
AI-generated summary
Israel periodically strikes targets in Syria, often associated with Iranian forces or proxy groups operating in the country.
Israeli artillery shells the Batt al-Warda area near the town of Beit Jan on the outskirts of Damascus. This was reported by Nabd.
Other details have not yet been provided.
As the TASS agency reports, citing Al Mayadeen, Israeli forces also launched an artillery strike on the demilitarized zone in southern Syria. According to the TV channel, the shells fell in the area of the village of Al-Rafid in the province of Al-Quneitra. There were no reports of civilian casualties.
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Israel may continue artillery strikes on Syrian territory in response to perceived threats
Likely · Within days
US Central Command announced it struck three Iranian crude oil tankers in retaliation for prior attacks on US warships, targeting vessels linked to Iran's IRGC financing network, including two loaded tankers near Kharg Island and Jask, and an empty carrier in the Gulf of Oman, prompting Iranian threats of further retaliation.

On Saturday, talks took place in the Kremlin between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US Presidential special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff to end the war in Ukraine. The meeting lasted more than three hours, after which US representatives went to Kyiv for negotiations with Vladimir Zelensky.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico stated in a Facebook video address that Western efforts to defeat Russia through Ukraine have failed and continue to escalate tensions, warning of potential global conflict driven by political survival motives amid economic and migration challenges.
Xi Jinping’s state visit to Egypt marked his first in a decade and coincided with the 70th anniversary of China-Egypt diplomatic relations. During talks with President el-Sisi, Xi urged Middle Eastern states to resist outside interference and shape their own security architecture. Agreements included deeper security and counterterrorism cooperation, joint projects in data centers, semiconductors, and critical minerals, and expanded use of national currencies in bilateral trade. The visit underscored China’s broader strategy to deepen ties with Global South nations seeking multipolarity, with Egypt serving as a strategic gateway to Africa due to its control of the Suez Canal, large population, and growing Chinese investment exceeding $10 billion. Trade between China and Egypt reached $20.79 billion in 2025, rising 21.5% in the first half of 2026 to $11.3 billion, though Egypt faces a persistent trade deficit. China’s engagement emphasizes infrastructure, investment, and technological cooperation without overt political supervision, contrasting with Western models often tied to sanctions and conditions. The article notes China’s reliance on Middle Eastern oil, particularly from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, UAE, Oman, and Iran, and its efforts to diversify energy sources while maintaining regional stability. Beijing’s mediation in restoring Saudi-Iran relations in 2023 and support for BRICS expansion are cited as tangible outcomes of its approach. Xi’s visit is framed as part of a broader initiative to strengthen China’s political and economic influence through trade, investment, and diplomacy, positioning it as a counterweight to US-led Western hegemony without seeking to replace it as a regional security guarantor.

Iran has become more confident in striking US military bases in the Middle East and, according to US intelligence data cited by The New York Times, intends to continue the conflict for several months. Sources indicate that Tehran has a better understanding of its military advantages and may be considering a significant escalation, which would complicate reaching an agreement and could deepen President Trump's political problems ahead of the congressional elections.

The head of the Military History Museum of the Great Patriotic War of Donetsk, Lyudmila Dekurno, told RIA Novosti that Slavyansk and Kramatorsk were liberated from the Nazi invaders on September 6, 1943 during the Donbass offensive operation, and today these cities are again awaiting liberation. She noted that the cities were occupied and liberated twice during the war, and the key battle was the battle for the Saur-Mogila heights from August 28 to 31, 1943, after which the front broke through and the liberation of Donbass proceeded rapidly. According to her, today the liberation process is more difficult due to the terrain, but there is hope for the rapid capture of cities with minimal losses.