West Asia - Islamic World News

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.

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.

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.

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), alongside the Eskan and Prince Sultan air bases near Riyadh, operates another facility at the port of Yanbu in western Saudi Arabia, known as L.S.A. Jenkins.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned on Tuesday that if the United States were to initiate a war against Iran, the conflict would not be limited and would turn into a regional war.

The Saudi-led coalition has released information claiming that Aidarus al-Zoubaidi, head of the Southern Transitional Council, fled to the United Arab Emirates following recent defeats in eastern and southern Yemen.

With Saudi air support, forces of Yemen’s government-in-exile have taken control of the provinces of Abyan and Aden.