What Are Raised Alerts?

Defcon Level tracks 14 commands: 11 official U.S. Combatant Commands and 3 monitoring commands (biological threats, natural disasters, and financial stability). Each carries an OSINT-estimated DEFCON readiness level from DEFCON 5 (normal peacetime) to DEFCON 1 (maximum readiness). When a command's estimated level is below DEFCON 5, it is considered "raised." This page shows only alerts from commands currently at raised status.

Alerts are grouped by priority. Breaking alerts cover fast-moving situations that may update within hours. Critical alerts address time-sensitive military or geopolitical developments with potential for escalation. High alerts track significant events affecting regional stability. Each alert is sourced from official statements, government public affairs offices, allied communications, and verified open-source intelligence.

The command grid below shows the current readiness level for every tracked command. The nuclear risk level is assessed separately from individual command readiness and appears below the command grid.

For all alerts including standard-priority updates from commands at normal readiness, visit the main Alerts page. For a breakdown of the indicators behind each command's current readiness estimate, see Raised Levels.

Energy Markets and Global Trade Corridors

CENTCOM's area of responsibility covers the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of global petroleum liquids transit each year, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. USPACOM's area of responsibility includes the South China Sea, through which an estimated one-third of global seaborne trade passes annually, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Together, these regions encompass several of the world's most significant maritime energy and trade corridors.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration tracks conditions in both regions as part of its global petroleum supply monitoring, publishing regular assessments of chokepoint risk for energy transit. CISA maintains a public advisory feed at cisa.gov covering active cyber threats to critical infrastructure sectors, including energy, transportation, and financial systems. Current commodity prices, defense sector data, and financial impact analysis are available on the Financial Alerts page.

Current Command Readiness Levels

14 Commands Raised

Current OSINT-estimated DEFCON levels for all 14 tracked commands. Commands below DEFCON 5 are considered raised, reflecting open-source indicators that suggest elevated regional readiness. These are estimates, not official government data. Select any command for details and regional alerts.

Geographic Commands

Functional Commands

Current Nuclear Risk Level (OSINT Estimate)

Increased intelligence watch and strengthened security measures. Above normal readiness.

This is an OSINT estimate. Confirmed nuclear readiness status is classified and not publicly released. Assessment derived from open-source intelligence, official government statements, and publicly available data.

Civilian Readiness During Elevated Conditions

The Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends that households maintain emergency supply kits covering a minimum of 72 hours of water, food, medications, and critical documents, as a baseline measure independent of current threat conditions. Ready.gov provides standardized checklists covering shelter-in-place procedures, evacuation planning, and family communication protocols. Supply chain status and preparedness guidance by threat level are available on the Preparedness page.

Emergency preparedness planning covers both physical supplies and financial readiness, including emergency fund sizing and insurance coverage for extended disruption scenarios. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau provides household financial preparedness guidance at consumerfinance.gov and recommends maintaining liquid reserves covering three to six months of essential expenses. Asset protection strategies and portfolio considerations during periods of geopolitical instability are covered on the Financial Readiness page.

Raised Readiness Alerts

The following alerts are from commands currently operating at elevated readiness (below DEFCON 5). Alerts are grouped by priority: Breaking, Critical, High, and Standard.

30 Active Alerts

14 commands currently at elevated readiness.

BREAKING Breaking Alerts

BREAKING High DEFCON 2
Central Command

CENTCOM Strikes Five IRGC Oil Carriers, Cites Missile Attacks on a U.S. Warship

On September 8, U.S. Central Command said its forces struck five crude oil carriers it identified as belonging to the IRGC after the Guard twice fired ballistic missiles at a U.S. Navy warship over the preceding two days....

BREAKING High DEFCON 2
Central Command

CENTCOM Strikes Three Iranian Tankers and Reports Missile Fire on U.S. Warships

CENTCOM Strikes Three Iranian Tankers and Reports Missile Fire on U.S. Warships: CENTCOM said it struck M/T Downy, M/T Stark 1, and M/T Kylo on Sept. 5 after reporting IRGC missile fire toward two U.S. warships, incuding an aircraft carrier....

