TYB
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
August 30, 2026
M74: A Grand Design Spiral
If not the most grand, then this spiral galaxy is at least one of the most photogenic. An island universe of about 100 billion stars, 32 million light-years away toward the constellation Pisces, M74 presents a gorgeous face-on view. Classified as an Sc galaxy, the grand design of M74's graceful spiral arms are traced by bright blue star clusters and dark cosmic dust lanes. Constructed from archival images, this sharp composite is from the Hubble Space Telescope. Spanning about 30,000 light-years across the face of M74, it includes exposures recording emission from hydrogen atoms, highlighting the reddish glow of the galaxy's large star-forming regions.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PywyrVV-Q_k
Polar Motion, Ocean Temperature, Solar Watch | S0 News and frens
Aug.30.2026
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HjMi3lsW08
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgIYVk3ygbc (Ryan Hall y'all: We've Never Seen This Kind Of El Nino)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWf5gsyrfuM (Mr Weatherman: Tropical Wave Dolly Arrives…)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ovs5MznhNFU (On the Pulse with Silki: URGENT Nepal UPDATE — Second Lake STILL GROWING as Rain Raises New Threat)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gs3QoJYJGGk (Randall Carlson: Nepal Flood: Not a Glacial Lake Burst, but a Mountain Collapse)
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wildfires
https://www.abc10.com/article/news/politics/governor-newsom-and-ca-legislature-reach-three-party-deal-on-reforming-state-wildfire-recovery-system/103-32745b76-aa23-4a04-b99f-7d5bdc59c3fc
https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/plaskett-fire-monterey-county-evacuations/4135082/
https://www.sfgate.com/california-wildfires/article/big-sur-fires-timber-plaskett-22408409.php
https://www.kbzk.com/news/more-than-600-firefighters-support-crews-battle-two-wildfires-burning-thousands-of-acres-in-beaverhead-county
https://www.koco.com/article/evacuations-ordered-wildfire-sparks-indiahoma/73560709
https://www.turkiyetoday.com/region/wildfires-threaten-homes-across-sicily-italy-3227083
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storms and floods
https://www.foxweather.com/weather-news/repeat-storms-flood-risk-midwest-northeast-great-lakes
https://www.accuweather.com/en/severe-weather/severe-thunderstorms-to-bring-damaging-winds-flooding-from-plains-to-northeast-through-next-week/1928145
https://www.thetraveler.org/severe-storms-trigger-massive-2026-flight-disruptions-in-us-hubs/
https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/50-airlifted-from-grand-canyon-after-sudden-flood
https://news4sanantonio.com/news/local/severe-storms-trigger-widespread-outages-over-65000-still-without-power-in-san-antonio
https://en.yenisafak.com/world/storms-hit-five-syrian-provinces-forcing-evacuations-3722530
https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2026/08/30/china-on-alert-on-sunday-aug-30-as-new-lake-forms-after-catastrophic-himalayan-floods
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-08/pope-leo-xiv-appeal-sunday-30-aug-2026-castel-gandolfo-angelus.html
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hurricanes and frens
https://weather.com/2026/08/30/storms/hurricane/hurricane-season-maps-tracker-atlantic-pacific
https://www.accuweather.com/en/hurricane/dolly-or-another-tropical-threat-could-track-near-us-this-week/1927816
https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-karina-pacific-ocean-tropical-storm-bebb48f40d28c389df67a08963da70f4
https://www.staradvertiser.com/2026/08/29/breaking-news/tropical-storm-lowell-expected-to-strengthen-as-it-heads-to-central-pacific/
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/society/general-news/20260830-346229/
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earthquakes
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260829035328.htm
https://en.haberler.com/185-earthquakes-in-marmara-turned-out-to-be-an-2306207/
https://www.dzrh.com.ph/post/magnitude-42-earthquake-hits-waters-off-balut-island-davao-occidental
https://www.telesurenglish.net/magnitude-4-3-earthquake-strikes-colombia-near-totoro/
https://www.freepressjournal.in/world/magnitude-49-earthquake-strikes-afghanistan-no-damage-reported
https://www.fananews.com/language/en/5-1-magnitude-earthquake-strikes-south-sandwich-islands-2/
https://cedarnews.net/newstasks/954713/earthquake-m5-7-strikes-kermadec-islands-region/
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dailys
https://schumannresonance.today/
https://www.weather.gov/
https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/nfn
https://www.americanforests.org/wildfire-map/
https://www.tornadohq.com/
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/map/
https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/earthquakes-volcanoes/news/333147/Volcano-earthquake-report-for-Sunday-30-Aug-2026.html
https://www.spaceweather.gov/
https://spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=30&month=08&year=2026
Space News: NASA Johnson pilots chase Moon’s shadow for eclipse science
Aug. 30, 2026
During the Aug. 12 total solar eclipse over Europe, scientists aimed to study a long-standing mystery: why the Sun’s outer atmosphere, the corona, is far hotter than its visible surface. Capturing the data they needed meant being in exactly the right place at the right time.
