Israel vs Palestine/Lebanon/Iran/Yemen/Syria: a New Middle East War

[Vicus]

What Iran Contributes to International Law- by Thierry Meyssan

The current war has given all United Nations member states the opportunity to observe that, on numerous occasions since its creation, the UN has violated international law. It has also reminded them that international law defines an attack, such as that by Israel and the United States against Iran, as an "aggression." Furthermore, 193 states (including Israel and the United States) have recognized the right of the attacked state to consider as co-aggressors those states that host military bases of the aggressors.

Even if for different reasons, Israel and the United States jointly assume responsibility for the aggression against Iran.

While we are preoccupied with news of the war or the price increases it is causing, the most important aspect of the current conflict with Iran is completely overlooked in the West: relying on one of the central texts of international law, the Islamic Republic of Iran has offered us a reinterpretation of our own commitments.

An illegal aggression by Israel and the United States

While it is obvious that Israel and the United States had no right to attack Iran on February 28, 2026, few of us say so publicly. The trend in the West is to avoid taking a stand. Therefore, few dare to say that Israel and the United States are behaving like barbarians.

Generally speaking, international law is not a code, comparable to a penal code, but a series of commitments to which those who have made them must adhere. These commitments include not behaving like barbarians, not resorting to war propaganda, renouncing colonization and recognizing the right of peoples to self-determination, refraining from threatening others, and refraining from attacking one’s neighbors or becoming complicit in such aggression.

It was only on April 10 that Ambassador Michael G. Waltz, the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations, declared that the ongoing war was intended to "protect U.S. armed forces in the region, ensure the free flow of maritime trade through the Strait of Hormuz, and protect U.S. allies and regional partners from Iran and its proxies" [1]. Note that this justification does not address the initiation of the war, but only its continuation.

Simultaneously, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar explained that the current war, “Roaring Lion,” was merely the second phase of Operation “Rising Lion.” He justified it by claiming that Iran had responded to the initial Israeli bombings. Furthermore, he drew upon slogans from Iranian demonstrations (“Death to Israel!” “Death to the United States!”) to try to convince readers that Tehran had long sought to annihilate the entire Israeli Jewish population. This was followed by a demonstration that Iran was preparing to develop an atomic bomb and ballistic missiles, forcing Tel Aviv to act before it was too late. The letter concluded with a tribute to the “courageous Iranian people who sought to free themselves from the tyrannical yoke [of the regime].” [2]

In doing so, Israel, as is its wont, reinterpreted history to suit its purposes and conveniently ignored previous episodes (the bombing of the Iranian ambassador’s residence in Damascus on April 1, 2024, and the Iranian retaliation on October 1, 2024; the Israeli "preemptive" attack of June 13, 2025, and the subsequent Iranian response). However, as things stand, all three of these operations constitute "aggression" under the UN Charter.

The interpretation of the slogan "Death to Israel!" as a desire to annihilate the population of that state is erroneous. Tehran intends to put an end to the rogue state of Israel, which it proclaimed on May 14, 1948, and which it does not recognize, but not to kill its population, which it respects. Tehran remains committed to the partition plan for Palestine, adopted by the United Nations on November 29, 1947. Tel Aviv rejects it and assassinated the UN mediator, the Swede Folke Bernadotte, on September 17, 1948, when he arrived to study the boundaries of the areas to be allocated to Jews and Arabs.

continue: https://www.voltairenet.org/article224426.html

[Vicus]

Iran's Missiles STRIKE Three US Destroyers as Trump Restarts WAR | Andrei Martyanov _ right NOW!

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=0ED9PB4o24c

[bojancan]

Without any moral compass.... Trump is like a caged rat... in that situation, all of them they are becoming also more dangerous... they are lying and lying... all of them... we are seeing right through their lies as, if we can not perceive what is truth or lies... What THEY are saying look sooo pathetic... Ep/Trump friends also manipulating stock markets... they are making money with that.. meanwhile, Iranian people are dying... Palestinian people are dying... Lebanese people are dying... Cuba... etc.................... and more and more people in US are becoming poorer and poorer...............



