I - On Defense Podcast

For review:1. While in Malaysia - President Trump Oversees Peace Agreement Between Thailand & Cambodia; Next Stop Japan.2. Israel Allows Egyptian & Hamas Search Teams Access Beyond the Yellow Line.3. Kirill Dmitriev, Russian President Vladimir Putin's special envoy for investment and economic cooperation, said Friday that Russia, US, & Ukraine are “quite close” to reaching a diplomatic solution to end the war.4. Russia Tests Nuclear-Powered Skyfall (NATO) Cruise Missile. A video released by the Kremlin showed Russian President Putin receiving a report from Gen. Valery Gerasimov, Russia's chief of general staff, who told the Russian leader that the Burevestnik Missile (NATO designation Skyfall) covered 14,000 kilometers (8,700 miles) in a key test Tuesday.5. The Chinese Communist Party has named a veteran (Zhang Shengmin) who has overseen anti-corruption efforts in the military to be the country's second highest ranking general, just days after nine generals were expelled in a major purge.6. On Friday, South Korea's unification minister- Chung Dong-young- said he believed there was a “considerable” chance that President Trump will meet with N. Korean Leader Kim Jong Un, during his visit to the peninsula next week.7. Estonia inked a deal to purchase K239 Chunmoo rocket launchers, made by Hanwha Aerospace of South Korea, for its next tranche of launchers (press release). The release did not disclose how many Chunmoo systems Estonia will receive, nor how much the deal is worth.8. An F/A-18F Super Hornet and an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68) crashed in the South China Sea on Sunday in two separate incidents in the Pacific.All crew are safe and in stable condition and the incidents are under investigation.

For review:1. US Secretary of State Visits Israel.2. IDF Strikes Hezbollah Targets in Lebanon.3.  Russia Exercises Nuclear Triad.4. Latest in US Army Self-Propelled Howitzer Modernization. 

For review:1. US Secretary of State Travels to Israel; Far East this week.2. United States Vice President JD Vance projected confidence on Tuesday that the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip was going to last as he paid a visit to a new US-Israel ceasefire coordination center in Kiryat Gat, southern Israel.3. There will be no Turkish troops in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office insisted Wednesday- as part of the planned International Stabilization Force (ISF).4. IDF Strikes Hezbollah Targets in S. Lebanon.5. US Sanctions Russian Oil Companies; President Trump and Putin Meeting in Budapest Cancelled. The US blacklisted Rosneft and Lukoil and issued other sanctions because Russia has failed to commit seriously to the peace process, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement. 6. Opinion Article in Defense News written by John Moore, a former British Ministry of Defense official: Should the US Army bring back the Pentomic Division?7. President Trump nominates LTG Christopher LaNeve to replace GEN James Mingus as US Army Vice Chief of Staff. 

For review:1. Vice President Vance Travels to Israel to Shore Ceasefire Agreement.2. Ceasefire Status Returns After Two IDF Soldiers Killed in Rafah Leads to Israeli Retaliation.3. Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday told US President Donald Trump to “keep dreaming” if he thinks US airstrikes in June destroyed Iran's nuclear facilities.4. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he would honor the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and have him arrested if he traveled to Canada in an interview published on Friday.5. Ukrainian general Mykhailo Drapatyi has been named the commander of the Armed Forces' new Joint Forces Task Force, a new command structure responsible for the front line in and around Kharkiv Oblast, the force announced on Oct. 20.6.  Germany and the Netherlands are set to receive hundreds of Jackal infantry fighting vehicles under a €3.4 billion ($4 billion) contract.The procurement is based on a split between 150 Jackal units for German armed forces and 72 for the Dutch military.  A “call off” of up to an additional 248 units is also included.7.  Poland's Defense officials have sent requests for information to six countries for submarine designs for the Polish Orka (Orca) submarine program.8. Azerbaijan and South Korea have held defense talks in Baku to expand cooperation on military development and regional security.9. President Donald Trump threw his support behind the trilateral AUKUS agreement today, even suggesting the US is moving more quickly to provide nuclear-powered subs to Australia. 

For review:1. Pakistan & Afghanistan Agree to Ceasefire.Security issues are at the heart of the tensions, with Pakistan accusing Afghanistan of harboring militant groups led by the Pakistani Taliban on its soil- a claim Kabul denies.2. Hamas terror group transferred to Israel two caskets Saturday night which it said contained the remains of two dead hostages held in Gaza. If the bodies are confirmed to belong to hostages, it would mean that the number of bodies of dead captives still held in the Strip would go down to 16, after 28 were there at the start of the current ceasefire.3. Hamas intends to maintain security control in Gaza during an interim period, a senior Hamas official told Reuters, adding he could not commit to the terrorist group disarming.4. The White House is considering sending US Vice President JD Vance to Israel on Monday to hold meetings with top Israeli officials on implementing the next phases of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.5. A multinational team meant to help secure the Gaza Strip following the end of Israel's war with Hamas will likely be headed up by Egypt, according to a report Saturday. Citing unnamed diplomats, The Guardian reported that Egypt would likely lead the stabilization force, although Cairo has not issued any statements on the matter.6. President Trump to Ukraine: No Tomahawks - At least For Now.7. Over the past three months, an Australian E-7A Wedgetail surveillance aircraft has been employed as part of NATO operations to monitor Russian activities near Ukraine.8. The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG) transited the Singapore Strait on Friday and is now operating in the South China Sea following a three-month stint in the Middle East.9. The Army plans to expand its autonomous air capability portfolio with a CCA-like option. 

For review:1. The military commander of the Houthi rebels in Yemen, Muhammad al-Ghamari, has died, the Iran-backed group announced Thursday afternoon. The Israel Defense Forces later confirmed that al-Ghamari had been killed during a 28 Aug airstrike in Yemen's capital, Sanaa.2.  US-Led Gaza Coordination Center Operational in Days.The command center will be led by a US three-star general, at least initially, who has not been identified publicly. The commander will have a foreign deputy, who would be the equivalent of a two-star officer, the officials said. 3.  US denies Hamas violating ceasefire deal, vows no hostage will be ‘left behind' in Gaza.4. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty told The Associated Press that 15 Palestinian technocrats have been selected to administer postwar Gaza. 5.  Russia' postponed Arab summit. May be held in November instead. 6. President Trump and Russian President to Meet in Budapest within Two Weeks. The Trump-Putin meeting is expected to follow talks next week between teams led by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, at a location to be determined. 7.  United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth warned Moscow on Wednesday that if its war on Ukraine does not come to an end, the US and NATO allies would “impose costs on Russia for its continued aggression.” 8. The US and the Netherlands signed a pact today for the European nation to participate in the development of the US Air Force's CCA program.CCA = Collaborative Combat Aircraft 9.  First US Army Hypersonic Battery Fully Equipped in December.10.  The Army plans to "field" its next-generation M1E3 Abrams tank before the end of next year.The test vehicle would be sent to a small unit (identity and location not yet been determined). 

