Video circulating on social media appears to show a U.S. Navy Saildrone unmanned surface vessel (USV) on fire, reportedly in the Strait of Hormuz earlier today.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed that its forces targeted and destroyed the unmanned vessel near the entrance to the Strait. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has not publicly confirmed the loss, and the circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear.

Saildrone USVs are designed for persistent maritime surveillance and can carry sensors supporting maritime domain awareness, undersea detection and ocean mapping. Their ability to operate autonomously for extended periods makes them particularly useful for monitoring chokepoints and other contested maritime environments.

CNN reports that the U.S. has expanded intelligence and targeting support specifically for Saudi Arabia’s military campaign against the Iranian backed Houthis in Yemen. More than 100 U.S. military personnel are reportedly dedicated to that effort, with one U.S. official putting the number at roughly 200, operating as part of a newly established joint forces command.

The U.S. is providing intelligence sharing and geospatial targeting support, including a battlefield tool that gives Saudi officers a near real time picture of the battlespace. However, U.S. personnel are not directly participating in Saudi strikes, refueling Saudi aircraft or providing other operational support. Sources characterized the effort as an extension of existing U.S.-Saudi cooperation and training.

The expanded support comes as Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia intensify, with U.S. officials saying Iran is providing substantial support to the group. CNN reports that U.S. officials believe hundreds of IRGC personnel are currently in Yemen and are helping the Houthis develop the capability to threaten the Bab el-Mandab Strait.

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/10/politics/us-military-support-saudi-arabia-houthi-iran-yemen

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Center has issued a warning to commercial vessels operating near the Strait of Hormuz after receiving a report that two vessels were struck by unknown projectiles approximately 4 nautical miles west of Khasab, Oman, with at least one vessel reportedly catching fire.

The incident occurred near the entrance to the Strait and close to the maritime route established through Omani waters for vessels seeking to transit outside the main Iranian shipping lanes.

Upscaled airstrikes being reported against Houthi formations along the Mocha axis of advance may lend credence to previous reports that the Yemeni government/government-aligned forces withdrew from key areas to draw Houthi formations into open areas to be targeted more efficiently by CAS.
More to come.

The Houthis seized Mayun Island, also known as Perim Island, in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, according to various reports from the region.

The small volcanic island is strategically important because it sits inside the strait and divides the waterway into two shipping channels. Control of Mayun gives the Houthis a significant position from which to monitor and potentially threaten commercial vessels transiting between the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

The seizure comes just one day after the Houthis captured the strategic port city of Mocha and as their forces advance toward Dhubab on the Yemeni mainland. Together, these gains put the Houthis in a substantially stronger position around one of the world's most important maritime chokepoints.

Axios reports that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called President Trump twice Thursday and urged the U.S. to launch strikes against the Houthis as the group advanced toward the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Trump declined, and U.S. officials said the administration currently has no plans for direct military action against the Houthis.

The request marks a shift from July, when Riyadh told Washington it could handle the Houthi threat itself and Trump backed Saudi military action. Since then, the conflict has expanded, with the Houthis capturing the Red Sea port of Mokha and advancing toward the Bab al-Mandeb.

Axios reports the U.S. is instead increasing intelligence and targeting support to Saudi Arabia. About 200 U.S. personnel are reportedly providing nonkinetic support, while CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper traveled to Saudi Arabia for urgent coordination talks.

The administration is seeking to keep the Red Sea open without adding another front to a U.S. military effort already heavily focused on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.

Source: https://www.axios.com/2026/09/11/houthis-yemen-saudi-trump-mbs-strikes

Today marks 25 years since the terror attacks on 9/11 back in 2001 that took the lives of nearly 3,000 Americans. What we saw in the minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years after was a collective coming together. Neighbor helping neighbor, families helping families, and first responders and our men in women in uniform making the ultimate sacrifice. Americans helping Americans.

Lest We Forget.

CNN reports that Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline system was struck by projectiles Thursday, with U.S. officials saying pumping stations alongside the pipeline were hit and fires broke out. Satellite imagery appears to show significant fire damage at one pumping station, although it remains unclear whether the pipeline itself was damaged or how long repairs would take.

