Faytuks Network

Baltic military planners are preparing for scenarios in which U.S. support is delayed or does not arrive, with war games already testing that premise. European NATO members are expanding their capabilities, but Baltic officials say there would be no easy replacement for U.S. satellite intelligence, missiles and hypersonic weapons. — The Atlantic

Baltic states are building defensive lines along their borders, including anti-tank ditches, concrete “dragon’s teeth,” infrared cameras and acoustic sensors modeled on a Ukrainian system. Lithuania is also recreating swamps and reforesting parts of its border to channel potential attackers into predictable routes, according to The Atlantic.

The Baltic states are preparing for a potential Russian attack, including through nationwide military exercises involving civilian volunteers and plans to commit their societies to the defense effort. Lithuania’s defense chief Raimundas Vaikšnoras told The Atlantic that "if they [the enemy] step one foot in our territory, we will strike back."

Zelensky said Ukrainian intelligence has obtained information that Putin told his military to remove all constraints on their military air campaign. ︀︀“He said there are no rules now.” Zelensky said at a school which had been struck by a Russian drone. -FT

The private email address and residential address of the vice president of the German Federal Investigative Service has been circulating online for years. According to research by WDR and SZ, this is not an isolated case either, with several European Intelligence officials also affected by other data breaches. - Tagesschau

"We don't see Qatar LNG coming back to the market soon." The CEO and chairman of Japan's Jera (World's largest LNG buyer) -Bloomberg

A US official told the New York Times that Iran has launched about 30 drone attacks and 10 anti-ship missile attacks per week against commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz since the start of August.

Kyiv's Mayor Vitaly Klichko now confirms the drone has hit the Southern Bridge. https://x.com/FaytuksNetwork/status/2105842652491256009/photo/1

Faytuks Network (@FaytuksNetwork) A Geran-5 drone has struck near the Southern Bridge again in Kyiv few moments ago.

A Geran-5 drone has struck near the Southern Bridge again in Kyiv few moments ago.

A Geran-5 drone has struck the Southern Bridge again in Kyiv few moments ago.

The U.S. wanted to reassure both allies that it would protect their key energy facilities in case President Trump decides to resume major combat operations against Iran.

Faytuks Network (@FaytuksNetwork) The U.S. military in recent weeks sent two additional Patriot missile batteries to protect oil and gas facilities in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, per Axios. This comes after a month long targeted attacks on energy infrastructure by Iran-backed Houthi militia on Saudi facilities, such as Yanbu, East-West pipeline, and other Aramco facilities.

The U.S. military in recent weeks sent two additional Patriot missile batteries to protect oil and gas facilities in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, per Axios. This comes after a month long targeted attacks on energy infrastructure by Iran-backed Houthi militia on Saudi facilities, such as Yanbu, East-West pipeline, and other Aramco facilities.

Saudia Arabia announces in a statement intercepting a Ballistic Missile launched by the Houthis towards Khamis Mushait.

Saudi authorities have now confirmed that an individual was arrested in Mecca for harassing people at the holy site and "causing panic and fear among them." Authorities stated that the individual was immediately apprehended, necessary legal measures were taken, and the case was referred to the Public Prosecution. Saudi Arabia's official news account also stated that "there is no truth to the claims being circulated regarding the incident."

Faytuks Network (@FaytuksNetwork) Faytuks Investigation Thread: While details surrounding today's incident in Mecca remain unclear, here's what we know. Videos began circulating earlier today showing authorities restraining and apprehending a man in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The Faytuks Network GEOINT team geolocated the footage to the King Abdulaziz Gate in Mecca. The videos were shared by locals and individuals claiming to have witnessed the incident, some of whom alleged that it was an attempted suicide bombing. This remains unconfirmed. Following Faytuks Network's initial post regarding the incident, an X Community Note was added claiming that the footage was old. The note cited a 2019 AFP fact-check concerning a separate incident in 2017, during which a Saudi man reportedly attempted to set fire to the Kaaba shrine using gasoline. However, our analysis indicates that the currently circulating footage is distinct from the 2017 incident. The videos show different locations and circumstances. While both incidents occurred in Mecca, the newly circulating footage was geolocated to the King Abdulaziz Gate, whereas the 2017 incident occurred at the Kaaba shrine. It remains unclear whether the reported incident was an attempted suicide bombing. However, the footage appears to show authorities apprehending a man wearing what appears to be a vest near the King Abdulaziz Gate. The reason for his apprehension remains unknown. We are awaiting official statements to establish what occurred and will provide further updates as information becomes available.

Both incidents took place 230 meters from each other, as displayed in this image. The lower point displays the video filmed today, while the upper point displays the location of the 2017 incident.

Video from the Kaaba shrine incident in 2017:

Video's from todays incident by the King Abdulaziz Gate in Mecca:

Faytuks Investigation Thread: While details surrounding today's incident in Mecca remain unclear, here's what we know. Videos began circulating earlier today showing authorities restraining and apprehending a man in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The Faytuks Network GEOINT team geolocated the footage to the King Abdulaziz Gate in Mecca. The videos were shared by locals and individuals claiming to have witnessed the incident, some of whom alleged that it was an attempted suicide bombing. This remains unconfirmed. Following Faytuks Network's initial post regarding the incident, an X Community Note was added claiming that the footage was old. The note cited a 2019 AFP fact-check concerning a separate incident in 2017, during which a Saudi man reportedly attempted to set fire to the Kaaba shrine using gasoline. However, our analysis indicates that the currently circulating footage is distinct from the 2017 incident. The videos show different locations and circumstances. While both incidents occurred in Mecca, the newly circulating footage was geolocated to the King Abdulaziz Gate, whereas the 2017 incident occurred at the Kaaba shrine. It remains unclear whether the reported incident was an attempted suicide bombing. However, the footage appears to show authorities apprehending a man wearing what appears to be a vest near the King Abdulaziz Gate. The reason for his apprehension remains unknown. We are awaiting official statements to establish what occurred and will provide further updates as information becomes available.

An apparent suicide bombing attempt was reportedly thwarted by local authorities in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, earlier today. Videos circulating from the alleged incident appear to show authorities restraining a man who appeared to be wearing a vest. A previous Faytuks Network post regarding the incident was deleted after an X Community Note claimed that the footage originated from a 2017 incident. However, following an internal review, Faytuks Network has determined that the two videos currently circulating appear to depict a separate, more recent incident, distinct from the one in 2017.

Ashton Hamed Ellaboudy, 51, from Richland, Washington, has been arrested and charged with attempting to support the Houthis, a designated foreign terrorist organisation. A U.S. government employee, Ellaboudy allegedly used his expertise overseas to aid the Iran-backed group and acquired materials for explosive devices and drones. He is set to appear before a federal magistrate judge on October 2 at 11:00 a.m. in Richland. Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg described the allegations as “deeply disturbing.” Assistant Director Jarod Brown of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division announced that an individual allegedly betrayed the U.S. by attempting to aid the Houthis, a designated foreign terrorist organisation. Thanks to the FBI’s efforts, his actions were detected, and he is now in custody.