Pilots from NASA’s Johnson Space Center flew the WB-57F high altitude research aircraft from Ellington Field in Houston to Iceland, their base for flying through the path of totality to give scientists a clearer view of the Sun’s corona.
A total solar eclipse provides a unique opportunity to examine the corona because the Moon temporarily blocks the Sun’s bright surface, revealing its fainter outer atmosphere.
Observations collected during this brief window can help scientists better understand how energy and material move through the corona and away from the Sun, improving our understanding of space weather.
At about 50,000 feet, the WB-57F flew above most clouds, dust, and water vapor that can interfere with observations from the ground.
The altitude reduced atmospheric interference while also allowing the science instruments to observe infrared wavelengths that are largely absorbed lower in Earth’s atmosphere.
Capturing those observations required careful coordination between scientists and the flight crew. Before the mission, teams calculated where the aircraft needed to be as the Moon’s shadow moved across the North Atlantic.
“Going into a mission like this takes a huge team. It starts with the science team establishing the requirements, and then we work closely with them for months leading up to the mission,” said Tom Parent, NASA WB-57F pilot.
“We rely heavily on our maintenance team to get the instruments serviced, prepared, loaded onto the aircraft, and flight tested. It’s a huge team effort to get an aircraft like this up there to image and achieve these objectives.”
During totality, NASA WB-57F pilot John Gustine positioned the aircraft along the eclipse path to maximize time in the Moon’s shadow and give scientists as much opportunity as possible to collect data.
From the back seat, Cary Klemm, sensor equipment operator for NASA’s WB-57F, controlled the camera systems, adjusting focus and exposure times while tracking features of interest throughout totality.
With the cameras capturing observations throughout the brief window, every second mattered.
“Every image is another piece of data that could reveal something new about the Sun,” Klemm said.
What scientists can learn from those observations reaches far beyond the eclipse itself. The Sun’s corona is made of plasma shaped by magnetic fields, and many of the same physical processes occur elsewhere in the universe.
“The NASA WB-57F’s unique capabilities of high-altitude flight were truly crucial in providing access to these valuable wavelengths during an eclipse whose path crossed mostly over the ocean in an area where clouds are common,” said Amir Caspi, principal investigator for the study at Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado.
“We could not have achieved this success without this platform, and all of the efforts of the many intrepid ground, air, and science crew members.”
The data gathered during the flight will give scientists another opportunity to investigate the Sun and the processes that influence the space environment around Earth.
https://www.lakeconews.com/85279-space-news-nasa-johnson-pilots-chase-moons-shadow-for-eclipse-science
other space objects
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/north-island-fireball-bright-green-meteor-streaks-across-sky/KC5YT6BJMVFGHFDIXXQMGXPXIQ/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VglrVgQ-UrI (MrMBB333: Something weird captured on video during the recent eclipse!)
NASA Deep Space Network’s New Goldstone Antenna Goes Online
08/25/2026
Long shadows are cast by the recently completed Deep Space Station 23 at the Deep Space Network’s Goldstone complex near Barstow, California, in August 2026.
