Sep 23, 2026, 06:00 AM UTC

Military engagements between the United States and Iran have intensified around the Strait of Hormuz following a series of retaliatory strikes. According to US Central Command, American forces destroyed five vessels belonging to Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps after an attempted action against US naval ships.

In response, Iranian state media claimed Tehran launched 20 missiles targeting American military facilities in Jordan and struck six maritime vessels, including three tankers and an aircraft carrier. Emergency crews successfully extinguished a fire aboard one hit tanker.

Despite the military exchanges, US President Donald Trump stated that shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz remain operational. However, American intelligence officials warned that Iranian forces may seek to further escalate the conflict across the region.

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

Russian and Ukrainian forces engaged in overnight attacks despite incoming visits by United States peace envoys to Moscow and Kyiv. Russian strikes across several Ukrainian regions, including Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, resulted in multiple casualties. Simultaneously, Ukrainian forces targeted a Russian oil refinery, alongside reported drone strikes in Sochi and Belgorod.

The continued hostilities follow claims by former US President Donald Trump that both nations agreed to halt attacks on energy facilities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that Kyiv would comply only if Western partners guarantee Moscow stops targeting Ukrainian energy grids and supply routes.

Meanwhile, European Union diplomatic chief Kaja Kallas and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot condemned a Russian strike on a train near the Ukrainian-Polish border, describing it as an effort to divide European nations.

Sources: Avaz, Beta, CDM, N1, Vijesti

German authorities investigating a failed August drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport have linked the operation directly to Russia's military intelligence service, the GRU. Reports citing classified documents identify a Russian operative as the key logistician behind the plot, which targeted four Ukrainian transport aircraft before a detonator malfunctioned.

The case forms part of a broader investigation into more than 100 suspected foreign-backed hybrid incidents across Germany. Security officials warn that operations involving hidden weapon stockpiles, severed undersea communications cables, transport network disruption, and online disinformation are intended to destabilise democratic institutions and deepen societal divisions.

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

Recent cross-border strikes have escalated across several regions, with Ukrainian drones targeting major Russian e-commerce infrastructure. Facilities belonging to retail giants Ozon and Wildberries sustained heavy damage, causing Ozon shares to plunge nearly 30 percent after six logistics hubs were hit over three days, including a facility in Dagestan's capital, Makhachkala.

Concurrently, civilian casualties increased across multiple sites. Russian authorities reported five deaths from drone strikes in Moscow Oblast and seven fatalities following a drone impact on a beach in Krasnodar Krai. Meanwhile, a Russian missile strike on Kyiv left nine people dead and over 30 injured. On the ground, Russian troops achieved a tactical advancement near Artelne in Kharkiv Oblast, while Ukrainian forces progressed toward Velyka Novosilka. Additionally, Belarus announced the formation of an air assault brigade along the Ukrainian border.

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

Debates surrounding education, historical memory, and political extremism have intensified across eastern German states ahead of upcoming regional elections. Teachers in the region report a rising prevalence of right-wing radical symbols and rhetoric among students. In response, Thuringia’s education ministry is partnering with the University of Jena to deploy "constitutional coaches" to help schools address anti-democratic behavior.

In tandem, Evelyn Zupke, the federal commissioner for victims of the communist dictatorship, called for mandatory school visits to former East German memorial sites alongside expanded history lessons on the former GDR. Meanwhile, broader discussions continue regarding regional identity and governance challenges, including constitutional mechanisms like federal coercion should extremist parties gain state power.

Sources: Correctiv, Der Spiegel, DW, FAZ, Tagesschau.