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EU President's Plane Jammed While Landing in Bulgaria + Russia & China Reject E3 Snapback Sanctions Against Iran + Russia & China Conduct Submarine Patrol in Sea of Japan + More Sep 01, 2025

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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.

What is Europe's "Reassurance Force" for Ukraine? + Houthi Prime Minister Reported Killed in IDF Strike + US to Ban PA President's Travel to UN General Assembly Meeting in September + More Aug 30, 2025

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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.

Report: IDF Strikes Gathering of Houthi Leadership in Sanaa + IDF Ground Operation on Syrian Military Installation Near Damascus + UNSC Renews UNIFIL For Final Time + USAF Sentinel ICBM Update + More Aug 28, 2025

Show notes

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.

Israeli Defense Minister: IDF Troops to Remain on Syrian Side of Mount Hermon + Lebanon's Plan to Disarm Hezbollah Due on 29 Aug + China's New Amphibious Warship + More Aug 26, 2025

Show notes

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.

Warning Shots Fired Across Korean DMZ + Israel Strikes Houthis; Destroys Presidential Palace in Sanaa + Russia & Ukraine Exchange 146 Prisoners of War + More Aug 24, 2025

Show notes

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.

Israeli Defense Minister: If Hamas Does Not Capitulate - Gaza City Will Become Rafah + Iranian Naval Exercise in Gulf of Oman & Indian Ocean + Armor Not Dead: Israel to Increase Production of Combat Vehicle Fleet + More Aug 22, 2025

Show notes

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.

President Trump: US Air Power Could Be Part of Ukraine Security Guarantee + Israeli PM to IDF: Shorten Timeline for Seizing Gaza City + Israel to Call up 60k Reservists to Support Gaza City Campaign + More Aug 20, 2025

Show notes

For review:

1. Israeli PM to IDF: Shorten Timeline for Seizing Gaza City.

2. Israel to Call up 60k Reservists to Support Gaza City Campaign

The 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 security

Foreign 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.

President Trump Hosts Ukraine President - European Leaders at White House + Hamas Agrees to Latest Hostage & Ceasefire Proposal; Israel Weighing Options + US Navy Fields Coyote Interceptors on Destroyer + More Aug 18, 2025

Show notes

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 Rutte
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission
U.K Prime Minister Keir Starmer
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
Finnish President Alexander Stubb
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz
French President Emmanuel Macron

2. 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.

President Trump to Meet with Ukraine President in Washington on Monday + Hezbollah Chief Threatens Lebanese Government Over Seizure of Arms + Australia and Philippines Conduct Combined Military Exercise + More Aug 16, 2025

Show notes

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.

Still A Go: President Trump to Meet Russian President in Alaska Friday + IDF CoS Approved Gaza City Take Over Plan + Switzerland Committed to Procure F-35As + More Aug 14, 2025

Show notes

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.

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