← Conflict Dashboard 🛰 OSINT Intelligence Log 500 entries
All ISW Ukraine Iran Gaza Maritime Ghost/Kinetic
2026-05-15
Global: Unnamed sources within the Taiwanese military stated that these deployments would help deter a PLA invasion of Taiwan
Global: Taiwanese Military Developments: Taiwan’s military plans to deploy its HIMARS to the outlying islands of Penghu and Dongyin
Global: Their discussions focused primarily on economic and trade-related issues; neither side strayed from established policy and rhetoric when speaking on geopolitical topics
Global: US-PRC Diplomatic Engagement: US President Donald Trump met with CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping from May 13 to 15
UAE: Air defenses engage Iran missiles/drones
Kuwait: Iran drone strike injures US forces
Lebanon: IDF eliminates 15 Hezbollah operations S.Lebanon
Gulf: Saudi/Gulf secret strikes on Iran revealed
Strait Hormuz: US-Iran naval clash; ceasefire fragile
ME: Trump-Xi talks: China pushes Hormuz reopen
Hormuz: Oil +2% on stalled Iran peace hopes
Gaza: IDF bombs Gaza City apt: 1KIA 20WIA
Oman: Projectile hits cargo ship near Strait
Hormuz: US destroys Iranian boats; intercepts missiles
ME: Trump: patience thin on Iran deal
GLOB: UKR drones hit RU Ryazan refinery post-mass strikes
GULF: Ship seizures, attacks spike tensions
HORMUZ: Iran blocks shipping, threatens econ
Ukraine: RU missile/drone barrage hits Kyiv flats
GAZA: Ongoing strikes, aid worker casualties
GULF: US-Israel strikes continue; reconstitution efforts
HORMUZ: Iran seizes ships, sinks cargo amid tensions
TEHRAN: IRGC demands: end blockade, Hormuz control
KYIV: RU attack toll 24 dead, major barrage
Johannesburg: CIVIL UNREST|Xenophobic riots vs migrants flare
Paris: CIVIL UNREST|Anti-Israel protests clash police, 20 arrstd
Kyiv: GLOBAL SCAN|Russian drone strikes infra continue
Tel Aviv: GLOBAL SCAN|IDF monitors Iran proxy moves
Beijing: GLOBAL SCAN|Xi-Trump summit urges Hormuz reopen
Strait Hormuz: CYBER & INFRA|Shipping cyber probes spike amid tensions
Tehran: CYBER & INFRA|IRGC warns undersea cable cuts
Washington: CYBER & INFRA|Iranian proxies hit healthcare ransomware
London: CIVIL UNREST|Pro-Gaza march blocks port operations
Strait Hormuz: IR claims drone strikes on IL intel sites
Hormuz: Thai cargo attacked, crew missing
Lebanon: Hezbollah drones hit N Israel, IDF retaliates
Tehran: US/IL strikes kill civilians, net blackout
Pakistan: Afghan suicide bomber hits Bajaur camp
Ukraine: RUS largest strike: 1600+ drones/missiles
Iran: US rejects 14-pt proposal, hardline nuke stance
Gulf: Indian cargo sunk near Oman, suspected IRGC drone
Gulf: Iran declares Hormuz control amid Day 77 conflict
Gulf: IRAN seizes UAE-anchored ship, redirects to IRGC waters
Strait: Iran deploys subs, restricts transit select vessels
ME: X posts: dozens tankers frozen, Iran controls passage
Ukraine: Russian commanders continue to order Russian soldiers to commit war crimes in Ukraine
Moscow, Russia: The Kremlin is increasing its efforts to censor reactions to Ukrainian strikes against Moscow City, suggesting that it is growing concerned about its inability to protect the Russian rear
Ukraine: Shuvayev, who has been in command of units that have reportedly committed war crimes in Ukraine, is part of the new “elite” Putin is forming in the Russian government through the “Time of Heroes” program
Russia: The Kremlin continues to replace border oblast governors, likely to scapegoat regional officials for broader border security failures
Kyiv, Ukraine: The large-scale strike against Kyiv City did not violate the Russian-Ukrainian Victory Day ceasefire but nonetheless demonstrates that Russia is a bad faith negotiator
Kyiv, Ukraine: Russian forces have conducted two days of nearly continuous strikes against Ukraine with over 1,600 total long-range drones and missiles that heavily targeted Kyiv City and resulted in high civilian casualties
2026-05-14
Global: Ukrainian military intelligence warned that Russia plans to escalate its extractive economic policies in occupied Ukraine over the coming year
Global: Russian occupation courts continue to harshly punish residents of occupied areas for online activity perceived as subversive or anti-Russian
Global: Russia’s ruling United Russia party continues to promote pro-Russia loyalists, Russian military personnel, and their relatives in preparation for September 2026 State Duma “elections” in occupied Ukraine
Global: A Russian occupation official highlighted how Russian real estate policy in occupied areas is explicitly disenfranchising Ukrainian residents
Global: A Donetsk Oblast occupation official provided updates on the occupation administration’s seizure, nationalization, and redistribution of property, supporting ISW’s assessments on Russian property policy and repopulation efforts in occupied areas
Global: Russian occupation officials continue efforts to militarize Ukrainian schoolchildren by facilitating municipal stages of the Zarnitsa 2.0 military-patriotic competition
Crimea: The Artek International Children’s Center — an occupied Crimea-based organization that serves as a central hub for the deportation and propagandization of Ukrainian children — is becoming increasingly involved in the production and provision of components for the Russian military
Global: Russian Cossack organizations are increasingly penetrating the school system in occupied Ukraine
Global: Russia is escalating the temporary transfer and deportation of Ukrainian children to participate in Russian-run summer camp programs in occupied Ukraine and Russia — a yearly trend that ISW has observed every summer since the beginning of the full-scale invasion
Iran: These statements, concerns, and preparations do not on their own indicate that the Iranian regime is prepared to surrender as a result of economic pressure
Iran: Iranian officials’ public emphasis on economic management suggests that the regime recognizes that economic pressure could create internal stability risks and is preparing mechanisms to manage those risks
Iran: This effort supports the “negative” strategic objective of preventing regime collapse caused by protests that result from serious economic instability
Iran: The Iranian regime is preparing for economic instability that could cause domestic unrest
Iran: The introduction of these positive strategic objectives does not mean that Iran has abandoned its “negative” strategic objectives, which include limiting discussions on its nuclear program and avoiding an economic collapse that could trigger severe domestic unrest leading to the collapse of the regime
Iran: US sanctions on Iranian oil have contributed to severely weakening Iran’s ability to raise revenue that the regime has used to fund the development of its ballistic missile program
Iran: Iran is also seeking economic relief as a positive objective from the war, which could enable Iran to accelerate its efforts to reconstitute its ballistic missile program
Iran: Iranian negotiators increasingly prioritized securing its control over the Strait in negotiations, likely because it believes Iranian control over the Strait would act as a safeguard against future wars between Iran and Israel and the United States
Iran: Long-term control of the Strait would require Iran to secure US recognition of its claims to the Strait of Hormuz through a negotiated agreement so that Iran could order ships to comply with its rules legitimately and then intercept those ships that fail to comply
Iran: Iran’s principal positive strategic objective at this time is to secure recognition of its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, which would fundamentally remake regional and global maritime norms in a manner extremely detrimental to US interests
Iran: Iran seeks to achieve positive strategic objectives beyond the negative objective of surviving the war
Ukraine: Russia decisively ignored the Ukrainian ceasefire and launched a series of drones and missiles that killed at least 21 civilians and injured at least 82
Ukraine: The Russian military ignored Ukraine's unilaterally-declared ceasefire and the Kremlin accused Ukraine of violating the ceasefire despite the fact that Russian forces conducted combat missions after the unilateral Ukrainian ceasefire began in the morning of May 6
Russia: Ukraine unilaterally enacted a ceasefire starting at midnight on the night of May 5 to 6 in response to Russia's unilaterally declared Victory Day ceasefire planned for May 9
Crimea: Russian state-owned VTB Bank is expanding investment in residential construction in occupied Crimea
Israel: Israeli and Ukrainian media report that Russia is exporting grain stolen from occupied Ukraine to Israel
Global: Russian authorities continue detaining residents in occupied Ukraine and pursuing severe treason sentences for perceived pro-Ukrainian activity
Global: A major mine operator in occupied Luhansk Oblast is withholding wages and laying off workers, underscoring the instability of Russia’s extractive project in occupied Ukraine
Global: Russia’s ruling United Russia party announced pro-occupation candidates for the September 2026 State Duma “elections” in occupied Ukraine
Global: ZNPP occupation authorities continue indoctrinating and militarizing children in occupied Enerhodar to channel them into Russia’s nuclear sector
Global: Russian military-patriotic groups are expanding across occupied Ukraine, including by training youth to operate drones
Mariupol, Ukraine: Russian officials continue to temporarily deport children from occupied Mariupol to St