For review:1. Israel To Keep Rafah Crossing Closed & Limit Aid Until Hamas Returns Remaining Hostages.2. Post Gaza Ceasefire: Hamas gunmen tightened their grip in Gaza on Monday and Tuesday, sources in the Strip said, including carrying out public executions.Hamas has killed at least 33 people since a ceasefire took effect on Friday in a crackdown on groups that have tested its grip, sources in the strip said.3. Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev said on Monday that supplying U.S. Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine could end badly for everyone, especially U.S. President Donald Trump.Mr. Medvedev, said it is impossible to distinguish between Tomahawk missiles carrying nuclear warheads and conventional ones after they are launched - a point that President Vladimir Putin's spokesman has also made. 4. Secretary of the Army Driscoll today teased a shake-up in the way the Army buys its weapons and platforms, saying that he wants to adopt more of a private sector-like model that “speeds up the cycle of innovation for us.”5. Leonardo DRS is partnering with European land defense specialist KNDS to throw their hat in the ring for the US Army's forthcoming howitzer competition.The two signed a “strategic teaming agreement” to offer the Army the CAESAR self-propelled howitzer. Though KNDS makes the CAESAR, Leonardo DRS, the US arm of Italian parent Leonardo, will be the integrator and prime for the project.6. A year after the program was cancelled, the Army may reverse course and back the development of a next-generation interceptor for the Patriot Missile System-  called the Lower-Tier Future Interceptor (LTFI).  7. The UH-60 Black Hawk is now fully reconfigured to be an unmanned aircraft capable of flying a variety of missions, according to Lockheed Martin's Sikorsky.The aircraft is designated the S-70 UAS and nicknamed the U-HAWK. 

For review:1. 20 Living Hostages Returned to Israel After Two Plus Years of Captivity; 4 of 28 Hostages Bodies Also Returned.2. President Trump Addresses Knesset.3. President Trump and Leaders of Egypt, Qatar, & Turkey Sign Peace Declaration.4. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that President Donald Trump's success in brokering a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas has renewed his hope that Trump can help facilitate a similar agreement in Russia's war against Ukraine.

For review:1.  Pakistan & Afghanistan Trade Fire on Border Regions. 2. All of Israel Prepares for the Return of the Hostages (Monday AM).3. President Trump to Arrive in Israel to address Knesset; Then to Egypt for Summit. Egypt will host an international summit in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday to finalize an agreement aimed at ending the war in Gaza, an Egyptian presidential spokesperson said on Saturday.The summit will be attended by more than 20 leaders, including US President Donald Trump, the spokesperson said in a statement.Several leaders have confirmed their attendance, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Jordan's King Abdullah II.4. Iran dismissed the idea that it would establish diplomatic ties with Israel, describing the idea on Saturday as “wishful thinking.”The statement came nearly two weeks after US President Donald Trump suggested that Iran could normalize relations with Israel after decades of calling for its elimination.5. The Department of War plans to siphon $8 billion in leftover fiscal 2025 research and development funding to ensure troops get a paycheck during the ongoing government shutdown, a department official said in a statement on Saturday. 

For review:1. IDF Withdraws to Yellow Line in Gaza; 72-Hour Clock to Release Hostages Begins. Noon Monday (13 Oct) is the deadline for Hostage Release.2. US President Donald Trump is set to arrive in Israel on Monday morning and address the Knesset (in Jerusalem) before departing that same day.3. Opposition activist María Corina Machado of Venezuela won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, dashing US President Donald Trump's hopes of collecting the prestigious award after mediating a ceasefire deal in Gaza.4. An American military team of 200 people will be deployed in the Middle East to “oversee” the Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of the US military's Central Command (US CENTCOM), “will initially have 200 people on the ground. His role will be to oversee, observe, make sure there are no violations,” one senior official told reporters.5. Qatar will build an air force facility at a US military base in Idaho to host its F-15 fighter jets and to train pilots, according to an agreement signed Friday between US War Secretary Pete Hegseth and his visiting Qatari counterpart.6.  Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday praised US President Donald Trump's peace efforts, despite not winning the Nobel Peace Prize. 7. Denmark to Procure 16 More F-35s; Includes CCAs.CCA = Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) wingman drones.

For review:1. President Trump Announces Ceasefire & Hostage Agreement between Israel & Hamas.Deal to be Signed Thursday in Egypt.Hostage Release to Begin Saturday.President Trump to Visit the Region this Weekend.2. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty tells the Saudi channel Al-Arabiya that “additional Arab countries will sign peace agreements with Israel if the war in Gaza comes to an end.”3. The German budget committee approved a long-planned order of advanced Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets, greenlighting the €3.75 billion ($4.36 billion) procurement of 20 additional aircraft, designed to the Tranche 5 standard.4. Spain is reportedly considering acquiring Turkey's incoming fifth-generation KAAN fighter jets after shelving plans to purchase US-made F-35s.5. Bangladesh's top air force officer, announced last month that his country's interim government had given an in-principle approval for the purchase of “multirole combat and attack aircraft”.Though not specified, there is a strong likelihood it will be the J-10CE fighter from China.6. The US Department of War is expected to decide as soon as this week which US company will assemble the US Navy's F/A-XX sixth-generation stealth aircraft.According to Reuters- Boeing and Northrop Grumman competing for the contract.

For review:1. "Positive Atmosphere" at First Day of Talks in Egypt.2. IDF on High Alert for 07 October Anniversary and Holiday Period (Sukkot).3. Families of hostages held in Gaza urged the Norwegian Nobel Committee on Monday to give the Nobel Peace Prize to United States President Donald Trump this month for his efforts to secure the release of their loved ones. 4. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Oct. 6 that he has "sort of made a decision" on whether to supply Ukraine with Tomahawk long-range missiles. "I think I want to find out what they're doing with them, where they're sending them, I guess. I have to ask that question," Trump mused to reporters in the Oval Office. 5. Chinese Underwater Drone Found in Philippine S. China Sea Waters. Filipino fishermen discovered the 12-foot-long drone and turned it over to a Philippine Coast Guard station. The drone was equipped with a conductivity, temperature, and depth sensor for oceanographic survey operations. 6.  Sierra Nevada Corp. for the first time publicly displayed the Battery Revolving Adaptive Weapons Launcher—Reconfigurable (BRAWLR), which SNC says can carry up to four types of rockets and missiles at once to take out enemy drones and cruise missiles from the back of a pickup truck, a trailer or the ground. 

For review:1. Negotiations to Enact President Trump's 20-Point Peace Plan Begin Monday in Cairo.2. The head of Hezbollah said Saturday that Washington's plan for a ceasefire in Gaza was “full of dangers,” - but said the decision of whether to accept it was ultimately Hamas's.3. The IDF says it has intercepted a single missile fired by the Houthi rebels in Yemen.  There are no immediate reports of impacts, injuries or damage after sirens sounded in parts of central Israel and the southern West Bank.4. Russian President Putin: Supplying US Tomahawk Missiles to Ukraine - "This would mark a qualitatively new, completely new stage of escalation between Russia and the U.S.” 

For review1. Hamas Agrees to Release Israeli Hostages & Hand-over Gaza to Technocrats; Other Plan Details Require Negotiation.2. IDF to Halt Gaza City Campaign: Will Prepare for Operations to Support Hostages' Return.3. World Reaction

For review:1. Palestinian Ambassador to the UK Husam Zomlot condemns the deadly attack on Jewish worshippers outside a synagogue in Manchester, which took place on Yom Kippur.2. Hamas to Submit Amendments to President Trump's 20-Point Plan.3. Hamas Fires Rockets at Israel on Yom Kippur; IDF Surrounding Gaza City.4. US to Support Ukraine with Intelligence for Long-Range Targeting.5. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz & Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban clashed during talks (01 October) concerning EU's strategy to defend itself against the Russian threat and support for Ukraine.Berlin and Budapest have not commented on these reports.6. The US arm of British BAE and Forterra, a company specializing in “driverless technology,” announced a partnership today to develop a prototype version of an AMPV outfitted with autonomous capabilities by 2026. 7.  The Pentagon has downgraded the USAF Europe-Air Forces Africa Commander from 4-Star to 3-Star General.8. President Donald Trump has formally selected USAF General Kenneth Wilsbach to serve as the next Air Force Chief of Staff.The US Senate formally received his nomination Monday evening.

