Footage captured the moment an Iranian drone struck the US military’s Camp Buehring in northwestern Kuwait, impacting with an explosion and cloud of smoke.
Published On 1 Mar 2026
Source link
Popular Categories
Hot this week
Follow us
Headlines
Editor's choice
Raj Bhat
Pratheek Jha
LATEST ARTICLES
A single Iranian missile penetrating US defences could throw Trump off course | World News
Vows by Iran to punish the US and Israel for killing its supreme leader and starting a war have yet to translate into decisive military action despite the first American casualties.
Iranian forces have launched hundreds of drones and missiles in multiple waves across the Middle East, but without inflicting significant harm against American assets in the region, such as sinking a warship or destroying a base.
By contrast, American and Israeli strikes have already devastated regime targets in Iran. They have taken out the head of the regime, Ali Khamenei, as well as the army’s chief of staff, General Abdol Rahim Mousavi, and defence minister General Aziz Nasirzadeh.
Iran latest: Three US service members killed
Then again, it is only day two of the war and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has pledged “severe, decisive and regret-inducing punishment”.
Yet the more time that passes without this rhetoric becoming a reality, the greater the questions about whether Iran’s most feared military forces still have the capability to locate, target and strike the US and Israeli warships and jets attacking them.
General Sir Richard Barrons, a former senior UK military officer, said a number of factors would likely be limiting Iran’s options for manoeuvre, not least the loss of so many top leaders.
Any move to fire missiles would also expose the launch site to American and Israeli attacks from the air, meaning Iran’s missile launchers would have “quite a short” life expectancy.
In addition, previous attacks by both the US and Israel against Iran over the past couple of years have already degraded its missile stockpiles, launchers and air defences to blunt the regime’s ability to detect incoming enemy aircraft.
All of this could explain why so few US and Israeli military targets appear so far to have suffered much meaningful damage despite Iran firing hundreds of missiles and drones.
Though the full extent of any damage is unclear.
UK Defence Secretary, John Healey, warned that a wounded Iran still has the capacity to cause harm – just potentially in even more erratic ways with little regard for the impact on the millions of civilians who live across the Gulf.
“This regime is lashing out. It’s lashing out in an increasingly indiscriminate and widespread way,” he said, speaking to Sky News’s Sunday Morning with Trevor Philips.
“And people will be really concerned that it’s not just military targets, but civilian airports like Kuwait, hotels in Dubai and Bahrain are being hit.”
Tourist hotspots in the crossfire
Countries so far impacted include Israel, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and Iraq, where a number of American bases are located.
Many of the munitions appear to have been intercepted, but falling debris can be deadly.
With so much metal flying around, civilian and tourist locations have been caught in the crossfire, including one of the world’s busiest airports in Dubai, where all flights have been halted, and the entrance of a luxury hotel.
This would have been terrifying for those affected but these strikes appear to have done nothing to degrade the ability of the US and Israel to keep hitting Iran.
Read more from Sky News:
How have Iranians reacted to death of supreme leader?
Trump has tipped Middle East into war that could last weeks
A high-value target for the regime must surely be two American aircraft carrier strike groups, led by the USS Gerald R Ford and the USS Abraham Lincoln.
They’re thought to be located south of Cyprus.
An attempt to hit these warships might explain why the UK says two Iranian missiles were fired in the direction of the Mediterranean island. Britain has bases on Cyprus but they are not thought to have been the focus of the attack.
General Barrons said an outmatched Iran on the battlefield might seek alternative ways to strike back such as by closing the Strait of Hormuz – a vital transit point for global oil and gas exports.
Disruption to this shipping lane would impact economies around the world – and it is already starting with tankers being targeted, including off the coast of Oman.
President Trump is gambling that Iran lacks the capability to resist his overwhelming firepower. And that may well be the case.
But it only takes one Iranian missile penetrating American air defences to alter that calculation or at least dramatically increase the cost to Washington of its war.
Source link
Former Team USA player regrets Israel move amid Iran missile attack
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Destiny Littleton was supposed to be on a flight from Israel back to the US on Tuesday. That plan is now up in smoke, as she navigates bomb shelters in Jerusalem during Iran’s counterstrike. She has no idea when she’ll be home.
The former NCAA and Team USA women’s basketball player moved to Israel in November to play for Hapoel Jerusalem in the country’s top women’s basketball division. She called it an “amazing” experience, before Saturday. But now, she said she would not come to Israel if she could do it all over again.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
South Carolina guard Destiny Littleton (11) plays during a women’s college basketball game between the Kentucky Wildcats and the South Carolina Gamecocks at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina, on Jan. 9, 2022. (John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“It’s scary. And it’s hard not to take it to the ‘what ifs.’ You really can’t. We’re going to have to pray and hope everything will be okay and that we can leave safely,” Littleton told Fox News Digital.
Earlier on Sunday, an Iranian missile struck a location just 30 minutes away from Littleton, killing eight people.
“It’s my reality right now. It’s a war zone. Right now it’s pretty routine, you sit around, you wait for an alert on your phone, you wait for a siren, you go into a shelter in place, you wait for the all clear, and you just do it again, and do it again, and do it again,” she said.
