I - On Defense Podcast

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. 

For review:1. Iran and E3 Nuclear Talks in Istanbul on Friday. Iran, Britain, France and Germany will hold nuclear talks in Istanbul on Friday- following warnings by the three European countries that failure to resume negotiations would lead to international sanctions being reimposed on Iran.2. Iran could withhold security commitments if European states invoke a UN mechanism to reimpose international sanctions on the Islamic Republic, a member of Iran's parliamentary national security commission said on Monday. In the past, Iran has used the threat of disrupting maritime transit in the Strait of Hormuz as a means to push back against Western pressures on its nuclear program.3. IDF Drone Strike on Houthi Port. Israeli Air Force drones struck Yemen's Houthi-controlled Hodeida port in response to the Iran-backed group's continued attacks on Israel, the IDF said Monday.4. Russia and Ukraine Peace Talks in Turkey on Wednesday.5. Australia Delivers First Tranche of M1 Tanks to Ukraine. Australia pledged to give Kyiv 49 Abrams tanks that it recently retired.6. Belgium to increase defense spending to 2% GDP in 2025- will order more F-35s and procure air defense systems.7. The US House passed its $832 billion defense appropriations bill for FY26 in a 221-209 vote on 18 Jul. This version of the FY26 defense budget is not the final word on the topic, as the House bill will have to be reconciled with the Senate's spending bill further down the line. The Senate Appropriations Committee has yet to release its defense spending proposal.

For review:1. Ceasefire in S. Syrian City of Sweida Between Druze & Bedouin.2. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has said elections will be held before the end of the year for the Palestinian National Council, for the first time since 2006.3. Ukraine proposes new round of peace talks with Russia next week.4. New Round of EU Sanctions Against Russian Energy. 5. UK & Germany Sign New Defense Pact.The new bilateral agreement, referred to as the “Kensington Treaty,” was signed on Thursday in London. It includes a broad range of promises, ranging from joint military-industrial exports to facilitating school exchanges between the two countries. It additionally commits the NATO allies to “assist one another, including through military means, in the event of an armed attack on the other.”6. Marine Corps LTG Greg Masiello has taken the reins of the Joint Program Executive Office (JPEO) F-35, from its outgoing leader Air Force LTG Mike Schmidt. JPEO F-35 is a global enterprise that has grown to 19 customers internationally. LTG Masiello was nominated for the F-35 post in June and subsequently confirmed by the US Senate. 7. Breaking Defense Opinion Article: Why selling F-35s to Turkey is smart business for US and NATO.In a response to an op-ed previously published on Breaking Defense, Barın Kayaoğlu and Özgür Ekşi argue that Turkey can and should be trusted with F-35s.

For review:1. US Army Mid Range Capability Live-Fire During Talisman Sabre '25.  The U.S. Army hit an at-sea target with a Standard Missile 6 fired from its Typhon missile system as part of the Talisman Sabre 2025 exercise in Australia.The live-fire test is the first time the Army has tested the containerized missile launcher derived from the Navy MK 41 launchers used on warships outside the US.2. IDF Strikes Damascus in Support of Druze Community.3. The U.S. State Department has informed Switzerland of delays in the delivery of Patriot air defense systems due to a decision to prioritize shipments to Ukraine, the Swiss Defense Ministry said on 17 July.4. France and Italy have declined to participate in a new NATO initiative to supply US-made weapons for Ukraine, including air defense systems, financed by European allies. 5. France Departs Last Senegal Posts. France returned Camp Gélie, its largest base in the West African country, and its airfield at Dakar Airport.6. Singapore participates in Australian Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025. More than 100 personnel from Singapore will be taking part in the exercise, including from the Special Operations Task Force of the Singaporean army and Republic of Singapore Air Force Special Operations Aviation Task Group crew.7. US to build a fast boat facility on the western coast of Palawan in the Philippines.The new fast boat facility is slated to be operational in the first quarter of fiscal 2026.8. Shipbuilder Austal USA delivered the final Independence-class littoral combat ship to the US Navy on Friday, marking the end of a construction phase that's lasted 15 years. The final ship will be christened as the Pierre, named after the capital of South Dakota.

