day one-hundred thirty-eight (13. 641)

Middle Eastern nations are on high alert has hostilities continue to flare, the Revolutionary Guard declaring that Iran is in a state of all out war as US forces strike the southern cities of Shiraz and Tabriz and western Azerbaijan province. Sirens blare across Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar as more ballistics fall. Trump repeats his vow that the deaths of service members will be avenged many times over with secretary of state Rubio accusing Iran, rather obviously, of using its control of the Hormuz as “leverage against the world” whilst calling on other countries to share the burden of protecting global shipping. US fighter jets based in Germany are to be stationed at Israeli air force stations for safety. New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani speculates on the possibility of enforcing a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court—of which the US is not a signatory—should Netanyahu visit for a UN summit in September to the outrage of the American president, saying that the Israeli prime minister will in “no way, shape or form be arrested” and extradited. After a Riyadh-led occupation of the airport of the Yemeni capital of Sanaa to prevent Iran from sending aid to the rebels, the Houthi declare access to the Red Sea cut off to Saudi Arabia. US peacekeeping operations begin in southern Lebanese “pilot zones” as part of the trilateral peace agreement with Tel Aviv. Hamas names new political bureau chief, Khalil al-Hayya.

day one-hundred thirty-six (13. 635)

The FBI subpoenaed several journalists from the New York Times, pressuring them to reveal their sources regarding Trump’s change of planes upon departing the NATO summit in Ankara, leaving on the old Air Force One, rather than by the one gifted to him by the Qatari government—the reporters uncovering it was done out of safety and security concerns over the retrofitted aircraft and not a chance for the new plane to make a publicity tour of European US bases as officially put out. Already targeting infrastructure and energy facilities across Russia, Ukrainian strikes destroyed major logistics hubs and warehouses in the Tambov and Moscow regions of Wildberries (Ва́йлдберриз), the Russian e-commerce giant and Amazon equivalent. Iran’s Supreme Leader suspends the MOU as Washington and Tehran continue to exchange fire. Two American soldiers stationed in Jordan were killed by incoming Iranian ballistics and a third service member is missing. A US radar station in Camp Arifjan in Kuwait was destroyed. Shelter in place orders were issued for Bahraini citizens near the base hosting the US Fifth Fleet. Israel moves to seize ancient freshwater reservoirs in Bethlehem as desalination plants of neighbouring countries continue to sustain damage.  Israel also reclassifies the endangered status of the Nile crocodile in order to use the animals as deterrent for escape from a prison holding suspected Hamas militants and sympathisers.  

day one-hundred thirty-two (13. 617)

Former staunch critic turned ally of Trump, the hawkish long term senator from South Carolina Lindsey Graham dies suddenly after a short unexpected illness, having recently returned from a trip to Ukraine and championing increased sanctions against Russia at the relatively young age of seventy-one for the gerontocracy, whilst the country has been awaiting news on the health of former senate leader Mitch McConnell, hospitalised for weeks with no explanation or sighting, fuelling speculation that the Kentucky senator is dead or effectively so. It’s not outside of the realm of possibilities that Graham was assassinated by a Russian agent—not so much for his stance but to spook Trump, already a target for the killing of Iran’s former Supreme Leader. It is believed that the developments on McConnell’s heath are being withheld until the statutory filing date to prevent Kentucky’s Democratic governor from calling a special election before the mid-terms, leaving the seat vacant, South Carolina’s Republican governor can appoint a replacement for Graham. Iran launches retaliatory strikes on US bases in Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain after the US conducts attacks on coastal radar site and air defence systems, America insisting that the Strait of Hormuz is reopened.

day one-hundred-two (13. 497)

Initially unconvinced of the need for retaliatory strikes on Iran after the downing of a US Apache helicopter gunship, unclear if the crash was really the result of enemy fire, Trump changed his mind over the possible Tonkin ghost, after talking with his military advisors and unironically channeling a 2000 clip from an episode of the West Wing regarding the virtue of a disproportional response, ordered targeting (including reservoirs supplying drinking water) whilst Iran attacked US sites in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain. Other members of the US administration are downplaying the significance of their posture of self-defence, insisting that the ceasefire still holds.

