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Thu, 06 Aug 2026 03:25:00 +0000 The West Is Winning The Information War While Russia Prevails On The Battlefield
The West Is Winning The Information War While Russia Prevails On The Battlefield
The West Is Winning The Information War While Russia Prevails On The Battlefield
Authored by former CIA officer Larry Johnson
I stumbled across something pretty bizarre today when I queried one of the AI-search engines about Russia’s capture of territory in Ukraine in 2026. Here is what the Chinese KIMI claimed:
The evidence from multiple sources — including Ukrainian official claims, Western think tanks, and Ukrainian independent trackers — suggests that Ukraine recaptured substantially more territory than Russia captured during the first half of 2026 , driven by the southern counteroffensive. However, the pace of Ukrainian gains has slowed since spring, and Russia has made small net gains in recent months (June–July). The overall net for the full year so far appears to still favor Ukraine, but the margin and the exact numbers depend heavily on whose methodology you use.
There you have it… Ukraine is winning the war on the ground according to AI . Let me emphasize that you will find this same propaganda on GROK or Claude. The Western propaganda effort is paying dividends on the information operation side of the house. Even the Chinese-coders who created KIMI are pushing Western propaganda.
via Al Jazeera
So let me give you the actual rundown for 2026 . Russia started 2026 with Gerasimov’s report to Putin announcing the liberation of Pokrovsk (Krasnoarmeysk) — the Donetsk logistics hub under siege for nearly two years — and of Vovchansk in Kharkiv. Through November of 2025 the MoD had reported a steady run of captures, including Petrovskoye in the DPR and Tikhoye and Otradnoye in Dnepropetrovsk.
Moving into the spring of 2026, TASS reported that Russian forces liberated 63 settlements from March through May 2026 — 20 in March, 16 in April, and 27 in May, the strongest month. The regional breakdown was 21 in Kharkiv Region, 19 in the DPR, 14 in Sumy, six in Zaporozhye, and three in Dnepropetrovsk. The Sumy and Kharkiv gains are framed by Moscow as building a “security zone” along the Russian border.
By early summer (June), Gerasimov reported that Russian forces were continuing the liberation of “Donbass and Novorossiya,” advancing on all fronts. The 3rd Army was advancing toward Slavyansk and Kramatorsk — liberating Piskunovka, reaching the outskirts of Nikolayevka, and reported to be less than 5 km from the eastern edge of Kramatorsk, with the capture of Krasny Liman (Lyman) said to be due soon.
Battlegroup West advanced on a broad front ; in the Kupyansk area, having repelled Ukrainian attempts to break through to western Kupyansk, with assault units pushing west toward Shevchenkovo. In the Dobropolye area north of Krasnoarmeysk, fighting in Dobropolye and Annovka, with Lenina (Ukrainian name Mirnoye) taken and Shevchenko, Krasnoyarskoye, and Svetloye reported as liberated.
In July TASS counted 32 settlements liberated, with 22 of them — over 68 percent — in Kharkiv Region and the DPR. By battlegroup: North took ten, Center eight, West six, East five, and South three, and the month’s most significant developments were the liberation of Konstantinovka in the DPR by Battlegroup East and the capture of Belitskoye by Battlegroup Center. Konstantinovka is one of the four Donetsk fortress belt cities.
At present the Russians are driving on the last major Ukrainian-held Donetsk agglomeration — the Konstantinovka–Druzhkovka–Kramatorsk–Slavyansk belt — alongside the Sumy/Kharkiv border zone and consolidation in Zaporozhye and Dnepropetrovsk.
Along with the ground operations in eastern Ukraine, Russia has ended Ukraine's ability to conduct maritime and trade operations from Odessa and Nikolaev since July 22nd .
Ukrainian farmers will not be able to export products via the Black Sea ports and western supplies, which once flowed freely through Odessa. Ukraine’s maritime lifeline is severed and will not be in operation until after the war with Ukraine is over.
