Sep 21, 2026, 01:00 PM UTC

Tensions near the Strait of Hormuz have intensified following retaliatory military strikes between the United States and Iran. US Central Command reported destroying five Iranian Revolutionary Guard vessels after thwarting a planned attack on American naval ships. In response, Iranian state media claimed Tehran launched 20 missiles targeting US military facilities in Jordan and struck six vessels, including three oil tankers and an aircraft carrier. Emergency crews successfully extinguished a fire aboard one targeted tanker.

Despite the direct military exchanges, US President Donald Trump stated that Tehran remains in "great difficulty" and insisted that the strategic waterway stays open. However, American intelligence assessments warned that Iranian commanders may feel emboldened by recent engagements, raising concerns that the conflict could escalate further across the region.

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

European nations remain on high alert following reports of potential Russian hybrid operations and ongoing military escalation in Ukraine. German investigators identified two individuals linked to Moscow concerning explosive devices discovered at Leipzig airport, while Danish intelligence warned of prospective sabotage against domestic industrial facilities. In response, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen affirmed that the bloc "will not tolerate attacks on EU soil."

Concurrently, Russia's defense ministry initiated a coordinated campaign targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure. The strikes follow intensified Ukrainian drone operations directed at Russian oil refineries and fuel storage centers.

Sources: Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica.

A series of Ukrainian drone attacks has hit commercial logistics hubs and civilian areas across several Russian regions. Strikes ignited fires at warehouses owned by e-commerce giants Wildberries and Ozon in Leningrad Oblast and Dagestan. In Moscow Oblast, a strike on a warehouse killed five people and injured ten others, while a drone crash on a beach in Krasnodar Krai left seven dead.

Simultaneously, Russian bombardment killed nine people in Kyiv. On the front lines, Russian troops made tactical gains near Kharkiv, while Ukrainian forces reported advances in southern Donetsk. Meanwhile, Belarus announced plans to form a new air assault brigade near the Ukrainian border.

Sources: Mediazona, Point, Радіо Свобода, The Guardian, The Insider

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally rejected the latest US-backed 15-point Gaza peace proposal, stating that Israeli troops will not pull out of the enclave until Hamas fully disarms.

In televised remarks to his cabinet on Sunday, Netanyahu declared that "Israel rejects the 15-point document" recently accepted by Hamas, insisting that military forces must remain to counter ongoing threats. The decision marks a public rift with US President Donald Trump, whose administration announced the peace framework earlier this month.

The rejection comes amid domestic political pressure on Netanyahu, who faces an upcoming election on 27 October while balancing demands from far-right coalition partners and Washington. Despite the political friction, Israeli military strikes in Gaza have reportedly decreased following American pressure.

Sources: Cyprus Mail, France24, STV News, The Guardian, The Herald.

Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have intensified following a major US military operation that transported millions of barrels of crude oil through the strategic waterway using air, sea, and space assets. Iranian forces responded by deploying rocket-launched sea mines, prompting retaliatory US strikes against Larak Island.

Tehran subsequently stated that the strait "will not be opened" until Washington complies with conditions in a memorandum of understanding. Iran's demands include an end to military threats, the lifting of port blockades, suspension of energy sanctions, and the unfreezing of Iranian assets. Prior to the conflict, approximately 20 million barrels of crude oil passed through the passage daily. Analysts warn that a narrowing window for both nations to exert pressure significantly heightens the risk of further regional escalation.

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