TYB
Golden opportunity knocking.
I'd probably collect a bunch of them before spending any.
kek
Starlink satellite 34343 disappears in ‘fragment creation event’ — observation 'immediately detected tens of objects in the vicinity of the satellite after the event'
March 31, 2026
Starlink has posted an update on satellite 34343, which it lost communication with on Sunday.
The SpaceX-owned global internet firm says that the satellite “experienced an anomaly” while it was in LEO at around 560 km above the Earth.
It also used wording to play down any concerns about risk to the thousands of other man-made objects at a similar altitude. However, orbital intelligence agency LeoLabs is less coy and describes Sunday’s incident as a “fragment creation event.”
Rapid Unplanned Disassembly
Following the anomaly on Sunday, Starlink’s official line (as above) was to play down any risks to the International Space Station, Monday’s Transporter-16 mission, or the upcoming launch of NASA’s Artemis II mission.
It doesn’t go as far as admitting there is any post-rapid unplanned disassembly debris, but does say that it will “continue to monitor the satellite along with any trackable debris and coordinate with NASA and the U.S. Space Force.”
Naturally, SpaceX and Starlink teams are working to determine the cause of the anomaly and implement any changes necessary to prevent this from happening again.
Sadly, the analysis of whatever happened towards the end of last year, when another Starlink satellite tumbled from space after an “anomaly,” didn’t stop this latest debris‑generation incident.
LeoLabs provides some further analysis regarding the fate of satellite 34343. Its radar system “immediately detected tens of objects in the vicinity of the satellite after the event.”
Moreover, the independent space‑situational‑awareness (SSA) data provider reckons that the not-an-explosion was “likely caused by an internal energetic source rather than a collision with space debris” or another satellite.
On potential risks to other satellites and missions from the now-ex-satellite, LeoLabs doesn’t highlight any specific dangers. It reckons the fragments from the anomaly will probably de-orbit within a few weeks.
This was indeed a similar Starlink satellite incident to that which occurred last December, think the independent analysts. It goes on to recommend greater clarity to ensure safety in the operating environment.
SpaceX IPO
SpaceX is warming up Wall Street for what could be the largest IPO of all time. It reportedly wants to raise around $75 billion in its offer, which equates to a $1.75 trillion valuation.
It would be better for Elon Musk’s firm if fewer rapid unplanned disassembly incidents happened between now and the IPO, tipped to be this summer.
However, with FCC approval and plans for thousands more Starlink LEO satellites and even talk of a 1 million satellite Orbital Data Center System from SpaceX coming to light, one might assume that any unsolved anomalies become more frequent.
https://www.tomshardware.com/service-providers/network-providers/starlink-satellite-34343-disappears-in-fragment-creation-event-observation-immediately-detected-tens-of-objects-in-the-vicinity-of-the-satellite-after-the-event
https://x.com/Starlink/status/2038635185118588973
Concentric rocky rings adorned with ancient artwork wear a magma 'hat' in the Sahara — Earth from space
March 31, 2026
This intriguing astronaut photo shows a series of rocky rings and their distinctive "hat" towering above a dune sea in the Sahara. The concentric, shadow-filled walls are home to ancient artworks and, occasionally, herds of cattle.
The colossal structure, known as Mount Arkanu (sometimes spelled Arkenu), is a massif, or group of mountains, that stands up to 2,600 feet (800 meters) above the surrounding sands and stretches up to 15.5 miles (25 kilometers) across at its widest point. The peaks are located in southeast Libya, near the border with Egypt.
Due to the mountains' shape, scientists previously assumed that the massif was an ancient impact crater that formed when a giant space rock slammed into the northeast Sahara.
But more recent research has shown that the rocky rings are not of extraterrestrial origin. Instead, the mountains were created when "magma [repeatedly] rose toward the surface and intruded into the surrounding rock," according to NASA's Earth Observatory.
This formation process likely ended hundreds of millions of years ago but has not been properly dated.
"Repeated intrusion events produced a series of overlapping rings, their centers roughly aligned toward the southwest," Earth Observatory representatives wrote.
"The resulting ring complex — composed of igneous basalt and granite — is bordered to the north by a hat-shaped formation made of sandstone, limestone, and quartz layers."
The massif has two large gaps in its outermost southern wall (bottom right in the photo). These have been slowly carved out by a pair of wadis, or ghost rivers, which sporadically fill with water when it rains.
The phantom waterways can also be seen snaking through the dark plateau surrounding the complex.
This region of the Sahara is hyperarid; it gets only 1 to 5 millimeters (0.04 to 0.2 inches) of rain each year, according to the Earth Observatory.
However, the massif receives between 5 and 10 mm (0.2 to 0.4 inches) of rain annually, due to a phenomenon known as "orographic precipitation," which occurs when clouds form over raised landforms, according to the U.K. Met Office.
As a result of this additional water, the rings are partially filled with grasses, bushes and trees that the shadows from the towering peaks shelter from the desert's scorching temperatures.