Finally, there is the daily Russian missile and drone attacks on Kiev and other key Ukrainian logistics and military hubs. The destruction of factories and warehouses is effectively bleeding Ukraine dry . The West persists in painting the war in Ukraine as a crusade that sits on the threshold of victory, but the realities on the ground tell a dramatically different, grim story … Ukraine is losing.
Tyler Durden
Wed, 08/05/2026 - 23:25 Close
Thu, 06 Aug 2026 03:00:00 +0000 End Of Cheap Food? Five Forces Set To Drive Grocery Bills Even Higher
End Of Cheap Food? Five Forces Set To Drive Grocery Bills Even Higher
UBS analysts identified five long-term forces likely to keep global food inflation "structurally higher " above its pre-pandemic
Read more.....
End Of Cheap Food? Five Forces Set To Drive Grocery Bills Even Higher
UBS analysts identified five long-term forces likely to keep global food inflation "structurally higher " above its pre-pandemic average of about 2.5%, crushing consumer hopes that price pressures will simply fade.
"While food inflation globally has fallen from the COVID peak, a new debate is emerging: is the c2.5% LT average obsolete ?" London-based managing director and equity-research analyst Sreedhar Mahamkali asked in a note penned on Monday.
Mahamkali and his team outlined five long-term drivers of global food inflation :
1. Climate risk is global, although its intensity differs by geography and commodity. Academic research suggests climate change could add around 0.9 to 3.2 percentage points to annual global food inflation by 2035.
2. Weak farm profitability limits investment and supply responsiveness globally. The pressure is most visible where farms are small, fragmented or exposed to volatile inputs, although scale, subsidies and access to credit can provide greater protection in some markets.
3. Higher welfare standards are lifting costs in animal protein. UK and European poultry provide the clearest current evidence, but similar changes in stocking density, housing, biosecurity and traceability are emerging across several markets.
4. Labor costs are rising across the food chain. The effect is strongest in labour- intensive farming, processing, logistics, food service as well as the front-end retail, although productivity, automation and the availability of lower-cost labour produce meaningful regional differences.
5. Supply flexibility is constrained globally: some markets face limited land expansion and tighter standards, while others contend with underinvestment and climate vulnerability.
"We expect food-at- home to start regaining share from historical lows , suggesting higher spend in the Food Retail channel with potential tailwinds as we demonstrate with a UK case study. On the other hand, wallet share compression of the discretionary categories means food-away- from-home and non-food retail are more vulnerable ," the analyst pointed out.
He expects food inflation to run above historical levels in the UK, Europe, Australia, Southeast Asia and China , while remaining broadly unchanged in the US and Latin America and declining in India :
The UK faces all five drivers, but a rational competitive landscape enables better pass- through, leaving it as the best-positioned retail market.
Europe too faces many of the pressures, but greater fragmentation dilutes pricing power. In the fragmented US, structural cost pressure is largely offset by competition, likely leaving inflation in line with history.
In Latam, Brazil is relatively insulated with moderate impacts from labour cost inflation, welfare standards and a better supply outlook aided by technology with the outlook the same as history.
By contrast, ASEAN sees a sticky underlying cost base and a potential El Niño in H2 suggesting sustained pressure. China is likely to see a gradual increase in food inflation as external cost pressures are effectively transmitted.
Higher operating costs persist in Australia with regulation/welfare standards leading to higher inflation with some costs likely absorbed by retailers. India is the exception, benefiting from policy intervention and productivity gains with lower inflation than in the past.
Visualizing : Food prices could keep rising faster than they did before Covid, remaining above the historical average of about 2.5% annual inflation. Several long-term pressures are making food permanently more expensive .
For the food inflation narrative to continue, the analysts outlined what they are tracking over the next six months :
Here are the winners and losers under different food inflation scenarios:
Five out of eight regions are likely to see higher inflation:
The era of cheap food may be ending. Food inflation could further ignite as other Wall Street desks warn about El Niño risk developing and Professional subscribers can read those notes here at our new Marketdesk.ai portal.
