TYB
Putin and Orban discuss Iran, Ukraine, and Hungarian POWs
3 Mar, 2026 11:43
Russian President Vladimir Putin held a telephone conversation with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Tuesday, discussing the sharply deteriorating situation around Iran, the Ukraine conflict, and the fate of Hungarian nationals captured while fighting for Kiev.
According to a Kremlin readout, the two leaders reviewed current issues in bilateral cooperation and the implementation of agreements reached during Orban’s visit to Moscow in November, which was focused on energy security and peace efforts.
Putin and Orban also discussed the “sharply deteriorated situation around Iran and throughout the Middle East region, including in terms of possible consequences for the state of the global energy market.”
The discussion comes as US-Israeli strikes on Iran have entered their fourth day, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and triggering Iranian retaliatory attacks on US bases across the Gulf, disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, and spiking oil and gas prices.
On Ukraine, Putin noted Hungary’s “principled position in support of a political-diplomatic settlement of the conflict, as well as its overall desire to pursue a balanced and sovereign course in international affairs.”
Budapest has long been at odds with the EU over Hungary’s refusal to send weapons to Kiev and its opposition to sanctions on Moscow.
The leaders also addressed issues concerning Hungarian citizens mobilized into the Ukrainian armed forces who have been captured by Russia.
Hungary had previously raised concerns about ethnic Hungarians from Ukraine’s Transcarpathia region being conscripted and killed in the conflict.
Putin and Orban agreed to continue contacts at various levels, the Kremlin said.
https://www.rt.com/russia/633621-putin-orban-phone-call/
Zelensky comments on next round of Russia-US-Ukraine talks
2 Mar, 2026 19:09
Moscow, Kiev, and Washington are expected to hold the next round of talks on the Ukraine conflict later this week, Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has said, adding that the negotiations could begin as early as Friday and could be moved from the United Arab Emirates to Türkiye or Switzerland.
Russia and Ukraine have been engaged for months in a US-mediated process that is reported to be approaching the final phase.
At the last round of talks in Geneva in mid-February, Ukrainian delegation head Rustem Umerov said, political and military working groups “discussed security parameters and mechanisms for implementing possible solutions.”
Chief Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky described the talks as “difficult but businesslike.”
The sides are expected to work on proposals that could be submitted to the leaders of the three countries for consideration, according to Kiev. A date for the next round had not been set until now.
“The meeting was expected during the period between March 5 and 8,” and is now expected to be held March 5 or 6, Zelensky said on Monday.
It is unclear whether the talks will still be held in Abu Dhabi as previously planned, the Ukrainian leader said, citing the ongoing conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran.
The sides held two previous meetings in a similar format in Abu Dhabi in January, before the talks in Geneva in February.
Asked about how the US strikes on Iran could affect the negotiations and Moscow’s trust in Washington, the Kremlin said it is willing to continue the talks.
“It is in our interests to continue the negotiations,” spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Monday. Russia still “highly appreciates” America’s mediation efforts, he said, adding that Moscow is “analyzing the situation and drawing relevant conclusions.”
“We trust only ourselves,” Peskov added.
The US and Israel launched the bombing campaign just days after indirect talks between US and Iranian delegations on Tehran’s nuclear program.
Russia condemned what it called a “premeditated and unprovoked act of aggression.”
https://www.rt.com/russia/633542-zelensky-russia-us-ukraine-talks/
Kindergartens damaged in Ukrainian drone attack on Russia
3 Mar, 2026 12:09
A Ukrainian drone raid injured seven people in the Russian city of Novorossiysk overnight and caused extensive damage on the ground, including to kindergartens, local officials reported on Wednesday.
Five of the seven victims were hospitalized, though none are in life-threatening condition, the regional Health Ministry said. Mayor Andrey Kravchenko visited a 15-year-old boy and a 67-year-old woman being treated at the main city hospital, according to his Telegram updates.
Kravchenko said more than 100 residential buildings, including 41 apartment blocks, had been damaged by Ukrainian drones, along with civilian infrastructure such as three kindergartens.
