TYB
NATO nations plotting to smuggle nuke into Ukraine – Russian intel
24 Feb, 2026 08:08
France and the UK are plotting to secretly arm Ukraine with a nuclear weapon, Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) said on Tuesday.
According to the agency, British and French officials are considering the “covert transfer of relevant European-made components, equipment, and technologies to Ukraine,” and are laying the groundwork for an information campaign that would misrepresent the nuclear capacity as domestically developed.
The SVR claimed that another option under consideration is to provide Ukraine with a French TN 75 warhead, used in the nation’s submarine-launched ballistic missiles.
It added that Ukraine could also be encouraged to build a ‘dirty bomb’ – a conventional explosive device laden with radioactive materials designed to cause prolonged contamination of a territory.
“Kiev would be able to aspire to more advantageous terms of ceasing the hostilities if it possesses a nuclear or at least a so-called ‘dirty’ bomb,” the SVR said in a statement.
It added that fellow NATO member Germany “has prudently refused to take part in this dangerous venture.”
Officials in London and Paris appear to be losing “touch with reality,” the agency said, warning that responsibility for such a reckless operation would fall on them.
The Russian State Duma intends to vote on a formal resolution calling on lawmakers in the UK and France to investigate the SVR allegations, Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the warning was “potentially very dangerous” since the alleged plot poses a threat to nuclear non-proliferation.
Ukraine has long claimed that it gave up a nuclear arsenal in exchange for security guarantees that later proved worthless. While a significant portion of Soviet nuclear forces were stationed in Ukraine, Kiev never controlled the missiles.
The 1994 Budapest Memorandums provided assurances – but not legally binding guarantees – to Ukraine, Belarus, and Kazakhstan that their territorial integrity would be respected after transferring Soviet nuclear weapons to Russia.
Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky suggested Kiev could reconsider its non-nuclear status at the 2022 Munich Security Conference, shortly before the conflict with Russia escalated.
Moscow argues that after the 2014 Western-backed coup in Kiev, Ukraine’s new authorities breached the neutrality pledge underpinning its post-Soviet independence by making NATO membership a key foreign policy goal.
https://www.rt.com/russia/632954-nato-nations-could-transfer-nuclear-weapon-to-kiev/
Moscow outlines conditions for stable peace in Ukraine
23 Feb, 2026 23:47
The Ukraine conflict can only be resolved by addressing its “root causes,” Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement on Tuesday, marking the fourth anniversary of the escalation of hostilities.
According to Zakharova, Moscow’s military action in 2022 was a “forced step” under Article 51 of the UN Charter, necessitated by the West’s refusal to acknowledge Russia’s security concerns.
She specifically cited ignored proposals regarding NATO non-expansion and statements by Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky at the 2022 Munich Security Conference regarding Kiev’s nuclear ambitions, which she claimed created “real risks.”
“Kiev has dismantled the three main foundations of Ukrainian statehood – its neutral, non-bloc, and non-nuclear status – which ensured its international recognition in the early 1990s,” Zakharova said.
The Western-orchestrated 2014 Maidan coup triggered an eight-year conflict in Donbass, which resulted in over 13,500 civilian deaths and was deliberately ignored by international organizations, according to Zakharova.
The territories controlled by Kiev have since descended into “genuine neo-Nazi obscurantism,” she said.
Zakharova cited the glorification of Nazi collaborators, the desecration of monuments to Soviet soldiers, and the crackdown on the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church as evidence that the original goals of “demilitarization and denazification” remain valid.
“A lasting, just, and stable peace is possible only on the basis of eliminating the root causes of the conflict,” Zakharova emphasized, outlining the current task of Russian diplomacy in contacts with the “world majority” and within the framework of recent Russian-US dialogue.
Russia, the US, and Ukraine held several meetings in Geneva, Switzerland, last week and previously in Abu Dhabi in January. Territorial issues – namely Ukraine’s refusal to abandon its claim to Donbass – reportedly remain the key obstacle to peace.
The territories in question include Crimea, which broke away from Ukraine and rejoined Russia via a referendum in 2014.
The Donetsk (DPR) and Lugansk (LPR) People’s Republics declared their independence early on in the post-Maidan conflict in what was then Ukrainian Donbass.