Tyler Durden
Wed, 08/05/2026 - 23:00 Close
Thu, 06 Aug 2026 02:35:00 +0000 US Lifts Sanctions On Iraqi Airline Blacklisted Over IRGC Ties
US Lifts Sanctions On Iraqi Airline Blacklisted Over IRGC Ties
US Lifts Sanctions On Iraqi Airline Blacklisted Over IRGC Ties
Via The Cradle
The US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) lifted sanctions on Iraq's Fly Baghdad Airlines and two of its aircraft on Wednesday, clearing a carrier Washington had blacklisted in January 2024 over alleged support for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force.
The Baghdad-based carrier was delisted from the Specially Designated Nationals (SDNs) list under each of its three registered names, Fly Baghdad Airlines Company, Fly Baghdad, and Iraq Express .
@JetPhotos
Two Boeing 737 aircraft flown by the airline, carrying the tail numbers YI-BAF and YI-BAN, were removed from the list at the same time.
A US Treasury official, who spoke anonymously, told AFP that the airline had cleared the department's administrative reconsideration process.
"FBA (Fly Baghdad Airlines) has demonstrated major changes to their operations such that their listing is no longer warranted," the official said.
The same official said the delisting is "not indicative of any shift in US policy toward the Government of Iran , the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force, any designated terrorist organization, or any person who supports or acts on behalf of any of these."
Not every restriction tied to the airline has been dropped. Basheer Abdulkadhim Alwan al-Shabbani, the Iraqi national identified as the company's owner when the sanctions were first imposed, remains blacklisted .
His entry was rewritten so that the designation now cites the IRGC Quds Force directly instead of Fly Baghdad.
Washington first designated the airline, its aircraft, and its owner in January 2024, alleging the company supported Iran’s Quds Force and allied groups in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon .
The delisting comes amid a broader US sanctions campaign that continues to target Iran’s IRGC-linked logistics and aviation networks.
Just last week, Washington sanctioned entities tied to Mahan Air , which it alleges helps move weapons, personnel and equipment for the IRGC Quds Force.
The action also hit support firms in China, India and Russia that Treasury says served as the airline’s sales agents and logistics intermediaries.
Tyler Durden
Wed, 08/05/2026 - 22:35 Close
Thu, 06 Aug 2026 02:10:00 +0000 China Is Betting AI, Hypersonic Missiles And Quantum Technology Will Define The Next Era Of Warfare
China Is Betting AI, Hypersonic Missiles And Quantum Technology Will Define The Next Era Of Warfare
As China races to modernize its armed forces, its strategy is increasingly centered on developing technologies that could offset Ame
Read more.....
China Is Betting AI, Hypersonic Missiles And Quantum Technology Will Define The Next Era Of Warfare
As China races to modernize its armed forces, its strategy is increasingly centered on developing technologies that could offset America's traditional military advantages instead of matching the U.S. system for system, according to the South China Morning Post .
That philosophy dates back to Unrestricted Warfare , a book published in 1999 by former PLA strategist Qiao Liang. Rather than copying America's arsenal, Qiao argued China should focus on capabilities Washington lacks. Nearly three decades later, he says the concept still applies. Modern militaries, he said, are now "building weapons for the wars they expect to fight, rather than fighting wars with the weapons they possess."
With the People's Liberation Army approaching its 100th anniversary next year, Beijing is expected to unveil another round of modernization goals as it works toward Xi Jinping's objective of creating a "world class military" by 2049. Analysts say the focus has shifted beyond simply catching the United States. China wants to help define the next era of warfare through artificial intelligence, quantum technology, hypersonic missiles, laser weapons and autonomous systems.
That ambition is perhaps most visible in aviation. The public appearance of China's tailless sixth generation fighter prototypes has fueled speculation that Beijing could be setting the pace in next generation air combat. Military analyst Fu Qianshao called the development "a landmark event," arguing that China is no longer just following trends established by the United States and Russia.
SCMP writes that future battlefields, analysts say, will revolve around connected, intelligent systems rather than individual weapons. Piloted aircraft may direct fleets of drones, armored vehicles could become mobile command and sensing platforms, and combat operations will increasingly link forces across land, sea, air, space and cyberspace with artificial intelligence playing a growing role in decision making.