Glenn Diesen
533K subscribers
Alex Krainer: Ceasefire in the US-Iran War Is Over — Trump Is Trapped & Defeated

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=E_wNsHwWYyk

Alex Krainer is a market analyst, author & former hedge fund manager. Krainer discusses how the U.S. does not have a path to either military victory or a negotiated settlement that preserves its hegemonic position in the region.

[shaberon]

So far, the American statement on the recent incident is held to be a complete fabrication:

CENTCOM: US forces attack Iranian military facilities

In a desperate attempt to cover up their humiliation and justify further aggression, US Central Command (CENTCOM) issued a fabricated statement claiming its forces had “intercepted unprovoked Iranian attacks” and carried out so-called “self-defense strikes” against Iranian military facilities.

CENTCOM falsely asserted that “no US assets were struck,” while boasting of hitting Iranian missile sites, command centers, and surveillance nodes.

Iran has repeatedly proven that it will not tolerate such violations of its sovereignty. Any aggressor that dares to threaten Iranian waters or assets will face immediate and crushing consequences.

US forces, in blatant violation of international norms and the fragile regional ceasefire, fired on the Iranian-flagged tanker as it attempted to reach its destination, an act widely condemned as piracy on the high seas.

Iranian forces, acting in legitimate self-defense, immediately engaged the US units responsible for the provocation.

Meanwhile, an attack on someone's pier is not considered to be "war", or hostilities or whatever. Fat chance.


Amnesty International:

Mandour urged states to immediately halt arms transfers to the Zionist entity, warning of an overriding risk that such weapons could be used in serious violations of international humanitarian law.

An understatement for the fortieth year in a row.

Halt the transfers, and disassemble it completely.

[shaberon]

It looks that the Sauds are not on the same page as UAE:

A Saudi official has denied reports that Riyadh opened its airspace for US military aggression against Iran, saying such claims are being circulated in the media for “suspicious reasons,” a report says.

A Saudi official told Al Arabiya on Thursday that Riyadh is pursuing de-escalation and supports Pakistan’s mediation efforts aimed at reaching an agreement to end the US-Israeli imposed war on Iran.

“The Kingdom did not allow the use of its airspace to support offensive military operations,” the source was quoted as saying on condition of anonymity.

“There are parties trying to give a misleading image of Saudi Arabia’s position for suspicious reasons,” claimed the official.

The report comes after the Wall Street Journal claimed that Saudi Arabia and Kuwait had lifted restrictions on US military use of their bases.

And, it is a bit unclear, being apparently two incidents. First was a "reconnaissance umbrella" that resulted in damage to some patrol boats or small craft on Wednesday..

Then the Americans seized two tankers, and their destroyers were shot on Thursday:

The most devastating revelation of last night’s events is what it tells us about American intent. If the United States had wanted to escalate, if it had wanted to use Iran’s attack on its destroyers as a casus belli for renewed all-out war, it could have done so.

The pretext was handed to them on a silver platter. And yet, what did we witness? The destroyers did not counterattack. They did not call in airstrikes. They did not summon carrier support. They quietly withdrew and fled. And in the hours since, the Trump administration – despite this heavy and humiliating blow – has insisted on maintaining the ceasefire.

Let that sink in. This is the second time in a single week that the US has absorbed a relatively heavy military engagement with Iran in the Strait of Hormuz and chosen not to resume full-scale war. The first time, America requested a ceasefire and accepted Iran’s ten principles for ending the war. This time, it is swallowing the humiliation of damaged destroyers and a forced retreat, all while publicly clinging to the ceasefire as if it were a lifeline.

That is because America is fleeing from the war it imposed against Iran nearly 70 days ago. The evidence is overwhelming. From its failed full-scale war that lasted roughly 40 days, to its acceptance of Iran’s terms for a ceasefire, to its withdrawal from the so-called “Freedom Project” to reopen the Strait in less than 48 hours, to last night’s refusal to escalate – the pattern is unmistakable.

