Rapid Alerts

CENTCOM: “Today at 12 p.m. Et, U.S. forces began striking Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets in Iran. The strikes follow recent attempted attacks by the IRGC against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and against American service members deployed in the region.”

NORFOLK — Naval Station Norfolk, the U.S. Navy installation on Sewell’s Point that Navy Region Mid-Atlantic describes as the largest naval complex in the world, stated on September 1 that it had put in place increased security measures and changed how people enter the base.

The installation said some gates were closed or were running with fewer lanes and told personnel to expect delays and to allow extra time to get on the base. It said it was watching developments with law enforcement and security partners and would change the measures as needed.

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, Oman, while finishing an outbound transit of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway between Oman and Iran that connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman.

UKMTO logged the incident as an attack, but the report did not name the tanker, its flag, its owner, or the type of projectile.

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

The report gave no vessel name, flag, International Maritime Organization number, course, or crew status, and no latitude or longitude for the contact.

MIDDLE EAST — U.S. Central Command has refuted the claim by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that strikes by the United States were an “act of aggression”, 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.

U.S. Central Command: “CLAIM: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed in a recent statement that strikes by U.S. forces to prevent the IRGC from placing mines in the Strait of Hormuz were an “act of aggression.” This claim is absolutely FALSE.

LARAK ISLAND, STRAIT OF HORMUZ — Iran’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.

The Guard’s public-relations office, speaking through Sepah News, said the attack on the island would be answered and that the attacker would be punished.

EASTERN PACIFIC — U.S. Marines and Sailors launched from the amphibious transport dock USS San Antonio (LPD 17) boarded, searched, and cleared a vessel in international waters on August 28, then sank it after removing those aboard, U.S. Southern Command said.

The command stated that U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Francis L. Donovan, commander of U.S. Southern Command, directed the action. Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM) carried it out with the Government of Ecuador, SOUTHCOM said.

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.

UKMTO logged the report at 8:25 p.m. UTC on August 24 and classified the event as an attack. The master said the projectile damaged the engine room and left the tanker unable to proceed. UKMTO said the crew was reported safe and that environmental impact was unknown in the initial warning.

EASTERN PACIFIC — On August 23, Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere carried out a strike on a low-profile vessel operating along routes SOUTHCOM described as established narco-trafficking routes, according to U.S. Southern Command.

U.S. Southern Command released the details at 5:21 AM UTC on August 24. The strike was carried out under the direction of SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan.

YANBU, SAUDI ARABIA — A tanker was struck by an unknown projectile 63 nautical miles west of Yanbu on August 24, producing a fire on the main deck.

All crew members were accounted for and safe. No environmental impact was reported. Vessels were advised to transit the area with caution and report any suspicious activity.

INDIA — The Indian Coast Guard Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Sri Vijaya Puram received information at 6:18 a.m. UTC on August 22 that communication had been lost with the Panama-flagged bulk carrier MV Ocean Winner, IMO 9145530, and that the vessel sank in the Bay of Bengal.

Commandant Amit Uniyal, an Indian Coast Guard spokesperson, stated the ship carried 24 crew members consisting of 20 Chinese nationals, three Myanmar nationals and one Bangladeshi national, plus a cargo of iron ore.

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.

The tanker broadcasted a distress call on VHF 16 after an unauthorized vessel approached while the ship traveled west in the Gulf of Aden. Authorities are investigating.

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.

Two missiles were launched: one fell outside UAE territorial waters and the other inside, but neither struck land. The UAE Interior Ministry briefly issued a public alert that was later lifted, and Iran has made no immediate official comment on the launches.

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.

The impact caused damage to the engine room and resulted in a crew casualty. The remaining crew are being assisted by the Omani Coast Guard. No environmental impact has been stated. Authorities are investigating.

MAREEYO, SOMALIA — UK Maritime Trade Operations received a report at 11:36 AM UTC on August 17 from the company security officer of a cargo vessel stating that eight armed unauthorized persons boarded the ship and took control of it 4 nautical miles south of Mareeyo, Somalia.

Authorities are investigating. UKMTO advises vessels to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity. No vessel name, flag, crew size, cargo, or current position beyond the reported location has been released by UKMTO.

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 district of Erbil province at 12:28 a.m. local time on August 17.

