Trump calls reporters covering waning munitions “treasonous SCUM”; U.S. imposes even more Cuba sanctions; Scores killed in Yemen clashes

Death toll from U.S. strike on wedding in Sirik rises to five: The death toll from a U.S. attack on a wedding party in Sirik rose to five, Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported on Thursday, after a 22-year-old woman died from her injuries.

• Four of the victims, including a 4-year-old and a 16-year-old, were buried in Kuhestak on Thursday in a funeral attended by a large number of mourners, relatives, military, and civilian officials, according to state media.

• U.S. strikes on Sirik wounded at least 60 people; 11 remain hospitalized and six are in an intensive care unit, according to IRIB.

Iranian authorities report intercepting stockpiled weapons on Pakistan border: Iranian officials claimed they seized a “significant weapons cache” after a clash with militants at the Pakistan border, Iran’s Fars news agency reported on Thursday, alleging that the weapons were being smuggled into the country to “carry out acts of sabotage and create insecurity.”

• The cache included RPG-7 launchers, antitank RPG projectiles, RPG propellant charges, 2,382 rounds for AK-47 rifles, and 796 rounds for M4 rifles, according to a commander in Iran’s border guard.

IRGC arrests suspected Kurdish militants carrying munitions near Iraqi border: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Thursday that it arrested seven people allegedly carrying ammunition in the country’s northwestern Ilam province, claiming the detainees belonged to a Kurdish separatist group and that they sought “to carry out armed operations” against the government.

EU to join U.S. economic pressure campaign against Iran, Bessent claims: U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced in a Thursday evening X post that the European Union had officially joined “Operation Economic Outcast,” the U.S.’s economic pressure campaign against Iran, noting that the U.S. “appreciated” the body’s “strong and early stance.” The EU, however, has yet to announce participation.

• Bessent called the campaign a “clear message” to the Iranian government, and said that the pressure would not cease until Iran’s “every remaining financial lifeline” was severed.

• The EU stated earlier that it would “work closely with the United States and other G7 and international partners to maintain pressure on Iran and contribute to de-escalation and regional stability.”

Vance addresses Iran “conflict” in briefing: At a White House press briefing, U.S. Vice President JD Vance addressed the U.S.’s ongoing war on Iran, rejecting calls for a timetable, ruling out negotiations, and leaving open the possibility of U.S. covert action.

• Vance refused to call the conflict a “war,” saying that, at present, “there is no active shooting,” while acknowledging recent strikes as part of a “flare-up.”

• When asked whether the war would end before the midterms, Vance said he didn’t know, but would not “set an artificial timeline.”

• He also said that the U.S. was not presently negotiating with Iran, and would not talk to them “unless they stop shooting at commercial shipping.”

• Vance said that the U.S. remained open to every means of fighting Iran, including arming dissidents. “Everything that could happen is on the table,” he said, including “economic pressure, military pressure, diplomatic pressure, covert pressure.”

• Vance also said China was “willing to play ball” with the U.S.’s campaign to isolate Iran, though he noted Beijing was not doing everything Washington had asked of it, and named Turkey, Azerbaijan, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar as countries privately helping apply pressure.

• The campaign was intended, in part, to prevent Iran from rebuilding its nuclear program, Vance said, but acknowledged: “So far, we haven’t seen them try to do so.”

• Asked about the U.S. strike on a wedding gathering in Kuhestak, southern Iran, that killed five people and wounded 67, Vance said he was “extremely skeptical” of the reports that the U.S. had intentionally or knowingly killed civilians. “The United States never targets civilians in combat. We never will do that. We never have done that, and unfortunately, obviously, sometimes things happen,” he said.

Iranian VP threatens “asymmetrical response” to U.S. attacks: Mohammed Reza Aref, Iran’s first vice president, said in a post on X that the United States had changed Tehran’s security and defense calculations, warning Iran’s next response would be “asymmetrical” and “multi-layered.”

Netanyahu says Israel remains committed to overthrowing Iran’s government; Katz threatens energy infrastructure: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly told senior Israeli officials that overthrowing Iran’s leadership is his “next main mission,” according to the Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom.

• Separately, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that his country would strike Iran’s energy and civilian infrastructure if Iran were to attack Israel, saying that such an attack would “free Israel from any existing limitations on attacking Iran.”

