US Senator Edward J. Markey has described former President Donald Trump’s military strike on Iran as both illegal and unconstitutional. In a statement, Markey said the attack was not authorized by Congress and posed dangers to all Americans. He warned that Trump’s actions had heightened the risk of a broader regional war, endangering US troops and civilians stationed in the area.

Markey further accused Trump of repeatedly exaggerating Iran’s nuclear threat, noting that despite claiming last June that the US had crippled Iran’s nuclear program through an operation called “Midnight Hammer,” Trump continued to insist that the Iranian threat was imminent. The senator’s remarks were reported by Al Jazeera.

The statement adds to growing political criticism of Trump’s Iran policy, as other US lawmakers have also voiced opposition to military escalation in the region.

The United States has operated military bases across the Middle East for several decades, maintaining installations in at least 19 locations under the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). These bases, spread across countries including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, and Syria, host both military and civilian personnel totaling more than fifty thousand. The facilities include air defense systems, warplanes, and naval vessels deployed in regional waters.

Qatar’s Al Udeid base serves as the largest U.S. installation in the region and houses CENTCOM’s forward headquarters. Bahrain hosts the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, while Kuwait’s Camp Arifjan and Ali Al-Salem Air Base function as key operational and logistical hubs. The United Arab Emirates’ Al Dhafra base supports intelligence and combat air operations. In Iraq and Syria, U.S. forces remain engaged primarily in counterterrorism missions, with around 2,500 troops in Iraq and 2,000 in Syria.

According to the report, Washington continues discussions with Baghdad on gradually reducing its troop presence in Iraq, while maintaining strategic positions across the region.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States has launched a major military operation in Iran. In a video message posted on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump confirmed the action, stating that the U.S. had repeatedly sought an agreement but ultimately decided to act. He declared that the operation aims to destroy Iran’s missiles and missile factories, emphasizing that they would be completely eliminated.

The report notes that both Israel and the United States have already carried out extensive attacks in Iran. The announcement follows escalating tensions in the region, with related incidents including Israeli strikes on Iranian schools and warnings from British lawmakers about potential violations of international law.

The situation indicates a significant escalation in U.S.-Iran hostilities, though the report does not specify the scale, duration, or immediate outcomes of the operation.

US President Donald Trump stated that the joint military strike by the United States and Israel on Iran was carried out to protect the American people. The attack began on Saturday morning, targeting what Trump described as an imminent threat from the Iranian regime. Following the assault, both Israel and Iran closed their airspace to civilian flights.

Trump explained that the operation was a major military campaign intended to eliminate Iran’s looming threat. He emphasized that the goal was to safeguard US citizens by neutralizing dangers posed by Tehran. The president’s comments came amid frustration over the slow pace of negotiations between Washington and Tehran regarding Iran’s nuclear program.

A day earlier, Trump told reporters at the White House that he was dissatisfied with the progress of talks but remained open to further discussions. He added that while he did not prefer the use of military force, it was sometimes necessary to achieve national objectives.

U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered all federal agencies to stop working with artificial intelligence company Anthropic, labeling it a 'supply chain risk,' according to the Pentagon. The directive requires the Defense Department and related agencies to cease using Anthropic’s technology within six months. Trump warned that full presidential authority would be used if the company failed to cooperate during the transition.

Analysts described the move as an unprecedented setback for the U.S. AI sector. Anthropic had previously contributed to national security–related AI capabilities and counts Google and Amazon among its investors. The company announced plans to challenge the Pentagon’s risk designation in court. CEO Dario Amodei recently met with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to express concerns about limits on AI use in weapons systems and mass surveillance. The Pentagon responded that national defense policy is determined by law, not by private firms.

The decision follows earlier U.S. actions excluding Chinese tech firm Huawei from defense supply chains. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated that human accountability and surveillance limits are included in its Pentagon contract, though differences from Anthropic’s proposals remain unclear.

