COMBATE Digest - combate-20260926-1200Z

🌍 WEST ASIA

UPDATE: Trump Rejects Iran's Seven-Day Hormuz Plan

Citing US officials, the Wall Street Journal reported that President Trump rejected Iran's proposal for a seven-day ceasefire and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz (sputnikglobe, sputnikbrasil). Trump privately told aides he is skeptical Iran will meet his demands and sees a renewed bombing campaign as likely after the November midterm elections (tass_rss, rt_all_rss, rtde_live_rss). Tehran said it is still awaiting an official US response and excludes any compromise on its nuclear program (rt_french_rss); Serbian media relayed the same report of the rejected seven-day proposal (sputnikserbia).

Washington and Beijing Align Against Iranian Nuclear Weapons

Chinese state television reported that Trump and Xi Jinping agreed Iran must fulfill its obligations not to develop nuclear weapons, in a readout following Xi's state visit (sputnikvietnam). The White House said the two leaders agreed Iran "can never" have a nuclear weapon and that no country or institution may impose tolls on international waterways (rt_spanish).

Pezeshkian Sets Conditions: Trust First, IAEA Inspections Possible

President Masoud Pezeshkian ruled out meeting Trump before trust between the two countries is restored (sputnikglobe), saying Iran no longer trusts negotiations with Washington after repeated attacks and sanctions (sputnikvietnam). He said the US must show it is not seeking a violent change of power in Iran, and that "the distrust created by this war has to be overcome" first (tass_rss). Hormuz should be open in accordance with the US-Iran memorandum, to which Iran remains committed and willing to implement (tass_rss, rt_spanish), and Iran may allow IAEA inspectors onto its territory (tass_rss). Pezeshkian also said Iran can help resolve the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen (rt_spanish), gave details of Leader Mojtaba Khamenei's health, saying he has no health problems (rt_spanish, rt_spanish), and indicated when he would be ready to meet Trump (rt_spanish). Separately, the Pentagon said 861 US military personnel have been wounded since the conflict with Iran began, up from 687 in early August (tass_rss, sputnikindia).

UN: Hormuz Blockade Threatens 45 Million With Food Shortages

UN Office for Project Services Director Jorge Moreira da Silva said the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz threatens at least 45 million people with food shortages, and that a humanitarian crisis can be avoided if five to seven ships carrying fertilizers pass through the strait daily (tass_rss).

Mecca Pact Chiefs Meet to Operationalize Collective Defense

The military chiefs of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan met in Riyadh on September 25 and said they will immediately begin translating the Mecca Common Defense Agreement into practical military cooperation — deeper intelligence cooperation, military coordination and capability integration to boost deterrence and collective defense. The meeting condemned attacks on Mecca and Saudi civilian and economic infrastructure; the pact, signed August 7, treats an armed attack on any signatory as an attack on all (1087968996, yt_cgtnespanol).

Yemen: Ansar Allah Again Targets Riyadh; Security Council Condemns Attacks

Yemen's Ansar Allah again targeted Riyadh on the night of September 25-26 as fighting intensified in Taiz and Lahj, with control of Bab el-Mandeb and surrounding heights becoming one of the conflict's main military stakes (rt_french_rss). The Saudi-led coalition said air defenses intercepted two Ansar Allah drones targeting Riyadh Province (tabzlive). UN Security Council members condemned the intensified Ansar Allah attacks on Saudi Arabia (sputnikserbia). Saudi Arabia said it intercepted six ballistic missiles aimed at Taif and Yanbu — the latter home to major oil installations — as Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan sought wider international backing at the UN (yt_france24es).

Iraq Negotiates Airport Exemptions With Washington

The Iraqi government announced direct dialogue with the American side to exempt some Iraqi airports from US Treasury measures on Iranian airline flights to regional airports (sputnikarabic). The office of the commander-in-chief said no foreign combat forces or military bases will remain in Iraq after September 30 (alahadtvofficial). Iran's science minister said Iraqi students will soon return to Iranian universities as travel problems are resolved (farsna). Ali Akbar Velayati, adviser to the Leader, said enemies seek to compensate for their battlefield defeat by dismantling the unity of the resistance fronts "from Sanaa to Najaf" and told PM al-Zaidi that "legitimacy does not come from Washington" (almayadeenespanol).

Israel Bars Arab Parties From October Elections

Israel's Central Elections Committee barred all Arab parties from the October 27 general elections — the first since the war with Hamas began and the destruction of Gaza — while clearing far-right lists to run (sputnikbrasil). Israeli police said they are holding drills to counter possible mass protests and attacks on government centers after results are announced (mehrnews).

