US & Iran to Meet Thursday in Geneva + USAF Cargo Planes & Refuelers Spotted in Tel Aviv; Sofia + USAF Expects B-21 Raider Fielded in 2027 + No 6.8mm for USMC: Will Retain M27 IAR (5.56mm) for Service Requirements
FEB 23, 202620 MIN
US & Iran to Meet Thursday in Geneva + USAF Cargo Planes & Refuelers Spotted in Tel Aviv; Sofia + USAF Expects B-21 Raider Fielded in 2027 + No 6.8mm for USMC: Will Retain M27 IAR (5.56mm) for Service Requirements
FEB 23, 202620 MIN
Description
For review:1. The next round of talks between the United States and Iran will be Thursday in Geneva, Oman’s foreign minister said.2. American refueler and cargo planes were spotted at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv on Monday, amid a massive US buildup of military forces ahead of a potential attack on Iran.There was no comment from Israeli authorities regarding the American military deployment at Israel’s main civilian airport.3. Bulgaria’s Sofia International Airport briefly suspended civilian air operations twice over the weekend while a fleet of American military aircraft staged at the facility, fueling speculation that Washington is positioning forces ahead of a potential strike on Iran.4. US President Donald Trump hits back amid a series of reports that his top general has been warning him against the consequences of a prolonged military campaign against Iran. 5. Another round of talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine could be held at end of this week, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's chief of staff told Ukrainian media on Monday."I think at the end of the week, this week," Kyrylo Budanov told reporters when asked about the next round of talks.6. The Air Force today announced a new agreement with Northrop Grumman to “ramp” production of the in-development B-21 Raider, using $4.5 billion in reconciliation funding to help deliver the bomber by 2027.7. The US Army briefly published and then removed new official images of its Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), offering rare updated views of the system as it nears operational fielding.8. The US Marine Corps has confirmed it will not field the Sig Sauer M7 assault rifle, steering away from a potential adoption in partnership with the US Army.This decision leaves the service operating its M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR) due to its proven effectiveness in amphibious deployments.