Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan — West Asia, bordered by Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Israel and the West Bank
The US State Department has ordered non-emergency government employees and their families to depart Saudi Arabia after a sharp rise in Houthi missile and drone attacks that have hit airports and energy sites, killed civilians and disrupted flights. Washington says the order applies only to Saudi Arabia and that other Gulf embassy withdrawals reported by some outlets are inaccurate.
Iran has escalated its maritime posture amid a widening conflict in the region. Tehran asserts control over key shipping lanes and warns of wider attacks if provoked, while the US and allied forces maintain naval blockades. Oil markets react as energy shipments through Hormuz face disruption and prices rise.
US ambassador to China David Perdue has said President Donald Trump asked Xi Jinping whether China would like to buy US weapons. The State Department has reiterated that US law prohibits arms sales to China and there is no plan to sell. The comments come as Washington has paused a roughly $14bn arms package to Taiwan.
Yemen faces renewed violence as Houthi advances push fronts toward Taiz and Mocha. Displacement rises, aid routes tighten, and prices surge as government forces and Houthis contend for control along the Red Sea coast and hinterlands.
The United States-led coalition has completed its orderly withdrawal from Erbil, handing security responsibilities to Iraqi forces and the Kurdish Peshmerga. Iraq aims to preserve sovereignty amid Iran-aligned pressure and regional volatility. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is pushing to place weapons under state control while diversifying the economy to reduce external influence.
A flydubai Boeing 737 MAX 8 has made an emergency landing in Tabuk after a co-pilot attacked the captain and the aircraft plunged thousands of feet. Passengers and crew overpowered the attacker; the captain is hospitalised and investigations are underway. About 150 Israeli passengers were aboard.
Authorities have dismantled a cross-border Hamas financing network that moved over $2 million through charity fronts and cryptocurrency channels. Indictments and arrests have been issued in the United States and Europe, linking individuals to the group’s financial operations. The actions follow a 2023 attack and a continuing Gaza conflict.
A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv has diverted to Tabuk after a co-pilot attacked Captain Smit Machchhar. The captain opened the cockpit door as the aircraft dropped about 17,000 feet; passengers and crew overpowered the attacker, enabling an emergency landing. Machchhar is recovering in Abu Dhabi, praised by Modi and Netanyahu for bravery.
Passengers and crew have subdued an attacker on a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight, preventing a potential crash as the aircraft plummeted and then leveled out. An Israeli passenger and off-duty pilots helped regain control; Trump has praised an ‘Israeli plumber’ whose actions are cited by multiple outlets.
Syria and Israel face a renewed phase of tensions along the Golan and southern Quneitra as Israeli engineers advance the Sufa 53 line, extending a fortified route inside or near the contested buffer zone. Syria condemns the move as a violation of the 1974 disengagement and UN resolutions, while regional actors urge restraint.
An Israeli mathematics lecturer at Bar-Ilan University has been indicted for preparing to carry out mass terrorist attacks against Palestinian communities in Israel, East Jerusalem and the West Bank. The plan envisaged 72 attackers in 12 cells, with potential support from inside the Israeli military, and aimed to drive Palestinians to flee to neighboring states.
Protesters in Jordan are calling for the cancellation of Andrea Bocelli’s November 27 concert in Petra due to the singer’s ties to Israel. The event, part of his Romanza world tour, is organized by Friends of Jordan Festivals in partnership with the Jordan Tourism Board. Critics say hosting Bocelli risks cultural normalisation and align Jordan with Israel amid regional tensions. UNESCO lists Petra as a World Heritage site and a major tourist draw.
Britain’s consulate in East Jerusalem has been renamed the UK Mission, Jerusalem, with a skeleton staff remaining after a last‑minute agreement with Israel. London says East Jerusalem remains occupied; Israel says the move is a response to sanctions on West Bank settlements. A wider standoff between the allies continues as talks proceed.
The Iran war continues to drive global energy volatility. US forces maintain a naval blockade; oil prices have risen sharply, pressuring consumers as fuel costs stay elevated amid ongoing clashes and attacks in the Strait of Hormuz.
The European Union has established the European Union Support Mission in Lebanon (EUSM Lebanon) to train and advise the Lebanese Armed Forces and Internal Security Forces as UNIFIL winds down. The mission will run for an initial three years, with two components—military and civilian—focused on border security, maritime operations, cybercrime, anti-smuggling and sovereignty, while not replacing UN peacekeepers.
The US president has posted that Washington is pursuing productive discussions with Iran and will not attack Iran before the US midterm elections. The comments come as Iran tensions and carrier deployments intensify in the region, with competing narratives from Guardian, Arab News and AP about potential escalation and timelines.
The Gaza Children Village plans to monitor classroom content to support a de-radicalization curriculum. The initiative has sparked ethical, safety and privacy concerns among Palestinian groups, advocates, and some partners. The charity says it will not share classroom recordings, while critics warn about potential surveillance overreach amid ongoing conflict and governance uncertainties.
A series of Houthi missile and drone strikes has struck Saudi airports this week, including a deadly attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International that has killed and wounded dozens and forced prolonged airport closures. Saudi and allied forces are mounting counter‑operations in Yemen while global leaders have condemned the assaults and airlines have suspended flights.