A drone also struck a cemetery, damaging tombstones and a military monument honoring Soviet soldiers killed in World War II.
The attack also targeted a fuel terminal at the local port, where emergency services extinguished a resulting fire. Ukrainian military sources claim the terminal is used to refuel Russian warships.
Novorossiysk, a port city in Krasnodar Region, serves as a backup base for Russia’s Black Sea Fleet and also handles commercial cargo, including crude oil exports from Kazakhstan via a pipeline operated by an international consortium.
Kiev has admitted that previous Ukrainian attacks on Novorossiysk port infrastructure drew a formal rebuke from the US Department of State, as the disruption of crude supplies affected the American co-owners of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported intercepting 172 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 133 over the Black Sea and Krasnodar Region.
https://www.rt.com/russia/633614-novorossiysk-ukrainian-drone-raid/
extra RT
https://www.rt.com/news/633518-fsb-raid-ukraine-terrorism-fraud/
https://www.rt.com/russia/633597-fsb-bombing-suspect-killed/
Ukrainian forces strike Russian air defense elements, military infrastructure, drone control points
03.03.2026 19:05
Ukrainian forces have struck elements of air defense systems, military infrastructure and drone control points of the Russian army in temporarily occupied areas of the Luhansk, Donetsk regions and in Crimea.
According to Ukrinform, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported this on Facebook.
"As part of efforts to reduce the military-economic and air defense potential of the Russian aggressor, units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces carried out a series of strikes on targets in temporarily occupied territories," the statement said.
As a result, a radar station belonging to an S-300 surface-to-air missile system was hit in the village of Tytarivka, occupied Luhansk region.
Strikes also targeted a Sopka-2 air target detection radar and a Kasta-2E2 radar in temporarily occupied Crimea.
In addition, Ukrainian forces struck the location of a repair unit belonging to a Russian motor rifle brigade in Zachatívka, occupied Donetsk region. Enemy drone control points were also hit near the towns of Rodynske and Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region.
Earlier reports said that Ukrainian forces struck 13 oil and gas facilities in the Russian Federation in January-February.
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/4097686-ukrainian-forces-strike-russian-air-defense-elements-military-infrastructure-drone-control-points.html
other Ukraine
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/03/03/1-killed-in-ukrainian-drone-strike-on-belgorod-region-a92099
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/71087
IDF strikes secret underground nuclear complex in Tehran
March 3, 2026 11:07
The IDF said Tuesday it struck a secret underground nuclear complex in Tehran, describing it as a key site where Iran was developing components for a nuclear weapon, as the air campaign in Iran and Lebanon continued at a high tempo.
According to the IDF, fighter jets targeted the covert “Min-Zedai” compound, an underground facility where Iran’s nuclear weapons group operated under the country’s Defense Ministry.
IDF spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said that during a previous operation in June, Israel dealt heavy blows to Iran’s nuclear weapons group.
He said the Iranian regime later transferred parts of its nuclear infrastructure to fortified underground bunkers in an effort to protect and conceal continued weapons development.
“Despite the severe damage to the nuclear weapons group, the Iranian regime did not stop its military nuclear activity,” Defrin said. “It continued to develop the capabilities required for a nuclear weapon while relocating infrastructure to an underground, airstrike-resistant site.”
Inside the compound, he said, a group of nuclear scientists was secretly working on developing a central component of a nuclear weapons system.
The IDF said Military Intelligence tracked the scientists’ movements and identified their new location, enabling what it described as a precise strike on the secret complex.
The strike “removes a core component of the Iranian capability to develop a nuclear weapon,” Defrin said, calling it part of a broader series of operations aimed at eliminating what Israel views as the Iranian nuclear threat.
The IDF said that since the start of the current operation, Air Force pilots have carried out about 1,600 strike sorties in Iran and dropped roughly 4,000 munitions — surpassing the total number of munitions used during the previous round of fighting in June.
In the past 24 hours alone, Air Force pilots launched more than 300 consecutive waves of strikes in Iran and Lebanon, targeting hundreds of sites and what the IDF described as strategic Iranian assets.