Iran: Iran has almost certainly used the ceasefire to reorganize and regenerate its missile and drone forces, which were badly degraded on the operational level prior to the ceasefire
Iran: Iran is reportedly exploring alternative methods to circumvent the US blockade of its ports, which is a suboptimal way to alleviate some of the economic pressure, including seizing US commercial vessels or Israeli-linked vessels, relying on trade with Russia and other countries bordering the Caspian Sea, or even the Houthis attacking vessels through the Bab el Mandeb Strait
Iran: Iran has responded to growing pressure on the economy caused by the war, sanctions, and the blockade by shoring up internal unity, presumably as an initial step in a more comprehensive internal security plan
Iran: Iranian leaders are preparing for a variety of contingencies and risks that could result from a hardline negotiating position that fails to end the war, including an economic collapse that triggers economic unrest, a long-term blockade, or a resumption of the US-Israeli air campaign
Iran: This would enable Iran to present a “new proposal” to the United States without compromising on any Iranian red lines
Iran: The Iranian regime is likely attempting to modify and legitimize its plan to exert sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz by including Oman in a scheme to collect tolls on shipping through the Strait
Iran: Other Iranian regime factions do not appear to materially constrain Vahidi’s uncompromising position
Iran: Mainstream Iranian politicians are consolidating around the decision to avoid discussing the nuclear issue before the United States lifts the naval blockade on Iranian ports, which was Vahidi’s preferred policy outcome
Iran: Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Ahmad Vahidi, whose hardline position on negotiations the regime has adopted, appears unwilling to concede on Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear program
Iran: Iran is unlikely to make meaningful concessions in its next proposal to the United States, which is expected in the next several days
Druzhkivka, Ukraine: Ukrainian forces advanced in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area, western Zaporizhia Oblast, and in the Pokrovsk, Oleksandrivka, and Hulyaipole directions
Ukraine: Ukraine’s domestic defense industrial base (DIB) and production capabilities continues to support allies
Russia: The Kremlin is likely using the threat of “terrorist activity” to cloak voter suppression and illegal activities in occupied Ukraine ahead of the September 2026 elections
Russia: Russia’s war in Ukraine is forcing the Kremlin to once again downgrade the festivities for its annual May 9 Victory Day parade, an event that Putin has historically used to posture Russian military power and victory in Ukraine
Iran: The Kremlin also reportedly used the Trump-Putin call to scold Trump for US-Israeli operations against Iran
Ukraine: Ukraine has largely stymied Russian advances across the frontline, blunting the Russian Spring-Summer 2026 offensive thus far
Ukraine: Russian President Vladimir Putin used his April 29 phone call with US President Donald Trump to reiterate his commitment to his original war aims and promote his cognitive warfare effort, falsely portraying Ukraine’s defenses as collapsing and Russian victory in Ukraine as inevitable
Ukraine: Ukrainian forces are engaged in an operational long-range strike campaign against Russian oil infrastructure and military assets, exploiting overstretched Russian air defenses
Kherson, Ukraine: The Kherson Oblast occupation administration is conducting economic and diplomatic outreach with North Korea
Global: Russian authorities are tightening physical and financial controls over occupied Ukraine, restricting civilian movement and expanding Russian bank dominance
Mariupol, Ukraine: Russian citizens from Russia now dominate housing purchases in occupied Mariupol, accelerating Russia’s demographic consolidation of occupied areas
Russia: The Kremlin is militarizing occupation governance ahead of the September 2026 State Duma elections by installing veterans and active servicemembers into administrative roles
Global: Russian state-owned defense companies are expanding youth militarization efforts in occupied Ukraine through subsidiary-led training programs
Global: Russian authorities continue the illegal transfer and militarization of Ukrainian children, including through MoD-sponsored visits to Russian military facilities and continued forcible deportations
Iran: It is extremely difficult to deduce the degree of degradation to Iranian forces based on these estimates because the number of remaining systems is only one of many data points required to form a complete evaluation of military strength
Iran: The regime’s formal decision-making and coordinating mechanisms are also not functioning effectively.  US officials have recently leaked quantitative estimates of the number of different Iranian assets remaining after the ceasefire
Iran: Iranian officials have not reached a unified decision on whether to return to negotiations in recent days, and competing regime power centers appear to be blocking consensus on core issues
Iran: Iranian decision-making remains fragmented and in disarray, which explains Iran’s inability to formulate and communicate a coherent negotiating position
Iran: Vahidi appears willing to risk incurring a potential US military response to assert Iranian “control” over the strait
Iran: The IRGC’s attacks on shipping and IRGC Commander Major General Ahmad Vahidi’s apparent willingness to scrap US-Iran talks indicate that Vahidi is prepared to resume the war if needed
Iran: The IRGC also may have redirected the two vessels in response to the recent US Navy seizure of the Iranian-flagged, US-sanctioned Touska in the Gulf of Oman
Iran: The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy attacked and likely redirected two vessels towards Iran on April 22, likely to enforce Iranian claims of sovereignty over the strait to disrupt global shipping and extract US concessions
Kharkiv, Ukraine: Russian forces advanced in northern Kharkiv Oblast.  Russia launched 215 drones against Ukraine overnight
Ukraine: Russian President Vladimir Putin gave Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) Academy an honorary title celebrating the organizer of the Soviet campaign of mass arrests and executions
Russia: The Kremlin continues to use long-standing false narratives that the Ukrainian government is oppressing religious liberties as a moral justification for its protracted war in Ukraine
Global: Filling this gap in US diplomatic representation will allow for greater coordination of effective North Korea policy
Global: US-South Korea Relations: US President Donald Trump nominated former US Congresswoman Michelle Steel to be the US Ambassador to South Korea, a position that has remained empty since January 2025
Global: North Korea likely seeks to disperse its nuclear deterrent across a variety of launch platforms and delivery mechanisms
Global: North Korean Nuclear Development: North Korea may be expanding facilities related to uranium enrichment to enable increased production of nuclear warheads
Global: The Choe-Hyon-class vessels will likely serve as nuclear missile platforms due to their limited anti-ship capabilities
Global: North Korean Military Advancement: North Korea may be preparing to deploy its Choe Hyon-class guided missile destroyers beyond its immediate waters, as part of its efforts to build a green-water navy
Iran: Iran reportedly utilized an advanced reconnaissance satellite purchased from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 2024 to target US military assets and bases across the Middle East during the war.  The Israeli Security Cabinet reportedly held a meeting on April 15 to discuss a possible ceasefire in Lebanon, amid recent direct talks between Israel and Lebanon under US auspices
Iran: Iran is exploiting the current ceasefire to reorganize and regenerate its ballistic missile forces program on the tactical level by attempting to reopen tunnel entrances at missile bases
Iran: US President Donald Trump told ABC News on April 14 that he is not considering extending the ceasefire that ends on April 22
Iran: Pakistan is reportedly pushing the United States and Iran to extend the ceasefire by 45 days
Iran: The US Treasury sanctioned 29 targets, including three individuals, 17 companies, and nine vessels on April 15, which are tied to Iranian oil smuggling and associated financing networks as part of the United States’ broader economic pressure campaign on Iran
Iran: Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated on April 14 that the United States and Israel have decided that removing the enriched uranium from Iran is a “threshold condition” for ending the US-Israeli campaign
Iran: These statements, at least to some extent, reflect internal disagreement over Iran’s negotiating position
Iran: Some Iranian officials have signaled different levels of willingness to compromise on Iran’s nuclear program in negotiations with the United States
Iran: The second precondition comes amid reports of intra-regime conflict and corroborates ISW-CTP’s assessment that the United States is negotiating with a divided council of hardliners and pragmatists rather than a singular, unified authority
Iran: The United States has reportedly set two preconditions for another round of negotiations: first, Iran must fully “reopen” the Strait of Hormuz, and second, the Iranian negotiating delegation must have “full authority” to finalize a deal
