Aug 15, 2026, 04:30 AM UTC

US President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have rejected media reports suggesting that American weapons stockpiles have reached dangerously low levels amid military confrontations with Iran. Posting on Truth Social, Trump insisted that the armed forces maintain vast quantities of munitions and emphasized active production capabilities, while warning that those who leak sensitive defence information could face lengthy prison sentences.

At the same time, Trump told reporters that diplomatic discussions between Washington and Tehran have resumed, characterizing the dialogue as Iran's final opportunity to secure an agreement. However, Iranian representatives had previously contested this claim, stating that no bilateral negotiations were taking place or scheduled.

Sources: Die Zeit, FAZ, ORF, Tagesschau

Spanish and Moroccan security forces have intensified border operations around Ceuta following renewed social media campaigns inciting another coordinated crossing attempt on 15 August.

The alert comes in the wake of a late-July surge where tens of thousands attempted to enter the Spanish enclave after widespread online disinformation. Casualty estimates from that incident vary between reports, ranging from at least 72 drownings to over 100 fatalities. Hundreds of migrants remain stranded on local beaches as municipal services struggle to cope.

In response to fresh online mobilization, Moroccan authorities have arrested several suspects accused of instigating illegal entries into Ceuta and Melilla. Meanwhile, Spanish forces have reinforced perimeter fencing, cancelled military leave, and expanded police patrols along the frontier to deter unauthorized entries.

Sources: Correctiv, Der Standard, FAZ, ORF, Tagesschau.

Former Italian prime minister Giuseppe Conte defended his administration's handling of the coronavirus pandemic during an extended hearing before a parliamentary inquiry commission in Rome. Addressing lawmakers after a four-hour scheduling delay, the Five Star Movement leader maintained that his government acted legally and transparently when implementing emergency decrees and procurement measures.

Conte revealed that he submitted an anonymous document to Rome prosecutors regarding a roughly 100-million-euro contract with JC Electronics involving potentially counterfeit face masks, calling for judicial authorities to investigate the transaction thoroughly. Responding to scrutiny from the ruling majority, the former premier denied any illicit conduct and urged lawmakers not to use the commission as a partisan tribunal.

Sources: ANSA, Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero, La Repubblica.

Ukrainian forces have disclosed substantial territorial advances in the Oleksandrivka sector over the past six months, marking their most significant liberation of territory since autumn 2022 following strict operational secrecy. Concurrently, a Ukrainian strike on Novorossiysk damaged two Russian frigates equipped with Kalibr cruise missiles.

The operational updates coincide with leadership shifts as newly appointed armed forces commander Mykhailo Drapatyj moves to reorganize command structures. Meanwhile, former commander-in-chief and current ambassador Valerii Zaluzhnyi remarked that Ukraine would never join NATO, claiming the alliance relies on outdated doctrines ill-suited to modern warfare. Domestically, the Security Service of Ukraine reported neutralizing dozens of Russian intelligence operations that used deceptive dating profiles to orchestrate assassination attempts against military personnel.

Sources: Deník N, Ekonomický deník, Hospodářské noviny, Respect, Seznam Zprávy