comra

We met Red Guard veteran Fred Engst in Beijing for his unique perspective and reflections on one of the most contested events in recent history, China’s Cultural Revolution. ⚪️ Read the whole interview now at comrawire [dot] com

[ BREAKING ] Japan deploys 1,000 combat troops to the Philippines for Balikatan 2026 military drills — the first Japanese combat forces on Philippine soil since 1945. The historic move comes amid a major shift in Tokyo's remilitarization.

When Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visited the White House to meet Donald Trump, the internet focused on the awkward optics. But behind the optics lies a far more consequential summit. Because it reveals a pattern among US allies: the quiet trade-off for dependence.

Israeli occupation forces tortured eighteen-month-old Palestinian boy Karim Abu Nassar in central Gaza. Israeli forces burned him with cigarettes and drove a nail into his leg to pressure his father into making a confession during interrogation.

[ BREAKING ] Iran's army says it fired cruise missiles at the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, forcing the US carrier group to change position. The attack comes as Iran rejected a US-proposed 15-point program to cease attacks against Iran.

[ BREAKING ] Iran has rejected a US proposal to end the imposed war, saying any resolution will happen on Tehran's terms alone. Tehran called Washington's demands "excessive" and said US negotiation attempts are a result of its failure on the battlefield.

[ BREAKING ] Iran's official channels outlined five conditions under which Iran would agree to end the war. These include: ⚪️ A complete halt to "aggression and assassinations" by the enemy. ⚪️ The establishment of concrete mechanisms to ensure that the war is not reimposed on the Islamic Republic. ⚪️ Guaranteed and clearly defined payment of war damages and reparations. ⚪️ The conclusion of the war across all fronts and for all resistance groups involved throughout the region ⚪️ International recognition and guarantees regarding Iran's sovereign right to exercise authority over the Strait of Hormuz.

[ NEW ] Israel’s Health Ministry says at least 204 people have been injured and one person has been killed in the last 24 hours amid missile barrages from Lebanon and Iran.

I had the honor to interview Dr. Nina Farnia for Comrawire earlier this month, where we discussed what the Ramadan War means for transformations in US imperialist strategy, internal logics of the resistance, and third world approaches to sovereignty and self-determination.

[ INTERVIEW ] The war on Iran is not a regional conflict. It is the frontline of a global reckoning. We sat down with legal historian Dr. Nina Farnia to discuss Iran's resilience under decades of sanctions and hybrid war. ⚪️ READ HERE: comrawire.com

[ NOW ] Iranian cluster missiles over Tel Aviv.

[ NEW ] Thousands mourn PMF members killed in US airstrike in western Iraq. The strike killed 15 fighters including Anbar commander Saad al-Baiji. PMF factions vow to confront US forces as Iraq condemns the attack as a violation of its sovereignty.

[ JUST IN ] 82% of Japanese voters oppose the US-Israeli war on Iran, with only 9% in support. 90% express economic anxiety over the conflict's impact. Over half want PM Takaichi to take a clear stance, however, Takaichi has refused to condemn the US-Israeli attacks

Are the Lebanese people capable of resisting and confronting Israeli occupation? Lebanese revolutionary Soha Bechara offered a clear answer in 1999. After enduring 10 years of imprisonment in the Khiam detention, interrogation, and torture center, Bechara reaffirmed the vital importance of the struggle for liberation. Today, the southern Lebanese village of Khiam has once again become the site of a decisive battle between Israeli forces and Lebanese fighters. In recent days, Israeli troops have attempted—but failed—to seize control of the area. Khiam occupies a strategic position at the crossroads of Lebanon, occupied Palestine, and Syria. Often called the gateway to the Bekaa Valley, the fight over the town carries existential significance, as Israeli forces aim to isolate southern Lebanon from the rest of the country and expand their occupation. Khiam was also named the “Merkava Cemetery” during the 2006 war, a testament to the heavy losses inflicted on Israeli tanks. Today, according to local sources, Lebanese fighters continue to engage in fierce clashes and launch rocket barrages against Israeli forces in defense of Lebanon.

Hundreds of Israeli settlers raided Palestinian villages near the Homesh settlement in the occupied West Bank. [comra] spoke with residents of Deir al-Hatab and Silat ad-Dhahr who survived the violence, describing how homes, vehicles, and other property was set ablaze.

[ NEW ] Tensions between Chad and Sudan are escalating. Thousands of Sudanese refugees are being relocated away from Chad’s eastern border as Chadian troops deploy to the frontier. A drone strike on March 18 in the border town of Mabrouka, Sudan, killed 16 civilians breaking their Ramadan fast, an incident cited as a key trigger. In response, Chad’s President Deby sealed the 1,300-kilometer border and placed the army on maximum alert. The attack has been linked to the UAE-backed Rapid Support Forces (RSF), whose cross-border operations have intensified in recent months. The RSF’s takeover of Darfur has been marked by mass atrocities, including systematic killings, widespread sexual violence, and the destruction of entire communities, amounting to genocide.

[ NEW ] Liberian President, Joseph Boakai, has requested French intervention in the country amid reports of Guinean troops and customs officers entering disputed areas of Lofa County, a remote border region. The area has long been contested due to unclear colonial-era boundaries and overlapping farming lands. Local communities and former fighters have stated they are preparing to defend their territory.

[ WATCH ] Video shows the detonation of a mosque and civilian homes by Israeli forces in Al-Khiyam, southern Lebanon.

[ NEW ] Mali has redistributed US$33 million from gold and lithium mining revenues to local and underdeveloped regions. Half goes directly to municipalities in mining zones, the rest to regional development programs. The move follows new mining laws and strategic state stakes in key mines, signaling Mali’s push to reclaim control from foreign mining giants.

[ BREAKING ] Iran has named Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr as the new Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, following the assassination of former Secretary Ali Larijani in US-Israeli strikes last week.

[ NEW ] Namibia blocks Starlink, the satellite firm owned by Elon Musk, denying both its telecom licence and access to radio spectrum. The move effectively prevents the company from operating in the country and marks a second setback in southern Africa after South Africa. Officials pointed to the company’s lack of local ownership, as Namibia maintains strict rules that can require majority local control in telecom firms. The decision follows earlier tensions, including a cease-and-desist order against Starlink for operating without authorisation.