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

[ 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.

[ UPDATE ] Israeli Minister Katz stated that “the Israeli army will control the remaining bridges over Lebanon’s Litani River and the area south of the river.” According to Katz, Israeli forces have blown up all bridges over the Litani River allegedly used by Hezbollah, and the remaining bridges will be controlled by Israeli forces as they establish a “security zone” up to the Litani. Analysts argue that Katz’s declarations are in line with an Israeli plan to expand and establish control over southern Lebanon, potentially displacing residents indefinitely. Katz also said that “hundreds of thousands of residents of southern Lebanon who evacuated northward will not return south of the Litani River until security for the residents of the north is ensured.” Israeli plans in Lebanon mirror the “Gaza model,” according to Israeli media. Katz has reportedly ordered “an acceleration in the destruction of Lebanese homes in contact-line villages to neutralize threats to Israeli settlers, following the model of Beit Hanun and Rafah in Gaza.”

[ NEW ] Palestinians stand by an Iranian missile lodged in the ground near Nablus in the occupied West Bank.

[ NEW ] At least 100 Israeli soldiers have been injured since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran and Lebanon, according to Israeli media reports.

The US administration’s role in the war on Iran is marked by unclear objectives, mixed signals, and persistent uncertainty. Among potential military options, US officials have repeatedly hinted at a ground invasion. Should they pursue this path, analysts warn, it could rank among the gravest mistakes in US foreign policy, with consequences potentially even worse than the Vietnam War. Despite US and Israeli military, nuclear, and technological superiority, Iran has signaled its readiness for a protracted war of attrition. Its strategy leverages geography and asymmetrical capabilities across multiple fronts—from defensive networks and economic warfare to anti-access/area denial operations. In Vietnam, over 58,000 US soldiers perished, and the US ultimately withdrew in defeat. A conflict in Iran by comparison, is involving a nation with greater geographic and strategic depth, the ability to disrupt global energy markets, nuclear enrichment capabilities, and the potential to reshape the world’s order.