The DPR and LPR joined Zaporozhye and Kherson regions in being incorporated into Russia in late 2022 following referendums in which the overwhelming majority of the regions’ populations supported the move.
https://www.rt.com/russia/632946-ukraine-conflict-peace-zakharova/
other RT
https://www.rt.com/russia/632977-ukraine-zelensky-demands-eu-loan/
https://www.rt.com/russia/632973-zelensky-demands-accession-date-eu/
https://www.rt.com/russia/632953-zelensky-west-election-oust/
https://www.rt.com/news/632945-slovakia-ukraine-electricity-supply/
Massive Russian drone strike hits critical gas infrastructure in Kharkiv region: Operations suspended
Tue, February 24, 2026 - 22:16
On February 24, Russian troops again attacked Naftogaz's (the largest national oil and gas company of Ukraine) gas production infrastructure. A facility in the Kharkiv region was hit, according to Naftogaz Group CEO Serhii Koretskyi.
Drone strike on gas production facility
According to Koretskyi, Russian forces used drones in the latest attack, which lasted throughout the day.
"Russia has once again attacked the gas production infrastructure of the Naftogaz Group. This time, strikes were carried out on a facility in the Kharkiv region using drones," he said.
Damage recorded, operations suspended
The strike caused damage to infrastructure, forcing the facility to halt operations.
After the air raid alert is lifted, company specialists, together with units of the State Emergency Service, will begin eliminating the consequences of the attack.
Attacks on the oil and gas system
Recently, Russian forces have been regularly targeting Naftogaz Group facilities across different regions of Ukraine. Since the beginning of the year, around two dozen attacks on the company’s enterprises have been recorded.
In particular, on the night of February 8, drones attacked facilities in the Poltava region. Direct hits and falling debris caused fires, and some equipment was destroyed.
On February 9, Russian forces struck Naftogaz production capacities in other regions again. In both cases, there were no casualties, and the fires were quickly extinguished.
Earlier, on January 27, a critical infrastructure facility in the Lviv region was hit, causing a large-scale fire.
https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/britain-imposes-sanctions-on-key-russian-1771961794.html
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/02/24/8022612/
Ukrainian Ambassador Confirms US State Department Call After Novorossiysk Drone Attack
Tuesday, 24 February 2026, 21:06
The ambassador of Ukraine to the United States, Olha Stefanishyna, said that she had received a call from a senior official of the U.S. Department of State after the Ukrainian drone attack on the Port of Novorossiysk in November 2025, during which the Caspian oil pipeline’s infrastructure was damaged. She said this during a briefing on February 24.
According to the ambassador, the conversation with a State Department official took place after the incident and concerned further steps in the cooperation between Ukraine and the United States in the context of this event.
Media confirmed the information, noting that the details of the call and the topics discussed are still being clarified, so further official comments are expected.
Context of the incident and subsequent cooperation
This conversation signals the ongoing joint coordination between Ukraine and the United States regarding the consequences of the incident and the steps needed to strengthen cooperation between the two countries to ensure the stability of the region’s energy infrastructure.
While the official details of the call remain to be clarified, both sides expect official explanations from the relevant authorities. Such steps may influence future bilateral actions in this direction.
https://mezha.net/eng/bukvy/ukrainian-ambassador-confirms-us-state-department-call-after-novorossiysk-drone-attack/
other Russia and Ukraine
https://censor.net/en/news/3602243/russian-drone-attack-on-24-february-alarm-in-the-regions
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/4094933-russian-drone-attacks-municipal-enterprise-in-kherson-employee-killed.html
https://armyinform.com.ua/en/2026/02/24/ukrainian-drone-forces-strike-occupiers-air-defense-systems-in-temporarily-occupied-territories/
https://united24media.com/latest-news/ukraine-confirms-rare-bomber-drone-strike-on-russian-s-300-and-osa-systems-16201
IDF confirms it fired at Lebanese soldiers working on ‘uncoordinated military post’
Tuesday, February 24, 2026 7:26 pm
The Israeli military confirms firing warning shots toward Lebanese soldiers in southern Lebanon earlier today, after the latter were establishing “an uncoordinated military post” near troops.
According to the IDF, the military issued warning calls to the Lebanese Armed Forces after they began establishing their “uncoordinated” post.
The military says it also contacted “coordination and liaison channels” and requested that the work on the LAF post be halted.
“After no response was received, IDF troops carried out warning shots to stop the activity,” the military adds.
The LAF said earlier that while its troops were “establishing an observation post” near the border in the Marjayoun area, “the vicinity of the post was subjected to gunfire from the Israeli side, coinciding with the flight of an Israeli drone at low altitude that issued threats aimed at forcing the personnel to leave.”