BREAKING High DEFCON 2
Central Command

CENTCOM Completes Strikes on IRGC Targets and Missions Warn of Flight Disruptions

MIDDLE EAST - U.S. Central Command said Tuesday that its forces successfully completed a wave of strikes against Iranian military targets on September 1....

BREAKING High DEFCON 2
Central Command

US Begins New Strikes On IRGC Targets In Iran

CENTCOM on September 1, 2026: โ€œToday at 12 p.m. ET, U.S. forces began striking Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets in Iran."...

BREAKING High DEFCON 3
European Command

Latvia: Possible Threat In Airspace Ended, New Airspace Threat Alert Issued

Latvia: Possible Threat In Airspace Ended, New Airspace Threat Alert Issued. Latvian Armed Forces: "We inform you that there is a threat in Latvia's airspace. Go indoors, follow the two-wall principle! Follow official announcements. If you notice a low-flying or suspicious object, do not approach it and call 112!"...

BREAKING High DEFCON 2
Central Command

Three Projectiles Hit Tanker East of Khasab, Oman

STRAIT OF HORMUZ - The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center, the Royal Navy-sponsored office that records incidents for commercial shipping, said on August 31 that a tanker reported being struck by three unknown projectiles 17 nautical miles, about 20 miles (31 kilometers), east of Khasab...

BREAKING High DEFCON 2
Central Command

Tanker Incident With Military Forces Off Muscat

INDIAN OCEAN - On August 31 the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) published Advisory 123-26 after a shipโ€™s Captain reported an incident involving a tanker and military forces in the Indian Ocean....

BREAKING High DEFCON 2
Central Command

CENTCOM Refutes IRGC Claim, Says It Took Limited Precise Action Against IRGC Mine-laying Forces

MIDDLE EAST - U.S. Central Command has refuted the claim by Iranโ€™s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that strikes by the United States were an โ€œact of aggressionโ€, stating that the U.S. took limited, precise action against IRGC mine-laying forces that posed an imminent threat to civilian mariners, commercial shipping and the free flow of global commerce....

BREAKING High DEFCON 2
Central Command

IRGC: U.S. Forces Struck Larak Island, Revolutionary Guard Says It Will Punish Attacker

Iranโ€™s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said a United States attack struck Larak Island in Hormozgan Province on Sunday night and caused deaths and injuries among fighters and civilians....

BREAKING High DEFCON 2
Central Command

Oil Tanker Struck and Disabled Off Oman's Musandam Coast

GULF OF OMAN - The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center issued Warning 120-26 after the master of an oil tanker reported the ship struck by an unknown projectile 9 nautical miles (10 miles, 17 kilometers) northeast of Ash Shishah, Oman....

BREAKING High DEFCON 2
Central Command

Tanker Hijack in Gulf of Aden as U.S. Forces Enforce Iran Blockade and Issue New Sanctions

GULF OF ADEN - Six armed persons boarded the tanker Seamull, also known as SIBU 1, 136 nautical miles east of Al Mukalla, Yemen, and redirected the vessel toward Somalia....

BREAKING High

Global

UAE Detects Iranian Ballistic Missiles After Erbil Drone Attack

DOHA - On August 18 the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defense stated that its air defense systems detected two ballistic missiles launched from Iran toward the UAE....

BREAKING High DEFCON 2
Central Command

UKMTO: Vessel Struck by Unknown Projectile in Strait of Hormuz, Crew Casualty Reported

STRAIT OF HORMUZ - United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued Warning 115-26 on August 18 stating a Company Security Officer said that a vessel was struck by an unknown projectile while conducting an outbound transit of the Strait of Hormuz....