Cattle herding
The combination of shade, vegetation and occasional water has historically made the massif a popular destination for nomads traversing the surrounding dune seas.
Another massif, Mount Awaynat (sometimes spelled Uwaynat or Uweinat), is located roughly 12 miles (20 km) southeast and has provided similar benefits to desert wanderers for generations.
Some of the canyon-like walls of both Mount Arkanu and Mount Awaynat are covered with rock carvings, or petroglyphs, that were first discovered in 2003.
These ancient artworks depict human fugures, along with cattle and other tethered animals, such as giraffes.
Early-20th-century explorers noted that members of the local bedouin tribe trekked their cattle herds to the massifs and left them inside to graze for up to three months at a time — and blocked up the holes created by the wadis to stop the animals from wandering off.
The cattle carvings within both structures suggest that this practice has been going on for thousands of years.
https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/geology/concentric-rocky-rings-adorned-with-ancient-artwork-wear-a-magma-hat-in-the-sahara-earth-from-space
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/maps.12012
Ukrainian drone targets governor’s office in Russia
Updated 31 Mar, 2026 16:10
A Ukrainian drone has exploded near the entrance of the administration building in Russia’s Belgorod Region, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov has said.
Three people were injured in the “terrorist strike” in Belgorod, Gladkov wrote in a post on social media on Tuesday.
The administration’s facilities manager has been hospitalized with shrapnel wounds to his legs, abdomen and arm, the governor said. Two women requested medical attention, one also an employee and another a visitor, he added.
The exterior and glazing of the administration building have been damaged as result of the attack, Gladkov said.
The governor also published a video of the strike, which captured the drone exploding near the entrance to the building and civilians fleeing to safety.
Kiev targeted Belgorod Region with dozens of UAVS during the day. A civilian was killed in an FPV-drone attack on in the village of Belyanka, he said.
Drones also struck a passenger bus in the settlement of Shebekino and a private car in the village of Gruzskoe, leaving five people wounded, including a 15-year-old boy, Gladkov wrote.
Belgorod, Bryansk and Kursk regions, which all border Ukraine, have suffered from regular drone attacks on energy infrastructure and residential areas during the conflict between Moscow and Kiev.
Russian officials have described the aerial incursions as desperate “terrorist attacks” meant to compensate for the setbacks Kiev’s military has been suffering on the battlefield.
Moscow has retaliated with a long-range strike campaign of its own, targeting dual-use infrastructure, including power grid facilities and military sites in Ukraine with missiles and drones. Russia maintains that it never targets purely civilian sites.
https://www.rt.com/russia/636838-belgorod-administration-drone-ukraine/
extra RT
https://www.rt.com/russia/636856-zelensky-claims-receiving-ultimatum-from-russia/
https://www.rt.com/russia/636827-fsb-ukrainian-agent-killed/
https://www.rt.com/india/636811-russia-india-energy-cooperation/
Zelensky Calls For Easter Truce Amid Nightly Russian Drone Assaults
Monday, Mar 30, 2026 - 06:50 PM
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is urging for an Easter holiday ceasefire with Russia, at a moment each side has sent daily and nightly drones and missiles across the border.
"We’re ready for a ceasefire during the Easter holidays," Zelensky told reporters, describing that "normal people who respect life" would seek a permanent ceasefire. "But we’re ready for any compromises, except those involving our dignity and sovereignty," he added.
Both countries have predominantly Eastern Orthodox Christian populations, and Orthodox Easter, also known as Pascha, takes place on April 16 this year. The West, or rather the Roman Catholic and Protestant churches, will celebrate on April 5.
While full ceasefires, even short ones, have not had much success in the past more than four years of war, the two sides have previously agreed to days or even weeks of pauses on attacking energy sites. This limited truce does hold some potential.
"If Russia is ready to stop hitting Ukrainian energy facilities, we will not respond against their energy sector," Zelensky said.
Last year saw an effort to put in place a Pascha ceasefire, called for by President Putin - however, there were widespread accusations of violations.
Putin himself attends the long Orthodox Pascha vigil each year, while Zelensky is Jewish. He became the first Jewish president of Ukraine after being elected in 2019, and has since faced accusations of persecuting Ukrainian Orthodox who maintain spiritual ties with the Moscow patriarchate.
Currently, drone attacks on mutual energy sites are continuing at rapid pace. We detailed that last week Russia set a record for the largest single-day drone assault on Ukraine of the war.
At least seven people were killed in Ukraine last Tuesday after Russia launched the truly massive drone. Counting both drones and cruise missiles, 979 warheads poured into Ukrainian airspace as diplomatic efforts at ending the war remain stalled and the world's attention focused almost entirely on the US-Israeli war on Iran.
If some kind of Easter truce could actually hold later next month, it would constitute a significant breakthrough regarding broader diplomatic efforts toward peace, at a moment the US-mediated talks have stalled amid the Iran war in the Middle East, and removal of some sanctions on Russian oil.