“The army command issued orders to reinforce the post, remain in place, and respond to the sources of fire,” the LAF said, adding that the incident is being followed up in coordination with the US-led ceasefire oversight mechanism and United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-confirms-it-fired-at-lebanese-soldiers-working-on-uncoordinated-military-post/
other Israel
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-887771
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-said-to-warn-lebanon-itll-be-hit-hard-if-hezbollah-takes-part-in-any-us-iran-war/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-february-24-2026/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-stood-by-as-settlers-killed-palestinian-teen-stole-hundreds-of-sheep-report/
Threat of Iran strike looms over Trump’s State of the Union address
Updated: Feb 24, 2026 / 02:23 PM CST
President Donald Trump will have the opportunity to defend his foreign policy during his State of the Union address Tuesday evening, as the threat of a strike on Iran looms.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to take military action against Iran if the country doesn’t capitulate to his demands regarding the scaling back of its nuclear program.
This comes as the U.S. has its largest buildup of military assets and personnel in the Middle East since the height of the Iraq war in the early 2000s.
A recent University of Maryland Critical Issues Poll found that 49% of Americans oppose the U.S. launching an attack on Iran and only 21% support it, indicating Trump’s proposed strikes aren’t very popular in the public eye.
Iran has stated it would respond forcefully to any attacks, raising the risks of conflict in the region.
Trump denies reports that top general warned of Iran risks
Trump is pushing back on reports from multiple outlets that his top military officer, General Daniel Caine, advised strikes on Iran could pose substantial risks and leave the U.S. in a prolonged conflict.
“Numerous stories from the Fake News Media have been circulating stating that General Daniel Caine, sometimes referred to as Razin, is against us going to War with Iran.
The story does not attribute this vast wealth of knowledge to anyone, and is 100 percent incorrect,” Trump said in a Monday post on Trump Social.
“General Caine, like all of us, would like not to see War but, if a decision is made on going against Iran at a Military level, it is his opinion that it will be something easily won,” Trump continued.
None of the reports, however, noted that Caine was outright opposed to the U.S. going to war with Iran, according to NewsNation partner The Hill.
Lawmakers push for transparency on Iran
Reps. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Thomas Massie, R-Ky., had planned to force a vote this week on a resolution requiring congressional authorization before Trump could use military force against Iran.
Now the vote is expected to be delayed until next week or later, three people granted anonymity to discuss scheduling told Politico.
Other lawmakers, including Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., have voiced their displeasure with the lack of transparency surrounding Iran and called for the president to work with Congress.
“Why have we deployed troops into the surrounding area (of Iran)? What is all this bravado about (Trump) going in and invading a sovereign nation?” Thompson questioned. “If there are threats, if we’re in danger, we need to know.”
Rubio to brief ‘Gang of 8’ on Iran Tuesday
Secretary of State Marco Rubio will brief the “Gang of 8” on Iran on Tuesday ahead of Trump’s address, a State Department official told NewsNation’s Libbey Dean.
The group includes the top leaders of each party in each chamber, as well as the Senate and House Intelligence Committee’s chairman and ranking minority member.
This includes Mike Johnson, R‑La., Hakeem Jeffries, D‑N.Y., John Thune, R‑S.D., Chuck Schumer, D‑N.Y., Rick Crawford, R‑Ark., Jim Himes, D‑Conn., Tom Cotton, R‑Ark., and Mark Warner, D‑Va.
https://www.newsnationnow.com/politics/iran-strike-trump-state-of-the-union/
https://www.iranintl.com/en/liveblog/202602154712
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-secretary-of-state-rubio-to-brief-congressional-leaders-on-iran-amid-tensions/3839027
https://www.hudson.org/missile-defense/is-a-iran-strike-imminent-rebeccah-heinrichs
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/feb/24/oil-prices-rise-us-iran-talks
https://www.nbcrightnow.com/national/iran-says-deal-within-reach-ahead-of-us-talks/article_e124eb5b-9a11-5097-9c28-f2875f061451.html
M23 senior rebel official killed by drone strike in eastern Congo
Feb 24, 2026 Updated
Willy Ngoma, a spokesperson for the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels fighting in eastern Congo, has been killed in a drone strike, a U.N. official and a rights group said Tuesday, escalating tensions over the region's conflict after peace negotiations stalled.
Ngoma, a senior officer who was deeply involved in M23's operations, was said to have been killed in a predawn drone strike near the North Kivu province’s mining town of Rubaya.
The U.N. official and a coordinator with the rights group working in the area spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.
Rubaya residents told the AP that the drone strike targeted a spot that has in recent weeks served as an enclave for the M23.