synchronoptica

one year ago: the Bic Cristal (with synchronopticæ)

twelve years ago: a visit to Genoa

thirteen years ago: blockupy rallies, Italian traffic signs, a duty-free enclave, dragnet surveillance plus the city of Como 

fourteen years ago: conserving endangered sounds 

fifteen years ago: the Bilderberg conference 

seventeen years ago: a Roman holiday 

day ninety-seven (13. 488)

Hezbollah categorically rejects US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon and its unspecified pilot security zones. Putin rebuffs Zelenskyy’s request for an in-person meeting with the Russian ruler to bring about settlement to the ongoing war in Ukraine.  Amid frustration and lack of progress over the extension of a truce and restoration of maritime traffic in the Persian gulf, American and Iranian forces continue to exchange fire, with more attacks on US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain.

day forty-two (13. 335)

Continued assaults on Beirut threatening the fragile ceasefire, Trump has reportedly urged Netanyahu to be more “low key” in his attacks on Lebanon as the delegation headed by JD Vance for the US and Iranian leaders are scheduled to meet in Islamabad for peace talks. The White House warns government employees from using insider knowledge to leverage bets on the outcome of negotiations and direction of the war on prediction markets. Israel will hold direct talks with the Lebanese government aimed at disarming Hezbollah and limiting collateral casualties. Underscoring Tehran’s continued control of the strait, tankers are being selectively let through and still only a trickle of the ships parked on either side of the gulf. Kuwaiti territory is still being targeted although Iran denies to be behind retaliatory attacks and the Emirates has reported clear skies.

synchronoptica

one year ago: The Great Gatsby (with synchronopticæ), market reaction dulls Trump tariffs plus assorted links worth the revisit

twelve years ago: NATO and Ukraine plus English orthography 

thirteen years ago: the Night of the the Long Knives 

fourteen years ago: a planned Star Trek casino 

fifteen years ago: a catalogue of Star Trek characters 

day thirty-two (13. 310)

Although continuing to threaten to obliterate Iranian energy infrastructure (and desalination plants, a war crime under the Geneva Conventions) if Tehran does not capitulate by a deadline extended to Easter Monday—the paschal holidays making this a short trading week for stock markets and possibly with hopes of mopping up prior to the opening bell—Trump says he may cease military operations even without securing the Strait of Hormuz, leaving that logistical problem to be saved for a later date. A Kuwaiti-flagged tanker was struck by drone debris and may spilling its cargo into the waters of the Gulf and adding to the environmental disaster. Assaults continued in the Iranian and Lebanese capitals with counterstrikes in central Israel. Türkiye intercepted a fourth missile targeting the NATO member. Israeli prime minister Netanyahu declined to give a timeline during an interview with the press but said that military objectives were half complete. Iranian leadership acknowledge receipt of US peace proposals via intermediaries, dismissing them as excessive and unrealistic, as US vice president JD Vance, apparently skeptical of the war from the beginning, is appointed as chief negotiator.

synchronoptica

one year ago: a secret apartment inside a mall (with synchronopticæ), handball alleys plus more on Eadweard Muybridge

twelve years ago: a visit to the Fulda Gap 

fourteen years ago: harnessing lightning 

fifteen years ago: an insolvent superpower 

sixteen years ago: an Easter egg shortage 

seventeen years ago: the G20 and a universal currency 

day thirty (13. 305)

Pro-Iranian elements in Iraq have targeted Syria, including lobbing missiles at US bases in the northeastern province of Hasakeh as Oman and Kuwait continue to repel drone assaults and Iran destroys Bahraini and Emirati aluminium factories in retaliation—connecting the industry to the US military. After multiple universities came under attack in Iran, Tehran declares American institutions of higher education in the region to be legitimate targets. A contingency of paratroopers and marines arrive in the Middle East as the US prepares for ground operations, reportedly planning raids rather than a full-scale invasion. The exiled crown prince, the son of the deposed shah is encouraging protesters to rise up and overthrow the theocracy, signalling that he would be willing to take on a leadership role in government. Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon have killed three journalists and numerous health care workers, drawing international condemnation.

