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An intensifying Middle East conflict is causing major disruptions to global air freight operations, leaving everything from fresh food to aircraft components stranded as shipping capacity drops dramatically worldwide.

The ongoing U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran have forced the suspension of both passenger and cargo flights throughout the region, including major international shipping centers in Doha and Dubai.

Aviation consulting firm Aevean reports that worldwide air freight capacity fell 22% during the four-day period from February 28 through March 3, compared to a similar timeframe last month prior to Chinese New Year celebrations.

“It is an absolute halt of the supply chain to the Middle East,” stated Abdol Moaberry, chief executive of GA Telesis, a Florida-based company specializing in aircraft components and maintenance services. His company cannot transport parts to the affected region or retrieve components requiring repairs.

According to the International Air Transport Association, air freight handles roughly one-third of international commerce by monetary value. This includes everything from Apple devices to climate-sensitive medications, fresh produce, and automotive components transported in passenger aircraft cargo holds and dedicated freight planes.

Middle Eastern airlines control approximately 13% of global air cargo capacity, according to Aevean data. The disruption particularly affects routes connecting Asia and Europe.

Brian Bourke, chief commercial officer at SEKO Logistics, explained that Europe and Asia-Pacific regions face greater consequences due to their dependence on Middle Eastern shipping hubs.

“Companies in the U.S. should be paying attention,” Bourke noted. “But it’s not as immediate as if you’re in Europe or Asia or Australia.”

Air freight capacity along the Asia-Middle East-Europe corridor has dropped 39% since hostilities began, though direct shipping between China and Europe has grown 26%, Aevean reported.

Joshua Ng from Alton Aviation Consultancy suggests Chinese carriers may gain competitive advantages since they can utilize Russian airspace while many competitors face restrictions, resulting in shorter routes and reduced operational expenses.

Freightos consultancy data shows shipping rates from Southeast Asia to Europe have increased more than 6% to $3.82 per kilogram since Friday, with South Asian rates climbing 3% to Europe and 5% to the United States.

“Whenever operational disruptions increase costs or reduce capacity, air cargo rates tend to experience upward pressure,” Ng explained. “In the near term, shippers may begin to see higher spot rates on the Asia–Europe corridor, particularly if the disruption persists and capacity constraints continue.”

Stefan Paul, chief executive of Swiss logistics company Kuehne+Nagel, warned Tuesday that “certain backlogs arising in Southeast Asia and in China for the European and the U.S. marketplace” could develop by early next week.

Aircraft parts typically require air transport, and extended disruptions may delay Middle Eastern carriers’ attempts to resume normal operations. Kuehne+Nagel data indicates aerospace shipments to and from the region represented 6.7% of global aerospace freight in 2025.

“Even if the aircraft is not flying because of the war, the aircraft still has to be airworthy for when the skies open up,” explained Amyr Qureshi, senior vice president at Aventure Aviation.

Aventure serves approximately 70 airlines, including Etihad Airways, Emirates and Qatar Airways, maintaining essential components like engine valves and avionics at its Atlanta distribution facility.

Qureshi reported urgent calls from numerous carriers seeking parts, as individual components can sometimes determine whether aircraft remain grounded for maintenance. “If the part doesn’t arrive on time the airplane sits in the hangar more,” he said, calling it a “domino effect.”

On a positive note, Qureshi mentioned that components scheduled for shipment from Dubai airport to Atlanta for repairs were collected by a freight forwarder Wednesday.

“There is a gradual improvement,” he observed. “But these things are so unpredictable… tomorrow everything comes to a standstill.”

JAKARTA – Indonesia’s communications ministry delivered a sharp rebuke to Meta Platforms Inc on Thursday, citing the company’s inadequate efforts to remove harmful content from its social media platforms.

The formal reprimand followed an unexpected visit by Communications and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid to Meta’s Jakarta headquarters on Wednesday. During the visit, officials expressed frustration with the company’s poor track record in addressing problematic material.

According to ministry officials, Meta has demonstrated insufficient compliance with Indonesian laws designed to combat harmful online content. The company’s platforms – including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp – have failed to adequately address issues ranging from false information and online gambling to defamatory posts and hate speech.

The statistics paint a concerning picture: Meta took action on merely 28.47% of content that Indonesian authorities had flagged as problematic, particularly material related to gambling and misinformation.

“Disinformation, defamation, and hate content threaten lives in Indonesia, yet Meta has allowed them to persist,” Minister Hafid stated.

Indonesian officials are demanding that Meta enhance its content monitoring capabilities and speed up the process of removing illegal and dangerous material from its platforms.

This latest confrontation follows previous government action from last year, when ministry officials summoned Meta executives along with representatives from other major social media companies, ordering them to improve their content oversight practices.

Meta has not yet provided a response to requests for comment regarding the warning.

KYIV, Ukraine — Seven people lost their lives and 10 others sustained injuries, including three children, when a Russian missile struck a five-story apartment building in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, on Saturday, according to Ukrainian officials.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denounced the assault and urged the international community to take action. The president reported that Russia launched a massive overnight bombardment using 29 missiles and 480 drones, focusing on power infrastructure in Kyiv and other central areas, with damage documented in at least seven additional locations nationwide.

Initial reports indicate Ukrainian air defense forces successfully intercepted 19 missiles and 453 drones, while 9 missiles and 26 attack drones found their targets across 22 different sites.

Rescue teams in northeastern Kharkiv continued searching through debris for potential survivors.

The Kyiv region experienced damage from falling debris across three districts, local officials reported. In southern Odesa, authorities deployed 80 firefighters to combat extensive blazes at infrastructure sites following multiple drone strikes. Ukraine’s national railway company Ukrzaliznytsia announced that infrastructure damage necessitated route modifications in the country’s center-west region.

“There must be a response from partners to these savage strikes against life,” Zelenskyy wrote on X. “Russia has not abandoned its attempts to destroy Ukraine’s residential and critical infrastructure, and therefore support must continue. We count on active work with the European Union to guarantee greater protection for our people. I am grateful to everyone who helps strengthen our protection.”

Since launching its invasion more than four years ago, Russia has deployed tens of thousands of Iranian-designed Shahed drones against Ukraine. Moscow has established large-scale domestic manufacturing of these weapons and has bombarded Ukraine with hundreds of drones in single attacks — exceeding the total used during some complete months in 2024.

Iran has deployed similar drone technology against Middle Eastern nations following joint U.S.-Israeli military operations.

Zelenskyy revealed that the United States had requested Ukrainian assistance in defending against Iranian drones in the Middle East, and he had authorized the provision of equipment and Ukrainian specialists.

The Middle Eastern conflict has shifted international focus from Europe’s largest war since World War II and caused the delay of new U.S.-mediated negotiations between Russia and Ukraine that were scheduled for this week.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced