On June 4th, it was reported that Ukraine has utilized American-supplied weapons to strike a military facility within Russia. This follows the recent approval from the Biden administration allowing Ukraine to target Russian territory with U.S.-made artillery. The strike, which occurred in the Belgorod region about 20 miles inside Russia, involved the destruction of Russian missile systems using a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), according to Yehor Chernev, deputy chairman of Ukraine’s national security committee. This marks the first public acknowledgment by a Ukrainian official of such an attack since the lifting of the U.S. ban. The ban had been maintained to avoid escalating tensions with Russia, a nuclear-armed nation. The U.S. has stipulated that these weapons can only be used for defensive purposes and in areas near northeastern Ukraine. The HIMARS strike reportedly destroyed S-300 and S-400 missile systems, which Russia had been using to bombard the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. The attack's aftermath, verified by satellite imagery and social media posts, showed burning military vehicles and damaged equipment. Military analysts believe that Ukraine's new capability to hit targets within Russia will help counter Moscow’s cross-border attacks. However, Russia has issued warnings about potential severe repercussions from such actions, though it has not specified what these might be. The U.S. has stated it will not expand permissions for deeper strikes into Russia or allow the use of more powerful rockets like ATACMS at this time. Despite this, Ukrainian officials continue to lobby for greater military support to prevent Russian forces from massing at the border and launching further offensives.

On June 4th, an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) was launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. This test, performed by a joint team from the U.S. Air Force and Space Force, is part of a long series of over 300 similar launches, with no connection to current global events. General Thomas A. Bussiere, commander of the Air Force Global Strike Command, emphasized the importance of the ICBM force in maintaining national defense and international security, providing strategic deterrence around the clock. The missile traveled approximately 4,200 miles to the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site in the Marshall Islands, where its flight was monitored by various sensors. The Minuteman III, developed by Boeing, has been a critical component of the U.S. nuclear deterrence strategy since 1970. A replacement, the LGM-35A Sentinel ICBM, is being developed by Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and the Air Force, and is expected to be operational by 2029.

On June 9th, two ships caught fire after being hit by projectiles off Yemen's Aden, as reported by two UK maritime agencies. The British security firm Ambrey stated that an Antigua- and Barbuda-flagged general cargo ship was struck by a missile 83 nautical miles southeast of Aden. The fire on board was later contained. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported a similar incident involving another vessel 80 nautical miles southeast of Aden. This ship, heading southwest in the Gulf of Aden, was struck by a missile, causing a fire that was quickly neutralized. A second missile did not hit, but small boats in the area opened fire on the ship. There were no injuries reported. Additionally, a second incident involved a ship hit by an unknown projectile 70 nautical miles southwest of Aden, resulting in a fire. The vessel continued to its next port of call without casualties. The Houthi militia, aligned with Iran and controlling parts of Yemen, has been attacking ships off its coast in support of Palestinians fighting Israel in Gaza. These attacks have forced shippers to take longer routes around southern Africa. In response, the United States and Britain have conducted strikes against Houthi targets.

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