Around West Asia

An update of Israel's official GovMap briefly exposed at least eleven military sites in northern Gaza, with 2025 imagery showing the scale of destruction in Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahia, Shujaiya and eastern Jabalia (rt_french_rss). More than 500 volunteers dismantled installations of the Palestinian farm Hakourtna over three days ahead of an Israeli demolition order, 40 years after its founding (mehrnews). US sanctions on security-certificate services for Iranian websites are disrupting access to Iranian banking sites and Fars News (meo_verified). An Iraqi tribe said it freed a merchant's ship hijacked a month ago off Somalia's coast in the Gulf of Aden (irna_1313). Iran and Afghanistan are expanding transport and transit cooperation, especially via Chabahar port (irna_1313). China's state planner raised gasoline prices by 395 yuan and diesel by 385 yuan per ton (mehrnews).

🌍 EUROPE

Russia Strikes Starlink-Linked Data Center in Kiev

Russia's Defense Ministry said it carried out targeted strikes on the Kosmonova data center in Kiev, linked to the military use of Starlink, a port terminal near Odessa receiving European weapons, and a Nova Poshta logistics center in Odessa used to store military supplies (rt_french_rss, rt_spanish, sputnikvietnam, sputnikindia).

Russian Claims: Three Settlements Taken, Over 1,200 Drones Downed in a Day

The Russian Defense Ministry said its forces took control of Petropavlovka and Lozovaya in the Kharkov region and Marino in the Sumy region, downing 1,222 Ukrainian drones in a single day (sputnikmundo, sputnikarabic). Northern group units are fighting to free Khropuny, Grachovka and Rublenoye inside the Kharkov encirclement (sputnikvietnam). Air defenses destroyed 645 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones overnight over Russian regions, the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov (tass_rss, sputnikindia). The ministry said Ukraine lost about 1,350 troops in 24 hours (sputnikbrasil), and the Tsentr group said it repelled six Ukrainian army and five National Guard brigades, including Azov, banned in Russia (sputnikarabic). A Ukrainian drone attack in the Krasnodar region killed at least three people and wounded two, with debris sparking fires at two enterprises (rt_french_rss). Russian war bloggers showed the destruction of a Ukrainian strongpoint in the Grand billiard club in Kramatorsk (boris_rozhin). Expert Andrey Marochko said that after Nikolayevka, east of Slavyansk, is cleared, Russian troops can begin assaulting the eastern borders of the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration (tass_rss). British media assessed that Ukraine is powerless against Russia's new drones (sputnikserbia).

US Excludes Patriot Missiles From New Ukraine Package

The Trump administration will send Ukraine nearly all of the $400 million in arms allocated by Congress in late 2025 — but not the Patriot missiles Kiev requested (sputnikbrasil, rt_spanish). Reuters, citing informed sources, reported the refusal stems from the depletion of global interceptor stockpiles due to simultaneous conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, particularly the US war with Iran (internationalreporters).

Putin and Vucic Discuss Gas Arrangement and NIS

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said he held a good and substantive phone call with Vladimir Putin, discussing the extension of the gas arrangement expiring September 30 and the question of the Oil Industry of Serbia (NIS) (sputnikserbia, sputnikvietnam). The two discussed energy, oil and gas, transport and health ties, and Vucic congratulated Putin on the Duma elections (rt_french_rss); the Kremlin said both concluded that foreign interference in elections is inadmissible (sputnikserbia).

Europe Briefs

Fuel protests spread across the continent: hundreds of trucks staged go-slow blockades on three Portuguese highways toward Coimbra — diesel has risen from about €1.59 to €2.22 per liter since late February — while French ports were shut by protesters (geopolitics_prime); Iranian media reported 90% of the French public is affected by record fuel prices, with border residents crossing abroad to save about half a euro per 10 liters (mehrnews). German consumer confidence fell 3.8 points to -30.6 for October on energy prices (sputnikmundo). Zakharova said Kiev "failed to create a sustainable regional format" and European capitals distanced themselves from "this obvious farce" (rt_spanish); Nebenzia condemned Guterres' refusal to address Bucha (rt_spanish). German media assessed Zelensky deliberately proposes ceasefires hoping Russia rejects them, knowing Russia holds the stronger position (sputnikbrasil); his former spokeswoman Yulia Mendel said nearly everyone around Zelensky is accused of corruption (sputnikbrasil). Ukraine's 2027 draft budget earmarks $10.6 billion for public debt interest and 44% of GDP for the army (sputnikbrasil). Switzerland will hold a referendum on reaffirming constitutional neutrality that would call anti-Russia sanctions into question (rt_spanish). Russia's OSCE envoy Polyansky said the organization is in deep crisis with an uncertain future (sputnikglobe), and the Foreign Ministry warned uncontrolled EU drone production and learning from Kiev multiply risks for Russia (sputnikglobe); it also said political barriers keep European firms out of the Northern Sea Route (sputnikindia). Russia's ambassador to Germany said four years after the Nord Stream blasts, questions about perpetrators remain unanswered and the investigation is moving slowly (sputnikserbia). Milan Panic, former prime minister of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, died in Pasadena at 97 (sputnikserbia). Four Italian soldiers were injured when an Italian vehicle fired on another Italian armored vehicle during a NATO exercise in Latvia (rtde_live_rss).

