26 March 2026
Iran
Amid strikes, Hezbollah stated that negotiating with Israel would be a sign of surrender. Tehran rejected Trump’s talk of negotiations. The rejection came from the unified command of the Iranian Armed Forces, which is dominated by the Revolutionary Guards. President Trump stated that Iran should make a deal or the US will “keep blowing them away.”
Iran continues its internet crackdown on internet users. Iranian police on Thursday stated that they blocked 61 bank accounts belonging to Starlink users in the central city of Yazd. Police also stated that six Starlink devices were seized and six people detained. Iran claims that it has seized weapons, explosives and Starlink devices in multiple provinces.
Iran offered South Korea conditional passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran says that it has classified South Korea as a “non-hostile country”. This would mean oil and LNG tankers destined for South Korea will be able to transit through the canal, albeit after paying Iran’s $2 million toll.
Russia denied a report that it is providing thousands of Shahed/Geran drones to Iran. The Financial Times reported that Russia was providing drones, food and medicine to the country. Conflict Armament Research released an investigation that Iranian drone motors have been traced to a sanctioned Myanmar company.
Saudi Arabia
Ukrainian President Zelensky arrived in Saudi Arabia for high-level meetings. It is believed that defence cooperation between the two countries will be discussed, especially what air defence assistance Ukraine can provide to Saudi Arabia as the war with Iran continues. Zelensky will urge Saudi Arabia to put pressure on Russia to end the war.
Canada
Canada has officially hit its NATO defence spending target. According to the NATO Secretary General’s 2025 Annual Report, Canada spent $60 billion on defence, which amounts to 2% of Canada’s GDP. The bar has been reset, though, with Canada and other NATO members pledging to spend 3.5% on hard defence and a further 1.5% on defence-related infrastructure projects.
United Kingdom
Defence Minister John Healey stated that British forces are now ready to board and detain Russia’s shadow fleet if they enter UK waters. In January, the UK government identified a legal basis to do so, but the approval of the military component was not given until Thursday.
United States
The US Coast Guard issued a Request for Information as it moves forward with plans to acquire up to seven new light icebreakers. This comes as competition in the Arctic is heating up.
Social Media Wires
China showcases its new Atlas strike system, which is capable of controlling a swarm of 100 drones.
The fires at Primorsk and Ust-Luga are still going after the Ukrainian strike.
Featured Photo: “HMCS Regina”, S3 Owen Davis, Canadian Combat Camera, 2026
The Wires Brief is a daily breaking news report incorporating wire service news and social media updates. DefRep cannot verify the authenticity of social media reporters nor the accuracy of social media updates. Feature photos are altered with grayscale.