 

synchronoptica

one year ago: whitewashing America’s past (with synchronopticæ) plus happy birthday Amy Sedaris

 

thirteen years ago: A Carol for Another Christmas

 

fourteen years ago: Big Pharma and its lobby 

 

fifteen years ago: the convenience industry of spying 

 

sixteen years ago: Easter break 

day twenty (13. 276)

Following an Israeli airstrike on the Iranian south natural gas field, Tehran retaliated with more attacks on energy infrastructure in neighbouring Gulf states including Kuwait and Qatar—prompting Trump to threaten to “massively blow up” the rest of the damaged reservoir. Whilst the US administration denies any foreknowledge of the Israeli plan, sources tell the press it was coordinated and approved by Trump as leverage to re-open the Strait of Hormuz, which when the fighting pauses, Iran proposes a transit fee, like for the Panama Canal. Saudi Arabia is contemplating a military response to the constant volley of missiles and drones on its territory. Fuel prices continue to climb, jumping by as much as forty percent in Europe.

synchronoptica

one year ago: the MAGA aesthetic (with synchronopticæ), Sweet Georgia Brown (1925) plus assorted links worth the revisit

twelve years ago: conspiratorial thinking 

thirteen years ago: springtime rituals plus debating de-extinction

fourteen years ago: more on sovereign defaults 

seventeen years ago: Malagasy names 

day nine (13. 243)

Returning from Dover to receive the first of the war dead, Trump told reporters on Air Force One that he was not ruling out sending in ground troops to Iran, deploying a third aircraft carrier ground, the Gerald R Ford, from the Caribbean to the Red Sea, teasing that at a later stage that the objective would be to take over Iran’s nuclear stockpile.
US and Israeli attacks have targeted several fuel storage facilities across Tehran and institutional office towers in Dubai and Kuwait are engulfed in flames and a desalinisation plant for drinking water, cooling servers was disabled. Accused of joining wars after they’ve already been done, Trump renews condemnation for the UK for Keir Starmer’s initial reluctance to participate in the effort for this illegal act of aggression, saying their belated contributions were no longer needed. Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi stated that openness to deescalation was summarily ruled out by Trump’s miscomprehension of the country’s capabilities and intent as the clerical council announces consensus and is ready to appoint the next Supreme Leader.

 

synchronoptica

one year ago: Stick Nation (with synchronopticæ), linguistic divisions plus Carl Jung’s Red Book

twelve years ago: the visual perception of the mantis shrimp 

fourteen years ago: headlines from 1912 

fifteen years ago: prescribing placebos 

seventeen years ago: office small talk 

day eight (13. 240)

Oil refineries in Basra operated by US defence contractor Halliburton have been struck. As the Gulf states of the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia suffer fresh attacks and bombardments continue in Lebanon and Iran, independent reporting speculates that supplies of both ballistics and countermeasures are beginning to dwindle, with the US claiming that firepower on Tehran was to surge dramatically in the coming days and Trump saying there would be no further negotiations and would only accept unconditional surrender, the world still guessing about his endgame. An Iranian frigate was sunk outside of the theatre of war, returning from training manoeuvres off the coast of Sri Lanka by American naval forces, the first such expansion since WWII. Russian intelligence is supplying Iran with telemetry on US targets in the region.

synchronoptica

one year ago: the Silla Smile (with synchronopticæ) plus assorted links to revisit

thirteen years ago: historical monetary unions 

fourteen years ago: human-robot collaborations 

fifteen years ago: cooking by substitiution