Wars 2026 02/28 Israel-Iran War 3.0

[Saif]

NATO withdraws troops from Iraq mission to Europe as Iran war rages

NATO has withdrawn all of its troops from an advisory mission in Iraq, the military ‌alliance said on Friday, as the repercussions of the Iran war spread across the Middle East. "I would like to thank the Republic of Iraq and all the Allies who assisted in the safe relocation of ⁠NATO pers

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

NATO withdraws troops from Iraq mission to Europe as Iran war rages

REUTERS
Published :
Mar 20, 2026 23:41
Updated :
Mar 20, 2026 23:41

NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) U.S. Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich attends a joint news conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium January 22, 2026. REUTERS/Geert Vanden Wijngaert/File Photo

NATO has withdrawn all of its troops from an advisory mission in Iraq, the military ‌alliance said on Friday, as the repercussions of the Iran war spread across the Middle East.

"I would like to thank the Republic of Iraq and all the Allies who assisted in the safe relocation of ⁠NATO personnel from Iraq," U.S. Air Force Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, said in a statement.

The statement said the mission had relocated "all its personnel" from the Middle East to Europe. A NATO official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that amounted to "several hundred" troops.

In recent days, several countries including Poland, Spain and Croatia ‌have ⁠announced they have withdrawn troops from the Middle East, citing the conflict in Iran and the wider Gulf region.

NATO said its mission would continue from a military headquarters in Naples, ⁠Italy. The mission does not have a combat role. It focuses on advising Iraqi security forces and helping them build up ⁠their capacities, according to NATO.

“I would also like to thank the dedicated men and women of NATO ⁠Mission Iraq, who continued their mission throughout this period. They are true professionals," Grynkewich said.​

 

[Saif]

AI fakes and recycled footage fuel disinformation surge in US-Israel war on Iran

The Daily Star looks into fake war stories thriving on social media

www.thedailystar.net

AI fakes and recycled footage fuel disinformation surge in US-Israel war on Iran

The Daily Star looks into fake war stories thriving on social media

Abir Ayon and Tarek Hosen

On March 19, 2026, a fabricated photocard shared a claim that Yariv Levin was appointed as Israel’s new Prime Minister following the alleged death of Benjamin Netanyahu. The post falsely asserted that Netanyahu was killed in an Iranian attack and that the US and Israeli governments were using AI to fake his survival to maintain military morale.

Despite being entirely baseless, the misinformation gained significant traction among users, garnering 6,800 likes, 735 comments, and 806 shares by the time of this report.

Just a day earlier, an AI-generated video circulated with the caption 'Severe Iranian attack on America,' showing missiles raining down on a city as people scrambled for their lives. By the time of this report, the post had been viewed 86,000 times, and many users were actively sharing it.

Over the past week, at least 38 pieces of misinformation related to the Iran–Israel conflict were identified by fact-checking organisations Rumor Scanner, Dismislab, and FactWatch.

Not only during this past week, misinformation has been circulating on social media since the onset of the Iran-Israel conflict. Between February 28 and March 6, The Daily Star documented a total of 64 disinformation posts related to the Iran–Israel war circulating across various Facebook profiles and pages. Of these, 22 were identified as AI-generated or deepfake content, where artificial intelligence was used to create fabricated or misleading visuals and narratives.

On March 5, a video began circulating, claiming to show an Iranian soldier launching a missile at the residence of Donald Trump. The footage depicted the former US President fleeing in panic from the strike. The video concluded with a narrator urging viewers to ‘like, comment, and share’ to help fund the missile costs, specifically asking for the comment ‘Victory for Iran’.

Despite the outlandish nature of the claim and the evident use of AI to generate the imagery, the post achieved explosive reach, over 66 thousand engagements. Users are engaging with the post by following its specific call-to-action in the comments.

The remaining content detailed 31 video posts, a significant portion of which were misleading, presenting old or already circulated footage as if it depicted current events. Furthermore, the complete list included six photocards and five posts consisting solely of text.

