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EU Weighs Hormuz Mine-Clearing Role as Maritime Crisis Tests European Naval Capacity
The European Union is considering whether its naval mission in the Red Sea should take a leading role in clearing mines from the Strait of Hormuz, in a move that would shift Brussels closer to direct operational involvement in one…
France-Israel Defence Show Dispute Turns Eurosatory Into Diplomatic Test
France’s decision to restrict Israel’s official participation at Eurosatory 2026 has turned one of Europe’s largest defence exhibitions into a test of how military trade, diplomacy and political pressure now intersect. Israel’s Defence Ministry said on Monday that France had…
Israel’s Beaufort Castle advance raises pressure on Lebanon ceasefire
Israel’s capture of Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon has turned a fragile ceasefire with Hezbollah into a test of military facts on the ground, regional diplomacy and the limits of international restraint. Israeli troops have captured Beaufort Castle and its…
Israel Expands Lebanon Operations as Hezbollah Drone Campaign Raises Risk of Wider Escalation
Israeli forces have intensified operations against Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, with fighting reported around the Litani River and new strikes in the Bekaa Valley, as the conflict on Israel’s northern front becomes increasingly linked to wider US-Iran tensions. Israeli forces…
US Strikes in Southern Iran Test Fragile Ceasefire as Hormuz Talks Continue
Washington says its latest strikes were defensive and aimed at Iranian missile sites and mine-laying boats, but Tehran has accused the United States of breaching the ceasefire as negotiations continue over the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear programme. The…
EU Weighs Wider Naval Role as Strait of Hormuz Risk Rises
The EU’s foreign policy chief has said Operation ASPIDES could be extended towards the Strait of Hormuz through a change to its operational plan, as Europe assesses the risk to trade and energy routes in the Gulf. The European Union…
Saudi Arabia’s Covert Strikes Against Iran
For decades, the unspoken bargain in the Gulf was simple: Saudi Arabia bought security, and the United States supplied it. The kingdom funded vast arsenals, hosted Western forces and relied on Washington’s protective umbrella whenever tensions with Tehran threatened to…
Pakistan Accused of Hosting Iranian Military Aircraft Despite Mediator Role in US-Iran Conflict
Pakistan’s role as an intermediary between Tehran and Washington has come under scrutiny after US officials alleged that Islamabad allowed Iranian military aircraft to park on Pakistani airfields during the conflict between Iran and the United States. According to CBS…
Russia’s GRU Reportedly Planned Drone Support for Iran Against US Forces
A confidential Russian military intelligence proposal, reportedly seen by The Economist, outlined plans to supply Iran with thousands of fibre-optic drones and train operators for possible use against American forces in the Gulf. Russia’s military intelligence service prepared a plan…
NATO chief says Europe has heard US message on security burden-sharing
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has said European allies are responding to US pressure over the Middle East crisis by implementing basing agreements, providing logistical support and pre-positioning assets closer to operational theatres. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has said…