★ YEMEN
3 Killed In Houthi Attack On Commercial Ship In Bab Al-Mandab Strait
A Houthi attack on a commercial vessel in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait killed three crew members, including one Indonesian and two Pakistanis, according to preliminary reports from Yemeni military sources. The attack coincided with intensified Houthi strikes across Yemen, including five ballistic missiles and several drones targeting Mokha and its port. Houthi forces also struck residential areas in Marib with ballistic missiles and drones, while fighting continued in Taiz. Yemen’s National Resistance said the vessel was targeted in the strategic strait, but the Houthis have not commented on the incident. The escalation follows two days of attacks on military sites, infrastructure, ports, and civilian areas.
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★ IRAQ
Qaani Visits Baghdad To Discuss Disarming Iraqi Factions
Iranian Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani arrived in Baghdad and met Popular Mobilization Forces leaders, armed factions and Coordination Framework officials, sources told Al Arabiya/Al Hadath. Talks focused on Iraq’s weapons-control plan and other issues. Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi set September 30 as the deadline for factions to surrender weapons to the state.
Iraqi Interior Ministry Closes 71 Fake Hashd Al-Shaabi Offices
Iraq’s Interior Ministry said it had closed 71 unauthorized offices linked to the Popular Mobilization Forces. The ministry also said it maintains a nationwide database of nearly 6 million registered weapons as part of efforts to regulate arms and strengthen security oversight.
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★ IRAN
Iran Loses 95 Million Cubic Meters Daily Gas Capacity
Iran lost about 95 million cubic meters per day in gas production capacity after damage to processing facilities in Assaluyeh, Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad said. He expects the lost capacity to return by late September. In July, an Iranian official said strikes had reduced gas output capacity by 230 million cubic meters daily since the war began in late February.
U.S. Naval Blockade Could Add $18 Billion To Iran’s Trade Costs
Iran’s China trade chief warned a U.S. naval blockade could add $18 billion annually to trade costs. He said rerouting two million containers by land would cost $9,000 more each, while moving $50 billion in non-oil exports overland could become economically unviable. Oil prices also rose as U.S.-Iran talks stalled.
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★ THE GULF
Mohammed bin Salman and Zelensky Discuss Regional and International Developments
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed regional and international developments during a phone call, along with bilateral cooperation and ways to strengthen it. Zelensky congratulated the Crown Prince on the Mecca Defense Pact between Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan, expressing hope that it would contribute to regional security and stability.
Saudi-Turkish Electricity Link Could Create Regional Energy Corridor
Türkiye and Saudi Arabia are exploring an electricity interconnection project through Jordan and Syria, potentially extending to Europe. Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said the initiative could later include Lebanon and form a wider regional grid. The project faces major infrastructure, security, financing, technical, and regulatory challenges, particularly in Syria, while strengthening Türkiye’s ambitions to become a regional energy hub.
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★ SYRIA
IAEA To Remove Nuclear Material From Secret Syrian Site
The IAEA will remove nuclear material from a secret Syrian site under a US-brokered agreement involving Syria and Israel. The deal aims to prevent escalation and follows months of threats and diplomatic efforts. Israel had warned it could strike the site if the material remained. The material is reportedly linked to the former Assad regime’s nuclear program.
Syria Sentences Bashar And Maher Assad To Death In Absentia
A Damascus criminal court sentenced former Syrian President Bashar Assad, his brother Maher, and cousin Atef Najib to death in absentia. The court convicted them of murder, torture, and abuses amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity. It also ordered international pursuit of Bashar and Maher Assad under ongoing judicial proceedings.
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★ U.S.A
Trump Demands Iran Pay Compensation For Deaths And Injuries
U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran must compensate victims killed or seriously wounded in conflicts involving Tehran. His remarks followed Iran’s demand for compensation over U.S. and Israeli attacks, alongside sanctions relief and an end to military threats before reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Trump also cited the USS Cole bombing and deaths during Iran’s January protests.
Trump Secretly Switched Planes After Iran Assassination Threat
President Donald Trump secretly switched from Air Force One to a smaller C-32A in Ankara after an Iranian assassination threat, The Washington Post reported. Trump initially boarded the older Air Force One before being moved by a catering truck, while journalists remained aboard the decoy aircraft. The operation reflected heightened security concerns during escalating US-Iran tensions.
U.S. Oil Reserve Falls To Lowest Level Since 1983
U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve stocks fell by 6.1 million barrels last week to 298.7 million, their lowest level since January 1983. The drawdown follows Washington’s approval, alongside the International Energy Agency, to release 172 million barrels after oil prices surged during the Iran war. Prices have since eased, with crude trading near $86 per barrel as hopes for reopening the Strait of Hormuz weakened.
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★ LEBANON
Israeli Drone Strike Targets Vehicle Near Lebanon’s Nabatieh
Lebanese media reported an Israeli drone strike targeting a vehicle near Nabatieh. Lebanon’s National News Agency said a second strike hit medical personnel transporting an injured person, including teams linked to Hezbollah’s Islamic Health Authority. The IDF has not commented on the reported strikes.
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★ SUDAN
Sudan’s War Pushes Economy Toward Historic Collapse
Sudan’s economy faces severe pressure as the dollar exceeds 6,000 pounds, annual inflation reaches 51.28%, and gold prices hit records. The war has erased more than 30 years of development, while GDP contracted sharply in 2023 and 2024. More than 22 million people are expected to need food aid through September, highlighting the crisis’s deepening humanitarian impact.
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★ Disclaimer: This publication is a digest of various news sources compiled by the Early Phoenix team and edited by Rania Kisar. The items are curated, concise summaries of news items hyperlinked within each story. The items and summaries presented do not necessarily represent the views of the American Center for Levant Studies.
