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A few minutes after anti-ship missiles were launched towards the Strait of Hormuz, a violent explosion was heard near Sirik. Locals in the area reported that the blast was so powerful that the ground shook, according to unconfirmed reports, an Iranian ASM launcher was targeted by U.S. airstrikes. It is now clear that the U.S. military has been ordered to conduct limited attacks against IRGC targets.

Reports of several anti-ship cruise missile launches from Kuhestak, southern Iran, targeting commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Notably, the launches took place near residential areas, as the explosions were heard very loudly.

Flying the CENTCOM Commander in a helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz is exactly the kind of thing you do to make American voters believe that you actually control the Strait. However, it is now clear to everyone that the number of ships being struck is steadily increasing, and managing to fly a helicopter over the Strait in no way implies control over the passage of vessels through it.

Highly unusual explosions have been reported near Tabriz, in northwestern Iran. The cause has not yet been confirmed, possibilities include unexploded ordnance (UXO) or a SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses) operation. The second option, while less likely, remains a possibility, as it appears that the U.S. military may have been authorized to conduct limited airstrikes against small targets in Iran over the past few days. In fact, last week, two IRGC anti-ship missile launchers were reportedly struck near Sirik, while this morning a U.S. "Lucas" kamikaze drone was shot down over Bandar Abbas, possibly en route to a target in southern Iran.

Iraqi authorities are investigating suspected Israeli airstrikes on two weapons depots near Baghdad that took place last week. The two targeted depots housed Chinese-made air defense systems, likely advanced MANPADS, that had recently been transferred from Iran to Tehran-aligned militias. Notably, during that period, there was intense Israeli Air Force activity over Syria and Iraq, primarily involving probing operations near Iranian airspace, however, it is possible that some fighter jets also carried out airstrikes in Iraq during these sorties. The reason for targeting air defense systems is likely to prevent Iran-affiliated militias from posing a threat to IAF aircraft, a precaution that is particularly relevant given that, in the event of an attack on Iran, they would frequently fly through Iraqi airspace.

The amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD-8) can be seen on Sentinel-2 satellite imagery, 25/10/2026. It is currently sailing towards Japan, where it will dock at Yokosuka for a port visit, further delaying its arrival in the Middle East. Coordinates: 31.2738, 140.7643

A few hours ago, a U.S. LUCAS kamikaze drone was shot down over Bandar Abbas, southern Iran. It is likely that the drone did not carry a warhead, but was in fact merely a dummy target intended to map Iranian air defenses.

The endgame of Operation Epic Fury is approaching. Several signs point toward an imminent resumption of war in the Middle East: Israeli Air Force operations, IRGC missile tests, U.S. Navy ship movements, embassy alerts, and much more. Full article at: substack.com/@molowarmonitor

It is becoming increasingly difficult to tell whether an attack against Iran will take place before or after the American midterm elections. According to the WSJ, President Trump is leaning toward launching another major military operation against Iran, although no final decision has been made. Multiple U.S. officials told WSJ that the U.S. has evacuated personnel from military bases in the Middle East in preparations for a new escalation. Furthermore, the Pentagon has presented Trump with several military options, including strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, critical infrastructure such as bridges, and potential amphibious assaults on Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf.

A U.S. C-17A Globemaster III headed for the Middle East is squawking 7700 emergency code over Turkey. The reason is currently unknown, however, the cargo aircraft is likely flying towards Incirlick Aribase, where it will land shortly.

Footage shows a big fire at an industrial facility on the Riyadh-Dammam highway, Saudi Arabia. The Houthis launched a combined drone and missile attack a short while ago.

Milan is bracing for another day of protests and urban unrest. The video shows barricades set up by the city's major shops to protect themselves against attempted looting. The Italian government has also deployed an additional 500 soldiers to protect the city.

According to a document released by Axios, CIA Director John Ratcliffe warned Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Iran has "substantially increased efforts to target U.S. personnel." Furthermore, there is clear intelligence and analysis regarding Iranian efforts to target U.S. government officials in the Middle East.

About 3 hours ago, an explosion was reported in Bandar Lengeh, southern Iran, following the launch of an anti-ship missile toward the Strait of Hormuz. However, according to unconfirmed sources, the launcher used in the attack was targeted by CENTCOM forces. Two days ago, similar reports circulated regarding a U.S. military strike on an Iranian missile launcher, however, no confirmation has been provided by either Iranian media or CENTCOM. If these reports are true, it would signify a shift in strategy by U.S. officials, who may have authorized isolated airstrikes to slightly weaken the IRGC ahead of a larger-scale offensive against Iran.