12 August 2026
Iran War
President Trump claimed that Iran’s negotiators are devious…again something that has been said before by the president. Trump stated that he has two options in the war: “just bop along” and let Tehran fail economically, or hit them “really, really hard.”
The former Israeli Mossad chief, Yossi Cohen, stated in a forum that Mossad agents toured the Iranian nuclear facility at Fordo many times. Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz facilities were severely damaged by US strikes during the 12-day war in June 2025.
Iran launched drone and missile strikes on the Komala and the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran in Iraq’s Erbil province. Iran fired drones and missiles at the Komala group yesterday. Before that, there was a two-week lull in strikes on Kurdish opposition groups in Iraq.
A spokesman for the Iranian Armed Forces warned that if there is renewed American aggression, all American and non-American energy infrastructure in the region will be at risk of Iranian retaliation.
Yemen
The Houthi rebels launched another ballistic missile strike on Yemen’s strategic port of Mokha. The Houthi rebels and the Yemeni government have been ramping up attacks this week.
Ukraine-Russia War
President Zelensky stated that Ukraine turned over proposals to US negotiators for a plan to end Russia’s war with Ukraine. Zelensky added that: “The United States can help strengthen our defence, first and foremost with air defence, and put pressure on Russia so that its plans are different – to prepare for an end to the war rather than prolonging it.”
Putin declared that there will be retaliation if European countries continue to seize Russian commercial ships. Putin declared that it was piracy and robbery to seize their vessels and sell their property. In July, the EU adopted a legal mechanism to confiscate and sell Russian oil carried onboard shadow fleet vessels.
Russia
President Putin urged Russian businesses to help accelerate the development of advanced technologies. This comes as declining state funding and falling patent applications will not create the surge that Russia needs to be more technologically self-sufficient.
Germany
German officials were able to extract DNA from the explosive-laden drone which was found next to a Ukrainian Antonov cargo aircraft at Leipzig/Halle airport. New CCTV footage shows that the drone deliberately flew towards the Ukrainian cargo aircraft and slammed into its wing. The DNA matches the arson attack on 20 July 2024 on the DHL logistics centre at Leipzig Airport. The parcel bomb exploded on the ground rather than in the air on board the aircraft only because the DHL cargo plane was delayed.
Democratic Republic of Congo
The DRC announced that its Ebola death toll has caused 2,011 deaths among 4,381 confirmed cases since it was declared in May. It is believed that the cause of the latest Ebola outbreak was zoonosis, the transmission of disease from animal to human, rather than from the previous outbreak.
South Korea
Two former Chinese military officers have been arrested for allegedly eavesdropping on communications from fighter jets near a South Korean military base and leaking classified material related to South Korea-U.S. military exercises. One of the men, retired from China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in 2024, has made frequent visits near the base as part of his “hobby” to listen to aircraft communications.
North Korea
North Korea launched another ballistic missile this morning off its east coast towards Japan. The launch is likely a response to the announcement of US-South Korea military drills which will begin on August 17.
North Korea also denounced South Korea’s efforts to build a nuclear-powered submarine fleet, claiming it is a step toward “nuclear armament”. North Korea’s first vice minister of foreign affairs, Jang Kum-chol, said it will further destabilize the Korean Peninsula. And North Korea will need to have “a capability to respond with unsurvivable, irrecoverable retaliatory strikes would be the most responsible choice for deterring war.”
Afghanistan
The dissident Taliban commander in Badakhshan, Juma Khan Fateh, calls on his fighters and local residents to fight the Taliban. Clashes between Fateh’s men and the Taliban commenced on Tuesday night. Heavy fighting continues into Wednesday in several areas of Badakhshan.
Social Media Wires
Ukraine targeted the naval base at Novorossiysk
Audio from Fateh
Featured Photo: “DNA”,ChatGPT, 2026
The Wires Brief is a daily breaking-news report that incorporates 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 and cropping.