Wars & Rumours of Wars

The US should not be carrying 62 percent of the total defense expense for Europe, that is not reasonable, Europe should carry the burden to defend itself with backup from the US...

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Trump's secret NATO ultimatum sparks panic as US 'pulls jets, bombers and EVERY submarine from Europe'​

Donald Trump is set to slash the arsenal of US fighter jets, warships and submarines reserved for NATO allies should a military crisis erupt in Europe, according to a new report.

A military envoy sent by Pete Hegseth surprised senior NATO officials in a classified briefing in Brussels late last week after revealing US firepower committed to defending Europe would significantly decline, per Der Spiegel and Reuters.

The US fighter jet commitment to NATO is to be slashed by a third, while the Navy will withdraw destroyers from the alliance's pool.

Washington will also pull its submarines from NATO altogether, envoy Alexander Velez-Green reportedly told officials behind closed doors.

Europe will be responsible for maintaining its own supply of reconnaissance drones, a key weapon on the modern battlefield of Ukraine.

Hegseth's envoy stressed that the US is prepared to cooperate closely only with NATO partners who act quickly to close the gaps left by Washington's scaling back of support.

Some officials in the secret meeting interpreted the message as an indirect threat, according to Der Spiegel.

The Daily Mail has contacted the White House and the Pentagon for comment.

The cuts will gut the so-called 'NATO Force Model,' the alliance framework for defending Europe drawn up in 2022 after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

It lays out exactly which troops, jets, ships and weapons each member state must hand over to NATO's Supreme Commander if war breaks out on the continent.

The US accounts for roughly 62 percent of total defense spending across NATO, with an annual military budget of around $980 billion.

Trump has long criticized European allies for failing to spend enough on their own militaries and for not pulling their weight in shouldering the cost of the alliance.

Earlier this month, the Pentagon announced it would draw down 5,000 troops from Germany over the next six to twelve months.

The move came after Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz slammed Trump's lack of strategy in the war against Iran.

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nivek said:
The US should not be carrying 62 percent of the total defense expense for Europe, that is not reasonable, Europe should carry the burden to defend itself with backup from the US...

...

Trump's secret NATO ultimatum sparks panic as US 'pulls jets, bombers and EVERY submarine from Europe'​

Donald Trump is set to slash the arsenal of US fighter jets, warships and submarines reserved for NATO allies should a military crisis erupt in Europe, according to a new report.

A military envoy sent by Pete Hegseth surprised senior NATO officials in a classified briefing in Brussels late last week after revealing US firepower committed to defending Europe would significantly decline, per Der Spiegel and Reuters.

The US fighter jet commitment to NATO is to be slashed by a third, while the Navy will withdraw destroyers from the alliance's pool.

Washington will also pull its submarines from NATO altogether, envoy Alexander Velez-Green reportedly told officials behind closed doors.

Europe will be responsible for maintaining its own supply of reconnaissance drones, a key weapon on the modern battlefield of Ukraine.

Hegseth's envoy stressed that the US is prepared to cooperate closely only with NATO partners who act quickly to close the gaps left by Washington's scaling back of support.

Some officials in the secret meeting interpreted the message as an indirect threat, according to Der Spiegel.

The Daily Mail has contacted the White House and the Pentagon for comment.

The cuts will gut the so-called 'NATO Force Model,' the alliance framework for defending Europe drawn up in 2022 after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

It lays out exactly which troops, jets, ships and weapons each member state must hand over to NATO's Supreme Commander if war breaks out on the continent.

The US accounts for roughly 62 percent of total defense spending across NATO, with an annual military budget of around $980 billion.

Trump has long criticized European allies for failing to spend enough on their own militaries and for not pulling their weight in shouldering the cost of the alliance.

Earlier this month, the Pentagon announced it would draw down 5,000 troops from Germany over the next six to twelve months.

The move came after Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz slammed Trump's lack of strategy in the war against Iran.

.
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Agreed.

We just watched By Dawns Early Light and Fail Safe. We are old enough to remember the 'duck & cover' drills from school where you hunkered in the hallway or under your desk to afford yourself a quiet moment to kiss your ass goodbye before the end of the world. I know full well that the Doomsday Clock says we're 85 seconds to midnight but the threat was perceived very differently back then.

The circumstances that led to a huge US commitment in Europe don't exist anymore. Russia is not the Soviet Union. At a very base level I'd say Chancellor Mertz just FAFO.

