Attack on one, defence of all: Makkah pact

South Korea has launched a review after its military nearly opened fire on a United States military drone that was initially identified as an unknown aircraft near the border with North Korea. The incident briefly raised security concerns in one of the most heavily guarded areas of the Korean Peninsula before officials confirmed the aircraft was taking part in a joint military exercise. According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, the drone was detected on Thursday in northern Gyeonggi Province close to the border. Military personnel followed standard operational procedures after they were unable to immediately identify the aircraft. As a precaution, troops prepared to respond while continuing to track its movements. The aircraft was later confirmed to be a United States Marine Corps drone participating in combined training with South Korean forces. The incident prompted a temporary security alert in the border region. Local authorities issued evacuation warnings to residents and farmers living inside the Civilian Control Zone around Cheorwon and nearby communities. Emergency text messages sent shortly after 2 pm advised people in frontline areas to move to shelters or other safe locations until the situation became clear. After military officials confirmed the aircraft’s identity, a second message informed residents that the alert had been lifted and there was no longer any immediate danger. No shots were fired and no injuries or damage were reported. United States Forces Korea confirmed that the aircraft belonged to the US Marine Corps and was involved in a scheduled joint exercise with South Korean troops. The command said it is reviewing the circumstances that led to the misunderstanding and is working with South Korean authorities to examine the incident. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that military inspectors from its readiness office would visit the Army’s 1st Corps on Friday to review how the situation was handled. The inspection will assess whether existing identification and communication procedures were properly followed and whether improvements are needed to prevent similar incidents in the future. The episode highlights the high level of military alert maintained along the border with North Korea, where tensions remain elevated. South Korean forces routinely monitor unidentified aircraft because of the possibility of North Korean military activity. Officials said troops acted according to established procedures because they could not immediately determine whether the aircraft posed a potential threat. The incident also comes shortly after another security concern involving the United States military. Earlier this week, residents living near a US military base in Pyeongtaek were briefly advised to evacuate following an incident involving white phosphorus. That event prompted some civic groups to call for an investigation and for the US military to provide a public explanation. Although the drone incident ended without violence, it has renewed attention on the challenges of coordinating military operations in a region where misunderstandings can quickly escalate. South Korean authorities are expected to use the findings of their review to strengthen communication and operational procedures during future joint exercises with United States forces.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of helping Iran identify US military positions in the Gulf by providing satellite intelligence, adding another layer of tension to the already strained relationship between Moscow, Tehran, and Kyiv. His remarks come as Ukraine and Iran exchange fresh accusations following an attack on an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea. In a statement shared on social media, Zelensky claimed that Ukraine had observed increased Russian satellite monitoring of Gulf countries and American military installations since the beginning of July. According to him, the satellite images were later used by Iran, with a noticeable connection between the timing of the surveillance and Iranian attacks. He alleged that the imagery was gathered before strikes to assist with planning and then again afterward to evaluate the extent of the damage. While Zelensky did not release evidence to support the claim, he insisted the pattern was clear and significant. The allegations surfaced shortly after Ukraine announced a series of long range military operations in the Caspian Sea. Zelensky said Ukrainian forces had successfully struck vessels carrying military cargo linked to Iran as well as a warship. Ukrainian intelligence later stated that drones had targeted sanctioned cargo ships allegedly involved in transporting military equipment between Iran and Russia. The operation marked one of Kyiv’s most direct actions against assets connected to Tehran and reflected Ukraine’s growing willingness to challenge countries it believes are supporting Russia’s war effort. Iran reacted strongly to the reported strikes. The Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned Ukraine’s senior diplomat in Tehran to protest what it described as a hostile and unlawful attack. Iranian officials said one sailor was killed and several others were injured when a commercial vessel exploded following the strike. The ministry rejected any suggestion that Iran had played a role in the war between Russia and Ukraine and insisted the country had remained outside the conflict. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also condemned the attack, describing it as a serious violation of the United Nations Charter. He claimed the operation had been carried out to advance Israeli interests and accused Kyiv of trying to draw Europe deeper into the regional conflict. Araghchi said he had discussed the matter with European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, warning that Iran would not allow the incident to pass without a response. Zelensky’s latest accusations regarding Russian support for Iran are not entirely new. Earlier reports citing US officials claimed that Moscow had shared intelligence with Tehran about American military positions in the Middle East during the recent conflict involving Iran and the United States. Those reports also suggested that China could have played a supporting role, although no public evidence has confirmed those claims. The issue has also created mixed messages within the US government. During a congressional hearing, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth acknowledged that Russia and China were helping Iran in different ways. He said there was clear cooperation among American rivals but declined to discuss the full extent of that support, arguing that the details should remain classified for security reasons. Only days later, however, President Donald Trump publicly disagreed with that assessment. Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he did not believe Russia or China had assisted Iran. He stated that both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping had assured him they were not involved in supporting Iranian military operations. Despite those conflicting views, Zelensky maintained that Russian satellite activity offered direct evidence of cooperation. He specifically pointed to satellite surveillance conducted on July 19 and 20, claiming Russian satellites closely monitored four air bases used by the United States in Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait. According to the Ukrainian leader, the timing of those observations raised serious concerns about Russia’s role in helping Iran monitor American military assets in the region.