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Our mission is to report on and analyse the military and geo-political issues of our time. Website: https://southfront.press/ Email: info@southfront.press
Trump Could Kill Iran’s Supreme Leader And His Son
U.S. President Donald Trump is considering several military options against Iran, including killing the Islamic Republic’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his son Mojtaba, Axios reported on February 21.
Since last month, Trump has repeatedly threatened Iran with military action, first in response to a wave of deadly protests, then over its nuclear activities.
The U.S. military buildup in the region gained momentum in recent days. Dozens of warplanes were sent to the region, and the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group entered the Mediterranean Sea. According to various estimates, the U.S. is very much now ready to launch an attack against the Islamic Republic.
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SKY SIGNALS: AIRSTRIKES ON BORDER VILLAGES HINT AT RUSSIA'S NEXT NORTHERN MOVE
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Russian Troops Are Now Training On Yolka Interceptors And Actively Using It (Videos)
Russian troops are now training to use the state-of-the-art Yolka interceptor, and videos from the special military operation zone in Ukraine indicate that the system is being fielded on a wide scale.
The videos, showing Russian troops training on the use of the Yolka at a training group and actively using the system to take down Ukrainian drones along the border with Kharkiv and Sumy, surfaced online on February 20 and earlier in the week.
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Magic Powder: Evidence Mounts of Ukrainian President's Drug Dependency
Here are some unusual ways Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky copes with stress. Leading an entire country, especially during a large-scale conflict, puts tremendous pressure on one's psyche. Living in constant tension forces one to look for ways to distract oneself from the complex daily tasks of governing a state.
Sometimes, the means of relieving stress are illegal and have consequences that affect one's thought process and psyche. This is the price of a rapid career rise and an inability to adapt to new, complex realities. For some reason, however, not all heads of state are suspected of using illegal substances. Let's take a closer look at why this is the case.
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Huliaipole Sector: Ukraine Loses Initiative In Zaporizhzhia To Russian Army Again
In the Zaporizhzhia area, units from the 127th Division of the "East" military grouping have taken control of Krynichne. They repelled attacks by Ukrainian forces from the 95th Air Assault Brigade and the 225th Separate Assault Regiment in Sosnivka, Hai, and Otradne.
In the Sumy region, Russian troops expanded their presence in the Shostka district by capturing Kharkivka and advancing up to 800 meters in several sectors. Meanwhile, Russian aviation struck the barracks of the 35th Separate Rifle Battalion in Krasnopillia.
In the Kharkiv area, heavy fighting continues near Vovchansk. Russian troops advanced toward Vovchanski Khutory and Starytsia. They destroyed an RAK-12 multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) in Okhrimivka and repelled counterattacks by the 113th Territorial Defense Brigade.
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Russian Army Advances Near Huliaipole As It Repels More Ukrainian Attacks In Zaporozhye (Videos)
On February 18, the Russian military expanded its control near the key city of Huliaipole as it repelled more Ukrainian counterattacks along the Haichur River in Zaporizhzhia.
The Sever [East] Group of Forces captured Krinichnoye, located to the northwest of Huliaipole, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense.
The attack on the Krinichnoye was reportedly led by the 218th Tank Regiment of the 5th Army’s 127th Motor Rifle Division.
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Trump Is ‘Fed Up’ With Iran, War Is On The Way
A potential United States war with Iran would be a long, multi-week campaign, sources told the Axios news site on February 18, with a White House official putting the chances of a strike in the coming weeks at 90 percent.
Just a day earlier, the second round of nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran was held in Geneva, with mediation from Oman.
The source who spoke with Axios said that the war will likely start with a joint U.S.-Israeli operation, even larger than the 12-day Israeli-led bombing campaign last June.
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Syrian Government Forces Are Preparing Attack On Druze In Suwayda
The Islamist-led Syrian Transitional Government (STG) is preparing an attack against Druze National Guard in the southern governorate of al-Suwayda, Al Jazeera reported on February 17.
