https://archive.is/xDJgd (senate . gov)

Update From Senator Mitch McConnell

August 6, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) issued the following statement today:

“Earlier today, I was discharged from the rehabilitation center to continue my recovery at home. Elaine and I are grateful for the many well wishes and support from friends, colleagues, and Kentuckians, and for the attentive care I’ve received from excellent doctors, nurses, therapists, and hospital staff.

“On the advice of my doctors, I’ll maintain an intensive regimen of physical therapy from home during the state work period, and I’ll continue to engage with my staff and colleagues on important Senate business.”

https://xcancel.com/mb_ghalibaf/status/2085433285602136467#m

“Massive attack coming… wait, never mind, they want to negotiate.”
That’s theater diplomacy on loop.

Using bullying + broken promises + fake news as leverage is a failed strategy.

Acknowledge the facts and fulfill your commitments. We don’t need more theater.

DPRK Foreign Ministry Spokesperson on U.S. Groundless "Theory of Cyber Threat"

Pyongyang, August 4 (KCNA) -- A spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea gave the following answer to a question raised by KCNA on August 3 as regards the fact that the U.S. incited the atmosphere of denunciation against the DPRK to mislead public opinion about its "cyber threat":

The U.S. and its followers' "joint warning" about the "cyber threat" by the DPRK is nothing but a stereotyped political accusation with a sinister purpose to tarnish the image of our state.

The repeated malicious assertion of the member states of the multilateral sanctions monitoring team merely aims to spread false information devoid of credibility. Such assertion only brings to light the illegality of ghost mechanism the West organized of its own accord and the gravity of its moves for inter-camp confrontation, not a "threatening nature" by someone.

The dishonest forces are now turning the cyber space, which should contribute to peace and co-prosperity of mankind and progress and development of society, into a theatre of confrontation and veiled enmity to pursue their selfish purpose. And it is an undeniable fact that the U.S. should be blamed for it

The U.S., which was the first in the world to form a cyber command, is hell-bent on joint cyber drills including the Cyber Flag with its allies. And it also formed a military-industrial complex for cyber warfare to steadily expand and strengthen its cyber attack force.

The concept of cyber operation, which has been applied to every joint military drill frequently staged by the U.S. with its vassal forces, is by no means for "defense" but part of its war preparations to attain superiority in electronic information warfare and even in battlefields in contingency.

The U.S. moves to form an exclusive camp in IT field, openly asserting that AI is equivalent to nuclear weapons, are worsening the instability of cyberspace on a global scale and causing a new security crisis.

It is illogical that the U.S., which has possessed and operated the biggest cyber force in the world by monopolizing the core resources of cyber space, is talking about "cyber threat" from other countries. And it is a mere excuse for justifying its illegal policy on placing pressure on sovereign states.

The U.S. and other hostile forces' moves to establish hegemony in cyber space, a treasure common to mankind, with the "theory of cyber threat" fabricated with misinformation can never be tolerated.

The DPRK will never allow any politically- and ideologically-motivated attempt of the U.S. and other hostile forces to use the cyber issue as the means of criticism and pressure on other countries, and make steady and practical efforts to defend the security and development interests of the state in all domains. -0-

http://kcna.kp/en/article/detail/88e2c2a3487746298b9cab4b388da292

https://archive.is/EzJkY (kcna)

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/north-korea-says-us-led-cyber-threat-warnings-are-bid-smear-its-image-2026-08-03/

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has said that two "violating" oil tankers were struck and forced to stop in the Strait of Hormuz after attempting to pass through an unauthorized route under US military escort.

In a statement on Friday, the IRGC added that four other tankers quickly reversed course. It explained that the two tankers ignored repeated warnings and attempted to transit through an "unsafe and illegal route."

"In the early hours of today, two violating oil tankers, believing they could pass through our undeclared route under the aerial escort of the child-killing US army, ignored our warnings and proceeded along an unsafe and illegal route. They were struck and brought to a halt," the statement said.

"Four other violating oil tankers immediately changed course and returned to their previous location," it added.

Referring to a statement issued by the terrorist CENTCOM) claiming that vessels continued to transit the strait with the support of US military forces, the IRGC said it had warned shipping companies and insurers the previous night not to rely on "false" US claims.

"The IRGC Navy once again warns that the illegal interference and orders issued by the child-killing US army to vessels in the region will not go unanswered," the statement added.

The latest incident comes a day after the IRGC declared that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed as long as US threats and interference in the region continue.

Also in a statement issued on Thursday, the IRGC said two oil tankers had attempted to use an "unsafe southern route" after being directed by US military aircraft.

According to the statement, one of the tankers caught fire, forcing both vessels to reverse course.

"The Strait of Hormuz is our territory, and the brave men of the IRGC Navy firmly control it. No outsider who has come from thousands of kilometers away will be allowed to interfere," the IRGC said.

It also warned that countries assisting the United States would face consequences if they continued supporting its aggression.

Washington has violated the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, which recognizes Iran's sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz and grants it responsibility for regulating maritime traffic through the strategic waterway.

The US has attempted to undermine that arrangement by creating an unauthorized maritime corridor near Omani waters, prompting Tehran to reimpose restrictions on vessels linked to aggressor states.

Iran says all navigation through the Strait must be conducted under Iranian arrangements.

https://archive.is/cfLmU (rolling stone)

another article https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/wnba-suspends-seattle-storm-co-owner

Norm Finkelstein is at Hasan's house. It's 3 hours long. I listened to some of it.

Finkelstein is probably the most prominent anti-Zionist academic. Finkelstein has devoted his entire life to anti-Zionism. Finkelstein has had a longtime feud with Alan Dershowitz, Epstein's lawyer.