The decades-long conflict escalated in January 2025 after the rebels made an unprecedented advance into the key cities of Goma and Bukavu, further expanding their control of several cities and towns in the hard-hit region.
The conflict has created one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, with more than 7 million people displaced.
It wasn't immediately clear who carried out the drone strike near Rubaya, which is viewed by many in Congo as a setback to peace efforts that partners hoped would bring permanent peace and prevent a regional conflict.
The strike came weeks after Congo and the M23 rebels agreed to a ceasefire and methods of monitoring it with help from the U.N. mission in Congo. Both parties traded accusations of violating the terms of the truce.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Qatar have brokered peace efforts, but clashes have continued in recent weeks.
https://www.ottumwacourier.com/news/national_news/drone-strike-in-eastern-congo-kills-senior-rebel-official-escalating-tensions/article_6e01bb4c-0d4f-53a5-bdb1-8768c2ebc55b.html
Alleged smugglers caught after cartel drone support falters
Updated: Feb 24, 2026 / 02:00 PM CST
A trial date has been set for two U.S. citizens charged with smuggling migrants in an Indian reservation straddling the Mexico-Arizona border.
Yesman Rodriguez and Ulysses Garcia Piña on Friday pleaded not guilty to counts of conspiracy and transportation of illegal aliens in U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona.
Court records show they’re scheduled for trial March 31 before U.S. Judge John C. Hinderaker.
One million fentanyl pills seized in one day at Arizona border crossing
Charges stem from a Dec. 30 incident on State Route 86 inside the Tohono O’odham Nation.
A camera operator alerted U.S. Border Patrol agents to a gray Nissan Sentra with Georgia license plates that drove to within a mile of the Mexican border and turned around a few minutes later.
Court records show the camera operator reportedly saw four people coming out of the brush and walking toward the Sentra.
Border agents caught up to the suspected smugglers’ vehicle, which was traveling north on a flat tire. The Border Patrol stopped the vehicle and conducted an immigration inspection.
Sniper rifles among 69 firearms linked to alleged ‘straw purchases’
Rodriguez allegedly stated he was in the area to pick up some relatives. But when border agents interviewed the passengers, they turned out to be migrants from Honduras and Mexico, according to a federal complaint affidavit.
Records show Rodriguez later told investigators he wasn’t part of any human smuggling attempt and that he “wasn’t sure what was happening, but it all makes sense now.”
FBI task force raid yields drugs, cache of firearms
Garcia Piña waived his right to a lawyer and allegedly told federal officials he responded to a TikTok ad offering $1,000 to drive migrants from the border to inland communities. Garcia Piña said he would be paid $3,000 for this drive to Phoenix.
The suspect purportedly expressed concern of getting caught by the Border Patrol, but the smuggling “coordinator” reassured him that his organization uses drones to spy on the Border Patrol and would guide him through safe routes.
The increased use of drones by transnational criminal organizations in Mexico has been a source of concern for the U.S. government.
An alleged drone incursion earlier this month led to the controversial hours-long shutdown of flights out of El Paso International Airport.
In the Arizona case, the drone support apparently failed to materialize. Neither the camera operator nor Border Patrol mentioned spotting any hostile drones in the area.
Garcia Piña and Rodriguez face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
https://www.everythinglubbock.com/border-report/alleged-smugglers-caught-after-cartel-drone-support-falters/
U.S. Southern Command
US military boards third oil tanker in the Indian Ocean after tracking it from the Caribbean
Updated: Feb 24, 2026 / 12:10 PM CST
U.S. military forces boarded a third sanctioned oil tanker in the Indian Ocean after tracking it from the Caribbean Sea in an effort to target illicit oil connected to Venezuela, the Pentagon said Tuesday.
An organization that tracks ship movements said the vessel was the only tanker left to pursue after more than a dozen fled the coast of Venezuela following the capture of the South American country’s authoritarian then-president, Nicolás Maduro.
The boarding is the 10th interdiction of an oil tanker conducted by the Trump administration since it began targeting vessels connected to Venezuela in early December. The others were seized in the Caribbean or North Atlantic.
U.S. Southern Command said in a post on X that U.S. forces boarded the Bertha overnight, conducting “a right-of-visit, maritime interdiction and boarding.”
“The vessel was operating in defiance of President Trump’s established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean and attempted to evade,” the post said. “From the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean, we tracked it and stopped it.”