Europe’s best defense is self-defense

In 1951, Dwight Eisenhower, as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s first Supreme Allied Commander Europe, gave his colleagues a warning. “If, in 10 years, all American troops stationed in Europe for national defense purposes have not been returned to the United States, then this whole project will have failed"

Ike also warned us about the military industrial complex and that no doubt explains the huge presence as well as a great many other things.
 
Dejan Corovic said:
Things are changing for Israel, Hezbollah destroying lots of equipment, Merkava tanks, bulldozers, troop carriers. Its actually horrible that none of this is shown by mainstream. Not taking sides, just reporting to clarify picture.
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Well, the source you choose is called "The Electronic Intifada", giving you an idea of their inclinations. I asked ChatGPT for a summary of how Israel's military campaign in Lebanon is looking at the moment, and it responded with the below. Like many of these operations (Gaza, and arguably Iran), it has turned into a slog for Israel, although they are not necessarily 'losing'. Tactical military victories are fairly easy to come by, but a decisive strategic one is not:

Here’s the current picture of Israel Defense Forces operations in Lebanon and against Hezbollah as of late May 2026:

"The short version​

Israel’s campaign has shifted from a limited border-security operation into a broader and more aggressive effort inside southern Lebanon. Militarily, Israel has achieved some tactical gains — especially through airpower and destruction of Hezbollah infrastructure — but it has not decisively neutralized Hezbollah. The fighting is continuing despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire framework announced in April.

What Israel is doing now​

Over the last several days, Israel has:

  • Expanded ground operations beyond the informal “Yellow Line” buffer area in southern Lebanon.
  • Conducted very large airstrike waves across southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley.
  • Targeted Hezbollah command sites, drone infrastructure, weapons depots, and launch areas.
  • Issued evacuation warnings to civilians in parts of the Bekaa Valley before strikes.
Israeli officials say the main immediate goal is stopping Hezbollah drone and rocket attacks on northern Israel and Israeli troops operating inside Lebanon. Hezbollah’s drone capability in particular appears to be causing concern for the IDF.

Is Israel “winning” militarily?​

It depends on the metric.

Areas where Israel appears to have an advantage​

  • Air superiority: Israel is operating freely over much of Lebanon and conducting high-tempo strikes.
  • Infrastructure damage: Hezbollah positions, logistics hubs, and border villages have suffered major destruction.
  • Territorial control: Israeli forces are operating inside several areas of southern Lebanon and maintaining pressure near border towns.

Areas where Israel is struggling​

  • Hezbollah is still launching drones, rockets, and artillery.
  • Israeli troops continue to face resistance in ground combat.
  • Israel has not yet achieved a stable security arrangement or durable ceasefire.
  • The campaign risks becoming a prolonged low-intensity occupation and attritional conflict.
In other words: Israel is inflicting heavy damage, but Hezbollah remains operational and capable of sustained attacks.

What happened to the ceasefire?​

A U.S.-brokered ceasefire began on April 16, intended to pause fighting and enable negotiations. But:

  • Hezbollah was not formally a signatory.
  • Israel insisted it retained freedom to strike “imminent threats.”
  • Both sides quickly accused each other of violations.
Since then, the ceasefire has steadily eroded. Fighting today looks closer to an active war than a stable truce.

Political and strategic context​

There are three larger dynamics shaping the operation:

  1. Israel wants a stronger buffer zone in southern Lebanon to push Hezbollah farther from the border.
  2. The Lebanese government has become more openly critical of Hezbollah, including legal and political moves against the group earlier this year.
  3. The conflict is tied to the wider Iran confrontation, since Hezbollah is closely aligned with Iran. Escalation in one theater keeps affecting the other.

Humanitarian and regional impact​

The fighting has caused:

  • Large civilian displacement in southern Lebanon.
  • Significant casualties from airstrikes and artillery.
  • Continued instability along the Israel-Lebanon border.
  • Growing fears of a broader regional escalation.

Bottom line​


Israel currently has the military upper hand in terms of firepower, intelligence, and operational freedom. But the operation has not produced a decisive strategic outcome yet. Hezbollah remains active, the ceasefire is effectively fraying, and the risk of a longer war or deeper regional escalation is still high."
 