“We’re in a country that is unfortunately used to this type of activity, so they’re normalized to it, so it’s unfortunate that they are normalized to it, but we aren’t, so this scares us.”
On Saturday, Littleton posted an Instagram video of her, teammates and locals screaming in fear as drones flew over an apartment building they were in, as explosions were seen going off in the distance.
In earlier videos, she documented her experience fleeing to a bomb shelter as sirens blared in the background, and then moving to a new location after the first shelter she went to felt “uncomfortable.”
She has struggled to even pick up on news updates on the situation, as the only news she’s been able to access has been broadcast in Hebrew. She also feels wary of some of the information being broadcast, labeling it “propaganda.”
Littleton expects this experience to impact her psyche moving forward.
“Right now I can’t tell you the full effect that this is going to have on me. But I do know that just with this 48+ hours of being in an active war zone, even the little noises you jump at,” she said. “So there is going to be some trauma there.”
She doesn’t expect to return to Israel to play basketball in the future. Littleton said she researched the potential risks that would have come with moving to Israel, and briefed herself on the country’s conflicts with neighboring nations. But she did not expect it to reach this level.
“I had to make a decision, and the decision came with a lot of research,” she said. “I had friends who were already here, and I was asking them… so I got a lot of positive feedback from that, and I ultimately made the decision to come here… It just comes down to risk, weighing the options, understanding the situation and if it’s a current threat or not.”
Politically, Littleton has mixed feelings about her country and Israel’s decision to strike Iran and ignite the current conflict.
“The US is trying to stop a regime that’s terrible for the entire world, on the other hand it’s the US is doing Israel’s bidding,” she said.
“My opinion is that I’m against the war period. I’m against what war can do. And I don’t like how [President Donald Trump] made this decision on his own.”
Littleton is one of three prominent American women’s basketball players trapped in the country during the Iranian counterstrike.
Littleton, who won a national championship at South Carolina under coach Dawn Staley in 2022, and a gold medal for the U.S. in the 2017 FIBA 3×3 U18 World Cup, is there with WNBA veteran Tiffany Mitchell and former Phoenix Mercury forward Mikiah Herbert Harrigan.
Staley said Saturday that the university is working to bring all three home.
“We are working on a plan to get home. Let us pray for our loved ones to return home safely asap!” Staley wrote on X.
Littleton said Staley has assured her that figures at South Carolina are “doing everything they can to get us home safe.”
“She really cares about her babies. We’ll forever be her babies. And she’s trying to be there for us from 7,000 miles away,” Littleton said. “As the type of person she is, she is going to use her reach to make sure that we can get home as safe as possible. So it’s been a lot of checking in and making sure we’re okay.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
While Littleton said she would not go to Israel back in November had she known this would happen, she is reflecting on the positives of her experience there to stay “sane.”
“I had an amazing year this year,” she said. “I’ve opened a lot of doors for myself so that’s definitely been a plus. I’ve gotten to play the game I love and experience another country. So there are positives, and with the situation that’s happen, being able to look at all the positives will kind of keep you sane.”
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Related Article
Source link
US confirms three soldiers killed in Iran attacks | Conflict
The US military has confirmed at least three of its soldiers have been killed and five others injured in its war with Iran. US media reports the three were killed in Kuwait, but Al Jazeera’s Alan Fisher says the military will be hesitant to give more details.
Published On 1 Mar 2026
Source link
What we know so far about US-Israeli strikes and retaliatory attacks by Iran | World News
Iran has been hit by a series of US and Israeli airstrikes over the weekend as the two countries’ leaders called for the Iranian people to overthrow the regime.
The attacks, which are part of what the US has called Operation Epic Fury, killed Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in his Tehran compound, as well as dozens of senior Iranian officials.
Read more:
Live updates on strikes
Which Iranian officials are dead?
Attacks close Middle East airports
The aerial assault triggered retaliatory strikes by Iran on multiple countries in the Middle East as the regime vowed revenge.
It has fired drones and missiles at Israel and US military installations around the Gulf, as well as the tourism and business hub of Dubai.
So what has happened and where?
Iran
Iranian authorities say more than 200 people have been killed since the start of the US and Israeli strikes on Saturday.
Donald Trump has told Fox News that 48 leaders in Iran have been killed, and said on his Truth Social platform that nine Iranian naval ships have been destroyed and sunk.
The American military said an Iranian Jamaran-class corvette was struck by US forces at Chabahar in the Gulf of Oman during the start of the operation.
Israel said it killed 40 top Iranian military officials, including defence minister Amir Nasirzadeh and Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammed Pakpour.
Iranian state media said an alleged strike on an all-girls school in the southern city of Minab on Saturday killed at least 165.
But the Israeli military said it was not aware of any Israeli or American strikes in the area of the school.
The Israeli military also said its planes have been carrying out strikes to open the “path to Tehran”, and the majority of aerial defence systems in western and central Iran had been dismantled.
A spokesperson said many targets remained, including sites of military-industrial production.
Israel
At least nine people have been killed in Israel after a synagogue was hit by a strike in the central town of Beit Shemesh, according to authorities.
Another 28 people were wounded in the attack.
In Tel Aviv, loud explosions caused by missile strikes or interceptions could be heard.