The IDF also said it has destroyed dozens of missile launchers that were prepared for attacks against Israel.
In Lebanon, operations are continuing from the air and on the ground. The IDF said it has struck operatives from Hezbollah’s Radwan force, the group’s elite unit.
The latest strikes come as Israel continues to operate deep inside Iran while maintaining pressure on Hezbollah in Lebanon in what officials describe as a multi-front campaign.
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/b1qy13nybx
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-says-air-force-struck-secretive-iranian-nuclear-site-near-tehran/
other Israel
https://vinnews.com/2026/03/03/idf-strikes-irans-leadership-compound-in-tehran-heart-hits-presidential-bureau-security-council-hq-in-massive-overnight-air-assault/
https://report.az/en/other-countries/idf-says-it-completed-wave-of-strikes-on-iranian-military-targets
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/report-council-of-88-clerics-choosing-new-supreme-leader-werent-present-in-idf-strike-only-those-counting-vote/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-says-it-has-dropped-over-4000-bombs-on-iran-since-saturday-same-number-used-in-entire-12-day-june-war/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/lebanons-al-jamaa-al-islamiyya-says-idf-destroyed-its-hq-in-sidon/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/hezbollah-claims-to-down-israeli-drone-fire-at-idf-tanks/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-sends-troops-further-into-south-lebanon-and-strikes-beirut-amid-hezbollah-attacks/
https://defensemirror.com/news/41235/52_Killed_as_IDF_Strikes_Hezbollah_Targets_in_Beirut
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-888661
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-888710
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/423321
https://www.iranintl.com/en/liveblog/202602288143
other Iran
https://www.armyrecognition.com/news/navy-news/2026/u-s-navy-sinks-iranian-drone-carrier-iris-shahid-bagheri-in-epic-fury-naval-campaign
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/uk-to-send-warship-counter-drone-helicopters-to-protect-british-air-base-premier/3848731
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/british-f-35b-downs-drone-in-first-operational-kill/
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-sends-warship-and-drone-busting-helicopters-to-the-eastern-mediterranean-to-protect-brits-and-allies-in-the-region
https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2026/03/03/greece-deploys-warships-jets-to-cyprus-after-drone-strikes-on-uk-air-base-akrotiri/
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/38386115/iran-drone-blitz-raf-base-cyprus/
https://lufkindailynews.com/ap_video/smoke-rises-over-fujairah-oil-facility-in-uae-after-iran-drone-attack/video_db2cf05c-7c46-5b67-bb36-36e8125996a1.html
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/us-israel-strikes-in-iran-idf-strikes-presidential-office-security-council-building-in-tehran/articleshow/128971856.cms
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2026/03/qatar-emiri-navy-intercepts-iranian-missiles-and-drones/
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/iran-israel-war-amazon-data-centres-hit-by-drone-strikes-why-data-centres-are-being-targeted-in-us-israel-iran-war-11163722
https://nypost.com/2026/03/03/business/amazon-says-services-in-middle-east-go-offline-due-to-drone-strikes-on-data-centers/
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/3/3/us-embassy-in-saudi-capital-riyadh-hit-by-drones-fire-reported-ministry
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/02/iran-unleashes-hundreds-of-drones-aimed-at-targets-across-middle-east
https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/australasia/australia-al-minhad-air-base-iran-drone-attack-b2930681.html
https://www.cityam.com/iranian-drone-attack-sees-atp-tennis-players-flee-court/
https://sana.sy/en/international/2300220/
Trump says 'too late' for Iran talks as strikes hit clerical body picking next leader
March 3, 2026
Summary
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Iranian media said US and Israeli strikes hit the Assembly of Experts in Qom and Tehran, with unconfirmed reports that a session to choose the next supreme leader was targeted.
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The Israeli military confirmed on Tuesday that it killed the commander of Iran’s Quds Force in Lebanon, Davoud Alizadeh, in an airstrike in Tehran.
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President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Iran’s air defences, air force, navy and leadership were “gone” and that Tehran now wants to talk, but that it is “too late” for negotiations.
