SDF dissolves; Israel expands Syria foothold; Ukraine strikes Russian energy infrastructure

Middle East 25 tracked events

• SDF commander Mazloum Abdi announced formal dissolution of Syrian Democratic Forces, Autonomous Administration, and affiliated military/civilian structures, with Kurdish education rights prioritized in negotiations with new Syrian government.
• Israeli Defense Minister Katz appeared on Mount Hermon declaring no Israeli military withdrawal from Syrian positions; Israel expelled Dutch representatives from Gaza aid center and halted aid convoys; airstrikes struck southern Lebanon.
• Syria's new government displayed Su-30SM fighters and HÜRJET trainers at military exhibition; Turkish-made Edjer Yalçın armored vehicles documented in service; debris removal completed 150,000+ cubic meters in Aleppo's Al-Ashrafiyah district.
• U.S. Navy cleared Strait of Hormuz of 100+ mines; Trump announced completion and threatened destruction of any new mines; Oman proposed temporary maritime corridor; Iran acknowledged international pressure taking effect.
• Qatar and Jordan condemned Israeli Defense Minister's unauthorized Syria entry as sovereignty violation; Turkey issued Syria travel warning; Erdoğan reaffirmed independent foreign policy and support for Syrian reconstruction.

Ukraine 25 tracked events

• Russian forces launched 29 attacks on Pokrovsk direction across 15+ settlements in Donetsk; one cruise missile fired toward Odesa Oblast; multiple Shahed drones transited toward Chernihiv and Kremenchuk; ballistic missile struck Kryvyi Rih.
• Ukrainian forces destroyed Russian MiG-29 at Millerovo Air Base, struck materiel depot in Zaporizhzhia, destroyed Starlink jamming station in Crimea, and eliminated Peresvet-M electronic warfare system in Luhansk.
• Ukraine conducted deep strikes on Russian energy infrastructure: Astrakhan Gas Processing Plant damaged (two U-272 units), Afipskaya oil refinery hit with confirmed fire (6.25M tons annual capacity).
• Vatican's Archbishop Gallagher met Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov in Moscow calling for war cessation; CIA Director Ratcliffe visited Ukraine; U.S. military transport spotted over Moscow airspace.
• Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Fedorov warned Ukraine is 'gradually losing' war citing weak governance and corruption; Zelensky announced Crotale air-defense systems receipt and stated shift to aerial warfare technology focus.