For review:1. No progress on Israel - Hamas Hostage and Ceasefire negotiations.2. In a meeting in Amman on Sunday with British former prime minister Tony Blair, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas urged Hamas to release the hostages it is holding and hand over its weapons to the PA, stressing that the terror group “will not rule the Gaza Strip” after the war there ends.3. Israeli jets carried out a wave of airstrikes deep inside Lebanon aimed at stopping  an elite Hezbollah unit from regrouping and rebuilding its strength, authorities said Tuesday.The strikes in Lebanon's northeastern Beqaa Valley were aimed at military facilities belonging to the Hezbollah terror group's Radwan force.4. Israel Strikes Syrian Govt Forces in Druze-Majority Sweida- in what Israeli PM Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz said was meant to protect “the Druze in Syria due to the deep brotherly alliance with our Druze citizens in Israel.”5. Ukraine could secure victory over Russia if international partners supply Kyiv with additional air defense systems and end resistance to long-range strikes inside Russian territory, according to a Major Oleh Shyriaiev, Commander of Ukraine's 225th Separate Assault Battalion.6. France to Spend $74.8 Billion on Defense in 2027. The move would represent a full doubling of the nation's defense spending since 2017.7. US-Australian Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025. Countries participating in the drills alongside the US and Australia are Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, and the United Kingdom with Malaysia and Vietnam as observers. China is expected, as has been the case in past iterations of Talisman Sabre, to deploy a surveillance ship to spy on the sea phases of the exercise.8.  Tropic Lightning Division Now Equipped with HIMARS. This week the US Army's 25th Infantry Division (Schofield Barracks, Hawaii) began the six-week process of replacing eight 105mm and six 155mm howitzers with 16 HIMARS launchers. The Division is not completely shedding towed artillery, as it will retain a single cannon battalion with two batteries of 105mm howitzers and one battery of M777 155mm howitzers.

For review:1. Doha Hostage & Ceasefire Talks Stalled.2. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was “confident” he will be able to reach a deal to free hostages held in the Gaza Strip, in an interview with US media aired late Saturday.3. Russian President Putin Supports Zero Enrichment for Iran.4. A Syrian official and an Israeli official are expected to meet in Baku later Saturday on the sidelines of President Ahmed al-Sharaa's current visit to Azerbaijan,.5. Ukrainian security agents have killed a group of Russian spies near Kyiv in another escalation of the secret war between the two countries.It follows the assassination of a top Ukrainian intelligence officer days earlier.6. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un offered Moscow his full support for their war in Ukraine during talks with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, Pyongyang state media said Sunday.7. Japan Protests to Chinese Ambassador Concerning Unsafe Aircraft Incident over E. China Sea.8. A Philippine Coast Guard cutter intercepted a Chinese Navy spy ship within Manila's western exclusive economic zone over the weekend.

For review:1. No significant progress has been made on Hostage and Ceasefire Negotiations between Israel and Hamas.2. Lebanon's President Aoun: Peaceful Relations but No Normalization with Israel.Addressing relations with Israel, President Aoun “distinguished between peace and normalization,” according to a statement by his office.3. US Sec of State Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov Meet in Kuala Lumpur. This was their second in-person meeting since Mr. Rubio has become the US Secretary of State. 4. The United States is selling weapons to its NATO allies in Europe so they can provide them to Ukraine as it struggles to fend off a recent escalation in Russia's drone and missile attacks- (President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Rubio).5. The US State Department today cleared the potential sale of up to nine HH-60W helicopters to Norway, a deal valued at $2.6 billion.6.  Argentina to Procure US Stryker Infantry Carriers.7. The Senate Armed Services Committee has approved $913.9 billion in defense spending for fiscal 2026.

For review:1. Israeli PM on Hostage & Ceasefire Deal: "Not at any price." Israeli PM Netanyahu: “President Trump and I have a common goal. I want to achieve the release of our hostages. We want to end Hamas rule in Gaza. We want to make sure that Gaza does not pose a threat to Israel anymore.” 2. Israeli ground troops raided several sites inside Lebanon in recent days, destroying Hezbollah weapon depots and other infrastructure, the Israel Defense Forces said Wednesday.3. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem admitted that the Lebanese terror group drastically underestimated the extent of Israel's surveillance capabilities in the run-up to the pager operation last September.4. Pope Leo told visiting Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on Wednesday that the Vatican was willing to host Russia - Ukraine peace talks.5. US Lifts Pause on Munition Shipments to Ukraine. Munitions heading into Ukraine include 155mm munitions and precision-guided rockets known as GMLRS. It was not clear if Patriot missiles would be added.6. Denmark considering the purchase of more F-35 Fighters.7. Army - Navy - USAF Unfunded Priority List (Budget).

