COMBATE Digest - combate-20260930-1200Z

🌍 WEST ASIA

US Completes Withdrawal From Iraq After 23 Years

The US military completed its full withdrawal from Iraq on Wednesday, with the US-led coalition formally concluding Operation Inherent Resolve (rtde_live_rss, sputnikvietnam_rss). Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zeydi declared the international coalition's mission over, saying Iraq has entered a stage in which it bears full responsibility for its own security and stability (sputnikarabic_rss). CENTCOM chief Gen. Brad Cooper said coalition forces now based in Jordan remain ready to counter ISIS remnants (mehrnews), and the WSJ cited a Pentagon official saying some US air-defense systems and Marines will stay to protect American diplomatic missions while Washington keeps intelligence and reconnaissance capabilities usable inside Iraq (farsna). RT noted an estimated 4,500 US soldiers died in the country across more than two decades (rt_spanish_rss). Iraq's defense ministry spokesman said no coalition soldiers remain in the country after September 30 and that Iraq will use the Victory base for its own air defense (irna_1313). Muqtada al-Sadr marked the withdrawal by announcing the dissolution of his "Promised Day" brigade and the conversion of the Mahdi Army into a foundation, while demanding Washington pay compensation for occupation damages (iribnews). Iraq's Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada rejected any surrender of weapons and vowed continued support for fighters in Lebanon (presstv), while Asaib Ahl al-Haq called the withdrawal a historic turning point, demanding advanced air-defense systems for Iraq and the withdrawal of Turkish forces from its north (irna_1313).

Flydubai Flight Lands in Saudi Arabia After Cockpit Fight

Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 174 passengers, including 27 minors, briefly squawked the international hijack code 7500, prompting Israeli fighter jets to scramble before the Boeing 737 MAX diverted and landed safely at Tabuk in Saudi Arabia (rt_spanish_rss, rt_spanish_rss). Israeli Channel 14 reported one pilot allegedly attempted suicide, with tracking data showing a sudden vertical descent from about 30,000 feet at near-dive speed before the second pilot intervened (rt_spanish_rss, rt_french_rss), and German media reported the suspected assailant co-pilot is from Oman (rtde_live_rss). Israeli journalist Amit Segal quoted a senior official saying a "very grave disaster" was averted and that the co-pilot, now under interrogation, apparently "wanted to seize the plane and crash it with the passengers" (N12chat). An Israeli security source told Sputnik the incident is being examined as a possible premeditated terror attack (sputnikvietnam_rss), while other Israeli outlets reported the pilots made contact with authorities and ruled out hijacking (mayadeenchannel). Israel's i24 was told the co-pilot is of Omani origin and under interrogation as Israel examines a possible Iranian link (gordanesam313). National Security Minister Ben-Gvir said "terrorism is a devil" that must be erased rather than negotiated with, and vowed to press on until "total victory" in Iran, Lebanon and Gaza (MBSRsi98, tabzlive). A second Flydubai Dubai–Tel Aviv flight turned back mid-route after the incident (farsna).

Iran Claims Mossad Plans "False Flag" Attack on Aviation

Iranian security services said information obtained by the foreign intelligence directorate of one of Iran's security bodies indicates Mossad has drawn up a scenario to create a humanitarian catastrophe and blame it on Iran, with options presented to the Israeli prime minister's office including an operation against aircraft or airports in the region to build international "consensus" against Tehran; Iranian agencies are working to prevent such a scenario (parstodayrussian, farsna, sepah_pasdaran, tabzlive).

