What?! An article from South America to lead today? Granted, Venezuela did not have 45+ years of going off the rails, so it can more quickly become a normal country for its own people, neighbors, and the world. And it can be brought out, we hope, from the dark orbit of Russia and China. But the U.S. is trying. “US and Venezuela agree to resume diplomatic ties after Maduro capture,” BBC, 3-6-26. “The US state department said its engagement was focused on helping Venezuelan people move forward through a “phased process that creates the conditions for a peaceful transition to a democratically elected government”. After a visit to Venezuela, US Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum told reporters on the runway in Caracas on Thursday on his way back to the US that it was a “brilliant strategic move” to intervene in Venezuela before Iran.” And yes, there are minerals and oil and other resources, which are partly at the heart of how VE has acted under its past two leaders that led it to its downfall.
“Russia provided Iran with information that can help Tehran strike US military, sources say,” Military Times, 3-6-26. “Russia has provided Iran with information that could help Tehran strike American warships, aircraft and other assets in the region, according to two officials familiar with U.S. intelligence on the matter.” Russia relies on Iranian drones for its Ukraine war. The U.S. has been trying to stop the flow.
Iran looking to terrorize or kill Jews in London. “Four arrested on suspicion of assisting Iran’s intelligence service,” BBC, 3-6-26.
“Iran says it targets heart of Tel Aviv,” Reuters, 3-6-26.
“Iran’s Chokehold on Persian Gulf Waterway Strains Shipping,” NYT, 3-6-26.
The U.S. quickly needs help from Ukraine acquiring Octopus drones, etc. “Iran adds new urgency to Pentagon’s Ukraine drone deal,” Politico, 3-6-26. “Several U.S. allies have worked more quickly than the Trump administration to harness Ukraine’s stunning innovation in developing new drones. The U.K. in particular has already invested in the Ukrainian drone industry and the Kyiv-based Ukrspecsystems is opening a factory in the U.K. to build new, cheap military drones that will create 500 jobs — a manufacturing boost that the Trump team has long said is a central component of its increased defense spending. The U.K. has also started to produce the Ukrainian-designed Octopus interceptor drones, which can target the Iranian/Russian Shahed drones. The Octopus costs about $3,000 to produce, a small slice of the $50,000 for a Shahed, and a fraction of the $3 million- plus for a PAC-2 or PAC-3 Patriot interceptor missiles which Gulf allies are currently using to shoot down the incoming Shaheds, according to a U.S. official. Often it takes several Patriot interceptor missiles to hit a single drone, an unsustainable proposition given the cost. The Israelis are also using their “Iron Beam” system – a directed energy weapon they have been developing for years. … But as Iranian drones have hammered hotels, military bases, oil and gas-producing facilities and embassies across the Gulf, Trump made it clear this week in an interview with Reuters that he’d accept “any assistance from any country” when it comes to fending them off. “The U.S. is years behind on tactical drone technology — the kind you see on the battlefield in Ukraine,” a former Pentagon official said, noting that the deficiency would be of greater concern in a ground war. “If the U.S. fought in Ukraine right now, for example, we would suffer mass casualties.” Facing the same threat and limited help from its allies, Ukraine developed expertise in shooting down drones with anti-aircraft guns, truck-mounted machine guns, cheap missiles as well as “interceptor” drones — fast-flying craft that can catch and destroy Shaheds. But Ukraine still relies on its allies, and especially the U.S., for systems like Patriots to protect against ballistic missiles. Kyiv has complained that shortages of interceptor missiles left Ukrainian cities vulnerable during this year’s freezing winter. … But despite any frustrations and even before an agreement on drones was finalized, Zelenskyy pledged Ukraine’s assistance. “There will be security support from Ukraine,” he said in a Thursday evening statement. “The main thing is that this will allow us to expand our security cooperation with partners. By protecting countries from the Iranian regime, we are adding to our defense capabilities.”
“Strikes Batter Iran’s Storied Azadi Stadium Complex,” NYT, 3-6-26. With the Regime having troops quartering in the stadium, and with the IRGC using the stadium interior to shoot ballistic missiles skyward, is it any doubt this was a military target? Nowhere in the story is this mentioned. Frustrating. I don’t like to have to factcheck the NYT. See “Iranian Stadiums Used as Military Deployment Sites,” Iran Wire, 3-6-26.