Iran holds more drills with Russia

<img border="0" hspace="10" align="left" style="margin-top:3px;margin-right:5px;" src="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/photo/128587721.cms" />

War clouds loom as US amasses military hardware in Middle East

(LEFT) Iran and Russia carry out a joint military exercise; while (right) US Air Force planes are seen on the tarmac at the Sofia airport in Bulgaria.—Reuters • Trump says Tehran has ‘10 days’ to make a deal with Washington, or ‘bad things will happen’ • Kremlin urges restraint; Germany pulls troops out of Iraq; Poland tells citizens to leave Iran WASHINGTON: War clouds are looming over the Middle East, as US warplanes and aircraft carriers head toward Iran in preparation for possible military action. Renewing his threats towards Tehran, President Donald Trump indicated on Thursday that the country has around 10 days to reach a deal with Washington, or “bad things will happen”. CNN and CBS reported on Wednesday that the US military would be ready to launch strikes against Iran as early as this weekend, though Trump has reportedly not made a final decision yet. White House Press Secretary Karoline Lea­vitt warned on Wednesday there were “many reasons and arguments that one could make for a strike against Iran”. “Iran would be very wise to make a deal with Pre­sident Trump,” she said. Trump’s comments came shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued his own warning to Iran saying, “If the ayatollahs make a mistake and attack us, they will receive a response they cannot even imagine”. The Wall Street Journal, meanwhile, reported that Trump had been briefed on his military options with “all of them designed to maximise damage”, including a campaign to “kill scores of Iranian political and military leaders, with the goal of overthrowing the government”, unnamed US officials told the newspaper. The US has, meanwhile, been building up its military forces near Iran, incl­uding warships, fighter jets, and refuelling aircraft, laying the foundation for a potentially sustained campaign against Iran — should Trump give the order. Washington has ordered a second aircraft carrier to the region, with the first, the USS Abraham Lincoln and its nearly 80 aircraft, positioned about 700 kilometres (435 miles) from the Iranian coast as of Sunday, satellite images showed. Speaking at the inaugural Board of Peace meeting, Trump even praised the “magnificent” B-2 bombers that “totally decimated the nuclear potential” of Iran last summer, saying they helped bring peace to the Middle East for the first time in 3,000 years. Iran has also sought to display its own military might, with its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps holding war games earlier this week in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s joint exercise with Russia came days into an extended series of Iranian naval drills in the Gulf of Oman, with Iranian state television showing special forces units deployed on helicopters and ships. Amid the escalating warnings, Poland on Thursday ordered all its citizens in Iran to “leave immediately”. Germany meanwhile moved troops out of northern Iraq, reducing its footprint to the minimum necessary to keep its base there functional, citing escalating regional tensions. Dozens of German soldiers have been relocated away from the base in Erbil, capital of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region. Russia has also called for restraint, with a Kremlin spokesperson saying, “We are currently witnessing an unprecedented escalation of tension in the region, but we still hope that political and diplomatic means and negotiations will continue to prevail in the search for a settlement”. Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2026

By none@none.com (Agencies)

Iran covertly repositions strike drones amid Russia drills in Strait of Hormuz, expert says

Defense expert Cameron Chell called Iran's military moves a "calculated escalation" as U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones with strike capabilities were reportedly spotted in the region.

Watch: Iran, Russia, China Joint Drills Kick Off In Crowded Waters As NOTAM Issued

Watch: Iran, Russia, China Joint Drills Kick Off In Crowded Waters As NOTAM Issued The previously reported Iran-Russia-China joint naval drills have kicked off Thursday in Iran's increasingly crowded southern waters, as the United States continues expanding its military presence in the Arabian Sea. Iranian Navy Rear Admiral Hassan Maqsudlu has made it clear that part of the purpose of the exercise is to "prevent any unilateral action in the region" - a clear challenge to Washington and the Trump-ordered ongoing Pentagon build-up of aerial and naval assets in the region. Iranian state TV has made it a point to widely publicize the drills, given it has Russia in its corner. Watch: The joint Iranian-Russian naval exercise in the Northern Indian Ocean has entered its main phase, including counter-terrorism and tactical formations, according to Iranian State TV. https://t.co/rKoxUFP0Zx pic.twitter.com/3HyhW0lSlN February 19, 2026 The drills are primarily taking place in the the key oil transit chokepoint Strait of Hormuz, as well as the Gulf of Oman, and the northern Indian Ocean. The joint exercise been long planned, held annually since 2019, and usually also include China - but by appearances Beijing is taking a far backseat in this one, with little reported presence. More footage of elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commandos deploying as part of the games: Iranian State TV aired footage of the joint Iran-Russia naval drill in the Northern Indian Ocean. The exercise, including forces from the IRGC, Russian, and Iranian Navy commandos, exhibited vessel raids and seizures. pic.twitter.com/9ywzyIZQhG February 19, 2026 There have also been reports of missile preparedness drills in some parts of Iran, a continuation of similar activity from earlier this month, amid the standoff with the US. Reuters detailed the notice to airmen went to effect starting Wednesday: "Iran issued a notice to airmen (NOTAM) that it plans rocket launches in areas across its south on Thursday from 330 GMT to 1330 GMT, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration website showed on Wednesday." A NOTAM is currently in effect over Iran. If you’re a pilot, it’s best to steer clear of this area between ground level and FL100, as rockets may be launched. Thanks @notamify! pic.twitter.com/MTszL2G8AU February 19, 2026 "The Islamic Republic of Iran has faced threats, noise, propaganda and the presence of extra-regional fleets in West Asia for 47 years," Iran’s Navy Commander Rear Adm. Shahram Irani warned. "The presence of extra-regional fleets in West Asia is unjustified." “If the extra-regional fleet feels it has come with power, it should know that the Iranian people will confront them with greater power,” he added. “The faith of the people and missiles are the Islamic Republic of Iran’s deterrent weapons against the enemy.” The War Zone publication gives some further details: As Iranian and Russian officials gathered Wednesday aboard the Russian corvette Stoiky, a top Iranian official issued a new threat against the growing U.S. Navy presence in the region, which includes the Abraham Lincoln CSG and at least eight other surface combatants. The Ford could arrive in the region in the next four or five days given its location posted by the MarineTraffic ship tracking website. The Navy said only that the ship is now in the Atlantic Ocean. If the US were to launch a 'surprise' attack on Iran, it remains unlikely that either Russia or China would come to Tehran's direct aid and engage militarily with Washington. However, it's possible more Chinese and Russian ships would be sent to patrol flashpoint waters, making things more delicate and difficult in terms of US Navy maneuvering and firing.  Prior IRGC/Iran state media handout. At the very least, Moscow and Beijing would team up to issue a UN Security Council condemnation, and would seek to rally the globe against another Iraq-style war in the Middle East, with likely disastrous consequences for the whole region. Tyler Durden Thu, 02/19/2026 - 19:40

By Tyler Durden