COMBATE Digest - combate-20260914-0000Z

🌍 WEST ASIA

UPDATE: Oman Postpones Salalah Hormuz Summit

Oman's foreign minister Badr al-Busaidi announced that the regional meeting on the Strait of Hormuz scheduled for Monday in Salalah has been postponed, saying the decision was made "in the interests of consensus" (mehrnews, farsna, tass_rss). Iran's Persian Gulf affairs director general Mohammad Ali Bak said the postponement came at the request of some regional countries and by joint decision of Tehran and Muscat, with Iran coordinating closely with Oman on a new date (mehrnews, sepah_pasdaran, presstv). Qatar's foreign minister held separate calls with his Saudi, Jordanian, Kuwaiti and Omani counterparts on regional developments and de-escalation (mehrnews, irna_1313). CNN, relayed by Iranian media, reported that under the Hormuz framework the idea of Iran collecting fees from ships remains widely rejected, but there is readiness to examine voluntary payments in exchange for escorting vessels through the strait under an Omani legal framework (sepah_pasdaran). The Financial Times disclosed that the US has asked tankers wishing to transit Hormuz to sail at specified times so military protection can be assured (sepahcybery).

Missile-Hit Tanker Ablaze in Hormuz; Brent at $107

Britain's UKMTO said a fully loaded tanker struck by a missile in the Strait of Hormuz is now severely ablaze; the agency had earlier reported a Panama-flagged tanker was hit and disabled while transiting the strait (farsna, sepah_pasdaran). Reuters, relayed by Iranian media, reported Brent crude futures jumped $3 to $107 after new attacks on ships in Hormuz (farsna); oil later reached $108 a barrel (sepah_pasdaran).

Trump Addresses Ship Attack; CENTCOM Claims

Asked whether the US was behind the attack on the Iranian vessel near Qeshm, Trump said he did not want to say anything about it (farsna, rt_spanish_rss). He claimed the war with Iran will end before or after the midterm elections, saying Iran wants a deal "at any price" but he will not sign an imperfect deal (mehrnews); Iranian state broadcasters quoted him saying Iran's "work" would be finished after the midterms and oil prices would then crash like a stone (snninternational). Trump also did not rule out the US seeking control over Iranian oil under a scenario similar to Venezuela (tass_rss, sputnikvietnam_rss). CENTCOM's commander said he is not worried about ammunition shortages because no such shortage exists (mehrnews, sepah_pasdaran); CENTCOM also said it has rerouted 101 commercial vessels since resuming the blockade against Iran (sepah_pasdaran).

NYT: Hardliners Sabotaged July Peace Deal

The New York Times, citing Iranian officials, reported that hardliners secretly sabotaged a peace agreement with the US in early July by ordering attacks on three commercial ships in Hormuz on July 7 — an operation of which President Pezeshkian, IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi and much of the leadership were unaware; the investigation traced the decision to a hardline faction linked to cleric and former IRGC intelligence chief Hossein Taeb (tabzlive, gordanesam313). The paper reported Iran's leadership has been split for weeks between returning to negotiations and an escalation plan combining intensified attacks on US naval targets and troops with driving up global oil prices to force an end to the blockade that cut oil exports to zero (tabzlive). Foreign Policy, relayed by IRIB, reported Pentagon leadership at one point resorted to mass-emailing employees asking for "ideas to resolve the deadlock" (iribnews); CNN reported Defense Secretary Hegseth pressed for the downed F-15 crew to appear on "60 Minutes" to narrate a heroic rescue for an unpopular war (iribnews).

