9 July 2026
Iran War
Israel signalled to the US that it is willing to join in a war against Iran immediately. The IDF is in close communication with CENTCOM. An IDF spokesman stated: “The Iranian leadership, intoxicated by an imagined victory, is not making the responsible calculations required of any government before going to war. It is acting arrogantly, as though it won the war, and is trying to blackmail the United States.”
The US launched a second set of strikes on Iran. President Trump called it “retribution”. The US hit two railway bridges in Northern Iran. CENTCOM reported that it hit 90 military sites along the country’s coastline to degrade Iran’s ability to target commercial shipping.
Kuwait reported that its air defence engaged with Iranian drone and missile attacks. Iran also targeted Bahrain and Jordan.
Syria
The Trump administration told Congress that it intends to remove Syria from the state sponsor of terrorism list. This will enable Syria to further unlock international trade and investment, thereby assisting in rebuilding the country.
North Korea
North Korea denounced military cooperation between Seoul and Tokyo as “a foolish act of courting self-destruction.” The statement did not come from Kim Jong-un, but from Kang Chol-su, section chief of North Korea’s Institute of Enemy State Studies. He discussed recent defence ministerial talks between Japan and South Korea, and South Korea’s jets refuelling at a Japanese air base earlier in the year.
It is estimated that North Korea provides between 25 and 40% of Russia’s artillery shells. It is believed that since 2023, North Korea has provided 100 ballistic missiles, 600 artillery systems, and 7 million rounds of ammunition.
South Korea
The United States requested information on South Korean shipyard construction capacity. The US Department of War and the Navy are considering options for constructing destroyers and fleet replenishment ships and assessing South Korea’s capacity to build them. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hanwha Ocean submitted details on their destroyer design capabilities and shipbuilding capacity last month.
Ukraine-Russian War
President Zelensky stated that Ukraine will receive a new Patriot interceptor missile package from the United States. The number of missiles is, of course, secret. This comes after President Trump agreed that the United States should allow Ukraine to produce Patriot missiles under licence, but the agreement has not been formally finalized.
Ukraine struck 14 Russian vessels in the Sea of Azov, 12 of which were oil tankers. Ukraine has hit 35 vessels within the past four days. Ukraine claims that all of the vessels hit are part of Russia’s shadow fleet.
Sahel
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with his counterparts from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger in Moscow. The Foreign Ministers from the Alliance of Sahel States welcomed “growing military and military-technical cooperation,” including assistance from Russia’s paramilitary Africa Corps. A joint statement from the meeting alleges that “external state actors,” including Ukraine and France, are responsible for the recent jihadist and Tuareg separatist attacks.
Germany
The United States approved the sale of Tomahawk missiles to Germany. The missiles are typically fired from warships or submarines and can fly over 1,600km. Germany will also acquire ground-based Typhoon launchers. There is no European equivalent of the Tomahawk missile yet. Russia deployed Iskander missiles in Kaliningrad, which can hit Germany.
Canada
Canada is seeking to procure the Light Utility Vehicle (LUV), worth $4.9 billion. However, the government invited a limited number of Canadian suppliers to bid directly. Six competitors have been identified: American AM General and Oshkosh Defence. The Canadian competitors are: Armatec Survivability Group, GM Defence Canada, Roshel and Terradyne Armoured Vehicles.
Social Media Wires
A comedic response if Zelensky would travel to Moscow
Ukrainian sea drone being fired upon as it approaches target
Featured Photo: “Patriot Missile dummy” – Wikimedia Commons, 2026
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