For review:1. US Government shutdown imminent. US Senate to meet Wednesday morning for further round of voting.2. US Secretary of War Hegseth meets with Senior Military Leaders at Quantico, VA.3. Israel Agrees to President Trump's 20-Point Gaza Peace Plan; Hamas Response Due Wednesday.4. A ballistic missile (with cluster bomb warhead) was launched by the Houthis at Israel overnight on Sunday. The missile was intercepted by air defenses, the military said.5.  President Trump Considers Tomahawk Missiles for Ukraine.Tomahawk missiles have a range of 2,500 km (1,500 miles).6. US Army Restarts Self-Propelled Howitzer Modernization Effort.Five potential candidates: BAE Systems, Elbit Systems, General Dynamics, Hanwha, and Rheinmetall.

For review:1. Iran Snapback Sanctions.Widespread UN sanctions against Iran return into force for the first time in a decade, after last-ditch nuclear talks with Western powers failed to produce a breakthrough.2. US 21-Point Plan for Post War Gaza.3. Around 780,000 Palestinians have so far evacuated Gaza City to the Strip's south, Israel said Saturday, as the IDF intensified its offensive to defeat the remaining Hamas forces. 4. As supporters marked the anniversary of Hezbollah's former leader (Hassan Nasrallah), Lebanese media reported Israeli drones flying above the ceremony in Beirut's southern suburbs. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the reported overflights.5. Ukraine received a US-made Patriot air defense system from Israel a month ago, with two more expected in the coming months, President Zelenskyy said Saturday.6.  Russian Navy Borei-class Ballistic Missile Submarine Spotted North Of Hokkaido. The transit marked the first time a Borei-class ballistic missile-equipped nuclear-powered submarine operating near Japan was spotted by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).Russia has eight Borei-class submarines in its fleet with two more under construction. Russia is planning for an additional two submarines to be constructed, bringing the country's Borei-class to a total of 12.

1. The Israeli Air Force carried out strikes on Thursday against Houthi military sites in Yemen's capital Sanaa.2.  Israeli PM Speech at UN General Assembly.PM Netanyahu: "You know deep down that Israel is fighting your fight. I want to tell you a secret. Behind closed doors, many of the leaders who publicly condemn us, privately thank us."3.  US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he was holding intensive talks with Middle Eastern nations on a Gaza ceasefire-hostage deal and that Israel and the Palestinian terror group Hamas were aware of the discussions.4. Efforts to reach a security pact between Syria and Israel have hit a last-minute snag over Israel's demand that it be allowed to open a “humanitarian corridor” to Syria's southern province of Sweida.5. The UN's nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, confirmed Friday that inspections of Iranian nuclear sites had resumed this week after a hiatus following Washington and Israel's strikes. IAEA Statement: “Inspections are… confidential and we cannot confirm their location but we can confirm that inspections have taken place this week.” 6. US President Donald Trump held talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House on Thursday and signaled that the United States might soon lift its hold on sales of advanced fighter jets to Ankara.7. Secretary of War Calls for Meeting with Senior Military Officers in Quantico, VA next week.

News from the UN General Assembly in New York. 

For review:1. Multiple Countries Recognize Palestinian State at UNGA Summit.2. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said Monday that Hamas must have “no role” in governing Gaza in the future and called on the militant group to hand over its weapons.3. Hamas has drafted a letter to US President Donald Trump requesting that he guarantee a 60-day truce in Gaza in exchange for releasing half of the remaining 48 hostages, Fox News reported Monday, 4. France is advancing an initiative aimed at establishing an “International Stabilization Mission” that would replace the IDF in Gaza and work to disarm Hamas after the war ends, according to a draft of the proposal obtained by The Times of Israel.5. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, visiting New York for the UN General Assembly, voiced hope Monday for a security deal that eases tensions with Israel but he played down the prospect of recognition.6. Saudi Arabia & Pakistan Joint Defense Accord.7. Chinese Aircraft Carrier Fujian18 Launches Warplanes Using Advanced Catapult System. Visuals, published the Chinese military, showed J-15T, J-35 fighters and KJ-600 airborne early warning aircraft being launched from the Fujian's electromagnetic catapults.8. The USAF F-47 advanced jet is expected to have its initial flight in 2028, Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin said Monday.The Air Force plans to buy at least 185 F-47s, which would match or exceed the size of the F-22 fleet.

For review:1. IDF Continues Gaza City Campaign; Egypt massing military force on border with Gaza.2. PA President Abbas to Speak Virtually at UN General Assembly.3. The Trump administration has told Congress it plans to sell nearly $6 billion in weapons to Israel. The planned package includes 30 AH-64 Apache helicopters, and 3,200 infantry assault vehicles for the Israel Defense Forces, according to a US official.4.  France, UK, & Germany Reimpose Snapback Sanctions Against Iran (will take effect on September 28).The European governments have said they will not delay the reimposition of UN sanctions unless Iran resumes full cooperation with the IAEA and reopens nuclear talks with the United States.5. President Trump Phone Call with Chinese President Xi Jinping.6. Estonia summoned a Russian diplomat to protest after three Russian fighter aircraft (MIG-31s) entered its airspace without permission Friday and stayed there for 12 minutes, the Foreign Ministry said.7. China cautioned Papua New Guinea against “undermining” its interests and sovereignty in signing a mutual defense pact with Australia widely seen as a counter to Beijing's growing influence in the Pacific.8. Breaking Defense Opinion Article by Foundation for Defense of Democracies - Mariam Wahba and Ryan Brobst.Title: As Beijing beckons, is Washington sleepwalking on Egypt?Mariam Wahba is a Research Analyst at Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), where Ryan Brobst is the Deputy Director of the Center on Military and Political Power. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.

For review:1. Houthi Drone Hits Hotel in Southern Israeli city of Eilat. Some damage, no injuries. 2.  IDF Strikes Hezbollah Targets in S. Lebanon. The strikes had targeted several weapon depots belonging to Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force.3. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said on Wednesday that ongoing negotiations with Israel to reach a security pact could lead to results “in the coming days.”4. Senior Hamas official Ghazi Hamad appeared in a TV interview on Wednesday, his first public appearance since the Israeli strike targeting the terror group's leaders in Qatar last week. His appearance was the latest sign that the attack had failed to kill the terrorist organization's leadership.` 5. US Vetoes UNSC Resolution on Gaza.US Policy Advisor (to UN) Morgan Ortagus: “It (the Resolution) fails to condemn Hamas or recognize Israel's right to defend itself, and it wrongly legitimizes the false narratives benefiting Hamas, which have sadly found currency in this council.”6. Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer was set to meet with US envoy Steve Witkoff in London on Wednesday night- in a last-ditch effort to revive negotiations over a ceasefire and hostage-release deal.7. Former UK Prime Minister Blair's Plan on Post-War Gaza.8. Israel's high-powered laser interception system, dubbed “Iron Beam,” has been declared operational after completing development and final tests, and is set to be delivered to the military by the end of the year, the Defense Ministry and manufacturer Rafael said on Wednesday.

