Rubio has prioritized his pet ideological project in Latin America and his presidential ambitions—both of which require not antagonizing Trump.
Never mind his responsibilities as SecState and APNSA.
"According to #MarineTraffic data, two of its Ultra Large Container Vessels, CSCL Indian Ocean and CSCL Arctic Ocean, attempted to transit the strait but turned back at approximately 03:20 and 03:50 UTC, indicating that safe passage could not be guaranteed."
Source:
x.com/MarineTraffi...
On Wednesday of this week, COSCO has announced it had resumed bookings to the region.
Source:
lines.coscoshipping.com/home/News/de...
Uncertain times for shipping:
Overnight, two vessels of container shipping giant COSCO appeared to attempt to transit the Strait of Hormuz, only to turn around at Larak Island, which is thought to be an inspection point for vessels that have secured safe passage.
Source:
x.com/MarineTraffi...
Read the full report at:
airwars.org/wp-content/u...
@airwars.bsky.social
Top-line summary by Airwars
"At least 1,443 civilians have been killed by U.S. and Israeli forces, including 217 children, according to HRA. This is a minimum with the toll expected to rise as additional information surfaces."
airwars.org/civilian-har...
One month into the Iran conflict, what is the civilian cost?
The Washington Post shares finding from a joint report by Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), Airwars, and the Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC).
@washingtonpost.com
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Gator mines are designed to self destruct. DOD says the failure rate is 1 in 10,000. After the Gulf War, a cleanup contractor found 1,977 Gator mine duds in one sector of Kuwait. At the claimed rate there should have been 12.
Some detonated spontaneously a year later.
www.gao.gov/assets/a2358...
Gator mines are scattered from the air across a target area roughly 200 by 650 meters. They arm within seconds of hitting the ground. Anyone who enters the area is at risk. The mines don't know who drives over them, steps on them, or picks them up.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBqd...
Bellingcat reports the US appears to have used Gator scatterable mines over Kafari, a village near Shiraz. Several killed according to Iranian media. These are area denial weapons that dispense submunitions across a wide zone.
Civilians live in that zone.
www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/03...
OSINT Analysts need more things to yell "Enhance! Damn it, I said ENHANCE!"
(Bonus points if it does anything - I just like yelling ENHANCE like they do on US television shows)
Two other survivors of the strike died before the rescue arrived. Their bodies were recovered.
www.nacion.com/el-mundo/cos...
Follow The Intercept's @nickturse.bsky.social e.bsky.social for coverage of the US's five months+ of boat strikes and @justsecurity.org ecurity.org for legal commentary.
Steven Umana, Regional Operations Coordinator, Costa Rican Red Cross on the survivor of Thursday's maritime strike by US Southcom:
“A person with severe burns and significant chest trauma is being transported in critical condition to Golfito Hospital."
SOUTHCOM attacked another boat in the Pacific Ocean.
Two civilians were killed. One was rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf and transferred to the Costa Rican Coast Guard.
theintercept.com/2025/11/17/t...
US Secretary of Defense directs armed services to conduct "ruthless no excuses review" of military legal counsel with aim to streamline and fast implementation.
Source:
x.com/secwar/statu...
@justsecurity.org
sketchy.boats/9321172
On X, Tanker Trackers identifies the vessels attacked as
ZEFYROS (IMO: 9515917)
SAFESEA VISHNU (IMO: 9327009)
Source:
fixupx.com/TankerTracke...
Two additional tankers reported struck
︀︀www.ukmto.org/-/media/ukmto/products/20260311-ukmto_warning_021-26.pdf?
Bellingcat has geolocated eight videos showing US Tomahawks cruise missiles in Iraq heading towards Iran. On Tuesday Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and stressed that Iraqi airspace and territory should not be used.
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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called NYT reporting on US strikes killing civilians "harassment."
165 girls. At least 1 boy. Killed while at school.
bsky.app/profile/atru...
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A second school. A child killed on a playground.
bsky.app/profile/trbr...
For outstanding coverage of the conflict, follow the NYT's Christiaan Triebert @trbrtc.bsky.social
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“An attack on a functioning school during class hours raises the most serious concerns under international law and must be urgently, independently, and effectively investigated, with accountability for any violations"
www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...
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@bellingcat.com authenticated video showing a Tomahawk missile strike next to the school in Minab. Iranian state media showed fragments at the site.
The US is the only party to the conflict known to possess Tomahawks.
www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/03...
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Summary by the ProPublica's reporters:
Reading @propublica.org latest, I found myself asking:
Are civilian casualties a feature, not a bug, for the US administration's operating system?
www.propublica.org/article/trum...
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A word of thanks to the New York Times, BBC Verify, CNN, Bellingcat, Airwars, Reuters, the AP, Al Jazeera and others doing the hard work of bearing witness to the many tragedies of this conflict.
Bellingcat's Director for Research and Training spoke with Canada's CTV news about the analysis behind the revelation that a cruise missile only used by the United States struck near a school in Iran in the first days of the war, resulting in the deaths of over 160 - mostly students..
