The Babylon Times

📜 TÜRKİYE AND SAUDI ARABIA TO EASE VISA RULES FOR DIPLOMATIC AND SPECIAL PASSPORT HOLDERS Türkiye and Saudi Arabia plan to ink an agreement loosening visa hurdles for diplomatic and special passport holders. The paperwork gets signed amid chit-chat between their foreign ministers. Source: Reuters. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

UPDATE:📜 TÜRKİYE'S YILDIRIMHAN PACKS 3000KG EXPLOSIVE PUNCH IN LIQUID-FUELED ICBM Türkiye's Yıldırımhan ICBM runs on liquid fuel and hauls a 3,000 kg explosive payload. Unlike the solid-fuel crowd in comparable systems, this one's got its own distinct flavor. @TheBabylonTimes

📜 IRANIAN PARLIAMENT SECURITY CHAIRMAN IBRAHIM AZIZI DROPS A POST Iranian Parliament's National Security Committee Chairman Ibrahim Azizi published a post. That's the move from Tehran today, as if the occupiers needed another nudge. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 AYATOLLAH AL-KA'BI WARNS RESISTANCE EYES STAY FIXED ON HEZBOLLAH AND PALESTINE AS TRUMP NETANYAHU PLOT WORLD BLAZE Ayatollah Sheikh Abbas al-Ka'bi, from the Leadership Experts Council's Presidium, says the resistance keeps its gaze locked on its work, never forgetting Hezbollah in Lebanon or the resistance in Palestine and Gaza. He pins Trump and Netanyahu as the duo hellbent on torching the world, calling on everyone to snuff out their earthly corruption. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 IRAN'S VELEYATI MOCKS US NAVY CREW AS TRUMP ELECTION EXTRAS Ali Akbar Velayati, advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader on political affairs, fired off a message to the USS Tripoli crew, dubbing them mere "extras" in a cinematic stunt for Donald Trump's presidential bid. He reminded them history teaches well—the old Tripoli legend won't replay in the Gulf, but morph into a security nightmare instead. @TheBabylonTimes

📜 TURKISH DEFENSE MINISTER VOWS HESITATION-FREE USE OF FIRST ICBM Turkey's Defense Minister Yaşar Güler laid it out plain on the nation's debut intercontinental ballistic missile:

"Do not let anyone doubt that we will use it without hesitation if necessary."

@TheBabylonTimes | Forum

UPDATE:📜 IRAN NEGOTIATES WITH US AMID SUSPICION AND DISTRUST Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson says talks with the United States unfold in an atmosphere thick with suspicion and zero trust. Iran's top priority right now: wrapping up the war. He adds the U.S. military footprint in the region delivers nothing but insecurity. @TheBabylonTimes

📜 TÜRKIYE UNVEILS NEW HIGH-THRUST TURBOFAN ENGINE AT SAHA 2026 IN ISTANBUL Türkiye rolled out its latest high-thrust turbofan engine at the SAHA 2026 event in Istanbul. Cooked up by the Turkish Ministry of Defense's R&D center, the beast pumps out 42,000 pounds of thrust, spans about 465 inches in diameter, and gulps 330 pounds of air per second. Nice flex for Turkey's homegrown aerospace game. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 IRANIAN EMBASSY IN JORDAN MOCKS TRUMP IN VIDEO Iran's embassy in Jordan delivers its signature sarcasm at former US President Donald Trump via a circulating online video. Embassy staff or reps dish out a satirical message in classic Iranian diplomatic social media fashion. Specific content and context remain unverified. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 ISRAELI OCCUPATION MAXES OUT ALERT AT BEN GURION AIRPORT AMID TENSIONS Israeli occupation authorities crank the alert to maximum at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv. Officials gear up for snap closure of airspace, aircraft evacuations, and flights rerouted abroad. Airport soldiers on for now. Comes after Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir bumps military alert to top level. @TheBabylonTimes