For review:1. Israeli PM Netanyahu to visit White House on 29 Sep, after scheduled address to US General Assembly.2. Three IDF Divisions Operating inside Gaza City. The military said that the 162nd and 98th divisions were expanding their operations in Gaza City, and in the coming days, a third division, the 36th, would join.In addition to the Gaza City offensive, the IDF said the 99th Division was conducting defensive operations in Israel's buffer zone in northern Gaza, while the Gaza Division was operating in the Strip's south.3. Spain appears to have cancelled a €697 million ($823 million) contract for the acquisition of the High Mobility Rocket Launcher System (SILAM), developed from Israeli firm Elbit Systems' Precise and Universal Rocket Launcher (PLUS) design.4. Japan is deploying eight aircraft, including four F-15 fighter jets, to bases in the United States, Canada and Europe in an unprecedented mission to support NATO.5. China urged Tokyo and Washington on Tuesday to withdraw the US-developed Typhon missile system, after it was unveiled in Japan for the first time during joint military exercises. Beijing's foreign ministry on Tuesday called on the United States and Japan to “promptly withdraw” the missile system.6. A U.S. and U.K. warship transited the Taiwan Strait last week drawing protests from Beijing, USNI News has learned.U.S. guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG-76) and anti-submarine frigate HMS Richmond (F239) sailed through the strait on Sept. 12, a Pentagon official confirmed to USNI News on Tuesday.7. Thomas Global Systems has finished delivery of its M1A2 Abrams SEPv3 Immersive Tactical Trainer (M1A2 ITT) to the Australian Army, marking it as the world's “only full-crew simulator” for the platform.8. Congressional Republican leaders today put forward a stopgap funding bill to keep money flowing to the federal government through Nov. 21.Lawmakers face a ticking clock to get the bill through the House and Senate to avert a government shutdown, before federal funding expires on Oct. 1.  

For review:1. Arab and Muslim leaders called for a review of ties with Israel after emergency talks in Doha on Monday following last week's IDF strike on Hamas members in the Qatari capital.The Arab League and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation joint session brought together nearly 60 countries.2. On Monday, US Secretary of State Rubio met with Israeli PM Netanyahu one-on-one for about an hour and a half before an expanded meeting with aides. He also met Monday with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and President Isaac Herzog.Secretary Rubio will visit Qatar on Tuesday, the WP reported, citing two American sources.3. Axios Report: IDF Gaza City Ground Campaign Begins.Airstrikes in Gaza City intensified on Monday evening local time before Palestinian media began reporting that IDF tanks had entered the city.4. Sweden to Increase Defense Spending to 2.8% GDP in 2026.5. Poland's state-run defense group PGZ has chosen UK's BAE Systems as its technology partner for the planned boost in domestic 15mm ammunition production.6. Poland Receives 3d Batch of M1 Tanks. Poland has received 38 new M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks from the US. The shipment included 14 M88A2 Hercules tactical recovery vehicles.7. China's 3d Aircraft Carrier Spotted in East China Sea. People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) carrier Fujian (018), which has not yet been commissioned, sailed southwest in the East China Sea around 124 miles northwest of Uotsuri Island, according to Japan's Joint Staff Office (JSO).8. Australia will spend 12 billion AUD towards a new defense precinct that will include naval shipyards and AUKUS-related programs in the west of the country.Defence Minister Richard Marles said the Henderson Defence Precinct will be critical to Australia's shipbuilding and sustainment industry, as well as sustainment and maintenance of Australian and allied submarines.Australia is due to receive three Virginia-class submarines from the United States under AUKUS Pillar 1, before eventually transitioning to five SSN-AUKUS submarines from the early 2040s.9. US Army revealed Monday that the mid-range missile system (Typhon MRC) is participating in the US-Japan annual bilateral exercise Resolute Dragon. The exercise has more than 19,000 U.S. and Japanese troops focusing on maritime defense and littoral protection operations. 

For review:1. WSJ Report: IDF Employed Air-Launched Ballistic Missiles in Doha Strike. According to the report, eight F-15s and four F-35s took part in the operation, flying south from Israel over the Red Sea before launching ballistic missiles toward Qatar from the opposite side of the Arabian Peninsula.2. President Trump to Meet with Qatari Prime Minister in NYC. US Sec of State Rubio to Visit Israel.3.  The United Nations General Assembly on Friday overwhelmingly endorsed a declaration outlining “tangible, time-bound and irreversible steps” toward a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians, without the involvement of Hamas. 142 voted in favor; 10 against; 12 abstained.4. The Israel Defense Forces says air defenses successfully downed 2 ballistic missiles fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels (Saturday).5. President Ahmed al-Sharaa said Friday that Syria was negotiating with Israel to reach a security agreement that would see Israel leave areas it occupied after the December overthrow of Bashar al-Assad.6. Denmark plans to buy the French-Italian SAMP/T system to cover the long-range component of the integrated ground-based air defenses the country is building, picking the only European alternative to the U.S. Patriot. 7. Second USAF B-21 Bomber Flies to Edwards AFB for Testing.8. As Sentinel ICBM program continues delays, USAF may keep the Minuteman III system operating until 2050.

For review:1. IDF Hits Houthi Camps in Sanaa.2. Indications Point Doha Strike on Hamas Leaders Unsuccessful.3. Qatar will host an emergency Arab-Islamic summit in Doha on Sunday and Monday to discuss the Israeli attack on the Gulf state's capital city that targeted Hamas leaders.4. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Thursday evening that “there will be no Palestinian state,” as he signed an agreement to push ahead with the controversial E1 settlement expansion plan that will cut across West Bank land.5. IDF expanding operations in preparation of Gaza City campaign. In total, five IDF divisions are set to participate in the Gaza City offensive.6. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Thursday that enriched nuclear material remained “under the rubble” of facilities damaged during the recent war with Israel.7. The US Department of Defense announced it would provide the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) a security package worth $14.2 million to help in its new mission to disarm Hezbollah.The aid package includes shaped and demolition charges, detonating cords, electric and non-electric caps, fuse igniter generators and transportation.8. NATO allies shot down three Russian drones that illegally entered Polish air space on Wednesday. A senior Army official told reporters on Wednesday that eight other Russian drones crashed after entering Poland. 9. The House passed its version of the fiscal 2026 defense policy bill today.The 231-196 vote was split mostly down party lines.

1. Israel Strikes Hamas Leaders in Doha.2. Defense News Top 100 Defense Companies for 2025. 

For review:1. A drone launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels evaded Israeli air defenses and smashed into the Ramon Airport terminal in southern Israel on Sunday. The unmanned aerial vehicle struck the passenger terminal at the airport north of Eilat, causing damage, according to airport authorities.2. President Trump Warns Hamas to Accept Terms for Hostage - Ceasefire Deal.According to the reported proposal, Hamas would release all 48 hostages, living and dead, on day one, while Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian terrorists with blood on their hands, and thousands of other prisoners.In addition, the IDF would call off its conquest of Gaza City and would remain outside the city, according to the report.The two sides would engage in talks over the end of the war under the personal oversight of President Trump, and the ceasefire would continue as long as negotiations last.3. Lebanon's cabinet on Friday welcomed a plan by the Army that would disarm Hezbollah and said the military would begin executing it, without setting a timeframe for implementation and cautioning that the Army had limited capabilities. But it said continued Israeli military operations in Lebanon would hamper the Army's progress. 4.  President Zelensky Responds to Russian President Putin: "He can come to Kyiv."5. China said Saturday that its military monitored the passage of Australian and Canadian warships through the Taiwan Strait, criticizing their presence in the sensitive waterway as “causing trouble.”6. Marines from the 3rd Marine Division trained with the Navy/Marine Corps Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) in recent weeks after the system arrived July 10 in Japan, the Marine Corps said. 7. The Air Force and Sierra Nevada Corporation have started flight tests on the service's next-generation “doomsday plane.”Flight tests for the E-4C Survivable Airborne Operations Control, or SAOC, are being held at the Aviation Innovation and Technology Center in Dayton, Ohio, the company said in a Wednesday release.

