Day: August 18, 2026

Not even Russia’s own propagandists can believe the propaganda anymore.Julia Davis (@JuliaDavisNews)Meanwhile in Russia: state TV host Vladimir Solovyov demanded answers and results from the Russian authorities, as he raged against an inadequate air defense and the lack of machine guns. Solovyov threatened Britain, France, Poland, Romania, and Ukraine.
youtube.com/watch?v=bwmUX8Zz…—  https://x.com/JuliaDavisNews/status/2089873152394268993

After banning opposition parties and sending their leaders to jail for 11 years, Solovyov claims Russia is too kind to dissenters and bloggers posting videos of Moscow burning.

MORE: Iran likely attacked two vessels in the Strait of Hormuz as part of its effort to consolidate its control over the waterway. United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported on August 18 that an unspecified actor fired an unspecified projectile that struck a vessel that was transiting the strait through Omani territorial waters. UKMTO separately reported on August 17 that an unspecified actor struck the Liberian-flagged Minoan Dignity with an unspecified projectile on August 15 as the vessel transited the strait through Omani waters. The attack killed one crew member. Iran has repeatedly struck vessels using Omani waters in order to coerce vessels and shipping companies to transit the strait through Iranian territorial waters. It is unclear at this time whether the Iranian attacks on commercial vessels are related to the Emirati Defense Ministry’s announcement about Iranian ballistic missile launches.Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar)Iran Update Special Report, August 18, 2026: Russia has continued to provide direct military support to Iran through weapons and weapons components transfers. NBC News reported on August 18 that Russia has transferred drone components, ammunition, and TNT explosives to Iran via the Caspian Sea as of July 2026, citing a European government document that NBC obtained and that an unspecified Western official verified.

More Key Takeaways:
Russia’s drone component transfers to Iran are indicative of the active military support that Russia has provided Iran and its drone program in recent months. Iran has reportedly used “Russian-enhanced versions” of Shahed drones and Russian targeting intelligence to attack US forces and assets during the war, according to US intelligence officials.

The Emirati Defense Ministry stated that Iran launched two ballistic missiles at the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on August 18. The Emirati Defense Ministry added that its air defenses detected one ballistic missile that fell outside Emirati territorial waters and another that landed within them. Iranian regime media denied responsibility for the attack.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq’s recently released list of preconditions for discussing militia disarmament with the Iraqi federal government indicates that Islamic Resistance in Iraq militias have no intention of disarming.

Members of the Iraqi Parliament’s Security and Defense Committee reportedly failed to reach a consensus on Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Zaydi’s request for the committee to draft a law to restrict weapons to the state. (1/2)—  https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2089866460780711973