Pete Hegseth:

The United States War Department seeks a historic, generational investment in our military spending through a new $1.5 trillion budget.

We have work to do with our Congress, but make no mistake:

We will work as hard as humanly possible with Republicans to deliver what is truly a necessary, historic investment to ensure America remains the dominant military power on planet Earth.

Pete Hegseth:

We are killing terrorists, and we’re defeating the failed and toxic ideologies of radical socialism and communism.

The international left, along with their enabling left-wing media, is plotting to unlawfully assert ICC jurisdiction over U.S. and partner military personnel and operations.

It’s striking that this so-called court and other globalist bodies undermine our efforts but do nothing to hold real terrorists and real tyrants accountable.

Pete Hegseth:

President Trump does not tolerate free-riding. We are not here for games.

Our citizens and our nations deserve and expect real, concrete actions.

BIG: Sudan’s RSF-appointed Kordofan governor Hamad Mohamed Hamed defected live on Al Arabiya today.

He quit his role as governor and presidential council member under the RSF-linked Tasis government, calling on fighters to “return to the embrace of the homeland.”

He accused the RSF of fueling tribal and racial tensions, destroying cities, and killing civilians, describing conditions under RSF control as “heartbreaking.”

He urged restoring legitimate state institutions in Kordofan and Darfur.

The U.S. is on track to withdraw all forces from Iraq by September 30, ending its military presence there since the 2003 invasion.

The move comes as Iraqi security forces take full responsibility for countering ISIS, while Iraq’s government also faces pressure to disarm Iran-backed militias.

Source: ABC News

A military Apache helicopter from Fort Hood crashed in Central Texas, killing both pilots and sparking a wildfire that prompted evacuations.

Source: CNN

The Trump administration criticized Israel’s plans to maintain its occupation of southern Lebanon, saying they violate commitments made under the U.S.-Lebanon-Israel agreement.

A State Department official said: “A permanent military presence in South Lebanon is not consistent with the commitments made in the Framework.”

Katz, however, said that Israel would not withdraw from the security zone.

Source: Axios

The CIA had “low confidence” in Israeli intelligence warning of an Iranian plot to kill Trump during his July visit to Türkiye.

Some U.S. officials suspected the warning was partly intended to influence Trump’s policies toward Iran and Türkiye.

Despite the doubts, the Secret Service secretly moved Trump to a smaller military jet, which flew him to Britain under F-16 escort.

Source: WaPo

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi:

Countries like France should stop lecturing the world about “human rights” and international law. The hypocrisy is blatant and embarrassing.

Your backing of Israel’s genocide in Gaza—and aggression against Iran—has destroyed whatever moral high ground you imagined you had.

Hegseth:

America is no better friend and no worse enemy.

You don't want to mess with us, but when trouble happens, we are the first ones to show up.

Hegseth:

It was Russian air defenses that were supposed to defend Caracas. They didn't work.

Cuban guards were supposed to defend Maduro. They weren't able to.

Now we are seeing the Cubans and the Russians expelled out of Venezuela.

Hegseth on Cuba:

All options are on the table for Cuba, including military action.

They are certainly no match for us.

Lebanese firefighters, residents and environmental groups say Israel is deliberately setting wildfires across southern Lebanon using drones, flares and incendiary munitions.

The fires have destroyed forests, olive groves and farmland, threatening ecosystems and livelihoods.

Source: The Guardian

Putin visited Iturup, one of the Kuril Islands claimed by Japan, for the first time, visiting a local fish-processing plant after overseeing Russian Pacific Fleet drills in the Far East.

Tokyo strongly protested the visit, reiterating its claim to the islands.

Source: Reuters

Leavitt Steps Down As Spokeswoman After 18 Months on the Job

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, 28, will leave her role to spend more time with her family with no successor yet named, President Trump announced.

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Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi:

The U.S. has long miscalculated due to intelligence failures.

Case in point: The war on Iran. Now, an even bigger miscalculation on the Strait of Hormuz.

Worse than fake news is fake intelligence. Be careful.

Allah is Great, Greater than ANY power on Earth. In Allah we trust.

Kushner, Iger to Buy Lakers for Record $12.5 Billion

Josh Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner and founder of Thrive Capital and Bob Iger, the former Disney CEO agreed to buy a controlling stake in the Los Angeles Lakers at a record $12.5 billion value.

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Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli on Syria:

Syria is Gaza on steroids, and that is the next war, with absolute certainty.

There is no avoiding it.