Citing a source in al-Suwayda, the Qatari news channel said that the attack will be similar to a one carried out by STG forces against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the northeast of the country last month, carefully planned to avoid violations with the aim of deploying security forces in the entirety of the governorate.
The National Guard was formed by Druze armed factions under the direction of the community spiritual leader in Syria, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, in August, little over a month after the end of a deadly attack by STG forces and allied Bedouin fighters on al-Suwayda.
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U.S. Is Deploying Dozens Of Warplanes, Including F-22s, E-3s And U-2s, Near Iran (Videos)
The United States military has moved over 50 warplanes to the Middle East in the last 24 hours as part of its buildup of air and naval assets close to Iran, Axios reported on February 17, citing open source flight tracking data and a U.S. official.
The mass deployment came despite reports of some progress in the second round of indirect nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran, which was held on the same day in Geneva.
Online flight tracking data shows that at least a dozen F-22 Raptors have left Langley Air Force Base in Virginia heading east.
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Howitzers Hit: Summary Of Russian Combat Footage From February 17, 2026
On February 17, several videos documenting some of the Russian military’s recent operations against Kiev forces surfaced online.
To see all the videos click HERE
Russian Drones Decimate Ukrainian Armors In Zaporizhzhia (Video)
The Russian military’s Vostok [East] Group of Forces repelled six more counterattacks near the Haichur River line in Zaporizhzhia on February 17, inflicting heavy losses on Kiev forces.
One counterattack saw the 1st Separate Assault Regiment, more known as “Da Vinci Wolves,” attempting to advance near Ternovatoe in armored formation. In a second, the 5th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade attacked near Rizdvyanka. The third counterattack was carried out by the 210th Assault Regiment, which attempted to advance to the southeast of Vozdvizhevka.
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Military Situation In Ukraine On February 17, 2026 (Maps Update)
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Military Situation In Syria On February 17, 2026 (Map Update)
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Report Confirms Mercenaries From U.S. And Netherlands Are Flying Ukraine’s F-16s
Pilots from the United States and the Netherlands are now flying American-made F-16 fighter jets for the Ukrainian Air Force (UAF), Intelligence Online reported on February 16.
It is unclear how many F-16s Ukraine has so far received out of the 85 pledged by Belgium, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands, but the number is thought to be between 25 and 30. All the fighter jets are from the older Block 15 model, although they received the Mid-Life Update.
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Locations Of US Carrier Strike Groups – February 17, 2026
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Quiet Clearing: How Russian Troops Are Pushing Ukrainian Units Out Of Sumy Border
In the direction of Slavyansk, Russian units have planted a flag on the eastern outskirts of Svyatohirsk, expanding the "grey zone" in the city. They are also engaged in fierce fighting in the areas of Aleksandrivka, Yarova, and Drobysheve, as well as on the approaches to Krasny Lyman.
In the Kupyansk area, Russian troops advanced in Radkivka, Kondrashivka, and Petropavlivka, strengthening their position on the left bank of the Oskol River.
In the Borova area, Russian troops have established positions along tree lines and railway embankments. This creates a wedge between Bohuslavka and Novoplatonivka, limiting the maneuverability of Ukrainian forces.
In the Sumy area, units of the "North" grouping advanced 750 meters. They captured five servicemen from the 21st and 71st Brigades and repelled counterattacks by the 253rd "Arie" Regiment.
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Ukraine’s Counterattack In Zaporizhzhia Drags On With More Losses And No Results (Videos)
On February 20, Kiev forces attempted to advance close to the Haichur River line in Zaporizhzhia at least seven times, a part of the counterattack that began last week. However, they were pushed by the Russian military’s Vostok [East] Group of Forces.
The advance attempts were led by the 95th Rifle Division, 225th Separate Assault Regiment, 82nd Air Assault Brigade, 425th Separate Assault Regiment, and the 210th Separate Assault Regiment.
