🇸🇦🇮🇶 - The Wall Street Journal reports that an assessment from Saudi Arabia estimates that half of the nearly 1,000 drones launched at them during the Iran war came from Iraq.

🇺🇸⚡- The Senate Banking Committee is scheduled to hold a confirmation hearing today for Kevin Warsh for the Fed chair.

🇺🇸🇮🇷🇮🇱 - With the US-Iran temporary ceasefire set to expire tomorrow, it is still unclear if the Iranian delegation will attend the final meetings in Pakistan, with both sides unwilling to budge on key issues like nuclear programs. Meanwhile, the US continues to build up it's forces within the region in the background, with many aspects of the US aerial flights resembling the build-up towards the start of the war, and even more.

As we stated previously, the current air buildup in the Middle East is the largest since Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. Furthermore, the deployment of three aircraft carrier strike groups would make this not only the largest combat naval buildup, but the largest overall US forces buildup since Operation Iraqi Freedom as well.

Two aircraft carrier strike groups are within the CENTCOM area of responsibility, with the third last seen next to Madagascar, estimated to arrive within the week.

While most assets that joined the war have remained within the region or rotated out with equal replacements, the US aerial refueler fleet has continued repositioning flights during the ceasefire, with 94 repositioning flights since the start of the ceasefire compared to 135 in the lead-up to the war (Feb 14–28). This likely indicates significant movement of new air assets into the CENTCOM area of operations to join existing forces.

U.S. military cargo flights have also seen a large surge when compared to before the war. In the two weeks leading up to the war (Feb 14–28), 542 cargo flights were tracked heading to the region. Meanwhile, during the ceasefire (Apr 8–21), 819 cargo flights were tracked throughout the region, with the majority landing in the Middle East.

🇺🇸🇮🇷🇨🇳⚡️- "We caught a ship yesterday that had somethings on it that weren't very nice, a gift from china perhaps, i don't know, but i was really surprised. I had a very good relationship with and I thought I had an understanding with President Xi, but that's alright, that's the way war goes." - President Trump

🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡️- CNBC: "You're saying that you need at least the prospects for a signed deal today or tomorrow, or else you would resume bombing iran?"

President Trump: "Well i expect to be bombing, because i think that's a better attitude to go in with. But we're ready to go, the military is raring to go."

🇺🇸 - "I would've won Vietnam very quickly if I were president.

Look at Venezuela. I took it over in 45 minutes" - President Trump.

🇱🇧🇮🇱⚡️- Reports of an Israeli strikes against Wadi al-Hujeir, southern Lebanon.

🇱🇧🇮🇱⚡️- Hezbollah launched rockets towards IDF positions in southern Lebanon.

🇺🇸🇮🇷🇵🇰⚡️- Iran has told mediators that it will send a delegation to Islamabad for negotiations only if the U.S. lifts its blockade on Iranian ports. - WSJ.

🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡️- BREAKING: Vice President JD Vance’s trip to Islamabad has been suspended after Iran refused to respond to U.S. negotiating positions, American officials say the trip can go forward if the Iranians respond. - NYT.

🇺🇸⚡- The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) announces the DOJ has opened an investigation against them and expects criminal charges to be filed concerning their usage of paid confidential informants who infiltrate various “extremist groups.”

🇫🇷🇱🇧⚡️- Emmanuel Macron received Lebanon's Prime Minister at the Elysée earlier this afternoon.

🇫🇷🇱🇧🇮🇱⚡️- "Israel must renounce their territorial claims and Hezbollah must be disarmed by Lebanon. [...] Negotiations must be given a chance amidst this fragile peace. We can't let war retake its rights." - Emmanuel Macron during his his meeting with Lebanon's Prime Minister.

The French President also offered to set a French military presence in Lebanon after the UNIFIL's mission is over as planned on the 31st December 2026.

🇫🇷🇪🇺🇮🇱⚡️- BREAKING: Emmanuel Macron is threatening to cut the 1995 EU-Israel agreement if Israel "doesn't change their policy".

🇱🇧🇮🇱⚡️- Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam wants all IDF troops to be removed from Lebanon's territory alongside the return of all war prisoners within the context of the talks with Israel.

He also indicated Lebanon needed around €500 million in humanitarian aid.

🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡️- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi:

"Blockading Iranian ports is an act of war and thus a violation of the ceasefire.
Striking a commercial vessel and taking its crew hostage is an even greater violation.

Iran knows how to neutralize restrictions, how to defend its interests, and how to resist bullying."

🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡️- "We have made it clear that breaking the siege is a fundamental condition, and only then will the next round of negotiations be held." - Iran's UN Envoy.