• “We will cripple all ‌of Iran’s national military and civilian infrastructure—including energy infrastructure—and return Iran ‌deep ‌into the Stone Age and darkness,” Katz threatened in a Thursday speech.

South Korea reviews possible military deployment to Strait of Hormuz: South Korea is reviewing a possible deployment of military assets to the Strait of Hormuz amid pressure from Trump for allies to support operations in the region, The Guardian reported.

• The assets reportedly under consideration include a P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, a naval logistics support ship, and an explosive ordnance disposal team. The presidential office, however, said “nothing related to the matter has been decided.”

• South Korea relies heavily on the Strait of Hormuz, with more than 90% of its primary energy imported and about 70% of its crude oil passing through the waterway.

Trump calls reporters “treasonous SCUM” over reports of low munitions: In response to recent reporting on the U.S.’s diminishing munitions stockpiles, which some experts have characterized as “dangerously low,” Trump called outlets that reported on the topic “treasonous SCUM” and claimed the reports were inaccurate, saying the U.S. was producing munitions at “levels never seen before” and has “far more than we could ever use.”

Israeli attacks kill two Palestinians in Gaza on Friday: One Palestinian was killed and “several others” wounded when an Israeli drone struck a group of people west of Khan Younis, WAFA reported. Another Palestinian was killed and three others wounded by Israeli gunfire north of the city.

Israeli forces kill Palestinian in East Jerusalem, shoot and wound children in Bethlehem:

• East Jerusalem: Israeli police shot and killed Ibrahim Al-Hindi, 33, from Beit Hanina, near Damascus Gate early Friday,, according to WAFA. Police reportedly claimed he had attempted to stab an officer. His killing brings the number of Palestinians killed in the Jerusalem governorate this year to 17.

• Bethlehem: Two Palestinian children were shot and wounded with live ammunition during an Israeli raid on Beit Fajjar, south of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, on Thursday evening.

• Ramallah: Settlers erected a tent Friday near Palestinian homes in Umm Safa, northwest of Ramallah, after dozens attacked a resident’s home and property under Israeli military protection, WAFA reported. Israeli forces closed the main entrance to Al-Mughayyir, northeast of Ramallah, where two Palestinian teens were killed by Israeli gunfire on Wednesday, preventing residents from entering or leaving, as settlers encroached on Palestinian land east of the village.

  • The United Nations said the teens’ killings brings the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the village since December 2024 to nine, including five boys. The UN said Al-Mughayyir, surrounded by eight settlement outposts, has faced “incessant settler and state violence” aimed at forcing Palestinians from the area.

Fourth person killed in Nazareth in 24 hours: A young Palestinian man was shot dead in Nazareth on Thursday, the fourth person killed in the city within 24 hours. His killing brought the number of Palestinian citizens of Israel killed in violent crime this year to 158, amid continued criticism of Israeli police and the government over their failure to investigate most killings and hold those responsible to account.

• Israeli police said they arrested 30 people in two overnight operations on Thursday and Friday, claiming dozens of officers “stormed several compounds belonging to gangs” and, “in several cases,” chased and arrested suspects.

Israeli prison guards beat Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, injuring his head, face, and chest: Israeli prison guards repeatedly beat detained Palestinian doctor Hussam Abu Safiya with hands, feet and batons, the Palestinian Center for Prisoners’ Defense said, citing a new message through his lawyer.

• Abu Safiya, director of Gaza’s Kamal Adwan Hospital, said guards deprive him of sleep with noise and loudspeakers at night and threaten him against revealing his prison conditions. He also reported being assaulted after lawyers’ visits, suggesting retaliation for speaking out.

• The center said he has injuries to his head, face, chest and left eye while being denied medical care and called for urgent UN, Red Cross, and WHO intervention.

UN report: Israel violated international law when it expelled Palestinian refugees from three West Bank camps: A new UN Human Rights report says Israeli security forces forcibly displaced the entire Palestinian populations of the Jenin, Nur Shams, and Tulkarm refugee camps in the occupied West Bank in January and February 2025 and are still preventing their return. “Operation Iron Wall” killed civilians, destroyed hundreds of homes, damaged roads and other infrastructure, cut off water and electricity and barred humanitarian access, the report said, as Israeli forces went door to door forcing residents to leave.