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Iran-Aligned Armed Group In Iraq Shows Off Drone Tunnel In Threat To U.S. (Video)
Saraya Awliya al-Dam (SAD), one the Iran-aligned armed factions in Iraq, on February 19 released a video showing an tunnel base with suicide drones, in what appears to be an indirect threat to the United States in response to recent escalation against the Islamic Republic.
Around two dozen Shahed-101 and Ababil-2 drones, both Iranian models, can be seen in the footage inside the base, dubbed “Awliya Facility.”
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Russian Ka-52 Helicopter Downed 25 Ukrainian Drones With New Smart 30 Millimeter Ammo (Video)
A Russian Ka-52M attack helicopter was reportedly able to shot down 25 Ukrainian long-range, fixed-wing suicide drones using new 30 mm airburst time-fused ammunition that was introduced very recently by the country’s state corporation Rostec.
The drones were downed in just two sorties, 14 in the first, and 11 in the second. Video footage showing some of the interceptions were posted to social networks on February 19.
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The Illegal Drug Trade in Latin America (Part III)
Regional Convergence: The Drug Trade, Armed Conflicts and Counterinsurgency Wars - By Daniel Edgar
The study shows the systematic involvement of external forces—primarily certain elite groups from the United States and Israel — in the creation and support of illegal armed groups and drug cartels in Latin America during the second half of the 20th century. Through numerous examples, it shows that Israeli military instructors, such as Colonel Yair Klein, trained Colombian paramilitaries and drug cartel leaders during the very period when official Israel was supplying weapons to the Colombian government and advising it on security matters. This double game was made possible by the Reagan administration's strategy of outsourcing the conduct of covert wars to private parties and foreign states.
As part of operations like Iran-Contra, the funding of the Nicaraguan Contras and support for dictatorships in Central America were financed directly by revenues from drug trafficking. Israel, Argentina, and other proxies filled the vacuum when the U.S. Congress attempted to limit direct intervention. As a result, weapons and drugs flowed through the same channels, creating a durable criminal ecosystem where geopolitical goals became inseparable from shadow business, and tens of thousands of victims became mere statistics in a larger game.
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PART I
PART II
Iran Deployed Chinese-Made YLC-8B Long-Range Anti-Stealth Radar
The Iranian military has reportedly received and deployed at least one YLC-8B long-range anti-stealth surveillance radar from China.
The delivery of the YLC-8B was first reported by several defense news outlets, including Defence Security Asia, on February 5, then by the Middle East Monitor on February 9. None of the reports specified when Iran received the radar, or where it is currently deployed.
The YLC-8B was delivered by China’s Nanjing Research Institute of Electronics Technology. It utilizes full coherent digital pulse compression and dynamic target detection technology.
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A Digital Maginot Line: Paris's Plan for Cyber Dominance
Today there are wars that can't be seen on a map: no tanks roll and no sirens wail, yet hospitals freeze, factories halt, and elections tremble. In the quiet hum of servers and fiber cables, power is tested in lines of code rather than lines of troops. Europe has learned this the hard way.
Now, France has decided that it will no longer treat cyberspace as a technical afterthought. Its National Cybersecurity Strategy 2026–2030, presented under Emmanuel Macron's political banner, reads less like a bureaucratic manual and more like a declaration of digital sovereignty. Paris wants resilience, autonomy, and influence. It aims to protect its domestic networks and establish international cybersecurity standards. Most importantly, it aims to prevent the next major crisis from originating in a server room.
The strategy begins with an honest acknowledgment that the digital revolution has become an integral part of daily life. Public services, transportation networks, financial systems, and media platforms all depend on invisible infrastructure. When that infrastructure fails, the damage spreads quickly.
