Americas
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems won a $27 million modification, which adds scope to provide for the development and integration of a Smart Sensor System capability, to include procurement of associated hardware and software in support of the successful operational capability for the MQ-9A Reaper Marine Air Ground Task Force Expeditionary Medium Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Aerial System. Additionally, this modification procures spares for the Detect and Avoid System and Smart Sensor System. Work will be performed in Poway, California (60%); Patuxent River, Maryland (30%); and various locations outside the continental U.S. (10%), and is expected to be completed in July 2028.
President Donald Trump told a news network Sunday the United States could become involved in the Iran-Israel conflict, and that he would be “open” to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin being a mediator. The Republican president, according to ABC News, also said talks over Iran’s nuclear program were continuing and that Tehran would “like to make a deal,” perhaps more quickly now that the Islamic Republic is trading massive strikes with Israel. “It’s possible we could get involved” in the ongoing battle between the Middle East arch-foes, Trump said in an off-camera interview with ABC News senior political correspondent Rachel Scott that was not previously publicized.
Middle East & Africa
Two drones launched from Iran towards Israel were shot down over Iraq by the US-led international coalition to defeat the Islamic State group, two Iraqi military officials told AFP on Sunday. “The international coalition at Ain al-Asad (military base) shot down two Iranian drones that were en route to Israel,” one official said, referring to an Iraqi airbase housing foreign troops in western Iraq.
Europe
Ukraine said on Saturday it hoped the military escalation between Israel and Iran would not lead to a drop in aid to Kyiv, at a time when European support is stalling without US engagement. Israel unleashed large-scale attacks on Iran on Friday, targeting nuclear and military facilities, high-ranking generals, and atomic scientists.
Asia-Pacific
Cambodia ordered troops to stay on “full alert” and banned Thai dramas on television on Friday in an ongoing border spat between the Southeast Asian neighbors. Phnom Penh also shut off internet connections routed through Thailand on the eve of a meeting between the two sides aimed at defusing tensions following deadly clashes last month. Violence flared on May 28 in an area known as the Emerald Triangle, where the borders of Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos meet, with one Cambodian soldier killed.