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Israel launched simultaneous airstrikes on Iranian and Hezbollah military targets in Tehran and Beirut on Tuesday, the IDF said.
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The US will continue to act against imminent threats from Iran, CENTCOM said on Tuesday.
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A member of Iran’s Assembly of Experts said on Tuesday that the appointment of a new Supreme Leader would be swift, days after Ali Khamenei was killed in US-Israeli airstrikes.
13 minutes ago
Macron orders aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to Mediterranean
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday he had ordered the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, its air assets and its frigate escort to set sail for the Mediterranean amid tensions in the Middle East.
“Faced with this unstable situation and the uncertainties of the coming days, I have ordered the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, its air assets, and its frigate escort to set sail for the Mediterranean,” Macron said in an address to the nation.
29 minutes ago
Israeli military says it struck Tehran nuclear compound
The Israeli military said it struck a compound in Tehran on Tuesday that it said was used to develop capabilities for nuclear weapons, without providing further details.
34 minutes ago
BREAKING NEWS
Iran launches new missile, drone barrage against Israel - state media
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has begun a new wave of extensive missile and drone attacks targeting Israel, state media reported.
45 minutes ago
Decision on Khamenei successor may be delayed until next week - IRGC outlet
The final, in-person session of Iran’s Assembly of Experts to choose a new leader may be postponed until after next week’s funeral and burial for the slain leader, the IRGC-affiliated Fars News Agency reported, citing heightened security measures.
Iran’s Assembly of Experts has now shifted its meetings to a remote format and adopted an alternative voting method due to security considerations and concerns over the safety of its members, the report added citing informed sources.
According to the source, regular deliberations are continuing in a secure environment, and the final stages of the process are underway.
Khamenei did not designate a successor, leaving the decision to the Assembly of Experts, the IRGC outlet said citing the unnamed source.
1/3
1 hour ago
BREAKING NEWS
Khamenei's body will be buried in his hometown Mashhad - IRGC outlet
The body of slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei will be buried in the city of Mashhad in northeastern Iran following a funeral, the IRGC-affiliated Fars News reported.
"Officials at the headquarters organizing the grand farewell ceremony for him are planning to hold a public memorial in the capital," the report added.
The date and time of the funeral or memorial has not been announced.
1 hour ago
IRGC general, four other forces killed in airstrike in Isfahan - ISNA
Abdolhamid Rahbar, commander of the Revolutionary Guard's 15 Khordad Unit, was killed along with four other members of the IRGC in an attack in Isfahan, semi-official ISNA reported.
1 hour ago
Israeli military warns Iranian representatives to leave Lebanon
The Israeli military on Tuesday warned representatives of the Islamic Republic in Lebanon to leave, saying there is no safe place left in the country for them.
1 hour ago
Israel says it confirmed killing Quds Force commander in Tehran
The Israeli military confirmed on Tuesday that it killed the commander of Iran’s Quds Force in Lebanon, Davoud Alizadeh, in an airstrike in Tehran.
"Ali Zadeh, who was the equivalent of a brigadier general, was the highest-ranking Iranian commander responsible for Lebanon," the military said in a statement.
"Ali Zadeh had served in multiple roles, including as the Commander of the Strategic Weapons Corp in the Quds Force, where he supported proxy arming with strategic weapons.
Zadeh functioned as an expert, guiding Hezbollah and other proxies’ firepower capabilities," the statement added.
2 hours ago
UAE is considering taking military action against Iran - Channel 12
The United Arab Emirates is considering taking military action against Iran to stop Iranian missile and drone attacks against the country, Israel's Channel 12 reported citing sources familiar with the matter.
“Although it (UAE) has not been involved in the war in any way, it has nevertheless absorbed 800 launches,” the report quoted a source familiar with decision-making discussions in the UAE as saying.
“The position in the UAE is that there is no country in the world that would not reexamine its policy under such circumstances,” the source added.
2 hours ago
Oman calls for immediate ceasefire, return to diplomacy
“Oman reaffirms its call for an immediate ceasefire and a return to responsible regional diplomacy,” the country’s foreign minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi said on X.
