Global Conflict Reporting

Tag: News

  • Middle East war widens as Houthis launch attacks on Saudi oil facilities.

    Middle East war widens as Houthis launch attacks on Saudi oil facilities.

    On July 25 2026, Yemeni Houthi forces claim to have carried out ballistic missile strikes on two Aramco oil facilities in Saudi Arabia. 

    Image reported to be of the Aramco oil refinery in Jazan.

    In a statement released on IRGC connected media networks, Houthi spokesperson, Yahya Saree said the group fired ballistic missiles and drones at facilities belonging to the state oil company, Aramco, in the Red Sea towns of Yanbu and Jazan. 

    Videos released online show smoke rising from the Jazan oil refinery. 

    NASA FIRMS, a satellite program used to detect wildfires, shows fires at both Yanbun and Jazan oil refineries.

    FIRMS shot showing Jazam refinery on July 25th, 2026.
    Comparison shot from the 23. The image from the 25th shows much more than is expected. Since then the fire has spread.
    This image shows the area of fire spreading,

    These attacks were claimed by the Saudi’s and their coalition of allies as a proportionate response for Saudi-led coalitions airstrikes on Houthi military positions in Hodeidah (Hodeida) and Kamaran Island. These strikes were carried out The Houthis on July, 23 2026 struck two Saudi oil tankers, the Encelia and Layla, operating in the Red Sea. The strike stemmed from a blockade of the Bab al-Mandab that the Houthis had annonced beforehand.

    The Houthis in Yemen are strongly aligned with Iran who offer training, weapons and other aid. They have been uncharacteristically uninvolved with the ongoing war between the U.S. and Iran, usually opting to fight alongside or at least operate as a sort of distraction. During the Israeli war in Gaza, a war that involved Iran because Iran supported Palestinian Hamas. During this time the Houthis would launch missiles into Israel as well as launch missiles at any Israeli/US alligned ships sailing.

    Update:

    As of writing this the Houthis have carried out an attack on the Aramco Abqaiq oil processing facility in Saudi Arabia. The plant is the largest of its kind in the world and process between 5-7 percent of the world’s global oil supply. A large fire broke out after Houthis drones struck the facility.

    NASA FIRMS shows a fire covering most of the plant. When looking at low-resolution satellite imagery from today we can see a large plume of smoke coming from a smokestack which doesn’t usually produce such a large plume. We can also see an area which appears to have been covered with firefighting foam. Another area nearby shows what appears to be ground scarring from a fire.

    Overview showing the Abqaiq oil processing facility. Think black smoke is pouring from the facility.
    Looking closer we can see areas that just today start to show signs of fire fighting foam and ground scarring.
  • U.S. resumes strikes on Iran. 

    U.S. resumes strikes on Iran. 

    On Tuesday July 7 2026, the U.S. launched a wave of strikes on Iran in retaliation for recent strikes carried out in international shipping by Iran. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) put the following statement following the strikes. 

     

    Video from Bandar Abbas showed explosions as the U.S. Air Force and Navy carried out their strikes over 80 targets, including 60 IRGC speedboats in and near the Strait of Hormuz.

    Video shows U.S.Strikes on Bandar Abbas.

    The U.S. also targeted Iranian air defense systems, command and control networks, coastal radar sites, and anti-ship missile capabilities. This is the largest strike since the ceasefire was agreed upon in April.

    Further explosions were reported in Sirik and as far as Kharg Island, Iran’s largest oil facility handling 90% of its oil export. The U.S. previously struck targets on the island in April; however, it stuck to just hitting military sites and infrastructure and leaving the oil export untouched.

    Official U.S. of the strikes

    NASA Firms is a satellite program used primarily to track wildfires. That data can also be used to track combat strikes. Some area show on FIRMS every days, such as industrial zones however tonight shows multiple fires where we wouldn’t expect to see fires in Iran, and specially looking at Bandar Abbas and the Geruk area.

