COMBATE Digest - combate-20260919-0000Z

🌍 WEST ASIA

Trump Signs Russia-Iran Sanctions Into Law

Following passage in the Senate and House, President Trump signed into law the "Lindsey Graham Russia and Iran Sanctions Act of 2026" (tass_rss); Iranian media highlighted that a significant portion of the law covers secondary sanctions against countries conducting trade with Russia (sepah_pasdaran, mehrnews).

Aramco Tells European Refiners: No October Crude

Saudi Aramco has informed European refining customers they will receive no Saudi crude next month after the attack on the East-West pipeline knocked out the kingdom's key export route, with at least two refineries affected (rtde_live_rss, sputnikarabic_rss).

Türkiye Revokes License of Iran's Bank Mellat

Türkiye's banking regulator BDDK revoked the operating license of Bank Mellat's Istanbul branch, formally ending the Iranian state bank's presence in the country since 1982; operations had already been heavily restricted under US sanctions, including loss of SWIFT and Turkish EFT access (tabzlive).

US War Costs $43.6 Billion; Casualties Undercounted, Allies Warned of Delays

US Central Command estimates the Iran war cost roughly $43.6 billion through early September — $11.2 billion on operations, $28.1 billion replenishing munitions and $4.3 billion replacing lost equipment — excluding damage to US bases (tass_rss). The Washington Post, citing six officials, reported more US service members have died than the Pentagon discloses — at least 22 to 23 since February 28 against 18 publicly listed (tass_rss). Washington has warned allies some critical weapons deliveries could be delayed up to five years as it rebuilds depleted stocks (sputnikarabic_rss).

Yemen: 112,000 Displaced in Two Weeks; Fighting Nears Bab al-Mandab

UNHCR said more than 112,000 people in Yemen have been forced from their homes over the past two weeks amid the escalating conflict (sputnikarabic_rss). Yemeni armed forces captured the Al-Aghbarah heights in Lahij province overlooking the Bab al-Mandab Strait (irna_1313). Foreign Minister Afrah al-Zoubah said the government is committed to restoring state institutions and securing sea lanes, warning that escalation on the west coast and at Bab al-Mandab threatens freedom of navigation (sputnikarabic_rss).

Around West Asia

Regional broadcasters circulated footage of Iran presenting newly delivered Russian Su-35 fighters to reinforce its air defenses (yt_jpmas). An explosion at a Syrian army base near Ayash, west of Deir ez-Zor, killed six and wounded nine (mehrnews, mehrnews). Türkiye's ambassador opened the "Recep Tayyip Erdogan Turkish International School" in Damascus (stayfreeworld). Hunter Biden claimed Israel knew of Hamas's October 7 attack plans in advance and did not act, in order to pursue its plans for Gaza (sputnikarabic_rss). Hamas said Itamar Ben Gvir's Al-Aqsa incursions amid escalating violations in Jerusalem require a strong mobilization to thwart Judaization attempts (sputnikarabic_rss). UPDATE: the Kohat mosque bombing toll rose to 21 dead (irna_1313); Pakistan's interior minister may travel to Tehran this week (mehrnews), and Islamabad restricted markets to 9pm, restaurants to 11pm and halved fuel for state vehicles (akhbarefori).

🌍 EUROPE

Drone Strike Damages Kursk NPP Cooling Tower

The IAEA said it was informed that a cooling tower at Russia's Kursk nuclear power plant was struck by a drone Thursday morning (mayadeenchannel). Russia's Vienna envoy Ulyanov accused EU countries of turning a blind eye to Ukrainian attacks on nuclear facilities, effectively encouraging them (sputnikarabic_rss); the Russian Foreign Ministry called the IAEA General Conference's draft resolution on Ukraine legally void and pledged continued safety at the Zaporizhzhia plant (sputnikarabic_rss, sputnikvietnam_rss).

UPDATE: Duma Vote Held 'Under Fire'

President Putin voted online from the Kremlin (sputnikserbia_rss), and Medvedev cast his ballot in Moscow, calling every vote a step toward victory (yt_telesurenglish). Election chief Pamfilova said the number and quality of cyberattacks has grown versus the 2024 presidential vote (rtde_live_rss); Zakharova said the vote proceeds under unprecedented Western pressure and "under fire" (sputnikserbia_rss). After a polling-station president in Zaporizhzhia was killed by a drone, Russian diplomacy denounced Ukrainian attacks on unarmed election workers using Western weapons as "atrocious attacks" (rt_french_rss).

