OSINTdefender

Open Source Intelligence Monitor focused on Europe and Conflicts across the World. RT ≠ Endorsement. Want to Support my Work?

[OSINTdefender @sentdefender]

Happy Birthday to the U.S. Navy who turns 251 today. On October 13, 1775, Congress authorized the formation of the Navy.

251 years later, the Navy operates roughly 290 ships, including 11 nuclear powered aircraft carriers, dozens of submarines and well over 100 surface combatants, along with thousands of aircraft. Those ships and aircraft are deployed around the world today.

[OSINTdefender @sentdefender]

Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell provided a statement to CNN following today’s incident involving Hegseth and his advisors at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier:

“The Secretary and the entire Department have always honored—and will always honor—the sacrifices our military men and women have made to keep America safe. While commemorating this solemn day, a soldier correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum.”

[OSINTdefender @sentdefender]

A Tomb Guard from the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Regiment, “The Old Guard” was forced to verbally reprimand Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and a group of his senior advisers Wednesday after some in the group laughed and loudly talked in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington.

Video of the incident, posted by CNN, shows Hegseth standing and taking photos in front of the tomb with his wife, Jennifer, chief of staff Ricky Buria, deputy chief of staff Patrick Weaver as well as senior adviser and deputy assistant Tami Radabaugh, following a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery for Veterans Day.

[OSINTdefender @sentdefender]

The U.S. and China participated in the transfer of remains of U.S. airmen from the Second World War yesterday in Chengdu, China. The remains, likely from the Air Force’s then Air Transport Command, are likely from airmen who participated in the high risk “Hump Airlift”.

The transfer precedes an expected high level meeting between the two principal decision-makers of both nations, U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzen, China on November 19.

[OSINTdefender @sentdefender]

The Russian Foreign Ministry has announced that Russian Ambassador to the U.S., Alexander Darchiev, has "passed away suddenly" at the age of 66.

[МИД России 🇷🇺 @MID_RF]

#ПамятиДипломатов

◾️ На 67-м году жизни скоропостижно скончался Посол России в США А.Н.#Дарчиев

Ушёл из жизни выдающийся дипломат, опытный руководитель. Высочайший профессионал, блестящий американист

🕯 Светлая память о нём сохранится в наших сердцах

https://t.co/ZvSxUoFwvK

[OSINTdefender @sentdefender]

According to a release from the Yemeni Houthis, they targeted Saudi Arabia’s pumping station 11 in Yanbu. The development comes against the backdrop of ongoing reciprocal strikes between the Houthis, Saudi Arabia, and the internationally recognized government in Aden.

[OSINTdefender @sentdefender]

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has issued an update on operations against Iran in the region. The update says that nearly 4,000 ships have passed through the strait, with U.S. support, including 1.7 billion barrels of crude oil "since summer", reiterating that primary transit routes are clear of sea mines.

CENTCOM also reports that "nearly 150" ships have been redirected, with 5 noncompliant vessels disabled, in support of the U.S. naval blockade of Southern Iran, preventing an estimated $30 billion in crude oil exports.

The blockade has also been complemented by the recently established Task Force-Iron Gate (TF-IG) to "synchronize efforts to stop illicit movement of advanced weapons systems, dual-use technologies, sanctioned materials and illegal revenue streams" along Iran's land borders and Caspian Sea coastline.

[U.S. Central Command @CENTCOM]

U.S. forces continue to work around the clock keeping the Strait of Hormuz open for commercial shipping, strictly enforcing the ironclad naval blockade against Iran, and working with U.S. interagency partners to prevent the IRGC from using land routes and the Caspian Sea to move advanced weapons systems, dual-use tech, sanctioned materials, and illegal revenue streams.

[OSINTdefender @sentdefender]

Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei has said that U.S. military bases in Europe will be targeted in the event of renewed U.S. military action against Iran. In addition to this, Secretary Rezaei also vowed to target unnamed islands with a U.S. military presence as well, almost certainly referring to U.S. facilities at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

It should be noted that the U.S. is already conducting limited retaliatory strikes against Iranian targets in response to Iran’s targeting of U.S. aircraft and commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz, meaning that the aforementioned promise by Rezaei is likely referring to Iran’s response to a resumption of large-scale strikes.

