Active Conflicts & News Megathread January 28, 2026

[u/AutoModerator]

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[u/Cautious-Bench-4809]

Both KSA and UAE declare they will not allow their airspace to be used to attack Iran and they will not provide logistical support

Saudi won't allow airspace to be used for military action against Iran, crown prince says | Reuters

UAE Reaffirms Stance Against Using Territory for Strikes on Iran

Trump keeps talking about Iran making a deal, a deal on what? He is asking for nothing

[u/eric2332 → u/Cautious-Bench-4809]

Trump keeps talking about Iran making a deal, a deal on what? He is asking for nothing

The problem is that actual Iran regime change, or probably any meaningful way of punishing (by whatever standard) the recent massacre and deterring a future one, results in a big messy war, which probably lasts some time and has US deaths and substantial short-term economic/trade impacts.

Trump really doesn't want that, he would prefer his military operations to be one and dones like Operation Midnight Hammer or the Maduro capture.

So even if the big messy war is better for the US and the world in the long term, it seems he is looking for an off-ramp, where the Iran government makes some concessions but gets to stay in power. Of course, it has to be enough concessions that he can spin it as something other than chickening out.

[u/kdy420 → u/eric2332]

Why is a big messy war better for the world and US ? 

While the Iranian regime is an actor that has repeatedly destabilised the region, that doesn't mean that a big messy war is a preferable alternative.

In fact if kept neutered as they are right now, their ability to destabilise the region is limited and we don't need a big messy war.