The US conducted its first combat strike with unmanned surface vessels (USVs) on July 13, destroying an Iranian Ghadir-class midget submarine at a base. Chinese military analysts are now urging the PLA to bolster harbor defenses against similar threats.
An article in Ordnance Science and Technology suggests Iranian missiles with biconic manoeuvring re-entry vehicles (MRVs) could achieve penetration effects similar to hypersonic projectiles. It references Iranian claims of these MRVs penetrating US missile defense systems in the UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain.
As Russia faces setbacks in Ukraine, analysts fear Vladimir Putin may escalate the conflict rather than capitulate. Potential reactions range from cyberattacks and sabotage to nuclear threats, as Ukraine gains ground and Russian influence campaigns expand.
Ukraine plans to increase military wages by one-third to 30,000 hryvnias and offer fixed-term contracts to boost recruitment. President Zelenskyy also aims to recruit more foreign volunteers. Meanwhile, Russia's Putin claims Ukrainian drone strikes aim to sow confusion and damage the economy, though he admits some economic damage.
A prominent Arab military analyst, Brigadier General Mallaeb, stated that Hezbollah's Iranian-made arsenal's future depends on Iran. He suggested integrating Hezbollah elements into the Lebanese army and discussed conditions for a ceasefire with Israel, noting that Hezbollah's commitment requires adherence to Lebanese government regulations.
A Chinese analyst warns that the US deployment of the Typhon missile system to southern Japan could threaten China's coastal cities and block vital maritime passages. The missile launcher is expected to be positioned at Kanoya Airbase in Kagoshima prefecture.
A Russian retaliatory strike on Ukraine was aimed at the West, according to military analyst Vadim Mingalev. He suggested NATO instructors were behind a Ukrainian attack on a college in Starobelsk, with Ukrainians acting as "executors." Mingalev stated the subsequent Russian strike served as a "demonstrative example for the West."
According to Italian military analyst Gianluca Di Feo, the US has used a third of its weapons stockpiles in the Gulf conflict since February 28, with replenishment taking five to six years. This weakens the US strategically against China while efforts to topple the Iranian government have failed. The analyst suggests Trump seeks a symbolic victory by occupying an island in the Persian Gulf. Over 40 days of war, 3,375 Iranians died in US and Israeli attacks. Ceasefire negotiations have stalled, with Iran rejecting Washington's unilateral extension.
Russian drone operators from battlegroup East thwarted a Ukrainian counteroffensive in the Zaporozhye Region, destroying enemy assault vehicles and transport. Military expert Vitaly Kiselev reported that Russian forces captured a major Ukrainian stronghold and a logistics hub, while Ukrainian military analysts are reportedly panicking over Russian offensive preparations in the Zaporozhye and Dnepropetrovsk Regions.