US–Iran Talks Deadlocked; Axios Sees War Resuming After Midterms

Axios reported the US-Iran talks through mediators have yielded no results, with US officials believing Trump could order a resumption of major combat operations against Iran after the November midterm elections (tass_rss, rt_all_rss). Three sources cited by Western media said Qatar's mediation made little progress this week because neither side is ready to make concessions, raising the risk of renewed military action (sputnikvietnam_rss, sputnikserbia_rss). Iranian authorities said the US response to Iran's conditions for resuming dialogue was conveyed to Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi through intermediaries (tass_rss), with the sides now moving to discuss guarantees within a conflict-resolution plan (tass_rss). China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said Beijing hopes Iran and the US "choose peace," recommit to the Islamabad understanding and resume talks as soon as possible, continuing Xi Jinping's peace initiatives (mehrnews, irna_1313). Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned Iran will conduct "preventive operations in case of an imminent threat" and that any aggression will draw a "hard, regrettable, precise and rapid" response (rt_spanish_rss). IRGC Aerospace adviser Brig. Gen. Balali said Iran's missile firing rate can be sustained for several years of confrontation (farsna, presstv). IAEA chief Rafael Grossi told Sputnik the agency is ready to immediately deploy inspectors to resume full activities in Iran if requested (sputnikindia_rss, sputnikvietnam_rss).

Netanyahu's UAE Visit: Nuclear Intel, Secret Arab Meetings

Israel Today's Hebrew edition reported Netanyahu briefed UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed on new intelligence indicating Iran is renewing its nuclear program, and claimed based on Israeli assessments that Iran may attack in the coming weeks (meo_verified). CNN reported the information included new construction at the Pickaxe Mountain site, that a senior Saudi security official attended, and that the talks also covered Yemen's Ansar Allah, Bab al-Mandeb and the Strait of Hormuz (tabzlive). Yedioth Ahronoth reported Netanyahu secretly met several Arab delegations during the visit, arranged by the Mossad chief at a Saudi request for help against Ansar Allah attacks, with discussions on Iran and regional air-defense cooperation (rt_french_rss). Al-Monitor sources said most of the Netanyahu–MbZ meeting focused on Iran, that Abu Dhabi had been reluctant to host him and initially cancelled a visit planned for September 14 (sepahcybery). Expediency Council member Aghamohammadi warned that armed groups trained in the UAE and Israel have entered Iran to carry out assassination operations, urging residents to report suspicious movements (farsna).

IRGC: Daily Clashes in Hormuz; Trump "Lying" About the Strait

IRGC spokesman Brig. Gen. Hossein Mohebbi said military confrontations occur in the Strait of Hormuz "every 24 hours," adding that Iranian forces have long been striking small ships and blocking their passage while the US does not respond (farsna, meo_verified). He said there is no doubt Trump is lying about the strait being open: at least 125 ships crossed daily before the war, while now only 7–8 pass, "ships that pass with Iran's approval" — otherwise oil would have returned to its pre-war $72 rather than $107, and US reserves would not have fallen from 415 million to 285 million barrels (farsna, meo_verified). IRGC deputy commander Amir Azhdari said missile, drone and air-defense capabilities are expanding rapidly and the force stands firm in Hormuz, with enemy ships afraid to approach for fear of being targeted (farsna). IRGC ground forces in Hormozgan began a 72-hour operation to destroy unexploded US ordnance left from the war east of Rudan (farsna).

Yemen: 35 Saudi Strikes in a Day; Ansar Allah Downs ScanEagle

Yemen's armed forces said Saudi Arabia carried out 35 air strikes against civilian infrastructure and non-military installations across five provinces in 24 hours (presstv). Ansar Allah political bureau member Hazm al-Asad announced the downing of a Saudi Boeing-built ScanEagle reconnaissance drone worth $11.25 million over Sa'ada province (mehrnews, presstv). A Yemeni military source told al-Mayadeen that any move to rebuild Saudi military positions on Yemeni soil will be targeted and Riyadh's air attacks "will not go unanswered" (mehrnews). Flights at Riyadh's King Khalid International were suspended again — the third halt this week — with aircraft ordered to hold and Saudi authorities offering no explanation (farsna). RT reported that multiplying Ansar Allah attacks are pushing Saudi Arabia back toward the UAE, with Mohammed bin Salman receiving Emirati Vice President Mansour bin Zayed in Riyadh (rt_french_rss). Ansar Allah's capture of Dhubab also exposed a hidden Saudi-American fortress 2.2 km from Bab al-Mandeb built in silence to control the waterway, according to a report carried by Iranian media (sepahcybery).

UN: Iran War Killed 3,400+ Civilians, Damaged 30 of 31 Provinces

UN Resident Coordinator in Iran Christine Wigand said 30 of Iran's 31 provinces suffered damage in the US war, which killed more than 3,400 civilians and wounded over 33,000 (meo_verified).

