US & Israel said to weigh special forces op to secure Iran’s nuclear stockpile as Trump refuses to rule out use of ground troops

US & Israel said to weigh special forces op to secure Iran’s nuclear stockpile as Trump refuses to rule out use of ground troops

All Israel News Staff

The United States and Israel are discussing options to send in special forces to secure the Iranian regime’s nuclear stockpile, according to an Axios news report.

The report comes against the backdrop of U.S. President Donald Trump’s repeated refusal to rule out such an operation, as well as a recent New York Times report that noted the stockpile, despite being buried under rubble, could still be accessible.

Ending the possibility of the Iranian regime ever attaining a nuclear program is a stated goal of the U.S. and Israeli military campaigns. U.S. and Israeli officials say securing the estimated 450 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% – material that could be converted to weapons‑grade within weeks – could be key to achieving that goal.

The uranium is stored in canisters in gas form and was buried during last June’s “Operation Midnight Hammer” that destroyed three nuclear sites, including nearly all the centrifuges needed to further enrich the material.

While most of the uranium is being stored in Isfahan, the rest is split between the sites at Natanz and Fordow. The U.S. and Israeli Air Forces recently conducted new strikes aimed at sealing the entrances to the sites in Natanz and Fordow, according to Axios.

According to the New York Times, citing multiple officials familiar with classified reports, U.S. intelligence services believe the uranium in Isfahan is theoretically accessible through a narrow tunnel.

U.S. officials told the newspaper that intelligence agencies have set up close surveillance of the site to prevent attempts to remove it, while the Trump administration is reportedly discussing various options to secure the material.

Among these options is a special forces raid that would presumably require a large-scale operation to secure the broader area before removing the uranium.

Meanwhile, President Trump reiterated that all options are being considered, telling ABC News on Sunday, “Everything is on the table. Everything."

“Boots on the ground for Trump is not the same as what it means for the media,” a senior U.S. official told Axios, while another source mentioned a “small special ops raids – not a big force going in.”

“What has been discussed hasn't been thought of in terms of boots on the ground,” a third source explained to the outlet, appearing to downplay the scope of such a mission.

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Iran launches wave of missile & drone attacks across Gulf, damaging energy facilities

Iran launches wave of missile & drone attacks across Gulf, damaging energy facilities

Vinita Bhat

Iranian missiles and drones have continued to target several Gulf states, disrupting oil infrastructure and forcing the closure of regional airspace. Bahrain’s state-owned energy company, Bapco, declared force majeure after its refinery was struck during the latest wave of attacks. 

The strikes come amid escalating tensions following US and Israeli military action against Iran since late February. Gulf countries have reported multiple interceptions of incoming missiles and drones, while oil production and shipping operations have been affected. Civilian areas have also been hit, raising fears that the conflict could further destabilise the wider Middle East.

Iranian missile and drone strikes have intensified across the Gulf, damaging energy facilities and threatening regional oil supply routes.

Bahrain’s state-owned oil company, Bapco, announced a force majeure on its operations on Monday after its refinery complex caught fire following an Iranian attack. In a statement, the company said the measure applied to group operations affected by the escalating conflict and the strike on its refinery.

The attack is part of a wider wave of Iranian retaliation against US assets located across Gulf states. Tehran says the strikes respond to attacks carried out by the United States and Israel against Iran since February 28.

Oil infrastructure across the region has been placed on high alert. Saudi Arabia reported intercepting four drones heading towards the Shaybah oilfield, one of the kingdom’s key energy facilities. Gulf airspace has also been temporarily shut in several areas as authorities respond to the security threat.

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Israeli ground forces move deeper into Lebanon

Israeli ground forces move deeper into Lebanon

Sweden Herald

Israeli ground forces have penetrated deeper into southern Lebanon, the military said. At the same time, Beirut's southern suburbs are again under attack.

The ground forces advanced during the night, prompted by several airstrikes on the area.

In southern Lebanon, Hezbollah stated overnight that it is fighting Israeli soldiers who have entered the Lebanese border towns of Odaisseh and Aitaroun.

This morning's attacks in southern Beirut are reported by Israel to have been directed at a company linked to the Shiite militia.

Fighting is also raging in eastern Lebanon.

According to Hezbollah, "around 15" Israeli helicopters coming from the Syrian side of the border into eastern Lebanon have been spotted overnight.

Two Hezbollah sources previously stated that a helicopter in the area had been shot down "in the mountains east of Baalbek."

Is Putin About To Deal His Long-Awaited Deathblow To The EU Economy

Is Putin About To Deal His Long-Awaited Deathblow To The EU Economy

Andrew Korybko

He just ordered that some of Russia’s LNG exports to the EU be redirected to Asia, and if the EU doesn’t coerce Zelensky into giving him giving him more of what he wants in Ukraine, then there’d be no reason for him to not cut off Russia’s exports to them entirely for catalyzing a full-blown crisis.

