Additional U.S. airstrike on the Sirwah District, Marib Governorate, Yemen.

The U.S. and The Philippines have begun this year's "Balikatan" military exercise in the Luzon straight. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. stated that these exercises are focused on assessing and enhancing interoperability in responding to various threats on land, sea and air. It will also include some elements in the cyber domain.

The Australian and Japanese militaries will also take part in this years' exercises. Brawner reiterated his "ironclad" relationship with the US and the Philippines and other nations with shared "vital interests" and said that they are "ready to meet challenges in the region and defend a free and open Indo-Pacific."

Additionally, for the first time, the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment’s Medium-Range Missile Battery will send Naval Strike Missile-equipped Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction Systems (NMESIS) to the Luzon straight. They will be airlifted to multiple islands in Batanes by the U.S. Army's 25th Combat Aviation Brigade and U.S. Air Force's 29th Tactical Airlift Squadron from Northern Luzon.

This is the 40th Balikatan exercise and is set to conclude on May 9. Approximately 17,000 military personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and United States Indo-Pacific Command (Indopacom) will take part.

Russian forces have captured the village of Sukha Balka, Kostyantynivka direction, Donetsk Oblast.

Pre-war population: ~649.

The Houthis have announced that their air defences shot down another American MQ-9 "Reaper" drone over Hajjah governorate, Yemen. This is the 22nd to be shot down since October 7th, and the 3rd in the last week.

Russia has completed the upgrading of the Project 636.3 Varshavyanka submarine, meaning that it can now carry and launch up to six Kalibr cruise missiles. Prior to the modernisation, it could only be equipped with four Kalibrs.

As of April 22, it is stationed near the Novorossiysk base, on duty.

Ballistic missile launch from Yemen

It’s heading for Haifa, northern Israel.

Israeli air defence is trying to intercept it

The missile was intercepted

— 🇮🇱/🇾🇪 A video from the incident

In the footage, what is seen is likely the remnant of an intercepted Yemeni missile falling to the ground, judging by the slow speed of its impact.

@Middle_East_Spectator

Footage (likely archival) showing close quarters combat between Israeli forces and Hamas fighters in a residential building in Khan Younis, southern Gaza.

Footage showing the ongoing fighting in Miiraale, Bari Mountains, northern Somalia, between the Puntland Defence Forces (PDF) and the Islamic State in Somalia (IS-Somal).

The PDF is continuing their offensive, amid fierce resistance from IS-Somal, clawing back the valleys, caves, and mountain-tops of the Bari Mountain Range.

Both sides have been suffering heavy casualties in the battles, with IS-Somal employing attacks with suicide belts, and the PDF engaging in positional warfare.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani stated that the third round of indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the U.S. has been postponed from Wednesday to Saturday.

Update: The initial attacks from the third stage of the Puntland offensive on Miiraale, northern Somalia were repelled. Battles lasted for at least four days and IS-Somal managed to maintain control over their positions there.