Pentagon Chief Extends Presence of Two Carrier Strike Groups in Middle East

"US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has confirmed to Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant the decision to extend the presence of two carrier strike groups in the Middle East." Sputnik

Infrastructure facility is damaged in Lutsk as result of missile strike

"In Lutsk, an infrastructure facility was damaged as a result of a Russian attack, and one person was killed." Ukrin

Moscow charges CNN journalist with illegal border crossing

"Russian authorities have charged CNN's chief international security correspondent with illegally crossing the state border, after he reported from the Ukrainian-held town of Sudzha. Nick Paton Walsh was part of a team of Western reporters who arrived in Sudzha at the invitation of the Ukrainian government. They traveled in an armored convoy with Ukrainian soldiers, filmed damaged buildings in the center of the community and spoke to Russian civilians, some of whom were taking refuge in a shelter." RT

Red Sea Crisis: Footage Captures Suezmax Tanker Explosion After Houthi Missile Strike As West Fails To Secure Chokepoint

"The latest failure by the West comes after a missile attack bombarded Greek-flagged oil tanker MV Sounion about 77 nautical miles west of the Yemeni port of Hodeidah, forcing at least one EU warship to rescue the crew of the Suezmax tanker—the largest type of oil tanker capable of transiting the Suez Canal. EUNAVFOR ASPIDES, the European Union's military operation committed to ensuring freedom of navigation and maritime security in the Red Sea, warned Sounion was set on fire and carrying 150,000 tons of crude and now "represents a navigational and environmental hazard." ZH

Israel Launches Preemptive Strike on Hezbollah

"The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that it had launched a preemptive strike on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon to thwart a major imminent attack by the Iran-backed terror group." Breitbart

160 combat clashes on front lines in past day

"160 combat engagements were recorded on the front lines in Ukraine. Fighting was raging in ten sectors, with the situation remaining most tense in the Pokrovsk direction.
The Russian forces launched air strikes on the areas of Svesa, Pervomaiske, Druzhba, Katerynivka, Yunakivka, Kindrativka and Velyka Pysarivka in the Sumy region, Hoptivka, Kozacha Lopan and Petropavlivka in the Kharkiv region, Chasiv Yar, Dyliivka, Shcherbynivka, Zalizne, Druzhba, Toretsk, Oleksandro-Shultyne, Memryk, Oleksandropil, Myrnohrad, Vozdvyzhenka, Dolyna, Vuhledar, Kostiantynivka, Rozdolne and Velyka Novosilka in the Donetsk region, Lobkove, Piatykhatky and Novoandriivka in the Zaporizhzhia region, and Novotiahynka, Burhunka, Tomaryne and Zmiivka in the Kherson region.

In the Kharkiv sector, three battles were raging near Hlyboke and Vovchansk.
In the Kupiansk sector, Russian troops attacked 14 times. Ukrainian defenders repelled assaults near Novoselivka, Stelmakhivka, Synkivka and Hlushkivka.
In the Lyman sector, 14 combat clashes took place near Druzheliubivka, Makiivka, Novosadove, Nevske and Dibrova.
In the Siversk sector, nine combat engagements took place. Ukrainian defenders repelled assaults near Verkhniokamianske, Bilohorivka, Vyimka and Spirne.
In the Kramatorsk sector, the Russian army attacked 19 times near Stupochky, Chasiv Yar, Kalynivka, Hryhorivka and Predtechyne.
In the Toretsk sector, there were 14 attacks near Nelipivka, Toretsk, New York and Dyliivka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled 58 assault attacks, particularly in the areas of Vozdvyzhenka, Kalynove, Zelene Pole, Myroliubivka, Hrodivka, Ptyche and Novohrodivka. Russian troops were most active near Novohrodivka and Kalynove.
In the Kurakhove sector, Ukrainian troops thwarted 18 enemy attacks near Karlivka, Heorhiivka, Mykhailivka, Krasnohorivka and Kostiantynivka.
In the Vremivka sector, the Russian army attempted to advance eight times toward Vodiane, Vuhledar and Katerynivka, but failed to achieve any success.
In the Orikhiv sector, there were three combat engagements near Novoandriivka and Shcherbaky.
The situation in the Huliaipole and Dnipro River sectors have not changed significantly.
In the Volyn and Polissia sectors, no signs of enemy offensive groups were recorded.
On the border with the Chernihiv and Sumy regions, Russia maintains a military presence. The invaders fired mortars and artillery at settlements from its territory." Ukrin