One U.S. official told CNN the attack was carried out by drones originating from Iraq, but responsibility has not been independently established. The incident comes as Iran-aligned groups are simultaneously threatening Saudi energy infrastructure and Red Sea shipping.

The pipeline has become especially important since the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed, allowing Saudi Arabia to move roughly 5 million barrels of oil per day from its eastern fields to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. At the same time, the Houthis have threatened Saudi shipping through Bab al-Mandab.

The attacks are putting pressure on both of Saudi Arabia's principal export routes as Riyadh seeks greater U.S. support against the Houthis. Reuters reports that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman asked Trump for direct U.S. military assistance Thursday, but Washington declined and instead offered intelligence and targeting support.
Source: https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/11/politics/saudi-arabian-oil-pipeline-hit-by-projectiles-triggering-fires

Following reports that Saudi Arabia’s East/West pipeline was struck by drones origination from Iraq and visible damage being recorded via commercial satellite imagery, the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Energy has announced that the pipeline has now been shut down as a precaution, with specialist teams beginning work immediately to ensure the safety of the pipeline.

According to a release from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) since the resumption of the blockade of vessels traveling to and from Iran, 99 vessels have now been redirected.

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that the drones that targeted the East-West pipeline were indeed launched from Iraq, confirming Iranian-backed non-state actor (NSA) involvement in the strikes. Notably, while the statement says that Saudi Arabia retains the right to respond to such acts, it also says that they have chosen not to respond at this time, seemingly deferring to the Iraqi government, who has dragged their feet on reigning in Iraqi Iranian-backed NSAs.

Saudi Arabia’s National Early Warning System has issued a hazard warning for the Khamis Mushait province.

Iraq’s government has moved fast to identify the origin of the attack on Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline today.

Following Iraq-based Iranian-backed militia strikes on Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline and the Saudi government deferring to the Iraqi government to handle the immediate situation in country, Iraq’s prime minister’s office has said that after an investigation, the origin of the attack was Maysan Province, Iraq. Subsequently, the commander of the Maysan Operations Command was dismissed.

The Saudi Arabian General Directorate of Civil Defense has issued a warning for potential danger in the Sharurah Governorate.

The Saudi Arabian General Directorate of Civil Defense has now said that the danger has passed in the Sharurah Governorate.

The Wall Street Journal reports that U.S. officials have linked high resolution satellite imagery obtained by Iran from Chinese entities to the July 17 Iranian missile strike on Muwaffaq al Salti Air Base in Jordan that killed three U.S. troops and wounded several others. The below video from Muwaffaq al Salti Air Base first surfaced within hours of the attack.

The officials did not identify the Chinese entities or allege that the Chinese government was directly involved. They say Iran obtained imagery both before and after the attack, and that the finding is the clearest evidence so far of Chinese support having lethal consequences for U.S. forces. China has rejected the allegations and demanded proof.

The report also says that U.S. officials are also concerned Chinese assistance could be helping Iran track American naval forces. That concern comes as Iran's ability to target moving U.S. warships has appeared to improve during recent attacks.

The Trump administration has previously sanctioned Chinese satellite companies over imagery it said could be used to target U.S. forces. The latest finding comes ahead of a planned Sept. 24 meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Source: https://www.wsj.com/world/u-s-links-chinese-satellite-imagery-to-iranian-strike-that-killed-three-troops-ca0b4be3

While in Dublin, Ireland, U.S. President Donald J. Trump told reporters that the Houthis have been in contact with his administration and urged the U.S. not to get involved, further saying that they have let the majority of ships through, save Saudi vessels.

More information about the Internationally Recognized Government (IRG)/IRG-aligned force’s offensive against the Houthis to the south, that ultimately, culminated in failure. According to CNN, citing a number of officials and sources with knowledge on the matter, the Saudis failed to embed key enablers, such as JTACs and FSOs (rightly mentioned by John Ridge) with IRG/IRG-aligned forces during their offensive. This enabled the Houthis to make considerable gains, due to the absence of Saudi airstrikes, during counteroffensive operations, that ultimately led to the capture of the key port city of Mocha and islands from which they can exercise control over the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced that 100 commercial vessels have now been redirected since the resumption of the U.S. naval blockade of Iran.

In previous updates, CENTCOM has also reported boarding two vessels to ensure compliance with blockade directives and disabling three others after they failed to comply.