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Title: February 7, 2026 - SPECIAL REPORT

SPECIAL REPORT
IRAN: U.S. STATE DEPT. ISSUES WARNING
 
**US urges citizens to leave Iran immediately amid rising tensions and shutdowns** -
 
The United States has advised its citizens in Iran to leave the country immediately due to a sharp deterioration in security conditions and prepare exit plans without relying on US government assistance. In a statement issued Friday, the US Virtual Embassy for Iran warned Americans face risks including interrogation, detention, and possible violence, while travel has become increasingly difficult. Authorities have also restricted mobile networks, landline communications, and nationwide internet access, while disruptions continue to affect road transport and flight operations. The advisory urges US citizens, if conditions permit, to consider land routes through neighboring countries such as Armenia and Turkey while avoiding travel toward Afghanistan, Iraq, and Iran’s border areas with Pakistan. If departure is not possible, citizens are advised to remain in secure locations, stock food, water, medicine, and other essentials, and avoid unnecessary movement. The United States has long warned its citizens against travel to Iran due to the absence of diplomatic relations and the risk of detention, especially for dual nationals. Periodic regional tensions and internal security measures in Iran have previously led to communication shutdowns and travel disruptions, complicating evacuation or movement for foreign nationals. Officials stress that individuals still in Iran should closely monitor developments and prioritize personal safety as uncertainty surrounding the security situation continues.
 
**NOTE: This is a huge indicator that the U.S. is ready to engage in a kinetic conflict with Iran. GZB analysts had forecast this back in November if 2025 — that another U.S.strike would likely happen in 2026.
 
Recently, President Trump had warned the Iranian Regime, that if it continued to murder protesters, he would strike Iran.
 
Iran reacted by moving all its defenses into place. Trump then called off the strike.
This was a master class in “Disrupt Your Adversaries OODA Loop So They Give Away All Their Cards.”
 
Recon by feigned attack.
 
The U.S. over the past several months has been positioning Air, Naval, & Ground assets for a possible strike in Iran.
 
As of late January and early February 2026, the United States has intensified its naval presence near Iran in response to rising tensions, primarily positioning the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (CSG-72) in the Northern Arabian Sea/Gulf of Oman region.
 
Here is a breakdown of the U.S. naval assets currently positioned near Iran:
 
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) Carrier Strike Group: This group acts as the main force, having moved from the South China Sea to the Middle East by late January 2026. It includes:
 
Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9): Equipped with F-35C Lightning II stealth fighters, F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, and EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft.
 
Destroyer Squadron 21: Including the guided-missile destroyers USS Spruance (DDG-111), USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112), and USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG-121).
 
Guided-missile Cruiser: USS Mobile Bay (CG-53).
 
Additional Naval Assets:
 
Destroyers: The USS Delbert D. Black, USS McFaul, and USS Mitscher are in the region.
Littoral Combat Ships: USS Santa Barbara (LCS-32), USS Canberra (LCS-30), and USS Tulsa (LCS-16) are based in Bahrain for potential minesweeping duties.
 
Submarines: While positions are generally classified, reports indicate that at least one guided-missile submarine (SSGN) is likely in the region, capable of carrying 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles.
 
Regional Context:
 
These assets are operating in the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea, designed to deter Iranian activity and provide immediate strike capabilities in the region. Other reports indicate the U.S. has engaged in a significant "three-carrier" strategy, involving the USS Nimitz and USS Carl Vinson at various times in the wider region, though the Lincoln is the primary focus of the most recent, late-January 2026 reports.
 
The final assets put into place as of yesterday were A-10 Warthogs whim would be used to eliminate Iranian fast boats, sea-drones and suicide boats in the Strait of Hormuz.
This situation is developing and GZB analysts are monitoring it. Updates to follow.
 
HEZBOLLAH DEFIANCE
 
**Naim Qassem delivers defiant speech to mark anniversary of Mahdi Schools**-
Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem delivered a speech on February 3 that marked the 33rd anniversary of the establishment of Hezbollah’s Mahdi School System, which, according to Qassem, now has “over 35,000 enrolled students.” The Hezbollah leader addressed several topics in his speech, including the ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran and the fate of Hezbollah’s arms—sounding a defiant tone on both matters. In the first third of his speech, Qassem claimed that Iran, because it had established a just Islamic government seeking to champion the world’s downtrodden, was, in turn, promised a “great” divine victory during its current confrontation with the United States and Israel.
 
