21 August 2025
Israel
After recalling 60,000 reservists, Israel has committed itself to the Gaza City offensive. The IDF told medical authorities and aid organizations to prepare for the civilian evacuation of the city. It was believed that the call-up would not occur until September to give time for negotiations, but after a clash with Hamas on Wednesday, the government sped up their plans.
North Korea
Researchers at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) reported their recent discovery of the Singpung-dong Missile Operating Base about 27 km (17 miles) from the border with China in the North Korean province of North Pyongan. The base could contain six to nine of North Korea’s advanced intercontinental ballistic missiles, along with their mobile launchers and thousands of soldiers, the report said. Though the weapons are not likely to be mounted with nuclear warheads, they are capable of carrying them.
Russia
The CEO of Rosatom, Aleksei Likhachev, a Russian state-owned nuclear corporation, said Russia’s nuclear shield should be improved in the coming years. “Now, in the current geopolitical moment, there are colossal threats to the existence of our country. Therefore, the nuclear shield – also a sword – is the guarantee of our sovereignty…We understand today that the nuclear shield should only be enhanced in the coming years.”
Ukraine
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the presence of European troops in Ukraine would be “absolutely unacceptable” to Russia. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that such guarantees were a prerequisite before meeting with Russia’s Vladimir Putin. Russia said it had to be part of any discussion on security guarantees for Ukraine and downplayed the likelihood of an imminent summit with President Volodymyr Zelensky,
China-Afghanistan
China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, said China supports joint patrols along the border with Afghanistan – an area known as the Wakhan Corridor. He also called for greater counterterrorism cooperation between the two countries. The Wakhan Corridor is a narrow strip of mountainous Afghan territory that divides Tajikistan and Pakistan, including Pakistani-held parts of Kashmir. It includes a 74km (46-mile) border with China’s Xinjiang region.
India
Ahead of the US tariff hike, India test-fires its Agni-V missile in a demonstration of strength. Prime Minister Modi has stated in the past that India seeks independence of its energy and the development of its own weapons systems. It has also been revealed that India’s brief pause in Russian oil imports will come to an end, and Russian oil imports will resume in September.
Feature Photo: “North Korea Strategic Forces”, Ryan Chan, Flickr, 2025
The Wires Brief is a weekly 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