Explosions Rock Middle East: Israel, Syria, and Iran Under Fire

"An attack in Israel occurred overnight. Additionally, explosions were also heard in Iraq and in Syria, targeting facilities associated with Bashar Al-Assad's regime army.

In Iran, early morning explosions were reported. It was noted that air defenses were activated to counter multiple drones, primarily in the Isfahan region, where military and nuclear facilities are situated." MS

US House approves long-awaited $61 billion Ukraine aid package

"The US House of Representatives has approved the vital bill to provide Ukraine with military aid. 311 members of the House of Representatives voted in Favour of the bill, while 112 voted against it. Members of the House also began waving Ukrainian flags. House Speaker Mike Johnson introduced the package of bills that includes support for Ukraine providing about US$61 billion in aid to Ukraine and its allies." Pravada

NASA warns China may try to take over the Moon

"NASA has warned that China may attempt to take over parts of the

Moon within just a few years.

The space agency’s administrator Bill Nelson said he fears the country’s civilian programs launched in the name of science could actually be secret military operations.
Speaking before a House Appropriations Committee to argue why Nasa needed a $25.4 billion budget for 2025, Mr Nelson said: ‘China has made extraordinary strides, especially in the last 10 years, but they are very, very secretive." METRO

Russia Downs 2 Ukrainian Balloons Over Moscow

"Russian air defenses shot down two Ukrainian-launched air balloons over the Moscow and Tula regions." Sputnik

Over 2,100 people forced to evacuate after massive volcanic eruption

"More than 2,100 people were evacuated on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia after Mount Ruang began erupting.
Dangerous ash, falling rocks, hot volcanic clouds and the possibility of a tsunami is causing a risk for those living near the active volcano, AP reports.
Officials fear that part of the volcano could collapse into the sea and trigger a tsunami which happened after one eruption in 1871." MS

Ukraine reports 91 tactical engagements with Russian invasion forces

"91 combat clashes were recorded along the line of contact in Ukraine, with the largest number of assaults repelled in the Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Novopavlivka axes.

Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: the adversary maintains its military presence near the border with Ukraine, going for sabotage missions and shelling Ukrainian settlements from across the border. More than 20 settlements, including Senkivka, Leonivka, Yanzhulivka (Chernihiv region), Pozhnia, Kliusy, Pokrovka, and Popivka (Sumy region) came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Kupiansk axis: the adversary ran no offensive missions. However, the enemy launched an air strike in the vicinity of Synkivka (Kharkiv region). The invaders fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Stepova Novoselivka, Ivanivka, Kotlyarivka (Kharkiv region).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian forces repelled nine attacks in the vicinity of Terny (Donetsk region), where the enemy attempted to breach Ukrainian defenses. The invaders launched an air strike near Novosadove and Yampolivka (Donetsk region). The enemy fired artillery and mortars at a dozen settlements, including Nevske (Luhansk region), Terny, and Torske (Donetsk region).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 25 assaults in the vicinities of Bilohorivka (Luhansk region), Verkhniokamianske, Spirne, Klishchiivka, Ivanivske, and Novyi (Donetsk region), where the adversary attempted to improve their tactical position. The invaders launched airstrikes in the vicinities of Chasiv Yar and New York (Donetsk region). More than 10 settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Hryhorivka, Kalynivka, and Chasiv Yar (Donetsk region).
Avdiivka axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 18 Russian attacks near Semenivka, Ocheretyne, Novokalynove, Berdychi, Umanske, abd Yasnobrodivka (Donetsk region), where the enemy, enjoying air support, made attempts to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their positions. The adversary launched airstrikes in the vicinities of Novobakhmutivka, Oleksandropil, Soloviove, and Novooleksandrivka (Donetsk region). The invaders fired artillery and mortars at around 10 settlements, including Semenivka, Ocheretyne, Novobakhmutivka, and Netailove (Donetsk region).
Novopavlivka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back the enemy near Heorhiivka, Novomykhailivka, Vodiane, and Urozhaine (Donetsk region), where the invaders, with air support, undertook 17 attempts to breach Ukrainian defense lines. The adversary launched airstrikes in the vicinities of Krasnohorivka, Shakhtarske, and Velyka Novosilka (Donetsk region). The enemy fired artillery and mortars at a dozen settlements, including Paraskoviivka, Kostiantynivka, and Vuhledar (Donetsk region).
Orikhiv axis: the enemy, with air support, launched an attack on positions of Ukrainian defenders in the vicinity of Staromaiorske (Donetsk region). The invaders launched airstrikes near Mala Tokmachka and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia region). Around 20 settlements, including Stepove, Shcherbaky, and Piatykhatky (Zaporizhzhia region), came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Kherson axis: the enemy does not abandon its intention to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their bridgeheads on the left bank of the Dnipro. Using air support, the enemy executed three unsuccessful assaults on the Ukrainian positions near Krynky (Kherson region). The invaders fired artillery and mortars at around 20 settlements, including Tiahynka, Ivanivka, Novotiahynka, Poniativka, Sadove, Olhivka, Mykolaivka, and Veletenske (Kherson region), as well as the city of Kherson.
During the day, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on nine Russian manpower clusters." Ukrin

Ukraine Strikes at Heart of Russia With Massive Drone Attack

"Energy infrastructure within Russian territory has again been hit by Ukrainian-launched drones.....at least three electrical substations and a fuel storage base caught fire after they were hit, according to a Ukrainian military source with video footage posted to social media showing the aftermath of the strikes. The Russian Defense Ministry said its air defenses had shot down 50 Ukrainian drones over eight regions, including Kursk, Moscow, Tula and Ryazan oblasts. Two people were reportedly killed from drone debris in the Belgorod region." Newsweek

Dubai’s Desert Deluge: Satellite Snaps Unusual Flooding Fiasco

"Dubai has been hit with torrential rain that flooded the desert city – submerging roads and vehicles and disrupting flights. More than 250 mm of precipitation was said to have fallen across the United Arab Emirates in less than 24 hours. This Copernicus Sentinel-2 image, captured on April 17, is a false-color composite that highlights flooded areas in turquoise. Red patches in the image indicate vegetation." SciTechDaily