On February 28, 2026, Iran launched retaliatory missile strikes against U.S. military installations in Bahrain following the joint U.S.-Israeli offensive known as “Operation Epic Fury”. 

The U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet headquarters (Naval Support Activity Bahrain) in the Juffair district of Manama was confirmed as a primary target.

Bahrain’s National Communication Centre confirmed that a “service centre” affiliated with the 5th Fleet was “subjected to a missile attack”.

Witnesses reported hearing loud explosions and seeing heavy smoke rising from the Juffair area.

There have been no immediate official reports on casualties or the specific extent of structural damage, though the situation remains “active”. 

Beyond Bahrain, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed strikes on several other U.S. bases in the region:

Missiles targeted Al Udeid Air Base; Qatari officials reported successfully intercepting at least one missile using the Patriot defense system.

Explosions were reported at Al Dhafra Air Base near Abu Dhabi.

The Ali Al Salem Air Base was also reportedly targeted in the barrage.

Sirens were activated near the Muwaffaq al-Salti base. 

The U.S. Embassy in Bahrain has instructed all American personnel and citizens to shelter in place.

Bahrain, Kuwait, and the UAE have temporarily closed their airspace to civilian traffic as a precautionary measure.

Recent satellite imagery suggested some U.S. naval assets were moved out of the Bahrain base prior to the strikes as a defensive precaution.

By Anthony Solly

WASHINGTON

The Treasury Department has terminated its collective bargaining agreement with unionized workers at the Internal Revenue Service, the agency confirmed Friday, marking an escalation in President Donald Trump’s push to exert greater control over the federal workforce.

The union contract for the Bureau of the Fiscal Service, which processes payments for the government, was also terminated this week, according to two people familiar with the decision.

The National Treasury Employees Union did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Workers at both agencies are represented by the National Treasury Employees Union. Agency leadership informed employees that Treasury was ending their collective bargaining agreements under authority granted by an executive order Trump signed in March.

The move represents a significant step in the administration’s broader effort to reduce the influence of federal employee unions and streamline personnel management across the government.

It was not immediately clear how many workers would be affected or what specific changes in working conditions might follow the termination of the contracts.

The National Treasury Employees Union did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

By James Kisoo

TYMPAKI, Greece

An Israeli-built Heron 2 drone whirs off the tarmac on a new surveillance mission, its sensors scanning the 350-kilometer (220-mile) stretch of sea between Libya and the Greek island of Crete.

The aircraft can detect activity hidden below deck on vessels making one of the most dangerous journeys in the Mediterranean.

Crete, Greece’s largest island, has become an unexpected epicenter in Europe’s migration crisis.

According to Frontex, the European Union’s border agency, the island saw a threefold increase in irregular migration last year, recording about 20,000 arrivals and becoming Greece’s busiest point of entry.

The surge comes even as overall irregular migration to Europe fell by 26% in 2025 compared with the previous year.

The passage to Crete is now one of Europe’s deadliest migration corridors, a vast and perilous expanse where unclaimed bodies frequently wash ashore.

Fueled by wars and instability across Africa, the route is growing busier even as pressure eases on other Mediterranean pathways.

As the EU prepares to implement tougher measures to combat illegal migration, Frontex says it will focus resources on Crete in an attempt to stem the surge in arrivals.

The agency’s increased presence, including surveillance drones and patrol assets, reflects a broader European shift toward stricter border enforcement—and the recognition that as one route closes, another often opens.

By James Kisoo

SEOUL, South Korea

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has gifted new sniper rifles to top government and military officials following a major ruling party congress, as state media showcased images of his teenage daughter handling a weapon at a shooting range—the latest in a series of public appearances fueling speculation that she is being groomed as a future leader.

Kim presented the rifles to senior party and military officials on Friday, calling them a sign of his “absolute trust” and gratitude for their commitment over the past five years since the last Workers’ Party congress in 2021, the Korean Central News Agency reported Saturday.

State media photos captured the aftermath of the gift-giving: Kim Yo Jong, the leader’s powerful sister, and other top officials aiming the rifles at a shooting range.

In a striking image, Kim’s young daughter—dressed in a brown leather coat resembling her father’s iconic style—was seen handling the weapon as smoke rose from the barrel.

The teenager’s increasingly prominent appearances have drawn attention from outside observers, who view them as a sign that Kim may be preparing his daughter, believed to be named Kim Ju Ae, for a future leadership role.

The weeklong party congress also solidified the position of Kim Yo Jong, who in recent years has served as her brother’s fierce spokesperson toward Washington and Seoul.

According to the KCNA report, she now holds the title of general affairs director of the party’s central committee following a promotion—a role signaling broader oversight of the party’s internal operations and administrative affairs.

By James Kisoo