Iran: US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported on April 15 that no vessels had breached the blockade on Iranian ports during the first 48 hours of enforcement
Iran: US naval forces continued to enforce the blockade on Iranian ports
Russia: Russian forces launched three missiles and 324 drones toward Ukraine
Slovyansk, Ukraine: Ukrainian forces recently advanced in the Slovyansk and Kostyantynivka directions.  Ukrainian forces continued their long-range strike campaign against Russian defense industrial infrastructure
Ukraine: Ukraine’s Western allies continue to provide military capabilities to support Ukraine
Russia: Russian forces conducted a large series of missile and drone strikes against Ukraine overnight on April 14 and 15
Iran: Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Commander Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi and Khatam ol Anbia Central Headquarters Commander Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi are reportedly driving decisions related to Iran’s kinetic response to the US and Israeli air campaign, according to two sources close to President Masoud Pezeshkian’s office speaking to anti-regime media on April 7
Iran: Russia has provided Iran with satellite imagery of US, Gulf, and Turkish military assets in the Middle East to help Iran conduct attacks since the war began
Iran: Reuters reported on April 7 that Russian satellites are “actively surveying” the Strait of Hormuz, according to Ukrainian intelligence
Iran: Russia may be helping Iran conduct attacks on international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz by providing Iran with satellite imagery of the strait
Iran: The IDF struck eight rail bridges and road segments that the Iranian regime uses to move weapons and other military equipment
Iran: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif posted on X on April 7 that Iran and the United States’ allies, presumably referring to Iran’s Axis of Resistance and Israel, respectively, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire “everywhere, including [in] Lebanon and elsewhere.” Combined force strikes on Iranian railways and roads may have cut off several Iranian lines of transportation to move weapons, including missiles and missile launchers or components, across Iran
Iran: Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed Iran’s acceptance of the ceasefire and stated that Iran will allow the “safe passage” of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz during the two-week period “via coordination with Iran’s armed forces and with due consideration of technical limitations.” Israel has reportedly agreed to cease operations against Iran and Hezbollah if Iran halts its operations in the Strait of Hormuz
Iran: The Iranian Supreme National Security Council announced that the regime agreed to the ceasefire on April 7, several hours after US President Donald Trump announced that he had agreed to the ceasefire on the condition that Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz
Iran: The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan on April 7 and will begin negotiations in Islamabad, Pakistan, on April 11
Ukraine: Ukrainian forces struck oil infrastructure in Leningrad Oblast and a defense industrial plant in Voronezh Oblast
Slovyansk, Ukraine: Ukrainian forces recently advanced in the Slovyansk direction
Russia: The Kremlin is reportedly considering replacing three Russian governors ahead of the September 2026 elections
Ukraine: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated Ukraine’s willingness to conduct a ceasefire over the Easter holiday and/or a ceasefire on energy infrastructure strikes
Russia: The Kremlin continues to set conditions for possible future aggression against the Baltic states
Russia: Russian forces continue to conduct drone strikes intentionally targeting civilians in southern Ukraine, weaponizing civilian harm as an intentional tool of war
Global: ISW-CDOT does not assess that this will make inter-Korean dialogue more likely in the near future, however
Global: Inter-Korean Relations: WPK General Secretary Kim Jong Un’s sister Kim Yo Jong responded positively to South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s expression of regret over a recent South Korean drone incursion into North Korea
Global: South Korean officials are pursuing nuclear submarine development to address perceived capability gaps in countering North Korean capabilities
Global: South Korean Nuclear Submarines: South Korea is pre-emptively planning to meet with the IAEA to assuage potential proliferation concerns stemming from its plan to develop nuclear submarines
Iran: PRC companies have been reportedly discussing arms sales routed via third-party countries with Iranian officials, but currently it is unclear to what extent PRC officials have decided to approve these sales and subsequent weapons shipments, according to New York Times reporting on May 13 that cited US officials
Iran: The PRC only explicitly opposes the toll system and the Iranian “blockade,” but has not explicitly opposed Iranian claims to sovereignty, for example
Iran: Recognizing Iran’s protocol — which bars certain countries from accessing the strait and not others based on their behavior — is unacceptable because it implies that the Strait of Hormuz is sovereign Iranian territory
Iran: Iran is likely prioritizing the implementation of the protocol over the tolls at this time in order to present itself as a reasonable actor that is willing to “open” the strait to “free” travel without tolls
Iran: Legitimizing any aspect of Iranian control over the strait, with or without tolls, is unacceptable due to the precedent it sets
Iran: This prioritization helps Iran encourage states to implicitly recognize its control over the strait while avoiding international concerns over paying the Iranians and incurring sanctions risk
Iran: Iran may be prioritizing upholding the “legitimacy” of its claims to the Strait of Hormuz over toll collection at this time
Lebanon: Israel-Lebanon ceasefire talks start positive
UAE: IR warns UAE vs Israel collusion post-Netanyahu meet
Tehran: Nuke threat nears; Kharg oil exports halted
Israel: Hezbollah launches rockets vs IDF south Lebanon
Gulf: Indian vessel sunk off Oman, drone/missile hit
ME: IR allows Chinese ships thru Hormuz amid talks
UAE: Iran seizes ship nr Fujairah, heads to IR waters
Gulf: GPS jamming surges; 100s vessels affected
Hormuz: Multiple seizures/attacks intensify shipping chaos
Gaza: Hamas refuses disarm; potential new operations
Crimea: Russia’s persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses continues in occupied Crimea
Global: Occupied Oleshky is facing a worsening humanitarian crisis that the Russian occupation leadership shows no signs of remedying
Global: The Zarnitsa 2.0 youth military-patriotic competition continues in occupied Ukraine
Global: The Russian Ministry of Education approved an official concept for the implementation of historical education that will grant the Russian state even greater control over the school system and educational materials in occupied Ukraine
Global: The Russian Zemsky Teacher and Zemsky Cultural Worker programs continue to place Russian citizens in influential educational and cultural positions in occupied Ukraine
Europe: The European Union (EU), the United Kingdom (UK), and Canada imposed sanctions on Russian officials and entities involved in the forced deportation, militarization, and indoctrination of Ukrainian children
Global: Russian occupation officials continue to temporarily transfer and deport Ukrainian children to Russian-run summer camps in occupied Ukraine and Russia
Global: The report attempted to deny well-documented evidence of Russia’s treatment of Ukrainian children
Russia: The Kremlin-appointed Commissioner for Children’s Rights published a report on Russia’s policy toward Ukrainian children
Strait Hormuz: Iran tightens grip, vessels targeted
Gulf: Indian ship attkd off Oman, crew safe
Global: Low-lvl Iran cyber operations rise
Lebanon: Hezbollah drone strikes intensify
Jerusalem: Shin Bet arrests attack plotter
Tehran: US ceasefire viol claims persist
Carson City / Quad-County region (Douglas, Lyon, Storey Counties), Nevada, United States (single confirmed hantavirus pulmonary syndrome case reported late April 2026; first in Lyon County; rodent exposure suspected in rural/western U.S. pattern; no cruise link; patient status not detailed publicly): 39.16° N, 119.77° W.
Los Lagos Region near Puerto Montt, Chile (part of Chile’s 39 confirmed cases through May 2026 with 13 deaths/33% fatality; mostly men in rural/forestry work; concentrated in southern/central regions; higher than 2025 pace; unrelated to cruise): 41.47° S, 72.94° W.
Central Buenos Aires Province, Argentina (representative near La Plata / rural zones) (highest national case count province with ~42 cases and multiple early deaths in 2026; spread into populated central/suburban areas including Sierra de los Padres, Chacabuco, General Belgrano; fatality rate elevated): 34.92° S, 57.95° W.
Bariloche, Río Negro Province, Argentina (first confirmed 2026 case in the province; rural/Andean exposure; part of national domestic surge unrelated to cruise): 41.15° S, 71.31° W.
San Ramón de la Nueva Orán / Orán Department, Salta Province, Argentina (cluster of 10–14 confirmed cases and 2–4 deaths in early 2026; highest provincial incidence; mostly males/security workers in rural/border areas; part of Northwest region’s surge with climate/rodent factors cited): 23.13° S, 64.33° W.
