Wednesday

August 19, 2026

Armed conflicts and attacks

The United Nations reports that 36 humanitarian workers and contractors in South Sudan have been killed since the start of the year, surpassing the 31 killed last year. (AP)

Middle Eastern crisis

2026 Iran war

2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis

2026 Strait of Hormuz campaign

Axios reports that the U.S. military has created a new shipping lane in the Strait of Hormuz to help ships transit through the waterway, including the facilitating of 10 million barrels of oil per day. (The Jerusalem Post) (Axios)

Gaza war

Around ten people are reported killed in an Israeli airstrike on a police station in Gaza City. (Middle East Eye)

The IDF says that the Air Force have targeted two Hamas commanders, including one who participated in the October 7 attacks, along with Hamas tunnels in the Gaza Strip. (The Jerusalem Post)

The IDF also confirms that they have killed four Nukhba force commanders from the Al-Qassam Brigades wing of Hamas in an airstrike on a cafe yesterday in Gaza City. (The Jerusalem Post) (The Times of Israel)

War crimes in the Gaza war, Gaza genocide

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launches an investigation into troop conduct for their roles in the 2024 killing of five-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab, her family, and 15 paramedics. (AP)

Russo-Ukrainian war

Kyiv strikes

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that a Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv killed at least 15 people and injured 40 others, damaging residential buildings, a children's hospital, and a school. (ABC News) (BBC News)

Mexican drug war

Nine CJNG members, including four ringleaders, are arrested during a military operation in Tinaja de Vargas y Colesio, municipality of Tanhuato and Ecuandureo. Among the detained is Heraclio Guerrero aka "Tio Lako", leader identified as behind the operation of cartel training camps and the offensive during the 2026 Jalisco operation. (CNN en Español in Spanish) (Democrata)

Business and economy

Economic impact of the 2026 Iran war

The Office for National Statistics reports that inflation in the United Kingdom rose to 2.9% last month amidst the Iran war. (The Guardian)

Iranian economic crisis, Economic D-Day

U.S. president Donald Trump announces an economic war against Iran, along with new sanctions for countries trading with Iran. (The Hill)

Economy of the United States

The United States Department of the Treasury reports that the national debt surpassed $40 trillion for the first time the previous day, and is currently at $40.047 trillion. (Reuters) (CNBC) (AP)