The Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier has transited southbound through the Suez Canal to deploy to the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in preparation for the previously announced UK-France Strait of Hormuz mission, per the French Defense Ministry.
๐คก21โค20๐ฅฑ6๐3๐คฃ2๐1
According to Iranian state-backed media outlets, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attended a meeting where Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei was in attendance. Per the report, the update was a โmedical accountโ of the supreme leader, but notably, no medical information was given.
๐คก25๐6๐ฅ3๐ฉ2๐ป1
Two former Chinese defense ministers, Wei Fenghe & Li Shangfu, were both sentenced to death with a 2-year reprieve, following their arrest for bribery and giving bribes. After the 2-year reprieve, their sentences are set to be dropped down to life imprisonment with no possibility for parole. This development is the latest in a string of purges, directed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, within the Chinaโs top military and civilian command structure.
๐17๐คทโโ9๐ฅ5๐ฑ3๐ค1
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced that U.S. forces disabled an Iranian-flagged crude oil tanker, the motor tanker Hasna, as it attempted to breach the blockade and proceed to an Iranian port. Following repeated warnings issued to the Hasna by U.S. forces, a U.S. Navy F/A-18E/F "Super Hornet" launched from the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) and utilized its 20mm gun to disable the ship's rudder.
๐ฅ27๐5โก4๐ฅฑ2๐ซก1
This media is not supported in your browser
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived at the Vatican today to meet with Pope Leo XIV, amidst the tense rhetoric exchanged by both sides, primarily over the conflict in the Middle East. According to Secretary Rubio, the meeting doesnโt have to do with the aforementioned dynamic, noting that increased cooperation, like past U.S. aid to Cuba, via the Church, are such dynamics they would like to further.
๐คก19๐12โค3๐3๐ฅฑ2๐ฅ1๐ค1
Reports and maritime experts are now reporting that the United Arab Emirates has moved several tankers through the Strait of Hormuz with their transponders off during both the U.S. and Iranian blockades of the strait. Maritime trade firms assess that such movements may undercut previously reported export volumes.
๐36โค1๐ค1
According to Reuters, citing a report by the Chinese media outlet Ciaxin, a Chinese large refined-products tanker was struck by an Iranian projectile off the United Arab Emirates Al Jeer port this past Monday. Per a source from the owner of the vessel, this is the first time a Chinese vessel was struck by Iranian fires since the conflict began. The vessel was reportedly marked โChinese owner and crewโ and was still targeted.
๐คฃ50๐7๐ฅด4๐คฌ1
This media is not supported in your browser
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
Iranian state-backed media has released footage of the MSC Francesca, which was interdicted and taken back to Iran by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps Navy (IRGC-N) two weeks ago.
๐21๐ฉ5๐คก4โค3๐ค1๐ณ1
This media is not supported in your browser
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
U.S. President Donald J. Trump received Brazilian President Luiz Inรกcio Lula da Silva to the White House today. The two leaders are set to discuss the current U.S. tariffs regime, cooperation on rare earth metals, and cooperation on combating organized crime.
๐คฎ24๐คก11๐ฅฑ5๐ฅ4โค2๐2๐ฑ1๐ฉ1๐ฅด1
This media is not supported in your browser
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
The press conference that was scheduled for 11:15 ET before the bilateral meeting between U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Brazilian President Luiz Inรกcio Lula da Silva and was subsequently postponed until after the two leaders spoke has now been cancelled altogether. This video from @KellieMeyerNews shows Brazilian press departing the White House following the announcement.
๐คฃ20๐ค7๐คก7๐คทโโ1
Per the same Wall Street Journal report on the opening of Saudi and Kuwaiti bases for use by U.S. forces, the Trump administration is now looking to restart Project Freedom, the operation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as soon as this week. The restriction of the use of these bases hampered the U.S.โs ability to provide adequate air support for naval and commercial vessels looking to transit the strait.
๐29๐คก11โค3โก1๐ฅ1๐1๐1๐1