Last Week in Collapse: March 1-7, 2026
This is Last Week in Collapse, a weekly newsletter compiling some of the most important, timely, soul-crushing, ironic, amazing, or otherwise must-see/can’t-look-away moments in Collapse.
This is the image-heavy 219th weekly newsletter—available here on Reddit without images. The February 22-28, 2026 edition can be found here if you missed it last week. Thank you for subscribing to the Substack.
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In the days since American-Israeli strikes targeted locations in Iran, killing the Ayatollah, 30+ Iranian cities have seen strikes, and Iran’s retaliation has spread across the Greater Middle East. 10+ people (including 6 U.S. soldiers) killed in Kuwait, 3 killed in the UAE, one slain in Bahrain, several wounded in Syria & airspace closed, unknown militiamen killed in Iraq & airspace closed, several wounded in Jordan, drones intercepted in Saudi Arabia & Qatar, damage in Cyprus, one dead off Oman’s coast, NATO missile interceptions above Turkiye, 4 killed in Azerbaijan…and 1,300+ killed in Iran. Kurdish fighters are positioning for operations in Iran’s northwest; some say they have already started. Various maps here and here to visualize the attack locations & flight interruptions. Iran launched 2,000+ Shahed drones in the first seven days of this War; the drone-ification of conflict (and its counter force) is on full display. Iran also destroyed an advanced radar system in Jordan.
Runaway economic damage to Egypt and far beyond. South Korea’s currency fell to 17-year lows, their stock market collapsed 12%+, and also India’s rupee hit a record low. Oil prices spiked up to $89 (and the U.S. didn’t refill their strategic petroleum reserve beforehand) amid the announced closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which carries some 20% of the world’s oil exports. LNG is also affected. The critical sea passage isn’t 100% closed, but over 80% of transits are down amid Iranian drone strikes on vessels and the resultant cutting of insurance coverage for transiting ships.
The UK is preparing for anything, including possibly getting involved in future operations. Syria positioned troops along its border with Lebanon. An American submarine sunk an Iranian frigate off the coast of Sri Lanka, killing 80+ and shipwrecking 130+ others; strike video here if interested. Pro-Iran protestors in Pakistan fought against U.S. forces at a consulate; 22 of the mob were killed in the ensuing gunfire. Iran’s largest naval vessel was struck, and their once-feared navy has lost 30+ ships so far, with more on the way to Davy Jones’ Locker. Other strikes pound underground locations. Iran has not yet chosen its next Ayatollah, but many suspect the previous Ayatollah’s son will be soon selected for the position, complicating Trump’s plans. Iran isn’t the only country influenced by clerics at the upper level; some in the U.S. military framed their strikes as “all part of God’s divine plan.”
Israel unleashed attacks on Hezbollah on Monday, targeting a range of locations in southern Beirut. As IDF tanks entered southern Lebanon, Hezbollah fighters confronted them; over 123 were slain by Israel in the operation, mostly by 250+ drone & missile strikes—and 680+ others reportedly wounded. Over 500,000 people in and around Beirut have been ordered to evacuate. Other strikes in Lebanon have begun to level buildings.
Pakistan bombed part of Bagram airbase in Afghanistan, and Pakistani officials claim 415+ Afghan soldiers have been slain in the first 7 days of the declared War. Some 66,000+ Afghans have been displaced by border battles.
A joint force of U.S.-Ecuadorian soldiers/police began raids against drug traffickers in Ecuador. President Trump floated the idea of a “friendly takeover” of Cuba, while rolling blackouts and a nearly-Collapsed electrical grid torment the islanders. Malaysia’s PM alleged a plot to overthrow the government was being planned, involving media forces and the family of a former finance minister.
Armed raiders in South Sudan launched an attack last Sunday that killed at least 169 people in the country’s north. In Sudan, government forces retook the second-largest city (pre-War pop: 17,000) in North Kordofan, killing several dozens of rebel fighters.
Ukrainian sea drones struck a Russian-flagged LNG tanker in the Mediterranean; all 30 crew members survived; video of burning ship if interested. The Iran War has forced Ukrainian peace talks to be postponed. Sweden urged its citizens to hold cash amid fears of cyber-tampering with its banking system, Poland announced intentions to “eventually” get nuclear weapons (and perhaps Norway too).
Ransom kidnappings rise in Mali, Niger, and elsewhere in the Sahel. A nightclub bombing in Peru killed 33+. A 27-page report on “pushbacks” in 2025 claims that the EU blocked over 80,000 people from claiming asylum at their borders (or in the sea). Reports of Eritrean infiltrations into Ethiopia’s Tigray region suggest preliminary operations poised at restarting the Tigray War (2020-2022) against Ethiopia’s central government.
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A former UK diplomat with postings across troubled countries in Africa, Asia, and South America is warning about the dangers of cliamte change in the future—not just the ecological, but the threats from far-right politics, migration, and armed conflict. He predicts that competition for resources & good land will increase, pressure for oil/gas/mineral extraction will spark confrontation in places like the Arctic, wet-bulb temperatures will approach Beijing, “Gulf nations are facing catastrophe” amid rising temperatures and decreasing dependence on oil, Russia will probably benefit most from global warming, migration backlash will continue to fuel populism, and other doomy developments in a changing world.
A study from Africa looked at Cassava Brown Streak Disease found that about a third of Africa is at risk of this disease spreading to their soil, endangering a major crop on which people across Africa (pop: 1.6B) depend. The disease was first identified 90 years ago in Tanzania, and has since spread to other parts of East Africa. CBSD is spread by whiteflies and aggravated by climate change. “Under two SSP scenarios (SSP1-2.6 and 5-8.5) CBSD is expected to expand its range to 55% (16.6 million km2) and 56.6% (10.2 million km2) of Africa’s land area, respectively, by 2050 (Figure 4 B-C), and this predicted range remains largely unchanged towards 2070, with countries most susceptible including those where the disease is yet to be reported, including Ivory Coast, Ghana, Benin, Nigeria, and Cameroon, all located in West Africa which is key for current cassava production.”
Chytrids, a kind of fungus, is being principally blamed for the 90% dieoff of New South Wales’ bell frog population over the last 30 years. It’s not just the NSW bell frogs; this fungus has also been blamed for the extinction of 90+ frog species in the past 60 years, and it has become endemic to habitats worldwide. Scientists identified a treatment, and hope it can be deployed quickly and widely enough for the surviving frogs to develop a resistance to the fungus—or else earth will lose more amphibian species.
Research shows that 90% of prostate cancer patients had microplastics in their tissue—and that their tumors contained 250% of microplastics concentration on average. Doctors therefore expect that microplastics may play a role in elevating cancer risks.
