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Ville Kostian

@kostianv.bsky.social

Geopolitics, geoeconomics and military.

2,998 Followers  |  378 Following  |  11,944 Posts  |  Joined: 03.11.2023
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Posts by Ville Kostian (@kostianv.bsky.social)

NEW | Evening Update, 2 MAR: The combined US-Israeli force continued to degrade Iranian air defenses to maintain air superiority over western Iran and Tehran. US CJCS General Dan Caine announced on March 2 that โ€œlocal air superiority has been established [over Iran].โ€ ๐Ÿงต (1/7) isw.pub/IranUpdatePM...

03.03.2026 13:03 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 44    ๐Ÿ” 8    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 3    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Battered and isolated, Hezbollah drags Lebanon into another war Its attack on Israel in support of Iran has led to fresh mass displacements and Israeli bombing, to the fury of many Lebanese.

#MidEast - "Battered and isolated, #Hezbollah drags #Lebanon into another war" - #Israel #Iran
www.bbc.com/news/article...

03.03.2026 16:11 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

More from Qom right after the airstrikes. Meanwhile, reports are coming in from Mehrabad, where the airport is under attack by Israeli-US aircraft. #Iran

03.03.2026 14:37 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 122    ๐Ÿ” 28    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 5    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
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Israel Advances in Lebanon and Seize More Land, as Hezbollah Fight Escalates The Israeli military said troops advanced to protect border towns from Hezbollah attacks, spurring fears that the government is weighing a wider ground war.

Israel said on Tuesday that its military had seized areas of southern Lebanon as part of its escalating conflict with Hezbollah, as the Iran-backed armed group fired small volleys of drones at the country in a second day of fighting.

03.03.2026 14:40 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 17    ๐Ÿ” 11    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 11    ๐Ÿ“Œ 3
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Iranian Hackers Use Elon Muskโ€™s Starlink To Stay Online As the attacks continue, Iranians have turned to Space Xโ€™s satellite internet technology โ€” including one of the countryโ€™s most notorious hacker crews, which is claiming retaliatory cyberattacks agains...

Iranian Hackers Are Using Elon Muskโ€™s Starlink To Stay Online

03.03.2026 12:53 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 30    ๐Ÿ” 19    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 5    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1

Oman ๐Ÿ˜ณ

03.03.2026 10:26 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 78    ๐Ÿ” 21    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 3    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
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Iranian drones struck the oil terminal of Fujairah, UAE. Parts of the oil facilities are burning.

03.03.2026 10:26 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 172    ๐Ÿ” 36    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 6    ๐Ÿ“Œ 4
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Iranian drones targeted Oman once again. This time the port of Raysut was struck.

03.03.2026 10:30 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 136    ๐Ÿ” 18    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 4    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1

UAE ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ˜ณ

03.03.2026 10:31 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 98    ๐Ÿ” 24    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 5    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
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Did the US just fund Russiaโ€™s war by bombing its drone supplier? Urals crude hits budget target for first time in months as Gulf chaos drives global prices up.

Russia's oil revenues crashed 65% in January. Urals crude hit $39. Western sanctions were finally working.

Then the US struck Iran, and Urals jumped to $59.8, exactly Moscow's budget target. China is now swapping Iranian crude for Russian.

03.03.2026 10:08 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 157    ๐Ÿ” 97    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 7    ๐Ÿ“Œ 13
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Putin Is the Iran Warโ€™s One Sure Winner US naval vessels are firing Tomahawk missiles at Iran as they try to destroy the missile launchers and factories on which Tehran relies for its ability to strike back. The calculation is simple: Itโ€™s ...

BLOOMBERG: Trumpโ€™s Iran war could not have come at a better time for the Kremlin, or a worse one for Kyiv. High energy prices could rescue Putinโ€™s economy, while depleted US missile stocks may soon leave Ukraine vulnerable to Russian bombardment

www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

03.03.2026 10:07 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 42    ๐Ÿ” 28    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 9
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Six US soldiers killed in Iranian strike on Kuwait base The US defence secretary confirms a US military base was hit by an Iranian missile on Sunday.

#MidEast - "Six US soldiers killed in Iranian strike on #Kuwait base"
- #Iran www.bbc.com/news/article...

03.03.2026 10:24 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ช Iran struck Fujairah oil field in UAE

03.03.2026 10:18 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 94    ๐Ÿ” 24    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 3
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France sends air defenses to Cyprus as Iran strikes spill over into EU Nicosia wants European partners to step up in defense of the Mediterranean island, as Iranian drones menace the region.

France will send anti-missile and anti-drone systems to Cyprus, as the U.S.-Israel-Iran war heightens tensions in the Middle East, two senior Cypriot government officials have told POLITICO.

03.03.2026 10:21 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 50    ๐Ÿ” 15    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 4    ๐Ÿ“Œ 6
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๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ด๐Ÿ‡ฒ Iranian drone struck Port in Oman.

03.03.2026 10:21 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 66    ๐Ÿ” 15    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
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Anti-drone nets are now a lifeline in Ukrainian cities&villages close to the frontline.

Russian drones always hunt for vehicles, and these nets protect civilians, medics, Defenders.

