COMBATE Digest - combate-20260913-0000Z

🌍 WEST ASIA

UPDATE: Iran Sets Seven Conditions for Reopening Hormuz

Tasnim reported Iran has handed the United States a list of seven conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz through intermediaries, approved by senior Iranian officials, and the strait will remain closed until they are fulfilled (tass_rss, informador_global). Under the finalised Iran-Oman understanding, the inbound route to the Persian Gulf lies entirely within Iranian territorial waters with part of the outbound route as well, and the US-backed southern route will be closed (rt_spanish_rss, tass_rss). A senior Iranian official told Reuters Monday's Muscat meeting was arranged at Oman's request and is not expected to produce an agreement to reopen the strait, as Iran needs a deal allowing it to collect fees from transiting ships (akhbarefori). Bahrain said it will not attend meetings with Iran until diplomatic relations are restored, conveying its position to Oman through diplomatic channels (tass_rss); Araghchi and Omani foreign minister Badr al-Busaidi held a telephone call on the latest regional developments (mehrnews).

Yemen's Ansar Allah Strikes Saudi Base; Riyadh Keeps Bombing

Armed forces spokesman Yahya Saree said missile and drone barrages hit weapons depots and command-and-control rooms linked to the aggression at the Sharurah military base in Saudi Arabia, scoring direct hits (farsna, mehrnews). Saudi civil defense said a Yemeni missile struck the Jazan region, damaging several buildings (farsna, sepah_pasdaran), after sirens sounded in Abha and Khamis Mushait and explosions were heard (farsna, sepah_pasdaran); Yemeni sources said a strike on Khamis Mushait airbase coincided with Saudi fighters landing, forcing some pilots to veer off the runway (sepah_pasdaran). Saree said Saudi jets flew 129 sorties in 48 hours against seven Yemeni provinces from Khamis Mushait and Taif, vowing the attacks "will not go unanswered" (mayadeenchannel); Saudi artillery shelled homes in the border district of Ghamr (mehrnews). Sanaa's prisoner affairs chief said 210 prisoners were freed from Saudi-run prisons on the west coast after the expulsion of Saudi-backed forces — inmates Riyadh agreed to release in the last swap but never did (mehrnews). Ansar Allah's deputy media chief said the movement could target Saudi pipelines and refineries if tensions escalate — cutting even Saudi exports through Suez (farsna), declared Saudi negotiation messages "worthless" (farsna), and said Pakistan and Turkey have sent messages that they will not join the war against Yemen (farsna). Released video showed Defense Minister Mohammed al-Atifi directing operations at the front, refuting Saudi media claims he had been killed (sepah_pasdaran); Yemeni forces took new strategic positions in Taiz (sepah_pasdaran), with Marib identified as the next objective (sepah_pasdaran). CNN reported the movement swept Yemen's Red Sea coast in 36 hours, taking Mokha and Perim island with no Saudi air support, and that bin Salman twice called Trump asking him to attack the movement — and Trump said no (gordanesam313). Lebanon's Al-Akhbar counted seven enemy divisions of 38 brigades hit in the operation that expelled Saudi-backed forces from six areas spanning some 4,500 square kilometers (irna_1313), and Yemen's military media released footage of the coastal liberation operation (farsna). UK foreign secretary Miliband expressed solidarity with Riyadh and backed its right to self-defense in a call with his Saudi counterpart (irna_1313).

Rosatom Staff Returning to Bushehr After Wartime Withdrawal

Rosatom chief Alexei Likhachev said 47 specialists have returned to the Bushehr nuclear plant and Russia will raise the number to 150; the Russian staff left temporarily after the US and Israeli attacks, and the plant's compound was struck four times during the 40-day war in violation of international law (mehrnews, iribnews). Likhachev said Iran remains Rosatom's first priority in the Middle East (meo_verified).

Baghaei: Chemical Agents Used in Lamerd Strike

Foreign Ministry spokesman Baghaei, speaking at the site, said separate Health Ministry investigations found chemical agents were used in the US missile attack to increase lethality, that four missiles struck within 35 seconds, and that each cluster warhead carried 180,000 pellets against fully civilian sites — a stadium, school, blood transfusion center and homes (mehrnews, yt_almayadeenespanol). At least 21 people were killed in the strike on the city of 30,000; Baghaei warned that if there is indifference to crime, injustice and oppression, "this will not be the last case" and criminals "should not feel safe anywhere in the world" (rt_spanish_rss).

