Senior military commanders from the U.S., Israel and eight Arab countries secretly met in Germany last week to discuss the war with Iran and the broader regional security situation.

Axios reports the meeting, organized by CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper, included the military chiefs of Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan and Egypt.

It was the first such gathering since the U.S. and Israel went to war with Iran more than six months ago, and brought together Israeli and Arab military leaders from countries that in some cases still have no diplomatic relations.

Cooper reportedly reassured the group that the U.S. will maintain its military presence in the region and briefed them on plans to expand protected shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

The meeting also comes as the Houthis escalate attacks on Saudi Arabia and threaten the Bab al-Mandab. Axios reports Israel, Saudi Arabia and CENTCOM are discussing possible Israeli ISR support for Saudi operations against the Houthis.

Source: https://www.axios.com/2026/09/15/military-commanders-us-israel-arab-countries-iran-meeting-germany

According to U.S. Central Command, since the resumption of the U.S. blockade of vessels traveling to and from Iran, 103 vessels have been redirected.

The FBI arrested a 21-year-old Pennsylvania man allegedly preparing for an ISIS inspired mass casualty attack, according to the Justice Department.

Federal prosecutors say Jonathan Hunter Kramer had been investigated previously for a mass-casualty plot and, after his release from juvenile detention in March, resumed extremist activity online. Investigators say he claimed affiliation with ISIS, discussed explosive manuals and said he was preparing for a “mission” but needed a weapon.

The FBI arrested Kramer on Sept. 12 after observing him obtain a disposable phone, acquire a long black bag and visit a sporting-goods store's gun counter.

Searches allegedly recovered a semiautomatic rifle, five magazines, 190 rounds of ammunition, a bipod and scope, an entrenchment tool, pepper spray and approximately 30 knives.

He faces a federal charge for receiving a firearm or ammunition knowing or having reason to believe it would be used in a federal crime of terrorism. Prosecutors are seeking detention without bond.

A new Congressional Budget Office report on the costs of Operation Epic Fury was released today, and it contains a notable table detailing U.S. battle losses.

The table lists the loss of two KC-135 Stratotankers and one F-35A.

To date, the Department of War has publicly acknowledged the loss of only one KC-135, which was destroyed in a crash over western Iraq. The Department has also acknowledged that multiple KC-135s were damaged during an Iranian strike on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.

The inclusion of an F-35A in the CBO's battle-loss table also appears to confirm the first combat loss of an F-35.

Amidst ongoing reciprocal Saudi-Yemeni Government-Houthi strikes, as operations on the ground continue, a member of the Houthis’ political establishment has posted a singular word, “F15,” sparking speculation that a Saudi F-15 may have been engaged and/or shot down.

The U.S. fired 70+ high end air defense interceptors during Iran's latest ballistic missile attack on Jordan, some of which was captured in the video below.

The Wall Street Journal reports the U.S. fired 60–70 Patriots and more than a dozen THAAD interceptors against roughly 20 Iranian ballistic missiles. Iran used increasingly complex warheads designed to release multiple projectiles near their targets, and some missiles still struck aircraft at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base.

The expenditure comes after the U.S. had already fired roughly 1,700 Patriots, 200 THAADs and 150 naval Standard Missiles by mid-July.

The Pentagon says claims that U.S. interceptor stocks are depleted are false. But a new DoD inspector general report found that the war has produced strategic inventory shortfalls and exposed industrial-base bottlenecks in munition resupply.

Source: https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/the-u-s-is-burning-through-its-supply-of-interceptors-to-counter-irans-attacks-f42c5ecd?st=5gnMfa

Reuters reports that U.S. officials held a previously undisclosed meeting with senior Houthi representatives in Oman over the weekend, just days after the Houthis seized effective control of Yemen’s Red Sea coastline and Perim Island in the Bab al-Mandeb.

The meeting took place at the U.S. Embassy in Muscat and was facilitated by Oman, according to five sources. The Houthi delegation reportedly included senior officials Mohammed Abdulsalam and Abdelmalik al-Ajri.