BREAKING High DEFCON 2
Central Command

Kurdistan Region: Two Hadid-110 Drones Strike PM Office, Origin Attributed to Iran

MIDDLE EAST - Two explosive-laden Hadid-110 drones that the Kurdistan Counter-Terrorism Directorate stated were launched from across the Iranian border struck the private office of Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and the residence of the Parastin Agency director in the Pirmam distric...

BREAKING High DEFCON 2
Central Command

Bulk Carrier Struck by Unknown Projectile in Strait of Hormuz

STRAIT OF HORMUZ - United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued Warning 113-26 on August 15 after receiving a verified report that a bulk carrier was struck by an unknown projectile that hit the hull in the Strait of Hormuz....

BREAKING High DEFCON 3
U.S. Pacific Command

Magnitude 7.7 Earthquake Strikes Flores Sea Near Ende, Indonesia

INDONESIA - A magnitude Mw (Magnitude) 7.7 earthquake struck the Flores Sea on August 15 at 5:58 a.m. local time (9:58 p.m. UTC on August 14) at a depth of 6....

BREAKING High DEFCON 2
Central Command

Missile Hits Container Ship Vela Nova Off Pakistan. Projectile Strike Kills Crew in Bab el-Mandeb

GULF OF OMAN / BAB EL-MANDEB - Two commercial vessels were struck on August 11 in separate incidents confirmed by both the Joint Maritime Information Center and United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations....

BREAKING High DEFCON 3
Northern Command

Western North America Wildfires at Peak Resource Levels as British Columbia Declares State of Emergency

NORTH AMERICA - On August 8 the National Interagency Fire Center said 97 large fires remained under containment efforts across the United States, with 83 new fires and 9 new large fires recorded in the preceding 24 hours, while British Columbia authorities stated a provincial state of emergency afte...

BREAKING High DEFCON 2
Central Command

Projectile Strike Hits Vessel East of Khasab as UAE Qatar Saudi Kuwait and GCC Attribute Missile Attack on ADNOC Tanker to Iran

STRAIT OF HORMUZ - UK Maritime Trade Operations reported that a vessel was struck by an unknown projectile approximately 18 nautical miles (33 km) east of Khasab, Oman, on August 8. The impact caused a fire that was extinguished....

BREAKING High DEFCON 2
Central Command

U.S. Mission to Yemen Attributes Houthi Attacks Killing Soldiers in Marib and Hadhramawt

YEMEN - The U.S. Mission to Yemen stated on August 6 that it expresses deepest condolences to the families of the Yemeni soldiers killed that day in Hadhramawt and Marib....

BREAKING High DEFCON 2
Central Command

Cargo Vessel Hit by Unknown Projectile Northeast of Al Khasab

MIDDLE EAST - On 3 August at 10:00 PM UTC, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations received a report of an incident 20 nautical miles northeast of Al Khasab, Oman, in which a cargo vessel broadcast on VHF Channel 16 that it had been hit by an unknown projectile....

BREAKING High DEFCON 2
Central Command

UKMTO Reports Explosion in Close Proximity to Tanker Near Khasab

STRAIT OF HORMUZ - UK Maritime Trade Operations issued Advisory 103-26 on August 2 reporting an incident approximately 20 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman....

BREAKING High DEFCON 2
Central Command

State Department Issues Middle East Travel Caution as Iranian State Media Claims Missile Strike on U.S. Base in Jordan

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of State on August 1 advised Americans currently in the Middle East to exercise caution and heightened vigilance and to prepare for flight cancellations, periodic airspace closures, and potential travel disruptions....

BREAKING High DEFCON 3
Northern Command

FBI and EPA Warn of Cyber Attacks on Internet-Facing Controllers in Water Systems

WASHINGTON - The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Environmental Protection Agency issued Public Service Announcement I-073026-PSA on July 30 stating that malicious cyber actors have conducted cyber attacks against Operational Technology devices, specifically Rockwell Automation/Allen-Bradley...

