COMBATE Digest - combate-20260911-0000Z

🌍 WEST ASIA

WSJ: Iran Resumes Ballistic Missile Production at Underground Sites

Iran has resumed ballistic missile production using stockpiled components and underground facilities despite extensive US and Israeli strikes on its missile infrastructure, the Wall Street Journal reported (tabzlive). Iran is assembling both liquid- and solid-fueled missiles at several underground locations, including the Khojir missile complex, while constructing new underground assembly sites to protect production from future attacks; output remains below pre-war rates (akhbarefori).

Iran Fires Electro-Optical Missiles at US Warships; IRGC Downs Saildrone

US officials said Iran for the first time used missiles equipped with electro-optical seekers against US warships on Wednesday; CENTCOM confirmed the attempts but denied any hits, after which it destroyed Iranian tankers in response (sepah_pasdaran, sepah_pasdaran, sputnikbrasil_rss). The IRGC said its overnight operations struck US forces in Jordan and 10 US vessels near the strait (farsna). Separately, the IRGC Navy announced it destroyed a US Saildrone Explorer unmanned vessel, hull number 5838, at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, thwarting its "aggressive mission" (irna_1313, tass_rss). IRGC Navy commander Admiral Azimi declared the strait "blocked and under our intelligent surveillance and control — any hostile movement will be targeted" (farsna), and the Guards said they struck several vessels violating naval rules in the strait (sepah_pasdaran).

Pentagon Admits Iran Devastated US Navy Base in Bahrain

Acting US Navy Secretary Hung Cao acknowledged that Iranian strikes "blew the hell out of Bahrain," saying damage to Naval Support Activity Bahrain — home of the Fifth Fleet — left the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group with no place to pull in (tass_rss, tabzlive). Cao said a task force is assessing whether to abandon the facility (guerrasygeo).

Trump Denies Aircraft Damage; CENTCOM Details Blockade Scope

President Trump denied Iranian missiles damaged US aircraft at Jordan's Muwaffaq Salti base, responding there was "None whatsoever. No damage. No nothing" (tass_rss). CBS meanwhile reported nine US aircraft damaged in the strike (akhbarefori), and German media reported US air defenses fired 60 to more than 100 interceptors — a heavy strain on already stretched stocks (rtde_live_rss). Satellite imagery showed a fighter shelter hit at Jordan's al-Azraq base in the latest attacks (sepah_pasdaran). CENTCOM said the US redirected 96 commercial ships during its blockade of Iran, allowing more than 50 humanitarian vessels to pass (tass_rss). Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths said the emirate's airports came under 17 missile strikes during the conflict, with no fatalities (tass_rss). Trump said the war would end "after the midterms, or maybe sooner" (tass_rss).

UPDATE: Yemen — Ansar Allah Seizes Hanish Islands; Saudi-Backed Front Collapses

Yemen's armed forces took control of Greater and Lesser Hanish islands in the Red Sea (mehrnews, sepah_pasdaran) and completed clearing operations on Mayyun island in Bab al-Mandeb (mehrnews). Sanaa announced an end to fighting across Taiz province's coastal areas with full control established, pledging commitment to international shipping (farsna). All Yemeni prisoners held in Saudi-backed jails on the west coast were freed (farsna, sepahnewsir403), and Al Jazeera footage showed vast weapons depots — arms purchased from the US and West — captured at Mokha (sepahnewsir403). Leaked radio traffic purportedly caught Tareq Saleh, leader of UAE-aligned forces, ordering his troops to retreat (sepah_pasdaran). Tareq Saleh warned that if Ansar Allah takes control of Bab al-Mandeb and Perim island, dislodging them would require a broad international coalition (sputnikserbia_rss). Yemeni forces struck a Saudi combat formation in Taiz with domestically built missiles; Saudi jets flew 64 airstrikes across four provinces in 24 hours (mehrnews). Ansar Allah spokesman Mohammed Abdelsalam said Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb shipping lanes are safe and that operations will stop once aggression ends and the blockade on Yemen is lifted (sputnikvietnam_rss). Reuters reported the coastal advance came with direct IRGC guidance — Tehran instructing Ansar Allah last week to escalate and promising funding, weapons and senior officers — though one Iranian official said seizing Mokha was the Yemenis' own decision (tabzlive). At the UN, the US envoy said Washington recognizes Saudi Arabia's right to defend itself by attacking Ansar Allah (mehrnews).

Fire Rages on Saudi East-West Oil Pipeline

Satellite data showed a dense column of black smoke south of Medina, with reports of a major fire at a facility linked to Saudi Arabia's East-West oil pipeline; radiative fire intensity exceeded 70 MW for several hours, a level analysts said could indicate a significant oil leak (farsna, sepah_pasdaran).

