Running low: US strategic oil reserve reaches lowest level in decades

"The issue today is the reserve has been greatly depleted under the current president. Over 200 million barrels of crude oil have been pulled out by President Joe Biden since the beginning of last year — around 40% of what was stored." Scripps

Pentagon “Monitors North Korea’s 3rd Reconnaissance Satellite Launch Plan”

"U.S. Department of Defense stated on the 31st (local time) that it will “continue to monitor” North Korea’s plans for its third reconnaissance satellite launch." GB

Jordan pulls ambassador from Israel in protest of Gaza war

"Jordan, a major U.S. ally in the Middle East, pulled its ambassador from Israel 

to protest the ongoing war in Gaza." AP

Pavel Prigozhin Takes the Helm: Accelerated Recruitment in Wagner Group

"Russian mercenary group, Wagner, has been actively recruiting new soldiers in the Russian

cities of Perm and Novosibirsk. Pavel Prigozhin, the son of the late founder of Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, is believed to be managing the group. " FW

Ukrainian strike on Donetsk rail station

"Ukrainian forces destroyed an enemy ammunition storage facility on Revyakin Street in

Donetsk. According to Kyiv’s intelligence, the warehouse contained captured Ukrainian weapons. The rail yard reportedly stored fuel for the Russian military in numerous tank cars." AP

Russia Building New Ship Designed to Thwart Ukraine's Drone Attacks

"Russia is building a new naval training vessel that may help teach helicopter pilots to combat

Ukrainian drones.....Russian Ministry of Defense recently decided to move forward with a plan to build a "floating desk" training vessel due in part to the threat of naval drones that Ukraine has been launching from the Black Sea,....dubbed "Project 14400," is expected to be completed by next year." Newsweek

Israel Missile Ships Deployed to Red Sea Amid Yemen Threat

"Israel has sent Navy missile boats to the Red Sea to bolster its presence there following

missiles attacks from Iranian proxies in Yemen.
Video released by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) showed Sa'ar-class corvettes patrolling near Eilat port in the Red Sea, amid concerns that the Israel-Hamas war could spill over into the wider region." MS