12 February 2026
Iraq
Iraq received over 4,500 ISIS detainees from Syria. The transfer took place after the Syrian government launched an offensive on Kurdish forces, the SDF. The SDF maintained those internment camps, and there were questions about the integrity of security during and after the offensive.
NATO
NATO launched the Arctic Sentry exercise to improve NATO’s response and presence in the Arctic. So far, there are no plans to make it permanent, but Canada’s foreign minister, Anita Anand, wants the exercise to be permanent. Given the current geopolitical situation, it probably will be.
NATO’s meeting of defence ministers will be taking place today.
Ukraine-Russia
Ukraine struck a major Russian arsenal storing missiles, ammunition, and explosives in Kotluban, Volgograd Oblast, with its domestically-built Flamingo cruise missiles. It is not clear the extent of the damage to the Russian facility, but powerful explosions and secondary explosions were heard.
North Korea
South Korean intelligence believes that North Korea will be designating leader Kim Jong-un’s daughter Ju-ae as the successor. Ju-ae has been seen at various events about the founding anniversary of the Korean People’s Army and her visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun. Kim Ju-ae is believed to be between 12 and 14 years old.
Russia-Cuba
Russia is to provide oil to Cuba as a humanitarian aid measure in “the near future”, so no timeline has been given by the Russian authorities. Cuba is undergoing a fuel shortage in the country, the worst in decades, as the United States has disrupted fuel shipments from Venezuela.
India
The Indian government gave preliminary approval to purchase an additional batch of French Rafale fighter jets. The number of fighter jets is unknown, but India operates two Rafale squadrons and signed a deal last year for the naval variant for India’s navy. Last year, DefenceReport published a piece on how China was attacking the reputation of the Rafale after India’s Operation Sindoor.
Social media wires
The GRAU arsenal was hit by the Flamingo missile attack
Footage of Raytheon’s new reusable interceptor drone with onboard EM countermeasures
Featured Photo: “Czech SAAB Gripen” – Wikimedia Commons, 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.