2 hours ago
Trump says Iranian people are happy, grateful to him for airstrikes
"I've done a lot of good things. So many people saying, Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You see it in the streets of Los Angeles. They have 1000s of people," President Donald Trump told reporters on Tuesday.
"I saw it the other day, pictures of Donald Trump, and I'm looking, I'm on the phone, probably talking to you, and I'm looking, and I see my picture, I say, oh no, it's another, you know, protest. I see my and then I started saying, Boy, they were very friendly people."
"Then I saw a woman hugging the picture of me. I said, what's going on? And it turned out to be, these are Iranian people that live in the United States. So many 1000s and 1000s.
You saw the rallies. And in New York too, they had a big rally by pictures all over the place. The fact is that people are happy with what we did," Trump added.
2/3
2 hours ago
Trump defends Iran war, says Tehran was ready to attack Israel
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday Iran was "getting ready to attack Israel. They were getting ready to attack others. You're seeing that right now… So I think it was right about that we attacked first."
"Everybody got hit because they're evil and they're bad. It's a bad seed. And somebody had to do it, and it should have been done sometime during a 47-year period, because so much death has been caused by them," he told reporters.
2 hours ago
Trump says Iran's new leadership hit in latest airstrikes
"49 people were taken out in the first hit. And I guess there was another hit today on a new leadership and it looks like that was pretty substantial also," US President Donald Trump told reporters on Tuesday.
2 hours ago
BREAKING NEWS
Loud bangs heard in Doha, Abu Dhabi - Reuters witnesses
Loud bangs were heard in Doha and Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, Reuters reported, citing witnesses.
2 hours ago
Britain sends helicopters, warship to region, Starmer says
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Tuesday that Britain was sending helicopters with counterdrone capabilities to Cyprus and deploying the air defense destroyer HMS Dragon to the region.
3 hours ago
Qatar says not part of campaign targeting Iran
"Qatar has not been part of the campaign targeting Iran. We are exercising our right in self defense and deterring Iranian attacks against our country," foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari said on X.
3 hours ago
No radioactive leakage at Natanz nuclear facility after strikes
No radioactive leakage has been recorded at Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility after US and Israeli strikes, Iranian media reported on Tuesday.
Iran’s ambassador to the UN nuclear watchdog said on Monday that the site had been hit during military operations carried out by the US and Israel.
3/3
Suspected drone strike hits Russian ‘shadow fleet’ tanker near Malta – reports
Tuesday, 3 March 2026, 19:40
An explosion occurred early Tuesday in the waters between Malta and Libya involving a vessel allegedly part of Russia’s “shadow fleet”, Times of Malta reported on Tuesday.
The vessel involved was named as the LNG tanker Arctic Metagaz, and multiple explosions were reported before crew evacuation. The crew were rescued and transferred to another vessel, but there have been no confirmed distress signals.
Although not officially confirmed, sources told the Times of a possible drone attack, with the EOS Risk Group reporting a suspected drone strike.
The aforementioned “shadow fleet” has been under US and UK sanctions since 2024. It departed Murmansk on 24 February with a likely route toward Suez.
Automatic Identification System was switched off for approximately 300km, suggesting an evasion of monitoring.
In a statement, the Armed Forces of Malta said that earlier on Tuesday afternoon, its Rescue Coordination Centre “was informed of a distress situation outside its Search and Rescue area involving the merchant vessel MT ARCTIC METAGAZ while transiting the central Mediterranean.”
“Upon receipt of the alert, RCC Malta initiated verification procedures and efforts to establish the exact position of the vessel.
The vessel was located, and coordination actions were undertaken in line with international search and rescue obligations, including broadcasts to shipping and liaison with relevant international authorities,” the AFM said.
Survivors were subsequently located within the Libyan SRR in a lifeboat during the search effort. All crew were reported safely onboard the lifeboat, the army added.
The ship was reportedly carrying liquefied natural gas; however, sources told the Times that environmental damage to Malta is unlikely.
