"The Alpha unit of Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) destroyed half of Russia's stockpile ofthe coveted Pantsir air defense system, the SBU announced Feb. 14.
"The 'Pantsir' is one of Russia's modern and key air defense systems. The cost of a single system ranges from $15 to $20 million. These anti-aircraft missile systems are the most effective in countering Ukrainian long-range drones," the announcement read.
The "systemic destruction" of the air defense system has the "strategic goal" of making Russia vulnerable to long-range strikes as Moscow continues to wage its war, the SBU said.
A diminished arsenal allows the Armed Forces to effectively strike Russian "military bases, warehouses, airfields, and other occupied facilities." KI
“Catastrophic” is how one resident describes the devastation left in Madagascar in the wake of Cyclone Gezani.
The cyclone is blamed for at least 36 deaths after making landfall with sustained winds reaching an estimated 125 mph — the equivalent of a Category 3 hurricane." yahoo
"U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told European leaders on Feb. 14 that Washington is not walking away from the transatlantic alliance—but called for a renewed partnership that aligns with President Donald Trump’s push for national revival, tougher border control, and a return to industrial and military strength.Addressing the annual Munich Security Conference, Rubio sought to reassure governments unsettled by a year of tensions over trade, defense spending, and at times critical U.S. rhetoric toward NATO.
At the same time, he made clear that Washington’s commitment would be tied to what he called a broader civilizational renewal—one that calls on Europe to strengthen its own defenses and reassess policies on migration, climate, and economic globalization.
“Under President Trump, the United States of America will once again take on the task of renewal and restoration, driven by a vision of a future as proud, as sovereign, and as vital as our civilization’s past,” Rubio said.
“And while we are prepared, if necessary, to do this alone, it is our preference, and it is our hope to do this together with you, our friends here in Europe, for the United States and Europe—we belong together.”
Serving as both a warning and an invitation, Rubio’s remarks acknowledged “mistakes” made by both the United States and Europe in the decades following the Cold War, while highlighting a shared responsibility to correct course." ZH
"A strong magnitude 5.3 earthquake occurred in the Philippine Sea 122 km (76 mi) from Sulawesi Utara, Indonesia, in the early morning at 1.23 am local time (GMT +8). The quake had a moderate depth of 75 km (46 mi) and was reported felt by some people near the epicenter." VD
"The Iranian security agents came at 2 a.m., pulling up in a half-dozen cars outside the home of the Nakhii family. They woke up the sleeping sisters, Nyusha and Mona, and forced them to give the passwords for their phones. Then they took the two away.The women were accused of participating in the nationwide protests that shook Iran a week earlier, a friend of the pair told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity for her security as she described the Jan. 16 arrests.
Such arrests have been happening for weeks following the government crackdown last month that crushed the protests calling for the end of the country’s theocratic rule. Reports of raids on homes and workplaces have come from major cities and rural towns alike, revealing a dragnet that has touched large swaths of Iranian society. University students, doctors, lawyers, teachers, actors, business owners, athletes and filmmakers have been swept up, as well as reformist figures close to President Masoud Pezeshkian." NYP
"Mere days after the US-backed government in Taipei launched the so-called Joint Firepower Coordination Center (JFCC), defined as “an enhanced firepower coordination effort in close cooperation with the United States”, multirole sources have confirmed that the Chinesebreakaway island province of Taiwan is deploying the overhyped and exorbitantly overpriced M142 HIMARS MLRS (multiple launch rocket system) to the islands of Penghu and Dongyin.
The US-made system is also equipped with ATACMS missiles, extending its reach to 300 km. Taipei insists that this will “strengthen the effectiveness of the kill chain”, while its Ministry of Defense (MoD) stressed that the increase in HIMARS orders to 111 units was undertaken specifically to forward-deploy them to the islands closest to China’s mainland." ZH
"218 combat engagements were recorded between the Defense Forces of Ukraine and Russian invaders.
Russian aviation strikes targeted areas in Velykomykhailivka, Kolomiitsi, and Pokrovske in the Dnipropetrovsk region, as well as Samoilivka, Barvinivka, Svoboda, Huliaipilske, Lisne, Kopani, Hirske, Verkhnia Tersa, Zaliznychne, Charivne, Dolynka, and Zaporozhets in the Zaporizhzhia region.
The missile and artillery units of the Defense Forces struck one Russian UAV control post.In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, four engagements took place. Russian forces carried out three airstrikes, dropping six bombs, and 109 artillery strikes, including 10 from MLRS.
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, the enemy attempted 15 times to break through defensive lines in the areas of Prylipka, Starytsia, Vovchanski Khutory, Vovchansk, Lyman, and toward Okhrimivka, Zybyne, and Mala Vovcha.
In the Kupiansk sector, Russian forces launched two attacks toward Bohuslavka and Pishchane.
In the Lyman sector, Russian forces conducted 17 attacks, attempting to breach defenses in Hrekivka, Karpivka, Serednie, Derylove, Zarichne, and Drobysheve, and toward Stavky.
In the Sloviansk sector, Ukrainian defenders stopped 11 Russian attempts to advance in Platonivka, Zakitne, and toward Rai-Oleksandrivka and Ozerne.
In the Kramatorsk sector, the enemy carried out one offensive action near Nykyforivka.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, Russian forces conducted 18 attacks near Kleban-Byk, Pleshchiivka, Rusyn Yar, Sofiivka, and in the sectors of Kostiantynivka, Illinivka, Novopavlivka, and Stepanivka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled 56 Russian assault actions in Rodynske, Rivne, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetske, Ivanivka, Filiia, and toward Kucheriv Yar, Dorozhnie, Novyi Donbas, Hryshyne, Novopidhorodne, Novopavlivka, and Novooleksandrivka.
In the Oleksandrivka sector, the enemy carried out two attacks toward Ivanivka and Oleksandrohrad.
In the Huliaipole sector, there were 35 Russian attacks in Huliaipole, Zahirne, Dorozhnianka, and toward Zaliznychne and Staroukrainka.
In the Orikhiv sector, Russian forces attacked three times near Mali Shcherbaky, Plavni, and toward Prymorske.
In the Prydniprovske sector, the enemy conducted one unsuccessful offensive action." Ukrin
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