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According to my assessment, between the January 8th and 9th, Iranian regime repression forces fired approximately 1.2 million rounds across Iran—mostly using Kalashnikovs, shotguns, machine guns, and pistols at close range.
A large number of the wounded were executed with a final shot in hospitals while they were in stable condition.
Regime forces also used several types of non-standard (non-issued) weapons in order to later claim during investigations that foreign elements (Mossad) were involved.
The number of those killed is undoubtedly far higher than the 12,000 reported by Iran International and the 20,000 cited by other sources.
(My estimate places the death toll at no fewer than 30,000 and possibly up to 50,000.)
Most Iranian cities became deserted starting Saturday, the January 10th, and a form of martial law is effectively in place. Satellite dishes and residential receivers are being dismantled.
The regime has distributed mobile phones, wallets, watches, and valuables belonging to killed protesters among its own forces.
(The mobile phones are reportedly being wiped after inspection and undergoing software-based IMEI modification.)
Many detained women were subjected to gang rape, followed by execution with a final shot..!!
A large number of bodies that were shot in the face have been buried in mass graves. According to my information, this is confirmed in Rasht and Tehran.
As of Wednesday night, there were still many unidentified bodies in three forensic medicine centers in Tehran.
It is likely that 5,000 to 7,000 people were killed in Tehran, 3,500 to 5,000 in Rasht, and 2,500 to 4,000 in Mashhad and Isfahan.
We still do not have confirmed information on the situation in many smaller cities, nor verified figures on arrests, injuries, and deaths.
This lack of information is especially concerning regarding cities in Ilam Province (more than anywhere else), Kurdistan, Sistan and Baluchestan, and Shiraz.
There have been reports of amphetamine use and several other narcotics among repression forces.
Participants in the protests have reported a sharp escalation in the regime’s level of violence during this wave of demonstrations—particularly following the call by Prince Reza Pahlavi—including uniform clothing with leopard-pattern designs and new equipment, likely procured from China. In several cities, highly trained, muscular, tall forces were observed who were not Iranian.
(At least 130 cities were involved in protests.)
A significant portion of the killings was carried out by these foreign forces, who were likely transferred to Iran following the events of October 7, 2023, and the fall of the Syrian regime. Approximately 5,000 fighters from three IRGC-affiliated militia groups in Iraq reportedly entered Iran by bus and plane via Najaf and Karbala.
In many cities, Iranian forces either handed over their weapons and refused orders to kill civilians, or fled.
Rumors have circulated regarding the arrest of Hassan Rouhani and Javad Zarif, as well as the house arrest of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, former presidents of the Iranian regime. Based on the information available to us, I consider such high-level arrests plausible, and it is even possible that a large number of senior security officials have been arrested or killed.
The internet inside Iran has been reduced to an intranet, with only domestic websites and banking applications functioning.
Since Thursday (yesterday), security and regime-affiliated individuals equipped with white SIM cards and internet access have once again become active online, indicating an effort by the government to engineer and manipulate social media networks.
#Iran
An Iranian regime expert on state television said:
“We have many cards in our hand that we do not need to rush to reveal. We can, with the doctrine of the ‘long arm,’ bring the war to U.S. soil and no longer fight the enemy on our own soil.”
- 🦶🏻Note: The speaker appears to be referring to the activation of alleged hidden cells linked to the Iranian state, which are reportedly waiting in cities inside Iran for orders to carry out sabotage or terrorist operations.
The security situation in the world is, in this view, “interestingly approaching the conditions of September 2001.”
History of the Tren de Aragua Criminal Gang:
Tren de Aragua is Venezuela's largest and most notorious criminal organization, which evolved from a prison gang into a transnational network spanning Latin America and parts of the United States. The group has engaged in drug trafficking, human trafficking, extortion, kidnapping, money laundering, and murder, and it has maintained connections with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps dating back to the Ahmadinejad era.
The name "Tren de Aragua" means "Aragua Train." This name likely derives from a union of workers on an unfinished railway project in Aragua State. The group's core formed between 2010 and 2014 in the infamous Tocorón Prison.
The main leader of the group was Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, known as "Niño Guerrero." He gained extensive influence in Tocorón Prison and effectively turned it into the organization's command headquarters.
During his reign, Tocorón Prison was run in an unprecedented manner, including being equipped with a swimming pool, restaurant, nightclub, zoo, and sports field, all funded by endless streams of drug trafficking and money laundering money.
Most of the gang's members were present inside the prison, demonstrating that the government had lost real control of the facility.
Venezuela's economic crisis and the migration of millions of its citizens provided a golden opportunity for the network to expand its operations. Members of the group positioned themselves along migration routes and established criminal cells in various countries:
Including in Colombia, Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Brazil, Bolivia, and the United States,
Unlike traditional Mexican cartels, Tren de Aragua is not solely focused on drugs and has a diverse business model:
For them, human trafficking, migrant smuggling,
sexual exploitation and trafficking of women, extortion of businesses, kidnapping, armed robbery, money laundering, drug trafficking, and contract killings were just their idea of wholesome recreation!
