Iran's Guards said to be looking for Khamenei's replacement

 The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is looking to swiftly find a new leader for the country after Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's alleged death, Iran International reported on Saturday, citing sources.

The sources detailed that the IRGC would like to finalize the decision within the next few hours and is trying to bypass the legally prescribed procedure, given the current airstrikes that are making it difficult for things to be done the traditional way.

Khamenei's death is yet to be confirmed by any Iranian official body. Meanwhile, United States President Donald Trump claimed that Khamenei was killed.

https://breakingthenews.net/Article/Iran's-Guards-said-to-be-looking-for-Khamenei's-replacement/65768890

One dead, 7 injured at Abu Dhabi airport

 Abu Dhabi Airports confirmed on Sunday that a "drone attack" took place at Zayed International Airport, also known as Abu Dhabi International Airport, resulting in the death of one Asian national and seven injuries.

"The public is urged to avoid circulating rumours and to rely only on official sources. Updates will be provided," it was written in a statement.

Earlier, Iran carried out missile strikes across the Middle East after it was attacked by Israel and the United States. The fight resulted in the United Arab Emirates closing its airspace. Previously, another incident was reported at a Dubai airport.

https://breakingthenews.net/Article/One-dead-7-injured-at-Abu-Dhabi-airport/65768913

Sunday talkies: al-Busaidi, Petraeus, McGurk, Kellogg, Fetterman, Rick Scott, Donalds, Pahlavi, Lute, Karbler

 NewsNation’s “The Hill Sunday”: Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.), former Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, Republican National Committee Chair Joe Gruters, Texas Democrats Chair Kendall Scudder

CBS News’s “Face the Nation”: Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio)

CNN’s “State of the Union”: U.S. House candidate Jack Schlossberg (D), former U.S. Central Command Commander David Petraeus and former Special Presidential Envoy Brett McGurk

NBC’s “Meet the Press”: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.)

Fox News’s “Fox News Sunday”: Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Penn.), retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Iranian refugee and author David Nasser

Fox News’s “Sunday Morning Futures”: Sen. John Fetterman (D-Penn.), Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fl.), Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.), exiled Iranian crown prince Reza Pahlavi, retired Gen. David Petraeus

ABC’s “This Week”: Retired Lt. Gen. Doug Lute, retired Lt. Gen. Dan Karbler, Vali Nasr

https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/5760815-us-israel-strikes-iran/

Smackdown: Rep. Ilhan Omar spews tripe and hears from Iran's locals

by Monica Showalter

Well, he did it. Trump was true to his word and rained fire on Iran in Operation Epic Fury, which is still going on now.

Iran's citizens are thrilled:

Amazing.

Iranians are playing music and DANCING IN THE STREETS.

Everyone waited for this day. pic.twitter.com/zxXsh8qqS3

— 𝐍𝐢𝐨𝐡 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐠 🇮🇷 ✡︎ (@NiohBerg) February 28, 2026

But not surprisingly, Iran's allies on the left have jumped right in, attempting to defend Iran with their words to continue Iran's propaganda war. Most are saying pretty stupid things; some are whimpering, some are discombobulated, some say they really want freedom for Iran, but ..., others say it's 'greatly concerning,' or stroke their chins about 'grave consequences'; others spew 'international law,' tripe as if terrorist state Iran were an upstanding nation, while still others mouth the olde-tyme leftist claptrap about yanquí imperialismo, and in the case of Rep. Ilhan Omar, Trump violating the sacred Islamic Ramadan fasting period, which didn't seem to bother Afghanistan or Pakistan, both of which lobbed missiles at one other in the last two days.

Iraq was attacked by the US during Ramadan and it sickening to know that the US is again going to attack Iran during Ramadan. The US apparently loves to strike Muslim countries during Ramadan and I am convinced it isn’t what these countries have done to violate international law…

— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) February 27, 2026

Omar, who's got plenty of problems with her immigration status these days, jumped to the defense of her allies in Iran, using all the tired, boring tropes of the global left to attempt to stop President Trump's powerful actions to take the evil regime out.

She spouts that against the iron wall of resolution presented by President Trump in the past few hours:

Listen to this ENTIRE message.

