Charlie Stross on Nostr: Two bits of news: (a) Iran's president and foreign minister found dead at helicopter ...

Two bits of news: (a) Iran's president and foreign minister found dead at helicopter crash site (https://apnews.com/article/iran-president-ebrahim-raisi-426c6f4ae2dd1f0801c73875bb696f48) and (b) Saudi Arabia's King Salman, 88, has pneumonia (https://www.jewishpress.com/news/middle-east/saudi-arabia/saudi-arabias-king-salman-88-has-pneumonia/2024/05/19/) (His successor is Prince Bonesaw, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman).

If King Salman doesn't make it, middle eastern politics could get very unpredictable. Never mind if (c) Benny Gantz pulls down Netanyahu's coalition the same time … (https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/dozens-killed-wounded-israeli-forces-thrust-deeper-gazas-jabalia-rafah-2024-05-18/)