The EU agreed late last year to end Russian LNG imports by 31 December 2026 and pipeline gas imports by 30 September 2027, with the possibility of extending the deadline till 31 October 2027 in case storage levels are below their required filling levels. 

This was done because “The US Weaponized Russophobic Paranoia & Energy Geopolitics To Capture Control Of Europe”, ergo why it encouraged this decision so as to then monopolize the bloc’s energy market in tandem with its Qatari ally, another LNG superpower.

Everything changed with the Third Gulf War, which began with joint US-Israeli attacks on Iran and has since seen Iran retaliate against all of the Gulf Kingdoms on the basis that the US infrastructure on their territories is being used in attacks against the Islamic Republic. The Strait of Hormuz is now effectively closed and the Gulf Kingdoms are scaling back energy production due to nearly reaching their storage capacity. Importantly, Qatar is also shutting down its gas liquefication, which will take weeks to restart.

With the impending global energy crisis in mind, Putin announced last week that he ordered his government to look into the possibility of redirecting European energy exports to Asia since they’re more profitable and won’t soon stop importing Russian energy completely like the EU will. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak then confirmed shortly thereafter that the decision was just made to redirect some (keyword) LNG exports from Europe to friendly countries such as India and China.

The scenario of Russia cutting off gas exports to the EU before the EU cuts off its gas imports from Russia is still on the table, but Putin seems more interested in leveraging this possibility in furtherance of his strategic goals than eschewing such an opportunity just to punish his Western adversaries. To that end, Novak’s confirmation that he decided to redirect some LNG exports from Europe to Asia can be seen as proof of Putin’s intent, but he’s also signaling interest in reconsidering if certain conditions are met.

It’s at this moment when the EU is facing an economic crisis caused by the Third Gulf War taking the region’s energy exports offline that the bloc must decide whether it will coerce Zelensky to give Putin at least some of what he wants in exchange for him not redirecting LNG exports from them to Asia. The US might help them with this too so as to maintain the purchasing power of one of its largest markets. If they fail to do so, however, then Putin might finally deal a long-awaited deathblow to the EU economy.

The Oil War Has Begun: U.S. And Iran Target Energy Lifelines

The Oil War Has Begun: U.S. And Iran Target Energy Lifelines

PNW STAFF

War has many fronts—land, air, sea, and cyberspace. But in the past 72 hours, the conflict between the United States and Iran appears to have opened a new and potentially more dangerous front: oil itself.

What began primarily as strikes on military bases, missile facilities, and command centers has shifted dramatically toward energy infrastructure. 

Oil depots, refineries, tanker routes, and export hubs are now being targeted across the Middle East. The message from both sides is clear: if you cannot defeat your enemy quickly on the battlefield, you can still damage them—and the world—through the price of energy.

The result is a rapidly escalating “oil for oil” war, where each side seeks to disrupt the other’s energy lifeline.

The Fires Over Tehran

One of the most striking images of the war so far came this week when massive flames lit the night sky over Tehran after strikes hit major fuel storage facilities. Witnesses described enormous columns of fire and smoke rising from the city’s oil depots after multiple storage tanks and fuel transfer facilities were hit.

These depots were reportedly tied to Iran’s military fuel supply network, but the symbolism was unmistakable: Iran’s energy backbone had been placed directly in the crosshairs.

It marked a turning point in the war. 

Iran Strikes Back at the Oil Network

Iran did not take long to retaliate—and it did so in a way designed to send shockwaves through global markets.

Rather than focusing solely on U.S. forces, Iranian attacks have increasingly targeted the broader energy network of American allies across the region.

In the past week alone, at least five major oil-related incidents have highlighted this new strategy:

Drone attack on the Ras Tanura refinery in Saudi Arabia, one of the kingdom’s largest oil processing hubs. Even limited damage forced temporary shutdowns and rerouting of exports.

Missile and drone strikes across Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, including energy infrastructure linked to oil exports.

Attacks on ports and tankers near Oman, including oil tanker strikes that killed or injured crew members and disrupted shipping routes.

Drone and missile launches toward Gulf energy facilities, including infrastructure tied to exports in the UAE and neighboring states, forcing shutdowns and raising regional security alerts.

Missile strike on Bahrain’s BAPCO oil refinery, which triggered fires and emergency response operations at one of the island nation’s key petroleum facilities.

The result is not simply battlefield damage. It is a deliberate attempt to weaponize global energy markets.

Oil Prices Are Already Surging

The strategy is working.

Oil prices have already jumped dramatically since the conflict intensified. Global benchmarks have surged as markets price in the possibility of prolonged supply disruptions across the Persian Gulf.

Analysts now warn that if disruptions worsen—especially if shipping slows through the Strait of Hormuz—oil could spike dramatically as a large share of global supply moves through that narrow passage.

That chokepoint is critical: nearly 20% of the world’s oil supply moves through the Strait each day.

Even partial disruptions have already rattled global markets and triggered warnings about sustained energy volatility.

In other words, the war’s newest battlefield may be thousands of miles from Tehran or Washington—but it is already hitting the global economy.