"When you are studying any matter or considering any philosophy, ask yourself only what are the facts and what is the truth that the facts bear out. Never let yourself be diverted either by what you wish to believe, or by what you think would have beneficent social effects if it were believed. But look only, and solely, at what are the facts." — Bertrand Russell
Posted by Tyler Durden; Authored by Andrew Korybko via Substack,
Regardless of why Putin might have held off on this for so long, he's now arguably motivated at least in part by the tantalizing possibility of reaching big-ticket resource deals with the US after the conflict ends, the details of which his and Trump's envoys have been negotiating for over a year already.
By STEPHEN M. LEPORE, US SENIOR REPORTER, dailymail.co.uk
There's no doubt that the tit-for-tat war on Black Sea shipping is getting nastier. For several months now, both Russian and Ukrainian forces have traded drone and missile attacks on ports and ships, disrupting vital Black Sea trade.
For Ukraine this national transit lifeline is even more important amid its war time economy. A major incident has unfolded Monday after an alleged direct hit by Russian drone on a Turkish cargo ship carrying grain from a Ukrainian port.
The Houthis have announced in the late evening (local) their forces have launched a large missile and drone attack on Saudi Arabia's territory. The group has announced it again targeted King Khalid Airport in Riyadh as well as the Aramco refinery in Rabigh.
Air traffic halted at Riyadh airport due to a Houthi attack, via Sabereen
by Dave De Camp, antiwar.com
While oil exports from the Middle East have reportedly exceeded pre-war levels, attacks on tankers in or near the Strait of Hormuz have also risen over the past week, with at least 11 coming under attack since last Monday, according to a count from The New York Times.
Posted by Tyler Durden: Authored by Larry C. Johnson via SonarIntelligence (Sonar21),
Kelley Beaucar Vlahos, responsiblestatescraft.org
The US stopped refueling Saudi warplanes in 2018, several months after the Saudis bombed a school bus in Yemen
Dave De Camp, antiwar.com
The US is refueling Saudi fighter jets as part of its support for Riyadh’s war in Yemen, a US official has told Al Jazeera, marking an escalation of US involvement in the conflict.