Latest Defense & Security stories.
An Iraqi analyst accused the United States of seeking to disarm resistance groups in Iraq and the region, while former parliamentarian Muhammad Ibrahim called for state regulation of their weapons rather than confiscation. The positions were reported by Iran’s IRNA, citing al-Maalouma; the report provided no official response or independent verification of the allegations.
Read storyA Sana’a government official said Saudi Arabia is using a third party to seek information about the pilots of an F-15 that Yemeni forces said they shot down over Marib. Yemen also claimed that Saudi F-15 and Typhoon aircraft searching for the wreckage were forced to withdraw. The supplied evidence contains no independent confirmation or details about the pilots’ fate.
Read storyIraq has removed restrictions on civilian flights in its western regions, transferring airspace previously used exclusively for military operations to the country’s airport and aviation authorities. Officials said the move will enable the redesign of air routes and the creation of new civilian corridors, while remaining technical and organizational measures are completed. The decision follows the use of parts of western Iraq in military operations against the Islamic State in 2016 and 2017 and is described by the Transport Ministry as part of preparations linked to the withdrawal of the international coalition and the transfer of airspace responsibility to Iraqi authorities.
Read storyBrigadier General Bahman Kargar said Iran’s armed forces parade will not be held this year because of wartime conditions. He made the announcement ahead of the 46th anniversary of Sacred Defense Week, which will be observed under the slogan “Labbaik Ya Khamenei.” He also said a new 20-year strategic plan for the Foundation for the Preservation and Publication of Sacred Defense and Resistance Works would begin in 2026, while museums and memorial sites nationwide prepare to receive visitors.
Read storyAn IRNA report about an episode of «Pay-kar» examines the responsibilities of a Tehran metro station manager during a reported attack. It emphasizes that protecting the lives of colleagues, passengers and fellow citizens must come first, with immediate judgment taking precedence over routine instructions in a rapidly unfolding crisis. The source uses political language to describe the attack, but provides no further details about its location, casualties or consequences.
Read storyIRNA, citing Palestine Today, reported that Israeli drones struck southern Khan Younis and Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, killing one Palestinian and injuring several others. The agency also reported Israeli raids and arrests in Jenin and Ramallah, while alleging continued violations of the Gaza ceasefire.
Read storyAn IRNA report about an alleged attack on Tehran’s metro system emphasizes that station managers must prioritize the safety of colleagues, passengers and other members of the public. It argues that managers may need to make immediate decisions in a crisis, with written procedures coming second to the protection of human life. The supplied evidence does not establish the incident’s specific details, casualties, damage or operational impact.
Read storyThe U.S. State Department reportedly approved a proposed $24.3 billion arms package for Saudi Arabia that includes 48 F-35 Lightning II fighters, 49 engines and related support equipment. The deal could significantly expand Saudi air capabilities and challenge Washington’s longstanding policy of preserving Israel’s qualitative military edge. The available evidence does not provide final delivery terms, implementation details or the outcome of any further review.
Read storyUKMTO reported a security incident in the Strait of Hormuz, about 16 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman. The agency said the crew was safe, no environmental impact had been reported and authorities were investigating. Vessels were advised to exercise caution and report suspicious activity.
Read storyGCC Secretary-General Jassem Mohammed Albudaiwi condemned a reported Ansarullah drone attack in Saudi Arabia’s Taif province and expressed full solidarity with Riyadh. Saudi authorities reported that one person was killed and two were injured after a drone was intercepted and destroyed and debris fell in the area.
Read storyNews sources, citing IRNA and Al Mayadeen, reported that a powerful explosion was heard near Erbil in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region. The cause, timing, casualties and damage had not been confirmed. A separate Reuters report cited unnamed Kurdish security sources as saying that a drone attack targeted a Kurdish opposition group’s camp near Sulaymaniyah, but the available evidence does not establish whether the incidents were connected.
Read storySerbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced that Serbia has opened a factory for assembling Israeli-designed advanced drones. The facility is expected to employ about 100 people and supply drones to Serbia’s military and the armed forces of other countries. Vučić said at least three more factories could be established, but the plant’s location, Israeli partner, production scale and drone specifications were not disclosed. Journalists were barred from visiting because the production process was confidential.
Read storyIRNA, citing Al Mayadeen, reported that a large U.S. military convoy carrying heavy equipment and armored vehicles was seen in western Iraq and was moving toward Jordan. The available evidence provides no independent confirmation or further details about the operation.
Read storyJordanian and French representatives signed a military cooperation agreement in the presence of King Abdullah II and President Emmanuel Macron. The agreement’s details were not disclosed. The signing occurred during a French-hosted meeting on support for the Lebanese Armed Forces, where participants discussed the army’s deployment in southern Lebanon and its training, equipment and funding needs. French officials said the meeting involved no direct financial commitments, with final funding expected to be considered at a future donors’ conference.
Read storySouth Korean President Lee Jae-myung said Seoul would not send troops or military equipment to the Strait of Hormuz in a way that involved participation in or intervention in a war. He said limited measures to protect commercial shipping, oil routes, and South Korean citizens remained necessary, noting that the Cheonghae Unit was already deployed and prepared to respond to maritime threats. South Korea has also sent an investigative team to assess conditions in the region and denied reports of a U.S. request or deadline for deploying military equipment. Iranian official Esmail Baghaei warned that any operational or military presence by other parties in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz would have serious consequences.
Read storyCBS News, citing U.S. officials, reported that Iran had shot down at least two U.S. MQ-1 drones in recent days. The report did not identify the variants or locations involved. The aircraft could have been Predators or Gray Eagles, which differ substantially in cost. The report also cited Congressional Budget Office figures showing losses of at least 24 MQ-9 Reapers and one MQ-4C Triton since the conflict with Iran began.
Read storyIRNA, citing a Yemeni news outlet and local sources, reports that forces affiliated with Ansarullah captured the Al-Aghbara mountain range in Lahij province, overlooking Bab al-Mandab. The report says Saudi-backed Amaliqa Brigade forces withdrew, and claims the advance strengthens Sana’a-aligned forces’ surveillance and positions around the strait. The account has not been independently confirmed in the supplied evidence.
Read storySANA, cited by Iran’s IRNA, reported that Israeli artillery struck areas near al-Hamidiyah in Quneitra and Bat al-Warda hill near Beit Jinn in the Damascus countryside on Friday. No casualties were reported in the Quneitra attack. The same account said Israeli forces detained a young shepherd during an operation in western Daraa and described the incidents as part of wider Israeli military activity in southern Syria.
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