Russia Reports Weekly Gains; Air-Defense Radars 'Blinded'

The Defense Ministry said Verolyubovka and Zolotoy Kolodez in the Donetsk republic were liberated in the past day — ten settlements over the week — with Ukrainian losses of some 9,325 troops (sputnikmundo_rss). Geran drones destroyed a P-19MA radar and electronic-warfare station near Shirokoye and a Pelican 79K6 radar near Dalnik (rt_spanish_rss), and hit another five dry-cargo ships at Yuzhny, Chernomorsk and Odesa (rt_spanish_rss). Satellite imagery shows at least five new long production halls rising at Alabuga for jet-powered Geran-4/5 drones (leaklive).

Putin to the West: 'Let's Live in Peace — Otherwise We Will Respond'

At a Military-Industrial Commission meeting, Putin said external threats are not decreasing, pointed to NATO Baltic exercises practicing the seizure of civilian vessels, and said Russia cannot be intimidated (sputnikafrica_en_rss, tabzlive). He said European leaders are using Ukrainians as cannon fodder (smotri_media, sputnikvietnam_rss). Putin reported drone production increased tens of times over, radar systems fivefold and armored vehicles 2.5-fold (mehrnews); he said the defense export order book exceeds $70 billion (sputnikmundo_rss, rt_french_rss), that Russia holds the world's largest gas reserves (sputnikserbia_rss), and Aeroflot signed for 90 domestically built MC-21-310s delivering in 2029-2032 (rt_french_rss, sputnikmundo_rss).

Russia Expands EU Entry Blacklist

Responding to the EU's 21st sanctions package, Russia significantly expanded its entry ban on officials from European institutions and member states supporting Brussels' policy (tass_rss, sputnikserbia_rss).

Zelensky Launches 'Carpathian Eight' With Deficit Complaints

Opening the first meeting of the Carpathian Eight initiative he created, Zelensky complained of an "astronomical" budget deficit and requested additional funds to preserve "optimism" (rt_french_rss, rt_spanish_rss); Serbian President Vucic met Zelensky on the summit's margins (sputnikserbia_rss).

Fico: Slovakia Out of Any War, Article 5 or Not

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said that in a territorial escalation he would do everything to keep his country out of any war involvement, regardless of NATO membership (rtde_live_rss).

Fuel Price Crisis Grips Europe

Macron convened party leaders as pump prices surge on the Iran war and Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure; retailer Michel-Édouard Leclerc admitted "the situation is completely escaping us" (rt_french_rss). Macron blamed the "Russian threat" and ordered protection of critical infrastructure and defense industries against "Russian hybrid attacks" (rt_french_rss, yt_france24es); he also acknowledged Hormuz "is effectively still closed," with no reopening agreement and traffic worse than weeks prior (akhbarefori). Le Pen warned that without VAT and TICPE cuts the surge risks "blocking the French economy" (rt_french_rss). Germany's government plans a 17-cent energy-tax cut on fuel from October 1 (rtde_live_rss); Urals crude now trades above its western benchmark (rtde_live_rss); JPMorgan said the oil market has become too uncertain to model as the war drags on (rt_all_rss); shipowners ordered 217 VLCC supertankers worth over $20 billion in eight months (sputnikvietnam_rss). Von der Leyen said the war cost the EU an additional €90 billion in fossil-fuel imports (yt_telesurenglish); five EU leaders urged cutting hundreds of billions of euros from the proposed 2028-2034 budget (sputnikbrasil_rss).

Europe Briefs

Germany will station four Eurofighters in Latvia from early October (rtde_live_rss). Russia's Security Council warned Armenia of economic risks from interventions targeting Russian companies (rtde_live_rss); Hungary is negotiating with Romania to replace Russian gas by October 2027 (rtde_live_rss). Russia warned NATO and the EU are turning the Arctic into a confrontation arena (sputnikserbia_rss, sputnikmundo_rss) while saying it does not seek to replace the Arctic Council (sputnikglobe_rss). Spanish police used force against migrants trying to reach a new Ceuta reception center (sputnikbrasil_rss). The IOM said sea arrivals to Europe fell 39% this year while deaths and disappearances rose to 2,292 (1087968996). An Afghan man was arrested for attempting to set fire to a Wuppertal synagogue before Yom Kippur (rtde_live_rss). OFAC extended Lukoil's license to sell international assets to October 22 (sputnikserbia_rss). Vucic said an "elegant way" was found to attribute von der Leyen's cancelled Belgrade visit to elections in Serbia and Bosnia (sputnikserbia_rss); Dodik announced a Putin meeting for September 29 (sputnikserbia_rss); in Kosovo, the EU urged restraint after the KLA verdicts as Pristina pushed to abolish the special court (sputnikserbia_rss). New Zealand denied discussing EU "associate membership," which Canada is pursuing (1087968996).

