“Tidbits From TNT” Saturday 2-28-2026
TNT:
Phantom809: Israel and the U.S. have launched strikes against Iran, with explosions reported in Tehran and air raid sirens sounding across Israel.
AP TEL AVIV — The U.S. and Israel have launched strikes against Iran with the goal of toppling the regime, President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday.
Iran retaliated by launching missiles at Israel and a U.S. naval base in Bahrain. An Iranian official said all Israeli and U.S. interests in the region were now considered legitimate targets.
The joint U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran comes after weeks of escalating tensions and a major U.S. military buildup in the region, as the U.S. and Iran tried to negotiate a deal to limit Iran's nuclear program. Trump said those efforts had failed.
"Bombs will be dropping everywhere," President Trump said, addressing Iranians in a video posted to his Truth Social account. "When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be, probably, your only chance for generations."
The Israeli military said in a statement its fighter jets were striking "dozens of military targets" in Iran with "full synchronization and coordination" between the Israeli and U.S. militaries following months of joint planning.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the goal of the joint U.S.-Israeli attack is to "remove the existential threat posed by the terrorist regime in Iran."
"Our joint action will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands," Netanyahu said in a video.
A person briefed on the operation told NPR it was expected to last a few days, with Israel's military focusing on targeting Iran's missile program.
"We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground," Trump said.
Israel has closed its airspace to all passenger flights, and civil defense protocols have been activated. Regional military forces remain on high alert.
A 48-hour state of emergency has been declared nationwide. Air raid sirens have been sounding across Israel, with authorities warning civilians to enter bomb shelters.
Trails of smoke streaked the sky above Tel Aviv as Israeli interception systems fired at incoming missiles. A hospital in central Israel began moving operations to an underground fortified compound.
"Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people. It's menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas and our allies throughout the world," Trump said.
Trump said the U.S. had "sought repeatedly to make a deal" but Iran "rejected every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions."
Trump told the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps to "lay down your arms… or you will face certain death."
Iranian government media reported rocket fire in parts of the capital, Tehran. State television has broadcast footage showing smoke rising after a blast in the city. The extent of the damage and potential casualties has not yet been confirmed.
The strike follows weeks of speculation about potential military action against Iran, particularly amid a significant U.S. military buildup in the Middle East.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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Tishwash: Trump: I get along well with Iraqi leaders
US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he gets on very well with Iraqi leaders.
In Baghdad, US envoy Tom Barrack held a series of meetings with senior officials to resolve the political deadlock in the country.
Trump said, “I get along very well with the Iraqi leadership,” indicating that there is good understanding and coordination between the two sides.
A source within the coordination framework revealed an American warning related to Iraqi political entitlements. The source stated that the American envoy, Tom Barrack, informed the Iraqi Prime Minister that Washington might impose sanctions if Nouri al-Maliki were nominated for a high political position.
The source indicated that the potential US sanctions on Iraq may be announced in the middle of next week, and will initially target figures loyal to Iran, before later including leaders in the coordination framework.
Al-Ahd TV, the mouthpiece of Asaib Ahl al-Haq, which opposes Maliki’s nomination for prime minister, quoted a source as saying: “Barak informed Maliki that America does not object to him assuming any position other than the prime ministership.” link
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Tishwash: Two crucial messages for Maliki... "The Hour" reveals Washington's message
In recent hours, the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, witnessed two important meetings between the US envoy to Iraq, Tom Barak , and outgoing Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and Nouri al-Maliki, leader of the State of Law Coalition and candidate of the Coordination Framework for the next government .
The importance of the two meetings stems from the fact that they form the basis for determining the shape of the next government, the course of the political process, and the relationship between Baghdad and Washington, in light of the American rejection of al-Maliki’s nomination for the premiership and the latter’s insistence on adhering to this nomination, as the United States had previously threatened to impose sanctions on Iraq if al-Maliki assumed the position .
A statement from the Iraqi Prime Minister's office said that "Barak conveyed to Al-Sudani the viewpoint of US President Donald Trump, his vision of the current situation in the region, and Iraq's pivotal role in building stability and promoting regional development . "
The statement, which was received by Al-Sa’a Network, explained that “Al-Sudani indicated that the Iraqi leadership is committed to prioritizing the national interest and making efforts to protect the interests of the Iraqi people,” noting that “Iraq’s sovereignty and stability in various fields are not merely local considerations.”
The media office of Nouri al-Maliki, head of the State of Law Coalition, confirmed in a statement that he received the American envoy and that they discussed developments in the political scene in Iraq and upcoming national obligations .
During the meeting, according to a statement from his office, Maliki stressed "the need to respect Iraq's sovereignty and the choices of its people," pointing to "the importance of supporting the democratic process and strengthening political stability," and noting "the importance of continued communication and coordination between the two sides on issues of common interest."
The content of the two American messages to Maliki
However, political sources within the coordination framework revealed the content of the two meetings, in a manner that differs radically from the official statements issued by the offices of Al-Sudani and Al-Maliki. According to these sources, the American envoy informed Al-Sudani that Washington would impose sanctions if Al-Maliki were nominated for the premiership .
The most important content came during the meeting between Barak and Maliki, where the American envoy handed Maliki two messages, one written and the other oral, stating that Maliki would not be the head of the next government in Iraq, otherwise American sanctions would be imposed on institutions, entities and individuals in Iraq .