For review:1. During interview with American commentator Tucker Carlson, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian claimed that Israel attempted to assassinate him.2. IDF Strikes Houthi Ports in Yemen. More than 50 munitions were dropped by IAF fighter jets on the Houthi targets, in response to repeated Houthi missile and drone attacks on Israeli territory.3.  Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said Sunday his group would not surrender or lay down its weapons in response to Israeli threats, despite pressure from Lebanon's Western-backed government demanding the terror group disarm.4. BBC Report: A senior Hamas commander quoted in a BBC report published Sunday said that the terror group has lost control of around 80 percent of the Gaza Strip and that there is “barely anything left” of its military structure, after 21 months of intense fighting with the Israeli military.5. Israeli PM in Washington DC to Discuss Hostage Negotiations & Regional Issues.President Trump is slated to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for dinner on Monday evening, with Gaza at the top of the agenda along with the recently diminished Iranian nuclear threat and other regional issues.In preparation for the dinner, PM Netanyahu met separately on Monday afternoon with US Envoy Witkoff and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Blair House.6. Wall Street Journal Report: A group of five leading sheikhs in the Palestinian Authority's Hebron district sent a letter to the Israeli government expressing a desire to join the Abraham Accords and to have peace with Israel.The letter expresses the sheikhs' desire to break off from the Palestinian Authority and establish Hebron as an emirate that “recognize[s] the State of Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people.”7.  Meeting in Brazil, BRICS Leaders Condemn Military Strikes on Iran.BRICS 11 = Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia.

For review:1. Israel Sending Team to Qatar for Hostage Talks. However, the Prime Minister's Office cautioned in a statement that Hamas had suggested several amendments to the proposal, which Israel found to be unacceptable.According to a source involved in the mediation efforts, Hamas proposed three amendments to the proposed framework.The source said that Hamas wants the agreement to say that talks on a permanent ceasefire will continue until an agreement is reached; that aid will fully resume through mechanisms backed by the United Nations and other international aid organizations; and that the IDF withdraw to positions it maintained before the collapse of the previous ceasefire in March.2. UK Reestablishes Diplomatic Ties with Syria.3. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday made his first public appearance since the 12-day war between Israel and Iran began last month. There was no immediate report on any public statement made.  4. President Volodymyr Zelensky described his recent phone call (occurred on 04 July) with US President Donald Trump as "the best conversation in all this time" in an evening address on 05 July.5. Breaking Defense Opinion Article - Titled: S-400s or not, don't give Turkey the F-35.Authored by: Bradley Bowman is senior director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). Sinan Ciddi is a senior fellow at FDD and director of its Turkey Program.6. Japan's Ministry of Defense all-in on Australian Frigate competition. Japan's shipbuilder (Mitsubishi Heavy Industry) is competing against Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) to sell Australia 11 x Frigates.. A final decision on the winner is expected by the end of this year. Delivery of the first ship is expected by the end of 2029.7. The US Military is preparing for the difficult challenge of sustaining a possible protracted operation in the Pacific theater, by developing Joint Theater Sustainment Distribution Centers.Universal characteristics:a. Port capability to move surface vessels with large amounts of materiel.b. Storage capacity for classes of supply. c. Airfield/air capability to move materiel and supplies rapidly. 

For review:1.  Syrian state media reported Wednesday that statements on signing a peace deal with Israel were “premature.”2.   The IDF carried out an airstrike Thursday in the Lebanese village of Sil, near Beirut, targeting an operative for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. According to the IDF, the target was involved in smuggling weapons and advancing terror plots, acting on behalf of the Quds Force, the IRGC's foreign arm.3.  Iran on Wednesday formally suspended its cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog- the International Atomic Energy Agency.  Following a parliament vote on the matter last week, the bill was approved by the Guardian Council, a body tasked with vetting legislation, before it received a final ratification from the presidency. 4. Axios Report: US & Iran to Resume Nuclear Talks in Oslo. There is not yet a final date for the talks in the Norwegian capital. Neither Washington nor Tehran has publicly confirmed the meeting.5. Hostage & Ceasefire Efforts Between Israel and Hamas Advancing.6.  US President Trump said on Thursday that a phone call earlier in the day with Russian President Putin resulted in no progress at all on efforts to end the war in Ukraine. 7. Pentagon Reviews US Military Support to Foreign Countries.  The Trump administration is pausing some weapons shipments to Ukraine, including air defense missiles, following a review of military spending and American support to foreign countries, a senior White House official told CNN. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed off on the review, which the official noted had been underway for months. 8.  The House has passed President Trump's “One Big Beautiful Bill,” sending the bill with $150 billion for defense to the President's desk ahead of his 04 July deadline. 