AD1184 said:
Well, the source you choose is called "The Electronic Intifada", giving you an idea of their inclinations. I asked ChatGPT for a summary of how Israel's military campaign in Lebanon is looking at the moment, and it responded with the below. Like many of these operations (Gaza, and arguably Iran), it has turned into a slog for Israel, although they are not necessarily 'losing'. Tactical military victories are fairly easy to come by, but a decisive strategic one is not:

Here’s the current picture of Israel Defense Forces operations in Lebanon and against Hezbollah as of late May 2026:

"The short version​

Israel’s campaign has shifted from a limited border-security operation into a broader and more aggressive effort inside southern Lebanon. Militarily, Israel has achieved some tactical gains — especially through airpower and destruction of Hezbollah infrastructure — but it has not decisively neutralized Hezbollah. The fighting is continuing despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire framework announced in April.

What Israel is doing now​

Over the last several days, Israel has:

  • Expanded ground operations beyond the informal “Yellow Line” buffer area in southern Lebanon.
  • Conducted very large airstrike waves across southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley.
  • Targeted Hezbollah command sites, drone infrastructure, weapons depots, and launch areas.
  • Issued evacuation warnings to civilians in parts of the Bekaa Valley before strikes.
Israeli officials say the main immediate goal is stopping Hezbollah drone and rocket attacks on northern Israel and Israeli troops operating inside Lebanon. Hezbollah’s drone capability in particular appears to be causing concern for the IDF.

Is Israel “winning” militarily?​

It depends on the metric.

Areas where Israel appears to have an advantage​

  • Air superiority: Israel is operating freely over much of Lebanon and conducting high-tempo strikes.
  • Infrastructure damage: Hezbollah positions, logistics hubs, and border villages have suffered major destruction.
  • Territorial control: Israeli forces are operating inside several areas of southern Lebanon and maintaining pressure near border towns.

Areas where Israel is struggling​

  • Hezbollah is still launching drones, rockets, and artillery.
  • Israeli troops continue to face resistance in ground combat.
  • Israel has not yet achieved a stable security arrangement or durable ceasefire.
  • The campaign risks becoming a prolonged low-intensity occupation and attritional conflict.
In other words: Israel is inflicting heavy damage, but Hezbollah remains operational and capable of sustained attacks.

What happened to the ceasefire?​

A U.S.-brokered ceasefire began on April 16, intended to pause fighting and enable negotiations. But:

  • Hezbollah was not formally a signatory.
  • Israel insisted it retained freedom to strike “imminent threats.”
  • Both sides quickly accused each other of violations.
Since then, the ceasefire has steadily eroded. Fighting today looks closer to an active war than a stable truce.

Political and strategic context​

There are three larger dynamics shaping the operation:

  1. Israel wants a stronger buffer zone in southern Lebanon to push Hezbollah farther from the border.
  2. The Lebanese government has become more openly critical of Hezbollah, including legal and political moves against the group earlier this year.
  3. The conflict is tied to the wider Iran confrontation, since Hezbollah is closely aligned with Iran. Escalation in one theater keeps affecting the other.

Humanitarian and regional impact​

The fighting has caused:

  • Large civilian displacement in southern Lebanon.
  • Significant casualties from airstrikes and artillery.
  • Continued instability along the Israel-Lebanon border.
  • Growing fears of a broader regional escalation.

Bottom line​


Israel currently has the military upper hand in terms of firepower, intelligence, and operational freedom. But the operation has not produced a decisive strategic outcome yet. Hezbollah remains active, the ceasefire is effectively fraying, and the risk of a longer war or deeper regional escalation is still high."
Click to expand...
Great overview. I was aware of inclinations of the source, but videos look very real. I am just pointing to the fact that warfare is now at least 10 times more expensive for Israel, losing many more ground vehicles, and soldiers. Hezbollah has zero chance winning, but it can make far more painful.
 
pigfarmer said:
The circumstances that led to a huge US commitment in Europe don't exist anymore.
Click to expand...
That's it in a nutshell, I think all the fear-mongering and saber-rattling about Russia is just trying to stir up more support from America...If the Germans or whomever else is truly scared or worried about Russian invasions then why aren't they doing something about it their damn selves...Where are their military forces to protect their own skins? Why should Americans be a half a world away fighting any possible war to protect someone who is not willing to protect themselves?...

...
 

US ally pledges support for Trump's push to break Iran's grip on Hormuz: 'We are ready to contribute'​

The Czech Republic is prepared to help protect freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and is aligning closely with the Trump administration on security, NATO and Israel, Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka told Fox News Digital during an exclusive interview at the United Nations in New York.

