COMBATE Digest - combate-20260924-1200Z

🌍 WEST ASIA

Bessent: Iran Will "Yell Uncle"; Axios Details Rejected Hormuz Offer

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Iran's capitulation is a matter of time: "I don't know whether it's going to be a week, a month or two months, but they are going to yell uncle." He said the goal could be one of three states of the world — the Iranian government turning on itself, an uprising by the Iranian people, or a deal Tehran sticks to — pledging: "This time, if there is a deal, I guarantee you they're going to stick with it" (tabzlive). Axios reported that during three hours of indirect talks in New York, Tehran offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within a week if its demands were met, and that US officials rejected the offer while voicing doubt about Iran's ability to control and reopen the strait (akhbarefori). Russia's Vienna envoy Mikhail Ulyanov said sending IAEA inspectors back to Iran is impossible amid US attacks, calling a draft resolution on Iran "completely ill-conceived" and "useless" (tass_rss, meo_verified).

Neighbors Block Iranian Flights; China Refuses Sanctions

A Varesh Airlines flight from Tehran to Dushanbe was forced back to Imam Khomeini airport after Turkmenistan refused overflight and Azerbaijan denied an alternate route (sepah_pasdaran, guerrasygeo, akhbarefori). Iranian carriers canceled flights to Baghdad, Muscat, Qatar, Georgia and Azerbaijan after US sanctions took effect, with Washington threatening to cut from the dollar system any foreign actor providing fuel, airport services or ticketing to Iranian carriers (rt_french_rss). Asked whether Beijing would comply, China's Foreign Ministry said it firmly opposes unilateral, illegal sanctions lacking any international legal basis or UN Security Council mandate (iribnews). Britain tightened financial restrictions on five Iranian banks in step with US policy; central bank governor Hemati said "the US Treasury has reached the end of the line" in economic pressure, noting some of the banks had conducted no Iran-related operations for years (mehrnews, irna_1313).

WSJ: 1,300 Chinese Dual-Use Shipments to Iran During War

The Wall Street Journal reported China kept supplying components used in drones and ballistic missiles throughout the war with the US: Iranian customs records show roughly 1,300 shipments of dual-use components to Iran's Defense Ministry in the first six months of 2026 — electronics, GPS devices, motors and aircraft parts — and after the US naval blockade Iran expanded air cargo, with Mahan Air operating 39 flights from China in the first week (tabzlive, akhbarefori).

UPDATE: Indian Sailor Killed as Ship "Torpedoed" Off Oman

An Indian national was killed when his ship was torpedoed off the Omani coast while the other 28 crew members were rescued, RT reported (rt_india_rss); an IRGC-linked channel published footage of "the ship targeted by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz last night" (sepah_pasdaran).

Safavi: Hormuz "Will Never Return" to Its Former State

Senior armed forces advisor Yahya Rahim Safavi said Iran will fully manage and control the Strait of Hormuz, that it "will never go back to what it was," and that Iran and Oman had reached a management mechanism before the Americans obstructed it (sepahnewsir403, meo_verified). He said the armed forces have plans ready for the worst scenarios in any new war, that the front would widen beyond the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea and possibly the Indian Ocean, and that linking Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab "will change the theater of war" (farsna, sepahnewsir403, farsna). Acting Defense Minister Majid Ibn Reza said Iran's message at the UN was clear: the defensive doctrine has changed (farsna, irna_1313).

Pezeshkian Works the Sidelines: Europe "Not Neutral, Inactive"

Meeting European Council President António Costa in New York, Pezeshkian said: "We have not seen neutrality, but rather inaction from some countries in the recent aggressive war against Iran," adding Europe missed an opportunity to play an effective role and should preserve its independence (meo_verified, iribnews). He presented counterparts with the book "In the Name of Aid," documenting US-Israeli crimes against Iranians (mehrnews), and told the assembly lasting peace in West Asia is impossible without justice for Palestine (yt_almayadeenespanol). Former FM Zarif wrote that the "bully-in-chief" mistook the UNGA for a battlefield and threatened "the mother of all war crimes" — annihilating a nation (irna_1313). Araghchi met Ukrainian FM Sybiha and agreed to keep communication channels open (tabzlive, irna_1313), signed a prisoner-transfer agreement with South Korea (iribnews) and met Pakistan's FM Dar (mehrnews); Pezeshkian and Bangladesh's PM agreed to deepen ties and convene the sixth joint economic commission (mehrnews).