For review:1. Iranian Foreign Minister: Diplomacy Not Off the Table.  Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said it will take time and assurances from the US before Tehran is ready to re-engage in talks on its nuclear program.2.  US President Donald Trump said Monday he is not holding discussions with Iranian leaders and not offering them anything.3. Israel & Syria Hold Talks on Security Matters.  The neighboring states have been opposing sides of conflict in the Middle East for decades, including from the 1948 War of Independence through the 1982 First Lebanon War. 4.  After months of diplomatic stalling, the Kremlin on June 29 blamed Kyiv and Washington for the lack of progress in peace talks.5. Australia & UK Conduct Freedom of Navigation Patrol Around Spratly Islands.6. USAF plans to use leftover funds from the LGM-35A Sentinel nuclear missile program to help pay for refurbishing the Qatari-donated Boeing 747-8 into a new Presidential transport aircraft. 7.  US Army is considering scrapping General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GD-OTS) management of the three new 155mm artillery production lines in Mesquite, Texas, according to a “show cause” letter obtained by Breaking Defense. 8.  US Senate passed a massive party-line spending package Tuesday ("One Big Beautiful Bill Act"), by a vote of 51-50.  Next, the bill goes back to the House for final consideration. 

For review:1. Israel - Iran War Summary.2. UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi says Iran likely will be able to begin to produce enriched uranium “in a matter of months,” despite damage to several nuclear facilities from US and Israeli attacks, CBS News said Saturday.3. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel's operation against Iran has opened up “broad regional possibilities,” while stressing that freedom for hostages was a top priority.4. A ballistic missile launched at Israel by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen was likely intercepted by air defenses on Saturday morning, the Israel Defense Forces said.5. Ukrainian President Zelensky signed a decree to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel mines. The 1997 treaty, joined by over 160 countries, bans the use, production, stockpiling, and transfer of anti-personnel landmines in efforts to protect civilians from the scattered explosives.6. Japan Tests Type 88 Surface to Ship Missile. The truck-mounted Type 88 guided missile, developed by Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, have a range of about 100 kilometers (62 miles).9. Latest on development of US Army Multi-Domain Task Forces (5 of them) and new Multi-Domain Commands.

For review:1.  IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir has told colleagues that Iran is no longer a nuclear threshold state following the Israeli and US strikes on its nuclear program. While Iran may still maintain parts of its nuclear program, it has been set back by years, LTG Zamir has concluded.2. Iranian Parliament votes to suspend cooperation with the IAEA. Bill sent to Iranian President for ratification.3. President Trump prepared to remove sanctions on Iran- changes mind after Iranian Supreme Leader's "blatant and foolish" statement.  In a video statement on Thursday, Ayatollah Khamenei said that the (US) strikes did not "achieve anything significant."4.  Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a circuit of interviews aired Thursday evening that Israel sought to eliminate Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during its 12-day conflict with Iran, but the opportunity never presented itself. 5.  The IDF said Thursday that it had eliminated two Hezbollah operatives in separate airstrikes in southern Lebanon in the span of two hours. 6. Russian President: Moscow Ready for New Round of Direct Talks with Ukraine.7.  US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in an interview with Politico on 25 June that President Donald Trump will resist European pressure to escalate sanctions on Russia, arguing that doing so could close the door to potential peace negotiations with Moscow. 8. US Army & USAF FY26 Budget Info.9. US Army Common Autonomous Multi-Domain Launcher (CAML) program.  CAML = autonomous/optionally crewed, highly mobile, air transportable, cross domain fires launcher with the potential to augment or replace existing Army launchers (offensive & defensive). 

