United States-Saudi Arabia
The Trump administration is considering the sale of 48 F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. The potential deal has cleared a key Pentagon hurdle, according to officials familiar with the matter. This deal would impact the security balance in the Middle East and would potentially impact Israel’s dominance in the region.
Ukraine
The situation at Pokrovsk continues to deteriorate with more Russian soldiers entering the city and setting up positions. Deep State co-founder Roman Pohorilyi states that the city is being absorbed.
Ukraine carried out a significant drone strike against multiple Russian targets, including a drone logistics hub near Donetsk airport. It is estimated that up to 1,000 Shahed-type/Geran drones and 1,500 warheads were destroyed in the strike.
Syria-US
Reuters is reporting that the Trump administration has negotiated the opening of a US military base in Damascus to monitor an agreement between Syria and Israel. The White House has not yet confirmed the report. Syria’s President, Ahmed al-Shara, will be at the White House on Monday, which will be the first time a Syrian president has done so.
United States
The Transportation Secretary, Sean Duffy, has warned that air travel capacity in the US will be cut by up to 10% starting on Friday. The flight reductions will be gradual, starting at 4% of domestic flights on Friday, then rising to 5% on Saturday and 6% on Sunday, before hitting the full 10% next week.
Israel
The IDF launched a wave of strikes against Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon. This is in response to Hezbollah attempting to rebuild its activities in the area. It is a developing story, so we will probably cover more of it in tomorrow’s Wires Brief.
Afghanistan
The Taliban’s ban on opium production has seen another 20% drop in land used for growing poppies, leading to a 32% drop in opium production. The total area under opium poppy cultivation this year was estimated at 10,200 hectares, mainly in the north-east of the country, with Badakhshan province accounting for the largest share. Before the 2022 ban, more than 200,000 hectares were under poppy cultivation in Afghanistan. Now, some 40% of Afghanistan’s farmland lies fallow because of a lack of profitable alternatives, though cereals are being grown.
Social media wires
Footage of the strike on a Russian drone facility
IDF spokesman alerting residents of southern Lebanon
Feature Photo: “Afghans destroying a poppy field, c. 2010”- ISAF, Wikimedia Commons, 2025
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.