For review:1. President Trump's Executive Order Returns Department of War Title.2. US special envoy Steve Witkoff reportedly met in Paris with Qatari officials on Thursday to discuss efforts to reach a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza, though Israeli officials sounded skeptical about progress toward an agreement.3. Finland is joining a declaration calling for the implementation of a two-state solution to Israel's conflict with the Palestinians. The declaration is a product of an international conference at the United Nations in July, hosted by Saudi Arabia and France.4. IDF Controls 40% of Gaza City.In a televised briefing, military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said that “we hold 40 percent of the territory of Gaza City,” adding that the offensive “will continue to expand and intensify in the coming days.”5. A drawing outlining a map of Hamas tunnels under part of Rafah was reportedly found in the pocket of Yahya Sinwar, when he was killed in the southern Gaza city last year.6.  Russian President Putin invites President Zelenskyy to Moscow. Speaking from Beijing on Wednesday, the Russian leader said US President Donald Trump had asked him to hold talks with (President) Zelensky.“Donald asked me if it was possible to hold such a meeting. I said yes, it is possible. In the end, if Zelensky is ready, let him come to Moscow. Such a meeting will take place,” Putin said.7. Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Hyundai Rotem have teamed up to integrate, the Israeli Trophy vehicle-protection system on the South Korean K2 Tank.The agreement includes the Poland-specific K2PL version, following the supply of a 180 K2 tanks deal signed between Poland and South Korea.8. US Navy CCA Program.The US Navy has awarded contracts to four major aerospace prime contractors — Anduril, Northrop Grumman, Boeing and General Atomics — for “conceptual designs” for a carrier-based autonomous combat drone. 

For review:1. A top United Arab Emirates official warned Israel on Tuesday that annexing the West Bank would cross a “red line” that would “end the vision of regional integration.”It would foreclose the idea of regional integration and be the death knell of the two-state solution,” Emirati special envoy Lana Nusseibeh told The Times of Israel.2.  Belgium will recognize the State of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly later this month, Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot announced Tuesday, adding that sanctions will be imposed on the Israeli government.Belgium will not take formal measures, like opening an embassy, until Hamas is disarmed and excluded from any governing role, said the official.3. Israeli PM: War Entering Decisive Stage. Premier Benjamin Netanyahu said the war was entering its “decisive stage,” while IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir told troops that the Gaza City campaign was already moving forward, that operations would be intensified and expanded, and that the IDF would not accept anything less than the complete defeat of Hamas.4. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul urged India to press its close ally Russia to return to peace talks over the war in Ukraine.5. China today used a military parade to show off a new Air-Launched Ballistic Missile (ALBM) and two new Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM), joining a previously shown Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM).The parade was held in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, and was overseen by Chinese leader Xi Jinping and included several invited world leaders- notably Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea's Kim Jong-un.6.  USAF Minuteman III Silo Offline During Transition to Sentinel.Statement from Air Force Global Strike Command: “During the transition process, there will be no degradation of the land-based leg of the nuclear triad."7. US SPACECOM to Redstone Arsenal.President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he will move the military's US Space Command to Huntsville, Alabama — undoing a decision by the Biden administration to keep operations in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

For review:1. Israel declared on Sunday that Hamas spokesman Hudayfa Samir Abdallah al-Kahlout, alias Abu Obeida, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City.2. Russia & China Reject E3 Snapback Sanctions Against Iran.3. Chinese President XI Jinping hosted more than 20 leaders of non-Western countries at a summit in the Chinese port city of Tianjin for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization- a China-backed initiative given renewed impetus by the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.4. Russia & China Conduct Submarine Patrol in Sea of Japan.5. EU President's Plane Jammed While Landing in Bulgaria. A plane carrying EU chief Ursula von der Leyen was hit by GPS jamming as it readied to land in Bulgaria on Sunday, Brussels said Monday, alleging Russia was thought to be behind the incident.6. The US Army has been tasked with standing up a new Joint Interagency Task Force 401 that is expected to give it broader oversight over tech to counter small drones across the Defense community. 7. The Army has given Sikorsky a $43 million contract to modernize the service's UH-60 Black Hawks with capabilities that will enable the helicopters to carry and launch unmanned aerial systems.8. USAF CCA update.

For review:1. Houthi Prime Minister Reported Killed in IDF Strike. Yemen's Al-Jumhuriya channel and the Aden Al-Ghad newspaper reported that Houthi Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi was killed in an Israeli attack on an apartment in the capital Sanaa, The IDF assesses that the entire Houthi cabinet — including the prime minister and 12 other ministers — were likely killed in Thursday's strikes in Yemen, Channel 12 reported Friday, without citing any sources.2. The notorious spokesperson for Hamas's military wing in the Gaza Strip was said to have been the target of an Israeli airstrike on Saturday.While the statement did not provide the identity of the targeted terror operative, multiple Hebrew media outlets reported that it was the longtime Hamas spokesman, Hudayfa Samir Abdallah al-Kahlout, who is more widely known by his nom de guerre Abu Obeida.3. US to Ban PA President's (Mahmoud Abbas)Travel to UN General Assembly Meeting in September.President Abbas's office said it was astonished by the visa decision and argued that it violated the UN “headquarters agreement.”4. Forces from the military and Shin Bet security service recovered the body of slain hostage (Ilan Weiss) in an operation in the Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Forces said Friday.His body was recovered along with the remains of a second hostage, whose name was not immediately published as the identification process was still ongoing.5.  What is Europe's "Reassurance Force" for Ukraine?6. NATO said all alliance members will spend at least 2% of their GDP on defense this year, the first time for that to happen since the spending target was set more than a decade ago.7. Poland will increase its defense spending next year (2026) to 4.8 percent of GDP ($55.0 billion), its finance minister said Thursday.8. Japan's Ministry of Defense has submitted its budget request of $59.9 billion for the 2026 fiscal year. 

For review:1. Report: IDF Strikes Gathering of Houthi Leadership in Sanaa. The strike was first reported by the Houthi-run Al Masirah TV, and then confirmed by Defense Minister Israel Katz and the Israel Defense Forces, though they did not confirm the targets.2.  IDF Ground Operation on Syrian Military Installation Near Damascus.According to a Syrian source who spoke to Al Jazeera, the raid involved four helicopters and two fighter jets, as well as dozens of soldiers.Saudi outlet Al-Hadath reported that Israeli forces had located and confiscated “secret and sensitive equipment,” citing an unnamed senior Israeli security official.3. The United Nations Security Council on Thursday unanimously extended “for a final time” a long-running peacekeeping mission in Lebanon until the end of 2026, when the operation will then begin a year-long “orderly and safe drawdown and withdrawal.”4. Wall Street Journal Report: The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog has been guarded by a 24/7 security detail in recent weeks due to a specific Iranian threat against him.5.  Britain, France and Germany announced Thursday their decision to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program. The step was announced in a letter to the UN Security Council sent by the European powers as they launched a 30-day process to once again level punitive measures against the Islamic Republic.6. Sweden and the Netherlands have urged the EU to adopt sanctions on Israel and Hamas over the war in Gaza, including suspending the EU-Israel trade deal.7. USAF Sentinel ICBM Update.