Russia, China Block Sanctions Revival at UN Security Council

Russia's UN envoy Vasily Nebenzya said Moscow "will continue to obstruct attempts to revive Committee 1737" on Iran sanctions (tass_rss), calling the session a justification exercise over an issue that "has ended and does not exist" (farsna). Russia urged the West to stop "adding fuel to the fire," stressing agreements are possible only on the basis of a balance of interests (tass_rss). China's envoy said US actions — from the unilateral JCPOA withdrawal to striking Iran during negotiations and maximum pressure — caused the current regional situation (farsna).

IRGC Declares End of Defensive Phase

The IRGC commander in Greater Tehran announced the end of an exclusively defensive phase, saying special operations units are fully prepared to deploy rapidly anywhere in the country (presstv).

Oil Passes $109; Hormuz Traffic at One-Tenth of Pre-War Levels

Brent crude climbed past $109 a barrel (mehrnews) and US diesel hit a record $6 per gallon (farsna, mehrnews). IMF spokesperson Julie Kozack said Hormuz shipping traffic has fallen to one-tenth of pre-war levels (mehrnews); the IMF warned the global energy shock is not over (tass_rss), though the world economy has weathered it better than feared (tass_rss). Bank of America analysts see oil at up to $120 — or $150 if major energy infrastructure is damaged (sputnikbrasil_rss). European gas prices returned to December 2022 crisis levels, exceeding $1,000 (sputnikvietnam_rss, sputnikserbia_rss). Qatar is pursuing long-term contracts to buy US LNG after the war left it paralyzed (rt_spanish_rss), while Qatar-Iran maritime trade has resumed, with Iranian produce returning to Doha shelves (1087968996).

Iran Holds Diplomatic Calls With Riyadh and Islamabad

Foreign Minister Araghchi spoke with Pakistan's army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir about escalating tensions and regional coordination (tabzlive), and held a parallel call with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan stressing continued diplomatic efforts to restore regional stability (presstv).

UPDATE: Algeria Closes Airspace to UAE; Abu Dhabi Responds

Algeria's defense ministry said its airspace is closed to all UAE-registered civilian and military aircraft from September 11, following the severing of diplomatic relations (mehrnews). UAE diplomatic adviser Anwar Gargash responded that diplomacy is managed "with reason, communication, and clarity of interests" (sputnikarabic_rss), and Abu Dhabi expressed regret over the decision, hoping it would be temporary (mehrnews).

Israel Destroys Hezbollah Tunnel Network at Ali al-Taher Ridge

The IDF said it completed dismantling Hezbollah's underground routes at the Ali al-Taher ridge, with Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz announcing the completion of the security zone in southern Lebanon (idfofficial, tabzlive). Israeli media said the network stretched for kilometers and contained Iranian-made missiles and drones (N12chat). Some 1,100 tons of explosives were used in the detonation (sepah_pasdaran), which registered a 4.1-magnitude tremor (farsna). Israeli strikes hit multiple southern Lebanese towns, with over 10 powerful explosions at al-Mansouri (farsna), and one person was killed with two injured (yt_telesurenglish); Yedioth Ahronoth reported the Israeli military is on full alert for a Hezbollah response (mehrnews). A joint report by two international organizations found Israel used white phosphorus munitions 23 times in its recent attacks on Lebanon (irna_1313).

Iran Records Record Wheat Harvest

Iran produced a record 14.1 million tons of wheat this year, its highest ever, despite drought, sanctions and war (presstv).

🌍 EUROPE

Ukrainian Sea Drones Wound 28 in Sochi

A Ukrainian sea-drone attack on Sochi's waterfront overnight wounded at least 28 people and prompted the temporary closure of several beaches (rt_french_rss).

Ukraine War Roundup: Warships Hit in Novorossiysk; Russia Claims Advances

Ukrainian forces struck a Buyan-M corvette in Novorossiysk port — near its Kalibr launch control systems — and again targeted the frigate Admiral Essen (guerrasygeo). Russia's Defense Ministry said its forces liberated Zarubinka and Goptovka in the Kharkov region and downed 1,030 Ukrainian drones in a single day (sputnikmundo_rss). The Variag drone brigade published footage of a Ukrainian MiG-29 destroyed by a drone strike in Dnepropetrovsk region (rt_spanish_rss). Former Zelensky spokesperson Yulia Mendel said Ukraine has nearly exhausted its AIM-120 and AIM-9 missile stocks for F-16 fighters (rt_french_rss). A major fire with secondary detonations burned near Kiev after a drone strike (rt_spanish_rss).

Kremlin Dismisses Zelensky Plane Story; Trump Envoys in Kyiv

Peskov rejected as absurd Oslo's claim that Zelensky's plane was nearly shot down, noting the drone crashed 160 km away while the Ukrainian leader was still on the ground in Chisinau (rt_french_rss). Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner traveled to Kyiv after talks with Putin in Moscow; Zelensky said the delivered proposals would be studied (rtde_live_rss).