China is investing heavily across that spectrum. The PLA has accelerated work on advanced aircraft carrier technology, AI powered drone swarms, underwater autonomous vehicles, electronic warfare and high performance computing. Much of that development is supported through Beijing's military civilian fusion strategy, which combines military research with universities and private technology companies.
Among the most closely watched programs are hypersonic weapons, quantum communications and artificial intelligence. China is widely regarded as a leader in hypersonic missile development and has spent years building quantum communication networks that could strengthen secure military communications. AI is already being tested for intelligence analysis, battlefield planning and autonomous drone operations.
Chinese planners have also closely studied the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, where drones have transformed modern combat. That has accelerated work on laser and microwave based air defense systems designed to defeat large drone swarms before they can reach their targets.
Even so, analysts caution that emerging technologies are unlikely to replace traditional military power on their own. Instead, they are expected to strengthen existing forces by making conventional ships, aircraft, missiles and ground units faster, more connected and more effective while introducing new opportunities and new risks.
Tyler Durden
Wed, 08/05/2026 - 22:10 Close
Thu, 06 Aug 2026 01:45:00 +0000 Former Haitian Police Officer And Naturalized US Citizen Pleads Guilty To Gun Running
Former Haitian Police Officer And Naturalized US Citizen Pleads Guilty To Gun Running
Former Haitian Police Officer And Naturalized US Citizen Pleads Guilty To Gun Running
Authored by Michael Clements via The Epoch Times ,
A naturalized U.S. citizen and former Haitian National Police officer pleaded guilty to smuggling at least 140 firearms to Haiti.
Soldiers patrol amid the sound of gunshots heard in the distance in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Oct. 17, 2024. Odelyn Joseph/AP Photo
Jean Robert Casimir, 53, of Lauderhill, Florida, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to conspiracy, smuggling, and violation of the Export Control Reform Act on Tuesday, Aug. 4.
According to court records, Casimir admitted to engaging in an extensive firearms trafficking operation since 2020.
He was arrested on Dec. 16, 2024, in Lauderhill and indicted on Jan. 23, 2025. His sentencing is set for Dec. 4.
Casimir told the court that from August 2020 through December 2024, he illegally exported guns from the United States to Haiti without the required license from the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security.
He told the court he purchased the guns for his security business, which hires off-duty Haitian National Police officers to provide armed security for people visiting the island.
According to an arrest warrant affidavit, Homeland Security investigators saw photographs of firearms used by Haitian gangs in which serial numbers were clearly visible. The affidavit stated that the guns were traced back to legal purchases Casimir made at a Florida gun store in 2020.
Casimir denied selling guns to gang members. He said the guns were stolen from one of his employees during a robbery.
To smuggle the firearms, Casimir and his co-conspirators disassembled the guns, encased them in a foam insulating material and sealed them in industrial air compressors they had cut open and welded back together. They shipped the air compressors to Haiti from Miami.
The investigation was a combined effort by the FBI Miami Field Office, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., and HSI Miami with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The case is being prosecuted by U.S. Attorneys from the District of Columbia and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) National Security Division, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida.
According to a DOJ press release, the case is part of a Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative to eliminate criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad.
"Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations," the press release states.
According to data released by the United Nations Human Rights Office, there are an estimated 270,000 to 500,000 illegal weapons in circulation in Haiti, even though country does not manufacture guns or ammunition.
Haiti has been overrun by armed gangs and vigilante groups for more than a decade.
Political corruption and natural disasters have destabilized the country. As the government struggled to deal with the crises, powerful gangs took control of various areas, including the capital, Port au Prince.
Armed off-duty police officers take cover during an exchange of gunfire with army soldiers as they protest over police pay and working conditions in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Feb. 23, 2020. Dieu Nalio Chery/Ap Photo
Tyler Durden
Wed, 08/05/2026 - 21:45 Close
Thu, 06 Aug 2026 01:20:00 +0000 Louisiana Has The Highest Car Ownership Burden In America
Louisiana Has The Highest Car Ownership Burden In America
For many Americans, owning a car is a necessity, but the financial burden varies dramatically by state. In the least affordable places, annual vehicle expenses consume nearly
Read more.....