United States
Three American service members have been killed and five have been seriously injured in military operations targeting Iran, the US military says. It did not identify the service members.
But Sky’s US partner NBC News reported two US officials said the deadly attack happened in Kuwait.
United Arab Emirates
As Iran targeted the wider Gulf area, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) said on Sunday that three people had been killed so far in Iranian attacks on the country.
The defence ministry said Iran had launched 165 ballistic missiles targeting the nation, of which 152 were destroyed. Thirteen fell into the sea, it added.
Iran launched 541 bomb-carrying drones at the UAE, of which 506 were destroyed.
Shrapnel from Iranian attacks on the Emirates’ capital of Abu Dhabi killed two people, state media said.
In Dubai, two people were injured after shrapnel from drones fell over two houses when they were intercepted, a Dubai state media office statement said.
Dubai’s international airport, its landmark Burj Al Arab hotel and the Fairmont The Palm hotel on Palm Jumeirah Island all suffered damage, as did Abu Dhabi’s international airport.
Kuwait
Kuwait’s health ministry said on Sunday that one person has been killed and 20 people have been wounded in retaliatory attacks by Iran.
A dozen people were injured in Kuwait in previous attacks on Saturday.
The Kuwaiti defence ministry said Iran had fired 97 ballistic missiles and 283 drones towards the country.
Bahrain
Bahrain said a missile attack targeted the US Navy’s 5th Fleet headquarters, and three buildings were damaged in the capital, Manama, and Muharraq city.
The UK’s Defence Secretary John Healey said Iranian missile and drone strikes came within a few hundred metres of a group of 300 British military personnel in Bahrain.
Oman
A projectile hit the Marshall Islands-flagged product tanker MKD VYOM, killing a crew member on board as the vessel sailed off the coast of Oman, V.Ships – the company managing the vessel – has said.
Also in Oman, Iran struck the port of Duqm, which has been used by the US Navy as a logistical hub and is capable of hosting aircraft carriers.
Strait of Hormuz
The strategic Strait of Hormuz sees a fifth of the world’s traded oil pass through it, making it a crucial trading route on Iran’s southern border.
Oman says an oil tanker, a Palau-flagged vessel called Skylight, came under attack in the strait, wounding four mariners on board, the state-run Oman News Agency said.
A vessel off Mina Saqr in the UAE was hit by a projectile that caused a fire, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations centre.
The blaze was extinguished and the vessel was set to continue on its way.
A vessel in the strait off Iran also came under attack after Iranian officials reportedly threatened vessels transiting the strait over the radio.
In a sign of disruption to energy supplies, at least 150 tankers including crude oil and liquefied natural gas vessels
dropped anchor in open Gulf waters beyond the Strait of Hormuz.
And dozens more were stationary on the other side of the chokepoint, shipping data showed.
Cyprus
Mr Healey also said that two missiles were fired in the direction of Cyprus, where the UK has bases. “We don’t believe they were targeted at Cyprus,” he said.
Jordan
Jordan said it “dealt with” 49 drones and ballistic missiles.
Pakistan
At least nine people were killed in clashes between protesters and police after hundreds of people stormed the US consulate in the port city of Karachi.
Police and officials said at least 25 people were also wounded and some of them are in a critical condition. Police said the protesters were later dispersed and the situation was under control.
Source link
Nick Shirley discusses alleged voter fraud loophole in California
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Independent journalist Nick Shirley discussed a possible voter registration loophole in California that he suggested could allow illegal immigrants to vote during a Wednesday appearance on “The Riley Gaines Show.”
During his discussion with Gaines, Shirley recounted visiting San Diego County’s Registrar of Voters office last week, where he said he asked an employee why a government-issued ID is not required to register to vote.
“Because when you sign your affidavit, you’re swearing that you’re telling us the truth. And we compare the signature that you put on your application to the signature that you sign…” the employee responded.
Nick Shirley appears on “The Riley Gaines Show” on Wednesday. (Screenshot/”The Riley Gaines Show”)
Shirley then asked the woman whether requiring identification “leaves any room for error” in the registration process and whether illegal migrants are voting in the state.
The employee denied the notion that illegals could be voting and asked Shirley how that would be possible.
“If they don’t have their ID, and they could just sign on behalf of ‘Richard Sherman,’ then they could technically vote, right?” he proposed.
“Yeah, but they would be lying…” she responded, later adding that she doesn’t believe illegal immigrants would abuse the state’s registration process in order to vote.
NOEM BACKS SAVE AMERICA ACT, SLAMS ‘RADICAL LEFT’ OPPOSITION TO VOTER IDS AND PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP
Gaines asked Shirley whether the employee was simply naive as to how the system could be abused or if she was “attempting to be politically corrupt.” The host added that she was amazed by how “gullible [the employee] was to believe that there aren’t bad actors out there who would be intentional in some sort of fraud in the voting realm” as Shirley allegedly exposed.
“Yeah, and God bless this lady because she’s just doing her job, right? It’s not her responsibility for what’s happening in California, but it just goes to show how easy it would be for anyone to vote,” he argued.
