Sep 12, 2026, 08:30 PM UTC

Military actions in the Strait of Hormuz have intensified following a large-scale US logistics operation to move millions of barrels of crude oil through the strategic waterway. Supported by air, naval, and space assets, American forces conducted strikes on Iranian positions on Larak Island to facilitate the night-time passage. Iranian forces retaliated by deploying rocket-launched naval mines along maritime transit corridors.

Teheran reiterated that the waterway "will not be opened" until Washington agrees to a proposed memorandum of understanding. The conditions demand an end to military operations, the lifting of petroleum sanctions, the unfreezing of Iranian assets, and the termination of American port blockades. Daily traffic through the strait remains severely diminished compared to pre-war levels of 20 million barrels per day.

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

Six months after joint American and Israeli airstrikes targeted Iranian positions, the Middle East confrontation continues to disrupt energy markets and maritime trade. While Iranian conventional military capabilities were heavily damaged, Tehran maintains leverage over the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Analysts indicate that the conflict's next trajectory depends on Iran's domestic political stability, economic resilience under international sanctions, proxy network activity, and potential diplomatic re-engagement. Concurrently, broader geopolitical shifts involving Washington, Beijing, Moscow, and Tehran are reshaping global dynamics, alongside disputes in Ukraine and regional tensions in the Western Balkans regarding the Ibër River. Experts stress that whether diplomacy can resume remains a central uncertainty.

Sources: BalkanWeb, Gazeta Tema, Koha

Portugal will increase its temporary holding capacity for irregular migrants to 171 spaces by September following expansion efforts at its Porto facility, falling short of an initial 300-space objective.

Concurrently, data from the International Organization for Migration indicates a 78 percent drop in arrivals along the West African Atlantic route from January to April 2026 compared to 2025, largely driven by tightened border enforcement between Senegal and Mauritania.

In domestic developments, Portuguese authorities recorded over 14,000 domestic violence reports, averaging roughly 82 cases per day. Meanwhile, eight Afghan women marked their first year residing in Portugal after escaping Taliban restrictions on female education and employment.

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

NATO forces led by the U.S. recently conducted unannounced military maneuvers surrounding Russia's Kaliningrad enclave, involving American and Norwegian fighter jets alongside Polish ground units. NATO officials characterized the activity as routine efforts to maintain defensive readiness.

Simultaneously, air strikes intensified between Russia and Ukraine. Russian ballistic missiles hit Kyiv, killing at least two people and injuring six, while a separate strike hit a British American Tobacco factory. Ukrainian drones targeted Russia's Saratov region, resulting in injuries.

Furthermore, investigative reports indicate Russia established ten secret military bases near NATO borders equipped with launchpads for long-range kamikaze drones capable of reaching alliance territories.

Sources: Investor.bg, Mediapool, Nova TV

The United States military has conducted additional large-scale strikes against Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz after Iranian forces attempted to deploy naval mines in the waterway. US Central Command stated that all naval mines in the shipping lane have been neutralized.

The operation follows an incident on 5 September, during which US forces targeted three Iranian commercial oil tankers in response to ballistic missile launches by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps against American warships. Analysts highlight that the conflict has expanded to target commercial maritime assets and energy infrastructure directly.

US President Donald Trump reiterated warnings to Tehran, threatening strikes on civil assets, including power stations, if shipping disruptions continue. Media reports emphasize that the escalation reflects an evolving pattern of drone and infrastructure-focused warfare.

Sources: Investor.bg, Mediapool, Nova TV