🌍 NORTH AMERICA

Trump Claims US 'Permanent Control' Over Greenland Security

Trump announced an agreement with Denmark and Greenland granting Washington permanent control over security and other needs on the island, saying development of a significant military presence would begin immediately (sputnikarabic_rss, sputnikbrasil_rss); Denmark confirmed the accord strengthening the US Arctic security presence will be signed next week on the UNGA margins (sepah_pasdaran).

Trump Bars CNN, Politico and MSNOW From the White House

Trump announced the three outlets are banned over what he called persistent "fake news," decrying Politico's $8 million government subscription under Biden as corruption and promising more bans (sputnikserbia_rss, mehrnews); CNN responded that any ban would be treated as unlawful and pursued legally (mehrnews).

Around North America

Canadian Prime Minister Carney defended suspending trade talks with Washington — which he said offered little and demanded much — as he moves to reduce Canada's reliance on the United States (cgtn_europe); Canadian investors sold a record C$31 billion in US equities in July (1087968996). US ICE officers arrested nearly 51,000 undocumented immigrants in August, a monthly record (rtde_live_rss).

🌍 SOUTH AMERICA

Cuba's Grid Collapses Again

Cuba's national electric system failed completely again Friday, leaving around nine million people without power amid severe fuel shortages, aging infrastructure and US sanctions (sputnikserbia_rss, sputnikbrasil_rss, yt_telesurenglish). Díaz-Canel toured a Havana defense zone for National Defense Day (yt_canalcaribecuba); Deputy Foreign Minister Fernández de Cossío told PBS Cuba "does not accept threats, but dialogue remains open" (yt_cubadebatecu).

Pentagon Shifts Reaper Drones Toward Latin America

The US military plans to transfer MQ-9 Reaper reconnaissance and strike drones operating in Africa to its Southern Command for anticipated counternarcotics operations (sputnikbrasil_rss, sputnikserbia_rss).

Regional Briefs

Brazil's Supreme Court formed a majority to uphold Eduardo Bolsonaro's four-year, two-month conviction in the "tariffazo" plot case (sputnikbrasil_rss). Mexico's defense secretary said the government downed four drones on the northern border with the US (sputnikbrasil_rss). Venezuelan officials met UK head of mission Colin Dick in Caracas on strengthening bilateral ties (yt_telesurenglish).

🌍 EAST ASIA

Briefs

China's Foreign Ministry urged Japan to deeply reflect on its history of aggression and win its neighbors' trust through concrete actions (sputnikarabic_rss); Russia and China demanded Japan remove US Typhon missile systems (sputnikserbia_rss). Video circulated of a Chinese coast guard vessel colliding with a Philippine ship (mehrnews). Facing a fourth consecutive year of population decline, China rolled out childcare, pediatric and direct-payment policies under its 2026-2030 plan (yt_telesurenglish). India said its energy purchases, including from Russia, are guided by national interest (sputnikindia_rss); a Delhi court granted bail to US national Matthew VanDyke, accused of training militant groups in Myanmar (rt_india_rss).

🌍 AFRICA

Niger Strips Ex-PM and Four Others of Nationality

A decree signed by President Tiani provisionally revoked the nationality of former Prime Minister Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou and four others, prosecuted for alleged public-order offenses and contact with foreign powers (rt_french_rss).

Briefs

DR Congo's National Assembly rejected AFC/M23 participation in the national dialogue, saying dialogue must not let armed groups convert military gains into political advantages (rt_french_rss). Burkina Faso reported over 1.4 million internally displaced people have returned to their home localities (rt_french_rss), and its prime minister inaugurated the country's first war college (rt_french_rss).

💬 NOTABLE QUOTES

"Let's live together peacefully, otherwise we will have to respond — there will be no other way." — Vladimir Putin, Russian President (tabzlive)

"The situation is completely escaping us." — Michel-Édouard Leclerc, French retail group chief, on fuel prices (rt_french_rss)

"Sponsors of Kiev have grown tired of the Ukrainian topic, but are forced to keep it in the public eye out of inertia." — Vasily Nebenzya, Russia's permanent representative to the UN (sputnikserbia_rss)