(August 20, 2025)
Die FDP-Europaabgeordnete Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann hat den Einsatz von deutschen Bodentruppen zur Friedenssicherung in der Ukraine nicht kategorisch ausgeschlossen. „Die Frage wird sein, wenn es erforderlich ist, die Ukraine zu sichern: Reicht es, das mit Aufrüstung zu machen? Bedarf es anderer Schutztruppen?“, sagte sie im gemeinsamen Morgenmagazin von ARD und ZDF.
– U.S. reportedly knew of at least one Israeli base since June 2025 but likely withheld information from Iraq.
– Iraq was compelled to shut down its radar to protect U.S. aircraft during both the 12-day war and the 2026 conflict.
– The concealment of Israeli operations intensified scrutiny over Iraq’s sovereignty and coalition transparency.
– Iraqi political figures called for full transparency and stronger oversight mechanisms to prevent foreign intrusion.
In a deeply embarrassing development for Baghdad, Israel established two forward-operating bases (FOBs) for supporting air campaigns against Iran on federal Iraqi territory in a flagrant violation of Iraq’s already fragile sovereignty.
The Wall Street Journal reported the first base’s existence, in the barren Nukhaib desert southwest of the Shia shrine cities of Najaf and Karbala, on 9 May. The New York Times further revealed Sunday that Israel also set up a second base somewhere else in the country’s western desert regions that it operated for over a year and even used during the June 2025 12-day war.
(January 29, 2026)
Vor allem an der Grenze zur irakischen Region Anbar, aber auch in den zwischen Bagdad und Erbil umstrittenen Regionen in Nordirak sei der IS bestrebt, sich Rückzugsräume zu schaffen und erneut territorial Fuß zu fassen. Dabei stelle sich die Terrororganisation in ihren Befehls- und Kampfstrukturen zunehmend dezentral auf. So gelinge es ihr dem hohen Verfolgungsdruck teils auszuweichen.
Völkerrechtliche Grundlage für den Fähigkeitsaufbau der regulären irakischer Streit- und Sicherheitskräfte ist laut Bundesregierung die Zustimmung der irakischen Regierung sowie mehrere Resolutionen des UN-Sicherheitsrates, nach denen vom IS eine Bedrohung für den Weltfrieden und die internationale Sicherheit ausgeht.
(May 16, 2026)
The physical record is not seriously in dispute, and it begins with a shepherd. On March 4, a local herder in the remote desert southwest of Najaf and Karbala reported unusual helicopter activity to military authorities in Najaf. Iraqi forces were dispatched. They came under fire from the air. One soldier was killed, and two were wounded. Baghdad submitted a protest note to the Global Coalition without naming who had fired, and the incident was quietly classified —until the Wall Street Journal named the party responsible on May 9.
The presence of an Israeli outpost in Iraq was previously reported by The Wall Street Journal. Iraqi officials told The Times there was another undisclosed second base also in Iraq’s western desert.
The base Mr. al-Shammari came across predated the current war between the United States, Israel and Iran, the regional security officials said, and was used during the 12-day war against Tehran in June 2025.
Israeli forces began preparing to build the makeshift base as far back as late 2024, one of the regional officials said — identifying remote sites from which to operate in future conflicts.
The presence of two secret Israeli bases in Iraq may have led to the death of a shepherd who discovered them, according to an investigation by The New York Times (NYT).
The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Israel set up a covert outpost in Iraq’s western desert during the conflict with Iran. The site was reportedly used to support air operations and housed special forces units.
An Iraqi government spokesman declined to comment further on the incident or whether it knew of the Israeli base.
Israel set up a clandestine military outpost in the Iraqi desert to support its air campaign against Iran and launched airstrikes against Iraqi troops who almost discovered it early in the war, people familiar with the matter including U.S. officials said.
The drawdown, which comes after the country’s leader sparred with President Donald Trump over the Iran war, leaves about 33,000 troops there.
US-Verteidigungsminister Pete Hegseth hat den Abzug von etwa 5.000 US-Soldaten aus Deutschland angeordnet. Man gehe davon aus, dass der Abzug innerhalb der nächsten sechs bis zwölf Monate abgeschlossen sein werde, teilte ein Sprecher des Pentagons mit.
“The United States is studying and reviewing the possible reduction of Troops in Germany, with a determination to be made over the next short period of time,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform Wednesday night.
On Thursday, he expanded his threat to Italy and Spain. “I mean, they haven’t been exactly on board,” Trump answered, when asked about the possibility of cuts to troop levels in the two countries. “Yeah, probably will,” Trump added, “Why shouldn’t I? Italy has not been of any help. Spain has been horrible. Absolutely.”
Iran launched attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday while calling the U.S. military‘s blockade of Iranian ports a breach of the ongoing ceasefire. CBS News‘ Natalie Brand and Charlie D‘Agata have more.
Clark also said that Iran is aware of the strategic value of the Strait of Hormuz in negotiations: “More useful than a nuclear weapon. And they’ve used it,” he said. “And they don’t believe we have an answer for it.”
He added, “They know we don’t want to commit ground troops. They know we don’t want to take losses. We don’t want to get our ships close enough to be hit by their missiles … so this is a real tough military problem. That’s unfortunate because that’s driving their stance in the negotiations.”
No decision has been made, and the White House has not directed the Pentagon to draw up concrete plans for a troop reduction on the continent, said the official, who requested anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.
George found out in a phone call from Hegseth on Thursday while he was in a meeting, a second US official said. He later spoke to his staff in person about the announcement, and his staff was “very stoic” when receiving the news, the official said.
