The U.S. has launched approximately 800 missiles and seven rounds of airstrikes against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen since November.

— This has become the most sustained U.S. military campaign since the anti-ISIS air war in Iraq and Syria (2016-2019).

— The U.S. is using expensive missiles (some costing $2-4 million each) to counter relatively inexpensive Houthi drones.

— Some members of Congress are frustrated with the high costs and lack of a clear endgame. Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) criticized the expenditure of resources against "a ragtag bunch of terrorists."

— The USS Eisenhower carrier strike group fired over 135 Tomahawk missiles and 155 standard missiles during its deployment.

— The group also used 60 air-to-air missiles and 420 air-to-surface weapons.

South Korean Defence Minister Shin Won-sik warned that South Korea developing its own nuclear weapons could severely damage its alliance with the U.S. and shock financial markets.

Shin argued that having a homegrown nuclear arsenal would risk:

— A "huge crack" in the U.S.-South Korea alliance.
— Withdrawal from the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
— Immediate shock to South Korea's financial markets.
— Various penalties.

— He believes strengthening the alliance with the U.S. is the "easiest, most effective and peaceful" way to counter North Korean threats.

Source: Reuters

U.S. AH-64 Apache helicopter crashed at Fort Novosel, a military base in Alabama, during routine flight training.

The crash killed the flight instructor, while a US. Army student pilot was airlifted to a hospital for additional evaluation.

Kamala Harris indicated that she was "open to imposing an arms embargo on Israel to immediately stop its offensive in Gaza."

But, during her rally, Harris faced hecklers chanting "Kamala, Kamala, you can't hide. We won't vote for Genocide."

She also said that if the hecklers wanted Donald Trump to win, they should say so.

16 years ago today, Russia invaded Georgia.

— The war lasted from August 8 to August 12, 2008.

— Russia accused Georgia of aggression and launched a full-scale invasion on August 8, framing it as a "peace enforcement" operation.

— Russian forces quickly overwhelm Georgian troops and push into Georgian territory beyond South Ossetia, including attacks on the Kodori Gorge and a naval blockade of Georgia's Black Sea coast.

— The fighting resulted in the deaths of over 200 soldiers and more than 300 civilians, alongside the displacement of thousands of people.

— Following the war, Russia recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states, a move that has not been widely accepted internationally.

French-supplied AASM-250 Hammer precision-guided bomb under the wing of the Ukrainian fighter MiG-29 jet.

— The AASM-250 is a 250 kg smart bomb equipped with advanced guidance systems including inertial navigation, GPS, and optional laser or infrared sensors.

— It has a standoff range of over 70 km when released at high altitude.

— France committed to providing 600 AASM bomb kits to Ukraine in 2024, at a rate of 50 per month starting in January. The manufacturer Safran has increased production capacity to 90 kits per month.

— Ukrainian MiG-29 and Su-27 fighters have successfully integrated the AASM-250 bombs.

— Footage shows Ukrainian pilots employing a "toss bombing" technique, launching the bombs at a steep 45-degree climb from ultra-low altitudes to avoid Russian air defenses.

Seriously wounded Kremlin-linked war correspondent Evgeniy Poddubnyy has been transported to Moscow from Kursk after his car was hit by Ukrainian FPV drone.

Poddubnyy received extensive burns to his head, arms and body.

Russia lost control of Sudzha, Kursk region to Ukraine.

The footage shows many abandoned civilian cars, and the car of the filming crew is constantly under small arms fire.

There are TM-62 anti-tank mines on the roads.

Complete footage shows dozens of Russian Border Guards surrendering after a couple of FPV drone strikes at Sudzha checkpoint, Kursk region.

China's Feihong-98 (FH-98) (the world's largest unmanned transport drone) crashed in Dongfang, Hainan.

This is FH-98's first reported crash.

It boasts significant capabilities, including a maximum payload of 1.5 tons and a maximum takeoff weight of 5.25 tons.

European Commission calls Ukraine's incursion into Kursk region as a" right to self-defense."

Chairman of Bundestag Defence Committee Marcus Faber says he does not see a problem with the fact that Ukraine using German tanks on Russian territory.

Ukrainian F-16s have been spotted for the first time over Russian-occupied Kakhovka district in Kherson region, Russian media reports.

Ukrainian helicopters reportedly operating over Kursk.

Ukraine now controls a gas metering station about five miles inside Russia in Kursk, according to an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

— Some analysts speculated that Kyiv's goal could be to turn off all Russian gas deliveries to Europe as a leveraging point.

— On Thursday, gas was still flowing through Sudzha, the last operational shipping point for a pipeline that carries Russian natural gas to Europe via Ukraine.

— Ukraine earns lucrative transit fees from this pipeline, but has expressed a desire to cut off Russia's remaining energy business in Europe.

Source: WaPo