San Andrés de Giles, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina (site of a fatal domestic case in a 14-year-old boy reported January 2026; rural family home exposure; part of provincial surge with ~42 cases and multiple deaths in 2026; highest national case count province with spread into populated central areas): 34.45° S, 59.05° W.
Omaha, Nebraska, United States (UNMC National Quarantine Unit / biocontainment facility) (repatriation and monitoring site for ~17–18 U.S. passengers/crew from MV Hondius via government medical flight; one U.S. citizen mildly PCR-positive for Andes virus and another showing mild symptoms; both in strict isolation with no severe progression; part of CDC-coordinated response): 41.26° N, 96.01° W.
Amsterdam area, Netherlands (evacuation and treatment site for 3+ suspected/confirmed cruise cases including passengers and ship’s doctor; flown for care ~May 6; 2 in serious condition, 1 asymptomatic but close contact; lab testing confirmed additional cases; Dutch nationals among fatalities): 52.37° N, 4.90° E.
Zurich, Switzerland (University Hospital) (treatment site for at least one confirmed male cruise passenger who disembarked earlier; lab-confirmed Andes virus; stable condition reported; part of international evacuations): 47.38° N, 8.54° E.
Johannesburg, South Africa (ICU treatment site for at least one confirmed British national from cruise cluster; critically ill as of early May; lab confirmation at NICD; one 69-year-old Dutch female died April 26 after flight from ship; contact tracing for 42+ exposures): 26.20° S, 28.05° E.
Granadilla de Abona port, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain (MV Hondius disembarkation/repatriation site; ship anchored offshore May 10–11 for controlled boat transfers to sealed buses then airport flights under strict isolation protocols; WHO Director-General Tedros on site; first groups moved to designated military hospital for evaluation; no new illnesses during process; all repatriations completed by May 11): 28.12° N, 16.58° W.
Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego Province, Argentina (primary exposure origin for the MV Hondius cruise ship cluster; ship departed ~April 1, 2026 with 147 passengers/crew from 23 countries; early cases likely rodent-linked before possible limited person-to-person spread of Andes virus; no prior local cases in province at departure; part of Argentina’s broader 2025–2026 season surge with ~101 total confirmed nationally): 54.81° S, 68.31° W.
Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan (1 fatal confirmed case in man in his 70s reported January 2026; died from sepsis/complications ~8 days after onset; postmortem confirmation; environmental sanitation response in area): 25.03° N, 121.53° E.
Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States (single confirmed hantavirus pulmonary syndrome case reported March 12, 2026; patient hospitalized but recovered; first NM case of 2026; deer mouse exposure typical; unrelated to cruise): 35.69° N, 105.94° W.
Israel (central area) (country’s first diagnosed 2026 hantavirus case; European strain contracted during recent travel to Eastern Europe; no human-to-human transmission risk; not linked to Andes virus or cruise; confirmed by PCR/antibody testing): 31.05° N, 34.85° E.
New Taipei City, Taiwan (2nd national case of 2026: elderly man with underlying conditions reported March 2026; admitted to negative-pressure isolation; recovered; source investigation ongoing; sanitation in affected zones): 25.01° N, 121.46° E.
Dubai energy markets: Brent crude remains volatile above $114 per barrel as Hormuz restrictions persist; local Gulf energy traders and Dubai-based monitors report the sharp rebound tied directly to ceasefire fragility per regional reporting. #IranWar: Dominant hashtag with real-time OSINT on the new IRGC Hormuz agency, Beirut commander strike, Trump-Xi summit, and stalled talks sourced from Iranian, Lebanese, Pakistani, and Chinese local media.
Washington: Trump administration paused some “Project Freedom” Hormuz operations citing “great progress” toward a deal while awaiting Tehran’s response to a US peace proposal; local congressional briefing leaks note the naval blockade remains active with Gulf forces on heightened alert.
Islamabad/Pakistan: Pakistan-mediated US-Iran ceasefire implementation talks remain stalled after 21 hours; Pakistani Foreign Ministry local statements and diplomatic cables report Iran demanding immediate Lebanon ceasefire guarantees and asset releases before any Hormuz concessions.
South Sudan: Hundreds marched in Juba demanding ceasefire in the Bor oil-field fighting with several arrests reported.
Beirut southern suburbs/Lebanon: Israeli Air Force struck Hezbollah targets in Beirut suburbs for the first time since the ceasefire, killing Radwan Force commander Ahmed Ghaleb Balout and at least 10-13 others per Lebanese Health Ministry and local civil defense reports; OSINT geolocations and on-ground videos confirm secondary explosions despite the fragile truce.
Strait of Hormuz: Iranian state media (IRNA and Press TV) and IRGC naval command confirmed the strait remains closed to uncoordinated commercial traffic amid the US naval blockade of Iranian ports and ongoing Israeli strikes in Lebanon; local Gulf shipping trackers and live AIS data show only minimal escorted non-Western transits, with IRGC announcing a new agency to “secure the Persian Gulf.”
Beijing/China: President Trump and Xi Jinping held high-stakes summit talks focused on ending the Iran war, with Xi warning of potential “conflict” over Taiwan; local Chinese state broadcaster and White House readouts note discussions on Hormuz reopening and trade amid the ongoing stalemate.
Kazakhstan: Clashes between protesters and police occurred in Almaty suburbs over the extended economic emergency and fuel price fallout.
Thailand: Truckers staged small demonstrations in Bangkok against new fuel quotas and rising transport costs tied to the energy emergency.
Cuba: Riots erupted in Havana over prolonged blackouts and fuel shortages exacerbated by the US oil blockade with attacks on party offices reported.
Lebanon: Hezbollah scaled back rocket fire but faces continued Israeli airstrikes under the fragile truce.
Russia: Moscow called the latest Hormuz developments a “dangerous precedent” for global energy security.
Yemen: Houthi leadership suspended Red Sea attacks pending full Hormuz clarification.
Iraq: Iranian-backed militias remain on alert but stood down most drone operations following ceasefire developments.
Ukraine: Russian forces conducted large-scale drone and missile barrages on energy infrastructure.
Central Asia/Kazakhstan: Astana extended the state of economic emergency for 30 days over wheat export halts and domestic fuel price riots stemming from Hormuz volatility; local Kazakh media report protests in Almaty suburbs.
Asia-Pacific/Thailand: Bangkok imposed emergency fuel import quotas and 20% industrial cutbacks after Middle East rerouting costs spiked; local government warnings note potential rolling blackouts within 12 days per Thai media.
Sub-Saharan Africa/Sudan: RSF forces advanced in Kordofan with drone strikes hitting civilian areas including hospitals; local UN monitors and Sudanese sources logged dozens of civilian deaths in the latest 24-hour fighting wave.
Americas/Cuba: Prolonged power cuts and diesel shortages have triggered riots in Havana over the US oil blockade effects; local Cuban state media and Havana Times report attacks on Communist Party offices with security forces responding.
AZERBAIJAN: Participation in EFES-2026 multinational exercise preparations in Türkiye (ongoing May 5+ artillery/mortar drills); combat readiness focus.
PERSIAN GULF: multiple sources — Persistent GPS jamming and AIS disruptions noted in region (echoing March patterns post-Operation Epic Fury); no new vessel seizures or Houthi attacks confirmed in last 24h. No unusual naval movements or airspace closures reported today.
OMAN: shipping — Indian-flagged livestock carrier sank officer coast after reported attack; all crew rescued (recent development tied to Hormuz spillover) — confirmed incident.
UAE/STRAIT OF HORMUZ: Vessel boarded 38 nautical miles northeast of Fujairah port; reportedly heading toward Iran amid ongoing tensions (last 24h report) — unverified details on attacker/flag.
IRAN/PROXIES: No new Israeli/United States strikes reported in last 12h; focus remains on enforcement of sanctions and Hormuz openness during Trump-Xi talks — unconfirmed.
MIDDLE EAST: Iranian-linked groups responsible for 350+ attacks in 30 months before 2026 war launch — confirmed (today).
IRAN: team/OSINT — IRGC statements on naval posture amid United States/Israeli activity references; secret Israel-Gulf coordination revealed in post-war analysis — unconfirmed fresh activity last 12h.
STRAIT OF HORMUZ: Ongoing post-ceasefire tensions with United States blockade of Iranian ports and shipping disruptions affecting oil flows (shaky truce from Feb-Apr 2026 war) — unconfirmed new incidents today.
