Key political developments across the Arab world and beyond.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has granted a pardon to a soldier convicted of killing an incapacitated Palestinian assailant in the occupied West Bank back in 2016, despite objections from the Israeli military's chief of staff. The case had previously sparked significant controversy within Israel during the soldier's trial.
Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters issued a stark warning to the United States and several regional countries against miscalculating any move against Tehran. The statement stressed that Iran would not exercise restraint in response to hostile action, signaling readiness for a forceful reply to any perceived threat.
Russian authorities reported two people killed in a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack on the Moscow region, with reports indicating an oil refinery was also hit. The strikes forced the suspension of flights at two airports in the Russian capital.
US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said Sunday he would not set a timeline for ending the conflict with Iran, but stressed that time is working in President Trump's favor. His remarks came amid ongoing military tensions between Washington and Tehran.
CNN reported a fresh escalation in Houthi attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, coinciding with a fire that broke out at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh under circumstances that remain unclear. Saudi authorities have not yet responded to CNN's request for comment on the incident.
Ukraine launched its largest-ever drone attack on Moscow and surrounding areas on Sunday, coinciding with the final day of Russia's presidential election. The strikes mark an escalation in the long-range drone exchanges between the two warring nations.
The White House barred CNN correspondent Betsy Klein from entering its premises and confiscated her press credential, a day after President Donald Trump announced plans to 'ban' CNN, MSNBC and Politico. The move reflects escalating tension between the administration and outlets Trump accuses of biased coverage.
US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper stated that American forces provided security escort for approximately one billion barrels of crude oil passing through the Strait of Hormuz over the past two months. The official emphasized this reflects Washington's ongoing commitment to safeguarding freedom of navigation and energy security in the strategic waterway.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that Ankara rejects drawing Saudi Arabia into the ongoing confrontation between Iran and the United States, commenting on Houthi attacks against the kingdom. He described the so-called 'Mecca Alliance' as a platform that will be a genuine game-changer for the region.
The U.S. State Department issued a warning to American citizens across several Middle Eastern countries about the possibility of a rapid escalation between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia. It also flagged concerns that Iran or its allied groups could target American interests in the region.
The United States and Denmark have announced a deal concerning Greenland, following months of threats from President Donald Trump to annex the Arctic territory. Trump claimed the agreement gives Washington permanent control over security and all other needs in Greenland, while Danish officials have yet to confirm the specifics.
Yemen's Houthi movement announced attacks on what it described as sensitive sites in the Saudi capital Riyadh and an Aramco facility in Yanbu. Separately, the United Nations warned that renewed fighting in Yemen has displaced more than 112,000 people, urging all parties to de-escalate and protect civilians.
An exclusive CNN report revealed that the US military prepared fighter jets to strike a Chinese vessel based on an AI-generated intelligence report that later turned out to be completely false. The incident has raised concerns over the growing reliance on artificial intelligence in high-stakes military decision-making.
Yemen's Houthi movement claimed responsibility for attacks targeting what it called 'sensitive sites' in the Saudi capital Riyadh, along with a strike on an Aramco facility in the Red Sea coastal city of Yanbu. Saudi authorities have not yet issued an official confirmation regarding the scale of damage or whether the attacks were intercepted.
The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels toward the Saudi capital Riyadh. The announcement followed claims by the Iran-backed group that it had targeted both Riyadh and the city of Yanbu.
Iranian authorities organized a large rally in Tehran called 'Defenders of Iran,' attended by President Masoud Pezeshkian, in an apparent show of public support for the leadership. The event coincided with renewed threatening rhetoric from US President Donald Trump directed at Tehran.
Security authorities in Syria's Tartus province announced the arrest of five senior former Syrian air force officers and commanders from Bashar al-Assad's government. They are accused of planning and directing airstrikes on populated residential areas. The arrests are part of ongoing efforts to hold former regime figures accountable for wartime abuses.
A CNN exclusive reveals that a US military intelligence report circulated last spring, amid the standoff with Iran, claimed a Chinese vessel in the Middle East was transporting components linked to a nuclear weapons program. The alarming report, which triggered an immediate high alert within US forces, later turned out to stem from an AI analysis error before being corrected. The incident has reignited concerns over the risks of relying on artificial intelligence in sensitive military decision-making.
The Pentagon has informed Congress that US military operations against Iran cost approximately $45.1 billion, according to a source familiar with the matter. The disclosure was made in a briefing to lawmakers on Friday as part of routine reporting on defense expenditures. No further breakdown of the costs or the specific timeframe covered was released.
US President Donald Trump has signed into law a bill championed by Senator Lindsey Graham aimed at imposing new sanctions on Russia to pressure President Vladimir Putin. The legislation reflects Washington's ongoing push to escalate economic measures against Moscow amid the war in Ukraine.
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