Syrian Arab Republic
From Iran to the Muslim Brotherhood: Mohammed bin Zayed–Trump call explores a rebalancing of the region
Tensions in the Middle East are reshaping key alliances as UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed and US President Donald Trump hold a high-level call on Iran’s regional aggression and the growing influence of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Missile strikes on Tehran fuel depots creates toxic smoke cloud, headed for Central Asia
Missile strikes on fuel storage facilities in and around Tehran on March 8 triggered massive fires and sent toxic smoke across the Iranian capital, raising health concerns for millions of residents, as the cloud drifts towards Central Asia.
Ukraine sends interceptor drones to Jordan
Ukraine has begun deploying its hard-won battlefield expertise in drone warfare beyond Europe, sending its interceptor drones and specialist teams to help defend US military installations in the Middle East as regional tensions escalate.
US running out of explosives due to Tennessee plant bottleneck
The US is running out of munitions for the Iran campaign, reports the Wall Street Journal. The bottleneck isn't the lack of missiles. It's a lack of explosives.
US intelligence reports casts doubts on military strikes toppling Iran’s government
A US intelligence assessment has concluded that even a major American-led military assault on Iran would be unlikely to overthrow the country’s leadership.
Iran turns to China’s BeiDou satellites to outfox Israeli anti-drone electronic warfare defences
Iran dumped reliance on the US GPS satellite network to guide drones and missiles and switched to China’s BeiDou satellite navigation system to neutralise Israel’s electronic warfare defences.
The Straits of Hormuz have closed, but a trickle of tankers still getting through
Iran’s military declared the Straits of Hormuz were shut on March 2 and traffic fell to nearly zero within a day. But it is not at zero. At least five ships have traversed the passage since the blockade began.
BEIRUTER: Hezbollah pushes Lebanon into the path of “Peace by Force”
Lebanon is once again paying the price for being drawn into a regional confrontation. Tehran’s reliance on Hezbollah’s remaining missile arsenal as its own stockpile dwindles has pulled Lebanon deeper into the war and vulnerable to Israel.
BEIRUTER: History is repeating itself in Lebanon
Israel’s latest strikes on Beirut risk repeating the logic of the 1982 invasion of Lebanon — a moment when a single attack gave Israeli leaders the opportunity to escalate a war they were already prepared to fight.
Gulf states ask for Ukrainian interceptor drones as Patriot stocks dwindle
Ukrainian drone manufacturers are preparing to supply interceptor drones to Gulf states seeking cheaper ways to counter Iranian Shahed attacks, as heavy use of US air defence systems in the Middle East raises concerns about missile shortages.
Azerbaijani airspace becomes critical transit route as Gulf conflict disrupts flights
Corridor narrows further when drone attack on Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan airport forced partial airspace closure.
Iran denies striking Turkey, Azerbaijan and Cyprus, says 'false flag'
Iran denies launching strikes against Turkey, Azerbaijan and Cyprus, suggesting the attacks were staged provocations while also accusing the US of seeking to seize Iranian oil resources.
COMMENT: Iran conflict energy shock to dampen eurozone outlook, says Oxford Economics
The escalating conflict involving Iran risks delivering a fresh energy shock to the eurozone, potentially lifting inflation while slightly slowing economic growth, according to Nicola Nobile, chief Italy economist at Oxford Economics.