Day: February 18, 2026

Cambodian national dies in ICE custody in Indiana  reut.rs/4aH9ARQ  reut.rs/4aH9ARQ

— Reuters (@Reuters) Feb 19, 2026

MORE: Iran is continuing its efforts to fortify the Taleghan 2 facility at Parchin Military Complex, which is consistent with Iranian efforts since the Israel-Iran War to rebuild its nuclear program and harden nuclear facilities against future airstrikes. ⬇️

The Institute for Science and International Security ( @TheGoodISIS) reported on February 17 that Iran has covered the facility with soil, after the regime had already encased the facility with a concrete “sarcophagus” to protect against airstrikes. Parchin is a defense industrial site that Iran has used to develop and manufacture explosive materials, rockets, and other munitions. Iran used the Taleghan 2 facility to test explosives that are needed to detonate a nuclear device before it suspended its nuclear weapons program in 2003.

Israel struck Taleghan 2 and destroyed equipment that would be needed to design and test explosives used in nuclear devices in October 2024. The Institute for Science and International Security has assessed in recent weeks that Iran is also hardening infrastructure at the Esfahan Nuclear Technology Center and Kolang Gaz La Mountain nuclear facility in preparation for possible future strikes.

CTP-ISW previously assessed that Iran may prolong the talks with the United States to provide itself additional time to reconstitute its nuclear and/or ballistic missile programs.  Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar)NEW: An unspecified adviser to US President Donald Trump told Axios on February 18 that Trump is frustrated with the insufficient progress made towards an agreement with Iran. CTP-ISW continues to assess that both sides’ negotiating red lines make reaching an agreement unlikely unless the position of either side changes. Unspecified sources described a weeks-long, joint US and Israeli military campaign targeting Iran to Axios on February 18.

Other Key Takeaways:

Some Iranians continued to hold anti-regime protests on February 18 despite the Iranian regime’s brutal crackdown on the recent wave of protests, which emphasizes the deep public frustration and disillusionment with the regime for its refusal to address the people’s grievances. CTP-ISW recorded six anti-regime protests across five provinces on February 18 at memorials that marked the end of the 40-day mourning period for protesters killed by security forces on January 8 and 9. The Iranian Teachers Union also held a nationwide strike on February 18.

The Shia Coordination Framework is reportedly divided over State of Law Coalition leader and former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki’s nomination for the premiership. Some Shia Coordination Framework parties likely want Maliki to withdraw from the premiership race voluntarily to avoid publicly succumbing to the United States’ staunch opposition to Maliki while also avoiding US sanctions. Maliki’s continued insistence on the premiership will probably force the framework to revoke his nomination to end the ongoing deadlock, as CTP-ISW assessed on February 17.

Hezbollah appears to have deterred the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) from confronting Hezbollah north of the Litani River in the second phase of its disarmament plan. Saudi and Lebanese media reports that the LAF will “adopt a gradual approach” and will not confront “any Lebanese faction” in the next phase of its disarmament plan suggest that the LAF is unwilling to disarm Hezbollah fighters using force. The LAF may adopt the cautious and non-provocative approach that its forces implemented in southern Lebanon.—  https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2024277808394965275

— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) Feb 19, 2026

Humdinger.

— Michael Weiss (@michaeldweiss) Feb 19, 2026