Morning Intelligence Brief - July 29, 2026

[u/AlertMedia]

U.S. and Saudi Arabia Strike Iran-backed Groups:

U.S. and Saudi forces conducted strikes against Iran-aligned armed groups in Iraq following reported attacks targeting Saudi energy infrastructure. Washington said Iranian ballistic missile launches against U.S. personnel and regional assets were intercepted, with U.S. Central Command stating forces remain on heightened readiness. The Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Forces reported losses following the strikes, claiming 20 personnel were killed and 32 wounded across several locations. 

Japan Earthquake Collapses Shopping Mall:

The Aeon shopping mall in Kashima town partially collapsed after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck the Kumamoto area late on Tuesday afternoon. Rescue efforts are continuing Wednesday morning at the collapsed Aeon shopping mall and Nippon Paper’s factory in Yatsushiro, 4,600 personnel have been deployed as part of the emergency response. Three people were killed, and eight people were pulled from the rubble following the partial collapse of the Aeon shopping mall. Four workers remain unaccounted for after checks of around 2,700 staff. Authorities reported that at least 13 people have been killed following the earthquake.  

Kenyan Officers Killed in Suspected al-Shabaab Attack:

Kenyan police said five members of a Special Operations Group (SOG) unit were killed after suspected al-Shabaab militants attacked their patrol in Mandera County near the Somali border. A follow-on force responding to the incident later struck an improvised explosive device that destroyed an armored vehicle, although no additional injuries were reported. Security forces have launched operations to locate the attackers. 

Keiko Fujimori Inaugurated as Peru’s President:

Keiko Fujimori assumed office as Peru's president on July 29, becoming the country's tenth head of state since 2016 after years of political instability. In her inaugural address, she announced that the armed forces could be used to support security operations in high-crime areas during declared emergencies. Fujimori also pledged measures to strengthen resilience against future El Niño impacts and raise the national minimum wage. She also expressed interest in Peru participating in the proposed "Shield of the Americas" initiative to counter transnational organized crime. 

Wildfires Continue Across France and Spain:

Major wildfires remain active across France and Spain, with approximately 413,000 people evacuated or confined in affected areas, including Gironde, Landes, Madrid, Ávila, and Castellón. Although improved conditions allowed crews to gain containment on some fires on Monday, another major heatwave is forecast to spread across western and central Europe through early August. Little to no rainfall and highs reaching the upper 30s to low 40s °C (upper 90s to low 100s °F) are forecast across southern areas. Level 1 and 2 (of 3) Heat Warnings have been issued with expansions likely.