These deceptive narratives were propagated through 51 unique profiles and pages, of which 10 accounts explicitly identified themselves in their bio as 'Media' entities, lending a false sense of credibility to the disinformation.

A video was posted on March 3 from the Facebook page of a broadcasting channel named “Channel One News,” claiming in its caption that “Iranian drones are raining down on Tel Aviv’s sky.” The video cited “Source X” as its source. At the time of writing this report, the video had garnered around 60,000 views.

However, our investigation found that the video was generated using artificial intelligence (AI). Closer observation shows several visual inconsistencies commonly found in AI-generated videos. These include unrealistic depictions of missile movements, the density of smoke, and exaggerated explosions.

Using Google’s reverse image search, the original source of the footage was traced to an Instagram account named “Paralelverse net.” The caption of the original post clearly states that the video was created using AI purely for entertainment purposes.

The Newspaper has also confirmed that several Facebook pages claiming to operate as media outlets including “VOD World International”, “Face the People News”, “IBN News”, and “Jagoron News” have been spreading AI-generated videos and zombie content.

A Facebook page named “Shipon Islam” was also among those spreading misinformation. On March 4, the page posted a video with the caption claiming,“Alhamdulillah, finally the traitor bodyguard of Ayatollah Khamenei who gave Khamenei’s location to Israel has been brought out publicly by the Iranian army on the order of Khamenei’s son.”

However, the investigation found that the same video had previously been posted on X (formerly Twitter) on April 25, 2025. The caption of that post, written in Arabic, stated that assassin Taysir Mahfouz was confronting victims in Damascus’s Mezzeh district. This indicates that the video circulated with the claim that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s bodyguard was publicly exposed is not related to Iran. In reality, the footage shows the arrest-related aftermath of Taysir Mahfouz in Damascus, Syria, from nearly a year earlier.

Two days later, the same account posted another video claiming,“Alhamdulillah, the US warship Abraham Lincoln has been destroyed by an Iranian drone attack.” However, the investigation revealed that the footage does not show damage to the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. Instead, it depicts a fire that broke out aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard at the San Diego Naval Base in California in July 2020.

Another page named “Chetona News” was also identified as a major source of misinformation. Most of the posts published by the page appear to be AI-generated, with at least six such posts identified by The Daily Star (1,2).

In one video post, the page claimed, “Iran has shot down America’s pride, the B-2 bomber, and is dragging it away.” However, the investigation found that the video was generated using artificial intelligence.

One such post featured an 11-second video showing extensive destruction, with the caption claiming, “Iran will wipe Israel off the map. This is the current scene in Tel Aviv, Israel.” However, the investigation found that the footage was not from Tel Aviv. Instead, it shows destruction from the 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck the Pazarcık district of Turkey in February 2023.

These Facebook posts have spread several types of rumors, with one of the most prominent being related to the death of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei.

On March 5, 2026, a video was circulated with a ‘just-in’ caption, claiming to show footage of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's wellbeing to debunk rumors of his death. However, investigations found the same footage from 2014, meaning a video at least over a decade old was presented as current. By the time of this report, the video had been viewed 7.4 million times, while the post had garnered 324,000 reactions and 5,700 shares.

A number of posts have been identified that claim Khamenei is still alive. These claims were made using deepfakes, text-based posts, photocards, or by presenting old videos as current ones (1,2,3,4).

Several posts have also claimed that Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has been killed (1,2,3,4). A photo was posted stating that “Israel’s head of state (Benjamin Netanyahu) was killed in an Iranian missile attack.” However, AI-detection tool Hive Moderation identified the image as 99.9 percent AI-generated.​

 

[Saif]

Iran's president says immediate cessation of US-Israeli aggression needed to end war

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Saturday that there needs to be an "immediate cessation" of what he described as US-Israeli aggression to end the war and wider regional conflict, Iran's embassy in India said in an X post on Saturday. Pezeshkian spoke with India's Prime Minister Narendra

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Iran's president says immediate cessation of US-Israeli aggression needed to end war

REUTERS
Published :
Mar 21, 2026 22:25
Updated :
Mar 21, 2026 22:25

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian speaks during a meeting in Tehran, Iran, Feb 21, 2026. Photo : Iran's Presidential website/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS/Files

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Saturday that there needs to be an "immediate cessation" of what he described as US-Israeli aggression to end the war and wider regional conflict, Iran's embassy in India said in an X post on Saturday.

