Hey team,
Mainstream media only tell half the story. Away from the mainstream headlines, new alliances are forming, militaries are shifting gears, and influence campaigns are running hard. The picture that emerges from adversarial channels is one of pressure points building fast across multiple fronts.
Here’s what matters this week and what to watch in the weeks ahead.
Disclaimer
All insights in this report are drawn from adversarial OSINT channels to provide an unfiltered view of non-Western aligned actors and narratives. Content reflects source claims and framing; inclusion does not imply verification.
BLUF
Israel escalated its campaign in Gaza and Syria, with large-scale airstrikes reported against multiple sites. Flotilla aid ships linked to Greta Thunberg and other activists came under drone attack near Tunisia, drawing international coverage. BRICS states amplified messaging on sanctions resistance, multipolarity, and UN reform. Ukraine conflict narratives centred on Storm Shadow strikes, Russian drone salvos, and internal dissent within Kyiv. The US military presence in the Caribbean grew amid threats of operations against Venezuela. Africa highlighted the inauguration of Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam and Africa-CARICOM reparations calls, signalling economic and diplomatic repositioning.
Diplomacy
BRICS leaders convened an extraordinary online summit, with Brazil, South Africa, China, and Egypt highlighting the decline of Western-led institutions and the need for reforms. Calls for multipolarity, sanctions resistance, and mechanisms to support member states under external pressure were echoed. Egypt and Brazil underlined the erosion of trust in the UN Security Council and the need for settlements that include all parties’ interests.
Madrid recalled its ambassador from Israel after public clashes between Spanish and Israeli leaders. Venezuela accused Guyana of provocation over border tensions. Russia rejected Argentina’s claims of espionage, summoning its ambassador in Moscow. In Europe, the fall of French Prime Minister François Bayrou’s government following a no-confidence vote introduced fresh instability for President Macron.
Short-term outlook: It is likely BRICS will increase institutional framing of alternatives to the UN system. It is possible Spain-Israel tensions escalate further through reciprocal measures. France will likely face internal instability in the near term as a new prime minister is appointed.
Information (Cyber & Influence)
Adversarial channels amplified stories of Western weakness and hypocrisy. Reports highlighted German police recruitment struggles, migration-linked violence in Europe, and censorship of Banksy artwork critical of UK policing. Narratives claimed the EU secretly continues buying Russian resources despite sanctions, undermining Western unity.
The Epstein case and links to Western elites were leveraged again, while stories of Ukrainian corruption, dissent among Kyiv MPs, and Western hypocrisy on free speech circulated widely. Anti-Israel activists stormed Elbit Systems’ facility in Germany, causing significant damage, and the action was celebrated across channels.
Short-term outlook: It is likely adversarial outlets will continue pushing narratives of Western collapse and elite corruption. It is possible further stories around EU energy dependence and migration will be timed to coincide with political turbulence in Brussels.
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Military
Israel’s campaign expanded beyond Gaza to Syria, with strikes reported in Latakia, Homs, and Palmyra against depots and air defence sites. Netanyahu signalled a major ground operation in Gaza following the destruction of over 50 towers in two days. Meanwhile, flotilla aid vessels, including Greta Thunberg’s “Freedom Flotilla,” were reportedly struck by suspected drones near Tunisia, sparking international outcry.
Ukraine updates focused on Russian Mi-28NM strikes on UAV units, mass drone use (over 500 Molniya-2 in one week), and Storm Shadow missile strikes on Donetsk and Makeevka. Channels claimed Mexican cartels trained in Ukraine on UAV tactics. US deployments in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, including USS Iwo Jima and F-35s, were highlighted as preparation for possible strikes on Venezuela.
Short-term outlook: It is almost certain Israel will escalate ground operations in Gaza while maintaining air campaigns in Syria. Russian drone strikes will likely intensify as Ukraine presses Storm Shadow use. US deployments in the Caribbean are likely to sustain pressure on Venezuela with a possible limited strike option in the next month.
Economic
Russia promoted its resilience against sanctions, noting increased drone production and steady energy trade with Europe despite official rhetoric. BRICS economic framing pushed multipolar financial reform and defence against unilateral sanctions. In Africa, Ethiopia inaugurated the Grand Renaissance Dam, a symbolic and practical step in asserting energy independence. The Africa-CARICOM summit emphasised reparations and reform of global financial institutions.
Local economic narratives included Polish rejection of increased aid to Ukraine, Europe buying Russian metals despite sanctions, and South African references to land reform models. Pan-Africanists in the DRC protested against oil contracts with Perenco, demanding renegotiation and state-led development.
Short-term outlook: It is likely BRICS economic messaging will continue to challenge Western-led systems. African states will likely amplify sovereignty and reform themes at global forums. It is possible European sanction contradictions will be increasingly exposed by adversarial channels.
Heavy movement this week across military, diplomatic, and economic fronts. BRICS leaders are setting a clear multipolar line, Israel is pushing its campaigns outward, and US forces are signalling hard in the Caribbean. Africa and the Global South continue to carve out space in the global conversation.
What are you watching most closely? Drop your thoughts in the comments.
References
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https://www.politico.eu/article/ursula-von-der-leyen-facing-new-no-confidence-motions
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https://www.la-croix.com/France/Politique/Crise-politique-Bayrou-renversé-2025-09-08
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https://www.corriere.it/esteri/25_settembre_08/kuleba-fuga-polonia
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https://www.milenio.com/internacional/cartel-cjng-entrenamiento-ucrania
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https://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/nord-stream-ermittlungen
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https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-supreme-court-freeze-foreign-aid-ukraine
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-ukraine-ambassador-protest-anna-netrebko
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https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/08/erik-prince-blackwater-ukraine-uav
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https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-prepares-19th-sanctions-package-russia-2025-09-08
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https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/earthquake-greece-athens-2025-09-08
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https://www.afp.com/en/news-hub/flotilla-aid-ship-drone-strike-2025-09-09
Responses