middle-east

Italy Prepares Naval Mission to Protect Shipping Near Bab el-Mandeb

Italy is preparing a possible naval mission to protect its merchant ships near Bab el-Mandeb as Houthi advances and attacks raise fresh risks to Red Sea trade. Rome has activated the navy to prepare protective measures but has not yet announced which ships could be deployed.

Trump Administration Approves $24.3 Billion Saudi Fighter Jet Sale

The US State Department has approved a potential $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 stealth fighters and 49 engines to Saudi Arabia. The deal still needs congressional approval and could reshape Gulf air power while testing Washington’s commitment to preserving Israel’s military edge.

Pakistan Slashes Government Fuel Use as Bangladesh Struggles With Blackouts

Pakistan has revived emergency fuel cuts and spending restrictions as the Gulf war drives up oil prices, while Bangladesh is battling LNG shortages, blackouts and factory disruption. The crisis is exposing how deeply both economies depend on imported energy.

UN Probe Says US Strikes on Iranian School and Sports Centre Were War Crimes

A UN fact-finding mission says there are reasonable grounds to believe the US committed war crimes in two February strikes in Iran, including an attack on a primary school in Minab.

Houthis Claim They Shot Down Saudi F-15 Over Yemen

Yemen’s Houthis say they shot down a Saudi F-15 over Marib using a locally made missile as fighting intensifies across the country. Saudi Arabia has not confirmed losing an aircraft, and no independently verified evidence of the alleged shootdown has yet emerged.

Mecca Put on Alert as Saudi Arabia Intercepts Houthi Drone

Saudi Arabia says it destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it entered restricted airspace over Islam’s holiest city. The Houthis deny targeting Mecca, but the incident marks a dangerous escalation as fighting spreads from Yemen toward Saudi territory and critical Red Sea routes.

The Irony of the Makkah Pact: Saudi Arabia Is Now Reportedly Asking Israel for Help

Saudi Arabia’s new defence pact with Pakistan and Türkiye promised that an attack on one would be treated as an attack on all. Weeks later, the Houthis are pounding Saudi targets while its allies stay out and Riyadh is reportedly seeking intelligence help from Israel.

Houthis Turn to AI in Attempt to Develop Advanced Missiles

A cell in Houthi-controlled Yemen used Claude AI to help develop guided rockets and ballistic missile technology. One rocket was even test-fired before apparently failing. The case shows how AI could put advanced engineering knowledge into the hands of armed groups.