Prague already had begun discussions about contributing specialized capabilities to help secure the strategically vital waterway amid growing tensions with Iran, Macinka said while speaking at Security Council-related meetings at the U.N.

"We are ready to contribute to freedom of passage and the Hormuz trade," Macinka said.

"We were among the first countries that were ready to contribute … We have no navy, as we are in the middle of Europe," he explained, "But we have some unique passive surveillance capabilities."

Macinka warned that Iran posed a global threat through what he described as four main "war tools": nuclear proliferation, drones and ballistic missiles, international terrorism and threats to the Strait of Hormuz.

"Their nuclear military program must be stopped," he said. "It’s a global risk and global threat."

The comments come as the Trump administration has increased pressure on European allies to take a larger role in protecting international shipping routes amid Iranian threats tied to the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil transit choke points. Roughly one-fifth of global oil consumption passes through the narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea.

Speaking after a meeting with foreign ministers in Sweden Friday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio questioned the value of hosting U.S. military bases in allied countries that later restrict American military operations during wartime.

"One of the arguments I always made was that these bases in the region provided us with logistical options that we wouldn’t otherwise have," Rubio told reporters. "And when some of those bases are denied to you during a conflict that we’re involved in, then you question whether that value is still there."

President Donald Trump also has sharply criticized NATO allies over a reluctance to participate in military operations tied to the Iran conflict and securing the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump said he was "strongly considering" pulling the United States out of NATO after allies failed to join the U.S. campaign against Iran, according to an April 1 interview with Britain’s Daily Telegraph, calling the alliance a "paper tiger."

The Czech Republic, a NATO member since 1999, reached NATO’s benchmark of spending 2% of GDP on defense and has supported calls for Europe to increase military readiness amid Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Macinka strongly defended the administration’s calls for Europe to increase defense spending and reduce dependence on Washington for long-term security guarantees.

"We should do our homework and build our defense to become stronger," he said, arguing that Europe had delayed necessary military investments for too long.

He also tied Europe’s defense spending challenges to the European Union’s Green Deal policies, the bloc’s sweeping climate agenda aimed at reducing carbon emissions, calling them ideological and financially destructive.

"If we get rid of this green, crazy alarmism, then we have enough money to build our defense," he said.

The Czech foreign minister also voiced unusually direct support for Trump and his administration, praising what he described as a global "common sense" shift following Trump’s election victory.

"We are friends of Israel, and we are friends of America," Macinka said. "Especially me as a politician, I'm a friend of the ideology of the current American administration."

Macinka also referenced a clash earlier in 2026 with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the Munich Security Conference, where he criticized Europe’s liberal political establishment and defended the populist wave reshaping parts of Europe and the United States.

Macinka linked Prague’s strong support for Ukraine to the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, when hundreds of thousands of Warsaw Pact troops occupied the country for more than two decades.

He said that historical experience continues to shape Czech public opinion and support for Kyiv.

"The Czech society feels a big solidarity with Ukraine," Macinka said, describing the war as a "symmetric war" between a powerful Russian military and a Ukrainian army backed by the West.

Macinka highlighted Prague’s leading role in a Czech-backed ammunition initiative supplying Ukraine with artillery rounds collected through international donor efforts.

Recalling a visit to Kyiv earlier in 2026, he said he received intelligence briefings on battlefield ammunition consumption from Ukrainian military officials.

The Czech initiative delivered more than half a million rounds of ammunition in 2026 alone, according to Macinka, helping stabilize the battlefield ahead of possible peace negotiations.

Macinka argued that maintaining a stable front is essential for meaningful negotiations, warning that shifting battle lines will only harden demands on both sides.

With Washington increasingly focused on the Middle East, Macinka also said Europe must begin taking a larger diplomatic role in future negotiations over Ukraine.

"America is quite busy with the Middle East," he said. "Europe should wake up and ask for a place at the table."

.
 
nivek said:
That's it in a nutshell, I think all the fear-mongering and saber-rattling about Russia is just trying to stir up more support from America...If the Germans or whomever else is truly scared or worried about Russian invasions then why aren't they doing something about it their damn selves...Where are their military forces to protect their own skins? Why should Americans be a half a world away fighting any possible war to protect someone who is not willing to protect themselves?...

