Rapid Alerts

EASTERN PACIFIC — On May 27, at the direction of U.S. Southern Command commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear struck a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations.

SOUTHCOM Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations.

KURDISTAN REGION, IRAQ — A rocket attack struck an Iranian opposition camp north of Erbil in Iraq’s Kurdistan region on May 25, wounding two fighters initially.

The Kurdistan Freedom Party later updated the figure to nine. No fatalities were reported in initial accounts, and the incident occurred in the evening local time.

SOMALIA — Somali Armed Forces and National Intelligence and Security Agency units carried out continued operations against Al-Shabaab. The operations covered Middle Shabelle, Bay, and Hiiraan regions.

The most recent operations were carried out on May 24 in the Tardo area of Hiiraan region and a follow-up airstrike on May 23 in the Ugunji area of Lower Shabelle region, according to Ministry of Defense and NISA statements.

EAST AFRICA — The Somali military carried out an airstrike in the Ugunji area of Lower Shabelle on May 22 targeting Al-Shabaab militants who had regrouped within the location.

The statement reported that the strike killed six militants and destroyed weapons and equipment, noting that the operation was carried out in coordination with international partners.

NATO EASTERN FLANK — Russian military jets intercepted a UK Royal Air Force Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft operating in international airspace over the Black Sea in April, closing to within six meters and triggering the aircraft’s onboard emergency systems. The RAF crew completed the mission safely.

The announcement came on the same day that Lithuanian defense authorities activated a public air alert across parts of the country following radar detection of a suspected unmanned aerial vehicle approaching from the direction of Belarus.

STRAIT OF HORMUZ — U.S. Central Command continued enforcement of the maritime blockade targeting Iranian ports on May 20, deploying a U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter to patrol near a commercial vessel transiting regional waters.

According to U.S. Central Command, 90 vessels have been redirected as of May 20, and 4 others disabled since the operation began to enforce compliance with restrictions on commerce entering or exiting Iranian ports.

NORTHEASTERN NIGERIA — U.S. Africa Command, in coordination with the Government of Nigeria, conducted additional strikes against ISIS militants on May 18. U.S. Intelligence confirmed the targets were ISIS militants at a fighter camp.

The Nigerian Defence Headquarters also confirmed additional airstrikes in the general area of Metele, resulting in more than 20 ISIS and ISWAP fighters being killed.

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.

U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and Nigeria’s Defense Headquarters both announced the May 17 strikes. Nigeria’s Defense Headquarters put the toll at more than 20 ISIS and ISWAP fighters.

WEST AFRICA — Nigerian Armed Forces, in close coordination with United States forces, conducted a joint counter-terrorism operation overnight that targeted and eliminated a senior Islamic State (ISIS) leader identified as Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, also known as Abu-Mainok or Abu-Bilal al-Minuki.

Early assessments from both governments confirm the strike occurred on the target’s compound in the Lake Chad Basin and resulted in the deaths of al-Minuki along with several of his lieutenants.

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.

NISA forces monitoring movements of senior al-Shabaab leaders who had reached the area launched a heavy attack on a location where they were organizing militias.

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.

The Defense Forces have responded to the situation and increased their preparedness. The measures included, among other things, increasing the number of air surveillance personnel, increasing the efficiency of fighter jets by adjusting the duty location, time and take-off readiness of armed fighter jets on operational alert, and increasing the efficiency of the use of Army helicopters and Navy vessels.

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. Additional air defense units have been deployed to strengthen capabilities along the eastern border.

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. 

The strike followed an identical operation on May 4, 2026, in the identical Golis Mountains location southeast of Bossaso, the same location as reported in the most recent strike.

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.

According to AFRICOM, “The airstrike occurred in the vicinity of the Golis Mountains, about 75km southeast of Bossaso. AFRICOM, alongside the Federal Government of Somalia and Somali Armed Forces, continues to take action to degrade ISIS-Somalia’s ability to threaten the U.S. Homeland, our forces, and our citizens abroad.”

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. The strike was carried out at the direction of U.S. Southern Command commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan.

SOUTHCOM said intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting known drug trafficking routes in the Caribbean and engaged in drug trafficking operations. Two male individuals aboard the vessel were killed. No U.S. military forces were harmed.

SUDAN — Sudanese authorities reported drone strikes on May 4 targeting Khartoum International Airport and additional sites in the capital, part of a barrage that followed the Sudanese Armed Forces recapture of Khartoum in March of last year, and the airport’s first international flight in three years the previous week.

Brigadier General Asim Awad Abdelwahab, Sudanese Armed Forces spokesman, stated at a May 5 press conference alongside Foreign Minister Mohieddin Salem that the government possessed “conclusive evidence” linking the strikes to drones launched from Ethiopia’s Bahir Dar Airport with Emirati support.

EASTERN FINLAND — An unmanned drone is suspected of violating Finnish airspace in eastern Finland. At the request of the Air Force, area air traffic control established a temporary airspace restriction zone for the sea area off the coast of Kotka-Hamina. The restriction was lifted on Sunday morning at 8:00 a.m.

The Defense Forces have maintained heightened readiness since late March, following Ukrainian operations against Russian targets in the St. Petersburg region and in the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland.

UNITED KINGDOM — The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre raised the United Kingdom national terrorism threat level from SUBSTANTIAL to SEVERE on April 30, according to its official assessment, meaning a terrorist attack is highly likely.

The U.S. Embassy in London issued a security alert on May 1 advising American citizens to stay alert in public places and review personal security plans.