Louisiana Has The Highest Car Ownership Burden In America
For many Americans, owning a car is a necessity, but the financial burden varies dramatically by state. In the least affordable places, annual vehicle expenses consume nearly one-quarter of the typical household’s income.
This map, via Visual Capitalist's Dorothy Neufeld, ranks every state by annual car ownership costs as a share of median household income, based on analysis from LendingTree of active auto loan holders. The estimates include financing, insurance, fuel, and maintenance.
The States Where Car Ownership Costs the Most
The table below ranks every state by annual car ownership costs as a share of median household income.
State
Total Costs
Median Household Income
% of Household Income
Louisiana
$14,894
$64,199
23.2%
Mississippi
$13,378
$62,242
21.5%
New Mexico
$14,115
$71,388
19.8%
Arkansas
$12,798
$65,378
19.6%
Alabama
$13,164
$70,171
18.8%
West Virginia
$11,951
$64,001
18.7%
Kentucky
$12,628
$67,925
18.6%
Oklahoma
$12,722
$69,633
18.3%
Florida
$14,546
$81,830
17.8%
Missouri
$13,235
$75,360
17.6%
Arizona
$14,860
$85,779
17.3%
Wyoming
$13,533
$79,511
17.0%
Texas
$14,139
$83,921
16.8%
Nevada
$14,341
$85,408
16.8%
Montana
$13,245
$79,309
16.7%
Georgia
$13,733
$84,205
16.3%
Tennessee
$12,350
$75,790
16.3%
Kansas
$12,941
$79,492
16.3%
Indiana
$12,269
$75,750
16.2%
South Carolina
$12,233
$76,161
16.1%
Michigan
$12,208
$76,202
16.0%
North Dakota
$12,766
$81,973
15.6%
Ohio
$11,574
$76,016
15.2%
Iowa
$11,992
$79,478
15.1%
North Carolina
$11,725
$77,854
15.1%
Nebraska
$12,133
$80,399
15.1%
South Dakota
$12,092
$80,931
14.9%
Wisconsin
$11,947
$81,570
14.6%
New York
$13,183
$90,341
14.6%
Idaho
$12,340
$85,442
14.4%
Pennsylvania
$11,735
$81,630
14.4%
Illinois
$12,549
$87,594
14.3%
Maine
$11,231
$80,469
14.0%
Oregon
$12,528
$89,709
14.0%
Delaware
$12,680
$92,145
13.8%
Rhode Island
$12,042
$87,903
13.7%
Colorado
$13,876
$102,229
13.6%
California
$14,325
$105,425
13.6%
Minnesota
$12,304
$91,706
13.4%
Vermont
$11,542
$87,088
13.3%
Alaska
$13,051
$100,705
13.0%
Washington
$13,558
$104,625
13.0%
Utah
$13,023
$101,750
12.8%
Virginia
$12,214
$96,941
12.6%
New Jersey
$13,708
$109,788
12.5%
Connecticut
$12,630
$101,109
12.5%
Hawaii
$13,193
$106,052
12.4%
Maryland
$13,314
$108,326
12.3%
District of Columbia
$13,205
$115,486
11.4%
New Hampshire
$11,418
$105,038
10.9%
Massachusetts
$11,745
$110,350
10.6%
???? U.S. Average
$12,841
$85,759
15.0%
Data is for active auto loan holders. Cost and income figures were adjusted to 2026 dollars.
Louisiana is the nation’s least affordable state for car ownership, with the typical household spending 23.2% of its income, or $14,894 annually, on vehicle expenses. By comparison, Massachusetts households devote just 10.6% of their income to car ownership.
Mississippi, New Mexico, Arkansas, and Alabama round out the top five, with households in each spending roughly one-fifth of their income on car ownership.
Why Car Ownership Is Less Affordable Across the South
The South dominates the least affordable rankings because many states combine relatively modest household incomes with high ownership costs.