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/zelensky-calls-easter-truce-russia-amid-nightly-ratcheted-drone-assaults
other Russia and Ukraine
https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/news/international/ukrainian-drones-strike-russia-s-ust-luga-port-again-oil-terminal-hit-5409190
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/72899
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2026/03/31/Ukrainian-drones-hit-Ust-Luga-oil-terminal/8571774957524/
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/03/31/ukrainian-drones-damage-ust-luga-port-again-a92383
https://kyivindependent.com/japan-breaks-into-ukraines-drone-market-for-first-time-as-tokyo-confronts-regional-threats/
A UFO Has Fallen in Finland
29.03.2026 14:55
Yle: an unidentified flying object has fallen in the Finnish Kouvola.
An unidentified flying object (UFO) has fallen in the Finnish city of Kouvola, and no one was injured as a result of the incident. This was reported by the broadcaster Yle.
"Police are examining the aircraft that fell to the ground in the Kouvola area. (…) There is no information about any injuries. The police have cordoned off the area where the fallen object was found," the report states.
It is noted that Finland has also raised its air force into the sky over the southeastern part of the country.
On March 28, an unidentified flying object fell near the town of Mińsk Mazowiecki in Poland. According to the agency, the aircraft crashed in a forest in the eastern part of the country near the village of Rudnik. It was claimed that the flying object may have been carrying some cargo. Police and bomb disposal experts were dispatched to the scene.
https://en.bb.lv/article/technologies/2026/03/29/a-ufo-has-fallen-in-finland-93843
https://yle.fi/a/74-20217945
https://kyivindependent.com/russia-deliberately-redirects-drones-toward-baltic-states-finland-ukraine-says/
https://www.dw.com/en/ukraine-apologizes-finland-police-say-crashed-ukrainian-drone-carried-warhead-kouvola/a-76596061
https://x.com/dom_lucre/status/2038357332103426107
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/new-updates/nuclear-attack-on-iran-un-diplomat-resigns-saying-giving-up-my-career-to-leak-possible-nuke-missile-strike-plan/articleshow/129891916.cms
https://x.com/mhdksafa/status/2038190305950781695
https://x.com/mhdksafa/status/2037475557999280433
Nuclear attack on Iran? UN diplomat resigns saying 'giving up my career to leak possible nuke missile strike plan'
Updated: Mar 31, 2026, 05:26:00 PM IST
Something exemplary is unfolding in one of India’s leading two-wheeler manufacturing facilities.
As machines hum with a kind of precision only decades of disciplined engineering can produce, a 125-year-old British motorcycle legend, Norton, is being nurtured back to its former glory on the factory floor of the TVS Motor Company in Hosur, Tamil Nadu.
The people instrumental to the visit included Greg Clark—former UK Cabinet Minister and Executive Chair of the Warwick Innovation District—who toured the expansive TVS factory and engaged in a discussion with KN Radhakrishnan, Director and CEO of TVS Motor Company.
A partnership forged in research
Clark is not new to India. During his nearly two decades in the UK Parliament, three of which he spent as the Cabinet Minister, he helped build relationships that transcend the transactional. "TVS has always had very strong relationships with the UK and the West Midlands," Clark said.
That relationship, he explained, runs through a common mentor: the late Professor Lord Bhattacharyya, founder of the Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) and the Professor of Manufacturing Systems in UK history.
Lord Bhattacharya's influence on both the West Midlands' industrial identity and TVS' growth trajectory is something both Clark and Radhakrishnan deeply acknowledge.
“He has been a mentor for all of us and thanks to him, TVS Motor is growing and expanding rapidly, with a network of reputed manufacturers," Radhakrishnan stated, underscoring that the partnership between TVS and West Midlands (and by extension, TVS and Norton Motorcycles) was built over decades through shared research, shared talent, and shared ambition.
Norton's second life: £250 million and a new home in Solihull
When TVS acquired Norton Motorcycles in 2020, the deal raised eyebrows in some quarters. Norton, after all, is an emblem of British industrial heritage, and a name that conjures images of racers on misty English roads.
Radhakrishnan frames the acquisition not as a takeover, but a resurgence. TVS has invested approximately £250 million (₹3,079 crore) into Norton, building a world-class headquarters and manufacturing facility in Solihull, right in the heart of the West Midlands.
The flagship Norton Manx R, a four-cylinder motorcycle, is being readied for production there.
"Solihull continues to be the home of Norton. We want to keep up the spirit of the British brand and the 125-year-old legacy here," Radhakrishnan said.
Now, this legacy will be amplified by the scale, engineering depth, and global supply chain that only a company of TVS' stature can bring.
For those wondering whether the Norton Motorcycles brand will be diluted in any way, the answer is a firm no.
"Norton will remain firmly positioned at the top end of each of the segments we are planning to launch," Radhakrishnan emphasised. The brand's soul stays intact; it simply gains a more powerful engine behind it.