Nationalist Party leader Alex Borg said on social media that he was closely following the incident and that he had met both Prime Minister Robert Abela and Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri together with the PN’s Home Affairs Shadow Minister Darren Carabott.
He said that they had offered their assistance to the government and asked to be kept informed about what is happening.
“This particular moment requires us to rise above partisan politics and work together hand-in-hand,” Borg wrote.
https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2026-03-03/local-news/Suspected-drone-strike-hits-Russian-shadow-fleet-tanker-near-Malta-reports-6736287688
https://www.facebook.com/ArmedForcesOfMaltaafm/posts/1372579801572084
Sudanese government says drone attack launched from Ethiopia
March 03, 2026
Sudan's army-backed government says drones have been launched into the country from neighbouring Ethiopia, the first such accusation since the civil war pitting the army against a paramilitary force began nearly three years ago.
The army-aligned foreign ministry described "aggressive behaviour that's both rejected and denounced. It constitutes a flagrant violation of Sudan's sovereignty and a blatant aggression on the Sudanese state”.
The statement told Ethiopia that the attack will have "consequences” and that Sudan reserves the right to defend its territory. It said the drones were launched from Ethiopia last month and the start of this, but did not say where they struck or mention material damage or casualties.
The ministry did not identify the attackers, or say why it took authorities in Sudan weeks to make the claim. But the claim coincides with growing signs that areas in south-eastern Sudan near Ethiopia's border could become a stage in the war between the army and the RSF.
There was no immediate reaction from Addis Ababa on Sudan's claim.
Sudan's accusation represents a dramatic shift in relations between its military-backed government and Ethiopia, which had tried in 2024 to mediate – without success – to end the war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was the first foreign leader to meet Sudan's army chief and de facto ruler Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan in July 2024 after he escaped from Khartoum, then controlled by the RSF.
The two met in Port Sudan on the Red Sea in eastern Sudan.
The Sudanese claim follows media reports last month that Ethiopia was hosting a training camp for RSF fighters near the Sudan border.
Military sources told The National that concentrations of RSF forces have been detected in the area and that limited clashes between the two foes had taken place in recent days in the areas of Kurmuk and Qaysan near the Ethiopian border.
The Blue Nile region in south-eastern Sudan where the RSF forces have been detected is a strategic region south of the capital Khartoum that could serve as a supply route from Ethiopia if Addis Ababa decides to back the paramilitary.
The area, parts of which are controlled by local rebels, has seen limited clashes between Sudanese and Ethiopian troops before the outbreak of the civil war in April 2023.
The violence was triggered by Sudan's attempt to retake a border area whose ownership has been disputed by the two countries for years.
Sudan is also at odds with Ethiopia over a Blue Nile dam Addis Ababa built. It argues that Ethiopia refuses to share data on the operation of the dam so that it could protect its own, smaller, Nile dams and prevent deadly and destructive flooding.
Sudan's civil war, widely seen as a power struggle between Gen Al Burhan and RSF commander Gen Mohamed Dagalo, has killed tens of thousands and created the world's worst humanitarian and displacement crises, with some 25 million facing hunger and at least 12 million fleeing their homes to escape the violence.
With the war close to entering its fourth year, the army controls Khartoum as well as the nation's central, northern and eastern regions.
The RSF occupies Darfur, a western region roughly the size of France, and parts of neighbouring Kordofan, where most of the fighting has shifted after the army lost its last foothold in Darfur in October.
https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2026/03/03/sudanese-government-says-drone-attack-launched-from-ethiopia/
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/paramilitary-drone-strike-causes-blackout-in-sudans-el-obeid/article70700836.ece
M23 Claims Drone Strike on Kisangani Airport
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
The rebel coalition Alliance Fleuve Congo / Mouvement du 23 Mars (AFC/M23) has claimed responsibility for a targeted military operation near Kisangani, reporting that it destroyed combat drones allegedly being prepared to attack civilians and rebel positions.
In an official communiqué dated March 2, 2026, the coalition accused the government in Kinshasa of conducting indiscriminate bombardments against populated areas using drones, describing it as a “strategy of terror deliberately targeting civilian populations.”