...
Click to expand...
I think that Europe should be like America. You bloody solved the problem of multiple nations and races living together without constant war. Like Europeans can live together happily in America, but they can't do that in Europe. I read somewhere that since dark ages there is a big war in Europe every 30 years. Constantly everybody in EU against somebody: everybody against Napoleon, then everybody against Hitler, then before that all the Catholics vs England, and so on, and on. There should be just one nation in whole Europe and everybody speaking English.
 
Last edited:
nivek said:

US ally pledges support for Trump's push to break Iran's grip on Hormuz: 'We are ready to contribute'​

The Czech Republic is prepared to help protect freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and is aligning closely with the Trump administration on security, NATO and Israel, Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka told Fox News Digital during an exclusive interview at the United Nations in New York.

Prague already had begun discussions about contributing specialized capabilities to help secure the strategically vital waterway amid growing tensions with Iran, Macinka said while speaking at Security Council-related meetings at the U.N.

"We are ready to contribute to freedom of passage and the Hormuz trade," Macinka said.

"We were among the first countries that were ready to contribute … We have no navy, as we are in the middle of Europe," he explained, "But we have some unique passive surveillance capabilities."

Macinka warned that Iran posed a global threat through what he described as four main "war tools": nuclear proliferation, drones and ballistic missiles, international terrorism and threats to the Strait of Hormuz.

"Their nuclear military program must be stopped," he said. "It’s a global risk and global threat."

The comments come as the Trump administration has increased pressure on European allies to take a larger role in protecting international shipping routes amid Iranian threats tied to the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil transit choke points. Roughly one-fifth of global oil consumption passes through the narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea.

Speaking after a meeting with foreign ministers in Sweden Friday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio questioned the value of hosting U.S. military bases in allied countries that later restrict American military operations during wartime.

"One of the arguments I always made was that these bases in the region provided us with logistical options that we wouldn’t otherwise have," Rubio told reporters. "And when some of those bases are denied to you during a conflict that we’re involved in, then you question whether that value is still there."

President Donald Trump also has sharply criticized NATO allies over a reluctance to participate in military operations tied to the Iran conflict and securing the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump said he was "strongly considering" pulling the United States out of NATO after allies failed to join the U.S. campaign against Iran, according to an April 1 interview with Britain’s Daily Telegraph, calling the alliance a "paper tiger."

The Czech Republic, a NATO member since 1999, reached NATO’s benchmark of spending 2% of GDP on defense and has supported calls for Europe to increase military readiness amid Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Macinka strongly defended the administration’s calls for Europe to increase defense spending and reduce dependence on Washington for long-term security guarantees.

"We should do our homework and build our defense to become stronger," he said, arguing that Europe had delayed necessary military investments for too long.

He also tied Europe’s defense spending challenges to the European Union’s Green Deal policies, the bloc’s sweeping climate agenda aimed at reducing carbon emissions, calling them ideological and financially destructive.

"If we get rid of this green, crazy alarmism, then we have enough money to build our defense," he said.

The Czech foreign minister also voiced unusually direct support for Trump and his administration, praising what he described as a global "common sense" shift following Trump’s election victory.

"We are friends of Israel, and we are friends of America," Macinka said. "Especially me as a politician, I'm a friend of the ideology of the current American administration."

Macinka also referenced a clash earlier in 2026 with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the Munich Security Conference, where he criticized Europe’s liberal political establishment and defended the populist wave reshaping parts of Europe and the United States.

Macinka linked Prague’s strong support for Ukraine to the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, when hundreds of thousands of Warsaw Pact troops occupied the country for more than two decades.

He said that historical experience continues to shape Czech public opinion and support for Kyiv.

"The Czech society feels a big solidarity with Ukraine," Macinka said, describing the war as a "symmetric war" between a powerful Russian military and a Ukrainian army backed by the West.

Macinka highlighted Prague’s leading role in a Czech-backed ammunition initiative supplying Ukraine with artillery rounds collected through international donor efforts.

Recalling a visit to Kyiv earlier in 2026, he said he received intelligence briefings on battlefield ammunition consumption from Ukrainian military officials.

The Czech initiative delivered more than half a million rounds of ammunition in 2026 alone, according to Macinka, helping stabilize the battlefield ahead of possible peace negotiations.

Macinka argued that maintaining a stable front is essential for meaningful negotiations, warning that shifting battle lines will only harden demands on both sides.

With Washington increasingly focused on the Middle East, Macinka also said Europe must begin taking a larger diplomatic role in future negotiations over Ukraine.