• “The way Operation Iron Wall has been conducted suggests its aim was to expel as many Palestinians as possible and to make way for more illegal Israeli settlements, in further violation of international law,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.

Amnesty: Israel escalates West Bank annexation with first civil land seizures in Area A: Israel is escalating its annexation of the occupied West Bank by confiscating land in Area A under Palestinian Authority control, according to a report from Amnesty International. The rights group said the Israeli military issued at least 15 confiscation orders in July covering about 200 dunams (20 hectares) in the Jenin Governorate, across Areas A and C, to connect the planned settlements of Emek Dotan and Noa.

• According to Peace Now, this marks “the first time since the Oslo Accords that military seizure orders have been issued in Area A openly for civil purposes benefiting settlers rather than for ostensible security reasons.”

• “These latest confiscation orders from Area A show how Israel is now brazenly expanding its annexation agenda to areas that have been under the control of the Palestinian authorities since the Oslo Accords,” Amnesty said.

Luxembourg declines to renew authorization for Israel bonds: Luxembourg’s financial regulator did not renew its authorization for Israeli bonds after it expired on Monday, complicating Israel’s ability to raise funds from investors across European markets, Anadolu Agency reported.

DRC announces plans to move Israel embassy to Jerusalem: The Democratic Republic of the Congo announced plans to move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

• Israel claims the entire city as its capital, while Palestinians seek occupied East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state. The UN Security Council has rejected measures seeking to alter Jerusalem’s status and called on countries not to establish diplomatic missions in the city.

Al Jazeera: More than 100 killed in Yemen clashes in past 48 hours: At least 100 fighters have been killed in clashes between Yemen’s Ansarallah and Saudi-backed government forces in the past 48 hours, according to Al Jazeera.

• A military official told AFP 24 government fighters were killed near the western coast, while another said 15 were killed in fighting around Taiz. Medical sources in areas controlled by Ansarallah reported at least 42 Ansarallah fighters killed.

Yemen’s Saudi-backed forces claim they regained territory: Heavy clashes are ongoing between Yemeni’s Saudi-backed government forces and Ansarallah fighters in Taiz governorate, with government forces claiming they repelled Ansarallah attacks in Maqbanah and Al-Kudhah and regained some territory that had briefly fallen to the group, Al Jazeera reported.

Israeli forces carry out explosions and shell southern Lebanon despite “ceasefire”: Israeli forces carried out explosions in Al-Mansouri in the Tyre (Sour) governorate on Friday, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported, while Israeli artillery shelling sparked fires in Zawtar Al-Sharqiyah, in the Nabatieh governorate.

Israel claims control of Ali Taher Ridge as Katz vows to remain in southern Lebanon until Hezbollah disarms: The Israeli military claimed it had taken control of the Ali Taher Ridge near Nabatieh and cleared two major tunnel routes it described as a Hezbollah “nerve center,” The Times of Israel reported.

• Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the operation marked “the completion of the phase of establishing control over the security zone in southern Lebanon,” and vowed Israel “will not withdraw” until Hezbollah is disarmed.

• Hezbollah-affiliated MP Ihab Hamadeh disputed Israel’s account, saying there remained “ambiguity” over whether Israeli forces had actually taken control of the ridge. He said Israel had provided no images showing its forces inside the facility and argued that continued Israeli strikes on the area raised questions about its claim of full control.

Israel releases five Lebanese detainees as ICRC calls for better access: Israel released five Lebanese detainees since Thursday, including four handed over at the Ras Al-Naqoura crossing on Friday. The ICRC transferred the four to a Lebanese army barracks in Tyre (Sour). Among those released was a man who had been detained for more than two months.

• Lebanese President Joseph Aoun thanked the U.S., President Donald Trump, and international parties, particularly the ICRC, for efforts leading to what he called the release of the “first batch” of Lebanese detainees.

• Dozens of Lebanese citizens are reportedly being detained in Israeli jails. The ICRC said it has been unable to access detainees in Israeli detention facilities since October 2023, including Lebanese nationals, and reiterated its demand for access to them.

House GOP cancels final two weeks of pre-election session: Republican leaders announced the House will cancel its final two pre-election weeks of legislative business, meaning members will leave Washington by September 17 and not return until mid-November.

• Speaker Mike Johnson attributed the shortened calendar to a Senate backlog of nearly 600 House-passed bills, and to pre-midterm political pressures, arguing “many [members] want and need to be in their districts, working with their constituents, and running their campaigns.”