One of the most notorious cases attributed to this group was the kidnapping and murder of Ronald Ojeda in Chile.
Ojeda was a former Venezuelan army officer and critic of the Maduro government. Armed individuals posing as police abducted him, and his body was later found buried in a concrete-filled suitcase. This case drew global attention to Tren de Aragua.
From around 2022 onward, reports emerged of members of this network in various U.S. states, including New York, Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania, California!
U.S. authorities have accused the group of extortion, theft, human trafficking, and organized crime.
In September 2023, the Venezuelan government retook Tocorón Prison by deploying over 11,000 security forces, but group leaders including Niño Guerrero managed to escape.
In 2024, the U.S. Treasury Department designated Tren de Aragua as a transnational criminal organization and offered rewards for the capture of its leaders.
According to an announcement by Donald Trump, U.S. forces killed Niño Guerrero in an operation in Venezuela. The U.S. Secretary of Defense has also confirmed this operation. If this news is ultimately verified, it would be the most significant blow to Tren de Aragua's leadership structure since its founding. However, the experience of similar criminal groups shows that eliminating a leader does not necessarily mean the organization's collapse, and new successors usually emerge.
For an OSINT journalist, Tren de Aragua can be considered the "Venezuelan version of a transnational cartel akin to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (on a smaller scale), which formed out of a prison, capitalized on Venezuela's migration crisis to expand, and within less than a decade became one of the most well-known criminal networks on the American continent.
Professional soccer player Rashid Mazaheri defended Iran's goal for over a decade and is a source of pride to millions of Iranians.
In February, Rashid made a post calling Khamenei "a dark and passing chapter" in Iran's history. He is now in regime custody, under harsh conditions.
Rashid lent his voice to his people and is being punished for it.
Add your name to the petition below to demand his unconditional release.
https://t.co/ItqzkSwq6S
Footage showing the moment one of the missiles launched by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) struck Manama, the capital of Bahrain.
No further details about the explosions have been released so far.
#Breaking
Newly released footage from the Mahshahr Petrochemical Complex shows sections of the facility following Israeli airstrikes.
Videos circulating online appear to depict damage to parts of the petrochemical complex in Mahshahr in the aftermath of the attacks.
- 🦶🏻Note: these strikes could set back parts of Iran’s industrial and petrochemical infrastructure by years.
#Breaking
Footage from the city of Malard, near Tehran, reportedly shows an explosion at the Shahid Modarres missile base, associated with the IRGC’s 7th Missile Division.
#Breaking
Footage from the city of Malard, near Tehran, reportedly shows an explosion at the Shahid Modarres missile base, associated with the IRGC’s 7th Missile Division.
#Breaking
The Israeli military has confirmed that it carried out strikes against targets across Iran.
Reports of explosions have emerged from five cities: Tehran, Karaj, Kermanshah, Isfahan, and Tabriz.
#Breaking
The Israeli military has confirmed that it carried out strikes against targets across Iran.
Reports of explosions have emerged from five cities: Tehran, Karaj, Kermanshah, Isfahan, and Tabriz.
The Israeli military has announced that all missiles launched toward the country were successfully intercepted and destroyed by its air defense systems. One missile reportedly landed in a desert area, where firefighters are currently working to secure and contain the remaining debris.
The Iranian regime stated that the missile launches were carried out in response to strikes conducted in Lebanon earlier today. Tehran further indicated that it does not intend to carry out additional attacks, provided that Israel refrains from retaliating against the latest missile barrage.
#Breaking
A missile has been sighted in the skies over Tabriz. According to initial reports, at least six missiles were launched from the Tabriz area, while three additional missiles were launched from the vicinity of Urmia.
#Breaking
According to the Israeli military, all Iranian missiles launched to this point have been successfully intercepted.
Air defense systems are currently responding to the latest wave of missiles directed toward northern Israel.
#Breaking
According to the Israeli military, all Iranian missiles launched to this point have been successfully intercepted.
Air defense systems are currently responding to the latest wave of missiles directed toward northern Israel.
One of the primary initial targets of the operation is expected to be Majid Mousavi, the missile commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
At this moment, U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are reportedly engaged in a telephone conversation.
#Breaking
So far, a total of 14 ballistic missiles have been launched toward Israel in three separate waves of attacks.
Israeli security and defense sources are unanimously signaling that a response to the Iranian attack is inevitable. As a result, we may witness the resumption of full-scale hostilities as early as tonight.
#Breaking
So far, a total of 14 ballistic missiles have been launched toward Israel in three separate waves of attacks.
Israeli security and defense sources are unanimously signaling that a response to the Iranian attack is inevitable. As a result, we may witness the resumption of full-scale hostilities as early as tonight.
#Breaking
So far, a total of 14 ballistic missiles have been launched toward Israel in three separate waves of attacks.
Israeli security and defense sources are unanimously signaling that a response to the Iranian attack is inevitable. As a result, we may witness the resumption of full-scale hostilities as early as tonight.
#Breaking
Developments in the Middle East have begun with the launch of four missiles from Iran toward Israeli cities. We may be witnessing the early stages of a broader and potentially more significant confrontation than the one seen in March.
