🇪🇺 🇩🇪 🇷🇺 Ursula von der Leyen on X: This morning I spoke with Chancellor Merz to discuss the hybrid attack at Leipzig airport.

I assured him that the EU stands in full solidarity with Germany in the face of this attack by Russia.

We will keep the EU united despite these escalating and serious acts. The German government has taken strong measures. And the message is clear: hybrid attacks will not go without a clear response.

We are united in our resolve to stand against Russian aggression. We will deter anyone who seeks to undermine our freedom and security.

Russia is seeking to sow distrust and fear among our societies. But it will fail. And we will stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes.

I will discuss this topic tomorrow with NATO Secretary General Rutte. And the matter, including additional sanctions, will be prepared by Foreign Ministers at their upcoming meeting under the Irish Presidency.

📎 Ursula von der Leyen

📢 🇵🇱 🇷🇺 Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on X: Poland, the Baltic states, Romania, and now Germany. Russia is escalating tension across the whole region. We’ll not be intimidated and our response will be our continued support for Ukraine and full coordination of NATO states against the aggressor. Russia will not win this war.

📎 Donald Tusk

—❗️🇺🇸/🇯🇴/🇮🇷 BREAKING: Interception attempts ongoing at Muwaffaq Salti Airbase, Jordan

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇺🇸/🇮🇷 NEW: The U.S. bombed a wedding in Sirik, resulting in two martyrs

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇺🇸/🇮🇷 NEW: The amount of martyrs from the attack on a wedding in Sirik has reached 4

@Middle_East_Spectator

—❗️🇺🇸/🇯🇴/🇮🇷 BREAKING: Direct impacts at King Hussein Airport in Aqabah, Jordan

The footage was recorded from Eilat, southern Israel.

@Middle_East_Spectator

⚓️ 🇺🇸 🇹🇭 Under heavy escort, the USS Abraham Lincoln transited the Strait of Malacca and Singapore Strait over the weekend, en route to Thailand for a highly publicized and much-needed liberty port call. Guided-missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls led the three-ship column, with guided-missile destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. following astern of the supercarrier as she entered the South China Sea.

Multiple Thai officials have confirmed the upcoming port visit since it was first reported last week, with the flattop expected to pull into port at Laem Chabang in the coming days.

Meanwhile, America’s other two deployed carrier groups are in the Middle East enforcing the ongoing blockade as the U.S. and Iran exchange fire for the first time since July.

The unannounced addition of Ticonderoga class cruiser USS Robert Smalls, which has historically served as IAMD commander for the carriers forward-deployed out of Yokosuka, Japan, adds 122 Vertical Launch System (VLS) cells packed with missiles for protection and firepower. The rationale for the additional Tico cruiser, an iconic class that will be completely retired over the coming years without a comparable replacement, is unclear. TWZ has not received an on-the-record response from the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) or U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) public affairs explaining the redirection.

https://www.twz.com/sea/where-are-the-aircraft-carriers-uss-abraham-lincoln-escorted-to-thailand-as-the-middle-east-heats-up

📎 Ian Ellis