For review:1.  In a video statement on Tuesday summing up the war against Iran, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel “achieved a historic victory” that would “abide for generations."“Now, the focus returns to Gaza, to bringing the hostages home and toppling Hamas rule,” he added. 2. IDF: Iran's Nuclear Program Set Back Years.  Israel Defense Forces spokesman Brigadier General Effi Defrin said Wednesday:  "I can say here that the assessment is that we significantly damaged the nuclear program, and I can also say that we set it back by years, I repeat, years.” 3. Iran Foreign Ministry: Nuclear Facilities "Badly Damaged."  Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei on Wednesday conceded the Sunday strikes by American B-2 bombers using bunker-buster bombs had been significant. 4.  Iran has, over the last 12 days, arrested more than 700 people accused of ties with Israel, state-linked media reported Wednesday.5.  The United States and Qatar said Wednesday that the ceasefire in Iran has created an opportunity to advance truce-hostage talks they are mediating between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. 6. NATO Agrees to Boost Spending to 5% GDP.  The 5%  GDP figure is a bit of a workaround, with 3.5% for core defense tasks and an additional 1.5% on measures that support defense and security- such as cyber defense. 7.  The United Kingdom announced today it will buy “at least” 12 F-35As and will use the jets to “join NATO's dual capable nuclear mission” in what it called a “major boost” for the alliance's security. 

For review:1.President Trump Announces Ceasefire Agreement between Israel and Iran. There was no immediate Israeli comment on President Trump's announcement.Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi later insisted on X that “as of now, there is NO ‘agreement' on any ceasefire or cessation of military operations.” He said, however, that the Islamic Republic would not launch further attacks if Israel immediately ceased strikes.2. Many questions remain after Sunday's strikes, especially about the whereabouts of Iran's sensitive stockpile of uranium enriched to 60 percent. IAEA Chief Rafael Grossi on Monday demanded access to Iran's nuclear sites, saying the agency needs to “account for” the uranium stockpile.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had “interesting intelligence” on the matter, declining to elaborate.3.  Iran Fires Missiles at US Base in Qatar - No Injuries. The strikes targeted the Al Udeid air base in Qatar, which is used by local forces as well as American, British and other foreign troops. 4. IAF Launches Extensive Strikes in Tehran. Another wave of “extensive” strikes carried out by over 50 IAF fighter jets hit “military headquarters of the Iranian regime, missile production sites, radar systems, and missile storage infrastructure” in the Tehran area, the military said.5. NATO Summit Begins Tomorrow.The NATO summit will be held at The Hague in the Netherlands from June 24-25. 

For review:1. US CJCS: 7 x B2 Bombers Dropped 14 x GBU-57/B MOP Bombs.2. IAEA Chief on Fordo: "Clear Indications of Impacts...Cannot Announce Degree of Damage.3. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned Sunday morning of “everlasting consequences” after the American military had carried out an attack” on the Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites in Iran.4. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation that he would be traveling to Moscow later in the day to hold “serious consultations with the Russian president tomorrow.”5. World Reaction.6. Israeli PM Netanyahu on Iran Campaign: “We won't pursue our actions beyond what is needed to achieve [the goals], but we also won't finish too soon- vowing to avoid entering a war of attrition. When the objectives are achieved, then the operation is complete and the fighting will stop,” he told Israeli reporters.7. The bodies of three slain hostages, Ofra Keidar, Jonathan Samerano, and Staff Sgt. Shay Levinson, were recovered in a joint military and Shin Bet operation from the Gaza Strip overnight, the IDF announces.8. Israel's Campaign continues: According to the IDF, some 30 fighter jets carried out bombing missions in four areas of Iran earlier Sunday, targeting missile and drone sites. A second sortie later Sunday involved 20 planes dropping 30 bombs on various sites, including in the capital, Tehran.9. Current and former senior officials in the Israeli security establishment are cited by Ynet's Ronen Bergman as saying the US may ultimately unilaterally declare a ceasefire in Iran.

For review:1. US Strikes Iranian Nuclear Sites at Fordo, Natanz, & Isfahan.2. NY Times Report: Iran Supreme Leader Has Nominated Potential Successors.3. IDF Eliminates Three More IRGC Commanders.

