All this has driven Brent crude to $108, with forecasts pointing toward $120 shortly…
Unbelievable admission by US Acting Navy Secretary: The Iranians crushed us in Bahrain, we had nowhere to dock the USS Abraham Lincoln
The Acting US Secretary of the Navy, Hang Cao, admitted that Iranian forces "caused hell and panic" at the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, marking an officially unprecedented admission that the strategically critical US naval base in the Persian Gulf was destroyed by Iran's retaliatory strikes. Simultaneously, Hang Cao, US Secretary of the Navy, revealed that the scale of destruction was such that the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln had nowhere to dock… While open-source intelligence had long shown extensive damage to the 5th Fleet base in Bahrain, this marks the first time the US side officially acknowledges the scale of destruction at the largest US naval base in Western Asia. The Pentagon correspondent for Fox News described it as a "quite astonishing admission," noting that no senior US official had previously stated so much, let alone officially. The acting secretary stated that the destruction left the crew of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln "with no space to dock at the naval station, which has been completely destroyed." Asked whether the US Navy would need to return to Bahrain to resume operations… Hang Cao replied only that "I have a working group looking at scenarios." The top US Navy officer, Admiral Daryl Cottle, stated in early September 2026 that they would not be returning to the base in Bahrain "any time soon."
The USS Abraham Lincoln spent nearly 9 months at sea, including roughly 200 days in a combat zone, before making its first port call in Thailand amid reports of heavy damage to the aircraft carrier and low morale among its 5,000 sailors. Supply lines have been stretched as far as Diego Garcia, because the home port of the Fifth Fleet can no longer be used. This admission reveals that the US falsely reported that Iranian attacks on the base did not "significantly affect operations and that the 5th Fleet is operational." Satellite imagery and subsequent reports painted a different picture: the 5th Fleet headquarters building was completely destroyed, at least 12 other structures and two satellite communications terminals were struck, and repair estimates rose into hundreds of millions of dollars. Families were evacuated. Approximately 1,500 sailors were pulled out of Bahrain after the initial days of the war.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced repeated missile and drone attacks on the Fifth Fleet complex at Mina Salman and related facilities, stating that targets included command buildings, air defense systems, drone storage, support equipment, and fuel tanks. Contrary to US claims that Iran's offensive capabilities had been nearly destroyed, the reality is now being realized even across American news media. Severe Iranian retaliation triggers US plans to withdraw from Western Asia. The US military is considering reducing its presence in Western Asia, following months of Iranian missile and drone strikes that caused severe damage to American bases, according to a news report. Analysts have highlighted a pattern in which Iranian strategic strikes are initially downplayed by the US and subsequently admitted only weeks or months later, leaving a prolonged false impression that the US is winning. The 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain has for decades served as the nerve center for US naval operations in the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, and the broader region.
Tremendous development - Yemeni forces capture al-Ardi port in Bab al-Mandab
The Yemeni armed forces, the Houthis, took control of the critical al-Ardi port area in Bab al-Mandab on the Red Sea. Thus, Yemen gains control of the coastline facing the strategic Bab al-Mandab strait. This could allow forces fighting against Saudi-backed mercenaries to exert greater influence over maritime traffic between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The fall of al-Ardi in Bab al-Mandab marks the culmination of a rapid and highly successful military campaign along Yemen's western coast against mercenary groups backed by Saudi Arabia. Capturing the strait area of al-Ardi in Bab al-Mandab, which in Arabic means "Gate of Tears = Bab al-Mandab," gives the Yemeni government unprecedented leverage over maritime traffic entering and exiting the Red Sea.
This development dramatically enhances Yemen's role in its ongoing war with the Saudi-led coalition and reinforces the doctrine of "siege for siege," which aims to counter the decade-long blockade imposed on Yemen by Saudi Arabia. This strategic success forms part of a broader, multi-front offensive by the Yemeni Armed Forces, which has led to the collapse of Saudi-backed defensive positions along the western coast. In recent days, Yemeni troops have secured a series of major victories, capturing the critical areas of Hays and al-Kawka, seizing the coastal town of Yachtul, and advancing toward the outskirts of the strategic port of Mocha. Meanwhile, the Yemeni Armed Forces reported a severe escalation in Saudi aerial bombardments, revealing that Saudi Arabia launched 64 airstrikes in a single 24-hour period. According to military spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree, the intense bombing campaign was carried out by Saudi F-15 and Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft operating from King Fahd Air Base and King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait. Despite the overwhelming volume of airstrikes, Yemeni air defense units achieved significant tactical success on the ground. Brigadier General Yahya Saree stated that the armed forces successfully intercepted and repelled an advancing enemy battle formation by deploying a barrage of locally manufactured surface-to-air missiles.
Reuters: Average US gasoline price surpasses $6 for the first time
The average price of gasoline in the United States has surpassed $6 per gallon for the first time.
Saudi Arabia's most strategic oil pipeline in flames
Satellite imagery shows a massive fire along Saudi Arabia's most strategic oil pipeline. According to Iranian news agency Tasnim, unofficial sources report a potential missile attack or drone strike on one of Saudi Arabia's primary oil transit routes. Following the attack, a large fire broke out near the city of Medina, while thick smoke became visible in the region's skyline. Satellite images and data show that a massive thermal hotspot remained active in the area for several hours. Its intensity exceeded 70 megawatts at certain points, while total recorded thermal energy was reported to have surpassed 60 megawatts. Some analyses based on satellite data estimate that this situation may have been caused by damage to a high-pressure section of the transmission pipeline, resulting in a significant oil spill. Saudi Arabia's East–West Crude Oil Pipeline, also known as Petroline, stretches from Abqaiq in the east of the country to Yanbu on the Red Sea coast. The pipeline allows Saudi Arabia to transfer a portion of its crude destined for export without passing through the maritime routes of the Persian Gulf.
Incident involving two vessels near Oman - One ship catches fire
A report of an incident involving two vessels was received 4 nautical miles west of Khasab, in the Sultanate of Oman. Specifically, a fire broke out on one of the ships, while the status of the other vessel remains unknown, after both ships were hit by projectiles.
Rutte (NATO): Mine clearance in Hormuz is not our concern
NATO Secretary General Rutte stated that the alliance is not conducting mine clearance operations in the Strait of Hormuz, but is monitoring the situation closely. The NATO Secretary General stated: "This issue does not concern us. Of course, we are watching what is happening, and NATO member states are coordinating closely with one another." Regarding efforts by France and European countries to maintain a presence in the Strait of Hormuz, he said: "There is an important initiative by France and Britain. Certain countries, such as Latvia, Lithuania, and others, are active. They are not putting their forces at risk, but are helping in the area of mine clearance. All these actions are taking place in cooperation with the United States. It is not a NATO mission, but we are watching the situation and assisting where we can."
Channel 13: Iran planning a massive attack against Israel… - Explosion with 1.1 tons of explosives in Lebanon
A US official claimed: Iran is planning a massive attack against Israel, Channel 13 reported… Iran will soon strike Israel with ballistic missiles, the US official stated... The Israeli military and state broadcaster announced the destruction of underground infrastructure and tunnels attributed to Hezbollah in the Ali al-Taher heights in southern Lebanon, using more than 1.1 tons of explosives.
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