[OSINTdefender @sentdefender]

Update:

[OSINTdefender @sentdefender]

Russian sources are now reporting that two Ka-52 “Alligator” Attack Helicopters and an Mi-8 Multi-Role Helicopter were accidentally downed by friendly air-defense systems and hostile action while attempting to defend against last night’s large-scale Ukrainian drone attack against the Russian commercial seaport of Ust-Luga in the Leningrad Oblast. The crew of at least one of the helicopters was killed, with the status of the other two currently unknown, in what amounts to a significant loss for the Russian Aerospace Forces.

[OSINTdefender @sentdefender]

Initial reports that at least one Russian military aircraft and its crew were lost during last night’s Ukrainian drone attack on the commercial seaport of Ust-Luga on the Baltic Sea. Fighterbomber, an account linked to the Russian Air Force, hinted at the loss with a post on Telegram, stating that the defense of St. Petersburg came at a “very, very, very high price.”

[OSINTdefender @sentdefender]

Russian sources are now reporting that two Ka-52 “Alligator” Attack Helicopters and an Mi-8 Multi-Role Helicopter were accidentally downed by friendly air-defense systems and hostile action while attempting to defend against last night’s large-scale Ukrainian drone attack against the Russian commercial seaport of Ust-Luga in the Leningrad Oblast. The crew of at least one of the helicopters was killed, with the status of the other two currently unknown, in what amounts to a significant loss for the Russian Aerospace Forces.

[OSINTdefender @sentdefender]

Source: https://t.co/ekTupKqnPP

[OSINTdefender @sentdefender]

Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick was sent a classified memo warning about Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s relationship with Alice Huang, whom U.S. intelligence officials believe is a Chinese spy, multiple sources told Axios. Commerce did not comment, and it is unclear whether Lutnick read it. The New York Times reported that Secretary of State Marco Rubio oversaw the memo, which circulated before Trump’s May 2026 trip to China.

The Times also reported that Rubio warned Trump aboard Air Force One before a stop in Anchorage, where Huang joined the delegation. Trump said Monday he did not recall seeing the intelligence saying “Certainly, it didn’t make much of an impact on me.”

Reuters reported on May 14 that Commerce cleared about 10 Chinese companies to buy Nvidia’s H200 chips, though Axios says some approvals predated the warning. Lawmakers want Huang to give closed door testimony next week.

[OSINTdefender @sentdefender]

Columns of thick black smoke are continuing to pour into the sky this morning from the ongoing fires at the Russian commercial seaport of Ust-Luga in the Leningrad Oblast, following last night’s large-scale drone attack against the port by Ukraine.

[OSINTdefender @sentdefender]

Source: https://t.co/wDJIR3fFOT

[OSINTdefender @sentdefender]

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently moved out of his home and onto a military base after Iranian threats against his life, three people with knowledge told The New York Times. U.S. officials concluded in recent weeks that Iranian plotting against current and former American officials has reached a more advanced stage, based in part on intelligence about threats to Bessent, according to the report.

Bessent has led an economic pressure campaign, Operation Economic Outcast, against Iran since August aimed at cutting off money to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which the Times says made him one of the officials Iran most wants to harm. Secretary Bessent is the latest administration official to relocate to a military base due to security concerns.

[OSINTdefender @sentdefender]

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center issued a warning after early today after receiving a report from military authorities of an incident involving a tanker within the Strait of Hormuz on an unknown date at an unknown time with the status of crew, damage to the vessel and environmental impacts also being unknown.

[OSINTdefender @sentdefender]

NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) shows multiple fires burning at and directly off the coast of the Russian commercial seaport of Ust-Luga in the Leningrad Oblast, following tonight’s drone attack by Ukraine.

[OSINTdefender @sentdefender]

Massive fires currently burning at the Russian commercial seaport of Ust-Luga in the Leningrad Oblast, following tonight’s large-scale drone attack against infrastructure targets in Northwestern Russia by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, can be seen by residents in Northern Estonia.

[OSINTdefender @sentdefender]

According to Reuters, citing sources within the industry, Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy targets has reduced Russian oil refining capacity by 30%. The news comes as Russia struggles to supply in a dynamic where U.S. President Donald J. Trump has provided Russia with sanctions waivers for the export of oil. Sources have told Reuters “that the ‌actual ⁠reduction in crude processing at Russian refineries could be up to 200,000 tons per day.”

[OSINTdefender @sentdefender]

Several port facilities are burning in the Leningrad Oblast, including at the commercial seaport in Ust-Luga, amid a major Ukrainian drone attack launched against Northwestern Russia.