Sep 11, 2026, 07:00 AM UTC

The United States has completed a major military operation to escort millions of barrels of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz, utilizing naval, aerial, and space assets. The movement marked the largest crude transit through the strategic choke point since hostilities escalated six months ago. The operation coincided with American strikes targeting Iranian military positions on Larak Island.

In response, Iranian forces deployed rocket-launched naval mines to reinforce their blockade of the waterway. Tehran affirmed that the strait "will not be opened" until Washington lifts port blockades and crude sanctions, unfreezes financial assets, and ceases military operations across all fronts. Prior to the conflict, roughly 20 million barrels of crude oil passed through the route daily.

Sources: Expresso, Expresso das Ilhas, RTP (Rádio e Televisão de Portugal)

Portugal is expanding its temporary holding facility in Porto to reach a total of 171 places for irregular migrants by September, falling short of the government's initial 300-space target. The capacity update arrives as West African Atlantic route arrivals dropped by 78 percent during early 2026, largely due to increased border surveillance between Senegal and Mauritania.

At the same time, national security data underscores ongoing internal security concerns, with authorities registering over 14,000 domestic violence complaints, averaging approximately 82 cases per day. Meanwhile, eight Afghan women marked one year of asylum in Portugal after fleeing Taliban restrictions that barred women from education and work.

Sources: Diário de Notícias (DN), Expresso, Expresso das Ilhas, RTP (Rádio e Televisão de Portugal)

Russian authorities are intensifying internal political measures ahead of upcoming September parliamentary elections. The government recently banned Yabloko, Russia’s final officially recognized anti-war opposition party, while senior member Lev Schlosberg received an 11-year prison sentence.

Concurrently, public fears of a post-election military draft have surged due to heavy casualties in Ukraine, prompting some citizens to sell assets and prepare to leave the country. These developments coincide with "Black August," a period traditionally associated with late-summer economic and political instability in Russia, alongside ongoing questions surrounding presidential succession for 73-year-old Vladimir Putin.

Beyond its borders, Moscow is active in the Balkans, frequently warning of potential Western-backed "color revolutions" ahead of Serbian parliamentary elections to protect its regional influence.

Sources: Avaz, Danas, Klix, N1, Vijesti

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico returned from a six-week cabinet recess to face growing fiscal and security challenges. Fico rejected statutory debt brake requirements mandating a balanced budget, calling a zero-deficit budget "science fiction." Meanwhile, the cabinet approved a constitutional amendment to allow referendums on early parliamentary elections, though the ruling coalition currently lacks the necessary parliamentary majority to enact it.

Separately, opposition parties demanded the resignation of Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok following discoveries that new traffic monitoring cameras contained Russian-made components. Fico dismissed security concerns surrounding the hardware. In addition, media reports highlighted long-term financial risks associated with Chinese-backed infrastructure projects alongside mounting delays in major public construction works across the country.

Sources: Denník N, Hospodářské noviny, iROZHLAS, Respect, Seznam Zprávy

Active combat along the frontline in Ukraine remains intense, with the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine recording between 221 and 254 combat engagements within 24 hours. Russian forces launched concentrated assaults in the Lyman, Kostiantynivka, and Pokrovsk sectors, where Ukrainian troops repelled dozens of attempts to breach defensive lines.

In the Kupyansk sector, Ukrainian infantry conducted clearing operations along the right bank of the Oskil River after electronic warfare suppressed Russian drone capabilities. Operational updates also indicate potential Ukrainian defensive advancements of up to 200 square kilometers near Lyman.

Meanwhile, conflicting assertions continue across other sectors. The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed its forces captured several settlements near Sumy, while Russian Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov denied Ukrainian progress in the Zaporizhzhia region.

Sources: NV, Radio Svoboda, The Insider, Ukrainska Pravda.