The US war machine needs this ceasefire far more than Iran does. Iran is willing to fight. America is willing to talk, to delay, to pretend. And on the waters of the Strait of Hormuz, that difference in will is now measurable in damaged destroyers and retreating hulls.

It can be hard to track with dates and times that may have been reported for the Persian Gulf and do not match the time here.

The US commits acts of war with the most draconic regimes as its supporters. I just try to not get the incidents mixed up, since, whatever is reported from my side is a ludicrous distortion.

[shaberon]

Further along in the worship of genocide, it is time for UAE to walk the plank:

The United Arab Emirates has provided $100 million to US President Donald Trump’s so-called Board of Peace to finance the training of a new police force aimed at controlling Gaza on behalf of Israel, according to reports.

This comes amid growing cooperation between the UAE and the occupying Israeli regime.

On Friday, The Times of Israel cited a US official and a West Asian diplomat as confirming that the payment was made in recent days.

The new police force is being formed under the so-called National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), which was tasked by the “Board of Peace” and Israel to administer the Strip.

This panel of Palestinian technocrats was established three months ago, but its members have still not entered Gaza, reportedly due to insufficient funding and security concerns.

“No money is currently available,” Board of Peace envoy Nickolay Mladenov privately admitted, according to a Palestinian official who spoke with Reuters.

The NCAG began recruiting for the planned 27,000-strong police force in February. According to an Arab diplomat, all recruits will be vetted by Israel’s internal intelligence agency, Shin Bet.

An Emirati security firm will train the recruits in Egypt and Jordan before they are deployed to Gaza.

This development comes as the Israeli army faces severe manpower shortages. The plan also calls for the new force to seize weapons in Gaza under the pretext of disarming Hamas.

Hamas, however, has stated it will only hand over its weapons to an independent Palestinian state once the Israeli occupation ends.

The group has also condemned Israel for failing to honor its commitments under the US-sponsored ceasefire signed in October 2025.

The UAE’s $100 million contribution is the largest single amount pledged to the “Board of Peace” so far.

This is notable as Trump had demanded that world leaders contribute $1 billion each for a seat on the board — a move critics say is designed to bypass the United Nations.

Despite initial pledges, the board has not received the billions promised by the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait.

One source familiar with the board’s operations said the US-Israeli aggression against Iran “affected everything.”

The UAE has actively supported Israel not only in Gaza but also during its aggression against Iran.

The New York Times reported on Friday that the UAE has “doubled down on its alliances with Israel and the United States,” even after facing retaliatory Iranian drone and missile strikes.

The UAE has also partnered with Israel and Somaliland to establish a new “strategic axis” in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, aiming to project power into Africa and counter the Yemeni Armed Forces.

[Ravenlocke]

Témoris Grecko

Translated from Spanish
This new version of Comfortably Numb that Roger Waters made for Palestine is absolutely gorgeous!

Waters sent it to Yanis Varoufakis, who showed it on May 4th during the speech of the great
@FranceskAlbs
.

https://x.com/temoris/status/2052767279276757021

[bojancan]

For those of you, who like analyses by Brian Berletić... in my opinion, he is a very knowledgeable and serous analytic... I respect his opinion... he is not optimistic regarding Trump's peace... I am praying for peace...

May, 08
The New Atlas
311K subscribers
Why the US is at War with Iran and Why the War Might Pause but Won’t End

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=7a5jVp0LkI4

The prospect of US war against Iran and around the globe continuously escalating in the near to intermediate future is inevitable because the wars taking place now are being fought specifically to prepare for a future confrontation with China itself.
For this reason, the prospects of the US arriving at any sort of “peace” deal with Russia or Iran is near zero.

[shaberon]

A bit of what's called free advice. I carry a lot of this but usually no one listens to me. Having been in the midst of mostly Americans, I have noticed some of them like to bleat theirs at me equally unasked. The results of having to hear that are this.