The nets need constant maintenance and replacement. They are damaged by drones, explosions, even weather.
๐Ÿ“ท: libkos

03.03.2026 07:19 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 356    ๐Ÿ” 95    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 4    ๐Ÿ“Œ 6
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Intelligence firms watch for uptick in Iran cyber activity after US, Israel strikes Analysts say organizations should remain vigilant, though early indications show Iran-linked hackers have overstated their success.

"Intelligence firms watch for uptick in #Iran #cyber activity after US, Israel strikes"
www.nextgov.com/cybersecurit...

03.03.2026 07:22 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Russia loses 790 soldiers and 47 artillery systems over past day Ukraine's General Staff has updated data on Russian losses: Russia lost 790 soldiers killed and wounded over the past day.

๐Ÿ’€ Russia loses 790 soldiers and 47 artillery systems over past day

03.03.2026 07:03 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 131    ๐Ÿ” 18    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
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American forces obliterate Iranian Navy U.S. Central Command has said that Iranian naval vessels operating in the Gulf of Oman have been eliminated over the past two days, posting imagery showing weapons striking Iranian ships.

U.S. Central Command has said that Iranian naval vessels operating in the Gulf of Oman have been eliminated over the past two days, posting imagery showing weapons striking Iranian ships.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/american-for...

03.03.2026 07:04 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 20    ๐Ÿ” 7    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 3    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1

Recommended

03.03.2026 07:13 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 9    ๐Ÿ” 5    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Tehran makes new threat to Gulf shipping as US says 'hardest hits' on Iran 'yet to come' A Iranian official warns the country will

#BBCNews live page: www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cy...
Tehran makes new threat to Gulf shipping as US says 'hardest hits' on Iran 'yet to come'

03.03.2026 04:21 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 20    ๐Ÿ” 8    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Iran Has Lost Its Only Expeditionary Ship, INS Makran - What Was It Like? An โ€œanti-ayatollahโ€ coalition has struck INS Makran, Iranโ€™s only expeditionary ship.A satellite image published by defense analyst Joseph Dempsey shows the vessel at the naval base in Bandar Abbas. Th...

An โ€œanti-ayatollahโ€ coalition has struck INS Makran, Iranโ€™s only expeditionary ship

militarnyi.com/en/news/iran...

03.03.2026 07:14 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 17    ๐Ÿ” 4    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Military briefing: Iranโ€™s new retaliation strategy Islamic republic launches โ€˜drizzleโ€™ of missiles and drones against Israel while firing barrages at targets around the Gulf

V ft:
Iran's new retaliation strategy
www.ft.com/content/f2ea...
Tehran has shifted to a steadier campaign designed to stretch Israrl's air defences. Plus it is using short-range missiles and drones for attacks in the Gulf - expending its least valuable munitions first, while depleting interceptors.

03.03.2026 04:39 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 7    ๐Ÿ” 4    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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I've never seen anything like this before.

There are currently at least 14 (fourteen!) KC-135R Stratotankers on their way to the Middle East. Inbound from bases across the United States.

They're used to refuel other aircraft in the air.

03.03.2026 01:12 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 552    ๐Ÿ” 217    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 33    ๐Ÿ“Œ 51
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USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: March 2, 2026 - USNI News These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navyโ€™s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of March 2, 2026, based on Navy and public data. In cases in w...

USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: March 2, 2026 โ€” USNI News
news.usni.org/2026/03/02/u...

02.03.2026 19:52 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 6    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Iranian Naval Forces are Major Target in Operation Epic Fury Strikes - USNI News The U.S. has continued attacks on Iranian naval forces, including strikes on a container ship converted into an aircraft carrier for drones and widespread strikes on naval bases along the edge of the ...

Iranian Naval Forces are Major Target in Operation Epic Fury Strikes โ€” USNI News news.usni.org/2026/03/02/i...

02.03.2026 22:41 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 8    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
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How Cyber Command contributed to Operation Epic Fury against Iran The digital combatant command was among the โ€œfirst moversโ€ in the operation against Iran, Joint Chiefs Chair Dan Caine said.

" #Cyber, #Space Commands were among 'first movers' in strikes on #Iran: top general"
www.nextgov.com/cybersecurit...

03.03.2026 06:27 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Iran war heralds era of AI-powered bombing quicker than โ€˜speed of thoughtโ€™ Speed and scale of US militaryโ€™s AI war planning raises fears human decision-making may be sidelined

" #Iran war heralds era of #AI -powered bombing quicker than โ€˜speed of thoughtโ€™"
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

03.03.2026 06:25 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Qatarโ€™s Latest LNG Mega-award Signals a Full Strategic Turn to the West | OilPrice.com Qatar is set to drive at least 40% of global LNG supply growth by 2029, expanding output from 77 mtpa to 142 mtpa.

" #Qatar โ€™s Latest #LNG Mega-award Signals a Full Strategic Turn to the West"
oilprice.com/Energy/Natur...

03.03.2026 05:55 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Qatarโ€™s LNG Blackout Just Broke the Global Gas Market | OilPrice.com Iranian drone strikes forced QatarEnergy to halt production at Ras Laffan and Mesaieed, effectively taking one-fifth of global LNG export capacity offline in a single geopolitical event.

" #Qatar โ€™s #LNG Blackout Just Broke the Global #Gas Market"
oilprice.com/Energy/Natur...

03.03.2026 05:53 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0