Independent journalist Nick Shirley speaks during a roundtable discussion at the White House on Oct. 8, 2025. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Shirley went on to share that he was contacted by a noncitizen who said they traveled to California just to show how easy it was to illegally vote in the state.
“I mean, somebody reached out to me after I posted that video, and [they were] like, ‘I actually am a Canadian and I came down to California to vote just to show you how easy it was,’” he claimed.
DEMOCRAT CLAIMS SAVE ACT WOULD BLOCK MARRIED WOMEN FROM VOTING; REPUBLICANS SAY THAT’S WRONG
Earlier in the show, Shirley noted that there are “lots of [other] locations as well that have a ton of people registered to vote.”
“And some of them are UPS stores… others are these colleges that have 50 people registered at a college [or] university where there should be thousands of people registered,” he continued. “So [there are] a lot of these irregularities within their voter rolls that would be very much solved if people just had to present their own IDs.”
When reached for comment by Fox News Digital, the California secretary of state‘s press team replied, “The recent social media allegations claiming California has widespread election fraud is simply a new version of old erroneous claims that spread misinformation. These social media posts are rife with inaccuracies that illustrate nothing other than a lack of unfamiliarity [sic] with California election law.”
With regard to the specific claim about UPS stores, the office disputed Shirley’s assertions, saying, “Per California Elections Code section 2150(a)(3), an affiant must provide their place of residence. Neither private UPS mailboxes nor PO Boxes are considered a place of residence.”
The press team noted that to register to vote in California, an eligible voter must fill out a form with identifiable information, political preference and affirm their citizenship under the penalty of perjury. Additionally, proof of residence and registration is needed for first-time voters to cast a ballot in a federal election.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, on Feb. 13. (Matthias Balk/picture alliance via Getty Images)
MORE THAN 500,000 CALIFORNIANS DEMAND VOTING OVERHAUL, BACK ‘STRAIGHTFORWARD’ ID LAW
Regarding the idea that there is fraud where more than one individual is registered to vote, the office said there could be multiple reasons, including “because it is the nearest physical location to which they spend most of their time; more than one registered voter lives in dormitories with the same address; individual and haven’t had the chance to re-register yet.”
The office added it was an unsubstantiated claim that California doesn’t check IDs or verify voter identities.
“California voters are generally not required to show identification before they cast their ballots. However, if a voter is voting in a federal election for the first time after registering online or by mail and did not provide their driver’s license number, California identification number or the last four digits of their Social Security number on their registration form, they will be asked to show a form of identification when they go to the polls,” the office said.
“If a driver’s license number, California identification number or the last four digits of the Social Security number are not provided, a registration cannot be validated through the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or the Social Security Administration (SSA), therefore the voter would be required to provide acceptable identification before registration is complete and they can vote.
“Forms of acceptable identification include, but are not limited to a passport, a credit or debit card, a utility bill, and a military identification card.”
Nick Shirley films protesters demonstrating against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests in New York on Oct. 22, 2025. (Adam Gray/Getty Images)
JAMES COMER INVESTIGATES REPORTS OF NONCITIZENS FOUND ON KEY SWING STATE’S VOTER ROLLS
After posting his investigation into the alleged “breeding ground for voter fraud” in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s press office account on X reposted the video, mocking Shirley’s findings.
“After hyping ‘massive fraud’ for a month, Nick came up empty — so he posted a video about a Republican who committed voter fraud, got caught, and was prosecuted,” the post began, referencing a California woman who was charged with several felonies after she illegally registered her dog to vote and cast two ballots under the canine’s name.
“Slow Shirley is welcome to extend his visit and enroll in California’s free community college. He clearly needs it,” Newsom’s press office concluded.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
When reached for comment by Fox News Digital, Antonia Hutzell, the program coordinator for the San Diego Registrar of Voters, said the registrar “follows all state and federal laws and regulations as it relates to processing voter registrations and maintaining the voter rolls.”
She added, “Anyone registering to vote in California must attest (sign), under penalty of perjury that they are eligible to vote and that the information provided is true and correct. (EC §§ 2111, 2112, 2150).”
The representative stated that in order to vote, a person must provide a California driver’s license, state ID card number or offer the last four digits of their Social Security number.
Hutzell concluded, “The San Diego County Registrar of Voters is committed to administering transparent, secure and accurate elections and follows all applicable laws to ensure that eligible San Diego County residents have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote.”
Newsom’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Landon Mion contributed to this report.
Related Article
Source link
Iran after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Israel-Iran conflict
For years, interventionists in the West made the argument that the long-term costs of the political order in Iran, such as repression, economic decay, and social stagnation, outweighed the risks of a violent external regime change. Last month, the “moral barrier” to intervention was significantly lowered by the bloody crackdown on protests in January and the extensive positive coverage of the Iranian opposition in Western media.
The US-Israeli intervention came soon after, with both United States President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urging Iranians to “rise up”. The assassinations of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other high-level Iranian officials were celebrated as a major achievement.
However, the assumption that the removal of a central figurehead will lead to a “short and decisive rupture” followed by a smooth transition is far from certain. In fact, Iran after Ayatollah Khamenei may not be at all what the proponents of intervention desire to see.
