News

The Yemeni Armed Forces said they had carried out eight precision strikes targeting Houthi reinforcements, weapons and military equipment, including three artillery batteries on the Al-Wazi’iyah front and a mobile air-defence system in Mokha, as well as leaders and members in Al-Mansoura and the Bab al-Mandab area.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi announced the end of the international coalition’s mission to fight Islamic State in Iraq, confirming that Iraqi forces would assume full responsibility for the country’s security. The announcement was made during an official ceremony in Baghdad, coinciding with the launch of Sovereignty Days and a public holiday running until 3 October.

Three power stations in Syria were taken offline after gas supplies were halted following an explosion and fire on a pipeline running between the al-Shoula area and Deir ez-Zor. Firefighters announced that the blaze had been extinguished, while technical teams prepared to secure the site and begin maintenance and repairs to the damaged line.

US President Donald Trump said his country had left Iraq, leaving Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zaydi to manage the next phase, after announcing the completion of the withdrawal of US troops and equipment from Erbil on 30 September. Washington said the withdrawal ends a 12-year military mission against Islamic State, while limited training and intelligence support for Baghdad will continue.

A replacement aircraft carrying 174 passengers, including 27 children, arrived at Ben Gurion Airport after their flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was forced to land in Tabuk following an incident in the cockpit. While Israeli officials presented an account involving an attempt to bring down the aircraft, the airline said the cause of the altercation was under official investigation.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has opened the door to examining several paths for the relationship with the European Union, from maintaining the current arrangement to restoring full membership. The debate comes ahead of a summit expected in November, amid a shift in opinion polls and a positive European response, alongside domestic objections and complications over the terms of any new accession.

Israeli authorities described the incident involving flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv as an attempt to bring down the aircraft, while Flydubai said an altercation had taken place inside the cockpit and that it was too early to determine the causes and motives. The aircraft landed safely at Tabuk airport after issuing a distress call and activating emergency procedures.

French President Emmanuel Macron has welcomed the possibility of Britain returning to the European Union, as debate in Britain over its relationship with the bloc gathers pace. He criticised the results of Brexit and the promises made during its campaign, while British Prime Minister Andy Burnham pledged to examine options ranging from remaining outside the EU to restoring membership.

The Ukrainian government has estimated total war needs for 2026 at about $155 billion, including a $27 billion funding gap. Kyiv plans to provide $7 billion by cutting spending and reprioritising it, while negotiating with international partners to secure the remaining amount and ensure the continuation of military operations at the start of 2027.

Fatima Zahra El Mansouri has become the first woman to head the Moroccan government and the third Arab woman to reach the position, following two appointments in Tunisia. Her appointment comes as international data showed that only 28 countries were led by a woman as head of state or government at the beginning of 2026, while 101 countries had never experienced this.

The European Union’s Aspides mission said 2,640 ships have requested protection and escort services since it was launched in 2024, while about 130 ships request escorts each month in the Bab el-Mandeb. The mission faces a shortage of warships compared with the number targeted when it was established, amid continuing risks to shipping in the Red Sea.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations received a report that a liquefied natural gas carrier was hit by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, while authorities began an investigation to determine its nature and source. The authority urged transiting vessels to exercise caution amid a dispute between Washington and Tehran over navigation arrangements in the strategic waterway.

Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Madrid’s central Puerta del Sol square on Tuesday evening, continuing their protests over the housing crisis for a fourth consecutive day. Protesters are calling for rent freezes and the automatic renewal of contracts without arbitrary increases, after the actions began when an 87-year-old woman was taken from her home on a stretcher.

The Lebanese Army said a soldier was seriously wounded and three civilians were injured after an Israeli drone targeted a military vehicle in Nabatieh al-Fawqa. The strike coincided with artillery shelling, two explosions and intensive flights by warplanes and drones over several areas of southern Lebanon early on Wednesday.

Three people, including a child, were killed and 7 others injured in Russian attacks on Kyiv and its surrounding area, while Ukraine said it had downed 5 ballistic missiles and 155 drones. Moscow, meanwhile, said its defences had shot down 384 Ukrainian drones overnight.

Heatwaves and drought have exposed archaeological features beneath fields surrounding the ancient Roman city of Aventicum in Switzerland’s Vaud canton. Surveys conducted by drones revealed remains of baths, houses, roads and a structure that may have been a temple, helping archaeologists update site maps and correct historical records maintained for decades.

A Flydubai aircraft landed in Saudi Arabia after its flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted and contact was lost following the transmission of emergency codes, one of which indicated unlawful interference. While an Israeli official denied that the incident was a hijacking, initial reports suggested a fight in the cockpit or between crew members.

A well-informed official said Qatar had delivered Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi the US response to Tehran’s proposal, which includes steps to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume negotiations within seven days, following a round of indirect contacts on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York.

UAE Vice-President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed bilateral relations and regional developments with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a visit to Riyadh, the first by a senior Emirati official to the kingdom since public differences emerged between the two countries over Yemen.

Russian African Corps forces helped Niger’s military council regain control after a mutiny in Niamey in late August. Nigerian writer Taiwo Hassan says the intervention strengthens Moscow’s influence, but could deepen Sahel states’ dependence on external protection and threaten the independence of their security and political decisions.

The United States will end its formal military operations in Iraq on 30 September, after moving personnel and equipment from Erbil. Washington will retain intelligence and reconnaissance capabilities in the region, reposition forces in Jordan and keep personnel to protect its diplomatic missions.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Moscow’s response after a meeting between the German and Russian foreign ministers showed it was unwilling to hold serious talks to end the war in Ukraine, stressing that Berlin would continue supporting Kyiv for a long time if Russia refused to return to the negotiating table.

The United States condemned acts of violence in the West Bank and called for investigations and prosecution of those responsible after more than 100 settlers attacked Jalud village, setting fire to buildings and vehicles. The attack coincided with further assaults in al-Mughayyir village and criticism from Israeli opposition leaders of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.