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My patterns
Drag and drop patterns into the canvas.
Month: March 2026
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Secretary of war Hegseth Says U.S. Didn’t Start War with Iran, But is “Finishing It”
Understanding that there are iranian capabilities as far as time frame, i would never hang a time frame from our perspective.
The commander chief sets the optempo and terms of this fight. As i said, it’s on his terms.And we’ll make sure that admiral cooper and his team have everything they need, not just to defend. I mean, the best defense is good offense.And so we are aggressively pushing into that air space over that southern flank to ensure that we control it and we destroy anything that moves that would attempt to shoot us.Think of it as […0.4s] shooting the archer instead of the arrows.
That’s where we wanna be. And we have the kind of exquisite intelligence to get over the top, find that and destroy. It won’t happen overnight. This is a big battle space, […0.5s] uh, with a lot of capabilities.That’s part of the reason why it’s such a threat to us. That’s why i talk about conventional […0.5s] umbrella to blackmail nuclear ambitions. They were building up this […0.4s] conventional arsenal in order to ensure that no one would ever block them from their ability to get nuclear weapons.C-span called Secretary of war Hegseth – “Defense Secretary ” : Defense Secretary Hegseth Says U.S. Didn’t Start War with Iran, But is “Finishing It” https://www.c-span.org/clip/news-conference/defense-secretary-hegseth-says-us-didnt-start-war-with-iran-but-is-finishing-it/5194950
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From Proxies to Direct Strikes: A Timeline of Iran-Linked Attacks on Israel (1980s–2024)
Over four decades, the confrontation between Iran and Israel has shifted from indirect warfare to open exchanges.
What began in the early 1980s with Iran’s IRGC helping build Hezbollah into a durable anti-Israel proxy expanded into global attacks on Israeli and Jewish targets in the 1990s, large-scale rocket warfare from Lebanon in 2006, and a steady Syria-front pressure campaign in the late 2010s.
By the 2020s, the conflict broadened into maritime strikes and multi-front proxy fire from Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq—before culminating in 2024 with Iran’s first major direct missile-and-drone barrages on Israeli territory.
The chronology below summarizes key, widely reported incidents—distinguishing between direct Iranian action and proxy attacks or contested attributions.1980s
1982–1985 (Lebanon): Iran builds a proxy war capability against Israel via Hezbollah.
Iran’s IRGC presence in Lebanon and the rise of Hezbollah created a long-term platform for attacks on Israel (rockets, raids, terrorism). (This is the strategic “practical step,” even if individual attack dates vary by source.)
1992
Mar 17, 1992 (Buenos Aires): Bombing of the Israeli Embassy (attributed to Iran/Hezbollah in later legal/prosecutorial findings).
Not in Israel’s territory, but it is a major attack on an Israeli state target with responsibility often attributed to Hezbollah acting for Iran.1994
Jul 18, 1994 (Buenos Aires): AMIA Jewish center bombing (attributed to Hezbollah with Iranian support; Iran denies).
2000s
2006 (Israel–Hezbollah War): Hezbollah conducts large-scale rocket attacks into Israel.
This is widely understood as proxy warfare by an Iran-backed actor (financed/armed/trained via IRGC-QF over time).
2010s (Syria-front proxy/fire incidents become frequent)
May 10, 2018 (Golan Heights): Rockets fired at Israel from Syria; Israel says Iranian forces were responsible; Israel retaliates heavily.
Sep 9, 2019 (Syria): Israeli military says Iranian-backed Shi’ite militias fired rockets toward Israel (fell short).
Nov 19–20, 2019 (Syria): Israel says rockets were fired toward Israel; Israel strikes Iranian/Syrian targets in retaliation.
(These are illustrative of a broader pattern: “Iran-in-Syria” enabling launches/attempted launches toward Israel.)
2021
Jul 29, 2021 (Gulf of Oman): Attack on Mercer Street (Israeli-linked shipping); Israel/partners blamed Iran; Iran denied.
This is a notable “shadow war” strike on Israeli-linked assets.
2023 (Gaza war opens multi-front proxy attacks)
Oct 7, 2023: Hamas-led attack on Israel triggers regional escalation.
Iran’s direct operational control of Oct 7 is disputed; however, U.S. sanctions and official releases describe IRGC-QF mechanisms supporting Hamas/PIJ (funding, facilitation).Oct 8, 2023 onward (Lebanon): Hezbollah begins sustained rocket/fire exchanges with Israel.