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WMG and the science of lightweighting
For investors tracking the electric vehicle (EV) transition, Warwick Manufacturing Group's strategy is worth paying close attention to. Greg Clark highlighted one area in particular: lightweighting of materials.
WMG is conducting research on addressing this issue, work that Clark says will "transform the economics of the transition to electrification".
This is not theoretical work done in isolation. Members of Radhakrishnan’s team at TVS are actively pursuing PhDs and high-level qualifications at Warwick, creating a two-way flow of knowledge.
"I would say we learn as much from TVS as they learn from us," Clark said.
From free trade to factory floor: The integrated mobility play
No conversation about UK-India business is complete without mention of the bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Both Clark and Radhakrishnan are unambiguous about its significance, but also clear-eyed about what makes this moment different from previous attempts.
Clark, drawing on his long experience in government, noted that trade agreements have historically suffered from a gap between promise and delivery, but argued that India today is fundamentally different, characterised by a "real sense of momentum, of delivery, and almost of impatience to get on with things."
For the automotive sector, the FTA's practical implications are substantial: seamless movement of parts and sub-assemblies, and a clearer path for fully-built motorcycles into a country that is already one of the fastest-growing premium motorcycle markets in the world.
Radhakrishnan confirmed that Norton Motorcycles, including the flagship four-cylinder Manx R built in Solihull, will be available in India, while the Hosur facility will simultaneously support global production for the bike.
"It's an integrated approach between Solihull and India," he said, "And it will become a great opportunity not only for India and UK, but all markets globally."
The result is a dual-axis strategy: premium products crafted in the UK for discerning global buyers and backed by India's engineering scale and cost efficiency, the kind of model that sophisticated investors recognise as durable.
The bigger picture
The West Midlands is home to about 270,000 Indians. Indian conglomerates such TVS, Tata, and the Mahindra Group have infused capital and innovation into what was once the undisputed heart of British automotive manufacturing.
This story isn’t about sentiment or diaspora ties as much as it is about hard economics, technological alignment, and a shared bet on the future of mobility.
What is unfolding between TVS, Norton, WMG, and the West Midlands is a blueprint for how manufacturing for or by emerging markets can pair well with the research capabilities of legacy brands to create something truly world-class.
For investors watching where the next decade of mobility is being shaped, the answer can be in both Hosur and Solihull.
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https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/2026-03-31/live-updates-891725
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KANTguUIxz4 (Live: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Statement to the Media)
other Israel
https://www.jns.org/news/u-s-news/centcom-chief-discusses-us-israel-coordination-with-idf-counterpart
https://www.timesofisrael.com/on-last-day-in-office-unrwa-head-urges-probe-into-alleged-idf-killing-of-nearly-400-workers/
https://www.jfeed.com/middleeast/idf-tehran-air-defense-strikes
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/idf-troops-are-being-killed-israel-challenges-lebanese-ambassador-publicly-for-causing-terror/videoshow/129933409.cms?
https://www.gbnews.com/news/world/hezbollah-christian-village-human-shield-israel-idf-iran
Live Updates: Netanyahu says Iranian regime weaker than ever after northern Israel slammed with Hezbollah barrage
March 31, 2026
• IRGC recruits 12-year-olds to fill personnel gaps
• Four IDF soldiers killed in southern Lebanon
• Hegseth refuses to give timeline to end war
March 31, 9:04 PM
WATCH: Netanyahu expected to discuss war with Iran in public address
Opposition leader Yair Lapid is expected to speak as well.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Statement to the Media
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will give a public address on Tuesday night, expected to be about the ongoing war with Iran.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid is expected to speak as well.
March 31, 7:38 PM
Zamir, CENTCOM chief meet to discuss Iran
Israel and the United States’ strikes in Iran are isolating and weakening the regime, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir told CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper during a recent visit, the IDF said on Tuesday.
“Through synchronized and coordinated action, together we are striking the Iranian terror regime, making it both strategically isolated and weaker than it has ever been before,” Zamir said. “The axis of terror is beginning to collapse; we will continue to strike it until our objectives are achieved."
During the visit, the two spoke about the importance of cooperation between the IDF and the US military and coordinated next steps against Iran.
“These are historic days, which were planned with precision,” Zamir explained, adding that Israel’s “intelligence, aerial defense, logistics, and additional units are operating day and night together with their counterparts in the US Armed Forces.”
March 31, 7:36 PM
Eight wounded, cars catch fire in central Israel following strike from Iranian cluster munition
In the afternoon, a man in his 50s was moderately wounded in northern Israel after being hit by shrapnel from a rocket launched by Hezbollah.
Eight people were lightly wounded across several sites in central Israel following several fragments falling from an Iranian cluster munition on Tuesday, Magen David Adom confirmed.
The youngest of those wounded are two 18-month-old babies. MDA took the wounded to be treated at Mayanei Hayeshua Medical Center, Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson Campus, and Sheba Medical Center.
