Sep 11, 2026, 05:00 AM UTC

Military confrontations between the United States and Iran have intensified near the strategic Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command reported launching air strikes near Larak Island that destroyed five Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps vessels, stating the action prevented a naval mine-laying operation. An Iranian military official rejected the American account, calling the claimed interception "pura fantasia".

In response, Tehran fired 20 missiles targeting American military positions in Jordan. Iranian state media also claimed retaliatory strikes against six maritime vessels, including three oil tankers and a US aircraft carrier. US President Donald Trump maintained that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, asserting that Iran faces severe strain, though American intelligence officials warned that Revolutionary Guard forces might further escalate the confrontation.

Sources: ANSA, Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero, La Repubblica.

United States President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have denied media reports claiming American military ammunition stockpiles reached dangerously low levels following recent operations involving Iran.

The denials follow reports by outlets including CNN suggesting missile shortages influenced decisions regarding further strikes against Iranian targets. Writing on Truth Social, Trump asserted that the armed forces maintain "huge amounts of 'ammunition'" while domestic arms production is expanding. Trump also threatened severe prison sentences for individuals leaking military inventory data. Separate reports indicated that Trump questioned Hegseth over the security breaches.

Sources: Die Zeit, FAZ, ORF

The United States Supreme Court has temporarily lifted a lower court's injunction, allowing structural work on President Donald Trump's $400 million White House ballroom project to proceed. In a five-to-four decision along conservative lines, the court ruled that the administration demonstrated a strong probability of overcoming a legal challenge filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Chief Justice John Roberts issued the directive to provide the justices additional time to evaluate the government's emergency application. The court emphasized that the procedural stay does not constitute a final ruling on the legal merits of the preservation lawsuit. Consequently, framing and groundwork may continue on the site while legal review remains active.

Sources: Der Standard, Die Zeit, FAZ, ORF, Tagesschau

European security agencies are heightening warnings over coordinated hybrid warfare operations linked to Moscow. According to German media reports, the German government plans to officially attribute an August foiled explosive drone attack targeting Ukrainian transport aircraft at Leipzig Airport to Russian operatives.

German state authorities suspect foreign state involvement in over 100 incidents involving drone overflights and critical infrastructure interference. Domestic intelligence agencies further suspect covert networks have established concealed weapons caches within Germany to facilitate future sabotage.

Simultaneously, Denmark's security service PET warned that Russian actors are actively planning sabotage operations on Danish soil and seeking to recruit local agents. Analysts and officials note these combined tactics aim to destabilize Western democracies.

Sources: Correctiv, Der Standard, FAZ, ORF, Tagesschau

Ahead of upcoming state elections in eastern Germany, education, regional identity, and cultural governance have become central political topics. Educators in eastern states report rising far-right sentiment among students, including the display of prohibited symbols. Addressing historical awareness, Evelyn Zupke, the federal commissioner for victims of the communist dictatorship, advocated for mandatory school visits to East German memorial sites.

Concurrently, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Saxony-Anhalt proposed removing state funding for cultural programs considered opposed to German identity, potentially affecting Holocaust memorials, Bauhaus institutions, and regional theaters. Meanwhile, debates over East German identity remain prominent in campaign events. Separately, Berlin's education sector faces staff shortages as nearly 400 public school teachers remain on medical leave lasting over a year.

Sources: Correctiv, Der Spiegel, DW, FAZ, Tagesschau