🇦🇪🇮🇷⚡️- Iran targeted a UAE state owned oil tanker earlier today in the Strait of Hormuz.

"The United Arab Emirates has strongly condemned and denounced the hostile Iranian attack involving a missile that targeted a carrier affiliated with ADNOC [Abu Dhabi National Oil Company] as it transited through the Strait of Hormuz, with no injuries reported." - UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

🇺🇸🇨🇺⚡️- "The Trump administration has been looking for a current or former Cuban official who could be persuaded to take over the government in Havana as the United States ratchets up its pressure campaign, according to current and former U.S. officials.

The plan is more regime alteration than regime change.

The Trump administration has pressed its spy agencies to identify someone in the mold of Delcy Rodríguez, who became Venezuela’s interim president after U.S. forces captured the previous leader, Nicolás Maduro, in January.

Some administration officials believe that a similarly pragmatic leader can be found in Cuba." - The New York Times.

🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡️- "A fleet of at least 56 visually identified tankers is currently operating in digital darkness to support oil exports from Arab nations neighboring Iran. These vessels transit the Strait of Hormuz to conduct covert ship-to-ship (STS) transfers in the Gulf of Oman; helping ensure that you can still afford to enjoy your summer holiday, even if it is only a day trip." - TankerTrackers

🇺🇸⚡️- Todd Blanche has been approved by the US Senate to become Attorney General of the United States, taking the spot of Pam Bondi.

🇹🇷🇷🇺🇺🇦⚡️- "Turkey is restricting commercial ship traffic into the Black Sea, according to people familiar with the matter, following growing concern from the government after an uptick in Russian and Ukrainian attacks on vessels in the area.

The Directorate General of Coastal Safety has told multiple ships bound for Russia’s Novorossiysk – a key oil and grain export hub – that it isn’t currently issuing transit permits for such voyages or needs more time to review applications via the Dardanelles Strait, the people said." - Bloomberg.

🇺🇸🇷🇺⚡️- The US Senate has passed legislation, the "Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026,", for additional sanctions on Russia today, and will be put through the House of Representatives for a vote in the coming weeks.

The sanctions are aimed at Russian officials, as well as giving President Trump the authority to apply tariffs of up to 100% on countries that are within the top five consumers of Russian energy products, or assisting Russia with sanctions evasion.

🇷🇺🇨🇳⚡️- "Russia's state nuclear giant Rosatom, operator of the Northern Sea Route ​via the Arctic, said on Friday ‌it had issued permits for seven Chinese transit vessels to sail to Europe via the ​NSR.

"Unlike previous container ​shipments via the Northern Sea Route, which were largely experimental or one-off in nature, the 2026 ​programme provides for a fully-fledged regular ​service with vessels sailing every week throughout the navigation ‌season." ⁠Likhachev said in a statement.

Likhachev said the route ​was becoming a transport artery of ​global ⁠significance as the situation in the Persian Gulf deteriorated - a reference to the ⁠Strait ​of Hormuz situation - and as ​logistical and political uncertainty grew." - Reuters.

🇮🇷🇴🇲⚡- Iran struck a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. The projectile caused a fire which has since been extinguished. UKMTO reports the ship and crew are safe.

🇾🇪⚡- Explosions heard in Ma'rib, Presidential Leadership Council controlled central Yemen.

Ansarullah drone attack currently underway against the region.

🇮🇷🇴🇲⚡- Without directly blaming Tehran, Oman has for the first time publicly condemned the "repeated attacks on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Such incidents violate international law, threaten maritime safety, and risk undermining regional security and stability."

🇮🇷🇮🇱⚡- "Israel is preparing for the possibility of unilaterally attacking Iran," - Israeli Channel 13.

🇺🇸🇵🇸🇮🇱⚡- "The United States is not leaving us many options and is pushing us towards a problem in Gaza," - An Israeli official tells Israeli Channel 12.

Note, Washington is pushing for a two-week ceasefire to facilitate the phased disarmament of Hamas, a proposal the group has agreed to in principle. Hamas, however, insists that any such arrangement must be preceded by a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an end to targeted assassinations. Under the proposed initial two-week phase, at least 150-500 Moroccan troops, serving as part of the International Stabilization Forces, ISF, would be deployed on a trial basis to help enforce the authority of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, NCAG. The final approval of the entry of the ISF rests with Tel Aviv–which the Israeli government has yet to approve.

🇵🇸🇮🇱⚡- "Israel has completely halted attacks in the Gaza Strip and is committed to the ceasefire, with army forces positioned within the original Yellow Line (53% of the area), contradicting statements by the Israeli government ministers," - Galei Tzahal, IDF Radio.

🇺🇸🇵🇸🇮🇱⚡- "The security establishment is discussing localized withdrawals from Gaza under US pressure for the entry of an international force.

Israeli sources warn of the small numbers of the force (most notably 500 Moroccan soldiers) and consider it incapable of replacing the Israeli army," - Israeli Channel 12.

🇹🇷🇷🇺🇺🇦⚡- "Turkey is restricting commercial ship traffic entering the Black Sea via the Dardanelles Strait following heightened security concerns over recent attacks on vessels in the region.

The Directorate General of Coastal Safety has held back transit permits or delayed application reviews for multiple vessels bound for Russia’s key oil and grain export hub of Novorossiysk, as well as some ships heading to Ukraine.

Turkish authorities have offered no official explanation for the move, which effectively curbs maritime traffic into the Black Sea amid an escalation in drone attacks against commercial shipping.

Vessels bound for Turkish or Bulgarian ports continued to pass north through the Dardanelles unimpeded," - Bloomberg.