BREAKING High DEFCON 2
Central Command

IRGC Reasserts Hormuz Control After CENTCOM Strikes. Gulf States Condemn UAV Attacks

MIDDLE EAST - The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on July 30 again claimed full control of the Strait of Hormuz and said two oil tankers that tried an unauthorized route turned back after a fire broke out on one of them....

BREAKING High DEFCON 2
Central Command

Trump Orders Hard US Response After Iran Missiles Targeting Forces in Jordan Intercepted

MIDDLE EAST - On July 29, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that five Iranian rockets traveling 8,500 miles per hour had been knocked down the previous night and that U.S. forces would hit Iran very hard in response....

BREAKING High DEFCON 2
Central Command

U.S. and Saudi Forces Strike IRGC-Directed Sites in Eastern Iraq

MIDDLE EAST - On July 28, U.S. Central Command and the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces conducted precision strikes against Iran-aligned terrorists that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps directed to attack U.S. forces and Saudi energy infrastructure....

BREAKING High DEFCON 2
Central Command

Coalition Forces Intercept Explosive-Laden Drone Over Erbil

MIDDLE EAST - On Saturday afternoon, Coalition forces intercepted and shot down an explosive-laden drone over Erbil at approximately 3:20 p.m. local time, according to information obtained by Kurdistan24 (KRG state-run media). No casualties or material damage were immediately reported....

BREAKING High DEFCON 3
European Command

Romanian F-16s Shoot Down Second Unauthorized Drone Near Ukraine Border

ROMANIA - On July 25 at 08:22, the radar surveillance systems of the Romanian Ministry of Defense detected a new unauthorized incursion into national airspace by a drone operating in the border area with Ukraine....

BREAKING High DEFCON 2
Central Command

CENTCOM Completes 13th Night of Strikes on Iranian Targets

MIDDLE EAST - U.S. Central Command started the 13th consecutive night of strikes against Iranian military targets at 6:45 p.m. U.S. forces targeted Iranian military command centers, drone storage facilities, communication networks, coastal surveillance sites, and maritime capabilities....

Raised Alerts: Frequently Asked Questions

What does raised command readiness mean for civilians?

Raised readiness on this site reflects OSINT indicators suggesting a command may be operating at elevated alert levels. It does not represent an official government declaration and does not indicate an imminent emergency. Civilians monitoring conditions can track official guidance through Ready.gov, cisa.gov, and the State Department's travel advisory system for affected regions.

How are readiness estimates calculated?

Readiness levels are OSINT estimates derived from official government statements, military public affairs releases, verified open-source reporting, and publicly available satellite imagery. They are not based on classified intelligence and do not represent official government assessments. The methodology behind site readiness estimates is described on the Current Level page.

How often do command readiness levels change?

Command readiness levels are updated when new OSINT indicators warrant a change. Some commands hold elevated readiness for extended periods tied to sustained regional conditions, while others fluctuate with specific events. The Raised Levels page provides trend data and recent changes for each tracked command.

How is the nuclear risk level different from command readiness?

The nuclear risk level is a site-wide OSINT estimate of global nuclear threat posture, assessed independently from individual command readiness levels. It reflects open-source indicators from nuclear-armed states, arms control treaty reporting, and publicly available strategic posture statements. Detailed coverage, including current assessment and historical context, is available on the Nuclear Threat Level page.

Where can I find official emergency guidance?

Primary civilian guidance sources include Ready.gov for general emergency preparedness, cisa.gov for cybersecurity and infrastructure advisories, and the State Department's travel advisory portal for region-specific alerts. The Department of Homeland Security's public advisory system covers domestic threat conditions, and FEMA's Emergency Management Institute provides training resources for community preparedness at training.fema.gov.

Stay Informed on Raised Alerts

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Related Pages

Monitor readiness conditions, financial market impact, cybersecurity threat activity, and emergency preparedness status across all commands and threat categories.