Geopolitical
Pakistan Defense Minister Urges Implementation of Mecca Agreement Amid Houthi Escalation
RIYADH — Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif called on Wednesday for the immediate implementation of the Mecca Agreement, citing a sharp increase in retaliatory attacks by Houthi forces against S...
Saudi Arabia Seeks Oman's Mediation for Two-Week Yemen Ceasefire
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has formally requested the Sultanate of Oman to mediate a two-week ceasefire between Riyadh and the Houthi movement in Yemen, marking a significant diplomatic shift in the long-s...
IDF Conducts Strikes and Controlled Explosions in Southern Lebanon Village
SOUTHERN LEBANON — The Israel Defense Forces carried out a series of airstrikes and controlled explosions in the village of al-Mansouri on Wednesday, September 17, 2026. The operation took place in th...
Coordinated Explosions of Communication Devices Kill Dozens in Lebanon and Syria
BEIRUT — A massive, synchronized detonation of thousands of pagers and hundreds of walkie-talkies swept across Lebanon and Syria on Tuesday, killing at least 42 people and injuring more than 3,000 oth...
US Officials Hold Secret Talks with Ansarallah in Muscat Following Red Sea Offensive
MUSCAT, Oman — United States officials and representatives of Yemen's Ansarallah group held secret negotiations in the Omani capital over the weekend, marking a direct diplomatic engagement following ...
UN Mission Finds US and Iran Responsible for War Crimes in Minab Strikes and Protest Crackdown
GENEVA (AP) — A United Nations fact-finding mission has concluded there are reasonable grounds to believe the United States committed war crimes by launching two military strikes on civilian targets i...
China-linked group FamousSparrow targets Latin American governments with new backdoor
A China-linked espionage group known as FamousSparrow has deployed a new malware backdoor named SparroWocky in a coordinated campaign against government organizations across Latin America. The operati...
Ukraine Launches Retaliatory Strikes on Russian Military and Energy Targets
MOSCOW — Ukrainian forces executed a coordinated series of retaliatory strikes early Wednesday against military infrastructure in southern Russia and an energy facility in the central region, marking ...
India Warns U.S. Bill on Russian Oil Sanctions Risks Bilateral Ties and Energy Markets
NEW DELHI — India has issued a stern warning to the United States, stating that a newly passed legislative measure imposing sanctions on buyers of Russian oil threatens to damage diplomatic relations ...
IRGC Commander Vows Forceful Response to Threats During Persian Gulf Visit
TEHRAN (AP) — The commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Ground Forces declared on Wednesday that Iran will respond with overwhelming force to any enemy miscalculation, issuing a stark war...
Saudi Arabia Seeks International Air Defense Aid Amid Houthi Missile Shortage
RIYADH, Sept. 17 (AP) — Saudi Arabia has formally requested urgent air-defense support from the United Kingdom, France, Pakistan, and Egypt as it faces a critical shortage of missile interceptors duri...
U.S. Extends Visa Sanctions on Palestinian Officials Ahead of U.N. General Assembly
NEW YORK — The United States extended visa sanctions against members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and senior officials of the Palestinian Authority on Thursday, just days before the ...
EU President Announces Overhaul of Security Strategy Amid Rising Tensions
BRUSSELS — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a significant upgrade to the European Union's security strategy on Thursday, outlining a comprehensive plan to bolster defense c...
Satellite Imagery Reveals Damage at Jordan's Al-Salti Air Base Following Iranian Missile Strikes
AMMAN, Sept. 17 (AP) — New satellite imagery released Wednesday shows significant structural damage at Jordan's Al-Salti air base following missile strikes attributed to Iran. The images, captured in ...
Russia Launches Massive Missile Barrage Against Ukrainian Infrastructure
KIEV — Russia launched at least 18 missiles against Ukraine early Wednesday, triggering massive fires near critical grain storage facilities and fuel depots in the country's central region. The attack...
