🇨🇳⚡- China has began construction at its Yulin Naval Base, YNB, located on the Hainan Island, South China Sea.

The large-scale work at the base will see its capacity more than doubled. YNB serves as China's main point for the Chinese Navy's activities in the contested waters of the South China Sea, which have also more than doubled since the start of the new year.

YNB's headquarters: 18.2258369, 109.5296785.
YNB's parking lot 'A East': 18.2133504, 109.5411419.
YNB's parking lot 'A West': 18.2221233, 109.5341541.
YNB's parking lot 'Anyou': 18.2249108, 109.5465885.
YNB's parking lot 'B': 18.2339131, 109.5475380.

Note, Chinese military vessels from the YNB have also in the past parked at Shendao's port.

🇸🇾🇹🇷🇦🇿⚡- Azerbaijan has begun the supply of gas to Syria today, via Turkey.

🇮🇷🇵🇰⚡- Iran's Present Masoud Pezeshkian has arrived in Lahore, Pakistan, on his first official visit to the South Asian country, and also his first visit outside of Iran since the 12-Day War with Israel.

🇰🇿🇺🇿🇦🇿⚡- "Central Asia: The Great Game 2.0.

A new 'Great Game' is unfolding in the Caucasus and Central Asia, echoing the nineteenth-century rivalry between empires, with a modern, multipolar twist.

Against the backdrop of global geopolitical shifts, the South Caucasus and Central Asia are once again becoming centers of rivalry," - The National Interest, US-funded Think Tank.

The publication notes that today the interests of the US, Russia, the EU, China, Turkey, and Iran all clash with one another in the region. While Russia is occupied on the Ukrainian front, it is trying to maintain its positions in the Caucasus using its soft power influence. The UK is aiming for military cooperation with Central Asia to gain a foothold. The US is exploring massive rare earth metal deals. Israel's growing ties with centers such as Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. The EU is increasing investments, aiming for energy diversification from Russia. China is developing trade through the Middle Corridor, bypassing Russia. And Turkey, using its Turkic ties, is strengthening its presence in the region.

The National Interest writes that new localized alliances are forming, for instance, the EU, Turkey, China, as well as the US all support the 'Zangezur Corridor' project, but for different reasons. For the EU, it's the energy route into Europe from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, whereas for China, it's the 'Middle Corridor', not only bypassing Russia, but also Iran. On the other hand, the project is opposed by Russia and Iran.

🇷🇺🇺🇦🇦🇿⚡- Azerbaijan has confirmed the House of Azerbaijan in Kiev was damaged as a result of a Russian airstrike on the night of July 31. According to Azerbaijani state-outlet Azertac there were no casualties.

— 🏳🇦🇫 Unknown gunmen assassinated a Taliban security member in the Talqan area in the capital of Takhar province in Afghanistan.

— The deceased is named Khadidad Rahimi and was reportedly close to one of the Taliban leaders.

🇨🇿 | @czaktuality

🇨🇳🇹🇼⚡- Chinese naval exercises in the Guangdong waters, South Taiwan Strait.

The drills are unique in that it involves civilian and commercial vessels, which are widely expected to be used by the Chinese Navy in any landing operation in a conflict with Taiwan.

The preparation for the exercises began on July 31.

🇺🇸🇨🇳🇹🇼⚡- "A US Think Tank recently war-gamed a Chinese blockade of Taiwan. The results: even limited military action could kill thousands," - TaiwanPlus News, Taiwanese outlet.

🇨🇳🇮🇷⚡- To evade sanctions, China's shadow fleet is carrying out ship-to-ship transfers of Iranian oil in the middle of the Indian ocean.

🇵🇸🇮🇱⚡- Hamas says it will disarm only when an independent Palestinian State is formed.

🇮🇷🇵🇸🇮🇱⚡- The Iranian IRGC has rejected the two-state solution, claiming it will never recognize the State of Israel.

🇰🇿⚡- Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev instructed the Defense Minister Dauren Kossanov to increase the combat potential of the army, and enhance troop mobility and military infrastructure.

🇹🇷🇺🇦⚡- A Ukrainian delegation visited the Turkish defense company Baykar, they also met with Baykar's chairman Selcuk Bayraktar.

🇺🇸🇷🇺⚡- "Trump has taken the first step on the 'nuclear escalation ladder'.

Even during the Cold War, no US President publicly directed nuclear submarines towards Russian waters. Never before has any US leader dared to balance on the brink of nuclear war like this.

This is not a new Cuban Missile Crisis. However, this does not mean that the actions of the US President are without risk. He has changed the structure of Washington's nuclear forces in relation to Russia in a way that none of his predecessors dared, stepping - almost casually - onto the first rung of the nuclear escalation ladder.

If Russian President Putin decides to respond in kind, a serious crisis may follow. At the same time however, such a reaction from Russia is unlikely," - The Telegraph.

🇺🇸🇫🇷🇦🇲⚡- Armenian Center for American Studies, ACAS, says Yerevan's decision to recognize the State of Palestine last year is viewed negatively by Washington. The US has not responded well to the decision.

According to ACAS, the decision to recognize Palestine was not Armenia's, but Macron's. ACAS claims Paris pressured Armenian President Pashinyan into the decision to continue the build-up of France-Armenia relations.

Under President Pashinyan, Armenia has pivoted greatly towards France, both economically and militarily. Armenia recognized the State of Palestine on June 21st, 2024.

🇸🇾⚡- Clashes broke out between the SDF and Turkey-funded Suleiman Shah Division (part of the former SNA) in Aleppo.

The Syrian Ministry of Defense reports a failed SDF infiltration attempt in the Dayr Hafr direction, northern Syria.

🇮🇷⚡- A chemical factory in Azarshahr, northwest Iran, exploded.

🇸🇾⚡- Front-line sources in Syria report clashes in the western outskirts of Era, southwest of As Suwaida city, between Druze separatists and Bedouin tribes.

Bedouin tribes are reportedly shelling a petrol station - allegedly turned into a military outpost - located at the western entrance of Era, at 32.6151968, 36.5220808.

🇵🇸🇮🇱⚡- Israeli drones over Nablus, the West Bank. Israeli forces are likely preparing another incursion into the city.

🇹🇷🇸🇾 - Turkish media, for the millionth time, are falsely reporting an escalation along the Dayr Hafr axis. The Turkish media have launched similar campaigns before, which had all been rejected by the SDF. Turkish media is trying to interfere yet again in the Damascus-SDF talks.

Fighting was minimal in the Dayr Hafr region, the Syrian Ministry of Defense claimed an SDF unit attempted an incursion, which is unlikely. In reality, it was the Turkish-funded Suleiman Shah Division that launched attacks on the SDF first. Small artillery exchanges continue every once in a while.

There are no exchanges in the Tell Abyad - Ayn al-Arab direction, nor any unusual Turkish military movements in this area.

🇸🇾⚡- SDF special forces reinforce the Dayr Hafr direction, SDF-controlled northern Syria.