Yemen: Saudi Air Bases Struck; Yanbu Stocks Down to 5-7 Days

Yemen's armed forces targeted King Khalid Air Base — the main base from which Saudi fighters take off to bomb Yemen (farsna, sepah_pasdaran); Arab sources reported explosions at facilities in Khamis Mushait and Abha (mehrnews), and a new missile wave caused blasts in Khamis Mushait, Najran, Jazan and Abha, with direct hits reported in Najran and on an oil facility in Jazan as civil defense issued danger alerts (iribnews, farsna). Satellite imagery confirmed the destruction of a fighter aircraft hangar at King Fahd Air Base following a ballistic missile strike (iswnews_en). Yemeni armed forces spokesman Yahya Saree said Saudi F-15s flying from Khamis Mushait carried out 58 airstrikes in 24 hours on Taiz, Lahij, Al-Jawf, Hajjah, Al-Bayda and Saada (mehrnews, sepah_pasdaran); Saudi jets also struck a market in Khub al-Shaaf in Al-Jawf province (sepah_pasdaran). Nine commanders of Saudi-backed forces were killed and wounded in a special operation near Bab el-Mandeb (mehrnews, farsna). A Yemeni military source denied Saudi claims that Yemeni missiles hit a mosque, saying Saudi interceptor missiles falling on residential areas caused the incident (farsna, mehrnews). Reuters: Saudi export stocks at Yanbu are sufficient for only 5-7 days, repairs to the east-west pipeline may take 5-6 weeks, and the disruption could remove about 4 percent of global oil supply (mehrnews, farsna, akhbarefori). CNN, relayed by Iranian media, said Ansar Allah took Perim island and the port town of Mokha this week as it pursues control of Bab el-Mandeb (farsna), and that the advance exposed a "ghost army" — official rosters of government forces counted troops who did not actually serve (rt_spanish_rss). An Ansar Allah political office member said Yemen taught the US Navy a hard lesson and that the "siege for siege" equation will continue toward Saudi Arabia (irna_1313, presstv). Sanaa told UN envoy Hans Grundberg it is ready for a just peace and an end to aggression and blockade (iribnews, sepahnewsir403); Yemen's deputy foreign minister also met Iran's ambassador in Sanaa, voicing full solidarity with Tehran (iribnews).

MBS Seeks Israeli Help; Pakistan Stops Short of Mecca Pact

Israel Hayom reported that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent a message via the US asking Israel for help to prevent escalation by Yemen's Ansar Allah in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb, with Saudi Arabia's indirect message asking for help in the war; Israeli security services do not intend to intervene in Yemen unless attacked (mehrnews, farsna). Israel Hayom also wrote that Saudi Arabia faces an unprecedented squeeze with simultaneous threats at Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb and its land route to the Red Sea, after Washington rejected Riyadh's request for help (irna_1313). Pakistan's prime minister, in a call with the crown prince, only condemned the attacks on Saudi non-military and economic infrastructure — while Ansar Allah's strikes on Saudi soil raise questions about activating the Mecca pact's mutual defense clause signed by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey (farsna, iribnews).

Lebanon: Katz Claims Ali al-Taher "Safe Zone"; Limited Pullback Reported

Israeli war minister Israel Katz declared the Ali al-Taher heights part of a "yellow line" safe zone in Lebanese territory, saying anyone who approaches them will be destroyed (sepah_pasdaran, Ansaroollah). Israeli media reported a limited withdrawal from Ali al-Taher toward Shqif Castle, simultaneous with consideration of permission for the Lebanese army to deploy inside and around the area (irna_1313). Mehr said claims that IRGC forces were trapped in the Ali al-Taher tunnels are false, stating only 48 Hezbollah fighters were stationed there, of whom 8 were killed (mehrnews). Israeli artillery shelled Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon (farsna) and an airstrike hit the town of Qantara (MBSRsi98). The US embassy in Beirut said Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors will meet in Washington next week on implementing the tripartite framework, with the next round of formal talks in Rome in October (mehrnews). Iran's High Council for Human Rights called on the UN to protect Lebanese civilians and document Israeli violations (presstv).

Syria: Fuel Protests, Hama Church Bombing, Fidan's Bypass Pitch

Several Syrian provinces saw widespread protests over fuel price increases, with roads blocked in Hasakah, Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa and the Aleppo outskirts (mehrnews); the international Aleppo-Damascus highway was fully cut at Maarrat al-Numan in Idlib's outskirts (mehrnews, sepah_pasdaran). A bomb exploded outside the Orthodox Church of Our Lady in Hama's al-Madina district (mehrnews, sepah_pasdaran). Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan arrived in Damascus for a two-day visit to discuss integrating and dissolving the SDF and Israeli violations in the south (irna_1313); he called the SDF's dissolution announcement a positive step whose implementation matters equally, said Hormuz events have pushed regional and global economies into crisis, and pitched Syria as a transit route — via Jordan and Saudi Arabia to the Gulf and Iraq, and via Turkey to Europe (mehrnews, seday_teh). Syrian foreign minister Asaad al-Sheibani said Syria prefers to settle the conflict with Israel diplomatically and called for Israeli withdrawal from the occupied demilitarized zone to the pre-December 8, 2024 lines (tass_rss).