• GOP leaders indicated they would recall members to Washington only if the Senate advances a party-line budget reconciliation package, which is not currently expected.

U.S. shifts to weekly deportation flights to Haiti as violence worsens: The U.S. government deported more than 100 people to Haiti on Thursday, landing in Cap-Haïtien, the third such flight in three weeks.

• The U.S. has sent deportees from a Louisiana facility to Cap-Haïtien rather than to the country’s capital, Port-au-Prince, because of gang violence. Gangs control an estimated 70% of the city.

• Violence in the country displaced nearly 1.5 million people nationwide and killed more than 3,050 from January to June, according to the U.N.

Missouri Supreme Court blocks congressional map in rare setback for GOP redistricting: The Missouri Supreme Court unanimously blocked the state’s new, Trump-backed congressional maps from being used in November and ordered a statewide referendum on redistricting, following a petition campaign which garnered 30,000 signatures.

• The map that the court jettisoned was used in the state’s August primaries. Republicans hoped that map would help them net an additional House seat, with Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver’s Kansas City-based district dramatically redrawn.

Trump administration proposes IRS rules revoking tax-exempt status from schools with race-based support programs: The Treasury Department published proposed regulations Thursday that would strip tax-exempt status from any school, including universities, found by the IRS to have admissions, scholarship, or other policies deemed racially “discriminatory” toward white or Asian American students.

• The policy, which could apply to as many as 18,000 schools, relies upon a 1983 Supreme Court case which allows the IRS to revoke tax-exempt status from organizations in opposition to “fundamental public policy.” It also follows the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling in the Students for Fair Admissions case.

• American Association of University Professors President Todd Wolfson called the move “blatantly racist political coercion” and said the group is likely to sue.

Florida bans undocumented students from state universities: Florida’s Board of Governors voted unanimously to bar undocumented students from enrolling in state universities starting in the 2027-28 academic year, making Florida the largest state to enact such a ban and joining Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported.

• The vote follows a June decision by the State Board of Education banning undocumented immigrants from Florida’s 28 state colleges and adult education programs, and comes after the state already ended in-state tuition waivers for these students.

• At least 4,672 undocumented students were enrolled in state colleges in 2024-25, with an estimated 2,000 more at state universities.

U.S. House passes bill that would penalize universities for boycotting Israel: The House of Representatives passed a bill on Thursday that would bar federal funds from American universities that boycott Israel or its academic institutions, including those located in the occupied West Bank.

• The body approved the measure in a 237-169 vote on Thursday, with 33 Democrats, including Jake Auchincloss, Gil Cisneros, Jared Moskowitz, Jimmy Pannetta, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and Juan Vargas, joining the Republican majority.

• Republicans Warren Davidson and Thomas Massie broke ranks with their party to reject the bill. The bill needs the approval of the Republican-controlled Senate and the signature of the president to become law.

Trump names Adam Telle acting Army secretary after Driscoll’s resignation: President Donald Trump announced Thursday evening that Adam Telle, currently assistant secretary of the Army for Civil Works, would become acting Army secretary “effective immediately.”

• The appointment follows the resignation of Dan Driscoll, whose departure this week capped months of internal clashes with War Secretary Pete Hegseth over his broader push to reshape Army leadership.

• Telle previously served as Sen. Bill Hagerty’s chief of staff and worked in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs during Trump’s first term.

Missouri GOP candidate charged with plotting to plant drugs on political opponent: The Justice Department announced charges against Thomas Ross, 37, a Republican candidate for Missouri state representative, alleging he instructed his former campaign manager to plant cocaine and Adderall on his primary opponent, Louise Secker, whom he defeated by just 33 votes last month. The head of the Missouri GOP has called for Ross to drop out of the race.

Global food prices hit four-year high, UN says: The UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s Food Price Index climbed for a third straight month to 133.3 points in August, its highest level since late 2022, with every tracked category—cereals, vegetable oils, sugar, meat, and dairy—rising over the month.

• FAO chief economist Maximo Torero said “climate shocks, geopolitical tensions and disrupted trade logistics are converging to tighten supply expectations,” with sugar rising fastest, up nearly 12% to a one-year high.

• Cereal prices climbed more than 2% to a two-year high, a result of strikes in the Black Sea, a major route for Russian grain exporters.