A 34-meter (114-foot) multifrequency beam-waveguide antenna, DSS-23 will boost the DSN’s capacity and enhance NASA’s deep space communications capabilities for decades to come.
NASA leadership and personnel as well as dignitaries gathered at the complete DSS-23 antenna for a ceremonial ribbon cutting on Aug. 25, 2026.
It’s the latest antenna to be added as part of the Deep Space Network’s Aperture Enhancement Project, which began in 2009 to upgrade and expand the network by adding six new 34-meter multifrequency beam-waveguide antennas.
These versatile Deep Space Network dishes can enhance many missions operating over different radio frequencies.
The DSN allows missions to track, send commands to, and receive scientific data from faraway spacecraft.
It is managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of Caltech, in Southern California for the agency’s Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Program, which is located at NASA Headquarters within the Research and Technology Mission Directorate.
https://science.nasa.gov/photojournal/nasa-deep-space-networks-new-goldstone-antenna-goes-online/
https://science.nasa.gov/photojournal/panorama-showcasing-the-34-meter-antennas-of-the-dsns-goldstone-complex/
moar NASA
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2026/08/29/nasa-spacex-adjust-crew-13-launch-date/
https://x.com/astro_Pettit/status/2093877432348450850
https://x.com/bonzack/status/2094031959987011636
https://x.com/astro_anil/status/2094077925989515691
Bethany Stevens
@NASASpox
NASA is closing out August with another history-making week. 🚀
🏅 Artemis II crew honored by @POTUS
🧑🚀 Historic presidential call to the ISS
📡 Deep Space Network gets a major upgrade
🔭 Roman set to launch Sunday
Here’s your NASA Minute!
NASA Minute: Aug. 28, 2026
4:15 PM · Aug 28, 2026
https://x.com/NASASpox/status/2093477692150530349
moar
https://x.com/NASAAdmin/status/2093867970262925771
https://x.com/NASAAdmin/status/2093761180498002299
https://x.com/NASAKennedy/status/2094071404702413060
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman
@NASAAdmin
The President of the United States called into the NASA press conference after the historic Roman Telescope launch.
There is a reason nearly 70% of Americans support NASA's return to the Moon, compared with just 35% during the Kennedy era.
The world’s most accomplished space agency, backed by @POTUS, bipartisan support in Congress, and an extraordinary workforce, can absolutely achieve the near impossible.
We are returning astronauts to the Moon, building the base, getting underway on nuclear power in space, with many more exciting missions like Roman to follow!
7:58 AM · Aug 30, 2026
https://x.com/NASAAdmin/status/2094077288312713662
moar Isaacman / Roman launch
https://x.com/NASAAdmin/status/2094038136493834464
https://x.com/NASA/status/2094017464216563968
https://x.com/NASA/status/2093746404401332557
https://x.com/bonzack/status/2094031959987011636
Russia could have used nukes in Ukraine but chose restraint – top MP
29 Aug, 2026 20:14
Russia does not resort to terror tactics and seeks to avoid harming civilians, LDPR party head Leonid Slutsky has told Tucker Carlson
Russia could have long ago used tactical nuclear weaponry to achieve victory against Ukraine, but it has always sought to minimize collateral damage, Leonid Slutsky, the head of Russia’s Liberal-Democratic Party (LDPR), has said.
The senior MP, who chairs the Russian State Duma International Affairs Committee, made the remarks in an interview with conservative American journalist and podcaster Tucker Carlson that aired on Saturday.
Slutsky said Moscow would only opt for nuclear weaponry against Kiev if its Western sponsors supplied Ukraine with weapons of mass destruction. The politician expressed hope that the situation would not deteriorate to that point.
In any other scenario, use of nuclear weaponry against Ukraine would not fit Moscow’s approach and vision, the MP stated.
“We could have used them long ago and achieved victory, but we always rely on common sense and the principle of minimizing civilian casualties.