Iraq and Gulf Briefs

An ammonia gas leak in Khor al-Zubair near Basra killed two people and injured more than 80 (sepah_pasdaran). Iraqi security forces arrested Abu Saher, a main ISIS commander in Kirkuk province (mehrnews, farsna). The Shalamcheh trade border with Iran will reopen soon (mehrnews); Khuzestan's governor said passenger traffic at Shalamcheh and Chazabeh has returned to normal, with talks ongoing on reopening the Chazabeh trade lane (sepah_pasdaran, irna_1313).

Iran: Defense Ministry Dismisses Threats; War Damage Repaired

Acting defense minister Seyed Majid Ibn al-Reza (Rahbar) told defense industry managers that repeating past threats signals the paralysis of the enemy's intelligence apparatus, that Iran's system attaches no operational value to them, and that Iran would act far more powerfully and technologically advanced in any new war (mehrnews, farsna, presstv). The Janfada headquarters said training and organization of 1,000 National Resistance battalions will now begin (farsna, meo_verified). Five bridges damaged in the war have been rebuilt, three more are near reopening and other reconstructions are at 70 percent progress (meo_verified). Iran created a comprehensive archive in Minab documenting the US-Israeli attack on a school there last February (yt_telesurenglish), and engineers have rebuilt and reactivated petrochemical infrastructure hit by US and Israeli attacks (yt_jpmas).

🌍 EAST ASIA

BRICS Close: Iran Meets UAE Crown Prince and Egypt's Sisi

Pezeshkian held his first meeting with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed since the war and Gulf tensions, describing a constructive dialogue and agreement to "turn the page" on the past (sputnikarabic_rss, tass_rss). Egyptian President Sisi met Pezeshkian on the summit sidelines, with his office saying both sides push for de-escalation and a peaceful settlement (sputnikindia_rss, irna_1313). Putin called the New Development Bank's financing of 123 BRICS projects worth almost $40 billion a good result but said needs are much higher (sputnikglobe_rss). The bloc's 140-point declaration demanded an end to the economic blockade against Cuba (teleSUREng); Modi closed the summit urging members to turn agreements into concrete results with fixed timelines (sputnikindia_rss). Ramaphosa said the Ukrainian conflict must be resolved through talks (sputnikglobe_rss) and warned AI could be used to develop biological weapons (sputnikglobe_rss). Indonesia's Prabowo said his nation will not submit to the dictates of one or two world powers (sputnikindia_rss); Vietnam's PM proposed three directions for the bloc (sputnikvietnam_rss).

Asia Briefs: North Korea Drills, China's Laser Vehicle, Russia's Il-114 Sale

North Korea conducted drills using attack UAVs, cruise missiles and tactical ballistic missiles, KCNA reported (sputnikvietnam_rss). China has fitted a Type 19 amphibious vehicle with a laser, new sensors and an autocannon, with the laser apparently designed to detect and counter small drones at the frontline (farsna). Russia completed its largest civil aviation export deal since Soviet times — 105 Il-114 aircraft to three Indian buyers worth an immediate $3-4 billion (rtde_live_rss); Moscow also announced new opportunities for Indian exports in industry, pharma and AI (rt_india_rss). Beijing and Tehran are building a system to bypass US sanctions in oil transactions (rtde_live_rss).

🌍 EUROPE

Drone Attack on Train Carrying Boris Johnson, European Officials

Der Spiegel reported that several European politicians — including one of the German chancellor's closest advisers, Guenter Sauter — experienced a drone attack on their return from Ukraine (farsna, sepah_pasdaran); security advisers from several European countries, Bundestag members, diplomats and former British prime minister Boris Johnson were aboard the train, which was evacuated (farsna, mehrnews, Ansaroollah). Israeli media, citing foreign reports, said a Russian UAV hit the Kiev-Warsaw line near the Polish border shortly after trains carrying senior Europeans passed through, with no casualties reported (Hidcunim_news).

Trump Demands End to Strikes on Russian Fuel; Zaporozhye Hit Again

Trump demanded Zelensky stop attacks on Russian diesel and refineries, warning they are causing shortages harming the world (yt_jpmas, sputnikserbia_rss, rt_spanish_rss). Ukrainian forces launched more than 10 UAV attacks on the training center of the Zaporozhye nuclear plant, with no casualties (sputnikvietnam_rss, rt_spanish_rss). A Rada budget committee chief said Ukraine can no longer fully finance its defense needs from domestic resources (sputnikbrasil_rss); the new Russian Geran-4 and Geran-5 jet drones have surprised Ukraine's leadership, a British newspaper wrote (sputnikbrasil_rss). US envoy Kushner said territorial cessions remain Kiev's red line even as the issue stays the central dispute for a settlement (rtde_live_rss). Zelensky sanctioned his former spokesman Yuliya Mendel and nine others for spreading what he called Russian narratives (irna_1313).