March 31, 7:36 PM
‘Axis of terror is beginning to collapse’ Zamir says as IDF, US continue strikes across Iran
The IDF also stated that as it conducted the strikes on weapons production facilities, parallel strikes were conducted on missile launch sites and surface-to-air missile launch positions.
The IDF completed a wave of strikes against weapons production sites in Iran overnight and on Tuesday morning, destroying ballistic missile production and development sites, the military said.
Some 80 munitons were used in the attack, the IDF said, adding that infrastructure at the central headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps' Air Force in Tehran had also been struck.
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March 31, 7:36 PM
WATCH: IDF reveals Hezbollah took control of Christian Lebanese village to launch attacks at Israel
Further, the military said it had killed dozens of terrorists operating in southern Lebanon over the past 24 hours.
Hezbollah has taken control of the Christian village Qawzah in southern Lebanon as a base to launch rockets and anti-tank missiles at Israel and IDF troops, the military revealed on Tuesday afternoon.
This is not the first time that Israel has exposed Hezbollah's attempts to use Christian villages as human shields on the assumption that operating from civilian areas "grants it protection it from IDF strikes," the IDF noted, adding that it had previously revealed Hezbollah's operations beneath a church in an additional village in the region.
March 31, 6:42 PM
IDF kills member of Hamas naval force in Gaza Strip
Ibrahim al-Khaldi, a member of Hamas’ naval force, was killed by the IDF during Monday operations in the area of Nuseirat in the Gaza Strip, the military said.
“Al-Khaldi has functioned as a source of expertise, while planning and advancing maritime terror attacks against IDF troops from the Gaza Strip,” the IDF said.
It added that ahead of the strikes, it had taken measures to mitigate harm to civilians by using precision munitions and aerial surveillance.
March 31, 6:33 PM
Iran's Revolutionary Guards says they will target US companies in the region
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Tuesday they will target US companies in the region as of April 1 in retaliation for attacks on Iran, state media reported.
The 18 companies listed in the IRGC's threat included Microsoft, Google, Apple, Intel, IBM, Tesla, and Boeing.
"These companies should expect the destruction of their respective units in exchange for each terror act in Iran, starting from 8 p.m. Tehran time on Wednesday, April 1st," the IRGC statement said.
March 31, 5:48 PM
All critical, essential targets within Iran to be destroyed before Passover, IDF announces
The IDF deemed "critical" targets as those that immediately threatened Israel, such as ballistic missile industry targets, as well as targets that were at the heart of the mission goals of the war.
All of the IDF's critical and essential pre-war Iran targets will have been destroyed by Wednesday, the IDF said on Tuesday.
This 100% of the top two most important categories of pre-war targets is part of the IDF having destroyed around 60-70% of the total pre-war targets in the Islamic Republic.
March 31, 5:48 PM
‘Risk children’s lives for some extra manpower’: IRGC recruits 12 year olds to fill personnel gaps
“We launched a plan we call ‘For Iran’, which is a registration program for homeland defense fighters,” Nadali told state media. “We set the minimum age at 12 years and above.”
The Islamic regime’s revolutionary guards has stepped up campaigns to recruit children as young as 12 to join the military, Rahim Nadali, the cultural and artistic deputy of the IRGC’s Mohammad Rasoulollah Corps, told Iran’s Defa Press Agency last week.
“We launched a plan we call ‘For Iran’, which is a registration program for homeland defense fighters,” Nadali told state media. “We set the minimum age at 12 years and above.”
March 31, 5:48 PM
Trump urges countries to go to Strait of Hormuz and 'just take it'
Additionally, Trump singled out France for not letting planes carrying military supplies to Israel fly over French territory.
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday urged countries that did not help in the US-Israeli strikes on Iran to buy American oil and go to the Strait of Hormuz and "just TAKE it."
Trump singled out Britain and France as unhelpful in the month-long war that has roiled global markets, driven up energy prices, and seen Iran effectively close oil tanker traffic through the Strait.
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https://www.iranintl.com/en/202603283207
Iran’s military uses schools and civilian sites during US-Israeli war
23 hours ago
Iran’s security and military forces moved personnel, weapons and equipment into at least 70 civilian sites during the US-Israeli airstrikes, an Iran International investigation found, exposing what appears to be a nationwide pattern of using public spaces for military purposes.
The sites span 17 provinces, 28 cities and two villages. Nearly half of them – 34 in total – were primary or secondary schools. Other locations identified in eyewitness accounts and documents reviewed by Iran International included hospitals, stadiums, universities, mosques, parks and government offices.
The accounts were gathered over a 10-day period from March 2 to March 14, 2026, during a near-total internet shutdown that sharply restricted the flow of messages, photos and video from inside Iran.
While Iran International could not independently verify every account, it geolocated visual evidence from seven reported sites, all of them schools.
Civilian sites and battlefield risk
The deployment of military forces at civilian sites “shifts battlefield risks onto civilians,” a regional security source who requested anonymity said, adding that using such locations for military purposes is prohibited under international law.