For review:1. On Thursday night, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem offered "all forms of support" to Iran in its fight against Israel and the US.2. On Friday, the Israeli Air Force fighter jets struck several Hezbollah military sites in southern Lebanon, the IDF says.3.  Iran Launches Another Missile with Cluster Warhead. The apparent targeting of Beersheba with a cluster bomb came after the IDF Home Front Command on Thursday confirmed that Iran had launched at least one ballistic missile carrying a cluster bomb warhead at central Israel.4. Reports from Tehran said that an IDF drone targeted and killed an Iranian nuclear scientist who had been holed up in a safe house. The Israel Defense Forces have not yet commented on the reported strike.5. IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said Friday that Israelis must prepare for a “prolonged campaign” against Iran- indicating that a quick end to the campaign was unlikely.6. A meeting between Iran's foreign minister and top European diplomats on Friday yielded hopes of further talks but no indication of any immediate concrete breakthrough. Foreign ministers from Britain, France and Germany, as well as the European Union's foreign policy chief (Kaja Kallas)- met with Iran's Foreign Minister (Abbas Araghchi).7. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced plans to boost production of medium- and long-range missiles so no country dares attack Turkey.8.  5 x US Navy Guided Missile Destroyers in the Mediterranean Sea.

For review:1. Iran has appointed a new chief of intelligence at its Revolutionary Guards on Thursday, the official Irna news agency says, after his predecessor was killed in an Israeli strike last week.2. IDF Strikes Heavy Water Reactor at Arak & Khondab.3. The IAEA confirmed Thursday that IDF strikes had hit Iran's partially built Khondab Heavy Water Research Reactor and damaged the nearby plant“IAEA has information the Khondab (former Arak) heavy water research reactor, under construction, was hit. It was not operational and contained no nuclear material, so no radiological effects."4. Iranian Missile Hits Hospital in Beersheba.5. Iranian missile barrage on Thursday contained cluster-bomb warhead. The IDF Home Front Command said the missile's warhead split while descending, at an altitude of around 7 kilometers (4.3 miles), spreading around 20 smaller munitions at a radius of around 8 kilometers (5 miles).6. Missile strike on Beersheba Hospital raises temperature on regime-change questions.7. White House Statement (from President Trump): “Based on the fact that there is a chance for substantial negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future — I will make my decision on whether or not to go within the next two weeks.” 8. US Moving Ships and Planes from Vulnerable Sites.9. Iran could shut the Strait of Hormuz as a way of hitting back against its enemies, a senior Iranian lawmaker said on Thursday. The Strait of Hormuz lies between Oman and Iran and is the primary export route for Gulf producers such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Kuwait.About 20 percent of the world's daily oil consumption — around 18 million barrels — passes through the Strait of Hormuz, which is only about 33 kilometers (21 miles) wide at its narrowest point.

For review:1. The foreign ministers of Germany, France and Britain plan to hold nuclear talks with their Iranian counterpart on Friday in Geneva, a German diplomatic source told Reuters.2.  Iran Supreme Leader: US Involvement Will "Result in Irreparable Damage." “Americans should know that any military involvement by the US will undoubtedly result in irreparable damage to them.”3. Iranian media said that Israel briefly hacked state television broadcast on Wednesday. 4. Iran announced Wednesday heavier internet curbs, accusing Israel of misusing the network for military purposes. Critics accused the regime of restricting internet use in order to prevent internal unrest amid the instability caused by the Israeli offensive.5. In a letter to the UN Security Council on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar accused Iran of seeking to “annihilate” Israel through its nuclear program, its plan to build thousands of ballistic missiles, and attacks on the Jewish state by its numerous terror proxies in the region.6. The Israel Defense Forces on Tuesday issued a public message in Persian calling on Iranians worried about the situation in the country — to consider contacting Mossad.7. The IDF warns residents of the cities of Arak and Khondab in central Iran to evacuate for their safety. A heavy-water reactor is on the outskirts of Khondab.8. “I may do it, I may not do it,” President Donald Trump said in an exchange with reporters at the White House amid growing speculation the US could be on the verge of joining the Israeli offensive. 9. Senior officials in the US are getting ready for a possible strike on Iran in the coming days, Bloomberg News Outlet reports, citing “people familiar with the matter.”Some of the sources say that a strike over the weekend is a possibility.