Insurance is one major factor. Louisiana and Florida, for example, consistently rank among the country’s most expensive states for auto insurance due to severe weather, litigation costs, and high accident claims.
Drivers in many Southern states also travel more miles each year, increasing spending on fuel , maintenance, and repairs.
America’s Most Affordable States for Car Ownership
Massachusetts has the nation’s lowest car ownership burden, with annual costs equal to 10.6% of median household income, or $11,745.
New Hampshire and Maryland also rank among the most affordable states, helping make the Northeast the country’s least financially burdensome region for car ownership. Higher incomes help keep costs manageable across much of the region, while extensive public transit may allow some households to drive less or own fewer vehicles.
These rankings show that car affordability depends on more than the cost of owning and operating a vehicle. Household income also plays a major role, meaning similar expenses can create very different financial burdens depending on where people live.
To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the cheapest car brands to own and maintain.
Tyler Durden
Wed, 08/05/2026 - 21:20 Close
Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:55:00 +0000 Declassified Documents Show FBI Probed Whether Trump Fired Comey At Russia's Direction
Declassified Documents Show FBI Probed Whether Trump Fired Comey At Russia's Direction
Declassified Documents Show FBI Probed Whether Trump Fired Comey At Russia's Direction
Authored by Zachary Stieber via The Epoch Times ,
Newly declassified documents show the FBI probed President Donald Trump's termination of the agency's director as part of an effort to substantiate allegations that Trump colluded with Russia.
Former FBI Director James Comey in Berlin, Germany, on June 19, 2018. Carsten Koall/Getty Images
The documents, declassified by a White House task force on Aug. 5 , refer to Trump's firing of FBI Director James Comey on May 9, 2017.
In one of the documents, dated May 16, 2017, the FBI said it was opening an investigation "based on an articulable factual basis that reasonably indicates that President Donald J. Trump may be or has been, wittingly or unwittingly, involved in activities for or on behalf of the Government of the Russian Federation which may constitute violations of federal criminal law or threats to the national security of the United States."
The goal of the investigation "is to determine if President Trump is or was directed by, controlled by, and/or coordinated activities with, the Russian Federation in a manner constituting a threat to the national security of the United States and/or a violation of federal criminal statutes," the document states.
The investigation, codenamed Oxferd Comma, would also look into whether Trump and "others yet to be named" obstructed or conspired to obstruct any related FBI investigations , according to the document.
That included whether Trump's firing of Comey was linked to the FBI probing Russian efforts to influence the 2016 election, the document said.
Comey was fired after officials determined he mishandled a probe into then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's use of a personal server to send classified emails , including announcing without clearance from the attorney general that the case should be closed without prosecution, according to a memorandum from then-Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to the attorney general that was later made public.
Trump said shortly after Comey's termination that he fired Comey due to his mishandling the probe of Clinton, who ran against Trump in the 2016 election.
The document opening the probe said that Trump's rationale for firing Comey "has changed over time."
While Trump initially in public attributed the decision to conclusions from Rosenstein and then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and the White House said in a statement that the firing had "nothing to do with Russia," Trump said in a television interview several days later that he was going to fire Comey regardless of the recommendation from Department of Justice officials because "this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made up story."
James Baker, the FBI's general counsel at the time, and William Priestap, the FBI's assistant director for counterintelligence at the time, signed off on the probe , and other top FBI officials, such as acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe, were aware of the investigation, according to the document and other papers.
The White House Government Transparency Task Force declassified and released the documents.
Trump created the task force in May to advise him on documents "that should be declassified and/or released to the public to further his administration's priorities of transparency and accountability," according to a July 13 statement from the task force.
John Solomon, chairman of the task force, said in a statement released by the White House that evidence when the investigation was opened already undercut suspicions that Trump was acting as a Russian asset , including testimony from FBI special agent William Barnett.
The White House declined to comment.
The FBI did not respond to a request for comment by publication time.
The probe into Trump's termination of Comey was closed on April 9, 2019, after special counsel Robert Mueller concluded that there was no evidence to support claims that Trump and his campaign colluded or coordinated with Russia .
