Capital of Jordan, economic/political/cultural hub
A surge of US-Iran strikes and Iranian drone and missile actions have escalated tensions across key shipping chokepoints. The US has targeted Iranian military sites, while Iran and its allied groups threaten to disrupt global energy routes via Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb, prompting renewed warnings and international concern.
Drones and missiles target Saudi energy infrastructure amid a broader surge in US-Iran hostilities. Riyadh says the attacks were launched from Iraqi territory by Iran-backed militias; Iraqi authorities condemn the strikes while Yemen’s Houthis claim to have attacked Saudi shipping. The lull in fighting is punctuated by new strikes across the region as mediators push for talks.
The Houthis and Yemen's government have agreed to release more than 1,600 detainees in what UN officials call the largest prisoner exchange in the Yemen conflict, with ongoing talks for additional releases and prisoner visits under ICRC oversight.
Syria has invited Lebanese figures and met key Lebanese leaders, signalling a shift in Damascus-Beirut relations. Damascus rejects military intervention in Lebanon while seeking economic and security cooperation. Western leaders have floated unprecedented ideas about Syria taking a role in disarming Hezbollah, but Syria’s new government has dismissed such plans.
Palestinian parties have become increasingly influential as the October elections approach. Polls show Arab parties may play a pivotal role in forming a government, challenging the traditional blocs. Analysts say the war has redefined Arab political participation in Israel, with turnout and cross-community alliances under scrutiny.
Several sources report that more than 4,000 Israeli settlers have stormed the Al-Aqsa compound on Tisha B’Av, with far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir entering under heavy police protection. Palestinian officials say restrictions barred many worshippers; officials warn the move could threaten the status quo and spur regional tensions.