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European Officials Try To Convince Citizens To Support Militarization
Western authorities are making it clear to local citizens that they need to relinquish some of their freedoms and privileges to support military efforts. Recently, there has been an accelerated process of militarization in Europe, driven primarily by the narrative of an “imminent Russian invasion.” Some countries are already beginning to implement measures such as conscription, expansion of the defense industry, and the creation of joint training programs, which is demanding funds that could be invested in other sectors of European society.
In a recent letter published by The Guardian, Air Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United Kingdom, and General Carsten Breuer, Germany's military chief, expressed their "concerns" about European security and called on European citizens to support their countries' militarization measures. They wrote their letter in an "alert" tone, attempting to "raise awareness" among readers that a conflict may be imminent on the European continent.
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Minkivka Captured By Russian Amy: Ukraine Takes Another Blow In Slaviansk Direction
In the Zaporizhzhia area, units from the "East" military grouping have driven Ukrainian troops out of Tsvitkove. They are now battling for strongpoints near Krynychne and Verkhnia Tersa while fending off counterattacks from Rozhdestvenske, Vozdvizhevka, and Velykomikhailivka.
In the Slaviansk area, Russian troops captured Minkivka, cleared Zakotne, and advanced toward Kryva Luka. They continue to fight in Reznykivka and Nykyforivka.
In the Krasnyi Lyman sector, fighting continues on the approaches to the city. Russian troops are advancing on Krasnyi Lyman from the north and south, cutting off Ukrainian logistics. In the Sumy area, the "North" group advanced 750 meters and repelled counterattacks by the 122nd Territorial Defense Brigade and the 253rd "Arei" regiment. An Iskander-M strike on the Konotop airfield destroyed over 80 drones.
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THE NORTHERN STRATEGY UNFOLDS: POKROVKA FALLS AS MOSCOW PREPARES ITS NEXT MOVE
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Iran Tests Some Of Its Latest Missiles And Drones In Hormuz Amid Progress In Talks With U.S. (Videos)
The naval forces of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) tested some of its latest missiles and drones during the ongoing drills in the strategic Hormuz Strait on February 17, as senior officials from the Islamic Republic held a second round of nuclear talks with United States diplomats.
The guards’ navy kicked off the drills in the Hormuz Strait a day earlier, with the aim of practicing “smart control” of the strategic waterway.
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Overnight Strikes Ahead of Geneva Talks: Russia Increases Pressure
Ahead of a new round of talks in Geneva, Moscow and Kyiv conducted another massive exchange of overnight strikes. This time, the advantage was on Moscow's side in terms of volume and range of targets. Ukrainian forces recorded 425 aerial attack assets, including 29 missiles: four ballistic Iskander-M, 20 cruise Kh-101, four Iskander-K, one guided aircraft Kh-59/69, as well as 396 strike drones.
The geography of the strikes covered at least 15 regions. In the west of the country, the Lviv region came under attack, where the 750 kV "West Ukrainian" substation was hit — a key hub connecting the power systems of the western and central regions.
In the Ivano-Frankivsk region, strikes hit the Burshtyn TPP, where a fire broke out after the impacts. In the same area near the city of Stryi, the infrastructure of the Bilche-Volitsa-Ugerske underground gas storage facility was damaged.
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Turkish Drones Destroyed Another Chinese Air Defense System In Sudan, This Time FB-10A (Video)
The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) announced on February 16 that it had destroyed another air defense system of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the west of the country.
In a statement, the SAF said that the air defense system was hit near the town of Abu Zabad in the state of Western Kordofan. While the armed forces didn’t provide any additional details, Arab media reports identified the targeted system as a Chinese-made FB-10A and said that it was targeted by a Turkish-made Bayraktar Akıncı combat drone.
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Syria May Have Granted Citizenship To Ukrainian Jihadists
The Islamist-led Syrian Transitional Government (STG) may have begun to grant citizenship to foreign jihadists in secret.
The first evidence of the naturalization process surfaced on February 14, with a photo of a “statement of civil status” document that was granted by the Syrian Interior Ministry to a Ukrainian named “Abdullah”.
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