"America is quite busy with the Middle East," he said. "Europe should wake up and ask for a place at the table."

.
Click to expand...
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country, by the way.
 
AD1184 said:
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country, by the way.
Click to expand...
So? They said that themselves. We do not appear to be lacking naval muscle in that region.

Who knows what, if anything they can provide directly but they are obviously signaling cooperation and positioning themselves to their own advantage. Pretty clear to me what they're after.

Speaking after a meeting with foreign ministers in Sweden Friday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio questioned the value of hosting U.S. military bases in allied countries that later restrict American military operations during wartime."One of the arguments I always made was that these bases in the region provided us with logistical options that we wouldn’t otherwise have," Rubio told reporters. "And when some of those bases are denied to you during a conflict that we’re involved in, then you question whether that value is still there."
 
AD1184 said:
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country, by the way.
Click to expand...

Yes i did read the article, and they have stated as such, offering instead other capabilities that may or may not be useful to the war with Iran, the latter has of yet to be seen...

...
 
The landlocked nature of the Czech Republic is causal for why they pledged support to the US in re-opening the Strait of Hormuz. If the Czech Republic had a coast and a navy, they would not have made any such pledge, because then they would be expected to contribute materially by contributing naval assets to the effort. They made the pledge in the security of knowing the only support they can offer is moral.
 
The Royal International Air Tattoo got cancelled this year due to the Iran conflict. Held annually, it is according to the organizers the world's largest military air show. I had a ticket to go this year. It is held at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, which is also used by the US Air Force, and the USAF demanded guaranteed access for its operations in Iran until at least late July, when the airshow was due to be held.

www.bbc.co.uk

Royal International Air Tattoo cancelled due to Iran conflict

The event is cancelled due to the uncertainty over access to RAF Fairford as the conflict continues.
www.bbc.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk
 
Trump vows furious REVENGE on Iran with chilling new threat after US pilots shot down in

Trump vows furious REVENGE on Iran with chilling new threat after US pilots shot down in Middle East​

Donald Trump announced the US will retaliate against Iran after the regime shot down a US Apache helicopter patrolling the Strait of Hormuz. 'I have just been informed by our Great Military that last night ‌the ⁠Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache Helicopters while patrolling over ⁠the Strait of Hormuz,' the President wrote on Truth Social.

US Central Command said two pilots were rescued from the Persian Sea after their aircraft crashed off the coast of Oman. The helicopter was brought down by an Iranian Shahed drone, with one US official telling CNN it remains unclear whether the aircraft was initially targeted. 'Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, ⁠respond to this attack,' Trump added.

Trump had previously said he would end the ceasefire and restart military strikes if the regime crossed his red line: killing US troops. The rescued pilots' injuries were not serious or believed to be life-threatening, but both service members required medical attention following their rescue. It remains unclear exactly what the US response to the Iranian attack will be. Earlier this week, Israel launched strikes on Iranian infrastructure after the regime fired missiles at it amid tensions in Lebanon.

Any US response will likely further delay diplomatic negotiations to end the war and could spark Iranian retaliation against other US allies in the Gulf.

(More on the link)

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Trump declares Iran peace deal is OFF after taking 'too long' and warns they will 'pay the price' as he targets bridges, powerplants, and infrastructure​

Donald Trump warned Iran will 'pay the price' after failing to strike a peace deal after months of negotiations. 'Iran's Military is a complete and total mess. Much of it, like their Navy and Air Force, doesn't even exist anymore - They have been completely defeated. Iran is all talk and no action. The Bully of the Middle East is DEAD!!!'

'They've taken too long to negotiate a deal that would have been great for them, now they will have to pay the price!!!' he wrote on Truth Social.

The President's declaration comes hours after he launched strikes against Iran in retaliation for the shooting down of an Apache helicopter in the Strait of Hormuz. Both pilots were rescued, but Trump called it a 'miracle' given that an Iranian drone got 'lodged between the two pilots' but did not explode.

A senior US official told Fox News digital that 20 targets inside Iran were hit Tuesday night. On Wednesday, Trump indicated that he might direct the US military to strike Iranian infrastructure, specifically bridges and power plants.

Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Trump explained that the potential escalation comes because Iran's leadership has delayed progress on peace negotiations. 'I may keep going,' Trump stated. 'They had a chance to sign a deal and survive.' He further noted that Tehran has merely been 'tapping the US along' in discussions that have ultimately yielded few results.

