Coverage of events across the Middle East region.
Turkey says its defense pact with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia resembles NATO’s Article 5, with an attack on one member considered an attack on all.
UN envoy Hans Grundberg warns that Yemen faces its greatest risk of renewed large-scale war since the 2022 truce amid escalating Houthi attacks and regional tensions.
At least 10 people were killed in Houthi attacks in Yemen’s oil-rich Marib province, including eight government forces and two civilians.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey have signed a historic trilateral defense agreement under which an armed attack against any one of the three countries will be considered an attack against all three, marking a major expansion of security and defense cooperation among the three regional powers.
At least four people were killed and 13 others injured after a bomb planted inside a passenger minibus exploded in the Damascus suburb of Jaramana on Thursday. Syrian authorities said the blast was caused by an explosive device hidden in the vehicle, while no group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
Saudi Arabia has appointed Rear Admiral Abdullah bin Salim Al-Shehri to command its new multinational maritime defense alliance, established to protect shipping and energy routes in the Red Sea.
Two Israeli soldiers were killed in an explosion in southern Lebanon, marking the first Israeli military fatalities since the June ceasefire with Iran-backed Hezbollah. The blast also wounded four soldiers, while Israel said it later carried out airstrikes on Hezbollah targets after accusing the group of violating the ceasefire.
Excerpt: At least 36 Yemeni soldiers were reportedly killed in missile and drone attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels on military camps in Marib and Hadramawt provinces. The U.S. Mission to Yemen condemned the strikes as "cowardly," while the Houthis claimed they had targeted Saudi-backed forces allegedly preparing for a military operation.
Israeli airstrikes that destroyed a residential building in Gaza City in November 2023 have led to the recovery of 112 bodies from the rubble nearly three years later. Thousands attended a mass funeral on Tuesday, while Gaza authorities said 157 more people are still believed to be buried beneath the debris.
Iran has executed two men convicted of spying for Israel, accusing them of supplying Mossad with information on military and security sites. Human rights groups have again raised concerns over Iran's use of the death penalty, citing alleged due process violations and reliance on forced confessions.
At least seven Palestinians, including two children and a woman, were killed in fresh Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip despite an October 2025 ceasefire. Israel said it targeted suspected Hamas operatives allegedly involved in attacks and planning further operations, while Hamas has not confirmed U.S. President Donald Trump's claim that it agreed to fully disarm.
Saudi Arabia has proposed a multinational naval alliance to protect shipping lanes and energy routes in the Red Sea amid ongoing regional security threats. The initiative, backed by 14 countries including Pakistan, aims to strengthen maritime security and safeguard international trade.