“When security or paramilitary forces move into schools, hospitals or mosques, they endanger civilians physically, degrade protected civilian services and may turn those sites into military objectives,” the source said.
Under international humanitarian law, civilian sites can lose protected status if used for military purposes, though attacking forces must still comply with rules on distinction, proportionality and precaution.
The source said the legal implications vary depending on the type of site but warned that such practices can strip civilian locations of their protected status.
“Schools are civilian objects; using them as barracks, firing positions, detention sites, or weapons depots can make them lawful military targets, while still leaving the attacker bound by distinction, proportionality, and feasible precautions,” the source said, adding that this “amounts to human shielding.”
At least four hospitals were identified in eyewitness accounts as having nearby or associated military deployments, including Golestan Hospital in Ahvaz and medical sites in Kermanshah and other western regions.
“Hospitals get even stronger protection than schools. Under International Humanitarian Law, they must be respected and protected, but if they are used outside their humanitarian role, such as for a base, observation post, military center, shelter for military-security personnel, or weapons depot, they lose that special protection, although a clear warning is required before any attack,” the source said.
At least three mosques were identified in eyewitness accounts as having been used for military deployments.
In the capital, Tehran, this included Rezvan Mosque on March 8 and Chahardeh Masoum Mosque in University Town on March 7, where special police units were stationed.
Malek Ashtar Mosque in Khosrowshah in East Azarbaijan province was also used on March 9, where IRGC forces were relocated.
Mosques are protected as civilian objects and may also qualify as cultural property under the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property, the source said.
“Using mosques for military purposes is prohibited, but if turned into a military objective, they lose protection, while attacking forces must still take precautions and avoid indiscriminate or disproportionate action,” the source added.
How the reporting was assembled
As authorities imposed a near-total internet shutdown across the country after the outbreak of the war, only a limited number of messages were able to get through filtering systems, while photo and video footage remained scarce.
Iran International collected eyewitness accounts from March 2 to March 14 but could not independently verify every claim.
It was nevertheless able to geolocate visual evidence accompanying some of the reports, identifying seven locations, all of them schools.
A pattern across multiple provinces
The accounts reviewed by Iran International illustrate the breadth of the reported deployments across multiple provinces.
In Tehran and surrounding areas in north-central Iran, eyewitness reports said police, intelligence and administrative offices in Malard were relocated on March 8 to Fatemiyeh Girls’ High School, which is located alongside two other schools near a gas station.
One of the main hubs for Iran’s plainclothes security forces in Tehran is the Basij’s Meghdad Resistance District, known as the “Meghdad base.” It is located on Azadi Street, next to Sharif University of Technology.
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During the June 15, 2009 protests – part of the mass demonstrations that followed Iran’s disputed presidential election and became known as the Green Movement – gunfire using live ammunition was directed at demonstrators from the base’s rooftop.
The Meghdad base sits next to the central headquarters of the West Tehran Combatants Council, a complex with significant influence across paramilitary and security structures. The surrounding area was targeted in strikes on March 6.
After the strikes, eyewitness accounts on March 8 said remaining personnel and equipment had been moved to a fire department building directly opposite the former Meghdad base.
Another eyewitness account on March 9 said forces and equipment were relocated again, this time to a Bank Mellat complex on Azadi Street near the start of Jeyhoon Street.
The site is one of the bank’s key national facilities and houses its data center.
Beyond the capital, similar deployments were reported across multiple regions of the country.
In Khuzestan province in southwestern Iran, eyewitness accounts said military forces were stationed at Takhti stadiums in Izeh and Ahvaz, as well as at Chamran University and near Golestan Hospital in Ahvaz, and at a girls’ primary school in Dezful.
In Fars province in southern Iran, military forces were reported at Sardaran Stadium and near the Negin commercial complex in Shiraz, as well as at schools in rural areas.
In Kermanshah in western Iran, missile launchers and military forces were deployed near major hospitals and at an industrial factory. In East Azarbaijan in northwestern Iran, forces were reported at multiple schools in Tabriz and in Hadishahr.
In Isfahan province in central Iran, forces were stationed at women’s parks, sports facilities and schools in several cities, including Isfahan, Dastgerd and Naein.
In Alborz province west of Tehran, deployments were reported across Karaj, Hashtgerd and Mehrshahr.
In Razavi Khorasan in northeastern Iran, forces were reported to have used schools in Mashhad as bases, while in Bushehr in southern Iran they were stationed at universities.
In West Azarbaijan in northwestern Iran, forces were reported at a school in Khoy, while 22 Bahman Stadium in Qazvin in north-central Iran served as a main base.
In Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province in southwestern Iran, military forces used Naft Stadium in Gachsaran.
In Markazi province in central Iran, deployments were reported at a school and a government office in Arak. In Mazandaran in northern Iran, schools in Tonekabon were used as bases.
