WAR
Fronts, strikes, pauses that do not hold.
The Extra
18 SEP 2026 · Night desk
IRGC CLAIMS TOGO TANKER TREND HIT IN HORMUZ. UKMTO: CREW SAFE AFTER PROJECTILE/FIRE.
Claim-split Extra — UKMTO security incident / unknown projectile, crew safe near Khasab approaches; IRGC Navy ATTRIB hits Togo-flagged Trend for “illegal passage.” No merge. Trump Axios annihilate line ATTRIB only on sister Extra.
20:15 GMT
TRUMP TO AXIOS: BIG DECISION — ANNIHILATE IRAN OR NOT. ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN.
Axios ATTRIB via Fox/Independent/Mediaite: Trump weighs whether to “annihilate” Iranian regime; “Anything could happen with me.” Gulf leaders UNGA meeting may hinge the call. No invented execute order.
20:00 GMT
TRUMP: HOUTHIS CALLED. THEY DON'T WANT TO FIGHT US. MOST SHIPS GO THROUGH.
Trump says the Houthis called and they do not want to fight the United States. Most ships, he says, are still getting through.
12:35 GMT
IRGC CLAIMS SAILDRONE HIT IN HORMUZ. UKMTO: TWO SHIPS STRUCK OFF KHASAB.
Claim-split Extra — IRGC Navy says it struck US Saildrone hull 5838 at Hormuz entrance; separate UKMTO Warning 133-26: four unknown projectiles hit two unknown vessels ~4 nm west of Khasab. No merge. No invented attacker.
07:20 GMT
US OFFICIALS: EAST-WEST PIPELINE SYSTEM STRUCK. PUMP STATIONS HIT. SAUDI SILENT.
CNN: two US officials — East-West system struck Thu; pump stations hit; one says drones from Iraq. Planet Labs damage stills via CNN. Aramco/Riyadh silent. No barrels invent. No culprit lock beyond ATTRIB.
18:50 GMT
GOV / AFP / REUTERS: HOUTHIS LOCK WESTERN COAST + MAYYUN. BAB ISLAND DELTA.
Coast+islands Extra past Mocha — Dhubab/Murad, Mayyun/Perim, Zuqar (National). Thin Houthi confirm. Not Saildrone. Not MBS. Not tankers PIN.
11:05 GMT
TRUMP REJECTS MBS CALL FOR US STRIKES ON HOUTHIS. INTEL + TARGETING ONLY.
Axios ATTRIB — MBS calls Trump twice Thu; Trump declines direct US strikes. Intel + targeting support instead. Not Mocha Extra. Not Saildrone. Not tankers PIN.
08:40 GMT