Al-Sa’a Network obtained the contents of the two American messages addressed to Nouri al-Maliki and the coordination framework. The written message that Barak conveyed to al-Maliki from US President Donald Trump included the following :
" The United States recognizes and appreciates your experience, wisdom, and vision, which are of paramount importance not only to the political development in Iraq but also to the broader stability of the region. It is in this spirit that we seek constructive engagement, within the framework of specific considerations, to ensure the formation of the next Iraqi government. Trump's stance toward Maliki and the prime ministerial candidate is not based on personalities but on principle. Trump is focused on a new Middle East that turns the page on the past, one in which Iraq serves as an inspiration both domestically and internationally, and in which it strengthens its partnership with the United States. In this context, we must be direct and clear: the formation of the new government must reflect balance, inclusivity, and momentum toward the future.
This requires your (Maliki's) public and official withdrawal from the premiership. This step is essential for a viable political consensus and a move toward restoring international confidence at a pivotal moment in the future of Iraq and the region.
We believe your (Maliki's) voice will be valuable in selecting the next prime ministerial candidate. However, we must also be clear: failure to cooperate in facilitating this transition and forming the government as Washington sees fit will have consequences, and the United States will impose sanctions." Measures were taken against a number of Iraqi government institutions, as well as bodies, individuals and entities in Iraq .
As for the verbal message that Barak conveyed to Maliki, it included, according to informed political sources, that “Iraq has become completely subservient to Iran in recent years, and that the pro-Iranian militias in Iraq are the ones who control and lead the scene in Iraq, and that the United States spent billions of dollars on Iraq without gaining anything, and in return, Iran took control of it. Therefore, we will give you (Maliki) the option and opportunity for you and your team to participate in choosing the next prime minister and to have a role in Iraqi political life in the next stage, and you can be officially invited to the United States, but all of this is after you officially and publicly withdraw from the nomination for the position of prime minister of the next government.”
Sources confirmed that the US sanctions could be announced in the middle of next week, and will include pro-Iran figures, then leaders in the coordination framework, and possibly Maliki , all if the latter does not give up his candidacy for the next government .
American messages combine persuasion and intimidation
Regarding the American messages to Maliki, Essam Al-Faily, a professor of political science at Al-Mustansiriya University, confirmed that the American message of rejection of Maliki assuming the premiership is clear through the leaks of what was said in the meeting that brought the latter together with the American envoy .
Al-Faily told Al-Sa’a Network: “The American message is clear and combines enticement and intimidation, as Washington confirmed that Maliki is an unwelcome figure in the position of Prime Minister, but at the same time the United States appreciates Maliki’s role and left him the important role in choosing the candidate for the premiership after he withdrew his candidacy and stipulated that his candidate be far from the Iranian axis . ”
He added that "the American message confirms that Washington does not want figures close to Iran, based on its vision for the region and the new Middle East, as it is working to limit Iranian influence in Iraq by preventing Maliki from assuming the premiership on the one hand, and preventing any other figure close to the Iranian axis from assuming this position . "
Al-Faily pointed out that “Washington is very frank and serious about dealing with the same way it dealt with Maliki, as it will take the same position with any figure close to Iran in Iraq, and this necessitates that Iraqi politicians understand this American vision in dealing with the Iraqi and Iranian file during the next stage.”
Former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki expressed his rejection of what he described as blatant American interference in Iraq’s internal affairs, considering it a violation of the country’s sovereignty, in response to US President Donald Trump’s warning against Maliki’s return to the premiership .
This was preceded by the announcement of the Coordination Framework nominating Maliki for the premiership, in light of the results of the parliamentary elections in November 2025. However, Trump warned at the time that he would stop his country’s support for Iraq if Maliki assumed the position of Prime Minister .
Is there a time limit for the sanctions?
Regarding the existence of a time limit for imposing American sanctions on Iraq, researcher and political analyst Ayed Al-Hilali said, “In light of the meeting that took place today between Tom Barrack and Nouri Al-Maliki, questions are escalating in political circles about the nature of the messages that the meeting carried, and whether it reflects a decisive American position rejecting Al-Maliki’s nomination for the premiership, in addition to what is being rumored about the existence of a time limit ending on Monday to resolve this issue . ”
Al-Hilali added in a statement to Al-Sa’a Network: “The available data indicates that the meeting falls within the framework of normal diplomatic communication between Washington and the influential Iraqi political forces, especially in light of the political deadlock and internal complexities in which regional and international considerations are intertwined.”
He explained that the United States views the formation of the Iraqi government from the perspective of stability and ensuring that the country does not slide into new conflicts or sharp alignments that affect its strategic balances. Therefore, any messages conveyed during these meetings often relate to the specifications of the next stage and the form of the government, more than to an official declaration of rejection of a specific person.
Al-Hilali continued: “Regarding what is being circulated about a deadline ending on Monday, no official Iraqi body has yet announced a binding constitutional deadline at this time,” stressing that “the constitution does not stipulate a time limit for nominating a specific person outside the general frameworks for assigning the largest bloc, and therefore, talk of a deadline seems closer to political pressure or indirect messages aimed at accelerating understandings between the different forces, and not an official decision announced with a final date.”
Al-Hilali pointed out that “according to the political assessment, there may be American signals about the need to expedite the resolution to avoid further complications, but the final decision remains an internal Iraqi one, governed by the balance of power and understandings between the blocs. Therefore, the meeting and talk about the deadline reflect the level of sensitivity surrounding the stage, more than they indicate a decisive international decision that has been officially announced link
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Mot: The Traffic Cam