IRAN: CENTCOM Adm. Brad Cooper testified on >350 Iranian-proxy attacks pre-Operation Epic Fury (injuring 200 United States personnel, killing 4); Senate hearing today — confirmed.
GAZA: strikes — Ongoing Israeli operations referenced in regional reporting (low-level).
HAITI: instability — Persistent crisis with no new verified events in last 24h (ongoing).
SOUTH SUDAN: sanctions — UNSC renewal of 2206 regime and Panel of Experts mandate (May).
LIBYA: arms embargo — UNSC renewal measures and ICC Prosecutor briefing expected (May context).
PAKISTAN: militancy — Cross-border TTP threats prompting potential Pakistani operations (developing).
AFGHANISTAN: militancy — TTP attacks continue with limited reprieve entering third month (ongoing).
MYANMAR: military strikes — Airstrikes on Pauk township oil wells killed at least 4 PDF (recent).
ARMENIA: Defense Minister Papikyan deepened military cooperation with Poland during Warsaw visit (May 5); institutional/military engagements (no immediate escalation).
MYANMAR: Military airstrikes on oil wells near Pauk township (recent April/May activity); at least 4 PDF members killed (verified).
CHINA/TAIWAN: Trump-Xi summit in Beijing includes Xi warnings of potential Taiwan conflict; trade and Iran/Hormuz also discussed (today, high escalation rhetoric).
SAHEL REGION: Insurgent activity continues in Burkina Faso/Mali/Niger; highest global terrorism impact noted, cross-border spillover (unconfirmed new strikes).
SUDAN: SAF-RSF civil war ongoing with drone strikes across multiple regions (last 24h activity reported); humanitarian crisis deepening, no casualty figures verified today.
VENEZUELA/GUYANA: Essequibo territorial dispute at ICJ; no new military moves but diplomatic tensions persist (unconfirmed escalation risk).
VENEZUELA: United States decapitation raid conducted on Maduro regime targets (recent, exact date/coords unconfirmed); escalation indicator amid ongoing instability.
UKRAINE: Active Russian drone/missile developments tied to overnight Kyiv-area strikes (early warnings from monitors).
MIDDLE EAST: Ongoing references to Iranian proxy activity pre-2026 war in official testimony (unverified new incidents).
UKRAINE: Continued Ukrainian drone defense operations reported in western regions (ongoing).
IRAN: CENTCOM posture hearing underway today with focus on pre-war Iranian proxy threats and force posture (Senate testimony).
UKRAINE: Russian drone activity highlighted as favorite tactic near Odesa area (video evidence).
CHINA/TAIWAN: Xi Jinping delivered unusually direct warnings on Taiwan to Trump during Beijing summit; committed stance noted (today).
IRAN/PROXIES: CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper testified today that Iranian-linked groups conducted >350 attacks injuring 200 Americans and killing 4 in 30 months before Operation Epic Fury.
UKRAINE: Ukrainian military now described as strongest and most powerful in Europe by Sen. Marco Rubio (developing narrative amid ongoing Russian strikes).
UKRAINE: Russian one-way attack (OWA) drone maneuvering near Odesa; geolocated video posted today (unverified exact strike).
UKRAINE: Ukrainian FPV interceptors slammed into Russian Shahed-136 attack drones over Rivne yesterday; geolocated video footage verified.
Gulf: IRGC seizes vessel nr Fujairah, heads Iran
Iran: Widespread net blackout, bank hacks
Pakistan: Curfew Gilgit after Iran-linked protests
Kano: Nigeria market violence, arrests mount
Gulf: UKMTO warns unauthorized boarding
Red Sea: Houthi threats to shipping renewed
Hormuz: US intercepts IRGC boats, drones
Ukraine: Russia largest air raid post-ceasefire
Lebanon: Hezbollah fires at IDF, clashes escalate
Gulf: Oil slick near Kharg terminal spotted
Israel: Secret UAE coord revealed in strikes
Tehran: IRGC claims Hormuz toll enforcement
Lebanon: IAF strikes Saghmar, Bekaa target
Tehran: Internet outages hit key nodes post-cyber
Lebanon: Strikes continue amid broader ME tensions
Manila: Gunshots, lockdown, ammo suspect arrested
Hormuz: Seizures, tolls disrupt global shipping
Beijing: Trump-Xi summit on Iran war, trade
Ukraine: Massive RU missile/drone barrage hits homes
Gulf: Iran-linked strikes on tankers escalate
Strait Hormuz: Indian ship 'Haji Ali' sunk, crew saved
Kenya: Ruto meddling claims spark opposition heat
Paris: Anti-government demos flare amid econ woes
UKRAINE: RU barrage hits Kyiv residential
HORMUZ: Iran: strait open if cooperate w/ navy
ABU DHABI: UAE denies Netanyahu secret meet
TEHRAN: Trump: Iran proposal 'totally unacceptable'
TEHRAN: Iran warns UAE vs Israel collusion
HORMUZ: Iran seizes vessel 38nm off UAE, heads IR
KYIV: RU missiles/drones hit apt bldg, rescues underway
Strait Hormuz: US intercepts IRGC boats, ships guided
Gulf: Cyber threats surge, hacktivists target infra
Iran: FM warns colluders w/ Israel held accountable
Ukraine: Russia war crimes claims, UA forces counter
ME: Netanyahu secret UAE visit denied by Abu Dhabi
Gaza: Red alerts sirens Alumim, 3 rockets fired
Gulf: Vessels comply Iran transit rules
Red Sea: Iran proxies hint cable attacks
Ukraine: Russian strikes hit cities, 20+ dead
Persian Gulf: Iran delays undersea cable projects
Tehran: IRGC patrols Hormuz, claims sovereignty
Gulf: US-Iran tanker clashes ongoing
MEast: 90% Iran missile sites intact per NYT
Strait Hormuz: Iran threatens subsea cables chokepoint
Slovyansk, Ukraine: Ukrainian forces recently advanced in the Slovyansk, Oleksandrivka, and Hulyaipole directions and in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area
Ukraine: The Russian State Duma passed a bill granting the Russian president powers for extraterritorial military operations to protect Russian citizens abroad, previously introduced on March 10
Russia: Russian forces conducted large-scale drone strikes overnight on May 12 and throughout the day on May 13, killing at least six people
Ukraine: Ukrainian forces continue to increase the range and frequency of their long-range drones strikes against Russian oil infrastructure, exploiting overstretched Russian air defenses
Ukraine: Russian demands for cash reached an all-time high over Victory Day weekend, demonstrating rising societal fears over internet restrictions and tax policy
Ukraine: Russian courts are increasingly leveraging corruption charges as a pretext to nationalize Russia’s largest corporations, likely setting conditions for the broader nationalization of private assets to support state revenues
Ukraine: US President Donald Trump said that he has not agreed with Putin that Russia should acquire all of Donetsk and Luhansk
Ukraine: Russia’s exaggerated territorial ambitions and aggressive territorial demands run completely counter to battlefield reality
Russia: The Kremlin is doubling down on its demand that Ukraine withdraw from all of Donbas as a precondition for the resumption of negotiations
UKRAINE: [ et al.] — Russian daytime mass drone swarm (hundreds launched 13 May) hits multiple regions including west; at least 6 killed, infrastructure damaged.
UKRAINE: [ / ] — US Army cancels deployment of ~4,000 troops from 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division to Poland/NATO eastern flank; some troops already in Poland recalled.
UKRAINE: [] — Large Russian ballistic/cruise missile and drone attack underway on Kyiv and multiple oblasts as of early 14 May; explosions reported.
