An Mi-17 “Hip” Attack/Transport Helicopter operated by Russia’s Africa Corps flies at low-altitude over the desert of Northern Mali, near the besieged Russian and Malian military barracks in Anefis, which has been under constant air and ground assault over the last several days by elements of the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA). Yesterday, militants of the FLA successfully downed a Russian Mi-24 Hind that was attempting to support besieged forces in Anefis.

Independent journalist Desiree Townsend is reporting that 84-year-old Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell, who was mysteriously hospitalized last month after suffering an apparent episode of “cardiac arrest” and has not been publicly seen since at least June 14, is on life support and “brain dead,” though nothing has been officially confirmed by the family or office of the Kentucky Senator.

During remarks this morning, President Donald J. Trump said the new White House helipad will be funded by Sikorsky, the manufacturer of the VH-92A "Patriot" helicopter that is replacing the aging VH-3D in the "Marine One" role.

According to the President, the project will cost approximately $5–6 million, and the new helipad will feature the Seal of the White House in granite.

Cuba's humanitarian and energy crisis continues to worsen after the near total collapse of the island's national electrical grid today, leaving much of the country without power. Cuban authorities are gradually restoring service, but this is the eighth major nationwide blackout since October 2025 and the third this year, highlighting the deteriorating state of the country's energy infrastructure.

According to a report from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Centre, a vessel 8nm east of Limah, Oman was struck by an unknown projectile as it traveled southbound away from the Strait of Hormuz. No casualties have been reported at this time. @_MartinKelly_ reported earlier that the vessel, a Nakilat Shipping Qatar Limited tanker, which was loaded, reported being struck in the engine room.

Based on position of the strike, it’s fair to assess that the vessel was traveling in the proposed Oman-International Maritime Organization (IMO) transit lanes and not the lanes proposed by Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA). This may have induced an Iranian strike, as Iran continues to maintain that their PGSA transit routes are the only viable option for commercial maritime traffic.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired at least two missiles earlier at a pair of commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, with both ships being hit and suffered significant damages, but no casualties, according to Axios’ Barak Ravid.

The U.S. State Department has published a statement responding to yesterday’s test launch of a nuclear-capable submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missile towards the Southern Pacific Ocean by China, with the statement reading:

“The United States monitored China’s test launch from a submarine of an unarmed intercontinental-range ballistic missile, which landed in the Southern Pacific Ocean. At a time when the United States is working harder than ever to prevent nuclear proliferation, China is doing the opposite. Beijing’s rapid and opaque nuclear weapons buildup is of great concern to the region and the world. We continue to urge China to engage in meaningful arms control discussions and commit to a regularized notification arrangement for all intercontinental-range ballistic missile and space launches consistent with commitments made by all other P5 members. The United States remains steadfast in our defense commitments to our allies and partners.”

U.S. President Donald J. Trump boarded Air Force One just earlier to leave for Ankara, Turkey for the much anticipated NATO summit. In the weeks and days working up to the summit, European leaders, have been keen to highlight new defense commitments and financing frameworks, as President Trump has long pushed the NATO alliance to increase burdensharing and defense spending. Most recently, today, the UK, Finland, the Netherlands, and Poland announced a new Multilateral Defense Mechanism that is meant to “accelerate defense investment, stimulate joint procurement, and aggregate demand in critical defence capabilities, with the ultimate objective of meeting the military needs of like-minded allies.”

The U.S. Men’s Soccer National Team is now out of the World Cup after losing to Belgium 1-4.

Several explosive devices detonated this morning in the Syrian capital of Damascus, close to the Four Season Hotel where French President Emmanuel Macron is currently staying, resulting in injuries to at least 18 people though no fatalities, according to Syria’s Interior Ministry. Macron was not present at the hotel when the blasts occurred, instead being at the Presidential Palace for a meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa.

The Boeing VC-25B Bridge, Air Force One, carrying President Donald J. Trump has landed in Ankara, Turkey, ahead of this week’s NATO Summit.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump has deplaned from Air Force One in Ankara, being personally met by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and a large delegation of military personnel, before being walked to The Beast, part of the Presidential Motorcade.

Following twin blasts in Damascus, Syria, that Syrian officials say likely targeted the security boundaries near the hotel where French President Emmanuel Macron was staying, President Macron has said that his visit to the nation, the first for a Western leader, will continue.

During a press availability with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, U.S. President Donald J. Trump said that he’s “not worried” about the existence of Russian-made S-400 air defense systems in Turkey, as it relates to the possibility of a U.S. FMS of F-35s to Turkey. When asked about reports that said systems could be sent to a third party nation before such an FMS took place, President Trump appeared to be unaware of the potential framework, saying “in relation to what,” when asked about the reports.