Iraqi Kurdish politician Bafel Talabani:

Kurdistan needs to be a bridge, not a battlefield.

I believe we are uniquely positioned to play a role in de-escalation when the time is appropriate.

From what I see now, the Iranian system may be weakened, but its institutions—though very different from ours—are still institutions, and they remain solid.

I think that once military objectives are achieved, it will be time for diplomacy.

The region has truly suffered from far too many wars and conflicts.

Iraqi Kurdish politician Bafel Talabani:

Iran is a country the size of Western Europe — a ground operation would be extremely difficult.

Sending troops into a country of that scale may not be feasible.

Iraqi Kurdish politician Bafel Talabani:

Iranians, like many people, are very nationalistic.

If they believe that Kurdish forces coming from outside the country could split or fragment Iran, it might actually unite the population against what they would view as a separatist movement.

There are also complications involving Türkiye.

Türkiye would have legitimate concerns, and there could be Turkish intervention against Kurdish forces.

Overall, it is a very complicated scenario, and perhaps having Kurdish forces act as the tip of the spear is not the best approach.

NOW: Hezbollah has issued an evacuation warning in Israel.

Some ships in the Gulf are changing their transponder messages to claim they are Chinese to avoid attacks from Iran.

Ships altered transponder messages to labels like “Chinese Owner,” “All Chinese Crew,” or “Chinese Crew Onboard.”

Source: FT

Tucker Carlson:

Israel is one of the ugliest countries in the world.

They have built nothing of beauty since 1948.

France has deployed its amphibious helicopter carrier Tonnerre to the eastern Mediterranean to support its forces and prepare for possible evacuation of French nationals from Lebanon.

Source: Opex360

Tucker Carlson on Iran:

Unconditional surrender means foreign troops get to rape your wife and daughter if they want.

To avoid that, people will do anything.

Iran's Deputy FM Majid Takht-Ravanchi on Iraq:

There are different rumors about CIA cooperating with anti-revolutionary elements in different places. So we do not take any risks.

Wherever those who want to infiltrate, those who want to cross the border, those who want to violate our sovereignty and territorial integrity, definitely we act. This is what every nation does.

Trump:

Iran, which is being beat to HELL, has apologized and surrendered to its Middle East neighbors, and promised that it will not shoot at them anymore.

This promise was only made because of the relentless U.S. and Israeli attack. They were looking to take over and rule the Middle East. It is the first time that Iran has ever lost, in thousands of years, to surrounding Middle Eastern Countries.

They have said, “Thank you President Trump.” I have said, “You’re welcome!” Iran is no longer the “Bully of the Middle East,” they are, instead, “THE LOSER OF THE MIDDLE EAST,” and will be for many decades until they surrender or, more likely, completely collapse!

Today Iran will be hit very hard! Under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death, because of Iran’s bad behavior, are areas and groups of people that were not considered for targeting up until this moment in time.

"Woke" Rift Widens as African Anglicans Boycott UK-led Church

Conservative Anglican group GAFCON urged members to boycott meetings led by the Archbishop of Canterbury & halt funding, a move that follows creation of a rival Global Anglican Council ahead of the enthronement of a new archbishop over issues of LGBTQ & female ordination.

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Iran's Deputy FM Majid Takht-Ravanchi on Europe:

We have already informed the Europeans and everybody else that they should be careful not to be involved in this war of aggression against Iran.

If any country joins in the aggression against Iran, joins America and Israel in the aggression against Iran, definitely they will also be legitimate targets for retaliation.

The destruction of two U.S. missile-defense radars—the AN/FPS-132 in Qatar and AN/TPS-59 in Bahrain—could take years to replace.

Raytheon may need 5–8 years and about $1.1B to rebuild the AN/FPS-132, while Lockheed Martin would require 12–24 months and $50–75M for the AN/TPS-59.

Replacement is further complicated by reliance on gallium—98% controlled by China.

Source: Foreign Policy

Iran's Deputy FM Majid Takht-Ravanchi:

Domestic affairs of Iran belong to Iranians. Iranians are mature enough to know and to elect their representatives, whether they are in the parliament, whether they are presidents, or whether we are trying to find the next supreme leader.

We do not need any foreigners to tell us what to do or what not to do.

Xi Jinping emphasized that the military must unconditionally obey the Communist Party of China.

In the Armed Forces, “there can be no people who show dual loyalty toward the Party.”

Photos showing Minab School students who were killed in what now appears to be U.S. airstrikes.

Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez:

You may have heard that Spain is alone. They’re the same people who said that when we recognized the State of Palestine, and then others followed.

We are not alone — we are the first. Those who will end up alone are the ones defending the indefensible.

Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez:

A country that always defends human rights and international law, like Spain, earns the respect of the entire world, as has happened in recent weeks.

The only large tankers crossing the Strait of Hormuz are linked to Iran.

In the past 24 hours, one oil supertanker left the Gulf and one LPG carrier entered — both under U.S. sanctions for involvement in Iran’s oil trade.

Source: Bloomberg

Colombian President Petro:

Trump must move away from Netanyahu and from those who launch missiles against children on planet Earth.

Prime Minister Abiy Says Ethiopia Does Not Want War

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali said Ethiopia does not want war amid tension between federal & Tigrayan forces amassing near the Tigray border.

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