Using such weapons as an instrument of terror, as was the case in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, if we recall World War II, is alien to us,” Slutsky stated.
Moscow could also have begun hitting Ukraine without any regard for collateral damage and civilian casualties, but still hopes that Kiev and its Western backers will show some “common sense” and come to the “position of peace, not war,” the politician believes.
“But for now they take an entirely different position, completely devoid of common sense,” Slutsky said.
Russia has so far avoided attacking bridges across the Dnieper River, the destruction of which would have deprived the Ukrainian military in Donbass of logistics, the politician explained.
He said it has also refrained from striking the key airport of Borispol outside Kiev, which has been used to funnel weaponry from the West.
Either option, however, would have drastically worsened the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and harmed civilians, according to Slutsky.
https://www.rt.com/russia/644819-ukraine-nukes-use-prospects/
other RT
https://www.rt.com/news/644816-turkiye-summons-ukraine-envoy/
https://www.rt.com/news/644825-nato-stubb-finland-ukraine/
https://www.rt.com/news/644805-poland-ukraine-nazi-mep/
https://www.rt.com/russia/644787-cia-chief-moscow-russian-media/
Ukraine strikes Russia’s second-largest oil refinery again in major overnight attack, also hitting airfield and drone launch site
30/08/2026
The refinery has been targeted repeatedly during the full-scale war as Ukraine strikes infrastructure supporting Russia’s military and economy.
Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck three Russian military and energy targets overnight on 29-30 August, including a major oil refinery in Leningrad Oblast, a site used to store and launch attack drones in Rostov Oblast, and an airfield in Krasnodar Krai, Ukraine’s General Staff said.
Ukraine has increasingly targeted energy and military infrastructure inside Russia as part of an effort to disrupt the resources supporting Moscow’s war effort.
Russia’s military relies heavily on fuel and other petroleum products produced at major refineries, while oil exports provide revenue that helps fund the war.
The General Staff said the strikes caused fires at all three sites. The extent of the damage is still being assessed.
Ukraine strikes one of Russia’s largest oil refineries
In Kirishi, Leningrad Oblast, Ukrainian forces struck the Kirishi oil refinery, also known as KINEF, Russia’s 2nd largest oil refinery.
The refinery has an annual processing capacity of about 20 million metric tons of crude oil and produces motor fuels, aviation fuel, diesel and other petroleum products, according to the General Staff. It also supplies fuel for Russia’s military.
KINEF has been targeted repeatedly since Russia launched its full-scale invasion. The latest strike is at least the sixth reported Ukrainian attack on the refinery.
Russian authorities acknowledged damage in Kirishi following the overnight attack, according to Russian OSINT outlet ASTRA.
Leningrad Oblast Governor Alexander Drozdenko claimed several residential buildings were damaged, with windows blown out in some apartments, while a fire broke out in the city’s industrial zone. He said the industrial fire and fires from drone debris had been extinguished.
ASTRA reported that videos from residents showed a large fire at what appeared to be the KINEF refinery.
ASTRA also geolocated footage of an explosion at the upper floors of an apartment building in Kirishi, where residents reported hearing air defense activity. The footage has not been independently verified.
Drone launch site struck in Rostov Oblast
Ukrainian forces also struck a site in Millerovo, Rostov Oblast, used to store, prepare and launch attack drones. The General Staff said a fire was reported at the facility following the strike.
Millerovo has been repeatedly used by Russian forces as a base for launching attacks against Ukraine. Striking drone infrastructure can disrupt the storage, preparation and deployment of the weapons used in Russia’s ongoing aerial campaign.
Fire reported at Yeysk airfield
A Ukrainian strike also hit Yeysk airfield in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai, according to the General Staff.
A fire was reported at the site after the strike. The General Staff did not provide details on which facilities or equipment at the airfield were damaged.
The three strikes were part of a broader Ukrainian campaign against Russian military infrastructure and the energy facilities supporting Russia’s war effort.
Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed that its air defenses intercepted or destroyed 494 fixed-wing drones overnight across Russia and occupied Ukrainian territory.