Saravan Toll Rises to Five; Deputy Governor's Brother Assassinated

The IRGC Ground Force said the number of terrorists killed in the dawn raid rose to five, crediting public tips (mehrnews), naming the three fallen security force members as Muslim Fazeli, Mithaq Sani and Mehdi Sarhadi (mehrnews). Separately, a tribal elder who was the brother of West Azerbaijan's deputy governor was assassinated in Piranshahr by "terrorist and separatist" groups; the perpetrator was identified and arrested within 24 hours (mehrnews, iribnews).

Israel: Syria Incursions, Full Alert, Interceptor Shortage

Israeli forces crossed into the village of Ras al-Hiyadara in southern Quneitra (mehrnews) and entered farmland near Beit Jinn outside Damascus with more than 10 military vehicles, two tanks and a bulldozer — the third such infiltration in 24 hours (sepahcybery); the Israeli army said forces in all sectors are on full alert (sepah_pasdaran). The chairman of Israel Aerospace Industries admitted the military will constantly face interceptor shortages in an asymmetric war with Iran and massed ballistic fire, saying he "does not sleep soundly" (farsna, irna_1313). Haaretz wrote that Netanyahu is relying on an endless war — with all the war files still open — as a tool to preserve his position and win the Knesset election (irna_1313). Walid Jumblatt said negotiations with Israel have reached a dead end: "enough illusions" (farsna). Israeli forces again violated Lebanese territory (mehrnews), shelled east of Khan Younis (mehrnews), and Hebrew media reported a soldier killed himself in Haifa over trauma from the Gaza and Lebanon wars (mehrnews).

Fatah to Contest Palestinian Legislative Elections

Fatah's Revolutionary Council said it will run in the November 28 legislative elections on a joint national list coordinated with PLO factions (sputnikarabic_rss).

Iraq: ISIS Attacks Army Post; Trade Target With Iran

Reports said ISIS fighters attacked an Iraqi army post in Kirkuk province, not yet officially confirmed (farsna); Iraq's security media announced the destruction of an ISIS hideout in the Narin area of Diyala (mehrnews). An adviser to Iraq's trade ministry said Baghdad and Tehran aim to raise bilateral trade to $20 billion (meo_verified).

Army and IRGC Signal United Front; Western Media Watch

Fars assessed that the joint meeting of the Army and IRGC chief commanders — officially convened to review "the latest state of the battlefields" — signals any new aggression will be answered by the whole armed forces in coordinated fashion rather than a single branch (farsna); IRGC chief commander Vahidi said the Army and IRGC dealt a crushing blow to "terrorist powers" in the recent wars (presstv). The New York Times devoted its front page to Iran and Yemen's control of the two strategic chokepoints, Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb (mehrnews); AP assessed that Ansar Allah's Red Sea advance, the pipeline-closing drone attack attributed to Iraqi armed groups and Iran's hold on Hormuz form a "nightmare scenario" for Riyadh, with Trump unwilling to expand an unpopular war before the midterms (mehrnews); Tehran Times reported 12 senior US officials have resigned amid a Pentagon command crisis (mehrnews). Foreign Affairs wrote that future US administrations can no longer deal with Tehran by the traditional model (meo_verified); Chatham House assessed Washington is failing to understand Tehran's "calculated offensive deterrence" (irna_1313); Israel's INSS said the US and Israeli strikes have strengthened demands inside Iran for a nuclear doctrine review (farsna).

🌍 EAST ASIA

UPDATE: BRICS Adopts 140-Point New Delhi Declaration

Modi announced leaders approved the joint declaration at the close of the first day (rt_spanish_rss). The 140-point text casts the Global South as the "engine of positive change" and promotes trade in national currencies and independent payment systems (yt_jpmas); it rejects unilateral coercive measures, nuclear threats and terrorism and calls for UN reform (rt_india_rss). The bloc voiced "deep concern" over the West Asia war and urged "maximum restraint" and a multilateral approach (yt_france24es), and members called for implementation of Resolution 1701 and Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, opposed any forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza and affirmed Syria's sovereignty (mehrnews). The declaration backs permanent African representation on the UN Security Council, with Russia and China reaffirming support for bigger roles for Brazil and India (tass_rss); Modi said Security Council reform can no longer be postponed (sputnikmundo_rss). Peskov said the US itself pushed BRICS toward de-dollarization by banning Russia from dollar settlements (sputnikindia_rss); Putin told the summit that because of Western resistance to a multipolar world, "the entire system of international relations is collapsing" (irna_1313) and that the bloc's prestige and influence keep growing (sputnikmundo_rss).