Regime change gone wrong
The wider Middle East has three recent examples of why outside intervention is unlikely to result in a smooth transition and stability. Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya demonstrate that external military operations are followed not by rapid stabilisation, but by chaos. That much is apparent from a quick look at the scores of these countries on the Worldwide Governance Indicators of the World Bank.
Afghanistan experienced regime change in 2001 following the US invasion; that triggered two decades of fighting and attacks on civilians. In 2021, the country saw the return of the ousted regime, but stability remains elusive.
Iraq has seen various insurgencies and civil war following the US invasion in 2003; despite democratisation efforts, the country is still unable to return to pre-2003 stability.
Libya’s collapse following a NATO-led intervention in 2011 saw the country drop from positive stability scores in the Worldwide Governance Indicators to some of the lowest in the world, with no recovery in sight. The country remains split between two centres of governance – in Tripoli and Benghazi.
None of these countries have regained their pre-intervention stability levels. Their paths are marked by long-lasting fragility and volatility, rather than the “brief adjustment” promised by proponents of intervention.
Regime change that may not come
The regime in Iran is different in many ways from the ones that collapsed in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya. The assassination of leader Ayatollah Khamenei may have a profound impact that does not result in state collapse.
Within the symbolic universe of Shia Islam, to which the majority of Iranians belong, Khamenei’s death can be interpreted as the fulfillment of a martyrological script. Death at the hands of perceived enemies of Islam can be framed as redemptive passage rather than defeat; it is not a bitter collapse, as is the case with other Middle Eastern rulers who were ousted or killed. It is instead an idealised closure: the sacralisation of political life through sacrificial death.
This martyrological framing has the potential to rally a significant portion of the population, including those who were previously critical of the leadership, around a narrative of national defence. By transforming a fallen leader into a martyr of “foreign aggression”, the state can trigger a surge of nationalist cohesion and deep-seated resentment towards external intervention, potentially unifying the security forces and traditionalist sectors of society in a way that proponents of regime change did not anticipate.
This may be more challenging today due to the outcome of recent protests compared to the previous confrontation with Israel in June 2025. However, it remains a strong possibility.
It is also important to note that the experiences of Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan indicate that the absence of intact bureaucratic, security, and fiscal institutions during external intervention can lead to prolonged instability.
For Iran, the big question now is whether administrative cohesion and territorial integrity can be preserved. Achieving this depends primarily on the survival of the “deep state”, the resilient civil bureaucracy and technocratic class that manages the country’s fiscal and essential services.
If the central bank, ministries, and regional governorates continue to function despite the leadership vacuum, the state may avoid the total “atomisation” seen in Libya. Furthermore, territorial integrity rests on the continued unity between the regular army (Artesh) and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
One major challenge would be finding a “national unifier” in the current climate. The bloody repression of the January protests has deeply fractured the relationship between the people and the political elite, making it difficult for any establishment figure to claim broad legitimacy. While a “technocratic-military council” led by figures with managerial backgrounds, such as Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, former President Hassan Rouhani or Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran Ali Larijani, might attempt to step in to provide a “security-first” stabilisation, they lack the spiritual authority of the late supreme leader.
In the absence of a figure who can bridge the chasm between the embittered street and the survival-driven security apparatus, any new leadership will likely struggle to project authority.
Instability after Khamenei
If institutional continuity fails or the army and the IRGC begin to compete, the risk of fragmentation and persistent conflict would increase. In this scenario, the violent rupture some call for today may mark the beginning of a structurally entrenched cycle of insecurity whose costs will be borne by Iranian society at large.
There are two factors that may shape such an outcome.
First is hollowing out of the middle class. Decades of Western sanctions have decimated the very social group that traditionally serves as a stabiliser during political transitions. Without a robust middle class, the political vacuum left behind by the ongoing war on Iran is more likely to be filled by armed factions or radicalised remnants of the current security apparatus.
These elements of the “ancien regime”, specifically hardline cadres within the IRGC and the Basij who perceive any new order as an existential threat to their lives and assets, are unlikely to disappear or “merge peacefully”, as the Trump administration appears to hope. Instead, they are more likely to transition from state actors to decentralised insurgent groups, using their deep knowledge of the country’s infrastructure to sabotage any attempt at a stable transition.
Second is social fragmentation. Iran possesses a level of ethnic and linguistic diversity greater than that of the average Middle Eastern country. In the absence of a central authority, and with security leadership currently targeted, the risk of state fragmentation and the rise of various militias should not be underestimated.
In worst-case scenario, internal turmoil is likely to follow the fault lines of existing grievances. In the borderlands, long-simmering insurgencies among the Baluch, Kurd and Arab populations could escalate into full-scale separatist conflicts as central control diminishes.
In major metropolitan centres, the collapse of a unified security chain may lead to localised upheaval, where rogue militias, acting without orders, compete for control over neighbourhood resources. Simultaneously, a violent “war of the elites” is inevitable, as the remaining military and political heavyweights would struggle to fill the vacuum of the leadership, potentially turning the state’s own institutions into battlefields of succession.
In recent weeks, the saying “a bitter ending is better than endless bitterness” has been invoked by some to justify foreign military intervention in Iran. Such perceptions seem to rest on the belief that a quick resolution can be achieved through military means.