For review:1. Iran Supreme Leader Defiant : "No mercy." Iran fired a pair of ballistic missile barrages at Israel early Wednesday, as Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared “the battle begins” and called to show “no mercy” toward Israelis. 2.  Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issues an evacuation warning for part of Tel Aviv, according to Iranian news agencies. 3.  Iran has prepared missiles and other measures for potential strikes against US forces in the Middle East, (New York Times reports). The Iranian military is planning the possible attacks as a retaliatory measure if American forces join Israel's strikes against Iran, the report says, citing American officials. 4. Iran has been launching smaller salvos of missiles at Israel over the past two days because its capabilities have been degraded by Israeli strikes, the IDF believes. 5.  In an interview with the London-based opposition outlet Iran International on Monday, PM Netanyahu responded to a question on whether eliminating Iran's ruler was on the table, saying, “I'm not gonna get into specific targets because I'm leaving that open.” 6.  IDF Kills Latest Senior General of Iranian Armed Forces.  An airstrike Monday night killed Major General Ali Shadmani, the new head of the Khatam-al Anbiya Central Headquarters, also known as Iran's military emergency command. 7. IAEA Statement: Direct Impacts on Underground Enrichment Halls at Natanz. On Tuesday, the IAEA said on X: “Based on continued analysis of high-resolution satellite imagery collected after Friday's attacks, the IAEA has identified additional elements that indicate direct impacts on the underground enrichment halls at Natanz.” 8.  Will US Bunker-Busters Be Used at Fordo?The US GBU-57 A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator bomb: The roughly 30,000 pound (13,600 kilogram) precision-guided bomb is designed to attack deeply buried and hardened bunkers and tunnels, according to the US Air Force. It's believed to be able to penetrate about 200 feet (61 meters) below the surface before exploding. 9.  US President Donald Trump declared Tuesday that he is seeking Iran's “Unconditional Surrender” and that Washington is only holding off on assassinating Islamic Republic Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei “for now.” 10.  USS Nimitz (CVN-68) sailed west through the Singapore Strait Monday, bound for the Indian Ocean (and Middle East Region). 

For review:1. Israeli PM on Targeting Iranian Supreme Leader: "We're Doing What We Need to Do." Targeting the Iranian Supreme Leader (Ayatollah Ali Khamenei) would be a surefire way to “end the conflict” with the Islamic Republic.2. Eight people were killed by Iranian ballistic missiles that slammed into Israeli cities in at least five locations early Monday, and nearly 300 others were injured, as the conflict entered a fourth day.3.  Iran Strikes Oil Refinery in Haifa.4. IDF bombed an Iranian refueling plane at Mashhad Airport in northeast Iran, some 2,300 kilometers (1,430 miles) from Israel, marking what it said was the most distant strike since the beginning of the operation.5.  IDF Reports One Third of Iran's Missile Launchers Destroyed.6. Israel bombed Iran's state broadcaster building in Tehran on Monday evening, after issuing a large and unprecedented evacuation warning for one of the capital's most central districts.7. Reuters Report: Tehran had asked Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman to press (President) Trump to influence Israel to agree to an immediate ceasefire in return for Tehran's flexibility in nuclear negotiations, citing two Iranian and three regional sources.

For review:1.  The UN conference hosted by France and Saudi Arabia to work toward a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians has been postponed French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday.  France and Saudi Arabia had been set to host the gathering between June 17-20 in New York. 2. Israel smuggled attack drones into Iran using a variety of means, including trucks, shipping containers, and even suitcases, The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing sources familiar with the Mossad operation.3.  Israeli PM & President Visit Site of Deadly Missile Strike in Bat Yam.4.  IDF Warns Citizens of Tehran to Evacuate. Widespread Israeli Air Force strikes were reported in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Sunday afternoon, hours after the IDF issued an unprecedented evacuation warning for Iranian civilians to evacuate areas around weapons factories. 5.  Some Iranians began to flee the capital, Tehran, on Sunday as Israeli airstrikes continued to target military infrastructure and nuclear facilities across the Islamic Republic for a third day. 6.  IDF Strikes Oil Refineries, Fuel Depots, and Gas Fields.7.  Iran has asked Cyprus to convey “some messages” to Israel, the President President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides said on Sunday. However, Iran swiftly denied the claim, with its Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei saying Iran did not send any message to Israel via a third country. 8.  US President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a 50-minute phone call Saturday to discuss the escalating situation in the Middle East, the White House and Kremlin confirmed. 

For review:Latest information concerning Israel and Iran.1. Iran cancels talks with US scheduled for Sunday in Oman.2. Update on Iran missile strikes in Israel.3. Israeli Defense Minister (Israel Katz): "Tehran will burn" - if Iran Supreme Leader does not stop missile attacks on Israel's Home Front.4. IDF strikes Iran's energy infrastructure.5. Israeli Official (unnamed): assassination of Supreme Leader "not off limits."  

For review:Roll-up of today's events concerning the Israeli attack on Iran's Nuclear Sites and Iran's reaction.

For review:1. Israel Strikes Iran.