🌍 NORTH AMERICA

Trump-Xi Summit Yields Eight-Point Agreement, AI Hotline, Arms-Control Push

China's Foreign Ministry said the two countries reached an eight-point agreement: reciprocal tariff reductions covering $30 billion in trade, a bilateral trade council, AI talks beginning in November, a communication channel for AI-related incidents, and mutual support for each other's APEC and G20 summits (tabzlive). The White House said the channel will handle AI incidents, with both sides also agreeing on use of the term "superintelligence" (sputnikserbia); CCTV said the next China-US AI dialogue is set for November (sputnikindia). Trump advocated trilateral US-Russia-China arms control talks (tass_rss, sputnikserbia) — with Moscow and Washington having gone more than half a year without a formal arms-control agreement in force (rt_spanish). The Chinese and US militaries agreed to sign a memorandum on strengthening crisis communication as soon as possible (sputnikglobe).

Trump Moves to Redraw Election Rules Ahead of Midterms

With the midterms approaching, Trump is pushing to strengthen the federal role in elections, targeting mail voting, voter files, citizenship checks and redistricting (rt_french_rss); the Supreme Court granted his administration access to data for auditing voter rolls (yt_france24es). US consumer sentiment fell to 48.1 in September from 51.7 in August — a four-month low — with one-year inflation expectations rising to 4.6% (sputnikmundo, 1087968996).

🌍 SOUTH AMERICA

Venezuela Unblocks Websites After Second Dialogue Round

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez ordered the immediate lifting of administrative measures against web platforms and portals, citing progress in national dialogue and consensus between the executive, the National Assembly and political sectors (yt_tvfanbmultimedia). Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez announced the conclusion of a second round of talks with former 2015 National Assembly lawmakers — seven working sessions including two plenaries and five technical meetings on freedom of expression, pluralism and the right to information (yt_telesurenglish, rt_spanish).

Around South America

Mexico told the UN General Assembly it backs a two-state solution, reaffirmed its recognition of the State of Palestine and demanded an end to the US blockade of Cuba (yt_lajornada, rtde_live_rss). Brazil's Lula banned online sports betting nine days before federal elections (yt_france24es, mehrnews); the first Brazil-US WTO consultations over Washington's tariffs of up to 37.5% ended without agreement (sputnikbrasil). Argentina's country risk topped 600 points — its highest since March — and the government suspended dollar debt issuance ahead of a $4.3 billion maturity (sputnikmundo). Colombia extradited FARC dissident leader alias "Araña" to the United States (rt_spanish).

🌍 EAST ASIA

Taiwan Presses for More Arms After Trump-Xi Summit

Taiwan renewed demands for weapons after the three-day Trump-Xi summit ended in Washington with both leaders stressing cooperation over confrontation (rt_spanish).

🌍 CENTRAL ASIA

Kazakhstan Drill Deaths Rise to 14; Five Defense Officials Detained

The death toll from Kazakhstan's Caspian Sea military exercise rose to 14, and five defense ministry officials were identified as suspects and detained, Kazinform reported (irna_1313). In Pakistan, a suicide car bomber destroyed the Aman Mila police checkpoint in Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with initial reports of casualties (mehrnews); media reported 11 killed and 30 wounded in the blast in the border province (farsna).

🌍 AFRICA

Ethiopia, Djibouti and Dangote Launch $660 Million Fuel Pipeline

Ethiopia, Djibouti and Nigeria's Dangote Group launched a $660 million project to build a 120 km pipeline for refined petroleum products between Damerjog in Djibouti and Dewele in Ethiopia, to be complemented by more than one million cubic meters of storage capacity at both ends of the corridor (rt_french_rss).

Africa Briefs

Egypt announced installation of the reactor vessel lower plate for Unit 3 of the El-Dabaa nuclear plant, built with Russia's Atomstroyexport (sputnikarabic). China's naval hospital ship Jixiang Fangzhou arrived in Dakar on its first visit to Senegal, offering medical services (1087968996). Ghana's central bank governor said Ghana will work with China on settling bilateral trade in local currencies, launching a cedi-yuan cross-currency settlement pilot (1087968996).

💬 NOTABLE QUOTES

"The first thing that needs to happen is that the distrust created by this war has to be overcome." — Masoud Pezeshkian, Iranian President (tass_rss)

"Mr. Al-Zaidi, legitimacy does not come from Washington." — Ali Akbar Velayati, adviser to the Leader of Iran (almayadeenespanol)

"No country or any institution can be allowed to impose tolls on international waterways." — White House statement on the Trump-Xi meeting (rt_spanish)

"Kiev failed to create a sustainable regional format. Several European capitals preferred to distance themselves at the highest level from this obvious farce." — Maria Zakharova, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman (rt_spanish)