US President Donald Trump has voiced frustration over the slow progress of nuclear program talks between the United States and Iran. Speaking to reporters on the White House lawn on Friday, Trump said Iran was not agreeing to what the US wanted, expressing clear dissatisfaction with the pace and direction of the discussions. He added that while he preferred not to use military force, he was not opposed to doing so if necessary.

After arriving in Texas, Trump further stated that he would not be satisfied even if Iran reduced uranium enrichment for civilian energy projects. He insisted that there should be no enrichment at all, not even at 20 or 30 percent levels. His remarks have heightened fears of a possible US strike on Iran, which analysts warn could trigger a wider regional conflict.

Amid growing tensions, the US State Department has instructed its citizens to leave Israel immediately and advised against traveling there, citing security concerns linked to potential escalation.

U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that the United States will not intervene in the ongoing conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan. He made the remarks when asked about the possibility of Washington mediating or taking part in efforts to end the hostilities. Trump emphasized that he maintains a very good relationship with Pakistan, describing its prime minister and military chief as individuals he respects.

According to a spokesperson for Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Pakistan’s military operations have resulted in the deaths of 297 Afghan soldiers. The spokesperson also reported that 89 Afghan military posts and 135 tanks and armored vehicles were destroyed in attacks carried out across 29 locations in Afghanistan.

Several countries have called on both Pakistan and Afghanistan to end the conflict, though no details were provided about specific diplomatic initiatives or responses from either side.

Inter Miami secured a 2–1 victory over Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle in a friendly match held in Puerto Rico on February 27, 2026. The match, originally scheduled for February 13, had been postponed due to Lionel Messi’s injury. In front of 20,000 spectators, Messi came on as a substitute and scored the winning goal from a penalty in the 70th minute, giving his team a morale-boosting win.

The game was marked by an incident in the 88th minute when several fans entered the field. One supporter attempted to hug Messi and accidentally knocked him to the ground before security intervened. Despite the interruption, the match concluded without further issues.

Inter Miami, coached by Javier Mascherano, had already completed their pre-season preparations and started the new MLS season with a 3–0 loss to Los Angeles FC. Their next fixture is scheduled for March 2 against Orlando City.

The United States has instructed its citizens to leave Israel immediately amid growing fears of a possible Iranian attack. The directive, issued by the US State Department on Friday, also advised against traveling to Israel at this time. Citizens were told to plan their departure while commercial flights remain available, according to The Guardian.

The order follows inconclusive talks between Iran and the United States held in Geneva, Switzerland, where no clear resolution was reached. Washington and Tehran are expected to resume discussions next week. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has deployed two aircraft carriers, a dozen warships, and several dozen fighter jets to the Middle East, raising concerns that a military strike could follow if negotiations fail.

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has informed embassy staff that those wishing to leave should do so immediately. The United States has also demanded that Iran completely halt its nuclear activities and dismantle its three main nuclear facilities.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced that the company has reached an agreement with the United States Department of Defense to provide its artificial intelligence technology for use within a classified network. The deal follows the withdrawal of Anthropic, the Pentagon’s previous contractor, which had raised ethical objections to the military’s use of AI. Altman said the Defense Department demonstrated a “deep respect for safety” and agreed that OpenAI’s technology would not be used for domestic mass surveillance or autonomous weapon systems, emphasizing that humans would retain responsibility for the use of force.

The announcement came shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered federal agencies to stop using Anthropic’s technology, citing disagreements with the company’s leadership. Anthropic had refused to remove safeguards that prevented its AI from being used for surveillance or autonomous weapons. Reports also alleged that Anthropic’s Claude AI had been used by the U.S. military in the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro earlier this year.

Human rights advocates have expressed concern about the unregulated use of AI in military operations, referencing similar systems reportedly deployed by the Israeli army in Gaza.

United States President Donald Trump announced on Friday that all federal agencies must immediately stop using technology from artificial intelligence company Anthropic. The directive includes a six‑month phaseout period for the Department of Defense and other agencies where Anthropic’s systems are already embedded. Trump issued the order on Truth Social, saying the government would no longer do business with the San Francisco‑based startup. The move came during an escalating conflict between the Pentagon and Anthropic over the military’s use of AI in warfare.