Israeli air defense systems are currently engaged in intercepting the incoming missiles, while reports indicate that explosions have been heard in the city of Kermanshah in western Iran.
Just minutes ago, Iranian sources also reported the commencement of a second wave of missile attacks against Israel.
Updates on these developments will follow as more information becomes available.
Ethiopia:
Post-Election Violence Claims Dozens of Lives in Oromia as Graphic Footage Circulates Online
Fresh reports and viral video footage have emerged detailing a series of deadly attacks in Ethiopia’s Oromia region that occurred in the days leading up to and following the June 1 general election.
The incidents, centered in the East Arsi Zone, have left dozens of civilians dead, many of them members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.
A video widely shared on social media shows rows of bodies wrapped in white shrouds laid out on wooden benches inside a large hall, surrounded by grieving crowds.
The shaky, handheld footage captures the immediate aftermath of what authorities and local religious leaders describe as coordinated massacres. Ethiopian Orthodox Patriarch Abune Mathias has publicly mourned the “unending” killings, while the Prime Minister’s Office condemned the attacks and stated that security forces have since restored control in the affected areas.
Government sources and local officials have attributed the violence to the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA-Shene), an armed group operating in the region. Some observers and diaspora voices have framed the assaults as targeted attacks on Christian communities by Islamist militants. Humanitarian organizations have called for urgent investigations and protection for civilians amid the ethnic and religious tensions that continue to plague parts of the country.
Election Context and Broader Instability
The attacks took place against the backdrop of Ethiopia’s seventh general election. While voting proceeded relatively smoothly in many urban and accessible areas, large parts of Oromia and Amhara were disrupted by security concerns. The Tigray region was entirely excluded from the process due to ongoing post-war recovery. Partial results continue to show a strong lead for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Prosperity Party, but opposition groups have raised concerns about fairness and the exclusion of conflict zones.
The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) has praised the overall conduct where polling was possible, with African Union observers noting logistical successes. However, the violence in Oromia underscores the persistent challenges to national stability and inclusive participation.
Humanitarian and International Response: Rights groups and church leaders have highlighted the human cost, with reports of homes burned, churches targeted, and families displaced. The Ethiopian Orthodox Patriarch’s statement expressed profound sorrow, while international calls for accountability and de-escalation grow.
This latest outbreak adds to a pattern of recurring violence in Oromia and Amhara that has limited electoral access and strained federal-regional relations. Broader conflicts across the Horn of Africa have also drawn attention to the plight of Christian communities in parts of the continent, though coverage remains limited in mainstream international media.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government continues to emphasize economic progress, including GDP growth and major infrastructure projects, even as it faces criticism for its handling of internal security.
Full election results are still being finalized, and analysts expect the ruling party to retain a commanding majority. In the coming days, attention will likely shift toward addressing the humanitarian situation in Oromia, investigating the recent attacks, and managing any post-election disputes.
The situation remains fluid. This update draws on official statements, eyewitness footage, and multiple verified reports to provide the most current picture of events in #Ethiopia.
IRNA, the official news agency of the Islamic Republic of Iran, reported that Mohsin Naqvi, Pakistan's Interior Minister, said regarding his trip to Tehran: "I am here to deliver a special letter from General Asim Munir, Chief of the Army Staff of Pakistan, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, regarding the current situation, to Mojtaba Khamenei."
He added: "I think this message is an important one. I hope everything goes well and comes to a successful conclusion."
I want to talk about motivation for a moment. The whole idea of it is pretty strange because you can grow from your room, from your house, and from the people around you. There are many different kinds of people who will always be around you. Some of them will push you forward, some will pull you back, and some will simply stand beside you without doing anything.
The point is that if you really want to move forward, if you truly want to fight for your dreams, and if you want to become the person you’ve always dreamed of being, the person you’re meant to be, then stand up, look in the mirror, and make a change.
Start making changes, take control of your life, and fight for your dreams…🧿
An exceptionally embarrassing start to the day for Russian President Vladimir Putin, as Ukrainian long-range one-way attack drones reportedly penetrated deep into Russian airspace and struck targets in St. Petersburg, more than 500 miles (800 kilometers) from the Ukrainian border.
Several drones are said to have impacted a major oil terminal and associated energy infrastructure in the city, triggering large fires and sending towering columns of black smoke into the sky. Images and videos circulating on social media show the smoke visible from multiple parts of the city, underscoring both the scale of the attack and the apparent inability of Russian air defenses to fully prevent the strikes.
The timing is particularly significant. The attack occurred on the opening day of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), one of Russia’s premier political and business events, where government officials, foreign delegations, investors, and corporate leaders from more than 120 countries are expected to gather. The sight of burning infrastructure and smoke rising over Russia’s second-largest city presents an unwelcome backdrop for an event designed to showcase Russia’s economic resilience and international partnerships.
Beyond the immediate physical damage, the strike highlights Ukraine’s growing ability to conduct long-range drone operations against strategic targets deep inside Russian territory, challenging Moscow’s claims of secure airspace and raising further questions about the effectiveness of Russia’s air-defense network around critical infrastructure and major population centers.
#UkraineRussiaWar