For review:1. Australia expels Iran's Ambassador over connection to antisemitic events.2. Israeli Defense Minister: IDF Troops Remain on Syrian Side of Mt. Hermon.3. Lebanon's Plan to Disarm Hezbollah Due on 29 Aug.4. President Donald Trump is signaling fresh doubts about whether Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and Russian President Putin will meet anytime soon. “I don't know that they'll meet — maybe they will, maybe they won't,” the President said.5. Sweden and Thailand finalized an agreement to buy four Gripen E/F fighter jets from Swedish defense firm Saab, with an order value of around ($550 million USD). Deliveries are scheduled between 2025 and 2030.6. China's New Amphibious Warship. China launched its fourth Type 075 Amphibious Assault Ship- CNS Hubei.The Type 075 is built for amphibious landings and can deploy troops via helicopters- as well as offload combat vehicles from its interior. 7. US Navy Vice Admiral Daniel Cheever (Commander Naval Air Forces, Pacific): “We're dedicated in the Navy to maintain the National Defense Authorization Act [level] of 11 aircraft carriers and nine airwings.“8. Navy Secretary John Phelan said the Navy established the Naval Rapid Capabilities Office.The new office will help the Navy identify operational gaps and provide quick solutions, as well as enable the service to respond to emerging threats promptly.9. Defense Innovation Unit head Doug Beck has resigned, Breaking Defense has learned.

For review:1. Warning Shots Fired Across Korean DMZ.2. Israel Strikes Houthis; Destroys Presidential Palace in Sanaa. 3. Israeli planes and tanks pounded the eastern and northern outskirts of Gaza City overnight Saturday and into Sunday- as the IDF increased its troop presence in northern Gaza as part of an offensive aimed at bolstering the army's control in the area.4. Report: Possible security deal between Israel and Syria. The report said the two sides would agree to the demilitarization of the Syrian side of the Golan Heights; the prevention of the restoration of the Syrian military; the barring of entry of any weapons into Syria that would threaten Israel; and the establishment of a humanitarian corridor to the Jabal al-Druze region of Syria- in exchange of the rehabilitation of Syria.5. Russia & Ukraine Exchange 146 Prisoners of War.6. Russia accused Ukraine Sunday of launching drone attacks that sparked a fire at a nuclear power plant in its western Kursk region overnight. The United Nations' nuclear watchdog said it was aware of media reports that a transformer at the plants had caught fire "due to military activity," but hadn't received independent confirmation.7. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has overseen the test-firing of two new air defense missiles, state media said Sunday.8. South Korea's Hanwha Aerospace has signed an export agreement with Vietnam for its K9 self-propelled howitzers. Under the $250-million government-to-government deal, Hanwha will supply 20 K9s to Vietnam.  

1.  Iranian Naval Exercise in Gulf of Oman & Indian Ocean.2. The Houthis in Yemen take responsibility for carrying out today's ballistic missile and drone attacks on Israel.3. A Hezbollah weapon depot in southern Lebanon's Deir Kifa was targeted in an Israeli strike, the IDF says. The military says the site was a violation of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.4. Israeli Defense Minister: If Hamas Does Not Capitulate- Gaza City Will Become Rafah.5. Israel has approved a $1.5 billion initiative to accelerate the production of main battle tanks and armored support vehicles as part of a five-year pathway to enhance its ground capabilities.6. Ukraine Foreign Intelligence Report: Iran is interested in receiving assistance from Belarus to restore its air defense and electronic warfare systems.7. US Army Common Autonomous Multi-Domain Launcher (CAML).8. Goodbye Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS) process.

For review:1. Israeli PM to IDF: Shorten Timeline for Seizing Gaza City.2. Israel to Call up 60k Reservists to Support Gaza City CampaignThe forces included 12 brigade-level teams, each of which has infantry, armored, artillery, and combat engineering forces, along with combat support. In addition, the Gaza Division's northern and southern brigades — normally tasked with the border — are set to participate in the offensive, bringing the total number of brigades to 14.3. Russia says it must be part of international talks on Ukraine's securityForeign minister Sergei Lavrov dismisses European diplomacy as ‘clumsy effort to sway President Trump.'4. President Trump: US Air Power Could Be Part of Ukraine Security Guarantee.5. NATO Defense Chiefs meet to discuss Ukraine security guarantees. 6. The foreign ministers of the Nordic nations (Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland) and Canada release joint statement of support for Ukraine sovereignty and territorial integrity.  7. Industry competitors line up for next phase of Army's Common Tactical Truck program. In 2023, the Army awarded agreements to American Rheinmetall, Mack Defense, Navistar Defense and Oshkosh Defense to develop load handling and off-road tractor & on-road line haul prototypes.8. Breaking Defense Opinion Piece.China's carriers cruised past the Second Island Chain. What now?(Brent Sadler & Allen Zhang)  Brent Sadler is a Senior Research Fellow for Naval Warfare and Advanced Technology in the Allison Center for National Security.Allen Zhang is a Research Assistant in the Asian Studies Center.

1. President Trump Hosts Ukraine President - European Leaders at White House.Hopes of a breakthrough (in Peace) rose after President Trump said he had spoken by phone with Russian counterpart Putin  -- following a "very good" meeting with the Europeans and the Ukrainian president at the White House.European Leaders who attended:NATO Secretary General Mark RutteUrsula von der Leyen, president of the European CommissionU.K Prime Minister Keir StarmerItalian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Finnish President Alexander Stubb German Chancellor Friedrich MerzFrench President Emmanuel Macron2. Hamas Agrees to Latest Hostage & Ceasefire Proposal; Israel Weighing Options.The proposal agreed to on Monday by Hamas would see the release of 10 living hostages in exchange for 150 Palestinian security prisoners during a 60-day truce.3. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar decided on Monday to revoke the residency visas of Australia's representatives to the Palestinian Authority, hours after Canberra barred an Israeli lawmaker from entering the country.4. Israeli plans to close France's consulate in Jerusalem would provoke a “strong response” from Paris, a French Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Monday.5. The Army is finalizing the requirements and funding for taking over development of an air defense, hypervelocity cannon (from the Strategic Capabilities Office). The Army will call the effort-- the Cannon-Based Air Defense initiative-- a 155mm self-propelled artillery system with Hypervelocity Projectiles. 6. US Navy Fields Coyote Interceptors on Destroyer. The counter-drone system was spotted on the aft superstructure of the USS Bainbridge (DDG-96) during a drill in the Ionian Sea.7. USAF Chief of Staff General David Allvin- will retire this November after two years as the service's highest-ranking uniformed officer. 

For review:1. Hamas negotiators in Cairo this week signaled a willingness to come down from demands they made last month that led to the collapse of hostage talks in Doha. Arab mediators passed along the development to Israel, but Jerusalem responded that it is not interested in another partial ceasefire.2. The IDF on Friday said it destroyed dozens of “terror targets” in its new offensive on Zeitoun on the outskirts of Gaza City. In addition, the IDF said Friday that seven kilometers (4.3 miles) worth of Hamas tunnels in northern Gaza's Beit Hanoun were sealed with concrete.3. Hezbollah Chief Threatens Lebanese Government Over Seizure of Arms.Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem claimed that there would be “no life in Lebanon” should its weapons be taken by force.4. US President Trump early Saturday ruled out an immediate ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine after his inconclusive summit with Russian counterpart President Putin, saying a direct peace agreement would end the war.5. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he will meet US President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday.6. Australia and Philippines Conduct Combined Military Exercise. Military officials said defense forces from the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and Indonesia will join as observers.