This isn't blustery Trump. This is, "You f**ked around, now find out" Trump. https://t.co/yVWJDK3b08

— Jennifer Van Laar (@jenvanlaar) February 28, 2026

 ...which makes her look pretty small.

But the best stuff is in the retorts from Iran, whose people are incredibly grateful and happy.

To all Americans who voted for Donald J. Trump: thank you from the bottom of my heart — from me and from Iranians everywhere.

— Arsalan Naamdar (@arsalannaamdar) February 28, 2026

If you’re not Iranian, shut the fuck up.

Iranians are celebrating and crying tears of joy right now.

Long live Iran 🇮🇷❤️

— Persian Culer 🇮🇷 (@Persian_Culer) February 28, 2026

I am an Iranian and I would like to ask you to pray for the U.S. forces, and the Iranian people (Not the Ayatollahs' regime).

Long live the people of Iran, and God bless the United States of America.

— ثنا ابراهیمی | Sana Ebrahimi (@__Injaneb96) February 28, 2026

Here's the mother of all smackdowns from an Iranian in Iran, directed specifically at Omar:

She's interrupting his lunch.

This Hong Konger, whose territory has been oppressed by China, has some important insights:

Whatever the rights or wrongs of US interventions in Venezuela and Iran under international law, let’s not forget that both interventions appear to have significant support from Iranians and Venezuelans. And in Venezuela’s case, the objection from its people appear not so much…

— Kevin Yam 任建峰 (@kevinkfyam) February 28, 2026

As do these Venezuelan and Russian expatriates, who note the left's hypocrisy:

EXACTLY. I don’t wanna hear your concern for Iranian lives if you didn’t care when the dictatorship massacred thousands in days. Leave the selective outrage at home and listen to Iranians please https://t.co/O0gRSGn7Qk

— Germania Rodriguez Poleo (@iamGermania) February 28, 2026

Against all of this, Omar looks like a boob.

https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/02/smackdown_rep_ilhan_omar_hears_from_very_pleased_iranians.html

US military releases dramatic video of strikes on Iran: ‘Overwhelming and unrelenting blow’

 US Central Command released video Saturday of American missiles obliterating various targets in Iran.   

The dramatic footage shows Tomahawk cruise missiles being launched from a US Navy vessel and various types of fighter jets taking off from a ship.

Aerial footage of missiles striking five different targets, including an aircraft and radar station, was also shown.  

The dramatic footage shows Tomahawk cruise missiles being launched from a US Navy vessel.REUTERS

“As the President stated, our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime,” CENTCOM wrote on X.

“The President ordered bold action,” the post continued. “CENTCOM forces are delivering an overwhelming and unrelenting blow.” 

The military campaign, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, involves “the largest regional concentration of American military firepower in a generation,” according to CENTCOM. 

The operation aims to “dismantle the Iranian regime’s security apparatus” and is focused on “imminent threat” locations. 

US and Israeli forces began hitting targets, including Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command and control facilities, Iranian air defense capabilities, missile and drone launch sites and military airfields, at 1:15 am ET. 

In addition to the “precision munitions launched from air, land, and sea,” CENTCOM’s Task Force Scorpion Strike deployed “one-way attack drones for the first time in combat.” 

Aerial footage of missiles striking five different targets, including an aircraft and radar station, was also shown.  via REUTERS

“The President ordered bold action, and our brave Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Guardians, and Coast Guardsmen are answering the call,” Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, said in a statement. 

After the initial wave of strikes, CENTCOM forces repelled “hundreds of Iranian missile and drone attacks.” 

There have been no reports of US casualties or combat-related injuries. 

US installations in the Middle East sustained “minimal” damage that has not impacted operations.

https://nypost.com/2026/02/28/us-news/us-military-releases-dramatic-video-of-strikes-on-iran/

Mamdani, AOC, Omar among left piling on Trump over Iran strikes

 NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Squad Reps. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and Ilhan Omar led a laundry list of far-left pols condemning President Trump for launching airstrikes with Israel against Iran.

“Today’s military strikes on Iran — carried out by the United States and Israel — mark a catastrophic escalation in an illegal war of aggression,” Mamdan said Saturday, mere days after the socialist mayor briefly bonded with Trump over potential Big Apple housing investments during a visit to the White House.

