DEFCON Alerts

NATO Romanian F-16 Shoots Down Stray Drone Over Baltic Airspace

BALTIC REGION - Latvian Armed Forces sensors identified a potential threat in Latvian airspace shortly before 11:00 a.m. on May 19. NATO allies responded with immediate information sharing, Estonian tracking, and interception by Romanian F-16s operating from Šiauliai under the Baltic Air Policing mission.

U.S.-Nigeria Carry Out Additional Coordinated Strikes Against ISIS in Northeastern Nigeria

NORTHEASTERN NIGERIA - U.S. Africa Command, in coordination with the Government of Nigeria, conducted additional strikes against ISIS militants on May 18. U.

Routine Unarmed Minuteman III ICBM Operational Test Launch GT 256 Scheduled at Vandenberg Space Force Base

CALIFORNIA - An operational test launch of an Air Force Global Strike Command unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is scheduled between 12:01 and 6:01 a.m. Pacific Time on May 20 from the northern portion of Vandenberg Space Force Base.

Nigeria Reports More Than 20 ISIS Fighters Killed in Second Metele Strike

AFRICA - U.S. and Nigerian forces widened a coordinated air campaign against the Islamic State in northern Borno State on May 17, hitting ISIS and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters near Metele the day after the operation that killed the group’s most senior Lake Chad Basin commander

UAE Air Defenses Intercept Three UAVs Near Barakah Nuclear Power Plant

GULF REGION - The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defense announced that on May 17 that its air defense systems intercepted three unmanned aerial vehicles that entered the country from the western border direction.

Counter-terrorism Decapitation Strike: Joint US-Nigerian Operation Eliminates ISIS Global Deputy Abu-Bilal al-Minuki

WEST AFRICA - Nigerian Armed Forces, in close coordination with United States forces, conducted a joint counter-terrorism operation overnight that...

Somalia: NISA Conducts Targeted Operations Against al-Shabaab Leadership in Hiran Region

SOMALIA - On May 15 the Somalian National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) carried out planned operations in the Buq-aqable area of Hiran region against al-Shabaab.

Finnish Defense Forces Enhance Surveillance and Response Capabilities After Reports of Drones Potentially Straying Into Finland

FINLAND - The Finnish Defense Forces immediately enhanced their own surveillance and response capabilities after receiving information early in the morning on Friday, May 15, about drones possibly straying into Finland.

Possible Airspace Threat Reported in Eastern Latvia; NATO Baltic Air Policing Fighters Activated

Description: Latvian National Armed Forces reported a possible airspace threat in Kraslava, Ludza, Balvi, and Rezekne municipalities on May 14, activating NATO Baltic Air Policing fighters; this follows identical alerts in the same eastern region earlier in May. LATVIA - Latvia’s National Armed Forces reported a possible threat in the country’s airspace over the Kraslava, Ludza, Balvi, and Rezekne municipalities in the eastern Latgale region on May 14. The military stated that it is continuously monitoring the airspace together with NATO allies to ensure immediate response capability to potential threats.

Hungary Summons Russian Ambassador Over Drone Strikes on Zakarpattia Oblast

EUROPE - Hungary summoned Russia’s ambassador on May 14 after Russian drone strikes reached Zakarpattia Oblast, Ukraine’s westernmost region sharing a direct border with Hungary, on May 13.

Fire Aboard HABITAT Offshore Gas-Producing Platform Secured

Qatar Reports Drone Strike on Commercial Cargo Vessel in Territorial Waters Northeast of Mesaieed Port

PERSIAN GULF, Qatari authorities and UK Maritime Trade Operations confirmed a commercial cargo vessel in Qatari territorial waters sustained a strike on the morning of 10 May. The vessel was en route from Abu Dhabi to Mesaieed Port when it was targeted. A limited fire broke out onboard but the crew extinguished it with no reported injuries. The ship continued to the port under coordination with relevant authorities. UKMTO Warning 056-26, issued at 3:01 a.m. UTC, stated that the master of a b...

North Korea Amends Constitution to Define Southern Border with South Korea and Assign Nuclear Command to Leader Kim Jong Un

KOREAN PENINSULA, North Korea has amended its Socialist Constitution to introduce the country’s first explicit territorial definition while removing all references to reunification, national unity, and the achievements of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il. The amendments assign command authority over nuclear forces to the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission and allow delegation of that authority to a national nuclear warfare command organization. Kim Jong Un was re-elected president o...

US Forces Intercept Iranian Attacks on Three Navy Destroyers and Conduct Strikes On Iranian Military Facilities in Strait of Hormuz

MIDDLE EAST - On May 7, Iranian forces launched multiple missiles, drones, and small boats at three U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers transiting the Strait of Hormuz toward the Gulf of Oman.

UAE: Air Defense Systems Intercepting Missiles and Drones from Iran

MIDDLE EAST - The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defense reported on May 8 that its air defense systems are actively intercepting missile and drone threats originating from Iran.

U.S. Africa Command Conducts Airstrike Targeting ISIS-Somalia in the Golis Mountains

SOMALIA - U.S. Africa Command conducted an airstrike targeting ISIS-Somalia on May 6, in the Golis Mountains, about 75 km (47 miles) southeast of Bossaso, in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia and Somali Armed Forces.

U.S. Southern Command Strikes Vessel in Eastern Pacific

EASTERN PACIFIC - U.S. Southern Command announced on May 5 that Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a strike on a vessel in the Eastern Pacific.

US Strikes ISIS in Somalia, Search Continues for Two Missing Service Members During African Lion Exercise in Morocco

AFRICA - U.S. Africa Command conducted an airstrike targeting ISIS-Somalia on May 4 in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia and Somali Armed Forces. The strike occurred in the vicinity of the Golis Mountains, about 47 miles (75 kilometers) southeast of Bossaso.

US Issues Security Alert For Iraq on Reopened Iraqi Airspace and Continued Threats From Missiles, Drones, Rockets and Militia

IRAQ - The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad issued a security alert May 5 after Iraq reopened its airspace with limited commercial flights operating. Travelers considering air travel within the country face ongoing potential risks from missiles, drones, and rockets in Iraqi airspace.

U.S. Southern Command Strikes Vessel in Caribbean Sea

CARIBBEAN SEA - On May 4, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a strike on a vessel linked to groups the U.S. has designated as terrorist organizations involved in drug trafficking.