"The Special Counsel provided the Attorney General with a confidential report explaining his prosecution and declination decisions," the document outlining the closing of the investigation reads.
Tyler Durden
Wed, 08/05/2026 - 20:55 Close
Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:30:00 +0000 Fresh Panic As Pentagon Has Used 'Virtually All' Its Long-Range Precision Missiles On Iran
Fresh Panic As Pentagon Has Used 'Virtually All' Its Long-Range Precision Missiles On Iran
US forces "used up virtually all" of their precision, long-range missiles during the course of the Iran war, and during the earlier heavy US-
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Fresh Panic As Pentagon Has Used 'Virtually All' Its Long-Range Precision Missiles On Iran
US forces "used up virtually all" of their precision, long-range missiles during the course of the Iran war, and during the earlier heavy US-Israeli campaign of Operation Epic Fury, Reuters reported Tuesday.
This has raised serious "concerns about the military's ?readiness for future conflicts," informed sources told the outlet. In particular it is the Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM) which are said to be running critically low.
US Army file image
"Washington has used virtually all of these weapons ," two sources told Reuters, after several media reports and think tank studies had already sounded the alarm over dwindling missiles amid both the Iran war and in the years-long process of supplying Ukraine. Low Patriot defense missile supplies have also been a persisting issue in the headlines.
They are costly and time-consuming in terms of manufacturing replacements. For example a single ATACMS munition costs about $1 million.
One immediate consequence could be that if heavy bombardment of Iran starts up again, the US would have to conduct riskier piloted aerial bombings - instead relying on longer range precision strikes afforded by the land-based systems at safer distances.
And another, somewhat obvious consequence, is highlighted in the following: "But as ?the war drags on, the three people familiar with the matter expressed worry that the falling missile supplies could limit the U.S. ability to deter adversaries, including Russia and China ."
The report added: "A fourth person ?familiar with the matter said that while Central Command — which oversees U.S. forces in the Middle East — has nearly used up the land-based missiles it had before the war began, it has been able to reload from U.S. military supplies elsewhere in the ?world."
President Trump has of late responded to these now widespread reports of badly depleted advanced munitions, explaining that "Our defense companies are, at this moment, making more munitions than they have ever made before, ?in addition to expanding their plants and equipment at record levels."
Additionally, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth took to social media to refute the report, calling it false news.
“That banner is NOT TRUE, CNN. Shame on you,” the Pentagon chief said in a post on X. “We don’t hate the Fake News media enough.”
Hegseth was specifically referring to a CNN on-screen banner that read: “Sources: U.S. has used nearly 80% of key missile interceptors in Iran war, top commanders warn stockpiles dangerously low.”
However, the Reuters report has set off speculation that Trump's weekend backtracking on planned 'harder' Iran strikes could have been in part because the Pentagon has warned of waning supplies and capabilities regarding conventional way of doing long-range missile strikes.
Critics of the decision to go to war in the first place have warned over this very scenario of exhausting Pentagon stockpiles. Those against this war of choice say that it's the opposite of America First - and that ultimately the war is about protecting Israel and not necessarily American security and interests.
The reality also is that in the opening days of Operation Epic Fury, the US seemed underprepared for the ferocity of the Iranian response . At least 13 American bases in the region were hit and damaged in just the opening weeks of the war, to the point that US forces across the region had to be moved back from front line Gulf areas, and energy sites across the region were pummeled and suffered billions of dollars in damage.
Tyler Durden
Wed, 08/05/2026 - 20:30 Close
Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:05:00 +0000 China's Power Demand Hits Records As Heatwave Grips Key Regions
China's Power Demand Hits Records As Heatwave Grips Key Regions
China's Power Demand Hits Records As Heatwave Grips Key Regions
By Irina Slav of OilPrice.com
Electricity demand in much of China hit a record this week due to scorching summer temperatures, driving grid loads to all-time highs, the State Grid Corporation of China said today, as cited by Reuters.