Pezeshkian spoke with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi by phone earlier in the day.

Pezeshkian told Modi that there should be guarantees to prevent a recurrence of such "aggression" in the future. He also called on the BRICS bloc of major emerging economies to play an independent role in halting aggression against Iran.

The Iranian president proposed a regional security framework comprising West Asian countries to ensure peace without foreign interference, according to the country's embassy in India.

In a separate post on X earlier on Saturday, Modi said he condemned attacks on critical infrastructure in the Middle East in the discussion with Pezeshkian.

The Indian Prime Minister further reiterated the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation and ensuring shipping lanes remain open and secure.​

 

[Saif]

Congress seeks clarity on Trump’s exit plan as Iran war drags on

US lawmakers are increasingly pressing President Donald Trump for a clear exit strategy as the war with Iran enters its third week, raising concerns over its duration, costs and objectives. The conflict, launched without formal congressional approval, has already resulted in the deaths of at least

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Congress seeks clarity on Trump’s exit plan as Iran war drags on

AP
Published :
Mar 21, 2026 20:46
Updated :
Mar 21, 2026 20:46

US lawmakers are increasingly pressing President Donald Trump for a clear exit strategy as the war with Iran enters its third week, raising concerns over its duration, costs and objectives.

The conflict, launched without formal congressional approval, has already resulted in the deaths of at least 13 US service members, with more than 230 injured. Meanwhile, the Pentagon has requested about $200 billion in additional funding, as oil prices rise, US allies come under attack and thousands of American troops are deployed to the Middle East without a defined endgame.

Republican Sen. Thom Tillis questioned the administration’s long-term goals, saying there needs to be a clearer articulation of strategy despite his general support for targeting Iran’s leadership.

Trump said Friday he is considering “winding down” operations, even as he continues to outline shifting objectives.

Congress divided, but pressure builds

The war is testing Congress, particularly Republicans who largely back the president but may soon face tougher decisions. Under the War Powers Act, the president can carry out military action for up to 60 days without congressional approval.

So far, Republican lawmakers have blocked Democratic efforts to halt the campaign. However, pressure is mounting on the administration to present a coherent strategy, especially as lawmakers weigh approving billions in new funding.

Democratic Sen. Mark Warner criticized Trump’s remark that the war would end “when I feel it in my bones,” calling it alarming and lacking strategic clarity.

Mixed signals on progress

House Speaker Mike Johnson suggested the mission is nearly complete, saying key objectives such as weakening Iran’s missile capabilities and naval strength have largely been achieved.

However, he acknowledged ongoing tensions, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz, and limited support from US allies.

Lawmakers from both parties say the administration’s goals — including curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions and missile programs — remain unclear and difficult to achieve without deeper military involvement.

Funding concerns intensify

The Pentagon’s request for $200 billion in additional war funding has drawn sharp criticism. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer described the figure as excessive.

Sen. Mazie Hirono argued that domestic priorities such as healthcare and food assistance should take precedence over increased military spending.

Many lawmakers have also recalled how President George W. Bush sought congressional authorization following the September 11 attacks before launching wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Tillis warned that while Trump currently has authority under the War Powers Act, the administration will soon need to either seek formal authorization or present a clear plan to end the conflict.

