Attacks on Saudi airports kill 3 people, as fighting escalates in Yemen

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.

South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation has submitted formal recommendations to parliament to establish stricter rules and greater transparency regarding foreign travel undertaken by former heads of state. The legislative push follows intense backlash over a recent visit to India by former President Jacob Zuma, during which the 84-year-old politician was photographed at a temple alongside fugitive businessman Ajay Gupta. The Gupta family remains central to South Africa’s massive “state capture” corruption scandal, which involved allegations of systemic political influence and state asset siphonage that ultimately contributed to Zuma’s resignation in 2018. The incident sparked severe political friction, leading South Africa’s High Commissioner to India, Anil Sooklal, to be recalled after he was also pictured alongside Zuma and Gupta. Foreign Affairs Minister Ronald Lamola confirmed that the proposed protocols would require former presidents to disclose complete details regarding international itineraries prior to departure. The advance documentation would allow government agencies to evaluate security requirements alongside potential diplomatic, political, and reputational risks to the nation. The controversy marks the latest diplomatic dispute involving the former president, who now leads the opposition uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party following his expulsion from the ruling African National Congress (ANC). Last year, the South African government issued a formal diplomatic protest to Morocco after Zuma engaged in talks supporting Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara region, directly contradicting official South African foreign policy.

Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has announced plans to return to her home country in December, despite facing a death sentence following her conviction for crimes against humanity. Speaking via audio broadcast to journalists at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club in Delhi, her first direct address to the press since being ousted in August 2024, the 78-year-old former leader acknowledged the grave risks associated with her return. “I know that they may put me in jail or they may kill me, anything may happen, but still I have to go back.” Hasina stated, while declining to reveal specific travel dates or logistics. Hasina fled to India two years ago following a mass student-led uprising that ended her 15-year rule. Last year, a special tribunal in Dhaka sentenced her to death in absentia after prosecutors presented evidence, including verified audio recordings, showing she authorised the use of lethal force against demonstrators. UN reports estimate that up to 1,400 people were killed during the crackdown. Hasina continues to reject the charges as politically motivated, alleging that external groups transformed student protests over government job quotas into a violent movement. The announcement has heightened diplomatic tensions between New Delhi and Dhaka. Bangladesh’s newly elected government, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), expressed outrage over India permitting Hasina to address international media, renewing its demands for her immediate extradition. Meanwhile, analysts suggest Hasina’s high-stakes gamble aims to re-energise her banned party, the Awami League, whose supporters face increasing political isolation and violence ahead of her proposed return.