In Golestan in northern Iran, military forces were reported at a school and a government building in Gorgan, while in Lorestan in western Iran, deployments were reported at several high schools in Borujerd.
US warning and Israeli response
Iranian officials have repeatedly denied accusations that the country uses civilians as shields and have accused Israel of targeting civilian infrastructure during the conflict.
The Israeli military, when contacted for comment, confirmed that Iranian forces were deploying personnel and weapons at civilian sites such as schools, mosques and stadiums.
“Iran’s regime, like all of its proxy and terrorist groups across the Middle East that are activated and employed by this regime, has effectively turned defenseless people into its human shields and hides behind these innocent, unfortunate civilian populations,” Israel Defense Forces Persian-speaking spokesman Kamal Penhasi told Iran International.
“It tries to conceal its military assets and weapons behind people and among the population, including in hospitals, schools, and mosques,” he added.
Asked how civilian harm is minimized in populated areas, Penhasi said evacuation warnings are issued ahead of operations and precision-guided weapons are used to limit collateral damage.
“We do everything within our power to the extent possible to prevent harm to civilians and the citizens of the dear Iranian nation.”
Penhasi urged people to distance themselves from such locations and follow evacuation warnings.
“I ask the people of Iran to pay attention to our messages to protect their lives and safety. As soon as they receive a warning message, they should move away and also pass it on to their neighbors, friends, and relatives,” he said.
Iran International also reached out to the US Central Command, the White House and the Pentagon for comment, but they did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
US Central Command on March 8 issued a safety warning to civilians in Iran, saying civilian locations used for military purposes could become legitimate military targets under international law.
“The Iranian regime is using heavily populated civilian areas to conduct military operations, including launching one-way attack drones and ballistic missiles,” CENTCOM said in a statement.
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https://www.iranintl.com/en/liveblog/202603261868
other Iran
https://english.nv.ua/nation/iranian-drone-hits-tanker-in-dubai-port-50596481.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15693415/Oil-tanker-Iran-hormuz-bunker-buster.html
https://thearabweekly.com/drones-turn-sudans-kordofan-deadly-battlefield-civilian-toll-surges
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/3/31/us-israel-launch-major-attacks-as-iranian-authorities-maintain-defiance
https://wanaen.com/iran-army-statement-no-50-drone-strikes-on-israeli-strategic-targets/
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/3/31/cancer-drug-facility-religious-site-hit-in-israeli-us-strikes-on-iran
https://ir.usembassy.gov/security-alert-iran-march-31-2026-update/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AseTNcJb7kg (Secretary Hegseth and Chairman Caine hold a press briefing on Operation Epic Fury - 03/31/2026)
==Trump says Iran talks going well, Tehran denies any talks underway=
March 31, 2026
Summary
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"The negotiations with Iran are going well," US President Donald Trump told Axios in a phone call on Tuesday. However, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Al Jazeera what is currently taking place is not negotiations but an exchange of messages.
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China and Pakistan in a joint statement on Tuesday proposed a five-point initiative aimed at restoring peace and stability in the Persian Gulf and the broader Middle East amid the Iran war, following talks between senior officials in Beijing.
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US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday that talks with Iran are “very real” and ongoing, but warned the United States will keep up military pressure if no deal is reached.
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday the United States will keep the Strait of Hormuz open and may re-examine NATO after some allies denied airspace and basing access.
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US President Donald Trump urged countries affected by Strait of Hormuz disruption to secure their own fuel supplies and step up their response.
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The United States struck an Iranian ammunition depot in Isfahan with 2,000-pound bunker-buster bombs, the The Wall Street Journal reported, citing a US official.
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Iran’s nationwide internet blackout entered its 32th day, with connectivity still at about 1% of normal levels, according to NetBlocks on Monday.
2 minutes ago
Pope Leo hopes Iran war ends before Easter, laments deaths of children
Pope Leo on Tuesday expressed hope that the war in Iran could end before Easter on April 5, while condemning the mounting human toll of the conflict, including the deaths of “innocent children.”
27 minutes ago
Trump says negotiations with Iran going well - Axios
"The negotiations with Iran are going well," US President Donald Trump told Axios in a phone call on Tuesday.
1 hour ago
Masih Alinejad awarded inaugural European Paulskirche Prize for Democracy
Iranian-American journalist and women’s rights activist Masih Alinejad was awarded the first-ever European Paulskirche (St. Paul's Church) Prize for Democracy in Frankfurt on Tuesday.
The prize, established by the city of Frankfurt, honors individuals who have made significant contributions to democracy and human rights. It commemorates St. Paul's Church, regarded as the cradle of German democracy, where the country’s first elected parliament convened in 1848.
In an interview with German broadcaster Tagesschau, Alinejad said it was better “to live with dignity and to have a mission,” adding: “I love democracy.”
1 hour ago
Araghchi says no response yet to US proposals, denies talks underway
He said Iran has not put forward any counterproposals or conditions of its own. He added that no decision has been made regarding potential negotiations.
