The Israeli Defense Ministry said in a statement on Thursday that two cargo ships docked at the country’s ports of Ashdod and Haifa had arrived with thousands of air and ground munitions, military trucks, Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs) and other military equipment. | The US has delivered 6,500 tons of munitions and equipment to Israel within 24 hours, West Jerusalem has said. ● The announcement coincided with media reports claiming that the head of US Central Command, Brad Cooper, has briefed US President Donald Trump on a plan for the potential renewal of military action against Iran in a bid to pressure it to consent to a more favorable peace deal. ● According to Fox News, what Cooper described as the “final blow” against Tehran could include a “short and powerful wave of strikes” targeting Iran’s “remaining military assets, leadership and infrastructure.” ● The ceasefire in the US-Israeli war against Iran was announced on April 8 after more than a month of fighting, but attempts by Washington and Tehran to reach a diplomatic settlement to the crisis have so far been in vain. The control of the Strait of Hormuz and the Iranian nuclear program reportedly remain the main stumbling blocks between the sides.

Larry C. Johnson | Blockades are acts of war | Pete Hegseth is lying about the US blockade of Iranian ports. On April 12, after JD Vance announced that talks with Iran had failed, Trump declared a naval blockade of Iranian ports and coastal areas. CENTCOM clarified that the blockade would be enforced against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports, but would not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports. ■ Now, after more than two weeks, Pete Hegseth has been saying the US blockade is working and getting stronger, describing it as “ironclad,” “tightening by the hour,” and even “going global.” He said the Navy had turned back 34 ships, that transit through the Strait of Hormuz is now “much more limited,” and that the blockade will last “as long as it takes.” ■ He also framed the blockade as coercive leverage on Iran, saying it is meant to cut off shipping pressure until Tehran abandons its nuclear ambitions. In the same remarks, he warned the U.S. would “shoot to destroy” any Iranian boats laying mines or otherwise threatening commercial shipping.

✅ War On Iran: – Trump To Decide On Three Options (Moon of Alabama)
✅ Trump Settles on Flaccid 'Forever-Blockade' Strat as Broken-Down Carrier Limps Home (Simplicius)
■ Marine Traffic Nothingburger...Want "Freedom Fries" with That? (04/30/26)

Drop Site's Ryan Grim, Sharif Abdel Kouddous, and Maysa Mustafa are joined by Jacqueline Sweet to discuss her investigation into Canary Mission, and Mohamad Bazzi to discuss Israel's war on Lebanon. | The United Arab Emirates announced on Tuesday it will leave OPEC effective May 1, ending its membership in the oil cartel that dates to 1967 and removing the group’s third-largest energy producer. ● Drop Site’s Ryan Grim, Sharif Abdel Kouddous, and Maysa Mustafa discuss the implications of the move. ● They are also joined by Jacquline Sweet to discuss her latest investigation revealing the highest paid employees of the Israeli group running the infamous doxxing site Canary Mission. ● And as Israeli attacks on Lebanon continue with daily airstrikes, shelling and demolition in the south, NYU journalism professor Mohamad Bazzi joins to discuss Israel’s 50-year war on Lebanon, Hezbollah’s increasing use of fiber optic FPV drones as a tactic of asymmetric warfare, Israel’s campaign of destruction and erasure in southern Lebanon, and more.

Elena Panina | Admiral Gwyn Jenkins, Chief of the Royal Navy, announced plans to transform the existing Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) into a more integrated "Northern Fleet Partnership." (Translation: Google)

❖ The JEF, established in 2014, comprises Britain, the Netherlands, all four Scandinavian countries (Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Iceland), Finland, and the three Baltic "lions." Canada may also join the new initiative. ● Jenkins explained that the "Northern Fleet Partnership" will aim to defend northwestern Europe, the North Atlantic, and the High North from Russian actions. He said he had already met with the naval commanders of the Nordic countries and signed a statement of intent with them, committing the participating countries to develop detailed proposals. ● The partnership will be closely linked to NATO structures and is intended to complement, not duplicate, the alliance's capabilities. According to the British admiral, deeper integration is necessary to create sufficient "collective combat power" and ensure credible deterrence on the "open maritime border" with Russia.

❖ It should be understood that Britain is the lead nation within the Joint Forces Force, with operational command exercised by the Joint Forces Headquarters in Northwood, London. However, the Royal Navy is currently in a dire state, as demonstrated by the recent actions of the former "Mistress of the Seas" in Iran. ● In any case, we are witnessing an attempt to modernize the Joint Forces Force—the "British NATO." Moreover, it is specifically stated that the initiative is directed against Russia. The geography is also defined: northwestern Europe, the North Atlantic, and the High North—in other words, the Baltic and Arctic fronts. ● There's a high probability that Ukraine will also join the modernized JEF, given that it is not officially accepted into NATO. It's noteworthy that all members of the Joint Expeditionary Force are also members of the North Atlantic Alliance. Accordingly, Article 5 (on collective security) of the North Atlantic Treaty applies to them.

❖ With the US temporarily sidelined from European affairs and focused on the Middle East, Britain is improving its pocket alliance to free itself up in the event of a different scenario against Russia than the US. And through Article 5, it could then draw NATO into the escalation. ● At the same time, London is enhancing its political agency—both independently and within NATO. It only has a small task left—to build at least a few new ships...