Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State, stated that the administration of Donald Trump continues to emphasize pursuing a diplomatic solution toward Iran, adding that Washington’s primary focus remains on continuing negotiations.

Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s Foreign Minister, left Tehran at the head of a diplomatic and technical delegation for Geneva to participate in the second round of negotiations with the United States, as well as in diplomatic consultations.

In recent years, Africa has become a key arena for competition among major and middle powers, each aiming to expand their political and economic influence. This trend is driven by motives such as the continent’s rich natural resources, including mines and rare earth elements, leading to intense rivalry and proxy wars like those in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. The main losers are often the host countries’ interests and their populations. Sudan exemplifies this trend, notably with the UAE’s involvement. The Horn of Africa—comprising Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, and Ethiopia—holds strategic importance due to its proximity to the Red Sea and its role in global trade routes. Its closeness to Yemen and the Bab al-Mandab Strait further amplifies competition, especially among Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s Foreign Minister, criticized the European Union’s approach toward developments in Iran, describing the Munich Security Conference as the “Munich Circus.” He stated that the event, once considered prestigious, has now fallen into decline.

Hamza al-Mustafa, Syria’s Minister of Information, met yesterday with a delegation from the U.S.-based organization IREX, which operates in the fields of education, media development, youth empowerment, and social change. The two sides discussed the state of the media sector in Syria and related development programs.

Following their withdrawal from the Al-Shaddadi base in southern Hasakah province, U.S. forces set fire to their facilities. This action comes amid new U.S. military movements in northeastern Syria and the relocation of equipment from various bases, including Kharab al-Jir, toward the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

In recent days, U.S. military drones have carried out three targeted assassination operations against members of Al-Qaeda and possibly Islamic State (ISIS) in the provinces of Marib and Al-Mahrah, located in central and eastern Yemen.

The United States has advanced its drone strategy in West Asia by deploying the first operational unit equipped with affordable kamikaze drones, which are reverse-engineered from the Iranian Shahed-136. The creation of the “Scorpion Strike” task force, integrated into the “US Military Drone Dominance Plan,” signifies a shift in the air power balance and marks the beginning of an era focused on the mass production of inexpensive, quickly manufactured, and large-scale operational drones. This development poses several strategic challenges that we will explore below.

Following recent political and field developments in Syria, the US presence in the northeast has entered a new phase. Although reports since early 2025 indicate a reduction in forces and the evacuation of some bases in Deir Ezzor, field evidence and satellite images suggest this is not a complete withdrawal. Instead, it appears to be a shift and concentration of presence toward the eastern-northeastern corridor of Syria. This change coincides with decreased activity at Deir Ezzor bases and increased infrastructure development at several eastern bases, notably “Qasrak” and “Shaddadi”. The simultaneous trends—waning presence in the west and expansion in the east—raise a key question: What is the true US strategy in Syria? Is it a gradual withdrawal or a reconfiguration for a new phase?

Armed forces affiliated with the internationally recognized (exiled) government, acting on orders from Shabwah’s security command, opened fire on supporters of Southern Transitional Council (STC) gathered outside the Shabwah governorate building in the city of Ataq. The incident reportedly resulted in an unspecified number of casualties among the southern supporters.

The Mi-28, known in NATO as Havoc, is a Russian twin-engine, two-seat attack helicopter designed for close air support, anti-armor warfare, and day-and-night operations in all weather conditions. The Mi-28 features heavy armor protection, advanced navigation and avionics systems, and multiple weapon configurations for guided missiles and unguided rockets. It is considered one of the core fire-support assets for ground forces in the militaries that operate it. This article examines the various components and characteristics of the helicopter.

A Yemeni man named Mohammed Ahmed al-Haddad, from Dhi al-Sufal district in Ibb province, was killed while fighting as a foreign recruit in the Russia–Ukraine war during Ukrainian army attacks.