The Kurdistan Counter-Terrorism Directorate stated the drones targeted the sites and reported no casualties. Barzani described the attacks as a dangerous escalation and an unacceptable threat to the region’s security and stability.

GALAȚI COUNTY, ROMANIA — Two Spanish F-18 fighter aircraft assigned to NATO’s enhanced Air Defense mission at Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base intercepted and destroyed a drone that entered Romanian national airspace from the direction of Moldova in the early hours of August 16.

Romanian Ministry of National Defense surveillance systems detected the aerial target at 04:44 local time approximately 15 miles (24 km) north of Galați.

NEWPORT NEWS AND ARABIAN SEA — HII Newport News Shipbuilding completed acceptance sea trials of the future USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) on August 15, with the ship returning to the yard after testing key systems at sea.

On the same date, Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, concluded a 10-day trip to the Middle East that included a visit to USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in the Arabian Sea.

LATVIA — On the morning of August 14, a NATO fighter jet operating under the Baltic Air Policing mission from a base in Lithuania intercepted and destroyed a foreign unmanned aerial vehicle that entered Latvian airspace over Balvi Municipality.

The Latvian National Armed Forces stated an airspace threat shortly after 4:00 a.m. local time in the municipalities of Augšdaugava, Preiļi, Rēzekne, Balvi, and Alūksne.

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.

In the Gulf of Oman, the container ship Vela Nova was hit by a missile fired from a helicopter. The vessel was 71 nautical miles from the Pakistani coast when the strike occurred. The master reported damage to the stern and steering compartment.

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.

The vessel and crew were reported safe, with no environmental impact. Authorities are investigating. Vessels were advised to transit with caution and report suspicious activity.

Yemen / Red Sea / Strait of Hormuz, 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.

The mission attributed the attacks to the Iran-backed Houthis and described them as another example of their terrorism against the Yemeni people. It wished the wounded a speedy recovery.

MIDDLE EAST — On August 3 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. Authorities are investigating. Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity.

The position lies in the approaches to the Strait of Hormuz off Oman’s Musandam Peninsula. Al Khasab coordinates are approximately 26.18 N, 56.25 E.

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.

At 8:37 p.m. UTC on August 2 the master (Captain) of a tanker reported hearing an explosion in close proximity of the vessel.

STRAIT OF HORMUZ — The Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that negotiations with Oman regarding the Strait of Hormuz are in their final stages. The Joint Maritime Information Center Update 079, covering March 1 to August 2, listed two confirmed maritime security incidents in the Strait of Hormuz on August 1.

An LNG carrier, name withheld, was struck by an unknown projectile at 11:30 p.m. UTC on July 31 while transiting outbound, 11 nautical miles north-east of Lima, Oman.

POLAND — An armed Russian Kh-101 cruise missile violated Polish airspace and crashed in a field near Tarnawa-Kolonia, approximately 31 miles (50 km) from Lublin, during a large-scale Russian missile and drone attack on Ukraine overnight into July 30.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the missile was armed and in all probability Russian, with no reason to believe Poland was the target. Two objects violated Polish airspace; one crashed with physical evidence at the site, and the other briefly approached the border.

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.

U.S. Central Command confirmed that Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces launched multiple ballistic missiles from Iran at 5:45 p.m. ET on July 28 in an attempted surprise attack on U.S. forces based in the Middle East, with all missiles successfully intercepted and U.S. forces remaining at a high state of readiness.

BLACK SEA — On July 29 around 10:30 AM, the Romanian Ministry of Defense radar surveillance system detected a group of aerial targets flying 20 km northwest of Snake Island.

Two Romanian Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft conducting NATO-led enhanced Air Policing missions scrambled from Borcea 86th Air Base at 10:57 AM to monitor the situation and secure national airspace.

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.

U.S. and Saudi fighter aircraft struck multiple terrorist logistics and weapons sites across eastern Iraq in response to over 30 IRGC-directed aerial drone attacks in the last 72 hours.

MIDDLE EAST — On July 28 the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces launched multiple ballistic missiles from Iran in an attempted surprise attack on U.S. forces based in the Middle East, according to U.S. Central Command.

According to U.S. Central Command all Iranian missiles were successfully intercepted. The command added that U.S. forces remain vigilant and at a high state of readiness.