One of Supreme Leader's advisors:

Mohsen Rezaei said that regional countries should ensure their own security independently, and that all foreign forces, whether American or European, must withdraw from the region.

“We can ensure our own security. We want to establish a regional security council. There are major countries in the region, such as Iraq, Egypt, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia, and we can provide security,” he stated.

Rezaei also said Iran will not allow the United States to escape the crisis it created without paying reparations for decades of damage.

Iran is not going to let US President Donald Trump set out an unrealistic plan for the Strait of Hormuz and simply exit the arena, he emphasized.

“Given the unfolding developments and attempts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the United States is seeking to stage a flamboyant gesture and then exit the scene. We will not allow such schemes to materialize,” Rezaei added.

He emphasized that Tehran must secure a satisfactory outcome from indirect negotiations with Washington and derive tangible benefits.

Rezaei noted that the United States must pay reparations for all damage inflicted on Iran.

“We will doubtlessly demand our rights and reparations, even if US military forces return home and withdraw from the region. We have endured them for 47 years and will continue to tread the path of resistance,” the Expediency Council member said.

Defense Ministry:

An Iranian defense ministry spokesman said the United States should break its alliance with Israel and acknowledge Iran’s sovereign rights as the only way to get out of the quagmire of its own making.

“The American-Zionist enemy must accept the rights of the Iranian nation, and especially the US enemy must distance itself from the evil Zionist regime, and this will pave the way for the end of the war,” Brigadier General Reza Talaei Nik told reporters on Wednesday.

He warned that the US cannot get out of the "quagmire it is stuck in" if it refrains from accepting the rights of the Iranian nation, and if it refuses to distance itself from the “evil and criminal” Israeli regime, adding it should accept the realities of the battlefield.

[shaberon]

Posted by Vicus (here)
What Iran Contributes to International Law- by Thierry Meyssan

The current war has given all United Nations member states the opportunity to observe that, on numerous occasions since its creation, the UN has violated international law. It has also reminded them that international law defines an attack, such as that by Israel and the United States against Iran, as an "aggression." Furthermore, 193 states (including Israel and the United States) have recognized the right of the attacked state to consider as co-aggressors those states that host military bases of the aggressors.

You know, this is probably the only thing where we can have a political discussion that is relevant to the whole forum.

It may be of a slow nature because what would have to be found are candidates who are radical on their position about this.

It's basically just the Charter. To be more specific, since its inception, it appears to be US veto power used exclusively to the benefit of Israel. So in the future I'm not sure the US can be allowed to participate on this level. And what is going on now is just some kind of general discussion if, without further information, it won't be around by the end of the year.

So far, I wish we could rename it "international principle" since no law is actually involved here.

I'm not sure there should be a "law", because then it would have an enforcement mechanism which would surely fall into the wrong hands.

Do we know anyone who could truly represent us and how such a body could live up to its Charter?

[Raskolnikov]

Posted by Ravenlocke (here)
Témoris Grecko

Translated from Spanish
This new version of Comfortably Numb that Roger Waters made for Palestine is absolutely gorgeous!

Waters sent it to Yanis Varoufakis, who showed it on May 4th during the speech of the great
@FranceskAlbs
.

https://x.com/temoris/status/2052767279276757021

The power of art. Beautiful and haunting. Where are our new poets and visionaries?

[Rizotto]

"ISRAELIS RANKED WORLD'S WORST TOURISTS — AND IT'S NOT AN ACCIDENT, IT'S THE SYSTEM THAT BUILT THEM.

From the beaches of Thailand to the temples of India, locals across the globe dread the arrival of Israeli tourists — and even the Israeli Foreign Ministry can no longer ignore the problem. This isn't about antisemitism.