Explosions Hit Separatist HQ in Iraqi Kurdistan; Abadan Blast "Technical"

Iraqi sources reported blasts targeting the headquarters of anti-Iranian separatist groups in Soran, Erbil province, with explosions also reported in Sulaymaniyah (farsna, meo_verified). Khuzestan officials said a loud blast heard across Abadan was a technical fault at the Abadan refinery, with no impact on gasoline output (sepah_pasdaran, irna_1313).

Israel Bars Both Main Arab Lists From October 27 Vote

The Central Elections Committee voted 18-5 to disqualify Mansour Abbas's Ra'am (tabzlive) and the Joint List from the Knesset election, decisions that can be appealed to the Supreme Court (rt_french_rss). A poll puts the opposition at 52 seats against 51 for Netanyahu's coalition, with neither reaching the 61 needed to govern (irna_1313).

Katz Vows Golan "For Eternity," Mocks Erdoğan as "Paper Sultan"

After al-Sharaa told the UN the Israeli-occupied Golan "will remain a Syrian territory," Defense Minister Israel Katz replied the plateau would remain under Israeli sovereignty "for eternity" and ruled out withdrawing from positions taken since 2024 (rt_french_rss). Katz also attacked Turkey's president as a "paper sultan" who dreams of reestablishing the Ottoman Empire, noting Erdoğan never responded to Iranian missiles that struck Turkish territory and "disappeared" when Ansar Allah fired missiles at Mecca after signing the Mecca defense accord (tabzlive, mehrnews). Syrian sources reported new Israeli military infiltration in the Quneitra countryside (mehrnews). New York police said three unidentified men emerged from a sewer near the hotel where Netanyahu is to stay and fled in two cars (akhbarefori).

Around West Asia

The IDF said it eliminated Hamas finance chief Muhammad Abu Alwan in Khan Younis, who it said transferred over 1 billion shekels to fund armed activity (idfofficial), and Mahmoud Abd al-Fattah Awad, a commander it said helped hold seven Israeli hostages in a Gaza City tunnel (idfofficial). Gaza detainees were shot, beaten and attacked with dogs at Israel's Al-Naqab prison, the Prisoners' Media Office said (presstv). Trump's "Peace Board" proposed $2.45 billion and 66 projects for Gaza's recovery over six months — temporary housing, rubble removal, hospital and road repairs and a multinational security force — far short of the $71.4 billion in assessed needs (rt_french_rss, yt_france24es). Spanish PM Sánchez told the assembly Netanyahu continues mass killings in Gaza, saying Spain sanctioned Russia, embargoed Israeli arms and banned use of its territory for the aggression against Iran (tabzlive, presstv, mehrnews); he called for the next UN chief to be a Latin American woman (yt_france24es). Yemen's Ansar Allah published video of fighters destroying Saudi armored vehicles and other equipment in Taiz and Hodeidah with Iranian Dehlavieh anti-tank missiles (rt_spanish_rss). Lebanon's PM Salam and Syria's al-Sharaa stressed completing the review of bilateral agreements (sputnikarabic_rss). Iraq extended the timeline for state control of weapons to June 30, 2027, starting with 90 days of de-escalation (yt_almayadeenespanol). Finance minister Smotrich declared his intent to expand Jewish settlement in the Galilee and Negev on the model he leads in the West Bank (MBSRsi98).

🌍 EUROPE

Moscow Warns of Response to US Nuclear Test Preparations

On the CTBT's 30th anniversary, Zakharova said US preparations to resume nuclear testing are a "direct threat" to the moratorium in force since 1992, and that Russia will take appropriate reciprocal measures if other states test first while reaffirming Moscow's own observance of the moratorium (tass_rss, sputnikserbia_rss, rt_french_rss, sputnikbrasil_rss).

Russia Hits Kiev Drone Plant; Four Settlements Taken

The Defense Ministry said forces struck a Kiev facility producing components for long- and medium-range drones where ground robotic systems were being prepared, plus defense-industry, telecom and logistics sites in Kiev and the Odessa region and boats serving Ukraine's forces (tass_rss, sputnikglobe_rss, sputnikvietnam_rss); France 24 reported drones hitting railway infrastructure, warehouses and gas stations hours after Trump met Zelensky (yt_france24es). Russian units took Svetlaya Dolina in the Zaporizhzhia region, Dobropolie in Donetsk and Bozovo and Khizhnyakovo in the Kharkov region, repelling Ukrainian attempts to break the encirclement ring; air defenses downed 244 fixed-wing drones in a day (iribnews, sputnik_africa, sputnikbrasil_rss). Western media citing Ukrainian forces said the new jet-powered Geran drones are nearly impossible for MANPADS to intercept (sputnikvietnam_rss). Rostec delivered a new batch of Su-57 fighters updated with Ukraine combat experience (sputnikserbia_rss).