It said the drones were detected over Leningrad, Bryansk, Belgorod, Kaluga, Kursk, Tver, Smolensk, Oryol, Pskov, Tula, Novgorod and Rostov oblasts, as well as Krasnodar Krai, Moscow, occupied Crimea and the Azov and Black seas.
The General Staff said operations against key Russian targets are continuing, while the extent of the damage from the overnight strikes is still being determined.
https://euromaidanpress.com/2026/08/30/ukraine-strikes-russias-second-largest-oil-refinery-again/
https://mezha.net/eng/bukvy/fd347d8c_zelenskyy_says_ukraine_struck/
https://www.livemint.com/news/world/drone-sparks-russia-refinery-fire-as-moscow-warns-of-retaliation-11788081057465.html
other Russia and Ukraine
https://en.haberler.com/a-ship-attacked-by-a-drone-in-the-black-sea-ran-2306180/
https://kyivindependent.com/russian-strike-near-kyiv-causes-ammunition-detonations-killing-at-least-27/
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/83378
https://www.twz.com/news-features/russia-changing-missile-and-drone-attack-strategy-on-ukrainian-captial
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/2026-08-30/live-updates-906975
other Israel
https://worldisraelnews.com/idf-preparing-for-gaza-city-invasion-report/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/weekend-strikes-kill-several-hamas-operatives-including-oct-7-invaders-idf-says/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/breaking-silence-netanyahu-decries-criminal-violence-after-settlers-again-raid-besieged-village/
https://www.rt.com/news/644823-israeli-spies-evacuate-netanyahu-son/
Live Updates: Battalion commander talks of lessons learned in War as ME officials meet for Mecca defense summit
August 30, 7:18 PM
Israeli teens charged with spying for Iran • IDF kills Hamas terrorist in Deir al-Balah • Security forces raid weapon smuggling operation
August 30, 5:43 PM
Dahlan’s Fatah Democratic Reform faction seeks to end Palestinian infighting - exclusive
A letter seen by The Jerusalem Post shows Fatah's reformist factions, led by Mohammed Dahlan, aiming to unify with Hamas.
Fatah’s Democratic Reform (FDR) faction is seeking to unify Hamas, Fatah, and all Palestinian factions, hoping that doing so will allow the groups to focus on building a Palestinian state rather than becoming consumed by internal conflict.
This is according to a copy of the group’s vision that Mohammed Dahlan shared with other members of his faction, seen by The Jerusalem Post.
The document lays out a vision for overcoming the longstanding divisions between Palestinian factions, with a particular focus on ending the internal conflict that has defined Palestinian politics for years.
August 30, 5:43 PM
Sniper bullet nearly hit him, now he commands battalion built after Oct. 7 failures - interview
Lt.-Col. (res.) Eli Zilberman describes the establishment of the Tzuri Battalion, its operations in the Benjamin Brigade sector, and the lessons learned from the October 7 attack.
"I almost got hit," Lt.-Col. (res.) Eli Zilberman told Walla in a Saturday interview, where he recalled one of the first operations the IDF had in northern Gaza at the beginning of the war with Hamas in November 2023.
During the operation, the 162nd Division maneuvered toward Hamas' "security square" as part of the breaching of the defensive walls of Gaza City.
The operation concluded with the IDF finding a complex that included an extensive system of tunnels for the movement of operatives and the escape of senior officials, data banks, workshops for the production of weapons, and a command-and-control center for the entire Strip.
August 30, 5:43 PM
Turkish, Saudi, Pakistani officials to meet for first Mecca defense pact summit, source says
The meeting between officials would happen on Monday, according to a source from the Turkish foreign ministry, with the allies concerned over a possible escalation of the Iran war.
Top officials from Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan will gather in Istanbul on Monday for a first committee meeting under the joint defense accord that they signed this month, a Turkish foreign ministry source said.
The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, signed on August 7, brought together Sunni Muslim US allies concerned by the Iran war and regional conflict that has led to Iranian missile fire on Gulf oil exporters.
