@saladinaldronni
Researcher. Polish voice on terror, conflicts, crime networks, Islamic State, al-Qaeda. Now, also following Islamic State's plans in Africa. Politics in the Sahel. Writing for hire. DM. @saladinaldronni on X/Twitter https://ko-fi.com/saladinaldronni
Exclusive: Israel backing Iranian Kurdish plans to seize Iran border areas, sources say, with Israel planning its own operation separate from the US www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-backing-iranian-kurdish-plans-seize-iran-border-areas-sources-say-2026-03-06/
Side note - still unbelievable to read reports that Pakistan is bombing Taliban tanks and artillery, and Taliban conducts aerial warfare against Pakistani military installations.
To say that both sides of Balochistan are tense would be an understatement. Mass disinfo, but it's clear something is happening. Though it's easier to follow on Pakistani side. Pakistani military fighting millions of organisations is feeling the heat from Iran too.
I was thinking of doing this, especially since I am in the middle of writing an article about the Islamic State in Balochistan, it's connected. Maybe even this weekend, will see.
Didn't quite expect to be doing all this refugee count before the Iran war started, but there are more wars ongoing, including the key one between the Taliban and Pakistan, that will 100% for sure be converging with the crisis in Iran, especially when Balochistan explodes.
bsky.app/profile/sala...
My constant posts about the refugee crisis out of Iran is echoed by the EUAA warning in exactly the same style I have been - nothing on this crisis can be underestimated if it continues, due to sheer scale of destruction ongoing.
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Russia is providing Iran with targeting information to attack American forces in the Middle East, the first indication that another major U.S. adversary is participating in the war if if indirectly.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
*The war between the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan and Pakistan continues in many areas, sparking a significant refugee crisis, so far contained and supported by the UN agencies. Those however, are at maximum capacity, overwhelmed preparing in the whole region.
Questions everywhere. We are soon to have the full week of war and it only expands further. Europeans have joined the defence of Arab states, especially the UK and France, bound by agreemens with the Gulf. Iran continues to refuse to give in.
It's only the beginning.
There is an open question now, what exactly will the dictator of Azerbaijan be planning. Azerbaijan has been at the Iranian border for a few days, prepared just as the Turks have been. Some calculations may change, now that he was provoked by Iranian drones in the morning.
According to UN, on Monday at least 30 000 Lebanese escaped north,trying to seek shelter, though obviously it's been two days and the influx has since grown.
There is an issue with Shias, with Christians and Sunnis refusing to accomodate them, blaming them for Israel's invasion.
*Israel is yet to expand its campaign in Lebanon, with the ground ops likely to be launched against Hezbollah soon, though President Macron of France seems to be invested in brokering agreements. Given the history of those... I doubt Israel will honor it for much longer.
*Israel and the US are jointly operating inside Iraqi provinces, with some forces confirmed operating on the ground and wiping out Iranian affiliates - Iraq itself seems to be trying to slowly distance themselves from Hashd, even though it continues to be part of government.
I obviously continue to urge the terrorism angle problem, that is bound to arise, once IRGC is forced to seriously consider shifting resources to halt any Kurdish incursion - as we have seen in the last two days, this is still a major event likely to happen, promoted by Trump.
Given the extent of the US bombings that is in part focused on shattering Iranian capacity to monopolise violence in many parts of the country, annihilating police stations, communication towers, anti-terror bases, there are increasing concers of what next.
It matters because of budget constraints and all humanitarian organisations preparing supplies in and nearby Iran, in case of a massive influx of escaping Iranians. Depending on how the US/Israeli campaign goes, we may see first signs soon.
UN estimates the returned in recent two years Afghans from Iran and Pakistan to be over 5 mln, which is even more than I wrote 3 days ago here, pointing out the arriving problem
*The war between the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan and Pakistan continues in many areas, sparking a significant refugee crisis, so far contained and supported by the UN agencies. Those however, are at maximum capacity, overwhelmed preparing in the whole region.
Exclusive: Hezbollah elite fighters return to south Lebanon to fight Israel, after the withdrawal in 2024 .
www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/hezbollah-elite-fighters-return-south-lebanon-fight-israeli-troops-lebanese-2026-03-05/
Kinda ok
A lot of people used to deny Iran is a threat to anyone, dismissing such fears, but the Arabs built up their arsenal in last decade purely for something this
This, missiles, drones, widespread and deliberate madness, external terrorism in Europe, US, LATAM, connected to what Saddam was accused of, but Iran is rightly being constantly watched for, is how it all looked like an enormous sword among the Arabs heads.
This is also what everyone in the Arab world feared every time Iranian Quds operatives were involved in genocides and no one could retaliate back, especially with US reluctant to do much in recent decades.
You had to fight them with one hand bound behind your back.
If anything, Aliyev is going to double down viciously.
This here, my fellow readers, is how you also involve Europe, now that the Gulf is as good as closed
Iranian Shaheed deliberately bombing an Azeri airport is one of those decisions that IRGC no longer has any capacity to think of consequences. Purely paranoid. Rationale behind it ofc exists but it's going to be stretched to maximum.
There indeed seems to be some thought to confuse IRGC and make them paranoid of a hammer, they wouldn't know where exactly would land.
And this wave of CIA talking to all journalists is them sending a message through media to interested parties.
I don't like it.
They really want to make a comeback of some kind of Enduring Freedom, with Northern Alliance of Kurdish version. I'd like to hear more of what the CIA is exactly counting on. Because it seems to me, that there are also "Eastern" and "Southern" Alliances covertly crafted...
My brain already hurts from imagining the despair, hunger, smuggling, dark market, sex trafficking, slavery, illicit trade, terrorism that are bound to emerge once this fiasco continues. Am I dooming? Maybe. But it's a legit concern.