(More on the link)

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Iran-linked group claims to have hacked FBI drones and threatens to target the World Cup in chilling warning​

Handala, a prominent pro-Palestine cyber threat organization, is said to have alleged that it had obtained access to 'every image and every suspect' for months ahead of the soccer tournament, which kicked off on Thursday.

The hackers said the first-person view (FPV) drones featured facial recognition and license plate screening, deployed for counterterrorism purposes, according to SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadist movements. 'Better tighten your World Cup security, we don't like some of those teams at all. Don't forget: FPVs are everywhere; you never know when one might end up right in your team's bus,' Handala warned in the statement quoted by SITE.

The Handala syndicate published alleged photos and footage that it said were taken from the hacked drones. However, SITE disputed that claim.

It came just hours before the United States Men's National Team begins its World Cup campaign against Paraguay on Friday, with America co-hosting the tournament alongside Canada and Mexico. Such a breach would pose a major threat to the tournament as US authorities work tirelessly to safeguard the thousands of international fans arriving in the country for the biggest World Cup in history.

The FBI is deploying drones around host stadiums and tournament-related fan events in the US to protect games from unauthorized aircraft. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) flights will be banned over those designated areas. The Justice Department has previously warned of the potential for cyberattacks by Iranian actors following the US-Israeli strikes on Tehran in February that triggered the latest conflict in the Middle East.

In March, Handala claimed to have hacked the email account of FBI director Kash Patel and published personal photos and other material online. Material uploaded by the hackers seemed to include personal and work correspondence spanning 2010 to 2019. The State Department has offered a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the identification of members of the group.

It marks the latest controversy to rock the blockbuster tournament, which has so far been plagued by travel chaos, violence, politics, cost and security.

(More on the link)

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Well well well, looks like something gave with Iran. Sounds good, we'll see what happens. No doubt they'll do something to **** it up.

I've seen too much garbage about how we have been humiliated, how we lost etc etc. I don't know how anyone can do the math on that, that's silly. Actually, considering disgusting bias of all media that's not hard to see.

No regime change but we certainly cleaned house with their entrenched leadership and destroyed quite a lot of their military capability, including their enrichment program that was anything other than a peaceful civilian application. We drew their fangs - the ones that decades of inept foreign policy literally paid for. Not 100% but plenty, including their ability to make more weapons.

Cuba for dessert? We still talking to Raul's six fingered grandson?
 
Trump's White House UFC fight target of 'explosive drones' plot with 'staged snipers'

Trump's White House UFC fight target of 'explosive drones' plot with 'staged snipers' designed to kill thousands as FBI arrests five suspects​

The FBI thwarted an alleged plot to use drones and sniper teams to harm attendees at Sunday's UFC Freedom 250 celebration at the White House, according to federal officials. The suspected masterminds planned to use explosive drones to hit buildings nearby to cause confusion and force an evacuation of the event, the officials told Fox News. Then, during the scramble, the plotters allegedly hoped that attendees would be steered towards their sniper team in waiting, the officials added. After that, the suspects allegedly planned a 'second wave' attack that involved rushing the White House gates, officials revealed.

As of Monday, five people were taken into custody in connection with the plan. Investigators have identified 23 people potentially involved in planning. The White House event drew around 4,300 attendees, including President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and countless other top Cabinet officials. Just outside of the White House on the National Mall, thousands of people were in the area watching the UFC fights. June is a popular time for tourists to come to Washington, too, and America 250 events have drawn large crowds to the city. Officials said the FBI was first tipped off to the scary plot on June 10 and worked with law enforcement to find probable cause for an arrest. One suspect was taken into custody in Cincinnati, according to officials.

The plotters allegedly discussed their plans in encrypted Signal chats, which investigators later accessed. Officials said that at least 23 Signal users were involved in discussing the alleged plan, including operational details on how to carry it out. Some of those in the chat went so far as to travel to Fredericksburg, Virginia, around June 12 or June 13 to prepare for the attack. The town is just about an hour's drive south of Washington. One suspect allegedly told authorities the group was targeting 'capitalist elites' and 'billionaires.'

Several billionaires were there, including Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg, Paramount and CBS boss David Ellison, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and others. Many in the presidential line of succession were also at the Sunday evening event. House Speaker Mike Johnson, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and FBI Director Kash Patel were all there. Also on the alleged target list were politicians who received donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), according to sources.

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