Gaza Ceasefire Violations Pass 5,100; Lebanon Strikes Continue

Gaza's Government Media Office said Israel has violated the ceasefire 5,147 times since it took effect on October 10, 2025, killing 1,421 Palestinians and wounding 4,983 (presstv). At least six more Palestinians were killed in new attacks across the Strip (presstv, irna_1313), with Israeli tank fire and quadcopter drones reported east of al-Bureij camp (me_observer_TG). Israel launched a new wave of strikes on southern Lebanon, hitting Baraachit, Beit Yahoun and al-Mansouri in continued violations of the framework agreement (presstv, mehrnews), as Golani Division armoured forces wrapped up a seven-month deployment in the south after destroying rockets, explosive drones and tunnel infrastructure (Hidcunim_news).

West Asia Briefs

Iran executed Ali Hemati and Majid Nikandish over the killing of four security forces during January riots in Mashhad, after Supreme Court confirmation (presstv, farsna). Iraq's transport ministry said Iraqi Airways received a special exemption to resume Najaf–Iran flights in October, as the government negotiates with Washington over sanctions that halted Iran-bound flights (1087968996); Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba condemned the flight suspensions as submission to US bullying while Baghdad seeks a one-month Treasury waiver (presstv). Iran's Chabahar–Zahedan railway is near completion, potentially giving India a trade route to Central Asia and Afghanistan that bypasses both Pakistan and the Strait of Hormuz (rtde_live_rss). The UK Maritime Trade Operations disclosed with delay that a vessel transiting Hormuz was hit by an unknown projectile on September 28, with the ensuing fire contained and the crew safe (mehrnews, farsna). The rial slid past 253,000 to the dollar as Treasury Secretary Bessent repeatedly floated a 300,000 target (farsna); the central bank began selling $2 billion in cash, raising the per-person cap from $1,100 to $10,000 (mehrnews), and central bank chief Hemati answered Bessent's predictions of collapse with "you count the chicks at the end of autumn" (farsna). Syria's internal security said it foiled a sabotage plot in Daraa's al-Yarmouk basin and detained three people linked to Hezbollah (irna_1313). An explosion heard in Zahedan was caused by a sonic device and caused no damage, the governorate said (farsna).

🌍 EUROPE

UPDATE: Russia Strikes Kiev's Power Grid and Data Backbone

Overnight Russian strikes targeted the Tripillia thermal power plant, the Kyiv hydroelectric station, the Kyivska substation and an energy-storage battery park (milinfolive). The Russian Defense Ministry said a massive night strike hit a communications center in Kiev, energy facilities supporting military production, and port infrastructure (sputnikarabic_rss), including the De Novo data center, one of the main internet traffic exchange points serving Ukraine's armed forces (sputnikglobe_rss). Reuters reported a child was killed and five wounded in the attack on Kiev (N12chat). Ukraine struck back with drones on Trubchevsk in Russia's Bryansk region, wounding at least 12 people including children (sputnikvietnam_rss). Russian forces secured the settlement of Shabelnoye in the Kharkov region, the Defense Ministry said (sputnikindia_rss), and former Zelensky aide Yuliya Mendel said Ukrainian steel plants have halted production for the first time in 100 years (sputnikserbia_rss). IAEA chief Grossi said the situation around the Zaporozhye nuclear plant remains extremely precarious, with power supply disruptions among the most serious security problems (sputnikglobe_rss).

Kaliningrad: Moscow Warns of "Very Short War," NATO Denies Threat

Russia's embassy in Ireland warned that any NATO blockade of Kaliningrad would trigger the use of the entire arsenal, including nuclear weapons and preemptive strikes on the alliance's decision centers (rtde_live_rss). Peskov said the diplomats' warnings are a reminder to the "hotheads" in Europe of Russia's foundational doctrinal documents (sputnikserbia_rss, sputnikglobe_rss). Vienna arms-control talks head Yulia Zhdanova said NATO is modeling and rehearsing concrete scenarios of the exclave's military-political isolation and that the risk of direct NATO-Russia conflict has grown dramatically (sputnikserbia_rss), while NATO representative Allison Hart insisted alliance activities are defensive and pose no threat (sputnikserbia_rss).