2026-05-13
Iran: Five unspecified sources told Reuters on May 12 that Iraq and Pakistan reached agreements with Iran to move crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) through the strait
Iran: Some regional states appear to be complying with Iranian-imposed transit procedures in the Strait of Hormuz, which normalizes Iran’s claim that vessels need Iranian permission to transit the waterway
Iran: Many of these proposals, if accepted and operationalized, would also provide Iran with new revenues that would enable it to reconstitute its military forces
Iran: Some regime officials and outlets have floated new ideas about how the regime could use the Strait of Hormuz to discourage behavior that the regime believes is contrary to its interests
Iran: Naval assets around the Strait of Hormuz featured only secondarily and as part of this wider three-pillar system
Iran: Iranian strategy before October 7 and the events thereafter, including the Spring 2026 war, revolved primarily around ballistic missiles, drones, and its proxy and partner network as deterrents and force projection tools
Iran: Iran’s growing emphasis on the Strait of Hormuz reflects a broader, emerging consensus around the idea that the Strait of Hormuz must be central to Iranian strategy and deterrence in the future
Iran: These tactical and operational reconstitution efforts, however, do not necessarily offset the strategic effects achieved during the war against ballistic missile production facilities
Iran: Iran’s efforts to reconstitute its military capabilities during the ceasefire period are consistent with the behavior of any military organization when given time and space to reconstitute itself after combat
IRAN: US intel: Iran regains 30/33 Hormuz missile sites
ME: Kuwait strikes IRGC target Iran, Tehran vows revenge
GULF: Saudi covert airstrikes on Iran revealed
LEBANON: IDF kills 15 Hezbollah operations S.Lebanon
IRAN: Tehran threatens new weapons vs US/Israel
IRAN: Iran frees rights lawyer Sotoudeh on bail
GAZA: IDF ramps attacks, Hamas rearming
LEBANON: 15 killed Israeli drone strikes
HORMUZ: CENTCOM diverts 67 vessels, 4 disabled
RED SEA: Houthi hijacks cargo ship Magic Seas
Lebanon: Israeli strikes kill 12 ahead talks
Iraq: Saudi strikes on Iran-backed militias
Gaza: IDF steps up strikes, Hamas rearming claims
Lebanon: Hezbollah drones/rockets vs IDF, Iron Dome hit
Tehran: Fragile ceasefire strains, Trump rejects Iran terms
Strait Hormuz: Iran seizes 2 cargo ships amid US blockade
Gulf: Iran warns 90% U enrich if attacked again
Hormuz: US maintains blockade, Iran fires on vessels
Ukraine: Massive RU attack overloads UA AD, PL jets scrambled
Kyiv: RU 200+ daytime drones hit 14 regions, energy/rail targets
Lebanon: Israel strikes intensify amid truce
Hormuz: Iran attacks tankers; sailor killed
Israel: Houthi missile strike; cyber GPS jams
Tehran: IRGC expands operation zone; cable seizure plans
Hormuz: Iran closes strait til US lifts blockade
Gulf: Dark shipping +600%; mines reported
Tehran: US strikes IRGC sites post-clash
StraitHormuz: IRGC fires US destroyers; intercepts claimed
Gaza: Ongoing operations; civilian toll rises
Iran: Iran continues to cooperate with key US adversaries, such as Russia and China, as it prepares for a potential resumption of conflict with the United States and Israel
Iran: Intra-regime power struggle between pragmatic hardliners and ultrahardliners indicates the absence of a decisive central arbiter, which has allowed factional disputes to unfold publicly
Iran: Infighting among hardline factions has escalated into a public media confrontation amid intra-regime competition over negotiations
Iran: Iran’s prolonged internet shutdown is also posing severe economic damage and accelerating unemployment, which likely increases pressure on regime stability
Iran: Iran’s highest national security decision-making body is preparing for a potential protest wave as economic deterioration and social pressure intensify
Iran: It is unclear, however, whether this pressure on Iran’s economy will cause Vahidi and his inner circle to make concessions to the United States
Iran: Iran also faces significant pressure on other parts of its economy
Iran: Iran’s growing challenges in storing and exporting its oil could be one mechanism by which Iranian calculations change in negotiations
Iran: The United States remains opposed to the most recent April 26 proposal because it failed to address both Iran’s nuclear program and enabled Iran to assert “control” over the Strait of Hormuz
Iran: The proposal illustrates that Iran’s current decisionmaker, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Commander Major General Ahmad Vahidi, believes Iran is winning despite the serious damage Iran has suffered
Iran: Iran’s latest proposal in negotiations offers no concessions and represents an Iranian effort to end the war on Tehran’s terms
Kharkiv, Ukraine: Ukrainian forces recently advanced in the Kharkiv and Orikhiv directions
Russia: The April 27 to 28 strikes compelled the Kremlin to acknowledge the impacts of Ukrainian strikes against the Tuapse Oil Refinery
Ukraine: Ukrainian forces struck the Tuapse Oil Refinery overnight on April 27 to 28, the third strike against the refinery in April so far
Global: South Korea needs to continue investing in its defense and modernizing its military to meet the US’s requirements for OPCON transfer
Global: Establishing South Korea as an RSH may improve the logistical efficiency of US forces during a Taiwan contingency.  OPCON Transfer: The United States and South Korea appear aligned on their desire to complete OPCON transfer from the United States to South Korea by 2029
Global: US-South Korea Alliance Building: USFK Commander Xavier Brunson proposed establishing South Korea as a regional sustainment hub (RSH) to conduct maintenance on US aircraft and ships
Ukraine: Neither Russian or Ukrainian forces made confirmed advances on the frontline
Ukraine: Senior Russian officials continue to reiterate Russia’s territorial goals in Ukraine beyond demands for Ukraine’s withdrawal from Donetsk Oblast
Ukraine: The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) issued a response to concerns about its ongoing issues with Russia’s Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) recruitment drive, which has reportedly attempted to fill recruitment quotas using Russian university students
Israel: Israeli media reported that Hezbollah has begun using fiber-optic FPV drones as its main strike platform for attacks on Israeli forces in southern Lebanon
Israel: Hezbollah has claimed that it used FPV drones in 12 of its 18 claimed attacks on Israeli ground forces in Lebanon since April 16
Israel: Hezbollah has increasingly used first-person view (FPV) drones to attack Israeli forces in Lebanon since the ceasefire came into effect on April 16
Iran: Russia has facilitated Iranian strikes in the Middle East throughout the war, such as by providing Iran with satellite imagery of US, Gulf, and Turkish military assets in the Middle East
Iran: An Iranian delegation led by Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasized the importance of Russo-Iranian strategic relations in a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St
Iran: The Wall Street Journal reported on April 27 that the US blockade on Iranian ports has forced Iran to store oil in “disused oil tanks in poor condition” and in “containers” in the cities of Ahvaz, Khuzestan Province, and Asaluyeh, Bushehr Province, according to unspecified current and former Iranian officials
Iran: Iran’s rapidly depleting oil storage capacity likely explains, at least in part, why Iran is pushing for a peace agreement that would lift the US naval blockade
Iran: It is unclear if Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Commander Major General Ahmad Vahidi and his inner circle support this new proposal
Iran: The Iranian proposal would not force Iran to make concessions regarding its highly enriched uranium or ability to enrich uranium up front, but would rather grant Iran more time to engage in talks about these nuclear issues
Iran: Iran presented a new proposal to the United States in which it reportedly offered to “reopen” the Strait of Hormuz and end the war, while postponing US-Iran nuclear negotiations to a later date
Iran: Iran appears to be attempting to exploit its leverage over the Strait of Hormuz to end the war in a way that removes the US blockade of Iranian ports without Iran having to make nuclear concessions
Ukraine: Russia launched two Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 143 drones against Ukraine overnight
Ukraine: Ukrainian forces continued their long-range strike campaign against Russian oil infrastructure and military assets
Druzhkivka, Ukraine: Ukrainian forces recently advanced in the Kupyansk direction and the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area
Ukraine: Ukrainian long-range drone strikes continue to have significant impacts on Russian oil production
Russia: The Kremlin continues its efforts to militarize Russian society and appoint loyal veterans to positions of authority ahead of Russia’s State Duma elections in September 2026
Ukraine: Gerasimov is likely attempting to obscure Russia’s disappointing lack of progress thus far in its Spring-Summer 2026 offensive
Ukraine: Even the most generous interpretations of other Russian sources do not support Gerasimov’s claims
Russia: Russian Chief of the General Staff Army General Valery Gerasimov continues to make greatly exaggerated claims of Russian advances amidst Russian forces’ poor performance in their ongoing Spring-Summer 2026 offensive
Israel: The IDF struck the Hezbollah rocket launcher responsible for the attack on Israeli forces in Rab el Thalathine
Israel: Hezbollah attacked Israeli forces in southern Lebanon and northern Israel for the first time since the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire took effect on April 16
Iran: ISW-CTP previously assessed that it is very unlikely that Iranian-backed Iraqi militias would conduct drone attacks against regional states if the Iranian regime opposed such attacks, which suggests that Iran has not ordered its militia partners to cease attacking regional states