Araghchi said what is currently taking place is not negotiations but the exchange of messages, either directly or through regional intermediaries.
He added that he continues to receive direct messages from US envoy Steve Witkoff but stressed that this “does not mean negotiations.”
Araghchi said the message exchanges are being conducted within a defined framework under government oversight and supervised by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.
He noted that communications are being handled through the Foreign Ministry, with additional contacts taking place between security bodies.
1/2
2 hours ago
EXCLUSIVE
US journalist kidnapped in Baghdad by plainclothes forces, source says
American journalist Shelly Kittleson was abducted on Palestine Street in central Baghdad by masked plainclothes forces likely linked to the intelligence wing of the Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Forces, an informed source in Baghdad told Iran International.
Iraq’s Interior Ministry said the journalist was abducted by unidentified individuals, adding that security forces have launched a manhunt, arrested one suspect after a pursuit and vehicle crash, and are continuing efforts to rescue the victim and apprehend the remaining suspects.
2 hours ago
Jailed Nobel laureate denied treatment, is in ‘critical’ condition - family
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi is in critical condition after suffering a heart attack in Zanjan prison and has been denied access to specialized medical care, the Narges Foundation said.
In a statement on Tuesday, the foundation said Iranian authorities have refused to transfer Mohammadi to a hospital or allow her to be examined by a specialist, despite reports of her losing consciousness, experiencing severe chest pain and medical recommendations for an urgent angiography.
The group warned that her life is at risk in prison and criticized what it described as continued restrictions on her basic rights, including limited phone contact, a ban on communication with lawyers and the requirement that visits take place in the presence of security officials.
The foundation called for the immediate and unconditional release of Mohammadi and other political inmates and prisoners of conscience.
2 hours ago
In pictures: Massive blasts rock Isfahan after US drops bunker-busters
3 hours ago
US says Mideast people should not face daily dangers caused by Iran terror
"The suffering in this region is immense and has gone on for far too long. Parents, children and grandparents… should not face the daily dangers caused by Iranian-backed terrorists," the US ambassador to the United Nations told a meeting of the Security Council on Tuesday.
"People in this region deserve a different future, one defined by security and economic opportunity and normal life, not by rockets, tunnels and the constant threat of escalation and retaliation," Ambassador Waltz said.
3 hours ago
Iran's IRGC warns staff at US tech giants to evacuate Mideast offices
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard on Tuesday warned employees of US technology companies Apple, Google, Microsoft, Oracle, Intel, HP and Cisco to immediately leave their workplaces, saying firms it described as “key institutions involved in terrorist espionage operations” would be considered legitimate targets.
4 hours ago
Blasts reported across Iranian cities as air defenses activated in Tehran
Explosions and bombardments were reported across several Iranian cities on Tuesday evening, including Bushehr, Shiraz, Kermanshah, Ramhormoz and Andimeshk, according to Iranian media.
Reports also pointed to blasts near the Iran Marine Industrial Company (SADRA) in Bushehr in southern Iran, and a local official confirmed a missile strike in a Kermanshah in the west.
State-affiliated outlets said air defenses were activated over Tehran to counter “hostile targets".
2/2
Threat To Hegseth, Rubio? US Pushes Anti-Drone Laser System Near Residences Of Top US Officials
Last Updated: March 31, 2026, 22:38 IST
The Pentagon is weighing the deployment of a powerful anti-drone laser system in Washington DC, following reports of unusual drone activity near a key military installation, the New York Times reported, citing officials familiar with the matter.
As per the report, while the plans are still in flux, the Army is weighing using the technology is considering placing the system at Fort Lesley J. McNair, where several senior national security leaders, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and State Secretary Marco Rubio reside.
While authorities say there is no immediate threat, security measures around the base have already been increased. Officials have not confirmed whether the laser system will ultimately be deployed, noting that plans remain under review.
The Army has been debating deploying the lasers there after reports of unusual drone activity in the airspace around Fort McNair.
The drone sightings have prompted concerns about possible surveillance of two high-ranking national security officials at a time when the United States is at war with Iran.
The proposal has sparked debate between the Pentagon and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which has raised concerns about the safety of using such technology in heavily trafficked airspace.
The area around Fort McNair is close to one of the nation’s busiest airports, adding complexity to any potential deployment.
The FAA in the past has raised safety concerns about its use along the border with Mexico, and the Pentagon, which has been more eager to deploy it to fight drone incursions by Mexican drug cartels.
Recent aviation incidents have further heightened sensitivity around airspace safety, putting additional pressure on regulators to proceed cautiously.
The FAA is already under intense scrutiny after a midair collision between an Army helicopter and a regional passenger jet killed 67 people over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan National Airport last year.
National Airport, located across the Potomac in Northern Virginia, is about two miles from Fort McNair.
https://www.news18.com/world/threat-to-hegseth-rubio-us-pushes-anti-drone-laser-system-near-residences-of-top-us-officials-ws-l-10008117.html