U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Munro (WMSL-755) and Royal Canadian Navy HMCS Max Bernays (AOPV 432) conducted a joint boarding exercise in the Bering Sea Sept 8, the third combined sail under Operation Tundra Merlin. The operation integrates US and Canadian forces across sea, air, land, and space domains to defend North America's Arctic maritime approaches as ice recedes and foreign, namely Russian, activity in the region increases.

The Iran war has cost $43.6 billion through September 3rd, according to a Pentagon breakdown given to Congress and shared with The New York Times. Munitions account for $28.1 billion of that.

The Air Force spent $6.6 billion, the Navy $2.2 billion deploying carriers and warships, and the Army $1.6 billion. More than 50,000 troops are assigned to the mission. The figure excludes $1.5 billion in additional costs being requested separately and repair costs for damaged facilities, like the Navy's base in Manama, Bahrain, which officials say could add tens of billions more.

The number tracks with some earlier estimates. The Congressional Budget Office put the cost at $38 billion through August 1st, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth testified in July it had reached $37.5 billion.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/18/us/politics/iran-war-cost-pentagon.html

The State Department has notified Congress of a possible $2.68 billion Foreign Military Sale to Ukraine for air defense upgrades, according to a State Department announcement Friday. The package still needs to clear the standard congressional review process before it can proceed.

The proposed sale includes S-300 clone missiles, GAM-67 missiles, extended range laser guided rocket systems, transporter erector launchers, counter drone radars, mobile launch system upgrades, and related maintenance, logistics, and engineering support.

Ukraine would pay using a mix of European contributions and U.S. Foreign Military Financing funds appropriated under the previous administration. That FMF funding would then count as a US capital contribution to the Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund through a 1:1 reimbursement arrangement.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) commander Admiral Brad Cooper provided an update today saying that U.S. forces have facilitated the transit of more than 1 billion barrels of crude oil out of the Strait of Hormuz in "the last couple of months." Cooper said the main shipping lanes have been cleared of mines and more than 2,000 vessels have transited under U.S. protection. At the same time, Iran has exported zero barrels of crude oil since the blockade was reinstated.

According to the U.S. Navy, the Nimitz class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) arrived in Guam yesterday for a logistics stop after more than 300 days deployed. From Guam, it will take roughly 14 days to reach the U.S. west coast and its home port of Naval Base San Diego, California. That puts Lincoln within 10 days of breaking the post-Vietnam record for the longest carrier deployment, a mark of 326 days set by the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78).

Following U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s announcement that Politico, CNN, and MSNOW will be banned from the White House, MSNOW’s White House Correspondent Akayla Gardner and her photographer were denied access to the White House, with Gardner saying that Secret Service officers told her that her badge was invalid.

CNN reporter @betsy_klein has now also had her press credentials taken and has been barred from the White House, following U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s announcement that CNN, Politico, and MSNOW, of which CNN and MSNOW have now been barred, will be banned from the White House.

France has already begun carrying out covert conventional military responses against Russian hybrid attacks in Europe, amid growing concern across the continent of direct hostile action against NATO in the near future by Russia, with a French military source telling the French newspaper Le Monde: “It’s already the case,” when asked if Paris could respond militarily, without public knowledge, against Russia.

After a widespread State Department alert for the Middle East, U.S. President Donald J. Trump is set to return early from Camp David, citing the potential for significant escalation in the region due to the Houthi’s attacks against Saudi Arabia, the president will return early from Camp David.

According to a release from U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), at the direction of SOUTHCOM, Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM) conducted a strike on a go-fast boat traveling along k own narco-trafficking routes in the Caribbean, killing all the individuals on board.

Fires are visible in multiple locations at the Kapotnya oil refinery in Moscow this morning (local time). Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces posted a fire emoji on X, a signal they have used before to seemingly imply responsibility without making an official claim.

No official confirmation has been issued by Ukrainian or Russian authorities.

The Kapotnya refinery, Moscow's largest, supplies roughly 35 to 40 percent of the capital's fuel market. It has been struck repeatedly since June 2026, including two major attacks within days of each other that damaged its primary crude processing units. Industry estimates put full repairs at up to a billion dollars, with some analysts projecting the facility may not be fully restored until 2027.

The extent to which the refinery is damaged is still being assessed.

Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' joint military command, issued a warning aimed at the U.S. and regional countries. The statement claims the U.S. has been given a "green light" by unnamed regional countries at a joint meeting in Europe to resume action against Iran. It warns that any U.S. "mistake" against Iran will result in continuous, effective, and painful attacks on American bases and interests in the region, without restriction. The statement also warns regional countries aligning with what it calls the "Great Satan's aggression" against Iran that they will be treated as partners in that aggression and should not expect restraint from Iran's armed forces.

President Donald J. Trump announced that he has agreed to convert the planned 250 foot Triumphal Arch at Memorial Circle, near Arlington Memorial Bridge, into what he calls a "top grade Military Complex." President Trump said the change was made at the request of the U.S. military for national security purposes. He said the facility will store and rapidly deploy large numbers of drones and snipers on the roof and plaza areas, along with large quantities of sniper ammunition.

Traders on Polymarket now favor Flávio Bolsonaro to win Brazil's presidency, pricing him at 58% to Lula da Silva's 42% in a sharp reversal from just weeks ago, when Lula was above 60%.

The lines crossed for the first time around September 8-9, then broke decisively toward Flávio. He's running with his father Jair Bolsonaro's backing after Jair's coup-plot conviction and arrest last year. A September 10 poll had the two essentially tied in a runoff.

Volume on the market has topped $151M. Election day is October 4.

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has announced nighttime restrictions along the border between Estonia and Russia, amid concerns of Russian military action against the Baltics, restricting the movement of people and vehicles outside towns and villages within five kilometers of the border of the Leningrad Oblast from September 16-26.

The Estonian Ministry of the Interior has stated that they are aware of Russia’s recent decision to temporarily restrict movement near the border with Estonia, adding that the situation remains calm and they are continuing to closely monitor the situation with Russia.