Sep 18, 2026, 11:00 PM UTC

The United States military has conducted airstrikes targeting two missile launchers on Iran's Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, marking Washington's first direct attack on Iranian soil in a month. Iranian state media reported that six naval soldiers were killed during the bombardments.

Despite the military action, diplomatic channels remain open. Qatari mediators indicated that talks between Washington and Tehran are ongoing, while Iranian officials announced a tentative agreement with Oman regarding coordinates for a revised navigation corridor in the Strait of Hormuz, provided outside powers do not interfere.

However, diplomatic progress faces obstacles following statements from US President Donald Trump, who announced that Washington will seek financial compensation from Iran for past casualties, adding friction to potential negotiations.

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

US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have arrived in Kyiv and Moscow to initiate peace talks, coinciding with reports that Ukrainian forces were instructed to observe a four-day operational pause.

Although US President Donald Trump stated both nations agreed to halt attacks on energy infrastructure, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky insisted on Western guarantees before implementing any pause.

Despite diplomatic efforts, military actions continued overnight. Russian shelling and drone strikes killed at least two people and injured over ten across Ukraine, including in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. Meanwhile, Ukrainian drone attacks reportedly wounded seven individuals in Russia's Sochi and Belgorod regions. Additionally, European Union officials criticized a Russian strike near the Polish border, describing it as an attempt to intimidate European nations.

Sources: Beta, CDM, Index, N1, Vijesti

Heavy combat operations persist across Ukraine's front lines, with Ukraine's General Staff reporting over 250 daily engagements. Russian troops launched intensive assaults near Lyman, Kostiantynivka, and Pokrovsk, attempting to breach Ukrainian defensive positions.

Simultaneously, Ukrainian infantry executed successful localized operations on the right bank of the Oskil River near Kupiansk after neutralizing Russian drone capabilities through electronic warfare. Reports also suggest Ukrainian forces secured control over disputed territory near Lyman.

In contrast, the Russian Ministry of Defence claimed its forces captured several border settlements approaching Sumy. Meanwhile, Russian General Staff Chief Valery Gerasimov publicly denied reports of Ukrainian progress in the Zaporizhzhia region.

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

Ukraine is seeking long-term and short-term solutions to address critical gaps in its air defenses as bureaucratic procedures delay U.S. licensing required to produce Patriot missile defense systems domestically. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that establishing local Patriot manufacturing could take between one year and several years.

To counter increasing Russian ballistic strikes, Ukrainian defense companies are pursuing alternative measures. Two domestic firms are developing local ballistic missiles, though technical hurdles remain before mass production can begin. Meanwhile, Ukraine's military is procuring the newly tested "Equalizer" precision glide bomb system. Created by DG Industry with the Brave1 innovation cluster, the wing and guidance conversion kit transforms unguided munitions into long-range precision weapons compatible with Soviet-era and Western fighter jets, aiming to reduce reliance on foreign military aid.

Sources: NEXTA, NV, Point, The Insider, Українська правда

Rights monitoring entities in Turkey published independent monthly records outlining gender-based violence for August 2026.

Media monitoring compiled by news outlet Bianet recorded that men killed at least 25 women and injured 71 others during the month. The figures included multiple instances of physical assault and ongoing criminal probes into suspicious fatalities.

Separately, daily newspaper Cumhuriyet reported data from the We Will Stop Femicide Platform, which registered 22 femicides alongside 33 suspicious deaths involving women. The platform noted that over half of the victims were killed inside their residences, primarily by husbands or acquaintances. Motives in 16 of those cases could not be determined, while others were tied to personal decisions or economic pretexts.

Sources: Bianet, Cumhuriyet