Xi and Modi Stage Rapprochement; Putin Wraps Bilaterals

Xi and Modi exchanged a 30-second handshake at the summit (rt_spanish_rss); their meeting — Xi's first visit to India since the deadly border clash six years ago — produced commitments to view ties "strategically and long-term," learn from each other's strengths and pursue shared development (yt_cgtnespanol), with the two sides addressing de-escalation on the disputed border through phased demilitarization and direct military channels (teleSUREng). Modi was filmed pulling Putin closer for the leaders' group photo (rt_spanish_rss). Putin completed his bilateral series with talks with Abu Dhabi's crown prince focused on the Middle East and the escalation around Iran (tass_rss); Putin said Russia-UAE relations will keep strengthening and the UAE has become one of Russia's closest partners in the region (mehrnews), and he called Ethiopia a reliable Russian partner in Africa making a constructive BRICS contribution (sputnikarabic_rss).

China Warns US of Retaliation Over Corporate Espionage

Beijing demanded Washington immediately stop spying on Chinese companies, warning it has firm resolve and sufficient means to retaliate, after a senior CIA official defended espionage against China's AI and chip sectors (sputnikserbia_rss).

🌍 EUROPE

Lavrov Invites Zelensky to Moscow; Kremlin Rules Out Miami Meeting

Lavrov said Russia is ready to negotiate a settlement but will not suspend the military operation during talks, and that inviting Zelensky to Moscow to meet Putin is itself "a big gesture of goodwill," noting Zelensky never lifted his decree banning negotiations with Russia (farsna, mehrnews, sputnikserbia_rss). Peskov said a Putin-Zelensky meeting at the G20 in Miami is impossible and any talks can only happen in Moscow (sputnikserbia_rss, mehrnews, irna_1313), while adding the invitation stands open if Zelensky genuinely wants to meet (sputnikserbia_rss). US special envoy Kushner said Ukrainian forces must retreat along the line outlined by the Kremlin for the conflict to end (osvedomitell_alex). On the battlefield, Russian T-90M Proryv tank crews broke through Ukrainian lines and advanced 15 km toward Dobropolye under UAV attacks (sputnikvietnam_rss), Yug group artillery destroyed a camouflaged ammunition depot in Druzhkovka (rt_spanish_rss), and the Russian Defense Ministry put Ukraine's daily losses at about 1,390 troops (sputnikmundo_rss). Zelensky warned Kiev faces a major challenge sourcing Patriot interceptors before winter (irna_1313) and said three people were killed in Russian strikes across 10 regions (N12LIVE).

Peskov: Russia-Europe Relations Back at Cold War Levels

Peskov said relations with Europe have effectively fallen to zero and returned to a Cold War state, while warning of dangerous escalation risks around the Persian Gulf (mehrnews, sputnikserbia_rss). RDIF head Dmitriev said a Russia-US-Germany business forum will be held in 2027, with more than 20 German companies already applying (sputnikserbia_rss). Slovakia wants communication channels with Russia restored, including over gas supplies (sputnikserbia_rss), and PM Fico warned Europe's gas situation will keep deteriorating (sputnikserbia_rss). Brent crude fell below $105 and WTI below $100 at week's end after Iranian media reported the planned Oman talks with Gulf states (sputnikserbia_rss).

France Treats Train Derailment as Likely Sabotage

French investigators made sabotage the main line of inquiry into the Normandy derailment that injured 44 after a detached rail section was found on the track (iribnews, irna_1313).

Bulgaria: Second Fire in a Month at EMCO Arms Depot

Explosions and fire hit an EMCO ammunition warehouse in central Bulgaria — the arms firm also supplies Ukraine — a month after another EMCO site burned; no casualties were reported (rtde_live_rss, rt_french_rss).

Iceland Rejects Reopening EU Membership Talks

More than 52% of Icelanders voted against resuming EU accession negotiations, halting the country's path to becoming the bloc's 28th member (sputnikserbia_rss).