“Following the war imposed upon us by the Kinshasa regime, the Alliance Fleuve Congo / Mouvement du 23 Mars informs the Congolese people that the coalition forces continue to carry out indiscriminate bombardments of the densely populated areas, notably through the use of combat drones,” the statement read.
According to the communiqué, AFC/M23 forces deployed on the outskirts of Kisangani conducted a pre-emptive strike to neutralize the drones before they could be launched.
The coalition added that its operations would continue until the government under President Félix Tshisekedi ends what it called attacks on civilians in areas under rebel control.
“The operations to neutralise this threat will continue resolutely as long as Tshisekedi’s criminal coalition fails to bring a definitive end to the barbaric massacres it continues to inflict on civilian populations in the liberated territories,” the statement added.
The communiqué also referenced the death of its military spokesperson, Willy Ngoma, saying his killing would not go unanswered and holding the Kinshasa government fully responsible.
Meanwhile, Manzi Willy, Deputy Governor of South Kivu Province, defended the operation, stating that the strike represents a shift in the conflict toward confronting alleged sources of attacks on Congolese civilians.
“The pursuit of justice continues in Kisangani. By destroying the drones haunting the Congolese people, the AFC/M23 is taking the fight directly to the source,” he said.
He further warned that those responsible for attacks on civilians would eventually face consequences. “Accountability is coming; the enemy has no place to run. One way attacking, seven ways fleeing,” Manzi added.
The latest development highlights the intensifying conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where clashes between government forces and rebel groups have escalated in recent months, raising fears of further instability and civilian suffering in the mineral-rich region.
https://nilepost.co.ug/news/324605/m23-claims-drone-strike-on-kisangani-airport
CAA suspends all drone and air sport permits across Oman
3 Mar 2026
Muscat – The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has announced the immediate suspension of all operating permits for unmanned aircraft (drones) and other aerial activities across Oman until further notice.
In a circular issued on Tuesday, the authority said the decision covers all drone operations, whether for governmental, commercial or recreational purposes.
The suspension also applies to paragliding, paramotors, other aerial sports aircraft, and any aviation-related sports activities or events.
The CAA stated that the decision takes effect from the date of issuance and will remain in force until further notice.
During the suspension period, the operation or flight of any of the specified activities within Omani airspace is strictly prohibited. No new permits will be issued throughout the duration of the decision.
The authority said the measure forms part of temporary precautionary steps aimed at enhancing safety levels and regulating the use of airspace in line with the highest aviation safety standards.
It added that the situation will be reviewed on a continuous basis, with appropriate decisions to be taken in accordance with developments.
The CAA underscored the importance of adhering to the circular’s provisions and called on all concerned parties to cooperate in ensuring the highest standards of security and safety in the sultanate’s airspace.
https://www.muscatdaily.com/2026/03/03/caa-suspends-all-drone-and-air-sport-permits-across-oman-2/
Drone gang behind majority of London prison drops jailed
3 March 2026 12:38
A gang that used drones to smuggle drugs and mobile phones into prisons have been sentenced to a combined 22 years imprisonment, following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police.
The group was so prolific officers believe they were responsible for the majority of drone drops in prisons across London in the time they were offending, bringing in contraband that fuels violence and puts the safety of staff and other prisoners at risk.
Officers from the Met’s specialist crime unit began investigating drone drops after receiving intelligence in December 2025.
They then worked closely alongside the Prison Service to build evidence and identify the gang responsible. Within three months they were arrested, charged and remanded.
The investigating team used tactics including surveillance outside prisons, analysis of phone data that showed the suspects in the vicinity of prisons and downloaded the flight data of drones that had been found in or around prisons.
Ultimately, this led to them identifying the seven-person team of drone pilots, co-pilots and taxi drivers as well as lookouts. They thought they were successfully evading the police by regularly changing drivers and operating in the middle of the night.
However, they were being closely monitored by specialist crime officers who identified over 50 drone drops in the three months they were monitoring them.
Officers decided to take action and intercept the gang after they established prohibited items were being smuggled into prisons using the drones, significantly increasing the threat posed.
