We know what’s coming and we are prepared.
Prime Minister Netanyahu at the beginning of the cabinet meeting:
I greatly appreciate the support of President Biden and the American administration for Israel. Since the beginning of the war, the US has given us support in spirit and material - with means of defense and means of attack.
But about four months ago, there was a dramatic drop in the supply of armaments arriving from the US to Israel. For weeks we asked our American friends to speed up the shipments. We did it time and time again. We did it at the highest levels, and at all levels, and I want to emphasize - we did it in private rooms. We got all kinds of explanations, but one thing we didn't get: the basic situation didn't change. Certain items arrived in trickles, but the great mass of armaments remained behind.*
After months of the lack of change in this situation, I decided to give it a public expression. I did this out of years of experience, and knowing that this step is essential to extracting the traffic jam. I expected that this would involve personal attacks against me from home and abroad, as happened when I opposed the nuclear deal with Iran, as happened and continues to happen when I repeatedly opposed the establishment of a Palestinian terrorist state, and as is happening now when I oppose ending the war while leaving Hamas intact. But I am ready to suffer personal attacks for the sake of Israel's security.
As Prime Minister of Israel, my role is to do everything to ensure that our heroic fighters have the best means of combat.
In light of what I have heard in the past day, I hope and believe that this issue will be resolved in the near future. But I would like to emphasize, and I have also said this to our American friends - We have one measure and it has always tipped the scales: the bravery and determination of our fighters - and with this weapon we We will win."
GLOBAL SITUATIONAL BRIEFING
Data Current as of 19 June 2026, 00:00
SITUATION DASHBOARD
GEOPOLITICAL HOTSPOTS:
Iran Nuclear Accord — US lifts naval blockade; Iran's Supreme Leader claims Trump negotiated "out of desperation." EU refuses to lift sanctions until formal nuclear deal. Vice President Vance delays Switzerland trip for Tehran talks. Status: De-escalatory posture, but deal still incomplete.
Ukraine-Russia Kinetic War — Massive Ukrainian drone strikes ongoing on Russian infrastructure (Moscow oil refinery, 6+ Sichen drones confirmed). Zelenskyy executing strategic strike campaign. Artillery/missile activity elevated but not showing escalation trajectory.
Sub-Saharan Instability — Al-Qaeda-linked jihadists claim attack on Niger's Niamey airport (35 killed). Myanmar military airstrike on civilians (7 dead, Rakhine state). Regional terrorism uptick.
Lebanon-Israel Tensions — Artillery and airstrikes reported in southern Lebanon (al-Rahibat, Nabatieh). Ongoing but not widening.
ANALYSIS
Key ...
US commercial crude oil inventories are reaching critical levels:
Crude inventories at Cushing, Oklahoma, the largest commercial storage hub in the US and the pricing point for WTI Crude, dropped -1.6 million barrels last week, to 20 million barrels, the lowest since 2014.
This marks the 8th consecutive weekly decline, totaling -8.3 million barrels.
As a result, Cushing now holds less than 2 days worth of US crude production, approaching the minimum level at which the facility can continue pumping oil efficiently.
Once inventories fall below ~20 million barrels, extracting crude becomes technically difficult and more costly, while oil quality can deteriorate due to water and sediment.
Meanwhile, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is down to ~340 million barrels, the lowest since 1983, after 172 million barrels were released to contain war-driven fuel price increases.
US oil inventories down to levels rarely seen in modern energy markets.
(@TheKobeissiLetter)