This is about TripAdvisor, government warnings, and a recurring pattern of aggression, rudeness, and contempt for local cultures that follows Israeli travelers everywhere they go. But where does this behavior come from? The answer is more disturbing than you think.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• Why governments across Asia and South America are warning about Israeli tourist behavior
• How Zionist indoctrination — starting in kindergarten — creates a culture of exceptionalism and impunity
• Daniella Weiss's own admission that Zionists must "forever commit to brainwashing" Israeli citizens
• Why settler-colonial psychology translates directly into how Israelis treat locals abroad
• Beitar Jerusalem FC — the world's most racist football club — and what happens when its fans travel
• The Amsterdam city council motion declaring Maccabi Tel Aviv unwelcome for contributing to "occupation or racism"
• Why most Israeli tourists are ex-military in their early 20s, trained in a system of structured dehumanization
• How occupation corrupts the occupier — the tragedy of young Israelis who've lost the capacity for humility
• The moral case for boycotting Israeli tourists — following hotel and restaurant owners in Japan, Thailand, and Spain
• Why ordinary Israelis must pay a price for complicity before the state will ever stop committing war crimes"

BRAINWASHED: Inside the Minds of “Rude” and “Aggressive” Israeli Tourists

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=qhS_afn30j8

[Bill Ryan]

Posted by Raskolnikov (here)
The power of art. Beautiful and haunting. Where are our new poets and visionaries?

But the post now says

This media has been disabled in response to a report by the copyright owner.

Does anyone have a link to the original??

[Bill Ryan]

Interestingly, here's a brief but very concise and accurate analysis from Richard Dolan, best known as a UFO researcher but who before his interest in UFOs was an academic geopolitical historian.

Middle East Chaos, Inflation, and the Declining U.S. Empire

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=oxKliDXynvQ

[Kryztian]

Copying bojancan's post from the Epstein thread here.

The picture of the Epstein coalition and their relationship with Israel is getting clearer and more undeniable. It's also becoming more clear what their objectives were: to sabotage any peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians, and to walk away from the table and be able to say "Look, Israel really just wants peace, but those Palestinians, they are animals." You can see this by whom Epstein was trying to control: Bill Clinton, John Kerry (who, per this video, would have become the Presidential hopeful candidate if Hillary Clinton got impossibly caught up in scandals), Ehud Barak and Terje Rod-Larsen. Rod-Larsen and his wife Mona Juul were the Norwegian diplomats who brokered the Oslo Accords.

A clearer picture of the Epstein Coalition and what it's objective were is beginning to emerge.

Posted by bojancan (here)
I am glad, people are still interested about Epstein Saga... I DO NOT want, to be forgotten... Also John Kerry!!!

May, 08
Journalist Tara Palmeri's BOMBSHELL Report About Epstein, John Kerry

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=I0Ejdu6_Yb4

Cenk Uygur and Tara Palmeri (https://www.tarapalmeri.com/) discuss John Kerry's SHOCKING ties with Jeffrey Epstein.

[Raskolnikov]

Posted by Bill Ryan (here)

Posted by Raskolnikov (here)
The power of art. Beautiful and haunting. Where are our new poets and visionaries?

But the post now says

This media has been disabled in response to a report by the copyright owner.

Does anyone have a link to the original??

Seems they've pulled it temporarily due to copyright laws and I can't find it anywhere. Here's an article that describes what they're calling a "Song of Peace."

Song of Peace: Roger Waters and Mona Miari Create a New Masterpiece From A Pink Floyd Classic

In my opinion, the song "Comfortably Numb" updated with new lyrics in Arabic has the power to impact millions of people. It's ultimately about justice for Palestinians



Big news on the music front. There’s a new masterpiece about to hit the market.

Rock icon Roger Waters and the incredibly talented Palestinian singer-songwriter Mona Miari have joined forces to re-imagine the Pink Floyd classic “Comfortably Numb” as an anthem to Palestinian rights with new lyrics in English and Arabic. After watching the live debut the other night with both of these artists at an extraordinary event in New York City, I believe this new version of a song originally released 47 years ago will touch hundreds of millions around the globe...

https://stevendonziger.substack.com/...aters-and-mona

P.s. There's another "reimagined" version of Comfortably Numb put out in 2022 that's a completely different version and video than the one described in the article. Hopefully they'll release it again soon. It was powerful.