A U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss an ongoing operation, noted that as with the previous two boardings conducted in the Indian Ocean, the Bertha was not formally seized but rather placed under U.S. control. The official said the Bertha’s fate will be determined by the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department.
Video posted by the Pentagon shows U.S. Navy helicopters taking off from an identified ship and flying toward the tanker.
Venezuela had faced U.S. sanctions on its oil for several years and relied on a shadow fleet of falsely flagged tankers to smuggle crude into global supply chains.
President Donald Trump ordered a quarantine of sanctioned tankers in December to pressure Maduro before he was apprehended in early January during a U.S. military operation.
The seizing of the tankers is part of the Republican administration’s broader efforts to take control of Venezuela’s oil.
The Bertha was flagged to the Cook Islands when it was placed under U.S. sanctions related to Iran, according to the website of the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.
However, the vessel was more recently listed under a false flag of the Caribbean island of Curacao and managed by a company in China, according to Equasis, a shipping information system.
Following Maduro’s capture, at least 16 tankers fled the Venezuelan coast, according to Samir Madani, co-founder of TankerTrackers.com, who said his organization used satellite imagery and surface-level photos to document the ships’ movements.
The Bertha was the only tanker left to pursue from the original 16, TankerTrackers.com said in a Feb. 15 post on X.
Madani said in a message to The Associated Press on Tuesday that the Bertha was laden with 1.9 million barrels of Merey 16 crude, which is a grade of Venezuelan oil.
Over the past few years, the ship has received Iranian crude from other vessels via hoses for deliveries to China, Madani said.
The Pentagon said in an email that it didn’t have more to add beyond Southern Command’s post on X.
Maduro was brought to the U.S. to face charges of working with drug cartels to facilitate the shipment of thousands of tons of cocaine into the U.S. and has pleaded not guilty.
https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/military/ap-us-military-boards-third-oil-tanker-in-the-indian-ocean-after-tracking-it-from-the-caribbean/?ipid=promo-link-block1
Lethal Kinetic Strike
Feb. 23, 2026
On Feb. 23, at the direction of the commander of U.S. Southern Command, Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations.
Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Caribbean and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations.
Three male narco-terrorists were killed during this action. No U.S. military forces were harmed.
https://www.southcom.mil/News/PressReleases/Article/4412177/lethal-kinetic-strike-feb-23-2026/
Joint Interagency Task Force Announces Counter-UAS Marketplace
Feb. 24, 2026
Joint Interagency Task Force 401 announced today that its revolutionary counter-unmanned aircraft systems marketplace has reached initial operational capability.
A person wearing a camouflage military uniform and sitting off-screen, kneels and places a drone on a rock.
The online platform, hosted on the common hardware systems electronic catalog, will revolutionize how the War Department and its interagency partners acquire critical counter-UAS technology.
The marketplace streamlines the process for users to identify and procure the right equipment to meet their specific needs, featuring a growing catalog of validated counter-UAS systems and components, with plans to include performance data from the task force's authoritative test and evaluation repository.
It allows customers to compare systems based on real-world performance against a variety of threats and in different environments.
"The JIATF 401 [counter]-UAS marketplace is a critical step forward in our whole-of-government approach to countering the threat of small drones," said Army Brig. Gen. Matthew Ross, JIATF 401 director.
"Our goal is to integrate sensors, effectors and mission command systems into a responsive, interoperable network that protects service members and American citizens alike."
The marketplace is built on an established indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract, enabling customers to place orders immediately and significantly reducing the lengthy contracting process typically associated with defense procurement.
The common hardware systems website provides an intuitive interface for users to browse available equipment, review technical specifications and compare pre-negotiated contract options.
"Building and maintaining the [counter]-UAS marketplace has been a collaborative effort focused on delivering a user-friendly and effective tool for the warfighter," said Army Maj. Matt Mellor, the lead acquisitions specialist assigned to JIATF 401.
"We've worked to create a platform that not only simplifies the procurement process but also provides the crucial data and expert support necessary for our customers to make informed decisions.
This is about getting the best technology into the hands of those who need it as quickly as possible."
The marketplace is actively expanding its inventory to include all validated counter-UAS equipment not already designated as a program of record.
The common hardware systems electronic catalog already lists over 1,600 items, demonstrating its capacity to support a comprehensive, growing selection of counter-UAS solutions.
