Author: Opalim Lifted

A US F-35 stealth fighter jet has reportedly been hit by suspected Iranian fire and forced into an emergency landing at an American base in the Middle East, raising fresh concerns over the escalating conflict. According to US media reports, including ABC News and CNN, the advanced warplane sustained damage mid-operation before safely landing. Captain Tim Hawkins, spokesperson for US Central Command, confirmed the incident but stopped short of verifying Iranian involvement. “The aircraft landed safely, and the pilot is in stable condition,” Hawkins said in a statement. “This incident is under investigation.” First suspected Iranian strike on F-35 If…

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israel and the United States were “winning” the war against Iran, claiming the Islamic republic had been “decimated” and could no longer enrich uranium or manufacture ballistic missiles. In an English-language press conference, Netanyahu insisted Israel had “acted alone” in striking Iran’s massive South Pars gas field, while confirming that US President Donald Trump had asked Israeli forces to “hold off” on such attacks moving forward. The Israeli premier also rejected the notion that he had drawn Trump into the conflict, implying instead that he was the junior partner in the joint assault…

The United States (US) is preparing to dramatically scale up spending on its military campaign in Iran, with the Pentagon requesting about $200 billion in additional funding. According to a report by The Washington Post, the request has already been submitted to the White House for approval before heading to Congress, signalling a significant escalation in the financial scope of the conflict. Donald Trump confirmed the funding request during a White House event on Thursday, describing the war as “very volatile” despite earlier suggesting it could end soon. “We are being very judicious,” Trump said, adding that the US needed…

Joseph Kent, the former director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), is reportedly under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation over allegations of leaking classified information. The NCTC serves as the US government’s central hub for analysing and integrating terrorism intelligence gathered across federal agencies, making the role one of the most sensitive in national security. Kent resigned from his post on Tuesday, citing opposition to the United States’ involvement in the escalating conflict with Iran. In a strongly worded statement, he argued the war lacked justification. “Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation,” Kent said, adding that…

Iran has executed a 19-year-old wrestling champion, Saleh Mohammadi, alongside two other protesters in a public hanging that has triggered global condemnation. Mohammadi, described as a rising talent from Qom, was convicted of the capital offence of “waging war against God” — a charge frequently used by Iranian authorities in protest-related cases. Human rights groups say he was tortured into confessing and denied a fair trial. Two others, Mehdi Ghasemi and Saeed Davoudi, were executed alongside him after being accused of killing two police officers during January protests. Iranian state media maintained that the trio carried out the killings using…

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed reports misrepresenting comments by the Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, on terrorism in Borno and Yobe states, insisting his remarks were taken out of context. In a statement issued on Friday, the DHQ said the online report falsely suggested that the CDS accused residents of the two states of supporting terrorism. According to the military, no such generalisation was made. Instead, Oluyede stressed the importance of community partnership in tackling insurgency, noting that the fight against terrorism requires collective effort. “The fight against terrorism is not the responsibility of the military alone. It…

Iran has officially announced that the holy month of Ramadan will end on Friday, with the Eid al-Fitr celebration set to begin the following day. The announcement was made on state television by the office of Mojtaba Khamenei, confirming that Friday will mark the 30th day of fasting. “After lunar observations, tomorrow, Friday, will be the 30th day of the blessed month of Ramadan, followed by the Eid al-Fitr holiday,” the statement said. The decision was echoed in neighbouring Iraq, where leading Shia cleric Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani also confirmed the same timeline. Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the…

The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested a suspected gunrunner, Kelvin Dugo, in Cross River State, intercepting a large cache of ammunition in a targeted operation. Dugo was apprehended at Ivara Esu Estate in Odukpani Local Government Area following intelligence that he planned to acquire a significant quantity of ammunition. Security sources said the suspect had arranged to purchase 832 rounds of live ammunition from another alleged gunrunner, Azenda Barnabas, also known as Jagaban, based in Benue State. According to findings, DSS operatives moved in swiftly and intercepted Dugo shortly after he received the consignment, which had been cleverly…

Skipper John McGinn and Leon Bailey fired Aston Villa into the Europa League quarter-finals with a composed victory over Lille. The Scotland international set up a match against Bologna in the last eight as Aston Villa won 3-0 on aggregate. The Italians edged out Serie A rivals Roma in extra time, winning 4-3 on the night and 5-4 on aggregate. Unai Emery – a four-time Europa League winner – is a step closer to ending Villa’s 30-year trophy drought, which would also earn the club a return to the Champions League. It was an ultimately forgettable game which suited Villa…

Former Liberian president and football legend George Weah has strongly criticised the decision by Confederation of African Football to withdraw the AFCON 2025 title from Senegal and award it to Morocco. In a statement on Facebook, Weah argued that the outcome of the final match should stand, stressing that football decisions must be determined on the pitch, not in committee rooms. Referee authority must be final Weah anchored his argument on the Laws of the Game, particularly Law 5, which grants referees full authority over match decisions. According to him, once a match is completed under the referee’s supervision, the…