Aug 13, 2026, 04:00 AM UTC

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally rejected a 15-point Gaza peace proposal endorsed by US President Donald Trump, stating that Israeli troops will not withdraw from the enclave until Hamas is fully disarmed.

In televised remarks on Sunday, Netanyahu declared that "Israel rejects the 15-point document" and emphasized that the military "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed." The announcement marks a public rift with Washington, which had framed the framework as a major diplomatic breakthrough following its acceptance by Hamas last month.

Netanyahu's refusal comes as he navigates domestic political pressure ahead of Israel's upcoming election on October 27, balancing demands from far-right coalition partners against pressure from the United States administration to curb military operations.

Sources: Cyprus Mail, France24, STV News, The Guardian, The Herald.

US intelligence assessments indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin may attempt to test NATO unity through targeted cyber operations or limited ground incursions along the alliance's eastern flank. The reported strategy aims to divide allied nations in the coming years.

Concurrently, Russian pressure on Nordic partners is mounting, with Moscow designating several Norwegian civil society organizations supporting Ukraine as undesirable entities.

Meanwhile, defense experts warn that Ukraine faces severe risks ahead of the winter season due to dwindling air defense reserves. A recent Russian missile barrage on Kyiv killed at least 17 people after local interceptors failed to stop incoming fire, highlighting the strain on military stockpiles.

Sources: Aftenposten, Finansavisen, NRK, TV 2 Nyheter, VG (Verdens Gang)

A series of Ukrainian drone strikes across several Russian regions has resulted in multiple casualties and damage to commercial infrastructure. In Moscow Oblast, a strike on a warehouse killed five people and injured at least ten others, according to local officials.

In Leningrad Oblast, air defenses downed 17 drones near Krasny Bor, where falling debris set fire to a Wildberries e-commerce warehouse for a second straight night, leaving one person injured. Further south in Krasnodar Krai, a drone crashed onto a beach in Arkhipo-Osipovka, killing seven people—including three children—and injuring about 40.

Concurrently, Russian strikes on Kyiv killed nine people and wounded 33. On the ground, Russian forces secured tactical advances near Artelne in Kharkiv Oblast, while Ukrainian troops progressed toward Uspenivka. Meanwhile, Belarus announced the creation of a new air assault brigade near the Ukrainian border.

Sources: France24, Mediazona, Point, The Insider, Радіо Свобода