    Strikes one and two in Bandar Abbas show what seems to be strikes on the port where smaller IRGC patrol boats are kept. Video from the city confirms this as well.
    Close up on the port to the left.
    Second port
    NASA FIRMS shows potentially two locations struck here at Sarkhur Tahruyi. The boat dock itself as well as what looks to be a comms tower of some sort.
    This comms antenna is right beside the dock and also shows signs of being struck.

    Iranian response

    Khatam al-Anbiya Central, Iran’s top joint military command, put out a statement saying that the U.S. had committed a “blatant act of aggression” by targeting parts of southern Iran. The statement said Iranian armed forces would deliver a “crushing response.” The command also said that it would accept no U.S. interference in the management of the Strait of Hormuz and that the only safe passage for commercial shipping and tankers was the route Iran has laid out.

    In the hours after Bahrain was the first to report incoming Iranian drones and missiles, they announced their people should seek shelter and that their army was engaging hostile missiles. Kuwait also received incoming fire.

  • Russian Baltic Sea Fleet Ship Struck Near St. Petersburg.

    Russian Baltic Sea Fleet Ship Struck Near St. Petersburg.

    Satellite images and video shows the damage after yesterday mornings’ attack on the Russian warship Boikiy, a Project 20380/Steregushchiy-class Corvette in the Baltic Sea Fleet. The ship was attacked during a large Ukrainian drone wave that struck St. Petersburg and the Kronstadt naval base that’s nearby. The ship was struck twice in videos released by Ukraine. Video released later on shows fire crews battling a large fire near the center of the ship.

    Link to GCR video showing attack on Boikiy.

    https://www.facebook.com/share/r/17kiH9TZpN

    The ship was in drydock at the Kronstadt naval base near St. Petersburg. It has been there since February of this year receiving routine maintenance and repairs.

    This ship is thought of by maritime experts as one of Russia’s most modern warships. it serves as a multipurpose corvette mainly designed for littoral zone operations, engagement of enemy submarines and surface ships, and gun support of landing operations.

    The ship carries a crew of 100 and displaces around 2,200 pounds. Its size has given it the classification of a “Frigate” in western navies as it’s a little bit bigger than what is generally considered to be a corvette.

    While its size is on the small side its armament is anything but. It has a weight provision eight SS-N-25 missiles (KH-35) (NATO reporting name AS-20 ‘Kayak’) a Turbo-jet subsonic, anti-ship missile. After the first ship in the Steregushchiy was built the CIWS system was removed and replaced with x12 Redut VLS Cells loaded with 9M96E2 missiles (Used in the S-400 anti air system).

    Global Conflict Reporting is a completely independent project run by one person, If you would like to support my work you can sign up for a membership on the Patreon (Link below), or one time/reoccurring donations through the website.

  • US and Iran Exchange Limited Strikes as Ceasefire is Continually Tested.

    US and Iran Exchange Limited Strikes as Ceasefire is Continually Tested.

    Just after midnight local time on the night going into June 1 2026, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) targeting the Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, a key hub for U.S. and coalition forces. Kuwaiti air defenses intercepted the Fateh-110 missile, but falling debris caused minor injuries to five U.S. personnel and contractors.

    According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), American forces had conducted self-defense strikes over the weekend against Iranian military targets on Qeshm Island and near Goruk in southern Iran. The strikes hit Iranian air defense systems, a ground control station linked to drone operations, and facilities associated with one-way attack drones. CENTCOM stated the action was in response to Iran’s downing of a U.S. MQ-9 drone over the Persian Gulf and attempts to mine the Strait of Hormuz in recent days.

