🌍 U.S.-ISRAEL DEFENSE, IRAN-HORMUZ TALKS AND STRAIT ATTACKS

🕑 Published: August 9, 2026 · 7:23 PM Israel time

🇺🇸 U.S.-ISRAEL DEFENSE: CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper visited Israel and met IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and other senior officials, according to KAN. Separately, the Pentagon ordered U.S. defense companies to submit plans within 21 days for significantly faster weapons production and deliveries as Washington works to replenish depleted munitions stocks. Channel 12 reported that Israel's interceptor inventory is requiring the Air Force to manage risk at a high level and prioritize interceptions.

🇷🇸 ISRAEL-SERBIA DRONE PRODUCTION: Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić says Serbia plans to open a drone factory with Israel around September 15–20. He said the project would be carried out in cooperation with Israel while contrasting Serbia's capabilities with Ukraine's extensive drone-production infrastructure.

⚓ IRAN-HORMUZ NEGOTIATIONS: A mediator told Axios that Iranian negotiators were awaiting final approval from Iran's Supreme National Security Council for the Oman-U.S. arrangement. As of Sunday, Tehran described the agreement as being in its "final stages," while direct U.S.-Iran negotiations had not resumed.

Iran says full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz requires an end to U.S. threats and aggression against Iran and its regional allies, removal of sanctions and the blockade, compensation for wartime damage, and release of frozen Iranian assets. Tehran says direct negotiations will not resume while Washington is violating the interim agreement.

The Wall Street Journal reported that President Trump has privately considered ending the Iran war if Tehran fully reopens the Strait even without a nuclear agreement, but that Iran's demands for major concessions have complicated that option. The report also said Trump believes Iran would struggle to rebuild its nuclear program after the destruction of its three main nuclear sites last year and that reconstruction efforts would be detected.

🚢 STRAIT OF HORMUZ ATTACKS: The UAE says four Emirati vessels were attacked in the Strait this week. An ADNOC-linked vessel was struck by a missile Saturday, with Abu Dhabi blaming Iran and condemning what it called a hostile Iranian attack.

A separate vessel was struck by an unknown projectile 18 nautical miles east of Khasab, Oman, causing a fire that was extinguished. UKMTO said the vessel and crew were safe. Oman condemned repeated attacks on shipping without naming Iran and said negotiations over navigation arrangements were progressing positively.

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