It is intended to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression and stipulates that an armed attack against any of the three would be regarded as an attack on all, similar to NATO's Article 5 collective defense clause.
August 30, 1:54 PM
IDF kills Hamas terrorist in Deir al-Balah
The IDF killed Hamas terrorist Hassam Osama Hussein Nasirin the Deir al-Balah in the Gaza Strip on Sunday.
The military said that Hussein Nasirin was killed because he launched attacks against IDF troops and Israeli civilians.
August 30, 1:45 PM
IDF kills two two Hamas Nukhba terrorists Khan Yunis
The IDF killed two Hamas Nukhba terrorists in strikes on Gaza's Khan Yunis on Saturday.
The military said the strikes killed Yasser Abu al-Khair and Mohammed al-Din, who were both planning terror attacks against IDF troops and Israeli civilians. The IDF noted that the two were also working to rehabilitate Hamas’s capabilities.
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August 30, 1:00 PM
Syria’s credit card comeback, Damascus International Fair mark return to global economy
Syria can now process credit card payments again, symbolizing Syria's re-entry into the international system after years of isolation.
“The 63rd Damascus International Fair opened its doors to the general public on Saturday for its fourth day at the Damascus Fairgrounds, following the conclusion of three days dedicated exclusively to business and investment programs,” Syria’s state media SANA reported, as Syria continues to progress, seeking to integrate back into the international community and improve its economy.
The fair is important, with Syrian sources saying that more than 60 countries are attending or represented in some way. “The initial three days of the 63rd Damascus International Fair, dedicated exclusively to business representatives, investors, and official delegations, concluded with the signing of multiple agreements and memoranda of understanding spanning trade, industrial, and investment sectors,” SANA added.
The report said that the Federation of Syrian Chambers of Commerce signed a memorandum of understanding with the Federation of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce to boost trade, stimulate commercial exchange, and encourage joint investments between Syrian and Iraqi business communities.
August 30, 11:48 AM
Two teenagers charged with spying, carrying out tasks for Iran
Two Israeli teenagers were charged with spying and carrying out various tasks for Iran, Israel Police announced on Sunday.
The two minors, 14 and 16 years old, had been recruited through Telegram in June, the police stated.
Among the actions they undertook for Iran were painting graffiti, impersonating a soldier, and attempting to recruit additional Israelis.
August 30, 10:54 AM
Security forces raid weapon smuggling operation, one suspect shot
The IDF, Border Police, and Israel Police of the West Bank area raided an operation attempting to smuggle weapons into Israel on Thursday, Israel Police announced on Sunday morning.
During the operation, security forces identified a suspect armed with a knife. The suspect was shot and fled, and during the ensuing chase the forces discovered a bag containing seven pistols.
The weapons were taken for continued investigation.
August 30, 9:43 AM
Khamenei, who hasn't been seen in months, calls for 'unity among Muslims' in post to Gulf States
Khamenei's message, issued to mark the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad, urged the rulers of the Gulf States to "identify their real enemy and understand the plans to confront it."
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei released a written statement on Sunday urging Gulf rulers to "identify their real enemy and understand the plans to confront it."
Khamenei's message, issued in commemoration of the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad, also called for "unity among Muslims" and mutual defense against their enemies.
Iran's leader hasn't been seen for months since he got caught up in the opening strikes of the last Israel-Iran war, where his father, a predecessor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed.
August 30, 9:43 AM
IRGC claims to have thwarted Israeli, US-linked terror cell in southeastern Iran
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that security forces thwarted the activities of a terrorist cell that it claimed was linked to Israel and the United States and operated in Sistan and Baluchistan Province in southeastern Iran.
According to the IRGC statement, one member of the cell was killed and six other suspects, including members and supporters of the group, were arrested.
In a statement issued by the public relations office of the Quds Base of the IRGC Ground Forces, it was claimed that the cell was located shortly after its members entered the area and that they intended to carry out acts of sabotage and attacks against preselected targets in the southern part of the province.
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