    Local residents in Sirik County, Hormozgan Province, reported hearing multiple explosions around 4:00 a.m. local time on Sunday, with additional blasts roughly 30 minutes later. Eyewitness accounts and online reports indicated that an IRGC Navy facility near the village of Goruk was struck, consistent with CENTCOM’s description of the targets. Iranian sources says they launched their missile at the airbase which this attack was launched from.

    image of the IRGC navy base

    The exchange comes amid a fragile ceasefire in the ongoing 2026 Iran War. While official negotiations between the U.S. and Iran continue, progress has stalled. Iranian officials have conditioned further talks on an end to Israel’s military operations in Lebanon. Both sides have accused each other of violating the ceasefire in recent weeks through limited but recurring strikes. U.S. president Donald Trump has said on social media that he believes that Tehran wants to reach a deal however iranian officials have expressed some concern and frustration over the “constantly changing” U.S. negotiating stance.

    This war, which was started by the U.S. officially on  February 28 has killed thousands of people, mainly in Iran and Lebanon. It has also caused economic hardship around the globe by pushing up energy prices since Iran effectively closed ​the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global supply route for oil and liquefied natural gas. While a number of vessels have been escorted through the strait in the last week, it will take several months before prices start trending back down.

    The U.S. points for the negotiations have been publicly released and widely reported. They include Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz, free of tolls, and restoring international commercial shipping. While there has been progress made here, Iran has continued to demand a right to manage the strait (jointly with Oman). The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), has rules about waterways like this remaining international seaways open to global trade. The other large point for the US in the negotiations is the Iranian stockpile of enriched Uranium. In October 2025 Iran officially ended the 2015 JCPOA and declared there was no more restrictions on its nuclear program. Iran claims it has a right to enrich uranium (Current estimates have their stocks of uranium enriched to a near weapons grade 60%) for commercial/use however nuclear experts argue it would take little effort to convert the material for use in nuclear weapons. Iran already poses many long range missiles that could be changed into nuclear missiles if they went that route.

    Global Conflict Reporting is a completely independent project run by one person, If you would like to support my work you can sign up for a membership on the Patreon (Link below), or one time/reoccurring donations through the website.

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  • U.S. and Iran Trade Fresh Strikes Near Strait of Hormuz, Testing Ceasefire

    U.S. and Iran Trade Fresh Strikes Near Strait of Hormuz, Testing Ceasefire

    Wednesday, May 27, 2026, U.S. forces launched a fresh wave of strikes on Iranian targets, primarily in southern Iran. The strikes came after U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that Iran had launched a ballistic missile toward a U.S. base in Kuwait. The missile was reported as being intercepted by Kuwait forces. Hours earlier, Iran had launched a wave of four one-way attack drones, which were shot down by U.S. forces.

    This exchange continues a pattern of back-and-forth attacks in the past week – from both sides – that has put the fragile April ceasefire to the test as negotiations are currently ongoing. A further 60 day ceasefire is awaiting a signature from U.S. President Donald Trump today.

    Timeline of strikes

    Here’s a timeline of events over the past week to provide clearer context:

    May 25, 2026

    Iran attempted to deploy naval mines near the Strait of Hormuz, posing risks to U.S. forces and shipping. U.S. forces responded by sinking IRGC vessels involved in the mine-laying efforts. Iran then fired surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) at U.S. aircraft. These actions set the stage for the clashes that followed.

    [Video Placeholder: Claimed intercepted missile tracking an F-35 or related footage]

    May 26, 2026 (Monday)

    U.S. CENTCOM carried out “self-defense” strikes in southern Iran, primarily in the Bandar Abbas area. The targets included Iranian missile launch sites and boats allegedly attempting to emplace naval mines in or near the Strait of Hormuz.

    The U.S. described the operation as necessary to protect troops and maritime traffic during the ongoing ceasefire. Some Iranian personnel were reported killed. Iranian officials viewed the strikes as a violation of the ceasefire.

    May 27, 2026 (Tuesday)

    U.S. forces shot down four Iranian one-way attack drones that were threatening the Strait of Hormuz area. They also struck an Iranian ground control station near Bandar Abbas International Airport to prevent a fifth drone launch.

    May 28, 2026 (Wednesday/Thursday, ongoing)

    The U.S. carried out additional defensive strikes near Bandar Abbas, targeting a military/ground control site linked to drone threats. U.S. forces intercepted Iranian drones. CENTCOM emphasized restraint while defending U.S. forces and interests.

