The BRIEF is our short-form breaking news feed that gives you the need-to-know, now.
United States National Security Council Calls on Serbia to Withdraw from Kosovo Border, NATO Approves Additional Deployments
United States National Security Council (UNSC) spokesperson John Kirby has said they have been monitoring "large Serbian military deployment along the border of Kosovo.". This buildup has taken place over the last week and includes units of artillery, mechanized infantry, and tanks.
"We believe this is a very destabilizing development" and "We are calling on Serbia to withdraw those forces from the border and to contribute to lowering the temperature" said Kirby. The US is working with NATO to try and keep the peace in the region and avoid further escalation.
As of right now NATO has deployed additional troops to handle the potential for escalation. Kirby and other NATO leaders have called on both Kosovo and Serbia to return to peaceful dialogue but neither side...
Cartel Armoured Vehicles Destroyed in Tamaulipas Mexico

Mexican authorities have seized and destroyed 10 cartel monsters (armoured vehicles). The Attorney General's Office of the State of Tamaulipas announced that these vehicles amount to a total of 365 monsters seized in the state of Tamaulipas from 2018-2023. The cartel monsters began appearing in Mexico in 2010, primarily with the Gulf Cartel and Los Zetas. Since then they have become a prominent part of Mexico’s low-intensity conflict being used in confrontation between cartels and the state.
https://twitter.com/FGJ_Tam/status/1707576638584610945
As seen in the images posted from the seizure the monsters vary from pick-up trucks and SUVs with bulletproof armour, to fully-fledged narco-tanks with amateur, large-scale, metal casings. The narco-tanks can be understood to have more attacking-based modifications with a large metal spike at the front of the vehicle.
U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein Passes Away, Age 90
Longtime member of the United States Senate, Dianne Feinstein has passed away.
Dianne Feinstein, a U.S. Senator from California, held the position since 1992. Prior to her tenure in the Senate, she served as Mayor of San Francisco from 1978 to 1988. A member of the Democratic Party, Feinstein has been known for her work on a range of issues, including gun control, environmental protection, and intelligence oversight. She was notably the primary sponsor of the 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban, which expired in 2004. Throughout her career, Feinstein has often been described as a moderate Democrat, and she has occasionally taken positions that put her at odds with the more progressive wing of her party. For instance, her stance on national security has often...
Casualties Reported During Two Shooting Incidents in Rotterdam, Suspect in Custody

Dutch authorities have reported that a suspect is in custody following two shooting incidents in the city of Rotterdam, Netherlands.
The suspect, who remains unidentified, carried out a shooting at an apartment in the Heiman Dullaertplein district before heading to the Erasmus University Medical Center.
https://twitter.com/POL_Rotterdam/status/1707417479956353362
Authorities say that there are fatalities, but the number of casualties remains unconfirmed. A motive also remains unknown at this time.
France to Deploy Military Attache in Armenia, Open Consulate in Syunik
French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna has stated that France will be deploying a Defence Military Attache to Armenia during a question period in France's parliament. She spoke not only of France's growing relationship with Armenia, but also specifically called out Russia.
"No country, not one, is next to Armenia as much as our country and you know it very well".
"The defense attache will be present at the French Embassy in Yerevan. Then, we will soon open a consular office in Syunik province, near the border. So, I think, these are tangible proofs that France firmly stands by Armenia".
"The fact that Russia has abandoned Armenia and is complicit in Azerbaijan's military operations makes international diplomatic actions even more necessary. Next to France, I hope we will...
Republic of Artsakh Officially Dissolves
The Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), which has been de-facto independent since September 2nd 1991, has officially been dissolved in a decree this morning by Artsakh President Samvel Shahramanyan. The dissolving of the Republic is effective immediately, and the decree gives until January 1st 2024 for all state agencies within Artsakh to disband as well.
The dissolving of the Republic comes the same day that officially over 50% of Artsakh's population has left for Armenia. Population transfers are expected to continue.
Part of the President's decree states that both civilians and former military members should have free travel with their property and vehicles through the Lachin corridor. It is unclear if Azerbaijan will fully comply with this, having arrested people on a number of occasions at their...
50% of Artsakh’s Population Transferred to Armenia
Armenia has confirmed that as of 8AM local time on September 27th, over 50% of Artsakh’s 120,000 population has been transferred out of Artsakh and into Armenia. Thus far, 65,036 people have entered Armenia across 4 days.
Armenia’s government has been supplying refugees in need with proper accommodations.
Wagner Returns to Eastern Ukraine
Today, claims made by Ukrainian soldiers about mercenary group Wagner's return to the battlefield have been confirmed by officials from the Ukrainian government. They claim that at least five hundred Wagnerites are returning from Belarus or have already, where they relocated following the expulsion of the group from Russia after an attempted armed coup and the death of their leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, who died in a still-disputed explosion or shootdown of his plane over Russia's Tver region. Previously Russian Telegram channels had reported the return of Wagner mercenaries to the frontlines in Ukraine, although had not specified in what capacity.
Ukraine claims these 500 returnees from Wagner bases in Belarus will likely negotiate new contracts to serve in the Russian Armed Forces. They also claim...
Exercise Cartwheel 23: New Zealand Army Trains With Fiji in Jungle Highlands
Taking place in Fiji's Nausori Highlands, 92 NZ Army Personnel undertook training led by the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) and US Army Pacific. According to the NZ Defence Forces, “This year, we’ve been providing courses for Fiji personnel, which means they’re receiving the same training as we do in these weapons systems” Continuing, “our personnel from the 1st Battalion Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment and 16th Field Regiment delivered a Mortar Handlers course and a Heavy Machine Gun course, for 3rd Battalion of Fiji Infantry Regiment students.”
Beginning on September 3rd and ending on the 25th, the annual exercise signals yet another step the nations’ are taking to strengthen their relationship, following a June Status of Forces Agreement between the two Pacific nations....
Citizens Take to the Streets Amid Rumors of a Coup in Burkina Faso