Lithuania Moves to Lift Nuclear Weapons Ban

The Lithuanian parliament plans to adopt a constitutional amendment by early 2027 removing the ban on deploying weapons of mass destruction on its territory, according to parliament speaker Juozas Olekas (sputnikglobe_rss, rt_french_rss).

Medvedev Warns of Nuclear Escalation

Dmitry Medvedev said the "collective West" backing Kiev is deliberately pushing the world toward nuclear apocalypse and that only "a few steps" remain, adding that Russia's doctrine permits nuclear weapons use if its security is threatened (rtde_live_rss, irna_1313).

ECB Hikes Rates as War Inflation Bites; French Debt Riskier Than Greece's

The European Central Bank raised all three key interest rates by 0.25%, citing persistent inflationary pressures from the Middle East conflict (sputnikserbia_rss). France's 10-year yield spread over Germany reached its widest since the 2012 debt crisis (rt_french_rss), and French bonds at times yielded more than Greek equivalents (rtde_live_rss). Hungary's PM demanded the next EU budget include compensation for member states abandoning Russian energy (sputnikserbia_rss), while Poland's prime minister warned the EU cannot compete with China or the US at current energy prices (rt_spanish_rss).

UK Arrests Two Over Suspected Iran-Linked Offenses

London police arrested a 42-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man on suspicion of cooperation with a foreign intelligence service under Section 3 of the National Security Act 2023 (irna_1313). Separately, the Commons Defense Committee opened an inquiry into UK military readiness and capacity in the Gulf following the Iran war (irna_1313).

Balkans: Serbia Defends Dayton Amid Push to Cut Ties With Republika Srpska

Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Đurić said Serbia firmly defends the Dayton agreement in full, warning calls by Bosnia's defense minister to abolish Republika Srpska threaten constitutional order and stability (sputnikserbia_rss). Fourteen deputies in Bosnia's parliament urged Western capitals to urgently review and temporarily suspend the Serbia–Republika Srpska special relations agreement (sputnikserbia_rss).

🌍 ASIA

BRICS Summit Opens in New Delhi

President Putin arrived in India for a September 11-13 working visit and the 18th BRICS summit, with talks with PM Modi scheduled for Friday (sputnikindia_rss, sputnikvietnam_rss). Xi Jinping will attend — his first visit to India in seven years (yt_cgtnespanol) — and Iranian President Pezeshkian travels to the summit Friday (mehrnews). Presidential adviser Yuri Ushakov said the 11 BRICS members form "a true football team playing very effectively on the international stage" (rt_french_rss) and announced that To Lam invited Putin for a 2027 state visit to Vietnam (sputnikvietnam_rss). Russia and India discussed joint rare-earth extraction and processing projects (sputnikindia_rss); bilateral trade rose 8% year-on-year in the first half of 2026 (sputnikindia_rss), with India targeting $50 billion in mutual investments across 40 live projects (rt_india_rss). Russia and Iran aim to implement joint projects in the South Caucasus, the Russian MFA said (tass_rss), and Russia-China trade volumes grew 28% in eight months (rtde_live_rss).

🌍 NORTH AMERICA

China and US Discuss Framework Deal on Mutual Tariff Cuts

Beijing's Commerce Ministry said the two countries are discussing a framework agreement reducing tariffs on $30 billion worth of goods on each side (sputnikglobe_rss).

US Urges NATO Allies to "Systematically Dismantle" ICC

Washington pressed NATO allies toward the "systematic dismantling" of the International Criminal Court, arguing the body violates US sovereignty, Western media reported (sputnikmundo_rss).

🌍 SOUTH AMERICA

Lula Condemns US Interference in Brazilian Elections

President Lula da Silva condemned the US government's attempts to interfere in Brazil's presidential election process (yt_telesurenglish). Left-wing groups protested in Lima during Secretary of State Rubio's visit to Peru, calling it an attempt to restore Latin America as Washington's "backyard" (irna_1313).

🌍 AFRICA

Algeria and Niger Launch 100 Gbit/s Fiber Backbone

Algeria Telecom and Niger Telecom will deploy a 100 Gbit/s fiber-optic backbone between In-Guezzam and Agadez, alongside equipment donations and a new digital vocational training center in Niger (rt_french_rss).

💬 NOTABLE QUOTES

"Even if the whole world came to bombard us, it is the Saudis who bombard and attack us." — Dhaifallah al-Shami, Ansar Allah Political Bureau member (yt_almayadeenespanol)

"The Strait of Hormuz is blocked and under our intelligent surveillance and control; any hostile movement will be targeted." — IRGC Navy Commander (farsna)

"The collective West is deliberately trying to bring the world to the brink of nuclear apocalypse — only a few steps remain." — Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of Russia's Security Council (irna_1313)