Russia Marks Reunification Day as New Duma Convenes

Putin told the new State Duma that residents of the four annexed regions made a "clear and unambiguous" choice to reunify with Russia (sputnikbrasil_rss, sputnikindia_rss) and declared that no one can frighten or break the Russian people (sputnikserbia_rss). Vyacheslav Volodin was re-elected Duma speaker (sputnikserbia_rss).

Russia–US Contacts Continue, But Kremlin Denies Sanctions-For-Prisoners Talks

Presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev said Russia and the US continue dialogue in many areas, including energy (sputnikglobe_rss), and SVR chief Sergey Naryshkin rated his service's contacts with the CIA as "good" (sputnikserbia_rss). Peskov rejected reports that Moscow and Washington are discussing easing US sanctions in exchange for releasing prisoners (sputnikserbia_rss). Zakharova said members of the German delegation were irritated by a portrait of Putin ahead of the Lavrov–Wadephul meeting at the UN (rtde_live_rss).

Serbia: Russian Gas Deal to Be Signed, NIS License Extension Expected

Mining and Energy Minister Dubravka Djedović Handanović said she expects the extension of the gas arrangement with Russia to be signed on Wednesday, securing supply at similar or identical prices (sputnikserbia_rss). Sputnik learned Serbia has received signals that the US will extend NIS's operating license, which expires today (sputnikserbia_rss). Ahead of the October 25 elections, Vučić predicted victory with more than 70 percent (sputnikserbia_rss), while Albanian parties from southern Serbia agreed in Pristina on a joint "Albanian Coalition" list for the Serbian parliamentary vote (sputnikserbia_rss).

Europe Briefs

French school blockades saw 440 arrests and at least 79 injuries, with unions calling to renew the action Thursday (rt_french_rss, irna_1313). Spain's Senate rejected ratification of the Spain–France friendship treaty on the first day of Macron's visit to Madrid (sputnikserbia_rss). EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen said the bloc has paid about €100 billion extra for the same volume of fossil fuel imports since the war began in late February — "without getting one bit more gas or oil" — urging electrification and winter demand cuts (1087968996, rt_spanish_rss), and Politico reported the EU is again examining emergency energy-consumption measures (mehrnews). Germany's government passed a long-negotiated care reform (rtde_live_rss) and moved to block a further Chinese takeover at Hamburg's port (rtde_live_rss). A former Finnish MP claimed nuclear weapons may already have been stationed in Finland secretly, with the French deterrence initiative meant to legalize it after the fact (sputnikbrasil_rss). Slovakia's parliament ousted Environment Minister Tomáš Taraba in a no-confidence vote (1087968996).

🌍 NORTH AMERICA

US Announces 40-Million-Barrel Reserve Swap as Treasury Yields Hit 24-Year High

Brent crude fell below $97 after Washington announced the release of another 40 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve via swap, with Iranian economists calling the move "suicide" given the reserve's depleted state (farsna). The swap — deliveries in November–December, returns beginning April 2027 — follows three earlier swaps since March totaling 107 million barrels; the reserve stood at 284.6 million barrels on September 18, down more than 130 million barrels since late March (1087968996). The US 30-year Treasury yield hit 5.623% intraday, the highest since June 2002, with the 10-year at 5.297%, as consumer inflation expectations rose and the NY Fed's Williams played down the urgency of another October hike (1087968996).

Hegseth to Cut General Officer Posts 20%; Boeing Wins Navy 6th-Gen Fighter

Fox News reported Defense Secretary Hegseth will cut general officer positions by 20 percent under a memo approved in September, with services required to complete the cuts by January 1, 2027 (1087968996). The Pentagon selected Boeing to build the Navy's sixth-generation F/A-XX fighter in a contract worth over $20 billion, with deliveries from the 2030s to replace the F/A-18 Super Hornet (1087968996, rt_spanish_rss); the US is also preparing to launch production of Boeing's F-47 sixth-generation fighter line (sputnikindia_rss). The CBO estimated the "Golden Dome" missile-defense system would cost about $1.2 trillion over 20 years, deploying roughly 8,000 satellites to intercept up to 10 ICBMs simultaneously (sputnikvietnam_rss).