Iran: Iranian-backed Iraqi militias conducted up to half of the roughly 1,000 drone attacks targeting Saudi Arabia during the war, according to unnamed sources speaking to the Wall Street Journal on April 21
Iran: ISW-CTP continues to assess that Vahidi appears to have the upper hand over Ghalibaf at the moment
Iran: Conflicting reports on April 20 and 21 about Iran’s participation in the scheduled negotiations and Iran’s failure to produce a unified proposal reflect the ongoing intra-regime power struggle between Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Commander Major General Ahmad Vahidi
Iran: The United States extended its ceasefire with Iran “until such time as [the Iranian] proposal is submitted and discussions are concluded.” Trump confirmed that Washington will maintain its blockade of Iranian ports
Iran: The Iranian Parliament is attempting to formalize Iranian “control” over the Strait of Hormuz by drafting a bill that would ban Israeli-linked vessels from transiting the Strait of Hormuz, require vessels from “hostile countries” to obtain approval from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council to transit the strait, and bar states that “caused damage” to Iran from transiting the strait until they paid reparations to Iran
Iran: Unspecified security sources told Reuters that the Touska was likely transporting dual-use items from China to Iran
Iran: The Khatam ol Anbia Central Headquarters claimed that the April 19 seizure of the Iranian-flagged, US-sanctioned Touska by the US Navy violated the US-Iran ceasefire
Iran: US forces likely forced two Iranian-linked vessels attempting to violate the Navy’s blockade to turn around
Iran: The US Navy continued to enforce its blockade of Iranian ports, directing 27 vessels to change course since the start of the blockade
Iran: US and Iranian demands appear to have largely stayed the same, however
Iran: US and Iranian delegations will reportedly meet in Islamabad, Pakistan, for a second round of talks in the coming days
Iran: Vahidi is reportedly the only Iranian official with direct access to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and is serving as a conduit for relaying key decisions to other regime officials, according to Israeli media on April 19
Iran: Vahidi appears to have the upper hand over Ghalibaf at the moment
Iran: Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf appears to be engaged in a serious intra-regime debate with Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Commander Major General Ahmad Vahidi and other senior regime officials opposed to negotiations with the United States
Belgorod, Russia: Ukrainian forces continue their mid-range strike campaign against Russian military assets in Belgorod Oblast that aims to interdict Russian logistics
Druzhkivka, Ukraine: Russian forces recently advanced in northern Sumy Oblast and in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka and Dobropillya tactical areas
Zaporizhia, Ukraine: Ukrainian forces recently advanced in the Borova direction and western Zaporizhia Oblast
Ukraine: Ukraine continues to expand its cooperation with Gulf States
Russia: Russian forces attempted to use long-range one-way strike drones to assassinate Serhiy “Flash” Beskrestnov, a Ukrainian Ministry of Defense (MoD) advisor on defense technology and a drone and electronic warfare (EW) expert
Russia: Russian forces continue to struggle to defend Russian infrastructure against repeated Ukrainian strikes
Russia: Swedish intelligence assessments are consistent with ISW's longstanding assessments about the significant challenges the Russian economy is facing and the Kremlin's efforts to conceal these issues in order to falsely present Russia as able to sustain its war effort indefinitely
Israel: Ghaani may have specifically discussed enhancing coordination between Iraqi militias and other Axis of Resistance groups against the United States, Israel, and the Gulf states in the event of renewed conflict
Iran: Incomplete reporting about the damage that the US-Israeli combined force inflicted on Iran’s ballistic missile and drone programs precludes the development of a quantitative assessment about the threat that Iranian missiles and drones still pose.  A statement released by Iranian-backed Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah on April 18 appears to confirm that IRGC Quds Force Commander Brigadier General Esmail Ghaani discussed preparations for renewed conflict with the United States and Israel during his meetings with Iraqi militia leaders in Baghdad on April 18
Iran: ISW-CTP has not observed any Iranian sources confirming Iran’s participation in the negotiations as of 6:00 PM ET on April 19, however
Iran: US Vice President JD Vance, US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner are expected to travel to Islamabad, Pakistan, to engage in negotiations with Iran on April 21
Iran: Commercially available shipping data indicates that the US Navy also forced at least three Iranian or Iranian-linked ships to change course toward Iranian ports on April 19
Iran: US forces seized an Iranian-flagged container ship for the first time during the war
Iran: Iran has also continued to prevent non-Iranian-linked vessels from transiting the strait
Iran: Iran is attempting to establish a protection racket in the Strait of Hormuz by granting priority transit to vessels that pay fees and comply with Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) protocols as part of its effort to try to consolidate control over the strait
Iran: Any US acceptance of Iran’s ability to regulate transit would undermine the principle of freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and enable Iran to condition access to the strait on compliance with its demands, thereby enabling Tehran to exert persistent pressure on the global economy and the United States and its allies
Iran: Any US settlement or resolution of the conflict that enables Iran to control traffic through the Strait of Hormuz would represent a major US defeat and set a precedent with critical implications for global trade, given the strait’s role as a critical energy chokepoint
Ukraine: Ukrainian forces struck the Atlant Aero drone development and production plant in Taganrog, Rostov Oblast
Kostyantynivka, Ukraine: Ukrainian forces recently advanced in the Kostyantynivka direction
Ukraine: A Russian defense industrial enterprise director criticized how the Russian government’s adopted economic policies have overcooled the Russian economy to the detriment of Russia’s import substitution efforts
Ukraine: The Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) employed an unmanned surface vessel (USV)-launched interceptor drone to intercept a Russian Shahed long-range strike drone for the first time and are creating USF naval drone battalions
Russia: Russian forces conducted four platoon-sized or smaller mechanized and motorized assaults across the theater in the last 48 hours, but these assaults are unlikely to bolster the ongoing Russian spring-summer 2026 offensive
Iran: Arab officials told the Wall Street Journal on April 14 that Iran is pressuring the Houthis to “close” the Bab al Mandeb Strait.  US President Donald Trump stated on April 14 that the United States and Iran may hold another round of talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, “over [the] next two days.” A senior Iranian source told Western media on April 14 that the United States and Iran are keeping April 17 through 19 open for possible talks, but that no date has been confirmed
Yemen: Mokhber may have been referring to the Houthis, which has not conducted attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea during the war thus far
Iran: Iranian Supreme Leader Adviser Mohammad Mokhber warned that Iran will “open new fronts” and “increase economic pressures” on US allies and regional countries in response to the US blockade on Iranian ports, likely to try to coerce the United States to end its blockade
Iran: Iran could also pursue several other courses of action in response to the US blockade, including agreeing to a deal acceptable to the United States, attempting to run the blockade, or resuming the war
Iran: Iran would only be able to pause shipments for a limited period of time before it would start to run out of room to store oil
Iran: Iran is reportedly considering temporarily pausing shipments to avoid testing the US blockade on Iranian ports and raising tensions ahead of possible talks, according to a person familiar with Iranian decision-making on the Strait of Hormuz speaking to Bloomberg on April 14
Iran: Two US officials told Reuters on April 14 that the US Treasury Department will enforce sanctions on Iranian oil after April 19
Iran: It is unclear whether any of the vessels that left Iranian ports on April 14 were authorized to do so under CENTCOM’s “limited grade period.” The United States’ decision not to renew a 30-day sanctions waiver for Iranian oil exports, which is set to expire on April 19, will further constrain Iran’s ability to export oil in addition to the US blockade on Iranian ports
Iran: The US blockade on Iranian ports does not have a defined geographic boundary, and the United States can interdict vessels almost anywhere in international waters until they arrive at their final port
Iran: US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that no vessels have breached the US blockade on Iranian ports since CENTCOM implemented its blockade on April 13
Russia: Russian forces launched four cruise missiles and 129 drones against Ukraine
Europe: Ukraine’s European partners continue to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense capabilities while increasing joint production cooperation
Ukraine: The Ukrainian defense industrial base (DIB) continues to increase its production capabilities but is unable to achieve its maximum potential without further investment
Ukraine: The Russian State Duma adopted a law on April 14 that allows Russian President Vladimir Putin to authorize the use of the Russian Armed Forces overseas to defend “Russian citizens” being prosecuted in international or foreign national courts