The dispute centers on a $200 million Pentagon contract and disagreements about safeguards on Anthropic’s AI model, Claude. Anthropic had sought assurances that its technology would not be used for mass surveillance or fully autonomous weapons, but said new contract language undermined those protections. The Pentagon had threatened to classify the company as a supply‑chain risk, while Trump warned of civil and criminal consequences if Anthropic failed to cooperate with the phaseout.

The decision drew criticism from Senator Mark Warner, who questioned whether national security policy was being guided by analysis or politics. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman publicly supported Anthropic’s stance, reflecting broader unease in Silicon Valley over government pressure on AI firms.

An imam from one of Utah’s largest mosques narrowly escaped injury after being targeted in a shooting on Monday evening during Ramadan. Imam Shuayb Din of the Utah Islamic Center was leaving his home for prayers when multiple bullets struck his car. Although he was unharmed, police recovered eight shell casings from the scene and released an image of a white passenger vehicle suspected to be involved. No arrests have been made, and the motive remains unconfirmed.

Din told local media that the attacker appeared to have prior knowledge of his residence, vehicle, and schedule. He said he had no personal enemies but feared the incident might be an Islamophobic hate crime. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced a $5,000 reward for information leading to the suspect’s arrest and urged stronger security for Muslim communities.

Utah State Senator Nate Blouin condemned the attack as an attempted murder, calling it horrific and unacceptable. He also suggested a possible link between the shooting and ongoing Islamophobic rhetoric in U.S. politics.

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest US aircraft carrier deployed to pressure Iran, departed the US Naval Support Activity Souda Bay base in Crete on Thursday, according to an AFP photographer. Its departure coincided with the start of a new round of indirect talks between the United States and Iran in Geneva, mediated by Oman’s foreign minister.

The carrier had been stationed at the Crete base since Monday. The US Embassy in Athens declined to comment on the vessel’s presence. The report recalled that President Donald Trump had previously ordered an attack on Iran and repeatedly warned Tehran of military action if it refused to agree to a new nuclear deal. Western countries have expressed concern that Iran’s nuclear program may be aimed at developing weapons.

Washington currently maintains more than a dozen warships in the Middle East, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, nine destroyers, and three additional warships, underscoring its continued military presence in the region.

The United States has arrested a retired Air Force pilot accused of providing unauthorized training to Chinese military members. According to a statement from the US Department of Justice, 65-year-old Gerald Brown was detained in Indiana after returning from China, where he had been staying since December 2023. Authorities allege that Brown conspired with foreign nationals to train Chinese Air Force pilots in operating combat aircraft without the required State Department license.

Brown served 24 years in the US Air Force, leading sensitive nuclear weapons units, flying combat missions, and working as a fighter pilot and simulator instructor. After retiring in 1996, he worked as a cargo pilot and later as a defense contractor, training pilots on A-10 and F-35 aircraft. Investigators say he began discussions in August 2023 with Chinese citizen Stephen Su Bin, who previously served a prison sentence in the US for espionage, before traveling to China to begin training in December.

An FBI counterintelligence official said the arrest serves as a warning that the agency will hold accountable anyone who collaborates with adversaries to endanger US national security.

U.S. President Donald Trump has called for two Muslim members of Congress, Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, to be expelled from the country. The demand came after both lawmakers shouted in protest during Trump’s State of the Union address at a joint session of Congress on Tuesday evening. Trump later reiterated his stance on his social media platform Truth Social, writing that people who act in such a way and are known to be corrupt politicians harmful to the country should be sent back to where they came from.

According to the report, Ilhan Omar was born in Somalia but has been a U.S. citizen for nearly three decades, while Rashida Tlaib, of Palestinian descent, was born in Detroit, Michigan, making her a citizen by birth. The report notes that there is no legal basis to deport either of them to their ancestral countries.

As Trump left the House chamber, the two congresswomen shouted, accusing him of causing the deaths of Americans, further intensifying the confrontation during the high-profile event.