Daily Report September 15: Hormuz Traffic Plunges as Lebanon-Israel Talks Begin

Daily Report: September 15, 2026 covers the day’s major developments from the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab to Lebanon, Ukraine and Gaza, amid a sharp decline in shipping traffic, renewed escalation between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, and rising oil prices. The final hours of the day also saw a meeting between the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors at the U.S. State Department in Washington.

Strait of Hormuz: Just 4 Ships, Down From 10 a Day Earlier

Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell to just four commercial vessels on Monday, down from 10 the previous day, according to preliminary Kpler data cited by Reuters. Before the war with Iran began on February 28, the strait handled about 125 large commercial vessels a day.

Reuters said the figures may not include vessels that crossed the strait after switching off their Automatic Identification System, or AIS, transponders to avoid detection.

In another maritime development, the Oman Maritime Security Center said the oil tanker EL GAIA was being towed to an Omani port after it was targeted and a fire broke out in its engine room. The Omani navy evacuated 23 crew members, while a search continued for two people who remained missing.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had shot down U.S. MQ-1 drones over the Strait of Hormuz area. U.S. Central Command, meanwhile, said Iranian boats had attempted to seize an American unmanned surface vessel, but that the attempt failed and the vessel remained under U.S. control. The competing military claims could not all be independently verified.

Iran: No Talks With Washington Until Our Conditions Are Met

Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said there would be no talks with the United States until Tehran’s conditions were met, criticizing what he described as conflicting U.S. messages on negotiations.

The remarks followed comments by U.S. President Donald Trump saying Iran wanted to reach a deal. Profile News previously covered Trump, Iran and the prospect of renewed negotiations.

Houthis and Saudi Arabia: 13 Injured and 125,000 Displaced in Yemen

The Saudi-led coalition said Houthi ballistic missile and drone attacks targeted Khamis Mushait, Abha and Taif, injuring 13 civilians. Saudi authorities also issued security alerts in several areas and cities, including Mecca, Jeddah, Yanbu, Abha, Jazan and Taif, before announcing that the danger had passed in a number of them.

Profile News previously covered details of the escalation between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia near Bab al-Mandab.

The U.N. Security Council discussed developments in Yemen and Bab al-Mandab. The United Nations said at least 125,000 people had been displaced inside Yemen since the start of September, while about 2,300 people had arrived in Djibouti by September 14. The United Nations warned that the fighting was affecting humanitarian operations and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.

Lebanon: Parliamentary Clashes, Strikes in the South and Washington Meeting

Lebanon’s Parliament saw political clashes during a debate on the government, with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam saying decisions on war and peace must rest solely with the state and that the goal of negotiations was Israel’s withdrawal and the return of displaced residents.

Salam said the direct cost of the latest war was between $3 billion and $4 billion, excluding economic losses, and said the state could not bear the cost of reconstruction on its own with its current resources.

On the ground, Profile News correspondents in southern Lebanon reported that Israeli warplanes carried out strikes on Mansouri, Nabatieh al-Fawqa, the outskirts of Zawtar al-Sharqiya, Qantara and Wadi Zibqin. Artillery fire was also reported in several areas, including Kfar Tebnit, Mays al-Jabal, Wadi al-Salouqi, Beit Lif and areas between Baraachit and Kounine, along with explosions in southern towns and areas.

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa visited southern Lebanon to review conditions, progress and challenges in what Washington describes as “pilot areas,” while the U.S. Embassy reaffirmed its support for the Lebanese government and army.

Late Tuesday, Lebanese Ambassador to Washington Nada Hamadeh met Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter at the U.S. State Department in the presence of a U.S. official, as part of contacts related to implementing the framework of understanding between the two sides.

Russia and Ukraine: Energy Strikes Continue Despite Trump’s Announcement

Strikes between Moscow and Kyiv continued after Russia launched about 200 drones at Ukraine overnight, according to Ukrainian officials, while Kyiv said it targeted Russia’s Syzran oil refinery and drone-production facilities.

The developments came after Trump said the two sides had agreed to stop targeting energy facilities, an announcement that Moscow and Kyiv have not confirmed as an agreement in force. Profile News previously covered continued strikes between Russia and Ukraine following Trump’s comments on an energy truce.

Daily Report September 15 2026| Oil Prices: Some Cargoes Top $130

The regional tensions extended to energy markets, where some physical oil cargoes in Europe traded above $130 a barrel, while North Sea Forties crude climbed to $136.75.

The rise came after Saudi Arabia canceled some shipments scheduled for European buyers and suspended loading at Yanbu following the shutdown of the East-West pipeline. Profile News covered details of rising oil prices and the suspension of loading at Yanbu.

War With Iran Costs Washington $38 Billion

The U.S. Congressional Budget Office said the U.S. war with Iran had cost about $38 billion through August 1 and that the cost could rise by about $3 billion a month if the conflict continued.

The office said ammunition use had put pressure on U.S. stockpiles, estimating that rebuilding inventories of some munitions and interceptor missiles could take about five years.

Gaza: Casualties in Strikes and Hamas Commander Targeted

Health officials and Hamas sources said Israeli strikes killed at least five Palestinians on Tuesday, including two children and a commander in the group, with attacks reported in both northern and southern Gaza.

The Israeli military said it targeted the commander of Hamas’ Rafah Brigade, while sources in the group said Nael Abu Obeid was killed in the strike.

In the United States, Reuters cited a U.S. official as saying the Trump administration planned to sell Israel $2.8 billion worth of munitions in a deal that had been informally notified to relevant congressional committees.

Sudan: Funding Shortfall Threatens Food Assistance

The World Food Programme warned that Sudan’s hunger crisis was worsening as funding for its operations declined. About 19.5 million people face acute levels of food insecurity, while the agency has been forced to focus its resources on those most at risk.

Programme officials said the funding shortfall threatened further cuts to aid as war, displacement and difficulties in humanitarian access continued to affect millions of Sudanese.

Sources: Profile News, Reuters, United Nations, Oman Observer, Mehr News Agency.