Access to the marketplace is available to users throughout the War Department and interagency partners via a common access card or other government-issued smart card.
https://www.war.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4413359/joint-interagency-task-force-announces-counter-uas-marketplace/
https://thedebrief.org/weve-got-our-people-working-on-it-right-now-defense-secretary-provides-update-on-pentagon-disclosure-of-ufo-files/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-15588011/Pete-Hegseth-breaks-silence-Trumps-shocking-UFO-disclosure-demand.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-15587261/Donald-Trump-UFO-NASA-response-aliens.html
https://usaherald.com/trump-orders-release-of-ufo-files-scientists-weigh-in-on-what-we-might-actually-learn-about-aliens-uaps-and-the-search-for-life-beyond-earth/
https://www.motorbiscuit.com/president-extraterrestrials-real/
https://x.com/ODNIgov/status/2025994512733270418
https://twitter.com/KristinFisher/status/2026087574490476784
“We’ve Got Our People Working on It Right Now”: Defense Secretary Provides Update on Pentagon Disclosure of UFO Files
February 24, 2026
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says Pentagon officials are currently working to initiate the release of government files on unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), more commonly known as UFOs.
The effort was prompted by recent statements made by President Donald Trump last week, who announced plans to “begin the process” of releasing official files related to UFOs and extraterrestrial life based on significant public interest in the topic.
Hegseth’s comments were made while speaking with Fox News White House correspondent Kristin Fisher during a visit to the facility of Colorado-based commercial aerospace company Sierra Space on Monday.
While on-site together during the visit, Fisher asked whether the Defense Secretary ever believed he would be tasked by the President of the United States with releasing U.S. government records related to UFOs.
“I did not have that on my bingo card at all,” Hegseth told Fisher.
In a follow-up question, Fisher asked whether Hegseth was prepared to assist with the new UFO initiative, which President Trump announced informally on his Truth Social website last Thursday.
“Of course,” Defense Secretary Hegseth said. “I mean, we’ve got our people working on it right now.”
“I don’t wanna oversell how much time it will take,” Hegseth added. “We’re digging in, and [we’re] gonna be in full compliance with that Executive Order, here to provide that for the President.”
Although Hegseth referenced an “Executive Order,” as of Tuesday, no official directive involving the release of U.S. government files related to UFOs had yet been issued.
However, past transparency efforts undertaken by the Trump Administration have relied on such processes to secure the release of documents long withheld by the U.S. intelligence community.
Hegseth said there would be “more coming on that, as far as the process for what we’ll do,” although noting that there was not a timeframe yet for how long this could potentially take.
Hegseth’s comments also followed a statement issued by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) in a post on its official X account, which referenced the recent declassification of documents related to the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King, and other “long-withheld government secrets” that have captivated the American public.
Citing “Half a million documents declassified in year one alone,” the ODNI’s statement concluded by adding, “And soon, files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, UAPs, and UFOs.”
Asked about the ODNI’s statement, Defense Secretary Hegseth told Fisher that the Pentagon will “work with the DNI, as we always do.”
“I’m heartened to hear that,” Hegseth added, “that she’s doing that,” referring to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.
1/2
Speculations about U.S. government secrets involving UFOs and potential information related to extraterrestrials have received significant interest over the last decade, following reporting that initially appeared in The New York Times and other outlets revealing the existence of ongoing efforts to evaluate unusual phenomena by the Defense Department, which had long claimed it no longer investigated such matters.
The revelations initiated an ongoing series of official responses, including updates to the U.S. Navy’s reporting procedures for military encounters with UAP and the establishment of a Task Force that examined several dozen incident reports, concluding that unidentified objects posed a potential risk to aviators and presented challenges to U.S. national security.
In 2022, the Pentagon established the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) at the direction of Congress, which currently leads the U.S. government’s efforts to evaluate UAP incident reports.
According to a 2024 report based on a historical review of documentation related to the U.S. government’s involvement with UFOs, AARO said that it “found no evidence that any USG investigation, academic-sponsored research, or official review panel has confirmed that any sighting of a UAP represented extraterrestrial technology.”
Later in the same report, AARO also assessed that “UAP sightings and reports of these sightings to USG organizations and claims that some UAP constitute extraterrestrial craft and that the USG has secured and is experimenting on extraterrestrial technology have been influenced by a range of cultural, political, and technological factors,” citing a range of factors that have contributed to beliefs involving possible extraterrestrial visitation to Earth.
Pete Hegseth is not the first U.S. Defense Secretary to comment on the UAP controversy in recent years.
In November 2024, then-Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was asked about whether the U.S. government was making progress on the study of aerial mysteries and whether any UAP incidents that he was aware of had threatened national security.
