US-Iran Maritime Escalation: The US Central Command says it destroyed five IRGC-linked Iranian oil tankers on Sept. 8 after Iran twice tried to hit a US Navy warship with ballistic missiles; CENTCOM says the targeted vessels were in the Gulf of Oman and near Kharg Island, crews were told to abandon ship, and no US personnel were injured. Regional Spillover: Iran’s retaliation narrative also includes reported missile attacks on a US base in Jordan’s Al Azraq, while Iran-backed Houthis hit four Saudi cities, wounding 73 and disrupting energy sites. Oil & Markets: Brent pushed back toward $100 as the Kharg Island/Jask strikes and Saudi infrastructure attacks tightened shipping and raised supply fears. West Bank Trade Crackdown: The UK, joined by France and Canada plus nine others, moved to ban imports of goods from Israeli settlements, with London also targeting services and advertising tied to settlement expansion. Media & Tech: Iraq’s National Security Service launched an AI detection app to help the public spot misleading digital content, and Qatar Press Centre signed an MoU to boost media and journalism research cooperation across the Gulf. Brand Backlash: Adidas faced boycott calls after promoting a former Israeli soldier in a campaign for amputees; Adidas Arabia apologized amid the controversy.