• The risks are compounded by global warming and the return of El Niño, which contributed to reduced crop yields amid European heatwaves this summer. The weather pattern also threatens production across Asia, with the World Food Programme warning the phenomenon could push another 50 million people into acute hunger by the end of next year.

U.S. sanctions Raúl Castro’s grandson, five Cuban companies amid economic pressure campaign: The U.S. State Department imposed new sanctions on five Cuban companies and Fidel Ernesto Castro, the 31-year-old grandson of 95-year-old revolutionary leader Raúl Castro.

• Washington sanctioned the state-owned Banco Exterior de Cuba, two nickel mining companies, and two energy-sector firms including an oil importer, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio accusing Cuban leaders of enriching themselves while seeking “to export subversive Marxist ideology to the United States.”

• Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez countered that “Cuba does not threaten U.S. national security or the U.S. economy.” “The accusation that Cuba allegedly sponsors terrorism actually reveals the U.S. government’s lack of seriousness,” he added.

• A U.S. oil blockade imposed earlier this year has worsened Cuba’s power grid failures and prompted UN warnings of a humanitarian crisis on the island.

Cuba unveils new market reforms to attract foreign investment amid U.S.-driven crisis: Cuba published 34 pages of new regulations Thursday aimed at attracting foreign investment, trade, and tourism, part of ongoing free-market reforms adopted under pressure from Washington and a deepening economic crisis driven by punishing U.S. sanctions.

Ukrainian security service and military clash in Kyiv: Ukraine’s security service and military intelligence agency exchanged gunfire in Kyiv on Wednesday, reportedly wounding three officers.

• The clash between the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine (GUR) broke out the night of September 2 over the detention of Stepan Kaplunov, deputy commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps, an anti-Kremlin Russian unit fighting for Ukraine under military intelligence.

• The SBU said its officers came under armed attack while investigating a Russian assassination plot. A GUR commander accused SBU personnel of opening fire on unarmed intelligence officers without warning.

• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ordered an investigation and dismissed senior SBU official Oleh Khramov. “Here in Ukraine, shooting is only permissible at Russian occupiers,” he said.

Russian drone strikes Kyiv headquarters: A Russian drone hit the headquarters of Ukraine’s security service, on Volodymyrska Street across from St. Sophia Cathedral, injuring at least five people, according to Ukrainian officials. Zelenskyy said the drone was aimed directly at the office of SBU chief Oleksandr Poklad, but did not disclose whether he was present.

• Zelenskyy ordered the SBU to prepare “an appropriate, tangible response” against Russia, saying the retaliation should, where possible, mirror the strike and would receive support from Ukraine’s military.

UAE pardons imprisoned dissident Abdulrahman Al-Qaradawi: The president of the United Arab Emirates has pardoned Egyptian-Turkish poet and political dissident Abdulrahman Yusuf Al-Qaradawi one week after he was sentenced to 10 years in prison and a fine of AED200,000 ($54,452), according to The National.

• Qaradawi was first detained in Lebanon in December 2024 on charges related to a video he posted to social media while visiting Syria in which he criticized the governments of Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Both Egypt and the UAE issued extradition requests for Qaradawi and he was deported to Abu Dhabi less than two weeks later and remained forcibly disappeared for over 200 days in what human rights groups called a flagrant violation of human rights and due process. Read Drop Site’s coverage of Qaradawi’s case here.

Haitian FM urges UN to renew international force mandate: Haiti’s Foreign Minister Raina Forbin urged the UN Security Council Thursday to extend the 12-month mandate of an international force supporting Haitian police “as soon as possible” before it expires this month, saying stronger backing is essential for the country to hold its first election since 2016.

Court orders arrest of Philippines VP Sara Duterte over alleged assassination threat: A Quezon City court issued a warrant Friday for the arrest of Philippines Vice President Sara Duterte over allegations she arranged to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez killed.

• Duterte is facing an ongoing Senate impeachment trial over the same threats—a case that, if it results in a guilty verdict, would remove her from office and quash her 2028 presidential ambitions.

• Duterte’s lawyer, Paul Lawrence Lim, said she has “no intention of evading the law,” and officials expect her to post bail quickly rather than face detention.

• Her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, remains in International Criminal Court custody in The Hague awaiting trial over his deadly anti-drug campaign.