Kremlin on G20: Decision "Too Early"; Peace Means More Than Ceasefire

Peskov said it is too early to discuss Putin attending the Miami G20 or meeting Trump there, while calling the US invitation "kind" and saying it will be studied carefully; Russia will keep participating in the G20 as effectively as possible (sputnikglobe_rss, rt_spanish_rss, sputnikindia_rss). He reiterated Moscow seeks a lasting peace, not ceasefire negotiations (sputnikserbia_rss). Zakharova said Zelensky "has completely lost his head" for vowing to come to Moscow "on a missile," likening his fate to the impostor False Dmitry (rt_french_rss, sputnikserbia_rss); she also mocked Kallas for confusing Monaco with Morocco while listing countries backing Ukraine (rt_french_rss). The US declined to join Kyiv's anti-Russia declaration at the Security Council (rt_spanish_rss). Erdoğan told Zelensky there is no justification for attacks on merchant ships in the Black Sea and urged measures for safe grain transport (rtde_live_rss). Polish soldiers are building field fortifications on the Ukrainian frontier (rtde_live_rss); a Starlink station supplying the Ukrainian army's communications burned in eastern Poland, with officials saying it may have been deliberate (rt_spanish_rss, N12LIVE); Belarus said it foiled a Kiev-orchestrated sabotage plot against a strategic target in Russia, intercepting drones and detaining suspects (rt_spanish_rss). The Washington Post reported Mexican drug cartels are recruiting mercenaries who fought for Kyiv as drone pilots (rtde_live_rss).

EU May Advance €45 Billion as Kyiv's Needs Outpace Forecasts

With Ukraine spending faster than expected and about €37 billion still due this year, the European Commission is weighing early payment of a large share of the €45 billion planned for 2027, while pressing Kyiv on reforms and struggling to gather promised partner contributions (rt_french_rss, sputnikserbia_rss).

Europe Briefs

An analyst said Europe will not finish filling its gas storage before winter even though the target was lowered to 80% (sputnikvietnam_rss). Serbia's government released 5,000 tons of euro-diesel from mandatory reserves (sputnikserbia_rss). Mercedes-Benz threatened to close two German plants unless staff extend the working week from 35 to 40 hours without extra pay (sputnikvietnam_rss, rt_spanish_rss). In Saxony-Anhalt the SPD searched for a majority excluding the AfD, with the BSW floating a non-partisan minister-president (rtde_live_rss); Montenegro's parliament lacked quorum to vote on removing speaker Mandić (sputnikserbia_rss). A Ukrainian man fatally stabbed a priest in a Polish church (rt_spanish_rss).

🌍 NORTH AMERICA

Judge Blocks Trump's Ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico

A federal judge at least temporarily halted the White House access ban imposed on September 18 against the three outlets, ruling it likely unconstitutional (rtde_live_rss, rt_spanish_rss).

Xi Arrives: "Partners, Not Rivals" as Busan Truce Runs to January 10

Xi Jinping landed at Andrews for a three-day state visit, his first to the US in 11 years, and said China and the US "should be partners, not rivals," adding the great renewal of the Chinese nation and "American greatness" can advance side by side (sputnikserbia_rss, rt_spanish_rss, yt_telesurenglish). Bessent announced the "Busan" trade agreement was extended to January 10, 2027 (sputnikvietnam_rss); the summit agenda spans trade and tariffs, AI, Taiwan and Iran (rtde_live_rss, rt_all_rss). Trump appeared startled by his own B-1 flyover while Xi stood unmoved (rt_spanish_rss), and US soldiers were filmed on their knees smoothing the red carpet (rt_spanish_rss).

North America Briefs

Canada secretly prepared over the past year for a possible US military invasion, the prime minister said after trade talks collapsed (rt_spanish_rss); Ottawa is moving to rename its Trump Avenue (rt_spanish_rss). Norm Eisen demanded Defense Secretary Hegseth be impeached over the "unwise" Iran war that cost billions of dollars and killed Americans and allied forces (snninternational). Australia's PM said an OpenAI AI agent hacked the Medicare health system in the first known case of an AI agent breaching a government site (sputnikglobe_rss, sputnikserbia_rss).