“These are really the options the administration needs to be thinking about,” he said.​

 

[Saif]

Iran 'unsuccessfully' targeted Diego Garcia base: UK official

Iran was "unsuccessful" in targeting the joint UK-US Indian Ocean military base at Diego Garcia, a UK official source confirmed to AFP on Saturday, after the Wall Street Journal reported Tehran fired two ballistic missiles at it. Diego Garcia, which is around 2,500 miles (4,000 kilometres) from...

en.prothomalo.com

Iran 'unsuccessfully' targeted Diego Garcia base: UK official

AFP
London
Published: 21 Mar 2026, 23: 03

Diego Garcia Island in the Indian Ocean.US Naval Force

Iran was "unsuccessful" in targeting the joint UK-US Indian Ocean military base at Diego Garcia, a UK official source confirmed to AFP on Saturday, after the Wall Street Journal reported Tehran fired two ballistic missiles at it.

Diego Garcia, which is around 2,500 miles (4,000 kilometres) from Iranian territory, is one of the two bases the UK has allowed the United States to use for "defensive operations" in its war against Iran.

On Friday, the UK government said it would allow Washington to use its bases in Diego Garcia and Fairford in southwest England to target Iranian "missile sites and capabilities being used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz".

The UK official source confirmed that Iran's "unsuccessful targeting of Diego Garcia" took place before Friday's announcement.

The source did not confirm additional details about the attack.

The Wall Street Journal reported Friday, citing US officials, that while neither of the two ballistic missiles hit their target, the launch suggests that Tehran has missiles with longer ranges than previously thought.

The Pentagon declined to comment.

One of the missiles failed in flight, and the other was targeted by an interceptor fired from a US warship, though it was not clear if the missile was hit, the WSJ reported.

"Iran's reckless attacks, lashing out across the region and holding hostage the Strait of Hormuz, are a threat to British interests and British allies," a UK Ministry of Defence spokesperson said Saturday.

"This government has given permission to the US to use British bases for specific and limited defensive operations."

Iran has "always had missiles of that sort of range that we've known about, maybe not declared", former UK Royal Navy commander and defence expert Tom Sharpe told AFP.

The attack "shows that they can still move these mobile launchers around, undetected, spin up and fire without being struck", said Sharpe, adding however that they would not be a "game changer" in the war.

'Strategic messaging'

"Depending on the weight of the warhead, Iran can increase the range of some of its missiles," explained Ali Vaez, Iran project director at the Crisis Group.

"But this was less about battlefield utility than strategic messaging -- signalling to the United States and Israel that misreading Iran's resolve and capabilities could prove a costly mistake," said Vaez.

US President Donald Trump has been critical of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's response to the war against Iran, initially refusing to be involved before allowing Washington limited use of the two bases.

American forces have stationed bombers and other equipment at Diego Garcia, a key hub for Asia operations, including the US bombing campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Trump has also slammed Britain's decision to hand back the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after holding it since the 1960s. Under that agreement, the UK would maintain a lease for the base on Diego Garcia, the largest of the islands.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told his UK counterpart Yvette Cooper on a Thursday phone call that any US use of British bases would be considered "participation in aggression", according to Tehran's foreign ministry.

In turn, Cooper warned Araghchi "against targeting UK bases, territory or interests directly", according to a UK foreign office statement.​

 

[Saif]

Trump says US considering 'winding down' Iran war

Trump insists other countries should police Strait of Hormuz

www.thedailystar.net

Trump says US considering 'winding down' Iran war

Insists other countries should police Strait of Hormuz

Photo: AFP

President Donald Trump said the US was considering "winding down" its military operation against Iran, as Iran and Israel traded attacks today and Iranian media said the nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz had been attacked.

In a social media post, Trump said the US was close to meeting its goals but insisted that other countries should take the lead in policing the vital shipping lane of the Strait of Hormuz, whose near-closure threatens a global energy shock.

Trump and his administration have sent mixed messages about US goals throughout the war, now entering its fourth week, leaving traditional US allies struggling to respond.

In less than 24 hours, Trump suggested the war could wind down as the Iranian threat was being eliminated, while at the same time, US Marines and heavy landing craft were headed to the region on a mission whose goals were not immediately clear.