Europe Briefs

Sweden votes Sunday between conservative continuity and a possible first cabinet role for an anti-immigration party (yt_france24es). Pristina held a support rally for former KLA leaders ahead of the September 16 Hague verdict, with prosecutors seeking 45-year sentences (sputnikserbia_rss). German Defense Minister Pistorius will meet Hegseth in the US on September 15 to discuss American force levels in Europe, with the Pentagon reviewing at least four options by November 6 amid strains over the Iran war (1087968996). Around 13,000 migrants remain in Ceuta after July's mass crossing, with local authorities accusing Morocco of using the crisis to pressure the Spanish enclave (1087968996); thousands marched in Paris demanding a boycott of Israeli goods (yt_almayadeenespanol).

🌍 NORTH AMERICA

Trump Blasts NATO on Iran War During Ireland Visit

Trump said NATO members refused to help the US over the Strait of Hormuz — even though the US gets no oil from the strait — calling their performance "very disappointing in many ways" and asking why Washington should help them (mehrnews, mehrnews); he repeated the claim that the US destroyed all sea mines in the strait (mehrnews) and touted new laser-based missile-defense systems being delivered "very fast" (mehrnews). He said a unified Ireland would be "fantastic" and bound to happen, drawing reactions from London, Dublin and Belfast (sputnikserbia_rss, yt_france24es, sputnikserbia_rss). More than 10,000 people protested his visit across Irish cities (yt_jpmas, mehrnews), and Irish President Catherine Connelly said after meeting him that normalizing war and genocide is never acceptable (irna_1313).

Pentagon Pressured Rescued F-15 Pilots for TV Interview

CNN reported that Defense Secretary Hegseth's office pressed two pilots rescued after their F-15 was downed over Iran to appear on "60 Minutes" to shape the Pentagon's war narrative and cast the rescue as a military success; one accepted, one refused, and officials worried classified details could leak (gordanesam313, irna_1313).

US Briefs

A US analytical center found Russia and China could easily reduce the effectiveness of and circumvent the "Golden Dome" missile-defense system (sputnikbrasil_rss). Diesel hit $9.999 a gallon at some California pumps as the US average passed $6 (irna_1313). Rep. Rashida Tlaib accused Trump of pursuing the war for personal interests (mehrnews), and Sen. Elizabeth Warren blamed it for rising wholesale inflation (mehrnews).

🌍 AFRICA

CNN: Ukrainian Drone Specialists Operating in Mali and Sudan

Around 15 Ukrainian drone specialists are deployed in northern Mali alongside the Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front, providing drone training, intelligence and remote operational support; more Ukrainian personnel are working in Sudan, and troops from Chad, Niger and Burkina Faso previously traveled to Mali for Ukrainian drone training (tabzlive, internationalreporters_eng, sputnikvietnam_rss). Algeria's prime minister will make an official visit to Bamako on September 14 carrying a message from President Tebboune (rt_french_rss). Washington will lend nearly $100 million to Africell, the only US-owned African telecom operator, to curb Huawei's expansion on the continent (rt_french_rss).

🌍 SOUTH AMERICA

Bolivia Signs $1.9 Billion IMF Loan With Adjustment Plan

President Rodrigo Paz signed the loan conditioned on a state spending adjustment; economists called the deal high-risk in its initial stage and urged protection for vulnerable households (sputnikmundo_rss).

Brazil Briefs

Federal police found a handwritten list of lawmakers' first names alongside figures hidden in a barbecue at Senator Ciro Nogueira's Brasília residence (sputnikbrasil_rss).

💬 NOTABLE QUOTES

"NATO didn't want to help us with the Strait of Hormuz... so why should we help them?" — Donald Trump, US President, in Dublin (mehrnews)

"The Ukrainian president can come to Moscow to talk to Putin — this is in itself a big gesture of goodwill on our part." — Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (farsna)

"If the Americans are warriors, let them face our brave armed forces." — Masoud Pezeshkian, President of Iran (rt_spanish_rss)

"Negotiations with the Israelis have reached a dead end... enough illusions." — Walid Jumblatt, Lebanese Druze leader (farsna)

"If there is indifference to crime, injustice and oppression, this will not be the last case." — Esmaeil Baghaei, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman (rt_spanish_rss)