Sep 12, 2026, 10:00 AM UTC

United States military forces carried out strikes on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz targeting Iranian missile launchers, marking the first American attack on Iranian territory in a month. Iranian state media reported six naval personnel died during the strikes.

Despite the military action, diplomatic engagement continues. Qatari mediators reported ongoing talks between Washington and Tehran, expressing hope that an agreement could be reached soon. Concurrently, Iran and Oman agreed on updated navigation coordinates for the Strait of Hormuz, subject to non-interference from external parties.

However, potential diplomatic progress faces hurdles after US President Donald Trump stated he would seek financial compensation from Tehran for historical casualties linked to Iranian actions.

Sources: Le Figaro, Le Monde, Le Soir, Libération, RTBF Info.

US President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have refuted media reports alleging that critical ammunition shortages forced a halt to military operations against Iran. Following reports from outlets such as CNN claiming that missile inventories were dangerously depleted, Hegseth rejected the claims. Trump stated on Truth Social that the military retains massive munitions stocks and highlighted ongoing domestic production increases. Additionally, Trump threatened long prison sentences for individuals who leak classified information to journalists, amidst reports that he directly questioned Hegseth regarding internal security breaches.

Sources: Die Zeit, FAZ, ORF

Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called on the country's parliament to begin preparing legal frameworks for post-war national elections. Fedorov, who was removed from President Volodymyr Zelensky’s cabinet in July, argued that legislative groundwork must be established now to enable a swift democratic transition once martial law is lifted.

Ukrainian legislation currently prohibits holding elections while martial law remains in effect. Volodymyr Zelensky has maintained that voting during active warfare poses severe security, administrative, and logistical obstacles. However, Fedorov's initiative highlights growing discussion in Kyiv regarding Ukraine's post-war political architecture.

Sources: Le Monde

CIA Director John Ratcliffe conducted an unannounced visit to Moscow on Tuesday, according to reports from US media outlets.

American network CBS characterized the journey as a "secret" mission, backed by flight-tracking information showing a US military plane arriving in and leaving the Russian capital after a few hours.

Reporting from The Wall Street Journal indicates Ratcliffe met with Russian President Vladimir Putin to hand over a message from Washington. The unannounced contact comes alongside intelligence assessments highlighting potential Russian hostile plans directed toward NATO allies.

Sources: Helsingin Sanomat, Iltalehti

German authorities are preparing to officially attribute an August explosive drone incident at Leipzig Airport to Russia, according to media reports. The plot, which targeted Ukrainian cargo aircraft, forms part of a wider pattern of suspected foreign interference across Europe.

Police across German federal states are investigating over 100 cases of suspected foreign sabotage, including unauthorized drone flights and infrastructure disruption. German intelligence also suspects Russian operatives may have cached weapons in the country for future operations. Meanwhile, Denmark's Security and Intelligence Service issued a public warning stating that Moscow is actively planning sabotage on Danish soil and seeking local recruits to destabilize Western institutions.

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