Conflict Archive (War Diary) OSINT

The Saraya Al-Quds Brigades (armed wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad) announced that a group of militants from an Israeli-backed Palestinian armed group attempted to capture a fighter from the "Al-Qarara Battalion" (subordinated to the PIJ's "Khan Younis Brigade") in the early hours of this morning. The militants, likely part of the small Popular Forces-affiliated armed group known as the "Free Homeland Forces", reportedly advanced into the PIJ-held territory in the ruins of Al-Qarara under the cover of Israeli drones. Palestinian fighters from the Saraya Al-Quds Brigades detected the infiltration force during the kidnapping operation, and fought back with small-arms fire and grenades, reportedly killing and wounding part of the force. The militants were apparently unsuccessful in capturing the PIJ fighter, prompting them to execute him on scene and withdraw alongside their own casualties under the cover of Israeli drone strikes.

Ukraine's presidential chief of staff Budanov told the NYT he advised Zelensky against any Donbas deal that lets Russia fly its flag over territory its army couldn't take.

US-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi in early 2026 narrowed a 20-point framework down to two sticking points: The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and the remaining Ukrainian-held slice of Donbas — described as "four partly ruined midsize cities and a swath of farmland." Ideas floated included handing administration to private military contractors, a US-backed "Board of Peace," or joint civilian governance. Budanov says he's "ready for any step that will end the war" but won't accept formal territorial loss. He expects talks may resume this month but no ceasefire before spring 2027. Source: NYT

A series of suspected hybrid attacks and espionage incidents have occurred across Germany since 2024, targeting critical infrastructure. Key events include the Leipzig/Halle airport drone attack in August, which has been officially blamed on Russia, and multiple drone incursions over air bases. The Faytuks Network has compiled a summary of possible hybrid attacks on Germany. Caution: the map is not complete. Don't hesitate to leave a comment to contribute:

IDF claims that it has taken control over the strategic Ali Taher Ridge in southern Lebanon, "both above and below ground". The ridge houses an extensive underground Hezbollah facility, and has been contested for months, with dozens of airstrikes preventing resupply or evacuation of Hezbollah fighters.

⚡️🇩🇪 – Two Bulgarian nationals were arrested after throwing three incendiary devices against two defense companies' facilities in Munich, Germany. The pair targeted Rohde & Schwarz, which among other things builds security and communications technology for public authorities and the military, and Helsing, a German military drone manufacturer. All fires were extinguished before damage could be caused. The attempted attack comes amid a string of sabotages against German infraestructure in the last week. @GeoPWatch

A security guard at a natural-gas processing plant in Lower Saxony was attacked after spotting two suspected drone operators near the facility on August 9, according to Tagesschau. The suspects, wearing balaclavas and gloves, reportedly slammed the guard’s head onto a car hood before fleeing; a police search was unsuccessful.

A suspected connection between the sabotage attacks on power infrastructure in Jänschwalde, Brandenburg, and Bergheim, North Rhine-Westphalia, is considered likely, according to Tagesschau.

Faytuks Network (@FaytuksNetwork) For reference, two separate attacks hit German substations this week: Brandenburg authorities found ten homemade rockets near Jänschwalde and are investigating terrorism, while North Rhine-Westphalia probes "anti-constitutional sabotage" near Cologne.

🇮🇷❌🇺🇸 — Wreckage of the U.S. Air National Guard (USAF reserve) MQ-9A Reaper UCAV shot down above Khomeyn, Iran on September 1st.

Map of the geolocated footage in relation to the IDF/Shin bet operation to capture Muein al-Arabid, the internal security chief of Hamas. Following the raid, the van used in the op sped westwards, towards the yellow line.

Using another photo, courtesy of @GettyImages, the house where a senior Hamas official, who was apparently the target for cpature, was residing is located by the intersection of Count Bernadotte & Medhat Al-Wehedy st. Location: 31.517642 34.437971 8G3PGC9Q+66 Rimal, Gaza City Governorate, Gaza Strip.