U.S. Denies Visa to Palestinian President Abbas for UN General Assembly
NEW YORK — The U.S. State Department denied an entry visa to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday, barring him from attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The decision m...
Saudi Arabia Urges Allies for Missile Interceptors as Yemen Conflict Depletes Stocks
RIYADH, Sept. 17 (AP) — Saudi Arabia has formally appealed to international allies for an urgent supply of missile interceptors after weeks of sustained attacks from Yemen have critically depleted the...
Iranian Foreign Minister Hails Successful Talks in China, Reaffirms Strategic Partnership
BEIJING — Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared recent diplomatic talks in China a success on Wednesday, emphasizing the enduring strategic partnership between Tehran and Beijing. Speaking ...
Iran's Pezeshkian Signals Readiness for Regional Dialogue to Counter External Discord
TEHRAN, Sept. 16 — President Masoud Pezeshkian announced on Tuesday that Iran is prepared to resolve longstanding differences with its neighbors through direct dialogue and mutual respect, marking a r...
Netanyahu Announces Plan to Strip Citizenship of IDF Defamers
JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Tuesday a sweeping new initiative to revoke citizenship and impose severe financial penalties on individuals found guilty of defaming...
Israel and Morocco Agree to Upgrade Diplomatic Ties, Open Embassies
JERUSALEM — Israel and Morocco announced a significant expansion of their diplomatic relationship on Tuesday, agreeing to upgrade ties to full ambassadorial level and establish embassies in both natio...
Turkish Intelligence Chief Visits Afghanistan to Deepen Security Ties with Taliban
KABUL — İbrahim Kalın, the head of Turkey's intelligence service, arrived in Afghanistan on Tuesday for high-level talks aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and expanding security cooperation w...
Iran's Foreign Minister Declares New Regional Order Based on Dialogue Following Military Aggression
TEHRAN, Sept. 16 (AP) — Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated Monday that the Middle East has entered a new geopolitical era defined by dialogue and cooperation, marking a strategic shift foll...
Russian Strike Destroys Olena Zelenska Foundation Warehouse in Ukraine
KYIV — A Russian military strike on Tuesday completely destroyed a warehouse operated by the Olena Zelenska Foundation, dealing a significant blow to humanitarian logistics efforts within Ukraine. The...
Somaliland President Cirro Hosts U.S. Delegation to Bolster Regional Stability
HARGEISA, Somaliland — Somaliland President Cabdiraxmaan Cirro hosted a high-level breakfast meeting on Tuesday with members of the U.S. Congress and American ambassadors, marking a significant diplom...
Royal Saudi Air Force F-15SA Operates from King Khalid Base in Asir Province
KHAMIS MUSHAIT, Saudi Arabia — A Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) F-15SA fighter jet with tail number 5529 is currently operating out of King Khalid Air Base in the southern city of Khamis Mushait. The ai...
Iran Condemns German Chancellor Merz Over Support for US-Israeli Military Action
TEHRAN — Iran's Foreign Ministry issued a sharp rebuke on Tuesday against German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, accusing him of enabling Western military aggression and displaying a lack of moral courage ...
Houthis Display Remains of Shot-Down Saudi F-15 in Yemen's Ma'rib
SANAA, Yemen — The Houthi movement displayed the wreckage of a Saudi Arabian F-15 fighter jet on Tuesday, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the Iran-backed group and the...
Ansarullah Claims Downing of RSAF Drone Over Yemen's Marib
MARIB, Yemen — Ansarullah, the Houthi movement governing parts of Yemen, announced on Tuesday that its forces shot down an unmanned combat aerial vehicle operated by the Royal Saudi Air Force over the...
Iran President Pezeshkian Holds Talks with Iraqi Kurdish Leader in Tehran
TEHRAN — Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met Tuesday with Bafel Jalal Talabani, the leader of the Patriotic Union of Iraqi Kurdistan (PUK), in a high-level diplomatic engagement held at the presid...