NEW: The Pentagon and some Gulf countries are considering buying Ukrainian interceptor drones to defend against Iranian Shahed drones.

Ukraine developed cheap, mass-produced interceptor drones costing a few thousand dollars, far cheaper than Patriot missiles (~$13.5m each) currently used to shoot down Shaheds (~$30k each).

Because Iran may have tens of thousands of Shahed drones, countries want a cheaper defense method.

Ukraine’s technology has become highly sought after due to its experience countering Russian drone attacks.

Source: FT

The U.S. Justice Department has quietly dropped an investigation into Joe Biden’s use of an autopen (a device that signs documents automatically).

The probe was originally opened after Trump claimed Biden’s aides used it to hide his cognitive decline.

Investigators reportedly found no clear criminal law that was violated.

Source: NBC News

Canadian PM Mark Carney on Iran:

One can never categorically rule out participation… We will stand by our allies if it makes sense.

We will always defend Canadians and we will always defend our allies when called upon.

A US Marine veteran, Brian McGinnis, was removed from a Senate hearing after protesting Trump’s decision to launch a military operation against Iran.

He shouted “No one wants to fight for Israel” before security officers escorted him out.

Senator Tim Sheehy helped Capitol Police remove him, saying he was trying to de-escalate the situation.

Canadian PM Mark Carney:

Many countries are concluding that they must develop greater strategic autonomy.

And this impulse is understandable. When the rules no longer protect you, you must defend yourself.

A country that can't feed itself, fuel itself, or defend itself has few options.

But in the 21st century, the requirements for economic security and prosperity of our countries extend far beyond food, conventional energy, and defense.

Sovereignty requires reliable access to space-based communications and storage, vaccines, semiconductors, payment systems, and capital.

Because governments and businesses went for decades prioritizing efficiency over resilience, we've developed supply chains and trading relationships that create dependencies on the great powers — sometimes even individual corporations — all of these affecting essential elements of our sovereignty.

And as that integration is weaponized, this creates fundamental vulnerabilities.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog:

Why does Iran set up terror cells in Brazil, in Australia, in Britain?

There's a grand plan here.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog:

Israel does not dictate to President Trump anything and Israel does not drag America into a war.

God forbid we are not there. America is the superpower of the world...

Israeli President Isaac Herzog:

I understand it's not a popular war in America because, you know, usually people do not know the intricacies of the war and they also compare it to previous and other wars.

This is a unique war... It's a focused war. It is a war that comes in a time where you can really bring real change in the Middle East for the future.

Iran’s Armed Forces said they respect Türkiye’s sovereignty and denied launching any missile toward Turkish territory, the Iranian General Staff said in a statement.

“We respect the sovereignty of our neighboring and friendly country Türkiye and deny any missile launch toward it,” the statement said.

Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi:

Frigate Dena, a guest of India's Navy carrying almost 130 sailors, was struck in international waters without warning.

Mark my words: The U.S. will come to bitterly regret precedent it has set.

According to various reports on X, a U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle reportedly crashed early Wednesday during a strike mission over southwestern Iran, possibly due to Iranian air defenses.

Both crew members reportedly ejected safely, and a U.S.–Israeli combat search and rescue (CSAR) team reportedly entered Iran about an hour later and recovered them.

However, U.S. officials speaking to The Washington Post rejected the claim.

Official confirmation from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) remains pending.

Iran Fires 3 Missiles at Kurdish Opposition Bases in Iraq

Iran said its Revolutionary Guards fired 3 missiles at Iranian Kurdish opposition bases in Iraqi Kurdish Regional Governmen near Sulaymaniyah. Explosions were reported in Zirgwez village with 4 blasts heard and no casualties.

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Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz spoke overnight with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Hegseth thanked Katz for condolences over six U.S. soldiers killed and said:

“Keep going to the end — we are with you.”

BREAKING: Iran’s Intelligence Ministry says separatist militant groups planned to enter from the western border and carry out attacks in Iranian cities with U.S.–Israeli support.

It claims a preemptive operation by intelligence forces and the IRGC destroyed several militant positions and inflicted heavy losses.

Iran's Brigadier General Kioumars Heydari:

We haven't truly closed the Strait of Hormuz.

You could say the Americans have closed it.

In the Strait of Hormuz, we exercise our maritime sovereignty. There, we deal with moving vessels according to international protocols.

Iran's Brigadier General Kioumars Heydari:

We are engaged in a heavy battle at sea, in the air, and in space with the globalist America.

We are face-to-face with the Americans in a historical battle that the US military has not experienced throughout its shameful and criminal existence, and they will surely receive a very hard and regrettable consequence.

China will increase its defense budget by 7% in 2026 to about $277 billion as part of plans to modernize its military by 2035.

Premier Li Qiang said Beijing will develop “advanced combat capabilities” and vowed to “resolutely fight” Taiwan independence.

Iran’s underground “missile cities”—tunnel complexes built to hide its missile arsenal—are becoming key targets for U.S. and Israeli strikes.

Aircraft and drones are destroying launchers as they leave the tunnels, while bunker-buster bombs hit entrances and surface infrastructure.

According to U.S. commanders, hundreds of missiles, launchers, and drones have been destroyed, and Iran’s missile launches have dropped about 86% in four days.

Source: WSJ

Pentagon’s preliminary estimate puts the cost of the Iran war at about $1 billion per day.

Source: The Atlantic