"We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East with respect to the Terrorist Regime of Iran," Trump said on Truth Social.

"The Hormuz Strait will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other Nations who use it — The United States does not!" he added. "If asked, we will help these Countries in their Hormuz efforts, but it shouldn’t be necessary once Iran’s threat is eradicated."

IRAN REPORTS ATTACK ON NATANZ NUCLEAR ENRICHMENT PLANT

More than 2,000 people have been killed in Iran since the US and Israel attacked on February 28, while Americans appear increasingly concerned at signs the war could expand further.


Vital energy infrastructure in Iran and neighbouring Gulf states has been attacked, sending oil prices up 50% and threatening a global economic shock.

Trump had also accused NATO allies, who had not been consulted about the war, of cowardice over their reluctance to help open the Strait of Hormuz.

As the fighting continued, the Iranian media said US-Israeli forces had attacked the Shahid Ahmadi-Roshan Natanz enrichment complex on Saturday morning. Technical experts found that no radioactive leaks had occurred, and nearby residents were not at risk. Israel said it was unaware of such a strike.

Israel also attacked Beirut, saying it was targeting Hezbollah as it steps up airstrikes targeting the Iran-backed Lebanese militia in the deadliest spillover from the war on Iran since Hezbollah fired on Israel in support of Tehran on March 2.

Israel said Saturday's attacks on Iran included Tehran, Karaj, west of the capital, and the central city of Isfahan. Three members of a family were killed in a strike on a residential building in the city of Ramsar, Iranian media quoted a local governor as saying.

Before its strikes on Lebanon, the Israeli military said it had issued evacuation warnings for seven neighbourhoods in the southern suburbs of Beirut. Four Hezbollah militants were killed in southern Lebanon, one in a "ground engagement" and three using tank fire, it said.

More than 1,000 people have been killed in Lebanon, and over 1 million displaced in the Israeli attacks.

Air raid sirens in Israel warned of incoming missiles from early morning, sending millions to shelters as the blasts of interceptions rang out from above. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

Israel's military said search and rescue teams were headed to impact sites in central Israel.

Iran fired two ballistic missiles at the US-British military base Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean but did not hit the base, the Wall Street Journal reported.

EUROPEAN GAS PRICES SURGE

Natural gas prices in Europe surged as much as 35% this week as Iran and Israel hit some of the region's most important gas infrastructure. The European Union urged members to lower gas-storage targets and start refilling reserves gradually to curb demand, the Financial Times reported today.

The Strait of Hormuz, conduit for around a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, has been effectively closed to most shipping.

Leading allies of the US from Europe, as well as Japan and Canada, have pledged to join "appropriate efforts" to ensure safe passage through the strait, but Germany and France have spelled out that fighting must stop first.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Kyodo news agency that Iran was ready to let Japan-related vessels pass through the narrow waterway. Japan gets around 90% of its oil shipments via the Strait.

The White House, in an effort to increase supply and lower prices, said it would waive sanctions on Iranian oil for 30 days to allow the sale of 140 million barrels on tankers. The administration had previously eased sanctions on a similar amount of Russian oil.

As Muslims celebrated Eid al-Fitr on Friday to end the fasting month of Ramadan and Iranians marked Nowruz, the Persian New Year, Iran's new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, issued a message of defiance.

Khamenei - who did not appear at Eid prayers and has not been seen in public since the initial Israeli attack that killed his father and predecessor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei - said in his statement that Iranians had responded with unity and resistance and "dealt a disorienting blow to the enemy".

Russian President Vladimir Putin also sent Nowruz greetings to Iran's leaders, using the occasion to say Moscow remained a loyal friend and reliable partner.

The extent of Moscow's support for Iran is in dispute though. Some Iranian sources say they have had little real help from Moscow in the biggest crisis for Iran since the US-backed shah was toppled in the 1979 Islamic Revolution.​