★ ARABIAN PENINSULA
Egypt Pledges Saudi Defense As Houthis Warn Against Intervention
Egypt’s National Defense Council pledged all necessary support to Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks Sunday. President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi sought parliamentary authorization for possible defensive military assistance if requested by Riyadh. Yemen’s Houthi-controlled parliament warned Cairo that military involvement could endanger Egyptian national security. No Egyptian deployment has been confirmed.
UAE Reportedly Restores Yemen Funding Under Saudi Air Cover
The Guardian reported Saturday that the UAE agreed to resume financing southern Yemeni forces, including the Giants Brigades, in exchange for Saudi air cover against the Houthis. Neither government publicly confirmed the arrangement. Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman met UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed on Sunday to discuss cooperation.
Gulf States Demand Role In Future Iran Security Negotiations
Gulf foreign ministers meeting in Bahrain Sunday demanded participation in negotiations affecting their security and insisted that any agreement with Iran address its nuclear and missile programs, drones, and support for armed groups. The GCC invoked collective-defense commitments over attacks on Saudi Arabia and called for the Houthis to be designated a terrorist organization.
Saudi Houthi Fighting Leaves Civilian Casualties Across The Border
Saudi Arabia reported intercepting four drones Saturday and said a Houthi projectile injured six civilians in Najran Sunday, damaging three houses and three vehicles. Across the border, Houthi authorities reported nine killed, including five children and two women, in an alleged Saudi airstrike in Saada. Riyadh did not immediately comment on the strike.
Saudi Helicopter Crash Kills Two As Houthis Claim Downing
Two Saudi National Guard officers died Sunday when an AH-6i helicopter crashed in Najran near Yemen. Saudi military officials attributed the crash to a technical malfunction, while the Houthis claimed to have shot down an Apache helicopter. The cause remains independently unverified.
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★ ISRAEL
Netanyahu Says Israel Could Strike Iran Without U.S. Approval
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unveiled Israel’s updated national security doctrine Sunday, declaring that preemptive strikes against Iran would not require American authorization. He identified overthrowing Tehran’s government as an objective and outlined increased military independence. Israeli media reported plans for an additional 450 billion shekels in defense spending.
Israeli Settlers Attack European Diplomats During West Bank Visit
Masked Israeli settlers attacked European diplomats and Palestinian olive harvesters in Taybeh Saturday, injuring three people, assaulting French Mayor Bernard Baudoux, and damaging a Belgian diplomatic vehicle. The attack followed Friday’s assault on American photojournalist Heidi Levine. Israeli police opened an investigation.
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★ IRAN
Iran Claims Two Oil Tankers Struck Mines Near Hormuz
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed Saturday that two unidentified supertankers, each carrying approximately two million barrels of crude, caught fire after striking naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran said the vessels had disabled their navigation systems and used unauthorized routes. The incidents remain independently unverified.
Iran Appoints Sanctioned Missile Veteran As New Defense Minister
Iran’s parliament confirmed Mehrdad Akhlaqi Ketabchi as defense minister Sunday, replacing Aziz Nasirzadeh, killed in February’s U.S.–Israeli strikes. Akhlaqi, a former aerospace industry chief under U.S. and European sanctions, pledged to expand weapons production and warned of extensive retaliation against renewed attacks.
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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.