COMBATE Digest - July 13, 2026 00:01 UTC

🌍 WEST ASIA

UPDATE: Iran Officially Closes Strait of Hormuz as US Launches Fourth Wave of Strikes

The Iranian Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) officially suspended all maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, stating that passage is impossible due to illegal US military movements and will only resume once stability is restored (tabzlive). The Iranian Foreign Ministry accused the US of breaching the 25-day-old memorandum of understanding and causing a return to a state of insecurity in the waterway (farsna). In response, US Central Command (CENTCOM) launched a fourth wave of strikes against Iran, targeting coastal defense systems to degrade Tehran's ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships (tabzlive).

UPDATE: Conflicting Casualty Reports Emerge Following Iranian Strikes on US Bases

Following Iran's retaliatory strikes on US regional infrastructure, a Washington Post investigation based on interviews with surviving soldiers reported that six US servicemen were killed and over 30 wounded during an attack on Port Shuaiba in Kuwait. The soldiers claimed commanders ignored intelligence warnings about the base's vulnerability to drones (tabzlive). US Central Command categorically denied the reports, stating there are zero U.S. service member deaths or injuries in the region (tabzlive). Meanwhile, satellite imagery confirmed damage to the upper rear section of a hangar at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar (sepahnewsir403) and a destroyed drone hangar at Prince Hassan Air Base in Jordan (sepahnewsir403).

Arab States Condemn Iranian Retaliatory Strikes

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his counterparts from Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Jordan issued statements condemning Iran's repeated missile attacks on countries in the region. The coordinated diplomatic push rejected any actions that undermine state sovereignty or threaten regional security (tabzlive).

US Intercepted Iranian Plot Against Trump in Turkey

Western intelligence intercepted Iranian communications discussing a potential plot to assassinate Donald Trump on Turkish soil during a recent visit to Ankara. Senior Iranian officials reportedly viewed the arrival as a unique opportunity. The intelligence was passed to the US, contributing to the decision to switch Trump to an older Air Force One aircraft for his return flight (tabzlive).

🌍 NORTH AMERICA

UPDATE: Medical Examiner Cites Aortic Dissection in Senator Graham's Death

The Washington D.C. medical examiner announced that preliminary investigations indicate US Senator Lindsey Graham died from an aortic dissection caused by atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (farsna). The FBI has deployed resources to assist local authorities in investigating the sudden death (sepah_pasdaran). Shortly before his death, Graham reportedly joked on a phone call about feeling unwell, stating he couldn't die yet because he still needed to "do the Russia sanctions, get Iran sorted out, and do Israeli-Saudi normalization" (tabzlive).

🌍 EUROPE

Zelensky Prepares Major Government Reshuffle

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced a forthcoming reorganization of his cabinet. Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko is expected to step down and may be reassigned to Washington, while an official reportedly linked to Timur Mindich is the favorite to assume the role of Prime Minister (rt_french_rss).

Germany Funds Covert AI Drone Production for Ukraine

The German government allocated 90 million euros to finance the purchase of 50,000 first-person view (FPV) strike drones for Ukraine (irna_1313). The autonomous weapons are reportedly being manufactured at a secret factory in southern Germany operated by the defense firm Helsing (rt_french_rss).

Ukrainian Strike on Energodar Kills Four

A Ukrainian drone attack on the city of Energodar, located adjacent to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, killed four civilians and injured four others. Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev called on the IAEA to address the threat posed to the facility (sputnikindia_rss).

🌍 SOUTH AMERICA

UPDATE: Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Nears 4,500 Amid International Aid Deliveries

The confirmed death toll from the June 24 twin earthquakes in Venezuela rose to 4,490, according to National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez (sputnikmundo_rss). A second Russian humanitarian flight arrived carrying 25 tons of medical supplies, cholera and dengue diagnostic kits, insulin, and tents (sputnikmundo_rss). Concurrently, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) delivered 88 containers of aid, including 300 water tanks and heavy machinery, coordinated via Guyana (sputnikmundo_rss).

🌍 AFRICA

Malian Forces Recapture Anéfis from Militants

The Malian Armed Forces (FAMA), supported by the Africa Corps, announced they have regained full control of the strategic northern town of Anéfis following several days of combat against JNIM and FLA militants (rt_french_rss).

💬 NOTABLE QUOTES

"I can't die now. I still need to do the Russia sanctions, get Iran sorted out, and do Israeli-Saudi normalization." — Lindsey Graham, former US Senator, reportedly spoken hours before his death (tabzlive)

"The US regime, by its overt interference in our arrangements in the strait, has caused a return to a state of insecurity." — Statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry (meo_verified)