The Russian TASS agency criticized US arms sales to Taiwan, describing it as a shameful step similar to planting a time bomb at someone else's door, stressing that the Taiwanese issue is China's internal affairs and that external forces have no right to interfere in it, after the first two F-16V Block 70 fighters arrived in Taiwan in October 2023, as part of an $8 billion deal agreed upon in 2019, and an arms package worth $11.1 billion approved in December. 2025.
Iran has hardened its tone towards the United States and Israel, hinting at a response to any new attack, while at the same time maintaining its readiness to negotiate its nuclear program, at a time when countries in the region continue their contacts and efforts to advance dialogue between Tehran and Washington and reduce the escalation.
Iran warned of a decisive response to any new American or Israeli military attack, while affirming its readiness to negotiate its nuclear program without giving up its rights, in light of regional efforts to reduce escalation and resume dialogue between Tehran and Washington.
American military and intelligence agencies warned Saudi Arabia for months of the increasing threat from the Houthis, called for the unification of Yemeni forces, and offered limited assistance in planning and intelligence information without air strikes or fuel supply, while the situation in Yemen escalated after an attack on Sanaa airport, which the Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out.
ISIS claimed responsibility for an attack in Kirkuk that killed an Iraqi policeman. In Yemen, government forces continue the “Yemen Dawn” military operation. In Syria, security announced the arrest of an ISIS leader in the Damascus countryside.
US President Donald Trump said that his phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin was very good and that the two sides are close to ending the conflict, adding that the next call is scheduled very soon, in the context of five phone conversations that took place between the two presidents since the beginning of the year, the last of which was on September 8 to evaluate the results of the visits of American representatives to Moscow and Kiev.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russia is preparing to launch a large-scale attack on Ukraine based on updated intelligence information, while Bulgarian authorities are investigating the sinking of a commercial ship and the loss of its crew after a drone attack in the Black Sea, in the context of escalating attacks on civilian shipping in the region due to the war between Ukraine and Russia.
Sri Lankan Rasamanikam Yogalakshmi faces the risk of her 24-year-old son Anujan Sivarasa being executed in Saudi Arabia after he was convicted of blasphemy over a Facebook comment, while the family appeals to the Saudi authorities for mercy and Sri Lankan diplomatic efforts continue to obtain a pardon.
More than 450,000 people participated in student protests in France. Trade unions called on education workers to join them, while the French Prime Minister described the situation as dangerous and accused the radical left of seeking to create chaos before the presidential elections. Amnesty International called for an end to excessive repression during the protests.
The report reviews the progress of the “Yemen Dawn” military operations led by the Yemeni government, in addition to the Syrian authorities’ announcement of the arrest of a prominent ISIS leader in the Damascus countryside, and the continued management of the Roj camp for families of ISIS fighters in northeastern Syria.
Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa discussed with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ways to strengthen bilateral relations and rebuild Syria, including attracting qualitative investments in the sectors of energy, construction, industry, agriculture and trade, and issuing an official invitation to visit Saudi Arabia to establish a new phase of joint Arab action.
Iran has hardened its tone towards the United States and Israel, hinting at a response to any new attack, while maintaining its readiness to negotiate its nuclear program, at a time when countries in the region continue their contacts to push dialogue between Tehran and Washington and reduce escalation, amid conflicting statements from Iranian officials about negotiations and military readiness.
The Director of the Fourth CIS Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry warned that Armenia was being lured by generous Western promises in exchange for abandoning cooperation with Russia, stressing that geography and economics, not politics, will determine the future of transport corridors in the South Caucasus, and stressed that Russia will remain an essential partner for Armenia in developing its railways due to its superiority in cost and reliability.
Syrian General Intelligence, in cooperation with Damascus Countryside Security, arrested Khaled Raed Biruni, nicknamed “Abu Hassan Dushka”, the executive arm of ISIS in Homs, during a security operation in the town of Hajira. Reports also revealed the presence of more than 2,200 people from the families of ISIS fighters in the Roj camp in northeastern Syria under Kurdish management, despite the agreement to merge institutions with the Syrian state, and confirmation that the camp has not undergone any change in its management so far.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed began his second term adhering to his project to reach the Red Sea outlet, amid tensions with Eritrea and Egypt, battles in Tigray, extremist Israeli statements about Sinai that sparked controversy in Egypt, and the arrest of six Egyptian journalists on charges of belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood.
Ethiopian federal forces took control of Mekelle, the capital of the Tigray region, after the withdrawal of the rebels, while four neighboring countries called during a summit in Egypt for political and peaceful solutions to regional disputes, amid escalating tensions between Egypt and Ethiopia over the Renaissance Dam and renewed conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea, which threatens to drag regional powers into a broader conflict in the Horn of Africa region.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney urged the province of Quebec to focus on immediate economic challenges such as housing, growth, infrastructure, and supporting workers affected by US tariffs, instead of waiting for a possible referendum on independence after years, after the separatist Party of Quebec returned to power, while Turkey is conducting NATO exercises to combat sea mines and the Turkish authorities are blocking 88 accounts on the X platform due to the investment funds scandal.
The Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitoring Report for 2026 showed that Syria recorded the highest number of casualties from a single country in 2025 due to cluster munition remnants, with 68 cases out of 117 globally, despite the fact that no new use of them has been recorded since the fall of the Assad regime in late 2024, while gaps in services for survivors continue and the government faces pressure to join the 2008 agreement, and in Iraq, Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi seeks to complete the ministerial formation amid disagreements within the framework. Coordination regarding the vice presidents and vacant ministries, and in Palestine, attempts are being made to form a broad coalition list to convince Marwan Barghouti to run in the upcoming legislative elections.
Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa arrived in Riyadh on Tuesday on an official visit, where he met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the two sides discussed bilateral relations and developments in the situation in the region, according to the Syrian News Agency (SANA).
The Emir of Qatar discussed with the Iranian Minister of the Interior the reduction of regional escalation and the fate of missing Iranian pilots, in conjunction with the Saudi Crown Prince receiving the Syrian President in Riyadh to discuss bilateral relations and developments in the region.
Lithuania's parliament has voted to lift the constitutional ban on deploying nuclear weapons, paving the way for hosting US bases. The Kremlin warned of a dangerous escalation and vowed to place Lithuania among the targets of its nuclear system, amid escalating tensions on NATO's eastern flank.
Kiev began installing drone protection nets on its vital bridges for the first time since the start of the Russian invasion, coinciding with Sweden's announcement of sending a Patriot system to Poland to protect a logistics center supporting Ukraine.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah held a phone call with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdel-Ati to discuss coordination between Cairo and Riyadh regarding regional developments, including Iran and the security of the Red Sea and Sudan. Abdel-Ati renewed Egypt’s support for the security of Saudi Arabia and the two ministers agreed to maintain the security of navigation in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab, and to confirm support for Sudan’s unity and sovereignty amid the ongoing war since April 2023.