Ukraine’s Navy destroyed a ferry

 "Ukraine’s Navy confirmed that it had destroyed a ferry in the Russian port of Kavkaz that was used to deliver fuel and weapons to occupied Crimea." AJ

Detonation of Russian ammo warehouse in Voronezh Oblast

"Ukrainian intelligence operatives hit an enemy ammunition depot near Ostrogozhsk in Voronezh Oblast. A warehouse used by the Russian Western military group in Voronezh contained over 5,000 tons of ammunition, including artillery shells, tank rounds, small arms cartridges, and surface-to-air missiles, according to Ukrainian intelligence." NV

RFK Jr. blames Biden for Ukraine conflict

"Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has accused US President Joe Biden of disrupting peace negotiations

between Russia and Ukraine in 2022, because Washington “wanted the war.”
Kennedy made the allegation on Friday during a speech in Arizona, where he announced the suspension of his third-party campaign for the White House in the swing state and endorsed Republican Donald Trump.
According to Kennedy, Washington had deliberately drawn Moscow into the Ukraine war with the objective of regime change in Russia." RT

Telegram founder Durov arrested by French police

"The Russian founder of the messaging app Telegram, Pavel Durov, has been detained after he arrived in Paris on a private jet, local broadcaster LCI has reported.

Durov, who obtained a French passport in 2021, was arrested at Paris-Le Bourget Airport at around 8pm local time. His jet arrived in the French capital from Azerbaijan. The 39-year-old had been accompanied by a woman and his bodyguard, it added.
According to LCI, the French authorities issued an arrest warrant for the tech entrepreneur as part of a preliminary investigation. Paris believes that Telegram’s insufficient moderation, its encryption tools and alleged lack of cooperation with police could make Durov complicit of in drug trafficking, pedophilia offenses and fraud, it said.
Broadcaster TF1 claimed that Durov is going to appear before a judge tonight. He could be facing up to 20 years in prison, it added." RT

Three dead after stabbing attack at ‘Diversity Festival’ in Germany

"Three people were killed and eight more were seriously wounded during a stabbing spree at the Festival of Diversity in the German city of Solingen on Friday evening, police said. The

sole suspect remains at large.
According to eyewitnesses, the perpetrator started attacking people at random at around 9:45pm local time at Solingen’s Fronhof Square, where many had arrived to celebrate the city’s 650th anniversary.
Police have declared a manhunt for the suspect, who had fled the scene. “We currently have no information about his whereabouts,” a police spokesman said.
According to Bild, eyewitnesses described the perpetrator as “an Arab-looking man.” RT

Police officer injured in explosion outside synagogue in France

"A police officer was injured when a car exploded outside the Beth Yaacov synagogue in the French town of La Grande-Motte. Shortly before the blast, two vehicles had been set alight; one of them reportedly contained a gas canister." RT

Ukraine celebrates its 33rd anniversary

"August 24, Ukraine celebrates the 33rd anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Verkhovna Rada Speaker, Ruslan Stefanchuk, in his message of greetings, said that Independence Day holds a special significance, value and meaning for every Ukrainian, it is a "day that unites us together". Ukrin

30 attacks fended off at Pokrovsk Front, with eight firefights still ongoing

"Pokrovsk Sector of the front line has seen 96 force-to-force encounters since early hours. The Defense Forces fought off 31 attacks, with eight firefights still ongoing." Ukrin

Russian forces destroy local history museum in Huliaipole

"In the night Russian troops shelled the town of Huliaipole, Zaporizhzhia region, hitting the building of a local history museum." Ukrin