However, as the data from Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan confirm, war outcomes are not linear; they are catalysts for unpredictable and protracted deterioration. While the death of Ayatollah Khamenei marks a symbolic end to an era, history suggests that the “expected value” of such a violent rupture is often a path of chronic instability and institutional erosion rather than institutional renewal.
For the people of Iran, the “bitter ending” of a regime may not be the final act of their suffering, but the opening chapter of a new, structurally entrenched era of “endless bitterness” that could haunt the region for decades to come.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.
Source link
Iran cyberattack blackout and war risks
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
When missiles fly, we expect explosions. We expect smoke, sirens and satellite images. What we do not expect is silence.
On February 28, 2026, as fighter jets and cruise missiles struck Iranian Revolutionary Guard command centers during Operation Roar of the Lion, a parallel assault reportedly unfolded in cyberspace.
Official news sites and key media platforms went offline, government digital services and local apps failed across major cities, and security communications systems reportedly stopped functioning, plunging Iran into a near-total digital blackout.
According to NetBlocks, a global internet monitoring organization that tracks connectivity disruptions, nationwide internet traffic in Iran plunged to just 4 percent of normal levels.
That level of collapse suggests either a deliberate state-ordered shutdown or a large-scale cyberattack designed to paralyze critical infrastructure. Western intelligence sources later indicated the digital offensive aimed to disrupt IRGC command and control systems and limit coordination of counterattacks.
For the United States and its allies, the episode offers a stark reminder that modern conflict now blends airstrikes with digital warfare in ways that can ripple far beyond the battlefield.
In a matter of hours, modern conflict looked less like tanks and more like a blinking cursor.
Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report
Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide – free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM newsletter
Iran’s national symbols stand in contrast to reports of a sweeping digital blackout that reportedly disrupted communications and critical systems across the country. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Iran internet shutdown: A country offline in real time
Reports described widespread outages across Iran. Official news sites stopped functioning. IRNA, Iran’s state-run news agency, went offline.
Tasnim, a semi-official news outlet closely aligned with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reportedly displayed subversive messages targeting Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
THINK YOUR NEW YEAR’S PRIVACY RESET WORKED? THINK AGAIN
The IRGC, Iran’s powerful military and intelligence force, plays a central role in national security and regional operations. At the same time, local apps and government digital services failed in cities like Tehran, Isfahan and Shiraz.
This was not one website defaced for headlines. It appeared systemic. Electronic warfare reportedly disrupted navigation and communications systems.
Distributed denial of service attacks, often called DDoS attacks, flooded networks with traffic to overwhelm and disable them.
Deep intrusions targeted energy and aviation systems. Even Iran’s isolated national internet struggled under pressure.
CHINA VS SPACEX IN RACE FOR SPACE AI DATA CENTERS
For a regime that tightly controls information, losing digital command creates both operational and political risk.
Why cyber warfare matters in the Iran conflict
Cyber operations offer something missiles cannot. They disrupt without always killing. They send a signal without immediately triggering full-scale war. That matters in a region where escalation can spiral fast.
History shows Iran understands this logic. Between 2012 and 2014, Iranian actors targeted U.S. financial institutions in Operation Ababil. Saudi Aramco also suffered a major cyberattack.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE HELPS FUEL NEW ENERGY SOURCES
After Israeli strikes in 2025, cyberattacks targeting Israel surged dramatically within days.
Cyber retaliation lets leaders respond while limiting direct military confrontation. It buys leverage in negotiations. It creates pressure without necessarily crossing a red line.
But there is a catch. Every cyber strike risks miscalculation. And digital damage can spill into the real world fast if critical infrastructure is hit.
As military strikes targeted IRGC command centers, internet traffic inside Iran reportedly plunged to just 4 percent of normal levels. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
If the blackout and strikes mark a turning point, Tehran has options. None are simple.
1) Cyberattacks against U.S. or allied infrastructure
Cyber retaliation remains one of Iran’s most flexible tools. It can range from disruptive attacks and influence campaigns to more targeted intrusions that pressure critical services. Recent expert commentary warns that U.S. cyber defenses and the private sector could face sustained testing.
2) Targeting U.S. drones and unmanned systems
Iran has used drones and electronic interference as signals before. Analysts continue to flag jamming, spoofing and harassment of unmanned systems as a way to raise costs without immediately striking large numbers of personnel.
3) Maritime attacks in the Strait of Hormuz
This risk is rising fast. An EU naval mission official reportedly said IRGC radio transmissions warned ships that passage through Hormuz was “not allowed”. Greece has also urged ships to avoid high-risk routes and warned about electronic interference that can disrupt navigation. Insurers are already repricing the danger, with reports of war-risk policies being canceled or sharply increased.
4) Support for allied or informal armed groups
Iran has long worked with allied forces and militias in the region, and some of those groups could step up attacks on U.S. interests or allied partners in retaliation, widening the clash without direct state-to-state engagement.
5) Limited ballistic missile strikes
Missile strikes remain a high-impact option, but they raise the odds of rapid escalation. Recent expert analysis continues to frame them as a tool Iran may use for signaling, especially if leadership feels cornered.
