US and Israeli strikes against Iran - 28 February 2026, Media, Maps & Timelines *NO DISCUSSION*

[otto]

• The coalition of the willing (EU + Canada) have pledged to oversee safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz after there is a ceasefire.
• Iran will allow safe passage to all ships excluding US, Israel and collaborators.
• US claims willingness to end war without forceful control over Strait of Hormuz.

"Minister of Defence Theo Francken confirms that Belgium "joins the 'Coalition of the Willing' to guarantee free passage through the Strait of Hormuz".

"We are working with France and all other willing partners to achieve this strategic goal as soon as conditions in the region allow, such as a ceasefire," he says. "Freedom of navigation is essential for our security and economic stability."
...

"A parliamentary committee in Iran has approved a proposal to charge tolls to ships sailing through the Strait of Hormuz.

The proposal provides for "financial arrangements" in Iranian currency. A ban applies to American and Israeli ships, as well as to countries that have imposed sanctions on Iran.

There would also be cooperation with Oman, on the other side of the important strait."

https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/liveblog/trump-richt-zich-tot-landen-die-brandstof-zien-wegvallen-ga-na~1774500481071/

"President Trump told aides he’s willing to end the U.S. military campaign against Iran even if the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed, administration officials said, likely extending Tehran’s firm grip on the waterway and leaving a complex operation to reopen it for a later date.

In recent days, Trump and his aides assessed that a mission to pry open the chokepoint would push the conflict beyond his timeline of four to six weeks. He decided that the U.S. should achieve its main goals of hobbling Iran’s navy and its missile stocks and wind down current hostilities while pressuring Tehran diplomatically to resume the free flow of trade. If that fails, Washington would press allies in Europe and the Gulf to take the lead on reopening the strait, the officials said.
...

The longer the strait remains closed, the more it will roil the global economy and boost gas prices. Multiple countries, including U.S. allies, are reeling from the downturn in energy supply that once flowed freely through the chokepoint. Industries that rely on items such as fertilizer to grow food or helium to make computer chips are suffering from shortages.

Without a swift return to safe passages, Tehran will continue to threaten world trade until the U.S. and its partners either negotiate a deal or forcibly end the crisis, analysts say.
...

Trump increasingly called on shipping companies to take the risk of sailing through the waterway. When that didn’t work, he switched to issuing threats directly at Tehran."

https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/trump-iran-war-strait-of-hormuz-ee950ad4

 

[otto]

"Europe has turned its back on Donald Trump's war in the Middle East,
with Italy, Spain and Poland
refusing to support American operations against Iran."

https://twitter.com/x/status/2038957346689253754

NATO Article 5 does not apply to individual NATO country attacks on civilian targets in non-NATO countries.

"The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them ... will assist the Party or Parties so attacked."

The North Atlantic Treaty

The Parties to this Treaty reaffirm their faith in the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and their desire to live in peace with all peoples and all governments. They are determined to safeguard the freedom, common heritage and civilisation of their peoples, founded on...

www.nato.int

 

[otto]

From liveblog

https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/liveblog/trump-richt-zich-tot-landen-die-brandstof-zien-wegvallen-ga-na~1774500481071/

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2038970386826530873

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Trump wants to hobble Iran’s oil industry for leverage in negotiations, a better option might be setting up a blockade at sea against ships that have filled up at Kharg Island’s oil terminals, the experts said.

The island — located on the other side of the Persian Gulf from U.S. bases in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia — is the beating heart of Iran’s oil industry, through which 90% of its exports pass. It is important because Iran’s coastline is mostly too shallow for tanker ships to dock.

“Putting people on the ground might be the most psychologically compelling way of striking a blow at Iran,” said Michael Eisenstadt, a former U.S. military analyst who now directs the Military and Security Studies Program at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

“On the other hand, you’re putting your own troops at jeopardy,” said Eisenstadt, a retired Army reserve officer who served in Iraq. “It’s not far from the mainland. So they can potentially rain a lot of destruction on the island, if they’re willing to inflict damage on their own infrastructure.”

Seizing Kharg Island would risk US troops' lives and may not end Iran war, experts say

President Donald Trump is threatening to deploy ground troops to seize critical oil infrastructure on Iran’s Kharg Island.

apnews.com

 

[otto]

"The Iranian Revolutionary Guard says that starting tomorrow, April 1, it will target American companies in the region in retaliation for attacks on Iran. This is reported by Iranian state media.

The 18 companies threatened by the Revolutionary Guard include Microsoft, Google, Apple, Intel, IBM, Tesla, and Boeing.