“Quite frankly, I have not seen any UAP incidents that I would categorize as threatening our security,” Austin said at the time. “There are things that happen, that have happened, and probably will continue to happen that are difficult to explain.”
“When we encounter things like that, we will go and investigate those things,” Austin added. “Because whether it’s some really unexplained phenomena, or it’s something that is explainable, we just have to get to the root cause.”
“We’ve organized our effort to ensure that we can methodically identify and assess these incidents,” Austin said, thanking Congress for its support with “the resources we need to be effective.”
While speaking with Fisher this week, Defense Secretary Hegseth alluded to ongoing transparency efforts initiated by the Trump Administration since the beginning of last year, affirming that the release of any records related to UFOs would be a part of that broader process.
“President Trump has been committed to disclosure on lots of levels, and he’s made it clear that he wants answers on this,” Hegseth said.
“He’s given us a responsibility to do it, and we’re gonna be a part of delivering that,” Hegseth said, adding that “It will be a deliberative process.”
Asked specifically about a timeline for the release of government records related to UAP, Hegseth said that, while this remained to be determined, he recognized the significant public interest and that officials would work on it under his direction.
“Expectations are gonna be high, right?” Hegseth told Fisher. “I don’t wanna over promise and under deliver.
“We’re gonna take a little time to make sure we assess what this should look like and deliver for the President, for the American people,” Hegseth said.
2/2
Chris Sharp Exposes AARO Before Trump's Big Decision WEAPONIZED : EPISODE #110
February 24, 2026
The UFO public had high hopes when Congress created AARO to investigate UFO/USO/UAP incidents and report findings to both Congress and the public.
Years later, AARO is widely viewed as a complete failure. Its first report was riddled with factual errors and typos. Its first director revealed himself to be a thin-skinned, diehard UFO skeptic, hardly an impartial investigator.
Witnesses and whistleblowers say AARO ignored or belittled their testimony. As for transparency, AARO has released very few findings, even fewer UAP images, and a second report, as required by law, is many months overdue.
The idea that a small office inside the Pentagon could rigorously investigate its own parent organization - the Department of War - seems preposterous on its face.
But has AARO found even a single UFO incident it's been unable to debunk?
The answer is yes.
British journalist Chris Sharp, editor and publisher of Liberation Times, has demonstrated a remarkable ability to break story after story about UFO matters in both the US and the UK.
Now he's wrangled an exclusive interview with AARO's former Deputy Director, Tim Phillips. Sharp's full interview could be published in days - potentially the most significant UAP article of the year.
In this episode of WEAPONIZED, Jeremy and George hear what Chris picked up from his extremely candid conversation with Phillips. The revelations are stunning.
Phillips admitted AARO identified 40-50 cases showing "utterly bizarre" capabilities the "best and brightest people in the world" couldn't explain - instantaneous acceleration, right-angle turns, maneuvers no human aircraft can achieve.
They "conclusively proved" these weren't adversary or friendly tech, yet never released a single video to the public.
For the first time, a former AARO official confirmed UAPs detected in space. Some demonstrated "signature management" - actively avoiding detection over sensitive military locations.
Despite admitting impossible performance characteristics, Phillips refused to say they're non-human or extraterrestrial. Chris describes it as "describing a dog without calling it a dog." His responses felt scripted and performative.
Jeremy coins a new term: "Project Blue Box" - information flows in, nothing comes out.
Phillips confirmed AARO approached Glenn Gaffney, the CIA Director George named under oath as blocking transfer of a non-human spacecraft.
Shockingly, Phillips claimed he wasn't aware James Clapper admitted on camera the Air Force ran a UAP program above Area 51.
How did AARO manage to screw everything up? Has it been an honest arbiter of UFO facts? And is there a future for AARO in light of President Trump's directive to federal agencies to release any and all UFO related files?
https://www.weaponizedpodcast.com/episodes-4/episode-110
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOWGhTEec5Y
https://www.liberationtimes.com/
https://x.com/JeremyCorbell
https://x.com/g_knapp
https://x.com/ChrisUKSharp
https://x.com/LiberationTimes
Did an Alien Live at the Pentagon? The Valiant Thor Case
Feb 23, 2026
A visitor from Venus met Eisenhower inside the Pentagon 👉 https://www.gaia.com/lp/beyond-belief — and offered the secret of time itself.
Craig Campobasso reveals the hidden truth behind Valiant Thor, consciousness, and interdimensional travel.