Tehran’s skyline, including the Azadi Tower, became the backdrop to a crisis shaped as much by cyber disruption as by missiles in the sky. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
The escalation risk between the U.S. and Iran
Here is the uncomfortable truth. Neither Washington nor Tehran likely wants a full-scale regional war. In moments like this, military strikes rarely stand alone.
They often move alongside diplomacy. Leaders send signals. They apply pressure. At the same time, they try to leave room for talks.
But escalation has momentum. Each missile changes the equation. Each casualty raises the stakes. The more damage done, the harder it becomes to step back.
5 SIMPLE TECH TIPS TO IMPROVE DIGITAL PRIVACY
Fear plays a role. So does pride. Domestic audiences demand strength. Leaders feel pressure to respond in kind. That is how limited strikes can spiral into something much larger.
What the Iran cyberattack blackout means for global cybersecurity
This episode highlights something bigger than regional tension. Nation-states now pair kinetic strikes with digital offensives.
Cyberattacks can blind communications, freeze infrastructure and disrupt financial systems before the world even processes the first explosion.
TRUMP TELLS IRANIANS THE ‘HOUR OF YOUR FREEDOM IS AT HAND’ AS US-ISRAEL LAUNCH STRIKES AGAINST IRAN
For businesses and individuals, that reality matters. Modern conflict no longer stays confined to battlefields.
Supply chains, energy grids and online platforms can feel the ripple effects. The blackout in Iran serves as a reminder that digital resilience is now a national security issue.
How to stay safe during rising cyber tensions
When a country’s internet can plunge to just 4 percent of normal traffic in hours, it is a reminder that cyber conflict can escalate quickly.
Even if the disruption happens overseas, global networks are interconnected. Financial systems, supply chains and online platforms can feel the ripple effects.
You cannot control geopolitics. You can control your digital hygiene. Here are practical steps to reduce your personal risk during periods of heightened cyber activity:
Install strong antivirus software to guard against state-linked phishing and malware campaigns that often spike during geopolitical conflicts.
Nation-state actors frequently exploit breaking news and global instability to spread malicious links and ransomware. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com
Keep devices updated so security patches close vulnerabilities that attackers often exploit during global cyber spikes.
WORLD LEADERS SPLIT OVER MILITARY ACTION AS US-ISRAEL STRIKE IRAN IN COORDINATED OPERATION
Use strong, unique passwords stored in a reputable password manager to protect your accounts if cyber retaliation campaigns expand beyond government targets. Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2026 at Cyberguy.com
Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on financial, email and social accounts to safeguard access in case stolen credentials circulate during heightened cyber conflict.
Be cautious with urgent headlines or alerts about international conflict, since attackers frequently mimic breaking news.
Monitor financial accounts for unusual activity in case broader disruptions spill into banking systems.
When tensions rise, phishing campaigns often rise with them. Threat actors exploit fear and confusion. Staying disciplined with basic security habits makes you a harder target if malicious traffic increases.
Take my quiz: How safe is your online security?
Think your devices and data are truly protected? Take this quick quiz to see where your digital habits stand. From passwords to Wi-Fi settings, you’ll get a personalized breakdown of what you’re doing right and what needs improvement. Take my Quiz here: Cyberguy.com
Kurt’s key takeaways
The reported cyber blackout inside Iran may signal a new chapter in modern conflict. Jets and missiles still matter. But so do servers, satellites and code. Leaders may try to contain the damage while showing strength.
Still, history shows how quickly careful plans can unravel once pressure builds. War today runs on electricity and bandwidth as much as fuel and ammunition.
When networks go dark, the impact does not stay on a battlefield. It spills into banking systems, airports, hospitals and the phones in our pockets. That is what makes this moment different.
If an entire nation’s digital systems can be disrupted in hours, how prepared is your community if something similar ever hits closer to home? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide – free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM newsletter
Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Related Article
Source link
Arsenal restore five point lead at top of table with 2-1 win over Chelsea | Football News
Arsenal won their set-piece battle with 10-man Chelsea as Jurrien Timber sealed the Premier League leaders’ crucial 2-1 victory over their London rivals.
Mikel Arteta’s side struck twice from corners and also conceded from the same route in a match on Sunday that underlined the increasing importance of set-pieces in the Premier League.
Recommended Stories
list of 4 itemsend of listWilliam Saliba’s first goal since December 2024 put Arsenal ahead in the first half at the Emirates Stadium.
Piero Hincapie’s own goal drew Chelsea level from one of Reece James’ deadly corners just before the break.
But Timber won a priceless three points for Arsenal with his second-half header before Chelsea winger Pedro Neto was sent off for a second booking.
The Gunners’ second successive league win reestablished their five-point lead over second-placed Manchester City, who have a game in hand and had closed the gap with a 1-0 victory at Leeds on Saturday.
After enduring scathing criticism of their mentality during a recent wobble that breathed new life into the title race, Arsenal have got back on track just in time as they followed last weekend’s 4-1 rout of Tottenham with a far more tense triumph.
Arsenal travel to Brighton on Wednesday with nine games left in their bid to win a first English title since 2004.
The Gunners, through to the League Cup final, the Champions League last 16 and the FA Cup fifth round, have just one top-flight match left against sides currently in the top six – a potentially decisive trip to Manchester City on April 18.
