Pyongyang ramps up pressure with sea-launched missiles
North Korea fired ballistic missiles and other weapons toward the sea in its latest display of military capability, signaling continued pressure and heightening regional security concerns.
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Regional Security
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ASEAN Leaders Forge Contingency Plan to Guard Region From Middle East Spillover
At the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, regional leaders are coordinating a crisis plan to mitigate potential spillover from the Middle East war, focusing on security, economic stability, and humanitarian considerations across member states.
North Korea fires multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea amid rising tensions
North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea, with leader Kim Jong Un overseeing the test as regional security tensions persist and international observers monitor Pyongyang’s weapons program.
Iran escalates missile strikes after denying talks with Washington
Iran launched a fresh volley of missiles as it denied negotiations with Washington, signaling a sharp escalation in the Iran war. Bahrain said an Emirati soldier was killed and several Bahraini/Emirati troops were wounded in attacks attributed to Iran, while the UAE reported missiles and drones intercepted. Pakistan offered to host meaningful talks to end the war, subject to concurrence by the US and Iran, and the UN Human Rights Council announced an urgent debate on the strikes. The period also saw reports of Israeli missiles from Iran, Lebanon expelling an Iranian ambassador, and broader regional tensions reflecting the widening conflict and diplomatic maneuvering.
Khamenei declares enemies defeated as Iran endures US-Israel strikes during Nowruz
In a Nowruz message aired on Iranian TV, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said Iran’s enemies were being defeated as the US and Israel pressed attacks, praising national unity and denying that Iran or its allies were behind attacks on Turkiye and Oman (calling those incidents false flags). He urged closer ties with Afghanistan and Pakistan and offered to help, while President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran does not seek nuclear weapons and proposed a regional security framework to stabilize the region amid ongoing tensions.
Pyongyang fires volley of ballistic missiles amid US-South Korea drills
North Korea fired about 10 ballistic missiles toward the eastern sea, launched from near Pyongyang's Sunan airport and traveling roughly 350 km; Japan said the missiles landed outside its EEZ with no damage reported. In South Korea, the military said it was tightening surveillance and coordinating with the U.S. and Japan as joint spring drills continue, a sign of defiance that underscores rising regional tension amid stalled diplomacy.
Israel After Iran War: The Illusion of Total Victory and Its Hidden Costs
Shira Efron argues that while Israel’s Iran war has produced domestic euphoria and could bolster Netanyahu politically, it is unlikely to yield a definitive, lasting victory. The campaign risks triggering new fronts and wider escalation, while Israel faces mounting economic strain, domestic polarization, and growing international isolation. Even with initial military gains against Iran, the conflict may not end Israel’s security dilemmas, and American support could waver, leaving the country in a fragile, ongoing cycle of conflict rather than a clear resolution.
A War With Iran Won’t Rewrite the Middle East
Foreign Affairs argues that a U.S.-led war against Iran is unlikely to deliver a stable, pro-American Middle East; even if Iran’s leadership is degraded, power vacuums and hard-line proxies could sustain regional wars, undermine Gulf alliances, and stagnate Arab-Israeli normalization, while China and Russia could benefit from Washington’s distraction—the only realistic path is cease-fire and targeted damage-control, not a wholesale ‘day after’ transformation.
Qatar denies joining Iran-targeting strikes, cites self-defense amid Gulf tensions
Qatar rejected reports that it participated in strikes inside Iran in retaliation for Iranian drone and missile attacks, saying it has not joined any campaign targeting Iran and is acting in self-defense. Western sources had claimed Doha carried out strikes in the past 24 hours, but Qatar provided few details. The report followed a thwarted attack on Hamad International Airport and comes amid broader Gulf tensions, with Qatar condemning Iranian attacks on US embassies in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and noting travel disruptions in Doha.
Iran widens its war of costs, forcing a rethink by the US-led bloc
Iran shifts from a quick regime-change gamble to a protracted, multi-front strategy that distributes attacks across the Gulf and beyond to wear down the US-led security umbrella, while signaling that negotiations must produce structural changes. Washington and Israel are rethinking their objectives and considering longer, costlier options, including regional proxies, as the war drags on and Gulf defenses and energy markets feel pressure. The outcome depends on sustained costs rather than swift victory, with wider implications for regional security and even US strategy toward China.
Gulf allies at a perilous crossroads as Iran crisis tests loyalties
The piece opens with a hypothetical editor’s note about Iran’s supreme leader being killed in an airstrike to explore how Gulf allies—especially Saudi Arabia and the UAE—would respond if a wider confrontation looms: they must decide whether to side with the U.S. and Israel or chart an independent path, with significant implications for regional stability and global energy markets.
US-Israel Launch Major Strikes on Iran as Tensions Escalate
The United States and Israel have launched widespread strikes across Iran, including Tehran, described by President Trump as 'major combat operations' aimed at destroying Iran's missile capabilities and pressuring its nuclear program. The operation, named 'Epic Fury,' follows weeks of escalatory threats and ongoing negotiations over Iran's nuclear and ballistic programs. Iran has retaliated with missiles targeting Israel and US bases in the region, with explosions reported in multiple cities in Iran and across the region, prompting international calls for de-escalation.
The Gulf Rift: How Saudi-UAE Rivalry Could Redraw the Middle East
A rising Saudi–UAE rift has shifted from a close strategic partnership to a widening rivalry over economics, investment, and security, driven by Saudi Vision 2030 and Riyadh’s pivot toward Iran, Qatar, and Turkey while the UAE pursues diversified global power. The feud plays out across Yemen, Sudan, Syria, and Israel, involving proxy contests and competing investments, raising the risk of broader instability even if a direct war remains unlikely. Western powers should hedge rather than pick sides to preserve influence over oil markets and trade routes, as a personal rapprochement between MBS and MBZ could help stabilize the region in the longer term.
Iran's growing ballistic-missile arsenal reshapes Middle East security
Iran asserts it has recovered from war damage and maintains one of the Middle East's largest ballistic missile arsenals, with ranges reaching roughly 1,240 to 1,550 miles and including missiles like Shahab, Sejil, and Emad variants; the piece notes underground depots and ongoing development (including hypersonic missiles) as part of a deterrent strategy, while Western assessments describe rebuilding of capabilities after the 2025 Israel conflict and Tehran pursuing assessments amid renewed nuclear talks.
Tensions rise as Trump warns deadline approaches with US carrier group near Iran
President Trump warned that time is running out for Iran to strike a nuclear deal as a large U.S. carrier strike group, including the USS Abraham Lincoln, closes in on the region, signaling a possible imminent military option; Iran and its allies push for talks without preconditions and vow to defend themselves if attacked, while regional powers seek to reopen diplomacy and separate nuclear issues from missiles and proxies.