US - Islamic World News

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution met with thousands of people from East Azerbaijan Province, today, on February 17, 2026. In this meeting, which took place on the eve of the anniversary of the historic uprising of the people of Tabriz on February 18, 1978, the Leader described the threatening statements of the US President as a manifestation of their desire to dominate the Iranian nation.

In recent years, Iraq’s digital economy has developed into one of the country’s most vibrant and rapidly expanding sectors. Factors such as the increasing youth population, the government’s gradual adoption of electronic services, and Iraq’s potential to serve as a regional hub for transit and data exchange have attracted significant attention from both domestic and international stakeholders. While Western exploitation of Iraq’s oil industry posed certain challenges, the communications and information technology sector has now become a strategic focus for various groups and nations. Baghdad aims to achieve two main objectives: first, to generate financial resources to sustain its operations, and second, to influence and oversee data flows to enhance its social impact and bolster security efforts against external influences.

Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, emphasized that oversight by the International Atomic Energy Agency within the framework of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons is accepted, but a complete halt to uranium enrichment is unrealistic.

Major General Seyyed Abdolrahim Mousavi, Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, responded to recent remarks by Donald Trump describing his statements as reckless and unbefitting of a head of state.

Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State, stated that the administration of Donald Trump continues to emphasize pursuing a diplomatic solution toward Iran, adding that Washington’s primary focus remains on continuing negotiations.

Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s Foreign Minister, left Tehran at the head of a diplomatic and technical delegation for Geneva to participate in the second round of negotiations with the United States, as well as in diplomatic consultations.

Hamza al-Mustafa, Syria’s Minister of Information, met yesterday with a delegation from the U.S.-based organization IREX, which operates in the fields of education, media development, youth empowerment, and social change. The two sides discussed the state of the media sector in Syria and related development programs.

Following their withdrawal from the Al-Shaddadi base in southern Hasakah province, U.S. forces set fire to their facilities. This action comes amid new U.S. military movements in northeastern Syria and the relocation of equipment from various bases, including Kharab al-Jir, toward the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

In recent days, U.S. military drones have carried out three targeted assassination operations against members of Al-Qaeda and possibly Islamic State (ISIS) in the provinces of Marib and Al-Mahrah, located in central and eastern Yemen.

The United States has advanced its drone strategy in West Asia by deploying the first operational unit equipped with affordable kamikaze drones, which are reverse-engineered from the Iranian Shahed-136. The creation of the “Scorpion Strike” task force, integrated into the “US Military Drone Dominance Plan,” signifies a shift in the air power balance and marks the beginning of an era focused on the mass production of inexpensive, quickly manufactured, and large-scale operational drones. This development poses several strategic challenges that we will explore below.

Following recent political and field developments in Syria, the US presence in the northeast has entered a new phase. Although reports since early 2025 indicate a reduction in forces and the evacuation of some bases in Deir Ezzor, field evidence and satellite images suggest this is not a complete withdrawal. Instead, it appears to be a shift and concentration of presence toward the eastern-northeastern corridor of Syria. This change coincides with decreased activity at Deir Ezzor bases and increased infrastructure development at several eastern bases, notably “Qasrak” and “Shaddadi”. The simultaneous trends—waning presence in the west and expansion in the east—raise a key question: What is the true US strategy in Syria? Is it a gradual withdrawal or a reconfiguration for a new phase?

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), alongside the Eskan and Prince Sultan air bases near Riyadh, operates another facility at the port of Yanbu in western Saudi Arabia, known as L.S.A. Jenkins.