Oct 31, 2023 (Yemen → Israel): Iran-backed Houthis claim missile/drone launches toward Israel (Eilat area referenced).
2024 (Proxy attacks continue; Iran goes overt/direct)
Apr 1, 2024 (Eilat): “Islamic Resistance in Iraq” claims aerial strike on Eilat; Israel reports a strike from the east.
Apr 13–14, 2024 (Direct Iran → Israel): Iran launches its first large, direct barrage of drones and missiles at Israeli territory.
Jul 21, 2024 (Yemen → Israel): Israel says it intercepted a Houthi missile; Israel says Houthis launched ~200 attacks since the Gaza war began (many intercepted).
Oct 1, 2024 (Direct Iran → Israel): Israel reports missiles launched from Iran; IRGC says it fired missiles and warns against retaliation.
Oct 22–23, 2024 (Iraq proxy → Israel): Reuters reports Islamic Resistance in Iraq claims drone attacks toward Eilat; Israel reports interceptions/alerts.
Nov 5, 2024 (Iraq proxy → Israel): Israel says it intercepted a drone from the east; Iraq-based group claims responsibility.
Sources: Midtown Tribune news
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Telemedicine Company Owner Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for $56M Medicare Fraud Scheme
The owner of two telemedicine companies was sentenced today to 7 years in prison and ordered to pay $27.9 million in restitution for his role in a scheme to fraudulently bill Medicare for unnecessary durable medical equipment.
“Instead of connecting patients with legitimate care, Reinaldo Wilson used his telemedicine companies to exploit Medicare and line his own pockets,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “He stole over $27.9 million by submitting false and fraudulent claims, robbing a program designed to provide medical care to America’s seniors. The Criminal Division will aggressively prosecute those who defraud Medicare and exploit taxpayer-funded programs meant to serve the people who have paid into the system.”
“Over the span of only two years, Wilson amassed over $56 million in fraudulent Medicare claims, through a cadre of crooked medical providers and co-conspirators, leveraging durable medical equipment for personal financial gain,” said Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy of the FBI’s Newark Field Office. “When criminals defraud Medicare, they undermine the U.S government. The FBI will always work to apprehend theses fraudsters and put an end to their schemes.”
“Today’s sentence underscores the serious consequences for those who exploit Medicare for personal gain,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS‑OIG). “This sentence reflects our commitment to holding individuals accountable when they manipulate providers, target vulnerable patients, and attempt to conceal fraud behind complex schemes. We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to ensure anyone who abuses federal health care programs is exposed and brought to justice.”
According to court documents and statements made in court, Reinaldo Wilson, 57, formerly of Richmond Hill, Georgia, owned and operated two telemedicine companies located in Bayonne, New Jersey between 2017 and 2019. Through these companies, Wilson and others paid illegal kickbacks to medical providers to sign orders for orthotic braces for Medicare beneficiaries, even though the beneficiaries did not need the braces. Wilson and others illegally sold the signed orders to purported marketing companies that often re-sold the orders to brace companies, which in turn submitted claims for the unnecessary braces to Medicare. Wilson and his co-conspirators at marketing companies cajoled beneficiaries into accepting as many braces as possible. Providers working for Wilson’s telemedicine companies signed orders for four or more orthotics a piece for over 3,000 beneficiaries, and more than 40 beneficiaries received orders for 10 or more orthotics. Wilson also attempted to conceal his crimes by creating a new telemedicine company and convincing a member of his church that it was an investment opportunity. He took $20k from this member and had her open the company and bank accounts in her name, which he then took control of.
During the conspiracy, Wilson and others submitted over $56 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare, of which Medicare paid over $27.9 million.
In March 2021, Wilson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud.