On Monday and Tuesday, the company said, electricity loads reached a record in the country’s northern, northeastern, and eastern regions. No blackouts have been reported, however, as the grid operator moves in time to direct more baseload electricity where it is needed for air-conditioning.
According to forecasts from the Chinese state meteorological agency, temperatures across much of China will remain high, in some cases potentially reaching or even exceeding historical peaks, the Reuters report also noted.
In January this year, State Grid Corporation of China, the world’s largest utility enterprise covering 88% of China’s land area and serving over 1.1 billion people, said it planned to spend $574 billion (4 trillion Chinese yuan) on fixed-asset investments for the five years to 2030, as part of its 2026-2030 investment plan.
The sum is 40% higher than what the State Grid Corporation of China spent in the previous five-year investment period to 2025 . The company will use the money to upgrade and expand the power transmission and distribution systems amid a surge in renewable energy capacity installations and a continued rise in electricity demand.
China is the world’s biggest builder of wind and solar, but it has also expanded its coal-powered generation capacity to ensure stable supply that can respond to demand changes in a timely fashion. Yet the country is also building out its battery storage capacity to be able to utilize more of its wind and solar electricity output. China plans to have its battery storage capacity more than double to 180 gigawatts by 2027 in a new plan aimed at attracting $35.1 billion (250 billion yuan).
Tyler Durden
Wed, 08/05/2026 - 20:05 Close
Wed, 05 Aug 2026 23:15:00 +0000 Federal Operation Takes More Than 800 Dangerous Truckers Off US Highways
Federal Operation Takes More Than 800 Dangerous Truckers Off US Highways
Federal Operation Takes More Than 800 Dangerous Truckers Off US Highways
Authored by Kimberly Hayek via The Epoch Times ,
Federal authorities took more than 800 dangerous truckers off America's roads in a three-day enforcement action, officials revealed Tuesday. In the operation, they targeted unqualified foreign drivers and unsafe commercial vehicles.
A truck drives through the Port of Oakland in Oakland, Calif., on Nov. 14, 2025. California has revoke 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses improperly issued to foreign drivers, about 2.5 percent of all commercial licenses in the state. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
The most recent wave of Operation Highway Shield was conducted from July 28 to July 30. Inspectors from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations collaborated with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and state highway patrols. They conducted roadside checks on illegal, unvetted drivers and vehicles that failed basic safety standards.
Officers detained 51 illegal immigrants over the course of three days, including 21 drivers holding non-domiciled commercial driver licenses issued by California and New York. Authorities placed 766 unsafe drivers and vehicles out of service. They arrested 86 operators for dangerous behavior, such as road rage and domestic violence. Officials issued 36 violations for failing English language proficiency tests, and nearly $1 million in stolen cargo was recovered.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy announced the early results. Mullin underscored the risks unqualified drivers pose when they are behind the wheel of large trucks.
"When illegal aliens are behind the wheels of semi-trucks, they are putting American lives in danger," DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in an X post.
Duffy said the effort was part of President Trump's directive to secure roads, eliminate fraud, and restore integrity to the trucking industry.
"Every life lost from an illegal trucker behind the wheel of a big rig is a completely preventable tragedy - and this administration will not stand for it," Duffy said.
"If you continue to illegally operate a big rig - your days on America's streets are numbered," the Secretary warned.
Last month, DHS and DOT announced a partnership in an effort to probe fraudulent and illegal practices at commercial driver license schools. Officials have said the schools issue credentials to unqualified individuals, including illegal immigrants, allowing them to drive semi-trucks on public highways.
Roadside inspections entail officers checking licenses, testing language proficiency required for reading road signs and understanding instructions, examining vehicle condition, and reviewing driver records. Failures in any of those areas can lead to immediate out-of-service orders. The targeted driver or vehicle can no longer be operated until deficiencies are fixed or the driver is removed from the road.
English language proficiency has become a key area of focus. Federal rules require commercial drivers to be capable of communicating sufficiently in English to understand highway signs, respond to law enforcement, and handle emergencies.
Tyler Durden
Wed, 08/05/2026 - 19:15 Close