"These companies can expect the destruction of their establishments in retaliation for any terrorist act in Iran, starting at 8:00 PM local time in Tehran on Wednesday, April 1," the Revolutionary Guard states in a statement."

https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/liveblog/iran-dreigt-met-aanvallen-op-amerikaanse-bedrijven-in-midden-oos~1774500481071/

 

[otto]

"The House of Representatives and the Cabinet are concerned about whether Ukraine will receive the promised American weapons to sustain the fight against Russia. The fear is that missiles and ammunition for air defense systems will be deployed in the Middle East, where the US is waging a war against Iran together with Israel.

Last week, the Washington Post reported , citing anonymous sources, that the Pentagon, the U.S. Department of Defense, is considering sending weapons destined for Ukraine under the PURL program to the Middle East instead. Certain types of ammunition are running out in the war there as the conflict with Iran drags on.
Under the PURL Treaty, it was agreed that the US would supply weapons to Ukraine, but that they would be paid for by European countries.
...

In addition, America is assembling the weapons packages for Ukraine. It is possible that future packages will not contain the weapons Ukraine is requesting, such as Patriot missiles. In the Middle East, 2,400 of those missiles have now been fired, while the annual production capacity is only 650 units.
...

"It is like walking on eggshells," says Bontenbal, who also has less and less understanding for the war Trump has started against Iran. Over the past few weeks, we have seen that the goals of the war are still not very clear, just like the exit strategy."

Politiek bezorgd over VS-wapens voor Oekraïne die mogelijk naar Midden-Oosten gaan

Zowel de Kamer als het kabinet hamert erop dat Kyiv voldoende wapens uit de VS krijgt om de strijd vol te houden.

nos.nl

 

[sds71]

American journalist Shelly Kittleson was kidnapped today in Baghdad, the Iraqi ministry of the interior confirmed.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2039026362468446560

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2039017586864894125

 

[tricia]

HURRY, HELP US MEET OUR GOAL FOR MARCH. WE ONLY NEED 14 MORE PEOPLE​

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[DS2021]

American journalist Shelly Kittleson was kidnapped today in Baghdad, the Iraqi ministry of the interior confirmed.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2039026362468446560

Thread 'Iraq - Shelly Kittleson, American journalist, abducted in Baghdad, 31 March 2026 * released 7 April 2026*'

Mar 31, 2026

American journalist Shelly Kittleson abducted in Iraq

Local authorities are searching for Shelley Kittleson, who was abducted in Baghdad.

www.al-monitor.com

American freelance journalist Shelley Kittleson was abducted by unidentified individuals in Baghdad on Tuesday, Iraq’s Interior Ministry said, as security forces worked to track down the perpetrators.

The ministry said the operation was launched immediately based on what it called “precise intelligence.” It added that authorities had intercepted a vehicle believed to belong to the abductors that flipped over as they tried to flee. However, Kittleson was not in the vehicle. Local news...

• DS2021
• Replies: 19
• Forum: Up to the Minute

• 
• 

Thread

 

[imstilla.grandma]

The foreign ministers of 10 European countries and the European Union’s foreign policy chief on Tuesday urged Israel to avoid widening the conflict in Lebanon, “including through a ground operation on Lebanese territory.” The statement — signed by the foreign ministers of the United Kingdom, France, and Italy, among others — came after Israel’s defense minister said earlier in the day that Israel intends to control a large part of southern Lebanon, demolish towns there, and refuse to allow displaced residents to return.

The European diplomats blamed Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia, for the resumption of hostilities and called on Israel and Lebanon to hold direct negotiations to end the conflict

Iran War Live Updates: B-52s Start Flying Over Iran for First Time in the War, Pentagon Says

U.S. bombers have free rein for the first time in the war, even though Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that Iran still retains the ability to launch missiles after a month of U.S.-Israeli attacks.

www.nytimes.com

France has said it is “surprised” by Donald Trump’s comments singling out Paris for not authorising planes headed to Israel fly over its airspace, saying the decision was in line with French policy since the start of the war on Iran.

“We are surprised by this tweet. France has not changed its position since day one [of the conflict] and we confirm this decision,” French president Emmanuel Macron’s office said.

The Country of France wouldn’t let planes headed to Israel, loaded up with military supplies, fly over French territory. France has been VERY UNHELPFUL with respect to the “Butcher of Iran,” who has been successfully eliminated! The U.S.A. will REMEMBER!!!

Middle East crisis live: US has begun flying B52 bombers over Iran, Pentagon says

 

[otto]

Guarantee that Iran needs to end war:

"Iran has the will to end the war with Israel and the US, but is seeking guarantees that the conflict will not repeat itself. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said this in a telephone conversation with the President of the European Council, António Costa.

In the phone call, Costa called on Iran to cease its "unacceptable attacks on countries in the region."

