Tuesday, 7 July 2026

In the 24 hours ending 7 July 07:30 UTC, Iran attacked commercial shipping near the Strait of Hormuz. A loaded LNG tanker was hit and caught fire during outbound transit.

At least two missiles were fired at commercial ships in the area. One vessel was hit east of Limah, Oman. No casualties were reported at that time.

Ukraine struck more energy targets inside Russian-held and Russian territory. In occupied Crimea, Ukrainian forces hit two major power substations overnight. The strikes caused another wave of blackouts across the peninsula.

Ukraine also hit a Russian gas distribution site in Belgorod. A HIMARS-launched rocket tore open a pipeline and set it on fire. Several parts of the city reported gas supply problems.

Donald Trump, US president, left for Ankara, Turkey, for the 2026 NATO summit. European leaders had announced new defense plans before the summit, including a joint effort by the UK, Finland, the Netherlands, and Poland.

The United States criticized China after a submarine test launch of an unarmed nuclear-capable missile. The missile landed in the Southern Pacific Ocean. Washington said China’s nuclear weapons buildup remains a serious concern.

Cuba suffered another major national power failure. Much of the island lost power after the near total collapse of the electrical grid. Authorities began restoring service, but this was the eighth major nationwide blackout.

The United States men’s soccer team was knocked out of the World Cup. Belgium beat the co-hosts 4-1.