Iraqi Defense Minister Thabit al-Abbasi revealed in a televised interview that U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth had informed him via phone call about an imminent military operation in the region
Following recent operations by the UAE-backed Giants (Amaliqa) Brigades along Yemen’s southern coast and amid speculation about potential U.S.-Emirati military plans targeting Ansar Allah positions, American and Emirati advisors conducted an inspection of the Giants Brigades to assess their readiness and military capabilities.
In a recent report, the American newspaper Wall Street Journal claimed that the terrorist group ISIS has significantly intensified its attacks in northeastern Syria during 2025. Citing data from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the report noted that from January through the end of August, ISIS carried out 117 attacks—compared to just 73 throughout 2024.
The U.S.-led coalition has begun constructing a new military base near the strategic Baghdad–Damascus international highway, outside the 55-kilometer zone surrounding al-Tanf.
Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs of the Taliban, held a high-level meeting yesterday with Shaher Al-Taqi, CEO of Saudi Arabia’s Delta International, and Zalmay Khalilzad, former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan.
In a major escalation of its pressure campaign against Venezuela, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has ordered the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford along with four Arleigh Burke-class destroyers—USS Winston S. Churchill, USS Bainbridge, USS Mahan, and USS Forrest Sherman—and possibly an attack submarine to the Latin American region.
This report, based on the 2022 U.S. National Security Strategy, analyzes how America’s updated security policies influence its military presence and interventions worldwide—especially in West Asia. These policies aim to reduce direct and large-scale U.S. military deployments, favoring limited operations conducted with and through regional partners and groups. From now on, the central theme of U.S. actions will be a “denial strategy.”
The ancient city of Palmyra, located in eastern Homs province, witnessed the presence of U.S. military forces on October 17. According to local sources, American troops conducted a field visit to the city and its historic fortress without coordination with the Syrian army.
In recent months, Iraq’s state-owned Rafidain Bank has come under U.S. pressure for various reasons, aimed at increasing financial strain on the Iraqi government regarding the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). In the latest round of accusations, Washington claims the bank processed payments and foreign currency transfers for Yemen’s Ansarallah movement through its branch in Sana’a.
Yemen’s decision to pause its military operations reflects a strategic shift from confrontation to conditional diplomacy. By tying its halt to Israel’s compliance with the ceasefire, Yemen signals that its objectives—supporting Palestine and pressuring regional actors—have been met. Far from retreat, this marks a calculated success in its campaign.
Steve Witkoff, U.S. Special Envoy for West Asia, along with General Charles Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), visited an Israeli military base in the Gaza Strip. The visit was attended by Eyal Zamir, Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army, and several senior Israeli commanders. The purpose of the visit was to assess the Israeli army’s withdrawal from areas designated in the recent agreement with Hamas.
The United States Senate, in its recent session, overwhelmingly passed the draft defense budget for fiscal year 2026. According to the resolution, the U.S. government is authorized to allocate $130 million from the total defense budget to support the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the northeast and the Free Syrian Army (Jaysh al-Suriya al-Hurra) in southern Syria.