According to a statement from his office, Pezeshkian said that the country "has the necessary will to end this conflict, provided that essential conditions are met – particularly the guarantees needed to prevent a recurrence of the aggression."

https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/liveblog/iraanse-minister-bevestigt-communicatie-met-vs-maar-dat-beteke~1774500481071/

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2039094607363948910

https://twitter.com/x/status/2039091009359868120

 

[otto]

"In an interview with the Qatar-based news channel Al Jazeera, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi confirms that messages have been exchanged between the US and Iran, directly and through friendly countries.

But according to Aragchi, that does not mean that negotiations are underway.

I receive messages directly from Witkoff (advisor to US President Donald Trump, ed.), as before, and that does not mean that we are conducting negotiations.

According to the minister, Iran has not responded to the US fifteen-point proposal, nor has it made any proposals or set any conditions of its own. According to Aragchi, his country has not made a decision regarding negotiations with the US and has reservations about doing so."

https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/liveblog/iraanse-minister-bevestigt-communicatie-met-vs-maar-dat-beteke~1774500481071/

 

[otto]

"In a joint statement, 10 European countries call on Israel to respect the territorial integrity of Lebanon and to avoid a further escalation of the conflict.

We reiterate our concern regarding the forced displacement of more than 1 million people. We call on Israel to refrain from further escalation of the conflict, including through a ground operation on Lebanese territory. We emphatically affirm that the territorial integrity of Lebanon must be respected.

In the statement, the 10 countries also call for the safety of the UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon (UNIFIL) to be guaranteed. At least three blue helmets have lost their lives in recent days.

The statement was signed by the foreign ministers of Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, and the United Kingdom. Kaja Kallas, the High Representative for Foreign Policy of the European Union, also signed the statement."

https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/liveblog/iraanse-minister-bevestigt-communicatie-met-vs-maar-dat-beteke~1774500481071/

 

[SouthAussie]

Despite a ban on fuel exports from early this month, China has delivered cargoes of diesel and other fuels to Southeast Asia in recent days in a sign that Beijing seeks to alleviate the regional crisis and retain diplomatic leverage.

Two weeks after the war in the Middle East began and after it became clear that the Strait of Hormuz wouldn’t be re-opening within days, China banned all fuel exports as crude supply from the Middle East crumbled and forced Asian refiners to turn to alternatives.

Over the weekend, cargoes from China were observed to arrive at ports in the Philippines and Vietnam, two of the Southeast Asian countries worst hit by the supply loss from the Middle East.

China Sends Fuel to Struggling Southeast Asia Despite Export Ban | OilPrice.com

China delivered over 360,000 barrels of diesel and distillates to the Philippines and Vietnam despite its fuel export ban, offering relief amid a deepening Hormuz-driven supply crisis.

oilprice.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Speaking to reporters in the White House, Trump first says that the US will be “leaving” Iran “very soon,” insisting that gasoline prices will subsequently “tumble down” as well.

After a reporter notes that Americans are feeling the financial squeeze at the gas pump, Trump declares they’re also “feeling a lot safer” because Iran doesn’t have a nuclear weapon.

Trump claims the “detour” from improving the US economy was necessary in order to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear bomb, something he says he already prevented in last year’s strikes against Tehran’s nuclear sites.

As for the Strait of Hormuz, Trump says other countries who want to get their oil through the key waterway will have to “fend for themselves,” acknowledging that Iran could drop mines or direct machine gun and RPG fire at ships.

“I think it’ll be very safe, but we have nothing to do with that,” Trump says of the strait, which Iran has shuttered in response to the US and Israeli attacks.

Trump asserts the US has done its part by taking out dozens of Iran’s “radicalized lunatic” leaders.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/trump-says-us-will-be-leaving-iran-very-soon-insists-regime-change-was-never-a-war-aim/

 

[SouthAussie]

And King Charles has confirmed he'll visit US president Donald Trump later this month, despite rising tensions over the Iran war.

Just before the visit was announced, Mr Trump lashed out at the UK on social media for not getting involved in the conflict, saying countries like the UK will have to start fighting for themselves without American help.

But the US president has also posted that his meeting with the King will be "terrific."

Fuel, housing, and the King to visit Trump | ABC News Top Stories

Listen to ABC News interviews and commentary and analysis from radio programs like AM, PM and The World Today.

www.abc.net.au

 

[SouthAussie]

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will testify to the House Armed Services Committee on April 29, a source familiar with the plan confirmed to NBC News.

His appearance will be part of the committee’s annual oversight hearing of the Defense Department, focused on its budget request, according to the source.

This will be the first opportunity for members of Congress to publicly question Hegseth about the war with Iran.

Pete Hegseth to testify to House Armed Services Committee next month

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will testify to the House Armed Services Committee on April 29, a source familiar with the plan confirmed to NBC News.

www.nbcnews.com