MIDDLE EAST — On July 27, the Saudi Ministry of Defense stated that air defenses intercepted and destroyed a number of drones during the past hours that attempted to target petroleum facilities in the Eastern Region and Riyadh.

The official spokesperson, Major General Turki Al-Maliki, said the attempts were launched from Iraqi territory and carried out by Iranian-backed terrorist militias.

JORDAN — The General Command of the Jordanian Armed Forces-Arab Army stated that Royal Jordanian Air Force aircraft intercepted and downed two drones that breached Jordanian airspace from Iranian territory on the morning of July 27.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) separately reported intercepting two unmanned aerial vehicles identified near the Jordanian border the same morning.

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.

The interception occurred one day after the Kurdistan Region’s Counter-Terrorism Service announced that Coalition forces destroyed five explosive-laden drones over Erbil between 9:32 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. local time.

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.

Two F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft of the Romanian Air Force, on duty in the Air Policing combat service, intercepted the aerial target and carried out standard identification and engagement procedures, according to the ministry.

MIDDLE EAST — U.S. Central Command started the 13th consecutive night of strikes against Iranian military targets at 6:45 p.m. ET on July 23 and completed them at 9 p.m. ET the same day.

U.S. forces targeted Iranian military command centers, drone storage facilities, communication networks, coastal surveillance sites, and maritime capabilities.

U.S. Central Command: “At 10:30 p.m. ET on July 22, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces completed another round of strikes against Iran for the 12th consecutive night.

U.S. forces struck Iranian military targets including maritime capabilities, missile and drone storage facilities, coastal surveillance sites, and air defense assets. The strikes further degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial vessels.

MIDDLE EAST — U.S. Central Command forces completed the 11th consecutive evening of strikes against Iranian military targets at 8:15 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

The strikes targeted Iranian military operations centers, maritime capabilities, aircraft hangars, drone storage facilities, and military logistics infrastructure. CENTCOM said the strikes further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

BERING SEA — The U.S. Coast Guard monitored the Chinese research ships Xue Long and Xue Long 2 as they transited north through the U.S. exclusive economic zone and over the U.S. extended continental shelf in the Bering Sea, marking the first Chinese vessels tracked in this area this year.

The Coast Guard cutter Munro executed Operation Frontier Sentinel to actively monitor the vessels during their northbound transit.

U.S. Finishes Latest Strikes Against Iran on July 20. U.S. forces struck Iranian military command centers, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and air defense systems

Kuwaiti Air Defenses Currently Intercepting Missile, Drone Attacks. Kuwaiti Army: "Kuwaiti air defenses are currently confronting hostile missile and drone attacks".

U.S. Central Command: “U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) successfully completed the ninth consecutive evening of strikes against Iran, July 19, at 10 p.m. ET.

CENTCOM assets targeted Iranian military command centers, air defense and coastal surveillance sites, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and communications networks to further diminish Iran’s ability to attack commercial vessels and civilian mariners transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. Central Command: "CENTCOM began conducting a new wave of strikes against Iran at 7 p.m. ET today for the ninth consecutive night. The strikes will continue degrading Iranian military capabilities used to attack commercial vessels and civilian mariners transiting the Strait of Hormuz."

"U.S. Navy Sailors remain focused and vigilant aboard guided-missile destroyer USS John Finn (DDG 113), as American forces continue implementing the naval blockade against Iran. As of July 19, CENTCOM has redirected 6 commercial vessels and disabled 1 to ensure full compliance."

JORDAN — The Israel Defense Forces stated on July 19 that launches from Iran toward the city of Aqaba in Jordan, near the territory of the State of Israel, were identified.

The statement noted that there may be spills into Israeli territory as a result of the firing and that alerts may be activated in the south of the country.

JORDAN — On Sunday the U.S. Embassy Amman cited a specific and credible threat that prompted Jordanian authorities to evacuate the international airport and seaport in Aqaba, and strongly advised all Americans to refrain from travel to either facility.

It continues to advise Americans to avoid travel to military bases in Jordan. The same day Jordan’s Minister of Government Communication and official government spokesperson Mohammad Al Momani announced that relevant authorities issued no evacuation decisions for Aqaba Airport or the seaport, that both facilities operate normally, and that no potential threats registered with competent Jordanian authorities in recent hours.