Some further content warning. Finkelstein is an old man and he does say some problematic things in the interview. Finkelstein says that Trump is the r-slur, which made Hasan facepalm. He said that Israel weaponized "woke". He said that the ICC became ineffective because it's too woke. Hasan says he disagreed with these statements.

The United States soils its hands with a new crime every day; the terrorist attack on the residential homes of civilians on Qeshm Island is a continuation of the atrocities in Minab and Lamerd.

Americans have grown accustomed to making up for the slaps they receive on the battlefield by spilling the blood of the innocent.

They will pay the price.

https://nitter.net/mb_ghalibaf/status/2082923745203695753#m

https://nitter.net/DropSiteNews/status/2082946770171007225#m

https://nitter.net/clashreport/status/2082937298941886783#m

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said it launched a ballistic missile strike on US-run Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan's Azraq, destroying three American F-35 fighter jets and heavily damaging three others in retaliation for a US airstrike that killed three members of a family on Iran's Qeshm Island.

The IRGC's public relations office issued the statement on Thursday, addressing the "honorable and discerning people of Jordan."

It thanked Jordanians for their "sincere support and cooperation," particularly the "clear positions" taken by some Jordanian elites, saying their stance had increased pressure on the United States.

The statement noted that the United States launched an airstrike before dawn using "occupied bases" in Jordan after being unable to confront Iran in direct war.

The IRGC said US forces targeted two residential homes in the Chah Tangu neighborhood of Qeshm Island with heavy bombs, killing a father, a mother and one of their children while wounding two other children. Two other children survived the attack and were taken to hospital for treatment.

"In response to this crime and to help you liberate the Islamic land of Jordan from the scourge of the American occupiers," the IRGC said, "the Aerospace Force fighters attacked the deployment ramp and maintenance hangar of the enemy's American F-35 fighter jets at Al-Azraq Air Base this morning with several ballistic missiles."

The statement said that the strike "completely destroyed three F-35 aircraft and inflicted heavy damage on three others."

It also said several US officers as well as technical and maintenance personnel were killed in the attack.

"The region is no place for a child-killing army that so brutally massacres innocent families in their sleep at midnight," the statement said.

"Our struggle, alongside yours, will continue until the last American occupier is expelled from Islamic lands," it added.

The retaliation comes as the US has been targeting southern Iranian provinces since earlier in July after violating the terms of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.

Tehran has responded with repeated missile and drone attacks targeting US-operated military facilities across the region under Operation Nasr 2 and Operation Sa'eqeh (Lightning).

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed as long as US threats and interference in the region persist.

In a statement on Thursday, the IRGC announced that two oil tankers attempted to leave the "unsafe southern route" of the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday night after being prompted by US aircraft.

It said one of the tankers caught fire, prompting both vessels to quickly reverse course.

"The Strait of Hormuz is our territory, and the brave men of the IRGC Navy firmly control it. No outsider who has come from thousands of kilometers away will be allowed to interfere," the statement said.

It added that, "With the help of Almighty God, the aggressor will be punished today."

The IRGC also warned countries it said were assisting the aggressor, saying they would face consequences if they did not change their conduct.

"Countries that are involved in assisting the aggressor, if they do not correct their behavior, will receive a harsh response," it said.

"The Strait of Hormuz is not reopenable as long as the excessive rhetoric and threats by US officials and their interference in maritime movements in the region continue, and threats and interventions will make the situation more difficult and more complicated," the IRGC said.

The statement comes as the terrorist US CENTCOM announced a fresh round of aggression on Iran on Thursday, as several cities were targeted in the overnight strikes. In one of the deadly attacks on Qeshm Island, a two-year-old toddler along with his parents were killed as US targeted their home.

The US has been attacking Iran since earlier in July after Washington violated the terms of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, which was meant to permanently end the war that the US and Israeli regime unleashed against Iran in late February.

The understanding has recognized Iran’s rights and sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, and said Iran was responsible for removing restrictions that it has imposed over the Strait of Hormuz for vessels affiliated with aggressors and their supporters since the start of the aggression. However, the US attempted to undermine Iran’s sovereignty by establishing an unsafe corridor near the Omani shores.

The unlawful US measure prompted Iran’s firm response to re-impose restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran says any movement in the strategic chokepoint must be conducted under Iranian arrangements, as per the understanding.

The US attacks on southern Iranian provinces have been met with a strong response by Iran against US bases in regional countries as the Iranian Army and the IRGC launch multiple waves of Operation Nasr 2 and Operation Sa’eqeh (Lightning), pounding US-run bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, and the Iraqi Kurdistan region, among others.

Three members of a family, including mother, father and their two-year-old boy, were killed in a US airstrike on a residential building on Iran’s southern Qeshm Island, a local official says.

Deputy governor of Hormozgan Province for political, security and social affairs, Ahmad Nafisi, said on Thursday that the search, rescue and debris-removal operations at the site of the attack in the Chah Tangu neighborhood of Qeshm City have been completed.

He confirmed that the bodies of the parents and one boy were recovered from under the rubble.

He added that two other children from the family were rescued from the rubble shortly after the strike and were transferred to a hospital for treatment. They received emergency medical treatment at the scene before being transferred to the hospital.

Nafisi noted that search operations had concluded and all individuals trapped under the debris were accounted for.

A subsequent IRIB report identified the father who was martyred as a taxi driver. The area struck was a residential neighborhood populated mainly by working-class families.

In a post on X late Wednesday local time, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces once again launched a fresh round of military aggression against Iran, describing it as a “powerful response” to what it labeled “attempted Iranian attacks” on US forces illegally stationed in the region the previous day.

Three explosions were heard on Qeshm Island inside the city, Tasnim news agency reported. Explosions were also heard in Bushehr Province, according to the IRIB state broadcaster.