📜 TÜRKİYE UNVEILS FIRST INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILE YILDIRIMHAN Türkiye rolled out its inaugural ICBM, Yıldırımhan, at the SAHA 2026 expo in Istanbul. The Ministry of Defense R&D center introduced the beast with a 6,000 km range, Mach 9-25 speeds, four engines, and nitrogen tetroxide fuel. Another notch in the belt for homegrown defense muscle. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 PETE HEGSETH CLAIMS US "RED, WHITE, AND BLUE DOME" OVER STRAIT OF HORMUZ AS GIFT TO WORLD Pete Hegseth says the United States has slapped a mighty "red, white, and blue dome" over the Strait of Hormuz, handing it straight to the world. This comes right after his take painting Iran as the big bad trying to boss the strait around, all under President Trump's orders. Hegseth insists Iran doesn't actually control the strait, claims be damned. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 ROMANIA'S PARLIAMENT AXES PRO-EU PM ILIE BOLOJAN IN NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE Romania's parliament ousted Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan via no-confidence vote, toppling his pro-EU minority government. Social Democrats and far-right parties backed the move. President Nicușor Dan now consults parties for a new government, with the usual hand-wringing over instability, EU cash, and the national currency. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 SENATOR GRAHAM THREATENS KURDS OVER ALLEGED WEAPON THEFT AFTER CLAIMING UNARMED US BOOTS IN IRAN Senator Lindsey Graham warns that if evidence shows Kurds stealing weapons, they'll regret it. This comes right after his gem about the U.S. having millions of boots on the ground in Iran, sans weapons. All part of the chit-chat on regional security, U.S. support, and handing out arms. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 SENATOR GRAHAM CLAIMS US HAS MILLIONS OF TROOPS ON IRANIAN SOIL MINUS WEAPONS Senator Lindsey Graham casually dropped that the US has millions of troops deployed on the ground in Iran, just without weapons for now. This gem comes right after Pete Hegseth bragged about a "red, white, and blue dome" dominating the Strait of Hormuz, pinning Iran as the big bad aggressor in the tensions. Graham's line highlights the empire's deepening regional meddling. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 PETE HEGSETH CLAIMS IRAN IS TRYING TO SUBJUGATE THE WORLD Pete Hegseth, in his infinite wisdom, stated that Iran is trying to subjugate the world. Because apparently, that's the go-to line when grasping at straws. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 PETE HEGSETH SAYS TRUMP CALLS IRAN SHOTS WITH ONE HAND ON THE WHEEL Pete Hegseth claims President Trump personally steers U.S. policy on Iran, keeping just one hand on the wheel. This comes after Hegseth's spin framing Iran as the big bad aggressor eyeing control of the Strait of Hormuz. He also smirked that Iran's "dominance" boasts there fell flat, leaving them embarrassed. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 US EMBASSY ORDERS AMERICANS TO FLEE IRAQ OVER IMMINENT IRANIAN MISSILE AND DRONE THREAT The US Embassy in Baghdad bumped its Iraq travel advisory to Level 4—maximum panic—and told all American citizens to scram immediately. Reason: looming Iranian attack with missiles and drones. @TheBabylonTimes

📜 ISRAELI PARATROOPERS DRILL WWII TACTICS FOR SEIZING KEY TERRAIN General Caine boasts that Israeli paratroopers stay perpetually primed to drop from Air Force planes straight into ground fights, ready to grab vital terrain on a whim. They're just dusting off the old playbook from their Sicily and Normandy jaunts in World War II. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum

📜 PETE HEGSETH INSISTS CEASEFIRE HOLDS AS ISRAELI AGGRESSION ROLLS ON SEPARATELY Pete Hegseth claims the ceasefire is still in effect and not over. He calls recent actions a separate project. The ceasefire supposedly holds for now, but they'll be watching it very closely. @TheBabylonTimes | Forum