Iran claims the U.S. pilot rescue mission may have involved deception, possibly as cover for moving uranium or other sensitive materials.

Officials say the landing/rescue location didn’t match where the downed F-15 crew was believed to be, raising suspicions.

Source: Al Hadath

NEW: The city of Shiraz (southern Iran) was struck during a large wave of US–Israeli airstrikes across multiple Iranian cities.

Targets in Shiraz included:

A power facility, causing electricity outages in parts of Fars Province.

An industrial/electronics site (SA-Iran).

Power blackouts affecting residents.

Shiraz was one of many cities hit (including Tehran, Isfahan, Ahvaz, Bandar Abbas.

Russia lost about $1 billion in one week after Ukrainian drone strikes hit key Baltic oil ports (Primorsk, Ust-Luga).

Attacks caused fires and shutdowns, cutting exports by ~40% (~2.3M bpd).

Source: FT

Trump has said he will not invade Canada, backing away from earlier talk of making it the “51st state.”

Speaking to biographer Robert Hardman, he joked that Canada’s history makes it unrealistic:

“They’ve got 200 years of history and all that ‘Oh, Canada’ thing… you can’t deal with that in three and a half years. I guess it’s not going to happen.”

Trump on Canada:

Do they still recognise the King? Or have they stopped that?

Taiwan's opposition leader Cheng Li-wun:

The Taiwan Strait is the most dangerous powder keg in the world.

I have high expectations for cross-strait reconciliation. My goal is to begin creating peace.

My strategy is to embrace Beijing to avoid all-out war.

Source: NBC News

Spaniards view Trump as more dangerous than Putin.

Donald Trump is seen as the biggest threat → 63% say “very high threat.”

Vladimir Putin is slightly lower → 52% “very high threat.”

Netanyahu → 46% very high threat.

Source: EL PAÍS

Israel continues to destroy southern Lebanon.

North Korea is deliberately distancing itself from Iran during the war to keep open the possibility of improved ties with the U.S, South Korea says.

No military aid to Iran, no condolences after Ali Khamenei’s death.

No message recognizing his successor Mojtaba Khamenei.

Public statements are limited and toned down, avoiding criticism of Donald Trump.

Kim Jong-un: “No reason [we] cannot get along well with the U.S.”

South Korea intel: “Preparation to secure new diplomatic space.”

Source: Reuters

South Korea said it regrets recent drone incursions into North Korea, stressing they were not government-ordered but caused by “irresponsible individuals.”

President Lee Jae-myung called the actions “deeply regrettable” and said they created “unnecessary military tensions.”

Saudi Aramco raised its May oil price for Asia to a record +$19.50/barrel, up from just +$2.50.

Higher fuel costs for Asia (China, India, etc.)

More pressure on global oil prices.

Saudi Arabia evacuated Riyadh’s main financial district (KAFD) and told companies to keep staff away due to fears of possible Iranian missile or drone attacks.

Source: Semafor

Yemen’s Houthis say they will honor a ceasefire with the United States as long as Washington stops attacks against them.

A senior Houthi official, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, said the group has no plans to target Red Sea shipping or US assets unless the conflict escalates. He added they will not attack other Muslim countries unless provoked.

However, they warned that if tensions rise, they could close the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait. They also said Saudi Red Sea ports will not be targeted as long as Saudi Arabia avoids involvement in escalation.

Source: CNN

"Insane" - Politicians Slam Trump for Using Religious Rhetoric in War

Critics across U.S. political spectrum are accusing President Trump for mixing faith & warfare rhetoric after he framed a military rescue in Iran as an “Easter miracle”, pairing religious language with threats against Tehran.

READ MORE

Chinese AI firms are using satellite data + open-source intel to map U.S. military assets, and that data may be helping Iran improve targeting.

Companies like MizarVision publish AI-enhanced maps of U.S. bases, aircraft, and ships.

Data comes from commercial satellites + public tracking tools.

U.S. intel believes Iran (IRGC) may use it to plan missile/drone strikes more precisely.

Source: ABC Exclusive