“Bombing cities. Killing civilians. Opening a new theater of war.  Americans do not want this. They do not want another war in pursuit of regime change. They want relief from the affordability crisis. They want peace.”  

Mamdani insisted he’s focused on “making sure that every New Yorker is safe.”

He was in contact with Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch and emergency management officials to take “proactive steps, including increasing coordination across agencies and enhancing patrols of sensitive locations out of an abundance of caution,” the mayor said in a statement.

“Additionally, I want to speak directly to Iranian New Yorkers: you are part of the fabric of this city — you are our neighbors, small business owners, students, artists, workers, and community leaders,” said the Ugandan-born pol.  “You will be safe here.” 

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez slammed the strikes as “unlawful.”ZUMAPRESS.com

Ocasio Cortez (D-NY) also accused Trump of “dragging” Americans “into a war they did not want,” alleging the president “does not care about the long-term consequences of his actions.

“This war is unlawful. It is unnecessary. And it will be catastrophic,” she ranted.

 Omar (D-Minnesota) also piled on the president, accusing Trump of “unilaterally dragging this nation into an illegal and unjustified war with Iran without congressional authorization, without a clear objective, and without any imminent threat to the United States.”

https://nypost.com/2026/02/28/us-news/mamdani-aoc-omar-among-far-lefties-piling-on-trump-over/

Bariatric Surgery Beats GLP-1s for Heart Protection in T2D

 Among adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D), metabolic and bariatric surgery reduced the risk for major adverse cardiovascular events by more than 50% compared with GLP‑1 therapy.

METHODOLOGY: 

• Obesity and T2D greatly increase the risk for cardiovascular illness and death worldwide. Both metabolic and bariatric surgery and GLP-1s effectively manage these conditions. Direct comparisons of their effects on long-term major adverse cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality are lacking.
• Researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 studies comprising 19,644 individuals with obesity and T2D from the United States, China, Italy, Sweden, Israel, Australia, and Taiwan.
• The included studies were a mix of randomized controlled trials (n = 4), propensity score-matched cohort studies (n = 3), and nationwide matched cohort studies (n = 4), comparing metabolic and bariatric surgery (predominantly Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy) with GLP-1 therapy (primarily liraglutide, semaglutide, and dulaglutide).
• The studies were required to have assessed outcomes such as all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events, including myocardial infarction, stroke, ischemic heart disease, and the need for coronary revascularization procedures.
• Follow-up periods ranged from 1 to 12 years.

TAKEAWAY: 

• A meta-analysis of 10 studies evaluating cardiovascular outcomes showed that metabolic and bariatric surgery was associated with a 52% reduction in the relative risk for major adverse cardiovascular events when compared with GLP-1 therapy (pooled relative risk [RR], 0.48; P < .001).
• A subgroup analysis by study design showed consistent cardiovascular benefit in randomized controlled trials (RR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.14-0.72) and observational cohort studies (RR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.38-0.84).
• Regional variation revealed the most pronounced risk reduction in studies from the United States (RR, 0.27; P < .001), Italy (RR, 0.08; P = .003), and Israel (RR, 0.41; P = .008).

IN PRACTICE:

"While both approaches offer substantial clinical benefit, MBS [metabolic and bariatric surgery] provides more pronounced and durable risk reduction, particularly in those with longstanding diabetes and elevated cardiovascular risk, albeit at the expense of greater perioperative and nutritional risk," the authors wrote.

SOURCE:

The study was led by Joshua Chadwick, MD, MPH, ICMR-National Institute of Epidemiology in Chennai, India. It was published online in Obesity Surgery.

LIMITATIONS: 

The included studies are predominantly observational, introducing potential confounding and bias despite adjustment for known risk factors. Heterogeneity in patient populations, intervention details, and outcome definitions may limit direct comparability across studies. Follow-up durations varied across studies.

DISCLOSURES:

No funding source was provided for conducting this study. The authors reported no competing interests.

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/bariatric-surgery-beats-glp-1s-heart-protection-t2d-2026a100069q