    Video reportedly shows the U.S. attack on Bandar Abbas. A cruise missile can be seen flying through the sky before it strikes a target out of view of the camera.

    In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a retaliatory ballistic missile (and reportedly a drone) attack toward a U.S. air base. The IRGC claimed it targeted the base responsible for the strikes near Bandar Abbas, which has been widely linked to facilities in Kuwait. Kuwait activated its air defenses and intercepted the incoming missile(s) and drones. No major casualties were reported. The IRGC called the strike a “serious warning” and threatened more decisive action if U.S. aggression continues.

    CENTCOM labeled Iran’s attack an “egregious ceasefire violation.” Iran also reported incidents involving warning shots at ships in the Hormuz area.

    Iranian sources dispute the U.S. claim of conducting purely self-defense strikes, arguing that Iran was only responding to aggressive U.S. actions.

    The White House and Tehran are currently working on a 60-day extension of the ceasefire to allow more time for negotiations.

    Video released from the IRGC shows the shoot down of a US AGM-158B JASSM-ER stealth cruise missile. The video is the view from a thermal detection systems, which is built around passive Infrared signals which can detect stealth aircraft because of the heat they emit. Earlier in the war a U.S. F-35 was struck because it was detected and tracked with this technology.

  • Russia Hits Kyiv with One of the Largest Attacks of the War – Oreshnik IRBM Used

    Russia Hits Kyiv with One of the Largest Attacks of the War – Oreshnik IRBM Used

    Overnight on May 23-24 2026, at least four people were killed and 100 wounded in one of the largest Russian air attacks in years. While strikes were launched across multiple regions, the main target was clear: the capital, Kyiv.

    Video shows moments from the Russian attack on Kyiv.

    The city was hit with multiple Kh-101/Kalibr cruise missiles, Shahed drones, and ballistic missiles. After 1 a.m., explosions rang out across Kyiv following a warning from the United States and Europe that Russia might launch one of its hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missiles. This was not only one of the largest recent attacks — it ranks among the largest of the entire war with 90 missiles (including 36 ballistic) and an estimated 600 drones being used in the attack.

    Russian Tupolev TU-95 (NATO: Bear) carrying KH-101 (NATO: AS-23 “Kodiak”) Cruise missile.
    Video of the Oreshnik strike.

    Videos from Bila Tserkva, a city roughly 40 miles (64 km) from Kyiv’s outskirts, captured the Oreshnik strike. It is not yet known what, if anything, was damaged or why that area was targeted in specific. Although the attack looked dramatic, the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) was designed primarily as a nuclear delivery system. It is very similar to Russia’s RS-26 Rubezh (NATO: SS-X-31), which was test-fired a handful of times but never fully fielded. Both missiles are equipped with multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs). These break apart into six individual submunitions during the exo-atmospheric flight phase, allowing them to strike separate targets — a capability ideal for delivering multiple nuclear warheads.

    Some information of the Russian Oreshnik missile.

    In its non-nuclear form – which lacks any conventional warhead and relies solely on kinetic energy – the Oreshnik has so far proved to be more of a threat than a practical battlefield weapon. Nuclear weapons experts have described its accuracy as “good enough to deliver a nuclear weapon, but not enough to deliver conventional weapons effectively.” Last night marked the third known use of the Oreshnik. It was deployed on November 20 2024 to hit Ukraines PA Pivdenmash facility in Dinipro, and again earlier this year on January 6 to hit the city of Lviv.

    The hours-long attack sent Kyiv residents huddling in subway tunnels and other designated bomb shelters as Russia appeared to fire missiles at random. Russian Telegram channels shared a photo of a damaged apartment block and claimed it was the headquarters for the entire Ukrainian Army. One area hit particularly hard was the Lukyanivka district, north of Kyiv’s city center. That district is home to a missile production plant that has been targeted multiple times during the war. Apart from those specifics residential buildings, a market that burned down several schools, and a water supply facility along with damage reported in dozens of other locations across multiple districts.

