linked to non-human craft, including facilities, anonymous sources have said, that were housing crashed spaceships and experimental aircraft constructed using reverse-engineered alien technology.
These include Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, the Atlantic Undersea Testing and Evaluation Center (AUTEC) in the Bahamas, and the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR), home to Area 51.
'There is reportedly an object that is not in this country that is so large it cannot be moved, that they've built an entire building around it,' Burlison said during the January 30 podcast.
The congressman noted that this facility outside the US was classified so he was unable to reveal its exact location, but it was on his list of places he had requested to visit as part of the committee's investigation.
'It's going to involve a lot to make that happen, but that may be the final destination.'
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Is Buzz Aldrin being forced into silence after witnessing a UFO? | Reality Check
Updated: Feb 16, 2026 / 01:35 PM CST
In this episode of “Reality Check,” Ross Coulthart sits down with Maaneli “Max” Derakhsani, a theoretical physicist and philosopher of physics.
Together, they discuss Buzz Aldrin’s shocking revelation that he saw a UFO on his way to the moon, why NASA might be hiding proof of artificial structures on the moon and the popular lunar transient phenomena.
https://www.newsnationnow.com/podcasts-newsnation/is-buzz-aldrin-being-forced-into-silence-after-witnessing-a-ufo-reality-check/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyNU8ZJbv1w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIAcy8vh640 (Secret Space UFO's: Apollo 1-11)
https://x.com/rosscoulthart
https://x.com/TheRealBuzz