RUSSO-UKRAINE WAR
 
**The Kremlin continues to reject any meaningful security guarantees that would protect Ukraine from complete diplomatic or military capitulation** -
 
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated on February 6 the Kremlin’s rejection of Western-provided security guarantees in Ukraine and reiterated the Kremlin’s support of the “security guarantees” that Russia agreed to in the April 2022 Istanbul talks. The 2022 Istanbul Protocol draft document did not provide the groundwork for meaningful security guarantees and would have left Ukraine defenseless against renewed aggression. The Istanbul Protocol draft stipulated that Russia – the aggressor in the war in Ukraine – would be treated as a neutral ”guarantor state” of Ukraine; that Russia and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) would have veto power over a mechanism to respond to future aggression in Ukraine; and that Ukraine commit to neutrality, severe restrictions on military size and composition, and never accepting military assistance from its allies. Lavrov’s February 6 statement is the latest in a series from senior Kremlin officials indicating that the Kremlin continues to view the 2022 Istanbul draft treaty as the basis for any future peace settlement and is unwilling to compromise on its demands of both Ukraine and NATO.
 
U.S. & CHINA
 
**Xi’s calls with Trump and Putin highlight China’s balancing amid great power rivalry** -
 
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s rare same-day conversations with U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin underscore Beijing’s bid to navigate between Washington and Moscow as both relationships face strain. Xi discussed energy cooperation with Putin and U.S.-China trade, Taiwan, and Ukraine with Trump, as the U.S.-Russia New START treaty expired this week. Analysts said Beijing seeks stability while maintaining strategic ties with Moscow. Trump’s team, meanwhile, is promoting a new “G2” framework even as it curbs Chinese influence through economic and security measures. Observers expect all three leaders may meet at November’s APEC summit in Shenzhen.
 
CHINA
 
**Former Bank of China Vice President Lin Jingzhen expelled from Communist Party, Xinhua says **-
 
Chinese state media Xinhua on Friday reported the expulsion of Former Bank of China Vice President Lin Jingzhen from the Communist Party. Lin, who retired from his Bank of China position last year, was removed for serious violation of discipline and law, a charge widely viewed as a euphemism for corruption.
 
SOUTH CHINA SEA
 
**Hainan official who played key role building South China Sea reefs faces corruption probe **- Chinese authorities have detained Xiao Jie, a senior official in Hainan, on suspicion of corruption, according to the country’s top disciplinary body. Xiao, who previously served as the first party chief and mayor of Sansha, played a prominent role in administering and developing contested Beijing-held territories in the South China Sea, including fiercely disputed reef construction and infrastructure projects. The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection said he is under investigation for “serious violations of discipline and law.” His detention comes amid a broader anti-corruption drive in Hainan that has ensnared multiple senior officials in recent years.
 
CHINA — NEW TRANSPORT DRONE
 
**China’s new hybrid transport drone seen as potential ‘game changer’ near Taiwan **-
 
China has completed the maiden flight of its CH YH-1000S, billed as the world’s first hybrid-powered unmanned transport aircraft. State media said the drone’s gas-electric propulsion system increases range and payload while shortening takeoff distance. Analysts said the design could provide a logistical advantage in a potential Taiwan conflict by resupplying elite forces behind enemy lines. The CH YH-1000S, built by the China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics, can carry 1.2 tons over 1,500 km and operate for more than ten hours. Developers say the project integrates drone and automotive technologies to reduce costs.
 
BENIN
 
**Benin**:
 
The Presidential majority swept all seats in National Assembly, local councils. Legislative and local elections 11 Jan proceeded peacefully. On 17 Jan the commission said two parties aligned with President Talon had won all 109 seats in National Assembly – 60 for Progressive Union for Renewal and 49 for Republican Bloc – with 36.7% voter turnout. The Constitutional Court on 19 Jan confirmed ruling coalition had won full control of National Assembly. Main opposition party Les Démocrates (LD) failed to obtain 20% of national vote required to be represented at National Assembly, thereby losing its last chance to participate in country’s formal political life for years to come.
 
