middle-east
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.
India Helps Bridge Iran-UAE Divide as BRICS Secures Rare Consensus
India helped bring Iran and the UAE to the same table at BRICS after months of tensions. Nearly 100 hours of diplomacy helped the two countries agree on a joint declaration and reopen direct talks.
Trump Rejects Saudi Request for Direct US Strikes on Houthis
Saudi Arabia has sought US military help against the Houthis as the group advances around Bab el-Mandeb and threatens a vital Saudi oil route. Trump has so far rejected direct US strikes but Washington is providing intelligence and targeting support.
Houthis Seize Perim Island Inside Bab el-Mandeb, Tightening Grip on Global Shipping Route
The Houthis have captured Perim Island inside Bab el-Mandeb after seizing Mocha and Dhubab, giving the Iran-aligned group a foothold in one of the world’s most important shipping routes as the Strait of Hormuz remains severely disrupted.
Oil Surges as Hormuz Disruption and Houthi Advance Rattle Markets
Brent crude has surged towards $110 a barrel as tankers are attacked and traffic is disrupted through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb deepening fears over global oil supplies.
Twenty-Five Years After 9/11, Al-Qaeda Is Still Here
Twenty-five years after 9/11, bin Laden is dead and al-Qaeda’s old command structure has been dismantled. The organisation adapted, spreading through affiliates from Somalia and the Sahel to Yemen Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Houthis Seize Mocha and Advance Towards Strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait
The Houthis have seized Mocha and are advancing towards Bab el-Mandeb, bringing them closer to one of the world’s most important shipping routes. With the Strait of Hormuz already disrupted, the battle in Yemen now carries consequences far beyond its borders.
Pakistan Promises to Defend Saudi Arabia While Fighting to Secure Itself
Pakistan says it could help defend Saudi Arabia if Houthi attacks continue, putting the new Mecca defence pact close to its first real test. It is a bold promise from a country still struggling to contain the BLA and TTP within its own borders.
Iran Fires 20 Ballistic Missiles Towards US Base in Jordan as Gulf War Escalates
Iran has fired 20 ballistic missiles towards a US military base in Jordan, retaliating for American strikes on five Iranian oil tankers as the conflict expands from the Gulf’s shipping lanes to US forces across the region.
US Strikes Iranian Oil Tankers Near Kharg and Jask as Gulf Conflict Escalates
US strikes on Iranian oil tankers near Kharg Island and Jask have pushed the Gulf conflict closer to the heart of Iran’s energy network, rattling shipping through Hormuz and sending oil prices towards $100 a barrel.
Houthi Attacks Wound 73 in Saudi Arabia as Yemen Truce Unravels
Houthi attacks have wounded 73 civilians across four Saudi cities as renewed fighting in Yemen threatens to unravel years of relative calm and drag the country back towards full-scale war.
Egyptian TV Presenter Sarah Khalifa Sentenced to Death in Major Drug Case
Cairo court hands down capital punishment to TV host Sarah Khalifa and 11 co-defendants in major narcotics manufacturing and trafficking case.