Syria-Adjacent Strikes: Israel says it struck a militant preparing an attack in southern Syria and also hit a civilian vehicle near Beit Jinn in Damascus countryside; Damascus condemned the drone attack as a sovereignty violation. Regional Military Tensions: Israel’s Aug. 18 strike on Syria’s Abu al-Duhur airbase in Idlib is framed as a warning to Turkey over plans for radar, air defenses, and commandos—raising fears of a new Syria front. Iraq Security Tech & Governance: Iraq’s PM Ali Al-Zaidi marks 100 days with a 2026–2029 program, while a proposed law to entrench Iran-backed PMF militias as a permanent security institution alarms experts about parallel forces. Identity & Travel Risks: A Lebanon-focused investigation links forged passports and fraudulently obtained identities to covert cross-border networks reaching Syria and beyond. Digital Rights vs Surveillance: The U.S. State Department picks Palantir and Anduril for a “freedom of expression” program, despite their mass-surveillance and military tech reputations. Agri-Tech in Iraq: Baghdad’s 17th Agricultural Week highlights climate-resilient inputs and a Saudi-Iraqi date palm tissue-culture push to grow from 20M to 30M trees. Energy Logistics: Reports say Iran granted permission for some Iraqi oil tankers to pass Hormuz, while broader talk continues on bypassing chokepoints.