28 July 2026
Iran War
The US and Iran have withheld their fire for three consecutive days after the US conducted 13 renewed nights of attacks. President Trump claims that the US is talking with Iran. Trump reiterated that the US is ready for military action if the talks go nowhere.
Iranian-backed Iraqi militias launched drones toward Saudi Arabia. The kingdom did intercept them, and the official spokesman for the Saudi Ministry of Defence condemned the attacks. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi ordered an investigation into the drone attack and vowed legal action against anyone found responsible.
Israel
Several Israeli generals close to Israeli leadership launched a campaign against Prime Minister Netanyahu’s policies, accusing him of seeking to “ignite a third intifada in the West Bank” as his “only way out to remain in power.” Netanyahu is on his way to Washington, DC, to meet with President Trump. 600 former generals and senior officials sent a letter to Trump urging him to pressure Netanyahu. An excerpt of the letter urges Trump “to halt the deterioration in the West Bank and exploit his meeting with Netanyahu to rein in his comrades and allies in the far-right who are drowning the country in blood.”
Germany
One woman was killed, and 29 others were injured after an attacker drove his vehicle into Berlin’s Pride parade. The suspected perpetrator was known by police as an Islamic State sympathizer. The 21-year-old German national attempted to travel to Syria via Turkey and Lebanon to join Islamic State fighters in 2025. He was given a suspended sentence of one year and ten months. This has triggered a political debate within the country.
Ukraine-Russia War
Ukraine claimed that it struck a state-owned fuel storage facility in Borok, Udmurt Republic. This facility was 1,300km from the Ukrainian border. According to the Ukrainian General Staff, this facility is a “major oil depot of national importance,” storing fuel, petroleum products, and lubricants intended for use during emergencies and to support military needs.
Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister and former energy minister, Alexander Novak, claimed that the ongoing fuel crisis in Russia is easing. Novak claims that several oil refineries are back online. Novak did not provide any figures.
Russia
Leaked documents on the development of Russia’s RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile show how Russia’s defence industry and agencies cut corners to try and deliver the missile by the Kremlin’s deadlines, which seem to be more about nuclear signalling than developing genuine capacity to build it. The Sarmat was announced in 2018 and has been declared combat-ready in 2022 and again in 2023. It was announced in May this year that it will be combat-ready by the end of the year.
Nigeria
At least 30 people were killed in Kaduna state when armed men attacked a village; among the casualties were eight children. It is believed that corruption, poor intelligence sharing and underfunded local policing have hampered Nigeria’s efforts to crack down on the jihadist and bandit threat. Recently, a Nigerian soldier, Private Mohammed Yusuf, was arrested over allegations that he supplied military uniforms to terrorist and criminal groups. Yesterday, it was announced that Nigeria will be recruiting an additional 28,000 soldiers.
In a week-long anti-narcotics operation, Nigerian authorities seized thousands of kilograms of illicit drugs. Nigeria’s National Drug Enforcement Agency states that it included “two tonnes of ‘Canadian Loud’ cannabis hidden inside imported vehicles at Apapa Port, cocaine concealed in food cartons destined for the United Kingdom, and large quantities of opioids and other narcotics intercepted at Lagos’ ports and airport.” These seizures highlight how Nigeria, and Africa, are used as a transit hub for international trafficking networks for Africa, Europe and other markets.
NATO Industrial Base
At least 24 new projects are underway to produce energetics across NATO countries. Munitions require propellants to launch projectiles (like artillery shells) and explosives to destroy a target. Together, these are known as energetics. The US currently has only one WWII-era propellant factory, and no new factories have been built in over 50 years, since the early 1970s. NATO is surging production of energetics, with new sites in Arkansas and Europe. The UK plans to build six energetics factories by 2030. In many sites, environmental and safety regulations are slowing down projects, which Russian factories do not have to deal with, but the danger is real – a blast killed 16 workers in a Tennessee explosives plant last year.
Afghanistan
The Afghanistan Freedom Front claims that its forces repelled several Taliban attacks in the Zebak district of Badakhshan. Separately, the Taliban confirm that Zabihullah Amiri, the head of information and culture in the province, was killed by two motorcyclists.
Japan
An earthquake registering a magnitude of 7.1 shook Kumamoto on Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu late Tuesday afternoon, causing damage and injuries, officials said. A tsunami advisory was temporarily issued but was lifted within two hours, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. The U.S. Geological Survey initially reported the earthquake had a magnitude of 7.1 but later revised it to 6.8. Details are still unclear, but there have been reports of injuries and damage to roads, bridges, and buildings, as well as blackouts and fires.
Social Media Wires
A burning Russian train dumps flaming fuel from its cars after being hit by a Ukrainian drone
Featured Photo: “Israeli General Staff Meeting” – Wikimedia Commons, 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.