🇺🇦 #Ukraine: A confrontation broke out in Kyiv between officers of Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) and the SBU’s Alpha special unit during an investigation into the disappearance of RDK deputy commander Stepan Kaplunov, which the FSB was plotting to kill. HUR officers allegedly located Kaplunov and discovered that those holding him were SBU Alpha officers. After an initial confrontation, the agencies’ leadership reportedly agreed to resolve the situation and the SBU promised to release Kaplunov. However, SBU officers later allegedly began detaining unarmed HUR personnel, with shots fired when they resisted and several officers wounded, including one officer which was killed on the spot. Ukrainian sources said three HUR officers were injured, while police blocked Shumskogo Street and SBI investigators and the Alpha commander arrived at the scene. The sides allegedly later agreed to unload their weapons to allow investigators to begin working. (📹 via @theleaflet & @NOELreports on X)

🇮🇷❌🇺🇸🇧🇭 – Satellite imagery confirms damage to the U.S. NSA Bahrain, Headquarters of the 5th U.S. Fleet, in Manama. An Iranian one-way drone struck a warehouse in the facility. Iran had claimed the base was attacked with around two dozen 'Arash-2' drones. @GeoPWatch

A U.S. strike hit near a wedding ceremony in Kuhestak, southern Iran last night.

Five killed (including a 4-year-old), 68 wounded — mostly women and children. Iran says it was a direct attack on civilians. CENTCOM says it targeted IRGC military sites and "never targets civilians." Reports indicate a nearby telecommunications tower was struck; the wedding house appears to have been hit by shrapnel or proximity blast. Munitions analysts identified fragments as Boeing SLAM-ER cruise missile components.

Hezbollah launched two explosive-laden drones at Israeli troops operating at the Ali Taher Ridge in southern Lebanon overnight, prompting strikes on the terror group's infrastructure in the area, the military says. According to the IDF, one of the drones was shot down by the troops, and no soldiers were injured in the attack. Hezbollah has a major underground facility beneath the ridge in the Nabatieh area, and several operatives are believed by the IDF to still be holed up there. In response to the attack, the military says that it struck Hezbollah infrastructure in the Nabatieh area. The sites had been used by the terror group to advance attacks on Israeli forces operating in southern Lebanon and Israeli civilians, the IDF says, adding that the strikes were intended to "remove an immediate threat." The IDF says that it continues to operate at the Ali Taher Ridge and "will not allow terrorists in the area to advance and carry out" attacks on troops. "The IDF is currently operating and will continue to act with determination against Hezbollah’s repeated attempts to harm IDF soldiers," the military adds.

🇺🇸❌🇮🇷 — NEW: U.S. Central Command says its forces have completed a wave of strikes against Iranian military targets tonight in response to attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM says the strikes targeted IRGC air defenses, radar and communications sites, maritime assets and facilities, as well as mine-laying capabilities.

NEW: Russian UAVs have started deploying defensive countermeasures when threatened by Ukrainian interceptor drones. Russian "SuperCam" reconnaissance UAV evades a Ukrainian anti-drone interceptor by deploying countermeasures. Another Russian drone was shown deploying nets as a defense.

WATCH: Israeli special forces captured Muin al-Arabid — head of Hamas's internal security in Gaza — in a Shin Bet-led raid in western Gaza City today. Firefight broke out, IDF used airstrikes to cover extraction. Al-Arabid wounded, taken to Israel. Hamas disputes his seniority and calls it a failed "kidnap."

⚡️🇺🇸🇮🇷💣 – The Iranian launchers struck yesterday in Larak Island were equipped with rare mine-deploying rockets, according to The War Zone, a capability that could give Iran the ability of more easily shutting down the Strait at the worst possible time. It is not known whether U.S. CENTCOM had already seen Iran use this capability, or just how much Iranian forces have adopted it, but it is known that the missile systems are likely a variant of the Fajr-5 equipped with a mine warhead. The Center for International and Maritime Security put it best in a report made last year:

While the Fajr-5’s estimated payload capacity is light compared to U.S. or Chinese naval mines, the mines the rockets could deliver are still heavier than diver-delivered limpet mines and could conceivably disable a ship if struck by enough mines from the field. Most importantly, this field could be delivered rapidly and with little warning. Even though the explosive capacity of this mine individually is small, the psychological impact from inflicting minor damage on a small number of merchants could still be enough to force shipping companies to avoid the area.

@GeoPWatch