Sweden Votes; UK Break-Up Declaration Moves to Signing

Swedes headed to the polls in general elections, with migration dominating a tight race that could consolidate the right (presstv, yt_france24es). The leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland meet Monday in Cardiff to sign a declaration demanding the transfer of powers and authorization of independence referendums (sputnikserbia_rss, presstv).

Europe Briefs

Only 16 percent of French judge Macron's performance positively — his lowest since taking office in 2017 (rt_french_rss); Bruno Le Maire said France faces "exactly the same context as the Yellow Vests" (rt_french_rss). Merz's approval hit a new low, with a majority of his own CDU members now rating him negatively (rtde_live_rss), and German police clashed with protesters demanding his resignation (presstv). The Bundeswehr is already calling up young men who explicitly declared refusal of military service (rtde_live_rss). Poland demolished another Soviet Army monument, in Bytom (rtde_live_rss); Zakharova called Sikorski's claim of a quick Polish victory over Russia "cerebral Russophobia" (sputnikserbia_rss), after Sikorski also called Zelensky's naming of a unit after the UPA — which carried out ethnic cleansing killing tens of thousands — regrettable (mehrnews). Lithuania closed Vilnius airport and scrambled NATO fighters over a suspected drone, later confirmed to be a flock of birds (irna_1313, rt_spanish_rss). Kosovo's assembly elected a new government with Albin Kurti as prime minister for a fourth term (sputnikserbia_rss); Bosnia's ambassador to Serbia said defense minister Helez "calls for war while Europe stays silent" (sputnikserbia_rss). EU fuel prices jumped 24 percent for gasoline and 33 percent for diesel in a single day (sepah_pasdaran).

🌍 NORTH AMERICA

US Briefs

House Speaker Mike Johnson said Trump's proposed $5,000 dividend checks require congressional approval, with Axios estimating the plan could cost over $1.3 trillion (irna_1313); Johnson also said the war against Iran will not continue and Congress will not write a blank check for it (irna_1313). Steve Bannon said Turkey is the biggest danger to the United States — not even comparable to Iran — and that Qatar is as dangerous as North Korea (iribnews). Trump lifted the 15 percent tariff on Irish whiskey to cheers at the Irish Open (rt_spanish_rss) and again called Irish reunification natural (sputnikserbia_rss). A Washington DC correspondent reported gasoline at $4.59 a gallon — up 20 cents since Wednesday — and diesel at $6.19 (parstodayrussian). Democrats are preparing a battery of investigations into Trump's policies and family businesses should they win the House in November (rt_spanish_rss). Canada is pursuing "associate membership" of the EU amid the US trade conflict (rtde_live_rss, irna_1313) and is negotiating participation in the EU's €90 billion loan to Ukraine, with PM Carney meeting European leaders this week (farsna).

🌍 SOUTH AMERICA

Ecuador Court Bars González from Local Elections

Ecuador's contentious-electoral court rejected the final appeal against Luisa González's disqualification, definitively excluding her from the November 29 local elections (yt_telesurenglish). Trump said Venezuela is "very happy now" and that both countries are making large sums of money (rt_spanish_rss).

🌍 AFRICA

Algeria-UAE Diplomatic Rupture Weighs on Economic Ties

The diplomatic rupture between Algeria and the UAE has opened questions over the future of bilateral trade and investment, with the political developments potentially pushing both sides to reassess partnerships and cooperation paths (sputnikarabic_rss).

💬 NOTABLE QUOTES

"Iran wants to reach an agreement at any price, but I will not sign an agreement that is not flawless." — Donald Trump, US President (mehrnews)

"Whoever approaches these heights will be destroyed." — Israel Katz, Israeli War Minister (sepah_pasdaran)

"There is a Syria that connects via Jordan and Saudi Arabia to the Persian Gulf, to Iraq and the East, and via Turkey to Europe." — Hakan Fidan, Turkish Foreign Minister (seday_teh)

"Turkey is the biggest danger to the United States — not even comparable to its neighbor Iran. Qatar is as dangerous as North Korea." — Steve Bannon, US political analyst (iribnews)

"If another war takes shape today, the Islamic Republic of Iran will act far more powerfully and more advanced technologically than in previous wars." — Seyed Majid Ibn al-Reza, Acting Iranian Defense Minister (farsna)