As the Army chief, George has worked closely with Army Secretary Dan Driscoll — a senior official close to the White House whom Hegseth has perceived as a threat and at times had a contentious relationship with.
As is often the case in large-scale military operations, logistics are crucial to success. Preparing, staging, and deploying a large, mechanized ground force is a massive and difficult undertaking, and in this case, the favorable points of entry are most likely Turkish territory or the ocean. It seems unlikely the United States could stage an invasion force in Iraq.
To say the prospective operation is “high-risk” might be an understatement. Any concentration of U.S. forces would immediately offer a target for Iran’s remaining precision-guided ballistic missiles.
A report by Washington Post said the Pentagon is weighing bold military actions, including raids on Kharg Island and strategic coastal targets near the Strait of Hormuz.
The moves stop short of a full invasion, but the stakes could not be higher. The plans involve elite special operations forces alongside conventional infantry, putting American troops directly in the line of fire against Iranian drones, missile systems, and ground defenses.
As Israel escalates its operations in Lebanon, it is also preparing for a potential escalation in its conflict with Iran. While awaiting developments regarding possible U.S.-Iran negotiations, Israel‘s air force is reportedly preparing for joint operations with the United States Army if diplomacy fails, including scenarios involving the Strait of Hormuz.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on world leaders to participate in the US-Israeli assault on Iran.
Speaking from the site of an attack in the southern Israeli city of Arad, Netanyahu said: „It‘s time for world leaders to join us, and I’m seeing movement from some in that direction.“
He warned that Iran „has the whole world in its sights“.
(March 22, 2026)
“They have the capacity to reach deep into Europe,” Netanyahu warned. “They are putting everyone in their sights.”
“If you want proof that Iran endangers the entire world, the last 48 hours have proved it,” he said. “They fired on Jerusalem right next to the holy sites of the three monotheistic faiths.”
“It’s time to see the leaders of the rest of the countries join up,” Netanyahu pointed out. “I’m happy to see that some of them are moving in that direction, but more is needed.”
(March 9, 2026)
Since the escalation began last week, Israeli attacks have killed at least 486 people in Lebanon—including 83 children—and wounded more than 1,313 others, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. “On average, more than 10 children have been killed every day across Lebanon over the past week, with approximately 36 children injured each day,” UNICEF said in a statement.
Sweeping displacement orders issued by the Israeli military have forced hundreds of thousands of people from their homes. After ordering everyone south of the Litani River to flee north on March 4, the Israeli military issued a displacement order for all of Beirut’s southern suburb of Dahiye—home to approximately 700,000 people—causing panic and traffic jams across the capital. Evacuation orders have also been issued for parts of the Bekaa Valley.
“The Kurdistan Regional Government and the political parties within it are not part of any campaign to expand the war and tensions in the region,” a government spokesperson, Peshawa Hawramani, said in a statement. He added that reports of Iraqi KRG involvement in a plan to arm Kurdish forces are being spread “deliberately and maliciously.”
“On the contrary, we call for peace and stability in the region,” Hawramani added. “We strongly condemn the cowardly attacks targeting the Kurdistan Region, and we call on the federal government and the international community to intervene to stop these assaults and protect our land, our people, and our region.”
(March 4, 2026)
Washington and Erbil, Iraq —
The CIA is working to arm Kurdish forces with the aim of fomenting a popular uprising in Iran, multiple people familiar with the plan told CNN.
The Trump administration has been in active discussions with Iranian opposition groups and Kurdish leaders in Iraq about providing them with military support, the sources said.
(March 4, 2026)
Pro-American, Iranian Kurdish forces based in Iraq are preparing armed units that could enter Iran, creating a potential new front in an already expanding conflict, according to Iraqi officials and senior members of Iranian Kurdish groups.
The C.I.A. has previously given small arms to the Iranian Kurdish forces as part of a covert program to destabilize Iran, an effort that began before the current war, according to people familiar with the effort.
Merz’ Washington-Besuch macht zugleich deutlich, was zum Minimalprogramm der Wiederherstellung demokratischer Souveränität in Deutschland gehört. Ohne eine Kündigung der US-Basen – insbesondere von Ramstein, über die der völkerrechtswidrige Angriffskrieg gegen den Iran mit geführt wird – ist dies nicht zu erreichen. Was die NATO angeht, zeigen Trumps Drohungen im Zusammenhang mit Militärbasen eindeutig, dass allein ein Austritt aus dem Militärpakt der jeweiligen europäischen Regierung die Möglichkeit eröffnet, eigenständig über die Außen- und Sicherheitspolitik ihres Landes zu entscheiden.
Trump’s brand of gangster imperialism is at its most reckless. This attack is about regime change, but regime change by bombing has never succeeded. The history of the last 25 years is strewn with examples of supposedly bringing peace and democracy at the end of an American missile, and every time it has failed: in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, it has brought much greater death and destruction and created chaos and civil war – and ended in US defeat. In Syria, the new government is compliant with the US, but that took a decade and a half of civil war and bombing for the US to achieve and has left the country divided and wrecked. They will not care if Iran suffers the same fate.
The idea that the state responsible for a genocide in Gaza, aligned with one that has the overwhelming advantage in military power anywhere in the world, and has invaded far more countries than any other, is going to do anything to improve the lives of Iranians, would be an absolutely sick joke if it were not so dangerous. The assassination of Khamenei is in breach of international law, as was the Maduro kidnap.