[rgray222]

Posted by shaberon (here)

Posted by Vicus (here)
What Iran Contributes to International Law- by Thierry Meyssan

The current war has given all United Nations member states the opportunity to observe that, on numerous occasions since its creation, the UN has violated international law. It has also reminded them that international law defines an attack, such as that by Israel and the United States against Iran, as an "aggression." Furthermore, 193 states (including Israel and the United States) have recognized the right of the attacked state to consider as co-aggressors those states that host military bases of the aggressors.

You know, this is probably the only thing where we can have a political discussion that is relevant to the whole forum.

I'm not sure there should be a "law", because then it would have an enforcement mechanism which would surely fall into the wrong hands.

International law, if you wish to call it that, has no real enforcement; it lacks its own police force and relies on the cooperation of its members. Its power is entirely contingent on state compliance. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is the primary international body with enforcement authority, and don't expect the USA or any other members to lose their power or have their power greatly diminished anytime in the near future. That would be wishful thinking. All that said, people need to be very careful in what they wish for regarding the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In today's world, it is easy to see the tension between the ideals of international law and the realities of international politics and enforcement limitations. The true globalists understand this, and they are already moving to make the ICC one of the most powerful organization on the planet by giving it enforcement capabilities. The court has signalled its direction by issuing warrants for Putin and Netanyahu.

Regarding this thread, Iran is in breach of international law by calling for the elimination of Israel. Using genocidal rhetoric and destabalizing the region also goes against international law. Keep in mind, borders don't matter to the globalist, but they matter to people who believe in sovereign states, like you and me. We think we are focused on the big, important picture, where US hegemony and Middle East conflict are important; all the attention-grabbing headlines are a case of extreme misdirection. To the globalists, politics is simply a tool to get what they want; sovereignty means nothing, borders are meaningless, it is all about power and control.

[Ravenlocke]

Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Iran's FM
@araghchi
shared an Instagram report from Beijing following his meeting with China's Wang Yi. They discussed the imposed US-Israeli war on Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, and deep strategic partnership between the two countries.

https://x.com/Iran_GOV/status/2052834419963232269

(English subtitles)
Record GBA

Iran FM Araghchi shares a cinematic video diary from his recent visit to Beijing.
'Agreed to reach a new level of cooperation'.


https://x.com/RecordGBA/status/2052933831817351596

[Ravenlocke]

The Cradle

Washington sanctions Chinese satellite firms in an attempt to blind Iranian intelligence operations
——
The Trump administration escalated its economic warfare against Beijing on Friday by blacklisting three Chinese satellite firms accused of providing Tehran with critical intelligence. Washington alleges that Meentropy Technology, The Earth Eye, and Chang Guang Satellite Technology provided high-resolution imagery used to coordinate strikes against US forces during "Operation Epic Fury." This latest round of restrictions also targeted entities in Belarus and the UAE, signaling an attempt by the US to sever the technological lifelines assisting resistance efforts in West Asia.

State Department officials led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio claim these firms operated at the direct request of the Iranian Ministry of Defense to track US troop movements across the region. The move comes as China boasts the largest commercial imaging program outside the US. While western firms like Planet Labs have historically acquiesced to White House demands to censor imagery, Beijing maintains that such unilateral sanctions are illegitimate and has instructed its domestic industries to ignore them.

The timing of these designations appears calculated to exert maximum pressure ahead of next week’s high-stakes summit in Beijing between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. By targeting the aerospace sector, Washington aims to undermine the growing strategic partnership between the Islamic Republic and the People’s Republic.

https://x.com/TheCradleMedia/status/2053033865019588710

[Ravenlocke]

Iran Observer

⚡️JUST IN

Iran plans to take control of the undersea cables in the Strait of Hormuz, vital for internet and financial exchanges – Fars News

The Iranian government plans to charge fees for the use of the cables and entrust their maintenance to Iranian companies

These cables carry over 97% of global internet traffic passing between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East

https://x.com/IranObserver0/status/2053105531779199473