US Forces Airdropped into Syria for Strike on ISIS Leadership
U.S. forces carried out a targeted raid early Friday morning in the northern Syrian town of al-Bab, killing senior ISIS leader Dhiya’ Zawba Muslih al-Hardani along with his two sons, Abdallah Dhiya al-Hardani and Abd al-Rahman Dhiya Zawba al-Hardani, according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). (Read More)
Russia Uses New UMPB-5 Guided Bomb in Kharkiv Strike
Russian forces have used a newly developed precision-guided bomb in a strike on Ukraine for the first time, injuring dozens in the city of Kharkiv. According to the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office, two UMPB-5 aerial munitions were launched from a Su-34 bomber at approximately 11:00 a.m. on July 24, hitting infrastructure in the Shevchenkivskyi and Kholodnohirskyi districts. (Read More)
Thailand and Cambodia Trade Artillery for Second Day in Deadly Border Fighting
Thailand and Cambodia exchanged artillery and rocket fire for a second day on Friday, in the most violent border conflict between the two countries in over 13 years. Fighting between the two countries first erupted early Thursday near the Ta Moan Thom temple, and quickly spread to six locations along the disputed border. (Read More)
Army Launches $3.6 Billion Effort to Replace M240 Machine Gun
The U.S. Army is moving forward with plans to replace its decades-old M240B machine gun, launching a multibillion-dollar initiative to develop and field a next-generation automatic weapon for dismounted combat troops. The new effort, called the Future Medium Machine Gun (FMMG) program, is outlined in the Army’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget. (Read More)
Russia Launches Satellite for Iran Toward Orbit alongside 2 Space Weather Probes | Space
A Soyuz 2.1b rocket launched July 25 from Vostochny Cosmodrome, deploying Russia’s Ionosfera-M 3 and 4 space weather satellites, Iran’s Nahid-2, and 18 secondary payloads. The new Ionosfera pair completes a constellation to monitor solar effects on Earth’s ionosphere and includes a new ozone sensor. Deployment updates are pending from Roscosmos. (Read More)
Undersea Sensors—A US Trump Card China Knows it must Eliminate | ASPI
The U.S. Navy’s undersea sonar network offers a key advantage by detecting enemy submarines globally—posing a major challenge for China near Taiwan. But the system is vulnerable. Chinese forces are exploring ways to locate and disable undersea sensors. The U.S. has just one aging cable-repair ship, USNS Zeus, with limited wartime utility. Experts warn the Navy must expand repair capabilities and protect its seabed infrastructure before conflict erupts. (Read More)
US to Purchase Up to $30 Billion in Ukrainian-Made Drones, Says Zelenskyy
Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced an agreement with U.S. President Donald Trump for the sale of Ukrainian-made drones to the United States. Zelensky estimated the potential contract to be worth between $10 billion and $30 billion. “With America, with President Trump — we agreed that they will buy drones from us. There is such an agreement,” Interfax-Ukraine quoted Zelenskyy as saying. (Read More)
Pentagon Suspends Participation in Think Tank and Research Events
The Department of Defense (DOD) has suspended all official participation in think tank and research events until further notice, according to an internal email distributed Thursday and obtained by POLITICO. The decision follows the department’s abrupt withdrawal from the Aspen Security Forum last week, where senior officials were expected to deliver keynotes and participate in bilateral meetings. (Read More)
Court Blocks Ammunition Background Checks in new Blow to California’s Gun Control Framework | Cal Matters
A federal appeals court struck down California’s law requiring background checks for ammunition purchases, ruling it unconstitutional under the Second Amendment. The 9th Circuit said the law places burdens on gun owners and doesn’t align with historical firearm regulations, as required by the 2022 Bruen decision. Governor Gavin Newsom called the ruling a setback for public safety. (Read More)
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Alert Line NSTR. Sam Havelock CEO, SOFX Are you a first time reader? Subscribe. Ukrainian Special forces head toward the Tendrivska split during a nighttime raid (Source: HUR via Telegram) Armed Conflict Open-Source Reporting on Global Conflict Ukrainian Special Forces Raid Russian-Occupied Island in the Black Sea Ukrainian special forces from the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR) carried out a raid on a Russian military position on an island in the northern Black Sea on Monday night....
