Sep 13, 2026, 10:30 AM UTC

US President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have forcefully dismissed media reports claiming that depleted missile stockpiles restricted American military operations against Iran. Responding to reports by outlets including CNN and The Washington Post that interceptor inventories were dangerously low, Hegseth rejected the claims, while Trump stated on Truth Social that the US possesses "massive amounts of 'munitions'".

Trump added that domestic weapons manufacturing is ramping up rapidly and warned that anyone leaking unauthorized military intelligence faces lengthy prison sentences. The denials follow media reports indicating Trump had confronted Hegseth over the leaked inventory figures. Pentagon officials maintained that current stockpile levels remain fully adequate to support active defense missions.

Sources: Die Zeit, FAZ, ORF

Tensions between Russia and Northern European countries continue to heighten as European officials confront alleged hybrid threats and sharp rhetoric from Moscow. Top Kremlin officials recently condemned Norway following a NATO military exercise and the seizure of a Russian vessel, with Russian President Vladimir Putin accusing Oslo of "statsterrorisme".

Simultaneously, reports indicate increased Russian hybrid operations, including drone activity in Germany, sabotage plots targeting Danish defense contractors, and simulated deep-sea submarine attacks on Svalbard's underwater cables.

The escalating friction has prompted differing assessments among regional experts regarding the appropriate Western response. Some security analysts warn that perceived Western restraint signals "svakhet og en feighet" to Moscow, thereby encouraging further aggression. Conversely, other commentators urge European governments to maintain composure while reinforcing critical infrastructure against covert sabotage operations.

Sources: Aftenposten, Berlingske, Dagens Næringsliv (DN), Finansavisen, TV 2 Nyheter

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged UN Secretary-General António Guterres to "do everything to stop the war" following a wave of Russian missile and drone attacks across Ukraine. The overnight strikes hit civilian infrastructure in Kyiv, Odesa, and Chernihiv, leaving at least 13 people dead and 40 injured. The offensive followed a strike on a Kryvyi Rih shopping center that killed 15 people and wounded over 130 others, an attack EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas said "shows the depravity of Russia".

In response to the escalation, international diplomatic efforts and military decisions continue to develop. The United Kingdom and France authorized the local production of Scalp cruise missiles in Ukraine, prompting threats of retaliation from the Kremlin. Meanwhile, Italy reiterated its refusal to deploy troops to Ukraine or participate in upcoming multinational military exercises scheduled for October.

Sources: ANSA, Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica.

The US Supreme Court has temporarily cleared the way for construction to resume on President Donald Trump’s planned $400 million ballroom at the White House. In a 5–4 ruling issued by Chief Justice John Roberts, the conservative majority lifted a lower court's injunction to give justices time to evaluate an emergency petition from the administration.

The court emphasized that the procedural decision does not constitute a final ruling on the project's legal merits. However, the justices indicated that the administration demonstrated a strong likelihood of successfully dismissing a lawsuit brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

As a result of the decision, structural work on the historic grounds can advance while legal challenges continue, raising the possibility that basic construction could be finished before a final judicial determination is reached.

Sources: Der Standard, Die Zeit, FAZ, ORF, Tagesschau

German investigative authorities have linked a failed August explosive drone attempt at Leipzig/Halle Airport directly to Russia's military intelligence service, the GRU. According to confidential security documents, an operative based in Russia served as the primary logistician for the operation, which targeted four Ukrainian cargo aircraft.

The incident is part of a wider pattern of hybrid attacks across Germany. Security agencies have documented more than 100 suspected state-sponsored incidents nationwide, including unauthorized drone flights, railway sabotage, disinformation campaigns, and damage to undersea cables. Additionally, Germany's domestic intelligence agency, the Verfassungsschutz, warned that foreign actors may have hidden secret weapon stockpiles within the country to facilitate future sabotage operations aimed at destabilizing democratic infrastructure.

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