Intelligence for close-protection & security professionals — threat, industry, regulation and tradecraft, curated through the day, with a daily brief and podcast.
Two Saudi oil tankers were reportedly struck on 23 July. The IMO called the attacks indefensible; the UN warned they risk drawing Yemen deeper into regional conflict.
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A man who drove an attacker to survey the UK Defence Academy has been jailed for life. The case is a clean study in pre-attack behaviour.
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The Home Office has set out how, when and what to tell the regulator under section 9. The duty is not live yet, but its shape is now fixed.
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200 and 800. Those thresholds separate a notification-and-procedures duty from a documented, SIA-submitted security regime, and the consultation phase has already closed.
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Resolution 2826 extends monthly Secretary-General reporting on Houthi attacks to 15 January 2027. It passed 13 to nil with two abstentions, one day before the previous mandate lapsed.
ListenA fresh round of US strikes on Iran and a US naval blockade that was reinstated in mid-July leave the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed to commercial traffic. Vessels are still being hit and crews are still being killed.
ListenOpen-source reporting has the Houthis enforcing a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia through Bab el-Mandeb. Tankers are turning back toward Suez, loadings are already down sharply, and with Hormuz still shut the two chokepoints together sit over a quarter of the world's oil and gas.
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With Bab el-Mandeb contested, the obvious relief valve is the Suez Canal. It does not fully work: the reroute roughly doubles voyage times and the largest crude carriers cannot use the canal at all.
ListenThe Home Office has set out how, when and what to tell the regulator under section 9. The duty is not live yet, but its shape is now fixed.
ListenA man who drove an attacker to survey the UK Defence Academy has been jailed for life. The case is a clean study in pre-attack behaviour.
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The UN-backed force meant to break the gangs' grip on Port-au-Prince has around 1,000 of its 5,550 personnel on the ground and is not expected to reach full strength until October. The Security Council takes its 90-day look this month.
ListenDisclaimer. The Ops Con Intelligence briefings are compiled from open-source reporting and provided for situational awareness and professional development only. They are not operational, security, legal, financial or travel advice, and no reliance should be placed on them for any decision. Information may be incomplete, time-sensitive or change without notice — always verify independently before acting. The Ops Con accepts no liability for any loss arising from use of this content.