Multiple projectiles have hit King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh over the past week, including a deadly strike that has killed at least 13 people and wounded hundreds. Saudi authorities have closed the airport, are conducting damage assessments and safety inspections, and several governments have warned citizens against travel to affected Saudi airports.
The General Assembly has allocated 47 seats on the UN Human Rights Council to regional groups, with all regions submitting the same number of candidates for a three‑year term. Contested races have been avoided for a second year, drawing criticism from rights groups about genuine accountability.
Since Monday, Israeli authorities have demolished homes in Umm Numaila and Abu Quraynat, reflecting a wider pattern of home demolitions in unrecognized Bedouin villages across the Negev as authorities press for building permits. The moves are part of a broader legal and political struggle over land and recognition in Israel’s southern desert.
The Indonesian Ulema Council has demanded cancellations of Andrea Bocelli's scheduled performances at Borobudur and Jakarta as part of his Romanza tour, citing Bocelli's past support for Israel. The Tourism Ministry says it is seeking consensus with the MUI, while local police have withdrawn a permit recommendation for Borobudur.
The Syrian government has claimed that Israel is exploiting Suweida’s Druze community for political ends and arming a militia. Netanyahu has described a brief call with Syria’s president as pivotal in halting a massacre during July 2025 clashes, though Damascus remains unclear about the call. A ceasefire in Suweida has held since July 2025, with ongoing talks toward a broader, US-backed roadmap.
Arab-Israeli voters are mobilising ahead of the October 27 election, with turnout surging among Palestinian citizens of Israel. Polls suggest Arab lists could be kingmakers, potentially shaping whether Netanyahu or Eisenkot leads the next government. The dynamic is redefining coalition math in a deeply divided Israel.
Missiles and drones strike at Saudi airports and oil facilities amid the Yemen conflict; multiple countries respond with air-defense interventions and troop deployments. Brent oil tops $100 as the Red Sea shipping lanes face renewed threats.
Russia and Iran are expanding their strategic partnership to influence Middle East security and maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. Lavrov’s visit follows Putin’s signals of mediation, with both countries seeking to shape regional order amid US-Israel actions against Iran.
The FIFA president has apologized to the FIFA Council for missteps in a private World Cup sell-off plan that was later scrapped. European critics demand documents and clarity ahead of the March presidential election, with UEFA pressing for answers to 42 questions by November 2.
The AFC has signaled support for Gianni Infantino's bid for a fourth FIFA term, with Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa endorsing his leadership at Tokyo's extraordinary congress. The endorsement follows a period of mixed signals within the confederation and comes as Infantino faces an ongoing reappointment process ahead of the March election.
Israeli forces have mounted sweeping operations across the West Bank after gunmen opened fire near Hebron, killing two attackers and wounding several. Troops have sealed Hebron, closed gates and restricted Palestinian movement, displacing hundreds of families and preventing most permit-holding workers from entering Israeli communities until after Israel’s Oct. 27 election.
A Greek Orthodox church in Karak, Jordan, was attacked during a funeral, leaving nine dead and dozens wounded. Authorities are hunting the attackers; the government, king, and regional leaders condemn the act as extremism. Security has been stepped up nationwide while Christians in the country face renewed tensions.
The intelligence has warned that Iran has substantially increased efforts to target US personnel. US staff reductions at embassies in Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, and the UAE have been ordered as Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia intensify. The embassies remain open under restricted operations.
The death toll has risen to nine after a church attack in Karak, Jordan, with nearly 40 others wounded. The motive remains unknown, and authorities are pursuing leads as the government promises an iron-fisted response to terrorism.
Three armed men suspected of a deadly attack on St. George’s Church in Hammoud, Karak, have been arrested after a dawn shootout. Security forces sustained no injuries; victims include nine killed and several wounded. King Abdullah II has vowed punishment for the terrorists and urged unity against extremist ideologies.
A UN-backed commission has concluded that Israeli forces have conducted a widespread and systematic attack against Palestinians in the West Bank, including extermination, torture and sexual violence. The report links displacement, land seizures and settler violence to a broader strategy that targets civilians. It also cites genocidal acts in Gaza and calls for ending occupation and returning confiscated land.
Jordanian air strikes target alleged terrorist sites in southeastern Syria after a church attack in Karak that killed nine. Syria says the attacks violate sovereignty, while Jordan says coordination with Damascus is ongoing. Civilian casualties are reported on both sides as border crossings close and investigations begin.
The Syrian government has condemned Jordan’s air strikes in southern Syria as a violation of sovereignty, citing civilian casualties. Jordan says the operation targeted Islamic State militants connected to last week’s church attack in Karak, while acknowledging civilian deaths. Syria has closed the Nasib border crossing and says it is coordinating with Jordan to address the fallout, as both sides seek to preserve bilateral ties amid tensions.
Fierce fighting between Yemen's Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition has intensified around the Bab al-Mandab strait. The latest updates report heavy casualties on both sides as air strikes and ground attacks continue near the Red Sea chokepoint, with cross-border strikes reaching Saudi territory and a broader regional flare-up ongoing.