ISSUE #415📅Tuesday, 25 August 2026⏱5 min read📑5 stories · 1 deep dive
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The Briefing
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Here’s what’s happening in geopolitics today. Today’s edition opens in the Middle East, where Israeli strikes damaged water and religious infrastructure in Gaza while Washington removed Syria from its terrorism blacklist after 47 years.
Elsewhere, Iran is threatening retaliation over fresh US sanctions, another Russian refinery is burning after a drone attack, and Haiti is confronting the aftermath of a gang raid that killed at least 47 people.
And in today’s conflict tracker, we shift to the Lyman sector, as Russian forces are at some risk of being caught in a cauldron. Whilst Iran and the Houthi’s target oil tankers in their respective waterways.
— The Basedment Editorial Team· 25 Aug 2026
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The Last 24 Hours in Geopolitics
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Israel strikes desalination plant and mosque in Gaza
Israeli strikes hit two mosques in Gaza and damaged a small desalination plant in Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood, worsening pressure on the enclave’s already limited water supplies. The Israeli military said it targeted Hamas weapons-storage facilities inside the mosques and issued evacuation warnings beforehand, while denying that the desalination plant was an intended target. The attacks formed part of a broader day of Israeli strikes and gunfire that killed at least four Palestinians, including two young children, according to local health officials.
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US removes Syria from list of state sponsors of terrorism
The United States has formally removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism after 47 years, following a mandatory 45-day congressional review. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the decision recognised commitments by President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s government to distance Syria from international terrorism, while lifting restrictions that had discouraged foreign investment and financial activity. Washington also revoked the Nusrah Front’s designation as a global terrorist organisation, although targeted sanctions against Assad associates, extremist groups and Iranian-backed organisations remain in place.
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Iran vows to retaliate against countries that cooperate with fresh US sanctions
Iran has warned that countries cooperating with the latest US sanctions campaign will be treated as enemies, with Economy Minister Ali Madanizadeh saying Tehran is prepared to adopt retaliatory economic measures. Washington imposed sanctions on approximately 60 individuals, companies and vessels linked to Iran’s oil trade and financial networks, while stopping short of immediately targeting major foreign banks conducting business with Tehran. The measures follow the collapse of the US-Iran interim agreement and continuing tensions over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, with China rejecting Washington’s unilateral sanctions.
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Drone strike sparks fire at oil refinery in Southern Russia
A drone attack sparked a fire at the Afipsky oil refinery in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region on Tuesday, according to regional Governor Veniamin Kondratyev. Falling drone debris struck the nearby Afipsky railway station, killing two people and injuring two others, while authorities did not immediately disclose the extent of damage or disruption at the refinery. The predominantly export-focused facility processes around 144,000 barrels of crude oil per day and has been targeted repeatedly as Ukraine seeks to weaken Russia’s energy revenues and war effort.
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Haiti gang raid leaves 47 dead, as residents demand stronger protections
At least 47 people were killed and 22 injured when armed gang members raided Kenscoff, a community in the hills above Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, according to the United Nations. Local authorities attributed the overnight assault to the Viv Ansanm gang coalition, whose members reportedly opened fire on residents and set homes, a church and other properties ablaze. Haiti’s government promised security reinforcements, but residents demanded the local police chief’s resignation as the attack raised further doubts over whether elections scheduled for December can proceed safely.
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Daily Deep Dive
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Analysis · russia-ukraine war
Houthi's And Iran Hit Tankers, As Russian Cauldron At Risk Of Encirclement
Russian forces are at some risk of being caught in a cauldron. Whilst Iran and the Houthi’s target oil tankers in their respective waterways.
Basedment Analysis
Conflict Tracker
Third Gulf War
The Houthis claimed they struck the Saudi-owned oil tanker Amzan with a ballistic missile approximately 117 kilometres west of Yanbu. The projectile reportedly ignited a fire on the vessel’s main deck, although all crew members were accounted for and no injuries or environmental damage were reported. Saudi shipping company Bahri confirmed the tanker had been involved in a security incident.
However, the most important detail is the location. Yanbu sits hundreds of kilometres north of Houthi-controlled territory and well beyond the immediate Bab al-Mandeb blockade zone. This is the second reported strike near Yanbu this month, following the attack on NCC Wafa on August 5. It demonstrates that diverting Saudi tankers northwards does not necessarily place them beyond Houthi reach.
The exact weapon used remains unverified, and successfully hitting a moving vessel at this distance with a ballistic missile would require some form of terminal guidance or external targeting support. Nevertheless, the Houthis have now demonstrated at least a credible capacity to threaten shipping across much of the Red Sea, rather than merely vessels passing Yemen’s coastline.
At the Iranian end, the Metro Venetian was struck near Oman at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz. The unidentified projectile damaged its engine room and disabled the tanker, although its crew survived. No party has formally claimed responsibility, meaning direct Iranian attribution remains unconfirmed.
Russia-Ukraine
Ukrainian forces are continuing offensive operations north of Lyman, particularly across the Katerynivka, Nove and Zelena Dolyna sector. Since mid-May, formations under Ukraine’s III Azov Corps have been attacking positions held by Russia’s 144th Motor Rifle Division.
The operation has primarily involved the 3rd Assault Brigade and 66th Airmobile Brigade, supported by elements of the 77th Airmobile Brigade, Pomsta Border Guard Brigade and 33rd Assault Regiment. Unlike several previous Ukrainian offensives, operational security has been taken seriously, significantly limiting the amount of reliable information available through OSINT. However, satellite imagery continues to provide some indication of Ukrainian progress.
After capturing Ridkodub and Katerynivka, Ukrainian forces reportedly secured Nove and Lypove during July before advancing toward Zelena Dolyna and Novoliubivka. Following a short operational pause in early August, offensive operations resumed north of Kolodiazi.
The apparent objective is to capture the Kolodiazi-Ivanivka area and cut off Russia’s bridgehead west of the Zherebets River around Serednie and Derylove. Around August 18, Ukrainian troops reportedly captured an important Russian strongpoint in the forest north of Kolodiazi, allowing assault groups to approach the village from the northwest and sever the road toward Ivanivka.
Between August 21 and 23, Ukrainian forces assaulted Kolodiazi from multiple directions. They may have penetrated its northwestern outskirts, with additional infantry recently transported forward in four armoured vehicles. Fighting for the village remains ongoing.
Thorkill65 is the map and information source for this report. See Here
On this day in 1944, some two months after the Allied invasion of Normandy, Paris was liberated from German occupiers as the Free French 2nd Armoured Division under General Jacques-Philippe Leclerc entered the city.
