🇮🇱🇵🇸⚡️ — The IDF has tightened its strike approval process in Gaza, with all targeted strikes now requiring the authorization of Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, according to the Israeli Army Radio.

Previously, such strikes could be approved by the Southern Command chief or division commanders operating in the Strip.

Any broader escalation in operations remains a decision of Israel's political leadership.

🇺🇸⚡️ — A WIRED investigation found that a civilian medevac plane that crashed in New Mexico in May 2026 may have been brought down in part by a U.S. military GPS-jamming exercise.

The Beechcraft King Air lost GPS navigation while the military was conducting its annual NAVFEST electronic warfare exercise at White Sands Missile Range. The pilots, flying at night with limited visual references, requested assistance from air traffic control but became disoriented after switching to a visual approach and flew into the Capitan Mountains, killing all four people aboard.

The crash resulted from a combination of military GPS interference, an inexperienced crew, heavy air traffic controller workload, and difficult nighttime conditions.

The official investigation is still ongoing, but if WIRED's findings hold, this would be the first known civilian aircraft crash in the U.S. in which military GPS jamming played a contributing role.

🇺🇸⚡️ — The UFC lost around $30 million on its Freedom 250 event at the White House in June.

The promotion was able to offset part of the deficit through sponsorship deals, media exposure, and commercial partnerships.

🇾🇪❌🇸🇦 — Agence France-Presse, citing a regional source, reports the main radar at Najran Regional Airport, southern Saudi Arabia near the Yemeni border, suffered extensive damage due to Ansarallah UAV impacts.

🇮🇷🇪🇺🇸🇦⚡️ — Iran is considering a proposal that would have European and Gulf countries make voluntary financial contributions toward the upkeep of the Strait of Hormuz as part of a broader agreement to reopen the strategic waterway, The Telegraph reports.

The proposal would establish a voluntary fund, modeled on the Strait of Malacca burden-sharing arrangement, to help finance navigation management, environmental protection, search-and-rescue operations, and other maritime services.

Under the reported plan, vessels entering the Gulf would transit a route near Iran, while outbound traffic would use a channel closer to Oman, aligning with previous reports by other outlets.

A UN source said mandatory tolls would not be legally enforceable, but a voluntary funding mechanism could be explored through the International Maritime Organization.

🇩🇰🇱🇻🪖⚡️ — Denmark will deploy a combat battalion to Latvia in the coming days as part of the Canadian-led NATO Multinational Brigade Latvia, reinforcing the alliance's eastern flank.

The deployment will see tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, and other military equipment transported through Danish ports before troops arrive later this month for a mission lasting until January 2027.

This marks the fifth Danish combat battalion deployment to Latvia since 2022, aimed at strengthening NATO's deterrence posture against Russia.

🇸🇾🇸🇾⚡️ — Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa met with SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi at the People's Palace in Damascus this evening.

The meeting focused on completing the implementation of the January 29 agreement between Damascus and the SDF, including advancing the integration of SDF structures into Syrian state institutions.

🇪🇸🇲🇦⚡️ — Spain says 70,000 out of 72,000 migrants that entered Ceuta in last week's mass border crossing have returned to Morocco.

🇺🇸⚡️ — Lockheed Martin is in talks to secure domestic supplies of the critical minerals scandium and germanium as the Trump administration pushes U.S. defense contractors to reduce reliance on China, according to Reuters.

Lockheed has reached a preliminary agreement with NioCorp Developments to purchase 15 metric tons of scandium annually from its planned Nebraska mine beginning in 2028. The company is also negotiating long-term germanium supply deals with Teck Resources and 5N Plus, though pricing and contract duration remain unresolved.

The minerals are used in military systems, including F-35 fighter jets, Patriot missiles, aircraft alloys, and infrared sensors.

🇶🇦📞🇺🇸 — Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani held a phone call with President Trump earlier today to discuss the latest developments in U.S.-Iran negotiations.

The two leaders discussed efforts to bridge the remaining differences between Washington and Tehran to reach a lasting diplomatic solution.

The Emir stressed the importance of resolving disputes through diplomacy and adhering to the commitments outlined in the U.S.-Iran MoU.

🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡️ — The U.S. military has depleted nearly 80% of its THAAD interceptors and about half of its Patriot missile interceptors compared with pre-war stockpiles, according to CNN.

The U.S. Army has used virtually all of its precision long-range surface-to-surface missiles during the conflict, prompting warnings from senior commanders that U.S. munitions stockpiles are becoming "dangerously low."

Concerns over dwindling interceptor inventories, combined with intelligence assessments and pressure from Gulf allies worried about their own air defenses, were among the factors that persuaded some of President Trump's senior advisers to support calling off planned large-scale military operations over the weekend.

Officials from Gulf states have also warned that shortages of U.S.-supplied air defense interceptors could leave them more vulnerable to potential Iranian missile and drone attacks if the war escalates further.

🇺🇸⚡️ — The U.S. Army is seeking a next-generation surface-to-air missile to counter small drones at longer ranges, with a target cost of under $150,000 per missile, according to Defense News.

The Next Generation Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft System Missile (NGCM) program aims to field a low-cost, radar-guided interceptor capable of engaging Group 2 and Group 3 drones at ranges exceeding 16 km, with a long-term goal of more than 25 km.

The missile must integrate with existing Coyote launchers and current U.S. air defense radars while providing a more weather-resistant alternative to laser-based defenses.

The Army plans to begin prototype field testing by the end of FY2027 and have 50 missiles available for operational assessment in early 2028, with an eventual production goal of 5,000 missiles.

🇺🇸🇨🇺⚡️ — The U.S. has expanded its intelligence operations in Cuba in recent months as the Trump administration increases pressure on the island's communist government, according to POLITICO.

The U.S. has increased the CIA's presence and deployed additional intelligence assets to Cuba as part of a broader effort to encourage political change.

One source said the enhanced intelligence activity could lay the groundwork for future options, including a possible military operation, while emphasizing that no such operation has been decided.

🇷🇺❌🇺🇦 — Several continuous Russian Ground Forces Iskander-M ballistic missile impacts in Kyiv, Ukraine.

🇷🇺❌🇺🇦 — Ten Iskander-Ms were launched towards Kyiv the past few minutes. Several impacts.

⚠️🇺🇦 Two more Iskander M Ballistic missiles and a Zircon Hypersonic cruise missile on course for Kyiv

🇺🇸🇧🇷⚡️ — The Trump administration has revoked the U.S. visa of Brazil's ambassador, Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, escalating diplomatic tensions between Washington and Brasília, CNN reports.

A senior State Department official said the move was a reciprocal measure in response to Brazil's delay in granting agrément to U.S. ambassadorial nominee Daniel Perez, as well as broader disputes, including Brazil's refusal to issue visas to some U.S. officials.

The official stressed that the visa revocation does not amount to expelling the ambassador and said it would be immediately reversed if Brazil approves Perez's appointment.

🇷🇺❌🇺🇦 — Five Zircon impacts in Kyiv.

🇷🇺❌🇺🇦 — Four more Zircon impacts in Kyiv.