Vancouver, B.C., August 18 th , 2026 — TheNewswire - Ares Strategic Mining Inc. (“Ares” or the “Company”) (TSXV: ARS) (OTC: ARSMF) (FRA: N8I1) announces that it has granted to its directors and officers an aggregate of 12,000,000 stock options (the “Options”), with each Option entitling the holder to acquire one common share in the capital of the Company (a “Common Share”) at an exercise price of $0.365 per Common Share until August 17 th , 2028. All securities issued pursuant to the exercise of the Options will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from the date of grant, in accordance with applicable securities laws.