Sailors aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG-71) observe an MH-60R Seahawk landing on the ship's flight deck while operating in support of the U.S. naval blockade of Iran. According to today's update from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), U.S. forces have now redirected 68 commercial vessels, boarded two to ensure compliance, and disabled three vessels that failed to comply with blockade directives.

The Pentagon is moving to dismiss the publisher, editor-in-chief and a reporter at Stars and Stripes, citing insubordination. The notices reportedly stem from interviews in which Editor-in-Chief Erik Slavin and reporter Lara Korte defended the publication’s editorial independence and said Pentagon interference in news coverage would cross a red line. The move comes after Stars and Stripes reported on difficult conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, including concerns about sailors’ mental health during its extended deployment—reports that Pentagon leadership and President Trump disputed. Publisher Max Lederer, who has led the paper for 19 years, had already announced plans to retire in September, citing fundamental differences with the administration over the publication’s mission.

Footage of a Houthi drone dropping a munition on a Saudi M1A2S Abrams MBT near Marib, causing the tank to suffer an ammunition explosion.

A charter plane carrying eight people crashed Thursday near a remote radar site in western Alaska, a federal official said. - AP

A swarm of Ukrainian jet-powered strike drones reportedly attacked the Tavri power station in Russian-occupied Crimea tonight. Seen here, streams of AAA fire and explosions can be seen near the plant, the second largest in Crimea.

Delaware police: "The City of Dover has likely experienced a tornado, with significant damage reported throughout parts of the city, including numerous downed trees, flooding, and other storm-related damage. A State Of Emergency is in effect."

A Pennsylvania State Police helicopter and a small plane crashed at Carlisle Airport on Wednesday evening, local media reported, with casualties reported.

Reuters: "More than 150 wallets on Polymarket International may have traded on inside U.S. military information, attracting copycat bets and raising concerns that the market could broadcast signals exploitable by foreign adversaries, according to research published on Thursday."

Ukrainian attack drones struck Russia's Tamanneftegaz oil terminal overnight, one of Russia's largest Black Sea oil export facilities. The attack set the west end of the complex on fire and damaged an equipment yard, storage tank, and piping.

Two F-16AM Fighting Falcons with the Romanian Air Force were scrambled early Thursday to investigate an unidentified naval surface drone spotted near the Neptun Deep Project, a major European offshore natural gas field off the coast of Romania in the Black Sea. On approach, the drone - believed to be of Russian origin - was determined to be an active threat, with one of the F-16s using its M61A1 Vulcan Six-Barrel Gatling Gun to target and destroy the explosive-laden surface drone, roughly 80NM east of the Romanian Black Sea coastal city of Constanța. Romanian President Nicușor Dan blamed the incident on Russia, stating in a post online: “I strongly condemn the intensification of these types of irresponsible incidents on the part of the Russian Federation.” While European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described it as part of an “escalating campaign of threats” against the European Union.

Nasser Hemmati, Governor of the Central Bank of Iran: "At present, Iranian oil exports have stopped. We are no longer exporting any oil at all. This is a reality we acknowledge. The other problem is that we are also unable to access our own financial resources."

As the Russian 2026 Parliamentary Elections are quickly approaching and the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine shows no sign of stopping, traders on Polymarket are predicting - with a 72% chance - that Vladimir Putin’s All-Russian Political Party, known as United Russia and the ruling party since 2001, will retain control and possibly even gain seats in Russia’s Federal Assembly.

Asked whether the economic campaign against Iran includes China, given Beijing’s position as Tehran’s primary economic partner, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent replied: “Many conversations are best to have in private.”

U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Ospreys assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 163, based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, launch from the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD-4) in support of the U.S. naval blockade of Iran. The Ospreys are embarked aboard Boxer as part of the aviation combat element of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), which is deployed to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of operations. According to this morning's update from CENTCOM, U.S. forces have now redirected 67 commercial vessels, boarded two to ensure compliance, and disabled three vessels that failed to comply with blockade directives.

Treasury Secretary Bessent on Iran: We are going to have the toughest sanctions in history, and I will tell you, this will work. It worked in Venezuela once we put up the blockade. It is working in Cuba right now, and it is going to work in Iran, and we are going to collapse this regime.

Another day of heightened aerial activity near the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. Thanks to reporting from TWZ we now know the activity is part of a U.S.-led NATO exercise that also includes a ground component involving Polish armed forces, although their specific role has not been disclosed. Several U.S. Air Force and NATO tankers are operating in refueling racetrack orbits over Polish airspace, while a NATO E-3 AWACS is orbiting just north of the tanker tracks. A U.S. Air Force EA-37B "Compass Call II" electronic-warfare aircraft has also made the trip into the area again, this time flying directly from Chania, Greece, before operating near Kaliningrad. A NATO official told The War Zone that the exercise is not in response to recent Russian military activity or rhetoric. However, comments from a Polish official appeared to indicate that deterrence is part of the broader purpose of the exercise. The activity remains notable given the concentration of airborne early warning, electronic warfare, ISR and aerial refueling capabilities operating in close proximity to Kaliningrad.

Ukrainian attack drones swarmed Russia’s Nizhnekamsk Oil Refinery this morning, scoring multiple hits and setting the plant on fire. Seen here, a Ukrainian Fire Point FP-1 maneuvers and then dives into one of the already-burning Russian refinery’s process units.

President Donald J. Trump disclosed today that North Korea possesses "57 very powerful nuclear weapons," adding that the arsenal "shouldn't have been allowed to happen." The figure is notable because the U.S. government does not publicly disclose a precise number for North Korea's nuclear stockpile; outside estimates have generally placed it in the roughly 50–90 warhead range. The disclosure comes days after Trump ordered Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to substantially reduce U.S.-South Korean military exercises, arguing that the drills are too costly and send an "inappropriate and hostile" signal to North Korea, which he described as "unthreatening and respectful." The annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise subsequently began but was shortened by six days, with Seoul announcing that it would conclude Friday rather than continue through its originally scheduled period. Trump has also said he intends to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un later this year, potentially marking another effort to revive the diplomacy that stalled after the 2019 Hanoi summit.

A single Ukrainian FPV unit "Luftwaffe" destroyed an entire Russian drone workshop in the Zaporizhzhia direction.

Trump: One year ago this summer, I signed landmark legislation known as The Genius Act. I named it after myself.