Ukraine: Russia is increasingly centralizing drone procurement for its Unmanned Systems Forces (USF), which will likely have both positive and negative consequences
Iran: This may indicate that North Korea is learning lessons from Iran’s war with the United States and Israel
Global: North Korean Military Development: North Korea may deploy cluster munition warheads on its ballistic missiles to make them more difficult to intercept
Global: The timing of this meeting and previous statements made by Kim Jong Un may suggest that North Korea wants the PRC to help facilitate future US-North Korea dialogue when Donald Trump meets with Xi Jinping
Global: North Korea-PRC Relations: North Korea invited PRC Foreign Minister Wang Yi to visit Pyongyang for the first time since 2019 to discuss ways to deepen PRC-North Korea relations
Iran: At least two oil tankers destined for China via the Iranian-approved transit route turned around after CENTCOM began blockading Iranian and Iranian-approved shipping
Iran: CENTCOM implemented its blockade on Iranian ports and vessels at 10:00 AM ET on April 13.  Iranian and Iranian-approved vessels continued to use the Iranian-approved transit route to cross the Strait of Hormuz before the blockade went into effect on April 13, but more vessels transited outside this route near the Omani coast than on April 12
Iran: US Central Command (CENTCOM) is simultaneously imposing a blockade on Iranian ports and vessels while taking steps to open the official transit route through the Strait of Hormuz for vessels transiting to or from non-Iranian ports
Iran: It is unclear whether the three US demands and the Iranian counterproposal represent the full scope of each side’s demands
Iran: Iran countered the 20-year moratorium on uranium enrichment with a “single-digit” number of years and offered to downblend its HEU instead of handing over its HEU stockpile
Iran: The US negotiating delegation demanded a 20-year moratorium on uranium enrichment, the removal of Iran’s highly enriched uranium (HEU) stockpile from Iran, and unfettered freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz during the negotiations in Pakistan
Iran: It is very unlikely that Iranian-backed Iraqi militias would conduct drone attacks against regional states if the Iranian regime opposed such attacks, which suggests that Iran has not ordered its militia partners to cease attacking regional states
Iran: Iranian-backed Iraqi militias are likely responsible for at least some of the recent drone attacks against Gulf states
Russia: Kremlin officials may be continuing to set rhetorical conditions to engage in operations in the airspace of Finland and the Baltic states
Ukraine: Russian and Ukrainian officials issued competing Orthodox Easter ceasefire violation accusations, demonstrating the challenges of implementing a sustainable ceasefire without clearly defined terms, monitoring mechanisms, and dispute resolution mechanisms
Ukraine: An open-source analysis of Russian contract recruitment reports that Russian recruitment continues to decline as battlefield casualties rise, consistent with other indicators of Russian recruiting and manpower challenges that ISW has observed
Russia: The Kremlin is downplaying Viktor Orban’s election defeat as Russia loses a key European ally
Iran: Iranian fired a declining rate of missiles and drones targeting Gulf states since the ceasefire went into effect on April 8
Iran: The multiple competing Iranian factions with divergent priorities and objectives in negotiations that were part of the Iranian delegation also likely made reaching an agreement exceptionally difficult.  Iran has not fired any munitions targeting the Gulf states since ISW-CTP’s last data cut off on April 11
Iran: Iran sought an all-encompassing agreement that would have transformed US-Iran relations in fundamental ways, while the United States appeared focused on specific issues related to freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear program
Iran: US President Donald Trump emphasized on April 12 that Iran’s delegation did not make compromises on its nuclear program, but that he believed Iran would return to negotiations
Iran: The United States and Iran did not reach an agreement during talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, on April 11 and 12
Iran: Very few ships are transiting the Strait other than the ships moving through Iran’s territorial waters
Iran: The only vessels moving through the Strait at this time are Iranian and Iranian-approved vessels
Iran: The US Navy is attempting to prevent Iranian and Iranian-approved vessels from entering and exiting the Strait, while Iran prevents all other vessels from entering and exiting the Strait
Russia: Russian forces recently advanced in the Oleksandrivka direction.  Russian forces did not conduct any long-range drone or missile strikes against Ukraine on the night of April 11 to 12
Druzhkivka, Ukraine: Ukrainian forces recently advanced in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area
Kharkiv, Ukraine: Russian forces committed a war crime in Kharkiv Oblast, reportedly amid the Easter ceasefire on April 11
Russia: Both Ukrainian and Russian sources accused each other of limited violations of the Kremlin’s unilateral short-term, theater-wide ceasefire over the Orthodox Easter holiday on April 11 and 12
Iran: The IDF reported that the South Pars Complex contained infrastructure to produce explosives and propellant for ballistic missiles
Iran: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on April 6 that it has struck Iran's two largest petrochemical facilities in the past week that account for 85 percent of Iranian petrochemical exports
Iran: The timing of these attacks suggests that the attacks were coordinated to some degree, given the vastly different travel times of the munitions fired at Israel by Hezbollah, Iran, and the Houthis
Iran: Iran, Hezbollah, and the Houthis appear to have coordinated an attack targeting Israel on April 6, possibly to try to maximize the psychological effects of Iran's limited ability to conduct large-scale attacks against Israel
Iran: Trump has maintained his threat to strike Iranian energy infrastructure and bridges if Iran does not agree to a deal by April 7
Iran: Iran’s rejection of the latest ceasefire proposal reduces the likelihood that the United States and Iran will reach an agreement by US President Donald Trump’s April 7 deadline
Iran: Iran rejected a ceasefire agreement with the United States to pause the war and “reopen” the Strait of Hormuz on April 6
Kharkiv, Ukraine: Ukrainian forces recently advanced in northern Kharkiv Oblast and the Velykyi Burluk direction
Ukraine: Ukraine’s Western partners continue to provide air defense aid to Ukraine
Russia: Russia is facing increasing recruitment challenges as the pool of Russians willing to sign contracts declines, despite Kremlin efforts to increase signing bonuses and tap additional sources of manpower
Ukraine: The Russian MoD is attempting to generate additional manpower through other sources, regardless of the financial and societal costs
Ukraine: The Russian military is experiencing manpower challenges and is unable to recruit enough contract soldiers to replace its frontline losses
Ukraine: Russian milbloggers continued to criticize the ineffectiveness of Russian air defense systems and highlight the impact of Ukrainian strikes
Ukraine: Ukraine’s expanding long-range strike campaign against Russian oil infrastructure is exploiting overstretched Russian air defenses and significantly damaging Russian oil export capabilities
Iran: Iranian-backed Iraqi militias are attempting to blame Kuwait for attacks on Iraqi oil infrastructure, likely to obfuscate responsibility for these attacks to a domestic Iraqi audience
Iran: Hezbollah rocket and drone attacks do not appear to be achieving the desired effect of altering Israel’s decision-making in conducting airstrikes against Iran, however
Israel: The IDF estimated that Hezbollah can maintain a fire rate of 200 rockets and drone launches per day at Israel for an additional five months
Israel: Hezbollah claimed to have launched anti-ship cruise missiles at an Israeli warship located 68 nautical miles off the coast of Lebanon on April 5 for the first time since the start of the war
Israel: Hezbollah published footage on April 4 and 5 that Hezbollah claimed shows first-person view (FPV) drone attacks conducted on March 25 against an Israeli vehicle and two Israeli Merkava tanks in southern Lebanon
Iran: Iran has slightly altered its strike packages targeting Gulf states to include more cruise missiles, but it is unclear whether this represents experimentation with new tactics, an effort to manage the remaining missile reserves, or something else
Iran: The IDF is continuing to target Iranian tunnel entrances to prevent Iranian forces from using tunnels to conceal missile sites
Iran: The combined force has continued to strike operational components of the program even as it targets production facilities for engines, guidance systems, and other components and research and development facilities, including a missile launcher reportedly for a Haj Qassem missile, which has a maximum range of 1,400 km
Iran: US forces successfully established a makeshift airstrip very close to a major Iranian city, successfully extracted all of its personnel during the rescue operation, and the combined force has continued to strike targets in Iran
Iran: US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that US forces on April 4 completed the rescue of both F-15E crewmembers after Iran shot down their aircraft on April 2 during a combat mission
Iran: Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said on April 5 that Iran would continue attacking shipping through the Strait, however
Iran: US President Donald Trump appears to have extended the deadline for Iran to stop attacking shipping through the Strait of Hormuz to 8:00 PM ET on April 7 amid discussions with Iranian officials
Kupyansk, Ukraine: Russian forces recently advanced in the Kupyansk direction.  Russian forces launched 93 drones against Ukraine