Senate Blocks West Bank Resolution; Trump Signs AI Pledge

The US Senate rejected 51–47 a Democratic resolution that would have required the State Department to report to Congress on West Bank violence, including the deaths of nine Americans; Rand Paul was the only Republican in favor (irna_1313, presstv). Trump signed a document with leading tech executives under which "each company" is responsible for developing its own technology safely (rt_spanish_rss, sputnikserbia_rss).

🌍 EAST ASIA

Kim Yo Jong Warns of "Immediate and Merciless" Retaliation

North Korea said it will strengthen tactical counterattack means along the DMZ in response to growing South Korean provocations (sputnikvietnam_rss). Kim Yo Jong warned that if fire is opened on North Korean personnel, border units will deliver an "immediate and merciless retaliatory strike" (tass_rss); she accused Seoul of trying to fabricate "physical evidence" over the mine explosion that wounded three South Korean soldiers and said the South will pay for its provocations (1087968996).

Asia Briefs

China surpassed 700 million users of generative AI, a record high driven by Q&A, image and video services (sputnikmundo_rss). Chinese FM Wang Yi told former Japanese foreign minister Takeshi Iwaya in Beijing that Japan's most urgent task is to rectify its leaders' erroneous statements on Taiwan (yt_cgtnespanol). A Chinese trade-promotion body said the recent Xi–Trump meeting brought greater certainty to bilateral business cooperation (yt_cgtnespanol).

🌍 AFRICA

South Africa Unveils Emergency Plan After 11 Bodies Found

President Ramaphosa announced urgent measures after 11 women's bodies were discovered in Ekurhuleni: nationwide case audits within 30–90 days, fixes for forensic backlogs in 60 days, identification of high-risk areas, and new alcohol regulations to curb gender-based violence (rt_french_rss, 1087968996). Pretoria separately summoned the US ambassador for the third time in nine months over "undiplomatic behavior" (mehrnews). In the DR Congo, an anti-corruption bill was declared admissible in the National Assembly (rt_french_rss).

🌍 SOUTH AMERICA

EU Court Rejects Poland's Bid to Suspend Mercosur Deal

The EU's Court of Justice turned down Poland's request to temporarily suspend application of the EU–Mercosur free-trade agreement (sputnikbrasil_rss).

Bolivia: Morales Deadline Looms, but Mobilization Prospects Doubted

Evo Morales and his followers gave the government of Rodrigo Paz until October 3 to scrap measures including the diesel subsidy cut, though an analyst assessed the popular sector is not in condition to generate a major mobilization under the state of exception (sputnikmundo_rss).

South America Briefs

The WSJ reported the Pentagon uses drones to monitor drug-smuggling routes in Latin America while US troops join operations with local security forces (sputnikbrasil_rss). Argentina's top court upheld a Milei decree permitting unlimited land sales to foreigners (rt_spanish_rss), as the country's external debt hit a record, with the IMF the main creditor at over $57 billion (rt_spanish_rss). Brazil's electoral court will judge in full session the order that removed posts linking Flávio Bolsonaro to the downgrading of Nossa Senhora Aparecida as patroness (sputnikbrasil_rss).

💬 NOTABLE QUOTES

"A very grave disaster was averted. The co-pilot is being interrogated — the indications are growing that he wanted to seize the plane and crash it with the passengers." — Senior Israeli official, quoted by Amit Segal (N12chat)

"We will fire as many missiles as necessary until the enemy learns discipline." — Brig. Gen. Balali, adviser to the IRGC Aerospace Force commander (farsna)

"When the strait was open, at least 125 ships crossed daily; now only 7 or 8 cross, and those are ships that pass with Iran's approval." — IRGC spokesman Brig. Gen. Hossein Mohebbi (meo_verified)

"Immediately. If we are asked, even tomorrow." — Rafael Grossi, IAEA Director General, on resuming inspections in Iran (farsna)

"Terrorism is a devil; no agreements must be made with it — it must be erased." — Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israeli National Security Minister (MBSRsi98)

"No one can either frighten or break the Russian people." — Vladimir Putin, at the opening of the new State Duma (sputnikserbia_rss)