    “It’s important that this does not remain without consequences for Russia…“Decisions are needed – from the United States, from Europe and others.”

    President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on the Telegram messaging app, urging international action.

    Ukraine’s Western allies have described the use of an IRBM as an escalation. Germany and the UK condemned the attack, while Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat, accused Moscow of “a political scare tactic and reckless nuclear brinkmanship.”

    Russia described the attack as retaliation for an attack they claim targeted student dormitories, among other recent Ukranian drone strikes. Ukraine says that they only strike “military and military supporting infrastructure.”

  • U.S. Seizes Iranian Tanker in Indian Ocean

    U.S. Seizes Iranian Tanker in Indian Ocean

    On Tuesday, May 19, 2026, U.S. forces seized an Iranian vessel in the Indian Ocean. The vessel was the Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) Skywave (IMO: 9328716). The story was originally reported by The Wall Street Journal, citing three U.S. officials. Ship-tracking data showed that the Skywave was sailing west of Malaysia on Tuesday after exiting the Malacca Strait. The Wall Street Journal reported that the ship was boarded overnight while it was halfway between Malaysia and Sri Lanka. The U.S. has not yet confirmed the seizure.

    Image shows the ship before its name change to Skywave.

    The ship is currently flagged in Botswana, a known cover for shadow tankers. As a landlocked country, Botswana has no national maritime or ship registry. Other maritime tracking sites list it as flagged in Comoros–another common shadow-fleet jurisdiction–providing probable evidence that the vessel routinely changes its flag. The ship changed its name in 2025 after it was sanctioned by the U.S. At that time, when it was called the Blue Gulf, it was registered in Palau.

    Lloyd’s List Intelligence reports that the ship loaded more than a million barrels of crude oil at Kharg Island in February before heading to Asian waters. It is not publicly known whether the ship was able to offload its cargo in Asian ports.

    Image from MarineTraffic shows a current reported position of Skywave.

    This is the third time the U.S. has seized an Iranian tanker, following the seizures of the Majestic X and Tifani in April, both in the Indian Ocean. These operations form part of a blockade of Iranian shipping into the Persian Gulf as well as a broader crackdown on Iranian shipping worldwide. Iran’s tanker fleet generates revenue for the regime, which is then used to fund its military and proxy forces. The seizures tie into the wider U.S.–Israeli Operation Epic Fury and the effort to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program, among other objectives. Iran has denounced the actions as “armed piracy” and a violation of the fragile ceasefire established in April.

    The Department of Justice and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) also announced today that they are sanctioning an additional 19 tankers linked to the Iranian oil trade. The move is part of a campaign the U.S. calls “Economic Fury.”

    The US action is a blockade of Iran’s ports and coastline, not a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Enforcement will occur inside Iran’s territorial seas and in international waters. In addition to this blockade, the Joint Force, through operations and activities in other areas of responsibility, like the Pacific Area of Responsibility under the command of Admiral Paparo, will actively pursue any Iranian flagged vessel or any vessel attempting to provide material support to Iran….This includes Dark Fleet vessels carrying Iranian oil. As most of you know, Dark Fleet vessels are those illicit or illegal ships evading international regulations, sanctions or insurance requirements. More than 10,000 sailors, Marines and Airmen, over a dozen ships and dozens of aircraft are executing this mission.

    Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine,

    Background

    Tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated over Tehran’s nuclear program and its support for proxy militias across the Middle East. Operation Epic Fury, a coordinated U.S.–Israeli campaign launched earlier this year, combines naval interdictions, expanded economic sanctions, and intelligence operations to disrupt Iran’s shadow tanker fleet and starve the regime of the oil revenue that funds its military and destabilizing activities. The fragile ceasefire negotiated in April 2026 offered only a temporary pause in hostilities; both sides continue to accuse each other of violations, keeping the region on edge as the U.S. presses forward with its goal of preventing Iran from achieving nuclear breakout capability.