According to two sources, the Houthis told U.S. officials they do not intend to attack American vessels and remain committed to the 2025 U.S.-Houthi ceasefire. One source said the Houthis also said they would not target Israeli ships or commercial vessels, with the exception of Saudi vessels.

The meeting comes as Saudi Arabia seeks greater U.S. involvement against the Houthis. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly asked President Trump last week for U.S. military support as Houthi forces advanced along the Red Sea coast. Washington has so far declined to directly enter the fighting.

Reuters says the State Department did not confirm the meeting, but reiterated that protecting freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and preventing terrorism from spreading remain U.S. interests.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-officials-met-iran-backed-houthis-oman-over-weekend-sources-say-2026-09-16/

According to the Saudi Ministry of Defense, yesterday, the Houthis targeted the city of Mecca, a holy city within Saudi Arabia. Per the release, the drone was intercepted outside of city limits to the south of the city. A number of nations, including Pakistan and Bangladesh, have decried the move.

According to a release from U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), at the direction of SOUTHCOM, Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM) conducted an operation where they interdicted a vessel in the Eastern Pacific Ocean that was being used by the narco terrorist organization, Los Choneros, as a floating refueling station. The station was in direct support of illicit at-sea drug trafficking operations. After apprehending the individuals on board and turning them over to Ecuadorian authorities, the vessel was destroyed.

Federal prosecutors and David J. Rush’s defense attorneys have been granted a third and final 21 day delay in indicting him, moving the deadline from Sept. 17 to Oct. 8, 2026, as the parties say they have made significant progress toward a plea agreement in principle.

The case involves classified information, and prosecutors say additional time is needed to prepare an agreed statement of facts, review classified discovery and obtain approvals from other government agencies. The parties also say an indictment and trial would likely require significant litigation over classified material, while resolving the case before indictment would conserve government and judicial resources. Rush has agreed to waive Speedy Trial Act objections during the extension.

Rush is currently charged with one count of theft of government money, but the filing makes clear that the government has been discussing the investigation and “likely criminal charges” with the defense. The filing does not specify what additional charges could ultimately appear in an indictment.

For background, Rush was a CIA officer who came under investigation by the agency before an FBI raid reportedly uncovered approximately $40 million in gold, $2 million in cash and dozens of luxury watches. The investigation allegedly found that Rush had invented an operation that gave him access to the gold and cash, embellished his résumé and claimed military leave during periods when he was not serving in the military. Those allegations led to the current theft charge.

The latest filing indicates that, rather than proceeding immediately to an indictment, the government and defense are working toward resolving the case before one is filed.

According to a new report from Fox News’ Trey Yingst, a U.S. contracted vessel carrying “U.S. personnel” was struck during an Iranian attack earlier this week near the Strait of Hormuz.

Yingst reports that the vessel was targeted with at least four drones and one missile, resulting in minor injuries among those aboard.

Polymarket traders are currently pricing a 65% chance that the Israel-Iran ceasefire will remain in place through December 31, up about 5 percentage points over the past day.

The market has seen more than $30 million in total trading volume, with the contract currently trading around 64 to 65 cents.

Israel remaining out of direct renewed hostilities with Iran so far may be contributing to the recent increase in the longer-term probability.

The Justice Department has unsealed charges against five alleged members of a Russian intelligence-linked network accused of recruiting people in the U.S. to conduct surveillance and assassinations.

According to the indictment, the network recruited a U.S.-based Venezuelan this summer to surveil a prominent Russian dissident in the Washington, D.C., area, offering $1,000–$1,500 for surveillance and $40,000 for the killing. When the recruit declined to carry out the murder himself, the alleged recruiters asked whether he knew someone who could do it.

The indictment alleges the network previously offered a U.S. citizen $25,000 to assassinate another Russian dissident in Lithuania, and discussed attacks against electrical substations, warehouses, fuel facilities and other infrastructure in NATO countries supporting Ukraine.

The five defendants include a former Russian intelligence colonel, an alleged FSB officer, and associates based in Russia. All remain at large.

The charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.