Large crowds of people have taken to the streets in the Burkinabè capital of Ouagadougou in support of junta leader Ibrahim Traore amid rumors of a coup.
So far the rumors are unfounded and there is nothing to indicate that a coup is actually taking place at the moment. We will continue to monitor the situation.
https://twitter.com/sysawne/status/1706795831205200032
Iran Reveals New ‘Stealth Version’ of Sahed-136 Drone
The loitering munition or ‘suicide drone’, which gained notoriety through its use by Russia in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, has been upgraded through the use of a jet engine. The original Sahed-136 drone, developed by the Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA) and imported and rebranded as Geran-2 by Russian Forces, made use of a propellor which emitted a low buzzing noise, often leading to its identification during drone attacks.
The jet engine allows it to be flown faster, making it more difficult to be shot down or intercepted. In use with the Iranian military since 2021, the drone has since been used in at least 71 one-way attacks in Ukraine since March 2023.
Made popular due to its long-range capabilities, the stealth version has a...
15% of Artsakh’s Population Transferred to Armenia
Armenia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Tigran Khachatryan, has said today in a press conference that 19,000 civilians from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) have now entered Armenia through the Lachin corridor. This means that a total of 15% of Artsakh’s 120,000 population have left within 3 days.
The government has provided 2,500 people with living accommodations, whereas the remainder have said they already had places to go within Armenia.
Many others are expected to make the journey to Armenia, however it is facing significant problems. The line of vehicles to enter Armenia is reported to be over 100km long, which is causing some people to run out of gas in the line.
https://twitter.com/kb_ql22/status/1706754051331747960?s=46&t=We8RLpx8YdsN15-tpkJtww
Additionally, doctors within Armenia have said that many of those arriving are suffering from malnutrition.
Armenia Sends Emergency Medical Helicopter After Stepanakert Explosion
Yesterday’s explosion at a fuel depot in Stepanakert, the capital of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), has now left at least 20 people dead. Approximately 290 people are injured, the majority of which have been described as “severe”.
The injured have been brought to Artsakh’s hospitals, however the hospitals are severely under equipped to treat many of the injuries, largely due to their lack of medical supplies arising from the Azeri blockade of Artsakh.
Upon the request of the Artsakh government, Armenia has sent an emergency helicopter that is equipped with medical supplies in order to evacuate those most seriously injured to Armenia, where they can receive better treatment.
7 of those killed died within hospitals, a number which may potentially rise. The remaining 13 died near the explosion site.
The...
Sokolov Reportedly Spotted at Meeting With Shoigu

Russian state-owned media has published the following video purporting to show commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Admiral Sokolov at a meeting with Defense Minister, Shoigu. This video aims to counterclaim Ukrainian and western media reporting yesterday that aAdmiral Sokolov was killed in Ukrainian Special Operations (SSO) operation Crab Trap on September 22nd.
https://twitter.com/tessaronf/status/1706623243208032288?s=46&t=fwloThPnqgTH71QlDeR_hA
Atlas News is Preparing To Fundraise

For more information, click the link below to read our full announcement.
Announcement Here
Announcement
We are excited to announce our plan to open up an equity crowdfunding round to the public (you) and have the community we have built invest in the future of Atlas.
This is an exciting time as we look back on where we have come from and where we are heading.
Over the last year we have been behind-the-scenes building Atlas to a point that can grow and scale, but stay true to who we are and what we have become.
On the Announcement Page there is more information about why we are doing this and what it means for you.
Announcement Here
Thank you so much for being here for years and supporting us all along.
–...