00:00 The Stranger Arrives at the Pentagon
03:10 Meeting Eisenhower and Nixon
06:45 The Message from Venus
10:20 Time Travel Through Consciousness
14:00 Government Reaction and Cover-Up
18:30 The Science Behind Frequency
22:15 Temporal Paradoxes Explained
27:00 The Moral of Valiant Thor’s Mission
31:45 What It Means for Humanity Now
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SU5kPo0oOw
https://x.com/CraigCampobasso
https://x.com/PBDsPodcast/status/1804869516993912882
https://x.com/eisenhowe8/status/1930349196399522300
https://x.com/eisenhowe8/status/1983572525004288261
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2100947/Eisenhower-secret-meetings-aliens-pentagon-consultant-claims.html
https://www.discoveryuk.com/mysteries/the-story-of-valiant-thor-visitor-from-venus/
PBD Podcast
@PBDsPodcast
“Alien Ambassador”- Eisenhower’s Top Secret Alien Meeting & Peace Treaty CONFIRMED By Granddaughter!
@4biddnKnowledge
@patrickbetdavid
6:30 AM · Jun 23, 2024
Rose McGowan “Hollywood Was Worse Than The Cult I Escaped”
Jan 6, 2026
After being shut out of Hollywood, Rose McGowan explains how she was forced to step away - and slowly rebuild her life on her own terms.
In this wide-ranging and deeply personal conversation, Rose speaks openly about her experiences in Hollywood, the cost of refusing to stay silent, and how leaving the industry became part of reclaiming her creativity, identity, and sense of self.
Rose was one of the first to go public with claims of sexual assault against Harvey Weinstein, and she explains how she was allegedly raped by the movie producer at the age of 23 - and what it cost her to speak out.
She reflects on the severe personal and professional consequences that followed, and how power and silence are enforced inside closed systems.
Content warning: this conversation includes discussion of SA.
Rose joins Paul for one of her most honest conversations to date. From being raised in a cult in Italy to navigating Hollywood, she reflects on how early experiences shaped her instincts around control, belonging and survival.
She also speaks about what came after: the unexpected support she found through fans and Comic-Con, stepping away from the US to recover in Mexico, reconnecting with creativity through music, and why reclaiming her real name - Rosa - feels like coming home.
She shares:
◽ What it was like growing up inside The Children of God
◽ Being alone at 13 and realising no one was looking for her
◽ Why speaking out about Harvey Weinstein meant career death
◽ What was really happening behind the scenes on Charmed
◽ The truth behind the VMA dress and what people misunderstood
◽ Nearly losing her life, leaving the US and starting again
◽ How fans, creativity and music helped bring her back to herself
Rose McGowan, We Need To Talk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRBvUVNEBFk
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYHCgWV847hxSxoyAYfRY1g
https://x.com/rosemcgowan
‘Football Field-Sized Object’ Underwater?! Congressman Reveals Shocking UAP Claims
Feb 23, 2026
Tennessee Congressman Tim Burchett joins The Matt Gaetz Show to discuss explosive claims about unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs), including reports from high-ranking military officials suggesting possible underwater alien bases on Earth.
Burchett points to advanced objects tracked moving at extraordinary speeds beneath the ocean, far beyond known human capabilities—and calls for greater transparency from the federal government.
Plus, Burchett reacts to a major Supreme Court of the United States decision striking down key tariff authority used by Donald Trump, and what it means for the economy and Congress moving forward.
Will the government finally reveal what it knows about UAPs?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20ET_amupqE
extra disclosure dejour
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7K9SFZhsZc (Alex Collier & Elena Danaan Reveal Shocking Truths About AI, Dreams & Hidden Technology! NEW)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYzXPxktcuM (UFO Contact, Government Secrets and the CIA | Why Files Basement #004: Chris Bledsoe)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1aUBkSesmY (Piers Morgan Uncensored, Jeremy Corbell and Jesse Michels: 'What They Didn't Want Me To Release' Trump Set To Publish Aliens and UFOs Files)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM0BvYmHKfo (Navy SEAL Just EXPOSED Shocking Image About Why The Deep Sea Is Off Limits)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxZmqNZTiQs (Redacted: The Dark Forces that Are REALLY Running The World, The Pyramid of Power exposes the truth part X with Derrick Broze)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A60yyeVzR_g (secureteam10: Pentagon Just Released 6 UNSOLVED UFO Videos… Must-See Footage!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEbMBFEz4zk (MARS ANOMALIES and BEYOND: Multiple Structures Found On The Moon ~ 2/23/2026)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfxAO78bNj8 (UFOmania: What is that in the sky in Germany? (Morse Corse))