For review:1. Mossad Chief to Qatar. Mossad Director David Barnea was in Doha on Thursday to meet with the Qatari Prime Minister al-Thani.  The Mossad Director conveyed to the Prime Minister that Israel was not bluffing with its plan to conquer Gaza, and intends to do so unless there's progress in the talks to free the hostages.2. IDF CoS Approved Gaza City Take Over Plan.3. During a meeting in Beirut with Ali Larijani (secretary of Iran's top security body), Lebanon' President Joseph Aoun warned against foreign interference in Lebanon's internal affairs, saying the country was open to cooperation with Iran but only within the bounds of national sovereignty and mutual respect.4. Turkey and Syria inked a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday after meetings between their foreign and defense ministers and intelligence chiefs.Under the accord, Turkey will provide weapons and logistical tools to Syria- and potentially could train the Syrian army in using such equipment if needed.5. Still A Go: President Trump to Meet Russian President in Alaska Friday. The top-level Russian delegation will include President Putin, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov and President Putin's longtime friend and investment envoy- Kirill Dmitriev.6. Switzerland Committed to Procure F-35As.7. The United States is disputing China's claim that it chased away an American warship conducting a freedom of navigation operation near Scarborough Shoal on Wednesday.8. South Korea aims to reclaim wartime operational control (OPCON) from the US, a role Washington has assumed from around the time of the Korean War. S. Korean President Lee Jae-Myung signaled a firm commitment to achieving this goal as a key part of his administration's foreign and security policy under a five-year policy roadmap, the Korea Times reported. 

For review:1. Australia will recognize a Palestinian state in September at the United Nations General Assembly, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Monday.2. Israel - Hamas Hostage & Ceasefire Negotiations Could Restart This Week. Israel may send negotiators to Doha this week for meetings on a comprehensive agreement for the release of hostages held by Hamas and a ceasefire in Gaza.3.  New US CENTCOM Commander. Incoming Commander US Navy Admiral Brad Copper replaced US Army General Michael Kurilla. 4.  President Trump to Meet with Russian President Without Ukraine. 5. Azerbaijan has warned that it could lift its arms embargo on Kyiv- if Russia keeps targeting energy infrastructure in Ukraine linked to the South Caucasus country.Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022, Azerbaijan has refrained from transferring weapons to either side. 6. Finland has planned a live-firing event to assess the potential of laser-guided artillery munitions. The demonstration event is planned for the fourth quarter of 2026.7. Japan & Philippine Defense Agreement starts next month. The agreement will permit troops from both countries to train within their respective territorial waters, territories, and air spaces.8. A China Coast Guard vessel and People's Liberation Army Navy ship crashed into each other in the South China Sea on Monday while chasing a Philippine Coast Guard vessel.

For review:1. Israeli PM explains why recognition of Palestinian Statehood will not bring peace to region.2. IDF Plan for Gaza City Complete Next Week.3. Iranian nuclear scientists have been sent into hiding after dozens were killed by Israel during its 12-day offensive against Tehran's nuclear and ballistic-missile programs in June.4. Iran has arrested 20 people it alleges are operatives of Israel's Mossad spy agency in recent months.5. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Sunday that the deputy head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog was set to arrive in Tehran. “Our talks with the agency tomorrow will focus on a new cooperation framework… Until we reach an agreement on a new framework, cooperation will not begin,” Mr. Araghchi told reporters.6. Iran threatened on Saturday to block a corridor planned in the Caucasus under a regional deal sponsored by US President Donald Trump. The proposed Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) would run across southern Armenia, giving Azerbaijan a direct route to Turkey.It was not immediately clear how Iran, which borders the area, would block it.7. Europeans Push for Ukraine Attendance at Alaska Summit.8. España Decides Against F-35 Procurement.9. Canada to Achieve 2% GDP Defense Spending This Year.

For review:1. Israeli Cabinet Decision: IDF to Take Over Gaza City.2. President Trump to Meet with Russian President in Alaska (15 Aug).3. President Trump Oversees Azerbaijan & Armenia Peace Agreement. 

For review:1. Kadena AB in Japan to inspect all F-15E Eagles after fighter landed w/o landing gear wheel.2. Gaza Occupation Plan to Israeli Cabinet Thursday.According to report, in the plan's first phase, Israel will issue an evacuation notice to the residents of Gaza City to allow time for the establishment of civilian infrastructure in central Gaza, including hospitals and camps for evacuees. Israel would then launch a military offensive in the second phase. 3. Lebanese Cabinet Tasks Army to Control Arms (Disarm Hezbollah).4. President Donald Trump could meet in person with Russian President Vladimir Putin as soon as next week as he seeks to broker an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, an unnamed White House official said Wednesday.5. Russia and China wrapped up their joint exercise – Maritime / Joint Sea 2025 by on Aug. 5, 2025- following several days of drills. 6. US Army Deploys LRHW to Australian Exercise Talisman Sabre.7. US Army is planning to grow its air and missile defense force by 30%, according to the Commander of the service's Space and Missile Defense Command.Adding:- 3 x Patriot Battalions- 5 x Indirect Fire Protection Capability Battalions (inside MDTFs)- 7 x counter UAS Batteries

For review:1. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly told ministers this week that he will seek cabinet backing for a plan to fully occupy the Gaza Strip.2. Netherlands & Germany Committed to Send Patriot Systems to Ukraine.3. President Trump threatens high tariffs/secondary sanctions on buyer's of Russian oil (that economically support Russian war effort).4. France Continues Development of Archangel SIGINT Aircraft. The Archangel is based on the Dassault Aviation Falcon 8X and equipped with Thales' new-generation payload CUGE (universal electronic warfare capability).CUGE uses multi-polarization antennas to simultaneously detect and analyze radar and communication signals.5. India has signed an agreement with Elbit Systems to build the Israeli firm's Precise and Universal Launching System (PULS) multiple rocket launcher (MRL) in India.The agreement covers the system's production and supply for both domestic and international customers and transfer of technology.6. An F-15E Strike Eagle deployed to Kadena AB (Japan)- landed safely despite a missing landing gear wheel, the Air Force said Monday morning.The wheel was recovered on the flightline at U.S. Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia, in the Indian Ocean.  The two airmen flying the fighter were uninjured in the emergency landing, the Air Force said in a statement.7. Breaking Defense Opinion Article by John Venable (Mitchell Institute):Four Reasons to Accelerate F-35 Acquisition Now. 

1. Hamas on Saturday said it would not disarm “as long as the occupation exists,” despite announcement from Arab League, urging the terror group to disarm. 2. The Israel Defense Force defeated Hamas's Beit Hanoun battalion, the IDF declared on Saturday. The majority of the Hamas gunmen in the Beit Hanoun Battalion were either killed during the fighting or fled.3. President Trump Announces Submarine Movements- in response to remarks from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev about the risk of war between the nuclear-armed adversaries.4. Armor Not Dead: Poland to Procure 180 K2 Tanks from S. Korea. Under the plan, the tanks are to be supplied to the Polish Armed Forces between 2026 and 2030. 5.  Russia & China Conduct Naval Drills in Sea of Japan- hosted by the Russian Navy Pacific Fleet. The goal of the annual joint exercise is to exchange experience between the Russian Navy and the PLAN, a Russia Navy release stated. 6. South Korea has completed the initial deployment of the second phase of its Cheongung-II air defense system, an advanced platform capable of intercepting both aircraft and ballistic missiles.The Cheongung-II forms a core part of the Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) system, a multi-layered defense architecture designed to counter North Korea's evolving missile threat.7. The Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor or LTAMDS, arrived in Guam earlier this month- as part of the Air and Missile Defense Architecture designed to protect Guam from evolving threats. 8. US Senate Confirms Navy CNO. 

