Please believe me this time. Iranian opposition media reports that protesters have stormed and torched the headquarters of the Iranian Internal security forces, destroying the building and vehicles and freeing the prisoners within.

As reports begin to surface about the upcoming Iran operation, it is critical for the public to pause, breathe, and remember one enduring truth of conflict: the fog of war is real, unavoidable, and often misleading—especially in the earliest stages. In moments like these, information moves faster than understanding. Social media fills gaps before facts are confirmed, analysts speculate in real time, and emotionally charged narratives take hold long before reality has a chance to emerge. This is precisely when caution matters most. What Is the “Fog of War”? The term fog of war refers to the uncertainty, confusion, and incomplete information that surrounds military operations and conflicts. Coined by military theorist Carl von Clausewitz, it describes the reality that no participant—commanders, governments, journalists, or the public—has a complete or perfectly accurate picture while events are unfolding. Even those directly involved often operate with fragmented intelligence. For outside observers, the fog is exponentially thicker. Take Everything With a Grain of Salt In the opening hours and days of any operation, nearly all information should be treated as provisional, not definitive. Early reports may be: - Incorrect - Incomplete - Out of context - Intentionally misleading - Based on assumptions rather than confirmation This does not mean journalists, analysts, or observers are acting in bad faith—it means they are working inside the fog. Accuracy tends to improve with time, corroboration, and declassification, not immediacy. Factors That Will Increase the Fog in This Conflict Several elements are likely to intensify confusion and misinformation surrounding this operation: 1. Language Barriers Primary-source information may emerge in Persian (Farsi), Arabic, Hebrew, or regional dialects. Nuance can be lost or distorted in translation, especially when rushed for headlines or social media. 2. Interpreters and Secondary Sources Much of what the public receives will be filtered through interpreters, stringers, or intermediaries. Each layer adds the potential for misunderstanding or emphasis shifts.

My country is the US, FYI.

So, there's this Canadian Iranian YouTuber who makes songs in various languages (mostly dead ones), and he has a whole bunch of Iranian ones. I found him several years ago, and there some songs which I believe might be a bit fitting of the times. So if these interest you, feel free to listen... This one is in Middle Persian and dates back to soon after the Arab conquest and I feel like there's a bit of a call from the past manifesting into the actions of today's brave Iranian youth: https://youtu.be/aJvVKzbMBk4 Here's another one from the same text, that has in it a historical tune that dates back to the time of the last Sassanian Shah in exile, Peroz III, if I understood the video description correctly. The whole song is a mix of Chinese and Iranian musical styles, given that Peroz lived in China as Shah in exile after the Arab conquests. https://youtu.be/jeJ2YeOUO84 This one is in Parthian and is based off of an inscription made by Shapur I about his victory against the Roman emperor Valerian, whom he captured after defeating his 70k strong army from all around the Roman Empire. https://youtu.be/xZ7U5x4r5K4