ROMANIA — On the morning of May 1, Romanian authorities issued a RO-Alert notification to residents in the northern part of Tulcea County following the detection of a group of nine drones transiting toward Ukrainian airspace near Romania’s river border.

Romania’s National Military Command Center detected the drones and notified the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, which activated population alert measures. Surveillance systems recorded no radar signals within Romanian national airspace.

IRAN — Air defense systems activated across multiple districts of Tehran late on April 30 with reports of firing sounds and explosions heard in western, central, southeastern, and southern areas of the capital. We are currently monitoring reports, an update will be posted if there are further developments.

Iranian state-affiliated media reported defensive engagements against small drones and surveillance UAVs. Tasnim News Agency stated that air defenses “engaged small drones and surveillance UAVs over parts of Tehran,” with fire heard across western, central, and southeastern districts.

ARABIAN SEA — U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit boarded the commercial vessel M/V Blue Star III on April 28 after it was suspected of attempting to transit to an Iranian port in violation of the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports.

U.S. forces released the vessel following a search that confirmed its voyage would not include an Iranian port call. American forces have redirected 39 vessels to date as part of the ongoing blockade enforcement.

WHITE HOUSE - We are actively monitoring reports of gunfire at the Washington Hilton hotel and an ongoing evacuation. Status: Confirmed. U.S. President Donald Trump: “The shooter has been apprehended”. 

EASTERN PACIFIC — U.S. Southern Command carried out a strike against a vessel operating in the Eastern Pacific Ocean on April 24. The craft was moving along established maritime routes associated with narcotics trafficking when two males aboard the vessel were killed with no U.S. military personnel harmed.

According to the Command the action was carried out by Joint Task Force Southern Spear at the direction of commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan after intelligence confirmed the vessel’s location along trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific, and was involved in “narco-trafficking operations’”.

MIDDLE EAST — U.S. forces have redirected 34 vessels attempting to enter or exit Iranian ports under an expanding blockade enforced by U.S. Central Command.

Three aircraft carrier strike groups (USS Abraham Lincoln, USS Gerald R. Ford, and USS George H.W. Bush) are now operating simultaneously in the region for the first time in decades, supported by over 200 aircraft and 15,000 sailors and Marines.

INDIAN OCEAN — U.S. forces boarded a sanctioned stateless tanker in the Indian Ocean as part of sanctions enforcement operations. The vessel, identified as the M/T Majestic X, was transporting oil from Iran at the time of the action.

The Department of War described the boarding as a maritime interdiction and right-of-visit operation conducted within the INDOPACOM area of responsibility.

SOMALIA — On April 20, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia and Somali Armed Forces, conducted airstrikes targeting ISIS-Somalia militants in the vicinity of the Golis Mountains, approximately 90 kilometers southeast of Bossaso in Puntland.

The strikes form part of ongoing efforts to degrade the group’s ability to threaten U.S. interests, forces, and citizens abroad.

MIDDLE EAST — U.S. Central Command stated that U.S. forces operating in the Arabian Sea “enforced naval blockade measures against an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel attempting to sail toward an Iranian port” on April 19. CENTCOM identified the vessel as M/V Touska and its destination as Bandar Abbas.

According to the CENTCOM release, guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) “intercepted M/V Touska as it transited the north Arabian Sea at 17 knots enroute to Bandar Abbas, Iran.” 

EASTERN PACIFIC — U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) struck two vessels in the Eastern Pacific on April 15 and April 14, killing a total of seven. Both strikes were carried out by Joint Task Force Southern Spear “at the direction of the commander of U.S. Southern Command, Gen. Francis L. Donovan,” according to SOUTHCOM.

The April 14 and 15 strikes bring the total to five strikes on five vessels in five consecutive days (April 11 to 15), killing 14 and leaving one survivor, according to SOUTHCOM announcements. SOUTHCOM conducted three prior strikes on April 11 and 13, killing seven.

EAST AFRICA: The Somali National Armed Forces and Jubbaland Security Forces killed 81 al-Shabaab militants across multiple southern regions over April 14 to 15, Somalia’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) stated in two press releases. International partner airstrikes supported the ground operations.

U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) separately said it conducted a strike targeting al-Shabaab on April 9 “in the vicinity of Qalay, approximately 131 km northwest of Kismayo.”

UKRAINE — The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported on April 14 that Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) “lost all off site power this morning after the disconnection of its last remaining external power line.” The IAEA stated this is the 13th time the plant has lost all off-site power during the military conflict.

“The plant’s emergency diesel generators immediately started operating to provide the power needed for essential safety functions,” the IAEA announced. The agency’s on-site team is monitoring the situation.

EASTERN PACIFIC — U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) conducted three lethal kinetic strikes on narco-trafficking vessels in the Eastern Pacific on April 11 and April 13, killing a total of seven.

All three strikes were carried out by Joint Task Force Southern Spear “at the direction of the commander of U.S. Southern Command, Gen. Francis L. Donovan,” according to SOUTHCOM. SOUTHCOM said the operations were “applying total systemic friction on the cartels.”

MIDDLE EAST — A skiff carrying 10 to 12 individuals, four to five of whom were armed with automatic weapons, approached a sailing vessel approximately 54 nautical miles southwest of Al Hudaydah, Yemen, on 12 April, according to United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Warning 034-26.

The vessel’s master (the commanding officer) refused to stop and deployed a flare. The skiff turned away and departed to the southeast without boarding.

SOMALIA — U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) announced on April 10 that it conducted airstrikes targeting ISIS-Somalia on April 6-7 in the Golis Mountains, 55-75 km southeast of Bossaso in Puntland.

The operation occurred in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia and Somali Armed Forces.