August 22, 2026Share to FacebookShare to XArticle printing is available to subscribers onlyPrint in a simple, ad-free formatSubscribeComments: Zen reading is available to subscribers onlyAd-free and in a comfortable reading formatSubscribeAugust 22, 2026UpdatesHormuz shipping traffic rises, but remains at just 20 percent of pre-war levelsShipping through the Strait of Hormuz is slowly picking up, but the vital energy corridor remains a shadow of its prewar activity, with traffic at only about one-fifth of normal levels, according to a new analysis of maritime data.The number of vessels crossing the strait rose 27 percent over the past week, with 103 ships entering and 89 leaving, according to figures from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center analyzed by CNN. Despite the increase, traffic remains dramatically below the seven-day average recorded before the Iran war. Red Sea traffic rebounds
Shipping activity across two key Middle East chokepoints moved in opposite directions on 18 August. Confirmed Strait of Hormuz crossings declined 17% from the previous day to 10, with six vessels exiting the MEG and four entering. Five transits used theShow moreThe United States says it has helped reopen a key artery for global energy shipments. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Saturday that the Navy had helped move more than 15 million barrels of oil and petroleum products through the strait, with another five million barrels transported via pipelines. "Make no mistake, thanks to the U.S. Navy, oil is flowing through the Strait of Hormuz," Wright wrote on X.On Tuesday, the U.S. military helped ship over 15 million barrels of oil and products out of the Strait of Hormuz — combined with pipelines, the total leaving the region is closer to 20 million barrels. 7-day average of oil leaving the Strait is over 8 million barrels a day. MakeShow moreThe vessels that have resumed passage remain largely foreign-flagged, with Panama and Liberia accounting for most crossings and no U.S.-flagged ships recorded. Product tankers, typically carrying refined petroleum products, were the most common type of vessel using the waterway.More than 80 percent of liquid cargo transiting the strait in the past two weeks has taken the Oman route – a UN-authorized shipping channel that allows vessels to bypass areas Iran has sought to control and opposes.11 hours agoU.S. envoy Barrack says Israeli strike in Syria could have led to war with Turkey U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack said the Israeli strike on the Abu al-Duhur airbase in Syria could have led to direct military confrontation between Israel and Turkey. In an interview with content creator Mario Nawfal, Barrack said that Turkey was not informed that Israeli aircraft were heading toward the base and therefore could have interpreted the incident as a threat and responded.Barrack said that Israel was "baiting the Turks," recalling when Turkey "took out a Russian jet under the same kind of circumstances." He added that "having jets deployed on the border without notification, without some agreement" is a "very dangerous game." Read the full articleIsrael offers condolences to slain Gaza aid workers' families after saying it won't open probe into killingIsrael Foreign Ministry offered its condolences to the families of seven World Central Kitchen aid workers killed in an Israeli strike in 2024. The statement comes several days after Israel announced that it had closed its probe into the deadly strike and will not file charges. Israel extends its condolences to the families of the seven World Central Kitchen aid workers in April 2024 who tragically lost their lives under deeply regrettable circumstances.
