This quick roundup covers seven developments: a U.S. strike on a suspected drug boat in the eastern Pacific (the 35th since September); the arrest and transfer of a suspect in the 2012 Benghazi attack to Andrews AFB; and a new federal rule easing removal of some senior civil servants. A New York Times satellite analysis finds Iran repaired missile sites faster than major nuclear sites, U.S.-Iran talks in Oman were described as a "good start," documents question RFK Jr.'s testimony about a 2019 Samoa trip, and President Trump weighed in on the Diego Garcia sovereignty transfer.
Friday Mini-Report — Feb. 6, 2026: Seven Quick International Developments
Today’s quick roundup of notable developments from around the world.
The 35th Strike: U.S. Southern Command said a U.S. strike on a suspected drug-smuggling vessel in the eastern Pacific on Thursday killed two people. Officials described the incident as at least the 35th such strike since September and noted it was the second reported strike after accounts that Nicolás Maduro was captured in a Jan. 3 operation.
Fourteen Years Later — Benghazi Arrest: Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Friday that Zubayr al-Bakoush, whom U.S. authorities consider a key participant in the 2012 Benghazi attacks, was taken into custody overseas and flown to Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland early Friday.
Federal-Employee Rule Change: The administration finalized a rule on Thursday that creates a new personnel category intended to make it easier to remove senior career civil servants whom officials say are unwilling to implement presidential priorities. The rule, to be published in the Federal Register, is expected to affect roughly 55,000 employees.
Kash Patel, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), from left, Pam Bondi, US attorney general, and Jeanine Pirro, US attorney for the District of Columbia, during a news conference at the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Washington, DC, US, on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. A man suspected of being responsible for the deadly 2012 attack against the American embassy in Benghazi, Libya, is in US custody, FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi said Friday. Photographer: Aaron Schwartz/Bloomberg via Getty Images(Aaron Schwartz / Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Word Choice and Iran’s Repairs: A New York Times analysis of satellite imagery suggests Iran repaired several ballistic-missile facilities damaged in last year’s strikes relatively quickly, while making only limited repairs to major nuclear sites hit by Israel and U.S. actions. Critics said the White House’s earlier use of the word "obliterated" was therefore misleading.
Diplomatic Talks in Oman: Iran’s foreign minister told state media that talks between Iranian and U.S. officials in Oman on Friday were a "good start" and focused exclusively on nuclear issues, and that both sides agreed to continue discussions at a later date.
Questions About Samoa Trip: Documents obtained by The Guardian and The Associated Press raise doubts about testimony from Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during his Senate confirmation hearings. Kennedy repeatedly said a 2019 trip to Samoa "had nothing to do with vaccines;" the documents reportedly undermine that assertion.
Diego Garcia Tensions: President Trump moderated his criticism on Thursday of a U.K. agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia to Mauritius, but said the U.S. reserves the right to secure and strengthen its base there if it comes under threat. The comment follows earlier public objections from Trump to the deal.
Have a safe weekend.
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