Zelensky:

Ukraine has asked the US to consider a special format for protecting Ukrainian airspace.

BIG: The US plans to phase out security assistance for eastern European countries bordering Russia, aiming to push NATO allies to fund more of their own defense.

The cuts affect Section 333 programs, which train and equip frontline militaries, with funding ending by September 2026 unless renewed by Congress.

Source: FT

Saudi Arabia has deployed at least eight Chinese ‘Silent Hunter’ laser air defense systems to counter low-altitude drones, but harsh desert conditions—dust and sand disrupting optics—limited their effectiveness.

Source: Defence Blog

Somalia: First 11 female officers graduate from Türkiye’s TURKSOM military academy in Mogadishu.

Marco Rubio:

Maduro is a fugitive of US justice. He is not the legitimate leader of Venezuela. He is an indicted fugitive causing trouble in the region.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog will visit London on Sept. 11, ahead of Britain’s expected UN recognition of Palestinian statehood.

Marco Rubio:

The Palestinian Authority has its own set of problems. They pay people to kill Israelis.

Interesting: Ukraine is now operating at least one former Azerbaijani MiG-29 fighter jet, believed to have been repaired in Lviv and re-armed before entering service under Ukrainian markings.

Source: TWZ

Marco Rubio:

The recognition of Palestine stuff is all fake. It is not even real.

During today's call, Trump accused the Europeans of buying Russian oil and thus aiding the Russian war machine.

EU leaders pushed back, noting most Russian oil imports had stopped except in Hungary and Slovakia.

Trump’s envoy Witkoff alleged Europe was indirectly buying Russian oil via India.

European officials do not expect Trump to impose sanctions against Russia.

Source: BILD

Europeans proposed sending a delegation to Washington within 48 hours to coordinate sanctions against Russia, but it’s unclear if Trump agreed.

Source: BILD

Ghana: Land dispute in Savannah Region leaves 31 dead and displaces 48,000 people across 12 communities.

Italy’s Defense Minister Crosetto met Libya’s Defense Undersecretary Al-Zoubi in Rome to strengthen Libya’s army, expand training programs, and boost regional security.

UK oil firm Gulfsands says over $3.8 billion in oil and gas has been illegally taken from Syria’s Block 26 since 2017 by SDF/YPG and the Autonomous Administration.

55M+ barrels extracted, sold via black markets at low prices. Locals lose revenue; land, water heavily polluted, causing health crises.

Gulfsands urges a central Syrian energy strategy to fund reconstruction and create jobs.

Block 26 is a high-yield field in NE Syria.

Gulfsands stopped work in 2011 after UK sanctions; local operators have run it since.

Syria, Kuweires Air Base: First aircraft took off.

Reportedly an L-39 Albatros trainer/light attack aircraft.