The suspects were covertly pursued by officers and in the early hours of 26 February 2025, four men were arrested less than a mile from HMP Norwich. When searching their car officers found a knife, a drone and cannabis.
Detective Inspector John Cowell, who led the investigation, said:
“This highly organised gang thought they were outsmarting the police and prison authorities. What they didn’t know is they were subject to sustained specialist surveillance by Met officers, who identified those responsible and brought them to justice.
“We will continue to work closely with the Prison Service to tackle the gangs who bring violence and drugs to our prisons. Criminals should be under no illusion we will use every tool available to us to put them behind bars.”
Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending Lord Timpson, said:
“We are closing in on the criminals who think they can exploit our prisons from the sky. Anyone trying to smuggle drugs, weapons or phones into jail using drones should be in no doubt — we will track you down, we will catch you, and you will face the full force of the law.
“I pay tribute to our diligent prison service staff and policing partners for their relentless work in smashing this operation and bringing those responsible to justice.”
The gang targeted prisons including Wormwood Scrubs, Brixton, Pentonville, Wandsworth, Norwich, Leicester, Onley and Bedford.
Packages smuggled in included class B drugs, mobile phones, chargers, and SIM cards.
The group all pleaded guilty at earlier hearings to:
Conspiracy to Convey List A Articles into Prison
Conspiracy to Convey List B Articles into Prisons
Conspiracy to Supply Controlled Drugs of Class B
Conspiracy to Supply Controlled Drugs of Class C
https://news.met.police.uk/news/drone-gang-behind-majority-of-london-prison-drops-jailed-506687
Hillary Clinton faces UFO, Gilgamesh questions in deposition
Updated: Mar 3, 2026 / 09:38 AM CST
During her deposition regarding billionaire sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton faced multiple questions on UAPs.
One question Clinton faced was whether she was denied access to information on the Gilgameth UFO theory.
Supporters of the theory believe that ancient gods and heroes, including Gilgamesh, the hero of an ancient Mesopotamian epic poem.
Some also believe that the U.S. government concealed the alleged discovery of Gilgamesh’s tomb in order to suppress evidence of aliens.
Clinton said she was not denied access to the topic of UAPs or Gilgamesh because she never asked for it. She stated her support for transparency on the issue.
“I think the information should be made available,” she said. “I think that’s been ordered or at least I read that it had been ordered.”
UAPs have been an area of bipartisan interest for lawmakers following claims of a secret Pentagon UFO program by whistleblower David Grusch.
Grusch’s statements sparked Congressional hearings and a renewed push for transparency on unexplained sightings.
Recently, President Donald Trump pledged to release UAP files to the public.
The Pentagon has denied the existence of any secret UFO programs and says there is no evidence to indicate UAPs are extraterrestrial in nature.
When Clinton was running for president, John Podesta publicly stated she would disclose files if in office, and she reiterated her support for transparency.
“As I say, I think they have to be carefully scrutinized so that no national security information is disclosed, but this is an issue of real importance to so many people, and I think whatever can be disclosed should be disclosed,” Clinton told lawmakers.
https://www.newsnationnow.com/space/ufo/hillary-clinton-ufo-gilgamesh-epstein-deposition/
https://cybernews.com/news/hillary-clinton-ufo-uap-epstein/
https://x.com/RedPandaKoala/status/2028786344273777130
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgTQKFYncC0 Red Panda Koala: UFO News Alien General MISSING)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJ_rIf83O70 (We found out who asked Hillary Clinton about UFOs at the Epstein Files deposition - Psicoactivo #885)
https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/rare-cuneiform-tablet-bearing-portion-epic-gilgamesh-forfeited-united-states
https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/united-states-returns-iraq-rare-tablet-bearing-portion-epic-gilgamesh
https://foia.state.gov/FOIALIBRARY/SearchResults.aspx?searchText=gilgamesh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AhCfmGyGpA (UFOMania: Video of the day when the tomb of GILGAMESH was found in Uruk, Iraq)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/2982891.stm