For review:1.Arab League Condemns 7 October Attack; Calls for Hamas to Disarm. Arab and Muslim countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan and Turkey, signed a declaration (New York Declaration) Tuesday condemning for the first time Hamas's onslaught of October 7, 2023, and calling on the Palestinian terror group to release all the hostages it is holding, disarm and end its rule of Gaza.2. Givati Infantry Brigade combat in Northeast Gaza town of Beit Hanoun. 3. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed in an interview with Fox Radio on Thursday that the White House is nearing a critical decision point regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.4. India Rejects F-35 Purchase.5. The first of Japan's Short Take Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) F-35B Lightning II fifth-generation fighters will arrive from the United States in early August, according to the country's defense ministry.6. A US Navy pilot is “safe” after their F-35C crashed near Naval Air Station Lemoore on Wednesday evening, according to a Navy spokesperson.7. AM General has received a $126.5-million contract to deliver additional M1165A1B3 Humvees, for the US Army. The Pentagon did not disclose the quantity of the latest order.Work on the program will be carried out in South Bend, Indiana, with completion expected by August 2027.8. Senate Appropriators Pass Committee Defense Spending Bill.Senate appropriators passed their $852.5 billion defense spending bill for fiscal 2026 today, adding $21.7 billion to the Pentagon's topline. 

For review:1. Ceasefire Between Thailand & Cambodia. After efforts by Malaysia, the United States, and China to bring both sides to the table, the two countries' leaders agreed during talks in Putrajaya, Malaysia to end hostilities, resume direct communications and create a mechanism to implement the ceasefire.2. Dozens of ministers gathered at a United Nations conference on Monday to urge the international community to work toward a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians. The 193-member UN General Assembly decided in September last year that such a conference would be held in 2025. Hosted by France and Saudi Arabia, the conference was postponed in June due to the Israel-Iran war.3. IDF Assessment on Hezbollah Capabilities.In terms of firepower, Israel claims to have destroyed 70-80% of Hezbollah's rocket fire capabilities. The IDF has estimated that Hezbollah possesses several thousand rockets — the vast majority of them short-range projectiles like mortars, and only several hundred long-range ones.4. Turkey has secured a landmark defense export agreement with Indonesia, signing contracts for 48 5th Generation KAAN fighter aircraft. Deliveries of the 48 aircraft will be carried out over a 10-year period.5. Taiwan Receives Second Tranche of US M1 Main Battle Tanks.6. US Army cancels plan to develop the A3 Variant of the M88 Hercules Recovery Vehicle. Instead, the Army will pursue upgrades to the current A2 Variant.  The A3 variant was designed to eliminate the need to use two (A2 Variant) vehicles to raise and move some of the newer and heavier M1 Tanks. 7. The House and Senate Armed Services Committees have sent the Pentagon guidance for how lawmakers want to see $150 billion in defense funding from the reconciliation bill spent.

For review:1. IDF Announces Daily 10-Hour Humanitarian Pauses in Gaza. The  pauses will take place from 10 a.m. till 8 p.m. in areas where the IDF is currently not operating with ground troops.2. As a result of stalled negotiations- Hamas is taking additional precautionary measures to undermine potential efforts by Israeli special forces or others to rescue the hostages. For example, Hamas has reinstated a policy to kill hostages if captors believe that Israeli forces are approaching. 3. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Saturday that recognizing a Palestinian state before it is established could be counterproductive.4. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in an interview aired Sunday that while he supports a two-state solution, his country does not plan to “imminently” recognize a Palestinian state.5. Neutral Austria Considers Joining NATO.6. Thailand and Cambodia Clash Over Border Dispute. A long running border disputed started combat actions from both sides on Thursday with jets, tanks and ground troops battling in a rural border region. 7. India's Prime Minister Modi offered $565 million to the Maldives on Friday to bolster its defense forces and infrastructure.8. New construction at a N. Korean missile complex has experts unsure what role the new facility will play in the ecosystem of North Korea's weapons technology. The complex is nestled in a hard-to-access valley between three mountain peaks, secured by checkpoints on the entry roads, and defended by air defense systems. 

For review:1. Iran and E3 Nations (France, Germany, UK) meet in Turkey for nuclear talks.2. A ballistic missile launched at Israel Friday night by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen was intercepted by air defenses, the Israel Defense Forces said.There were no reports of impacts or injuries in the attack.3. Israel and Hamas Hostage & Ceasefire Talks Stall: Will Resume Next Week.4. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Friday that recognizing Palestinian statehood should be part of a wider plan for lasting security for Palestinians and Israelis, in an apparent split from France, which announced its plan to take the step already in September.5. US $4 Billion Military Financing to Poland.6. Germany and France will “clarify the situation” regarding their Future Combat Air System project by the end of the year. The Future Combat Air System (FCAS) is a joint program between France, Germany, and Spain to develop a sixth-generation fighter jet to replace their existing aircraft. 7. Japanese Patrol Aircraft Spots Chinese Submarine Support Ship Entering Sea of Japan.8. Defense News Opinion Article concerning Taiwanese Exercise Han Kuang 41.This year's joint, multidomain exercise expanded in length from five to 10 days, ran continuously, and included fighting in urban areas.  In addition, the exercise featured several critical US-produced systems, including M1 Abrams Main Battle Tanks, M142 HIMARS, Patriot long-range air and missile defense systems, and man-portable Stinger missiles. 

For review:1. Syria's interim government has requested Turkey's support to strengthen its defense capabilities following sectarian violence over the past two weeks.2.  US envoy to Syria Tom Barrack has urged Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to recalibrate his policies and embrace a more inclusive approach after a new round of sectarian bloodshed last week, or risk losing international support.3. Hezbollah has informed Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri that it will not surrender its weapons to the government, contradicting previous indications that the terror group was willing to disarm- even if Israel were to withdraw from the five strategic points it has been holding since a ceasefire between the adversaries came into effect in November.4. Mediators: Hamas Truce Demands Unacceptable. Hamas has demanded that Israel further withdraw toward the Gaza border; end the operations of the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation; and raise the ratio of security prisoners who will be released for each Israeli hostage.5. Russia & Ukraine Agree to Prisoner Swap in Istanbul. An exchange of around 250 Russian and 250 Ukrainian prisoners of war will be completed along the Ukrainian-Belarusian border. The two sides had also agreed “that in the near future an exchange of at least 1,200 more prisoners of war from each side will be carried out.”6. Turkey and the United Kingdom signed a memorandum of understanding on the export of Eurofighter Typhoon jets. Turkey is reportedly seeking to buy as many as 40 of the jets.7. Rafael Advanced Systems will supply Spyder short-range air defense systems to Romania for over $2 billion, the Romanian Ministry of Defense announced this week. The Spyder is a mobile air defense system whose components are mounted on combat vehicles, and is built around Python-4 heat-seeking missiles and radar-guided Derby missiles, designed to intercept targets at low altitudes and at a distance of tens of kilometers. 8. Romania and Poland are advancing plans to increase their tracked vehicle fleets.9.  USAF Sentinel ICBM Program Update.