🌍 SOUTH AMERICA

Venezuela: No Election Date From Trump; "Orderly Transition" Underway

Axios reported Trump gave Delcy Rodríguez no concrete election timetable in their New York meeting (rt_spanish_rss). Rodríguez told the assembly Venezuela has begun what she called an "orderly, institutional, and verifiable" democratic transition (sputnikindia_rss), saying elections will come "at the right moment," when political forces compete on equal terms (sputnikbrasil_rss).

Cuba Answers Trump

Díaz-Canel replied to Trump's UNGA attack: "Freedom came to Cuba on January 1, 1959," calling the US president's words "arrogant, overbearing and interventionist" (yt_lajornada2023, rt_spanish_rss). Cuba published a new agricultural land law among 19 legal measures meant to lift food output (sputnikmundo_rss). Ecuador is missing the oil-price boom as production slides (sputnikmundo_rss).

🌍 CENTRAL ASIA

Pakistan Strikes Kandahar in Widest Air Wave Yet

Pakistan's air force hit 10 sites across the eastern provinces of Khost and Paktika and in Kandahar, Afghanistan's second city (iribnews, farsna, rt_spanish_rss). Information Minister Ataullah Tarar said the strikes precisely hit 10 locations used to launch and store drones, insisting Islamabad is not seeking escalation and remains committed to peace, dialogue and constructive regional engagement (mehrnews). Reuters, citing an Afghan government source, put the death toll at four (mehrnews); earlier strikes were reported by Afghan media to have killed three civilians and by Pakistani security sources to have killed 28 fighters (farsna).

🌍 EAST ASIA

North Korea Tests 115-km Guided MLRS Rockets; Denuclearization "Unrealistic"

KCNA said the DPRK tested guided munitions for an upgraded 240mm multiple-launch rocket system with a range of up to 115 km (sputnikvietnam_rss, sputnikbrasil_rss, irna_1313); its foreign minister said denuclearization is an "unrealistic" goal and the nuclear stance will remain unchanged "for centuries and millennia" (rt_spanish_rss).

East Asia Briefs

Japan's PM Takaichi demanded immediate removal of the UN Charter's "enemy state" clauses; China said the clauses guard against a return of fascism and militarism (yt_cgtnespanol). China notified other states in advance of a submarine-launched strategic missile test — something it was not obliged to do — possibly to gauge reactions, a Russian researcher said (sputnikvietnam_rss); flight tests of China's sixth-generation fighter are advancing rapidly (sputnikbrasil_rss). Russia ranked second in world arms exports in 2025 with $15 billion, over 12.5% of the global total (sputnikvietnam_rss). Myanmar's president called relations with Russia stable and enduring (sputnikvietnam_rss).

🌍 AFRICA

UPDATE: Seven Groups Form Coalition to Oust Abiy; AU Condemns Tigray Authorities

Seven Ethiopian armed and opposition groups, including the TPLF, announced a coalition to remove Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government, while the African Union called for immediate de-escalation and condemned the Tigray authorities (sputnik_africa). Tigray's authorities said they had ordered their forces into "defensive military action" after a government attack on the region, as the TPLF took control of several northern airports and the UN and AU urged dialogue (sputnik_africa, rt_french_rss).

Sudan to Replace Its Currency

With the pound trading near 7,500 to the dollar on the black market against roughly 600 before the April 2023 war, Khartoum is preparing to replace its currency to regain control of money flows, curb the parallel economy and weaken paramilitary financing circuits (rt_french_rss).

💬 NOTABLE QUOTES

"I don't know whether it's going to be a week, a month or two months, but they are going to yell uncle." — Scott Bessent, US Treasury Secretary (tabzlive)

"Erdoğan knows how to deliver speeches and dream of reestablishing the Ottoman Empire. But when it comes to taking action, he turns out to be a paper sultan." — Israel Katz, Israeli Defense Minister (tabzlive)

"We have not seen neutrality, but rather inaction from some countries in the recent aggressive war against Iran." — Masoud Pezeshkian, Iranian President (meo_verified)

"The Strait of Hormuz will never go back to what it was." — Yahya Rahim Safavi, Senior Advisor to Iran's Commander-in-Chief (sepahnewsir403)

"To my mind, judging by his answer, Zelensky has completely lost his head. He has gone completely mad." — Maria Zakharova, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman (rt_french_rss)