Russian airborne troops landing ops probably started.

A 0243z ASCAT pass shows #PTC2's low-level center is better defined than earlier, though still broad. It is also focused close to where deep convection has developed over the past few hours. Tropical cyclone designation is not far off.

Nice catch Cody! That image overlay suggests northerly shear is also diminishing even if the resolution of the ASCAT pass isn't good enough to better show the trough axis/center https://t.co/0gA8GJyYUt

USAF RC-135W 62-4125 RONIN71 departed Kadena at 0030Z - South China Sea mission

Joint Forces Operation Press Center: yesterday Russian forces opened fire 42 times. 1 soldier was killed, 9 wounded https://t.co/aQrojOa5tr

North Korea calls arrival of South Korea's F-35 jets "extremely dangerous action", says "no other choice but to develop and test the special armaments to completely destroy" them https://t.co/Pkm6wP9mPg

North Korea has previously used South Korea's defense buildups as a justification for boosting its own defenses, including recent short-range missile tests https://t.co/YyyiphtMXE

Russian airborne troops landing ops probably started.

First Il-76s are dropping airborne troops

TASS: Marines will seize a field airfield in the Crimea as part of joint exercises with the VKS https://t.co/EC2l2HEs1p

https://t.co/ucq4ogaiUS: “Flying radar” A-50U and Su-27 fighters will provide mass landing of airborne units at exercises in Crimea https://t.co/8VG3WRpolQ

Military convoy with new head of Administration of Donetsk region was targeted with ATGM near #Hranitne yesterday, 1 Ukrainian soldier killed, another wounded https://t.co/FFQRptuc9P

Departing Crimea this morning 2x #RuAF Russian Air Force Ilyushin IL-76 military transporters RA-78845/TTF9069 & RA-78818

2x Russian Air Force IL-76 MD TTF9069/RA-78818 departed #Crimea

US Navy P8 Poseidon 168852heading the #BlackSea

Turkish Bayraktar TB2 UAV tracking north of #Cyprus

#RUAF Il-76s are returning to their bases. According to open sources landing op happened in Crimea but cannot confirm that yet.

Tanker British Heritage now safely south after yesterdays reported incident with Iranian ships.

A Government spokesperson says three Iranian vessels "attempted to impede" the passage of a commercial vessel through the Strait of Hormuz adding HMS Montrose was forced to "issue verbal warnings" to the Iranian vessels which then turned away

A #British Govt Spox said, “Contrary to international law, 3 #Iran-ian vessels attempted to impede the passage of a commercial vessel, British Heritage, through the Strait of Hormuz. HMS Montrose was forced to position herself between the Iranian vessels…

“... and issue verbal warnings to the Iranian vessels, which then turned away. We are concerned by this action and continue to urge the Iranian authorities to de-escalate the situation in the region.”. #Iran