Chelsea’s third consecutive game without a win was a blow to their bid to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
They dropped to sixth place after losing to Arsenal for the third time in Liam Rosenior’s brief reign.
Robert Sanchez nearly gifted Arsenal an early goal when the Chelsea goalkeeper stumbled under pressure from Viktor Gyokeres, but he managed a last-ditch clearance to avert the danger.
When Sanchez gave the ball away with another nervous clearance, Rosenior held his head in frustration.
Arteta preyed on Chelsea’s weakness at the back to take the lead with one of set-piece coach Nicolas Jover’s trademark routines in the 21st minute.
Gabriel Magalhaes towered above Reece James and Joao Pedro to nod Bukayo Saka’s corner into the six-yard box, where Saliba’s goal-bound header deflected in off Chelsea’s Mamadou Sarr.
Chelsea have conceded eight goals from set-pieces in Rosenior’s first 13 matches and four of those have been against Arsenal.
But the Blues got their revenge on the stroke of half-time.
Arsenal were given a warning when James’ corner hit Declan Rice’s shoulder, forcing David Raya to make a superb save.
But they did not learn the lesson and from the resulting corner, James’ in-swinger was headed into his own net by Hincapie.
Arsenal remained vulnerable from James’ corners and Joao Pedro should have done better than head straight at Raya before nodding wide from another of the Chelsea captain’s teasing set-pieces.
Those misses proved costly for Chelsea as Arsenal once again showed their own set-piece prowess in the 66th minute.
Timber made a perfectly timed run to head home from Rice’s corner, with Chelsea’s furious appeals for a foul on Sanchez failing to get the goal overturned.
It was the 16th league goal scored from a corner by the Gunners this season and their jubilant fans celebrated by chanting “set-piece again, ole, ole”.
Neto, booked for protesting in the aftermath of Timber’s goal, rashly took out his frustration on Gabriel Martinelli, chopping down the Arsenal winger to earn his marching orders in the 70th minute.
Arsenal still needed a brilliant stoppage-time save from Raya to deny Alejandro Garnacho before they could celebrate.
Timber said it Arsenal should “enjoy” the thrilling title race.
“We have to enjoy it. It is a privilege to be standing here with my teammates fighting for this title. It is a beautiful place,” he said.
“There are nine games to go, but we have to go game by game. Hopefully, there will be something beautiful at the end of it.”
James, meanwhile, admitted that Chelsea are receiving too many red cards due to ill discipline.
“We have spoken. It has come up a number of times. Every time, it is someone different. We need to review it internally,” the Chelsea captain said.
“Of course, it is a problem. We are playing in the toughest league in the world. 11 vs 11 [players] is tough. 10 vs 11 is even harder, no matter who you’re playing.”
Earlier on Sunday, Manchester United climbed up to third place in the Premier League with a 2-1 win against Crystal Palace.
Benjamin Sesko’s seventh goal in eight games sealed the win at Old Trafford that moved United above Aston Villa on goal difference.
“It feels like a big result,” said United captain Bruno Fernandes, who scored from the penalty spot.
At the other end of the table, Tottenham’s winless run extended to 10 games after a 2-1 loss at Fulham – leaving them mired in a fight to avoid relegation.
Nottingham Forest also failed to pull further away from the drop zone after a 2-1 loss at Brighton.
Source link
Ship tracking reveals tankers and millions of barrels of oil stuck in the Gulf | World News
Sky’s Data and Forensics team has been monitoring shipping through the Strait of Hormuz – a strategically vital waterway for Iran and other oil producers in the Middle East.
Maritime activity has been almost brought to a standstill as the US and Iran have traded strikes.
Hundreds of tankers are usually travelling through the Strait of Hormuz between Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman at all times, with Iran to the north and Oman and the United Arab Emirates to the south. It’s the only marine outlet for this region’s main oil producers including Iran.
In 2024, around a fifth of all global oil was flowing through the narrow waterway – the equivalent of 20 million barrels a day.
A snapshot from a month ago on February 1, shows how busy the waterway is with vessels passing into and out of the waterway.
On February 28, the day after the US and Israel carried out their first strikes on Iran, far fewer vessels were in the area and very little movement. By March 1, very few ships were in the straight, and vessels appeared to cluster around large ports either side of the strait.
Sky’s Data and Forensic team tracked several individual tankers. One – the KHK Empress – was already in the strait before turning back on Saturday at around 10:00 AM UTC. By Saturday evening, 4 others had turned away from the strait to head back out into the Gulf. And by Sunday they were all on the move out of the region.
Analytics agency Kpler estimates that these five ships have the capacity to carry around 10 million barrels of oil.
Fear of being targeted on the route are not unfounded. On March 1, a Palau-flagged oil tanker ‘The Skylight’ was attacked. Four people were injured and the whole crew of 20 people was evacuated – check latest.
The US navy is warning against navigation through the strait and some traders are suspending transit.
And interference to the ship tracking and communication system, AIS, is making the area even more dangerous. The images below show a normal amount of AIS signalling on February 27, but this is dramatically increased on February 28.
Volatility in the Gulf will have an impact across the world. Disruption here will in turn disrupt global markets and international trade.
Source link