NIGERIA
 
**Nigeria launches Operation Savannah Shield after Kwara massacre; abducted Christians freed **-
 
Nigeria announced a new military command to spearhead Operation Savannah Shield and deploy an army battalion to Kaiama after militants killed between 162 and 167 people in the predominantly Muslim villages of Woro and Nuku, where residents reportedly resisted extremist indoctrination and were subsequently attacked, their homes and shops looted and burned. The death toll could rise, as remains were being recovered. Amnesty International called the violence a major security failure as analysts warn Kwara is becoming a new frontier for armed groups. Separately, Kaduna’s governor said all 183 Christians abducted in three church raids last month have returned home, with 89 rescued Wednesday; authorities gave no details, and ransoms are sometimes reported in such cases.
 
NIGER
 
Niger: The Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for last week’s coordinated attack on Diori Hamani International Airport and the adjacent Air Base 101 in Niamey, Niger’s capital, marking one of the most high-profile attacks for IS-affiliates in the Sahel region. Evidence from the attack footage indicates the potential presence of militants from other IS affiliates, including from Islamic State – West Africa Province (ISWAP). IS-Sahel Province’s demonstrated ability to coordinate across affiliates, strike hardened targets, and sustain follow-up operations raises concerns about the group’s growing operational potential. Extremists from Nigeria and Chad participated in the attacks, the latter monitoring drones. The attack also highlights the fragility of the broader region. Several states are ruled by military juntas, backed by Russian mercenaries, whose cruelty has only escalated the violence. JNIM is also waging violent attacks in the region and occasionally against IS. The UN monitoring team has noticed an increasing cooperation between groups of IS, thanks to the al-Furqan Office, a Nigeria-based entity that provides the Islamic State with strategic guidance . While in the past Washington kept its distance from the regimes in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, under the Trump administration, a shift appears to be underway, with the United States willing to engage with Bamako, Ouagadougou, and Niamey.
 
DAESH/ISLAMIC STATE
 
**The threat of the Islamic State has “steadily increased.”
 
Terrorists have adapted their methods and are using artificial intelligence (UNOCT) **- The jihadist movement and its associated groups "continue to expand" in West Africa and the Sahel and "continue their attacks in Iraq and Syria", a UNOCT representative, Alexandre Zouev, told the Security Council on Wednesday, according to AFP, as reported by News.ro.
 
“In Afghanistan, the Islamic State in Khorasan (IS-K) continues to pose one of the most significant threats to the region," he stressed, citing the anti-Semitic attack that killed 15 people in Australia in December, inspired by IS ideology. In late January, the Islamic State carried out a brief, unprecedented attack on Niger's main airport, confirming the group's power in the region.
 
Moldovan Natalia Gherman, in charge of terrorist issues at the UN Secretariat, presented how the jihadist organization has modernized its practices. "Daesh (the Arabic acronym for IS) and other terrorist groups have expanded their use of virtual assets, including cryptocurrencies, in parallel with the use of cyber tools, unmanned aircraft systems and advanced applications of artificial intelligence," she said. Artificial intelligence (AI) "is increasingly being used by terrorist groups for radicalization and recruitment purposes, with a particular focus on young people and children," she warned.
 
GZB INFOCUS: CUBA
 
This week, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel warned citizens of the need to sacrifice as adjustments are made in energy and food distribution to reflect current challenges. Nevertheless, the government expects to release a new plan for dealing with fuel shortages in the next couple of weeks. He also said his government was willing to speak with the U.S., provided there is no pressure or preconditions.
 
Cuba’s economic crisis has been years in the making. Between the decline in Venezuelan oil shipments and tourism post-pandemic, the country has lacked energy for basic economic production and U.S. dollars to import basic goods. However, the crisis is coming to a head now that U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened retaliation against any country exporting oil to Cuba. At the same time, in an effort not to alienate the average Cuban, the U.S. is also sending additional humanitarian aid to the island.
 
 Pray.
 
Train.
 
Stay informed.
 
Be vigilant.

—END REPORT