Yesar Al-Maleki يَسار

Breaking from @halbritz @OrenCNN : A US F-35 fighter jet made an emergency landing at US air base in the Middle East after it was struck by what is believed to be Iranian fire, according to two sources familiar with the matter. Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for US Central Command, said the fifth-generation stealth jet was “flying a combat mission over Iran” when it was forced to make an emergency landing. Hawkins said the aircraft landed safely, and the incident is under investigation “The aircraft landed safely, and the pilot is in stable condition,” Hawkins added. The incident would be the first time Iran has hit a US aircraft in the war started in late February. Both the US and Israel are flying F-35s in the conflict; the aircraft costs upwards of $100 million.

Shell statement on the Ras Laffan attack and status of its Pearl GTL plant there. #OOTT 🔹Fire was rapidly extinguished, with Pearl GTL in a safe state. 🔹Damage assessment now underway

There has been no stop to the loadings from the port in Yanbu Saudi Arabia #OOTT

This is a very flimsy deal between the #US and #Iran-backed groups in #Iraq 👇 But it shows that there is some space for the Iraqi government to play a more active role in restraining them. That said, will they listen to #Baghdad or #Tehran in a regional conflict like this? The answer is obvious. A few observations: 1) This immediately follows US intervention to allow federal #oil exports via #Kurdistan, a move that largely sidelined KRG demands and appeared to empower #Baghdad in the dispute. 2) The US has harshly targeted militia leaders and bases in recent days - is this a response to heavy losses? 3) Holding this fragile detente - if it works - will be a make-or-break challenge for incumbent PM Sudani. It's high risk, because failure could further portray him as weak and empower Maliki within the Shia Framework. But it's also high reward; if he succeeds, his chances at a second term greatly improve. One to watch...