U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors began departing RAF Lakenheath today, heading to the Middle East.

A total of 12 F-22s staged in the UK are now transiting east in waves.

Putin:

The enemy is resorting to individual and mass terror, having failed to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia.

Putin:

The enemy doesn't hesitate to use any means. Well, it's already in the media, probably, their attempts or intentions to use even some kind of nuclear component. They probably understand how this can end.

Now there is also our operational information coming in; it should be in the media today as well, it probably already is. I haven't had time to look at anything yet, but we are talking about a possible explosion in our gas systems on the bottom of the Black Sea.

These are the so-called TurkStream and Blue Stream. They just can't calm down.

White House on Iran:

Operation Midnight Hammer was an overwhelmingly successful mission that did in fact obliterate Iran's nuclear facilities.

That does not mean that Iran may never try again to establish a nuclear program.

Reporter: Does Trump consider Iran a threat?

White House: Iran chants "death to America," so you tell me if that's a threat.

White House on Iran:

Trump's first option is always diplomacy, but as he has shown, he is willing to use the lethal force of the United States military if necessary.

I've seen a lot of sensationalist reporting over the past day that is just completely untrue.

Anyone speculating to the media, hiding behind an anonymous source, pretending to know what Trump is thinking or a decision he will make with respect to action against Iran has no idea what they're talking about.

Putin's aide:

Russia will inform the U.S. about any potential appearance of a nuclear weapon in Ukraine.

NEW: Israel has warned Lebanon it would launch major strikes, including on civilian infrastructure such as Beirut’s airport, if Hezbollah becomes involved in any U.S.-Iran conflict.

Source: Reuters

Members of the European Parliament gave Zelensky a nearly two-minute standing ovation after his virtual address.

NEW: Former Norwegian Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland was hospitalized last week after an alleged suicide attempt.

The report says his condition is serious.

The incident comes shortly after Jagland was charged with gross corruption over ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

Source: iNyheter

Russian Foreign Ministry:

Any steps to assist Kyiv in getting a nuclear weapon will be met with a harsh response.

Israel’s Ben-Gvir personally oversaw the delivery of demolition and eviction orders to Palestinian Bedouin residents in Negev:

The Jews are above the law. We are the landlords here.

You have two hours. I don’t care.

WATCH: A suicide bomber detonated near a traffic police vehicle at Savyolovsky Station Square in Moscow, killing two police officers.

The explosive device was reportedly carried by a 22-year-old man from Udmurtia who had recently traveled to Moscow from St. Petersburg.

Reports suggest he may have been remotely guided by phone and detonated as he approached the officers.

After Starlink connections were blocked to Russian Army, Russian troops tried to restore communications using alternative methods, mainly elevated WiFi relay towers that require line-of-sight.

In the video, Ukrainian FPV drone destroy one such communications tower.

Taking it out reportedly crippled Russian data transmission across that section of the front.

Source: Сергій FLASH at Telegram

Telegram Founder Pavel Durov:

Russia has opened a criminal case against me for “aiding terrorism,” as authorities fabricate new pretexts to restrict access to Telegram and suppress privacy and free speech.

A sad spectacle of a state afraid of its own people.

Ukraine denies Russian claims that it is trying to obtain nuclear weapons.

Zelensky on Ukraine’s EU membership:

The year 2027 is very important for us, and I hope it is achievable.

So that Putin cannot block our membership for decades.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi:

We are ready to reach an agreement as soon as possible.

We will do whatever is necessary to make this happen.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi:

A U.S. attack on Iran would be a real gamble.

Everyone should know that starting a war may be possible, but ending it is not easy.

EU’s von der Leyen in Ukraine:

Let me spell out three ways our support will be maintained and reinforced.

The first is the European Union loan of 90 billion euros to give Ukraine the strength of a steel porcupine—indigestible to potential invaders.

As the President of the Council has also said, this loan was agreed by the 27 heads of state and government in the European Council. They have given their word, and that word cannot be broken. So we will deliver on this loan one way or another.

Let me be very clear: we have different options, and we will use them.

Now, let’s look at the loan itself. The first priority of the “porcupine loan” is to address your most urgent defense needs.

It will help procure, produce, develop, and secure advanced defense equipment for the brave Ukrainian forces—from drones to missiles to ammunition. The work has already started.

Together with the Ukrainian forces, we have identified a first package—a priority package. Our aim is to deliver it before Easter. It includes drones and ammunition.

EU’s von der Leyen in Ukraine:

We will soon get our 20th sanctions package on Russia over the line.

Our sanctions will keep draining Russia's revenues and weakening its war machine.