Middle East

Israeli Ministry of Defense Signs Deal to Extend Range of F-35I Adir Fleet
Israeli Ministry of Defense Signs Deal to Extend Range of F-35I Adir Fleet

The Israeli Ministry of Defense has signed a new contract with Cyclone, a subsidiary of Elbit Systems, to develop an extended-range capability for Israel’s fleet of F-35I Adir fighter jets. The agreement, valued at more than $34 million (over 100 million shekels), includes the development and integration of external fuel tanks intended to ...

Lebanon, Israel to Hold New Direct Talks in Washington as Ceasefire Nears End
Lebanon, Israel to Hold New Direct Talks in Washington as Ceasefire Nears End

Lebanon and Israel are set to hold a new round of peace talks in Washington on Thursday as their latest ceasefire agreement, which remains formally in effect, approaches its expiration. Israel's military said it was striking Hezbollah targets in south Lebanon on Thursday after warning residents of several towns and villages there and in the ...

Vessel Off UAE Coast 'Taken', Now Bound for Iran Waters: UK Maritime Agency
Vessel Off UAE Coast 'Taken', Now Bound for Iran Waters: UK Maritime Agency

A ship off the UAE coast near the Strait of Hormuz has been taken by unknown people and is now headed towards Iranian waters, a UK maritime agency said on Thursday. The vessel was "taken by unauthorised personnel whilst at anchor" 38 nautical miles (70 kilometres) northeast of Fujairah, and "is now bound for Iranian territorial ...

Iran Says Has 'Right to Respond' After Kuwait Arrests Four Citizens
Iran Says Has 'Right to Respond' After Kuwait Arrests Four Citizens

Iran's foreign minister said Wednesday that Tehran had the right to respond after he accused Kuwait of attacking an Iranian boat and arresting four of its citizens in the Gulf, calling for their release. "In a clear attempt to sow discord, Kuwait has unlawfully attacked an Iranian boat and detained 4 of our citizens in the Persian Gulf. This ...

UAE 'Denies Reports' of Secret Netanyahu Visit
UAE 'Denies Reports' of Secret Netanyahu Visit

The United Arab Emirates said Thursday it "denies reports" that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secretly visited the country, after Netanyahu's office said he had met with the UAE president during the war with Iran. Netanyahu's office said Wednesday he had "paid a secret visit to the United Arab Emirates" ...

U.S. Expands Pressure on Iran as Warplanes Patrol Over Hormuz
U.S. Expands Pressure on Iran as Warplanes Patrol Over Hormuz

The United States military announced Wednesday that it has intensified enforcement of its naval blockade on Iran, saying American forces have redirected dozens of commercial vessels and continue military patrols near the Strait of Hormuz. In a statement, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said 67 commercial ships attempting to enter or leave ...

UNIFIL Reports Escalating Drone Activity Near Its Positions in Southern Lebanon
UNIFIL Reports Escalating Drone Activity Near Its Positions in Southern Lebanon

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has expressed growing concern over intensified military activity involving both Hezbollah-linked elements and the Israeli military near its positions in southern Lebanon, warning that recent drone incidents have placed peacekeepers at direct risk. In a statement issued on Wednesday, UNIFIL said ...

Iran Releases Prize-Winning Rights Lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh
Iran Releases Prize-Winning Rights Lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh

Iranian authorities on Wednesday released on bail the prize-winning rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh following her latest arrest last month, her daughter said. Sotoudeh was arrested at her home on April 1 as part of what activists say is a crackdown on civil society during Iran's war with Israel and the United States. "Mum was temporarily released ...

Reports Point to Expanding Israeli-UAE Security Coordination During Iran Conflict
Reports Point to Expanding Israeli-UAE Security Coordination During Iran Conflict

Cooperation between Israel and the United Arab Emirates reportedly deepened during the recent conflict involving Iran, according to reports from The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg detailing high-level intelligence coordination and joint security measures between the two countries. According to The Wall Street Journal, David Barnea, the head of ...

Israel Intensifies Strikes in Lebanon on Eve of Washington Talks
Israel Intensifies Strikes in Lebanon on Eve of Washington Talks

Israeli forces escalated their military operations in southern Lebanon on the eve of anticipated diplomatic discussions in Washington, striking dozens of targets linked to Hezbollah, according to the Israeli military. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that more than 40 infrastructure sites belonging to Hezbollah were targeted over the ...

South Korea Reviews Phased Support for Strait of Hormuz Security
South Korea Reviews Phased Support for Strait of Hormuz Security

South Korea is considering a phased contribution to international efforts aimed at ensuring safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said Wednesday, signaling support measures that would stop short of direct military involvement. Speaking at a press conference with South Korean reporters in Washington, Ahn said ...

U.S. Authorities Uncover Migrant Smuggling Network Tied to IRGC-Linked Individual
U.S. Authorities Uncover Migrant Smuggling Network Tied to IRGC-Linked Individual

An Iranian national living in New York pleaded guilty Tuesday to running a migrant smuggling operation that brought people into the U.S., including at least one person tied to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), federal prosecutors said. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Sharon Gohari, a naturalized American citizen ...