The FBI, IRS Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), and HHS-OIG investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Darren C. Halverson and Nicholas K. Peone of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of eight strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Thursday, February 26, 2026Share
For Immediate Release
Office of Public Affairs
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington DC 20530Components Criminal Division Criminal – Criminal Fraud Section Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Sources: justice.gov , Midtown Tribune news
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DHS Marks 23rd Anniversary Amid Government Shutdown, Highlighting Border Security, Counterterrorism, Cyber Defense
The Department of Homeland Security marked its 23rd anniversary on March 1, 2026, during an ongoing government shutdown, with Secretary Kristi Noem thanking employees who are working without pay and arguing DHS remains central to national security “by air, land, sea, or in cyberspace.” In the anniversary statement,
DHS credited the Trump administration with restoring “rule of law” and cited a series of enforcement and security metrics, including claims of nine months of “zero releases” at the border, roughly 3 million illegal aliens leaving the U.S. over 13 months (including self-deportations and deportations), thousands of gang-related arrests, arrests and removals of known or suspected terrorists, major drug seizures (including fentanyl and methamphetamine), billions of blocked malicious cyber connections by CISA, and reforms to FEMA aimed at faster state-led disaster recovery alongside multiple federal emergency disaster declarations.Amid Shutdown, DHS Celebrates 23rd Anniversary
Since its creation following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, DHS has stood at the helm of our country’s national security, protecting the American people and our Homeland
WASHINGTON —Today marks the Department of Homeland Security’s 23rd anniversary. Less than two years after the devastating terror attacks of September 11, DHS was formed, and since then, DHS has stood at the helm of our country’s national security, protecting the American people and our Homeland.
“As the threat landscape continues to evolve, DHS is there. By air, land, sea, or in cyberspace, the DHS workforce boldly confronts the threats our nation faces every day,” said Secretary Kristi Noem. “We are working diligently to prevent cybersecurity and terror threats, safeguard the southern border, reform our broken immigration system, and help Americans in the face of natural disasters. Our mission could not be achieved without your extraordinary courage and commitment. I am especially grateful to those of you who are serving during the current shutdown without a paycheck.”
The mission of DHS today remains the same as it did at its inception 23 years ago: protect the homeland and keep Americans safe. Under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and Secretary Noem, DHS has fulfilled this mission. In one year, DHS has made America safe again by restoring the rule of law, securing our borders, removing dangerous criminal illegal aliens and national security threats, strengthening cyber defense, and reforming disaster response.
Under Secretary Noem’s leadership, some examples of the crucial work the men and women of DHS have achieved to keep Americans safe and protect the homeland include:
- DHS has provided the most secure border in American history, with nine straight months of zero releases by Border Patrol at the border, ending the Biden Administration’s disastrous catch and release policy.
- Total border apprehensions under the Trump Administration’s first year in office were lower than a single average month under the Biden Administration.
- Over the last 13 months, nearly 3 million illegal aliens have left the U.S. because of the Trump Administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration, including an estimated 2.2 million self-deportations and more than 713,000 deportations.
- These arrests include 7,808 gang arrests, including 1,232 individuals associated with Tren de Aragua and 1,271 individual MS-13 gang members.
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been instrumental in preventing terror threats, with over 1,538 known or suspected terrorists (KSTs) being arrested, and 1,534 KSTs removed.
- 49,740 special interest aliens have been arrested.
- The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has stopped 2.62 billion malicious connections on federal civilian networks and 371 million within critical infrastructure during the Trump Administration.
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized 617,648 pounds of illicit drugs nationwide over the past year (January 21, 2025, to January 31, 2026) — an 8 percent increase over the previous year. This included 10,915 pounds of fentanyl, 186,359 pounds of methamphetamine, and significant quantities of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana, preventing deadly narcotics from reaching American streets.
- Under President Trump, DHS and the Department of Health and Human Services have located 145,000 unaccompanied children that the Biden administration lost. Too many of these children were exploited and abused before, during, and after being trafficked over our borders. All told, the Biden administration lost more than 450,000 children because of its open border policies.
- Within hours of the November 26 attack where an Afghan national murdered one National Guard member and severely wounded another in Washington, DC, Secretary Noem directed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to put asylum processing on hold for aliens from every country, implemented a full-scale reexamination of every green card for aliens from every presidentially designated high-risk country, and placed a hold on the processing of immigration applications and petitions for all Afghan nationals and aliens from those countries of concern.
- The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) seized over 547,000 pounds of illegal narcotics – a record-setting amount nearly three times its normal annual average – worth more than $3.9 billion.
- These USCG counter drug operations disrupted transnational criminal organizations and prevented more than 206 million lethal doses from reaching U.S. communities, saving taxpayers over $10 billion in avoided costs, including $2.27 billion in healthcare expenses.
- Under the leadership of President Donald Trump and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been reformed to empower states and support state-led recoveries faster than ever.
- President Trump approved a historic 12 federal emergency disaster declarations for Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia – unlocking FEMA resources and enabling states to access critical federal resources to supplement their response efforts.
Release Date: March 1, 2026
Homeland Security Enterprise Immigration and Customs
Enforcement
U.S. Department of Homeland SecuritySources: DHS.gov , Midtown Tribune news
Keywords: Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)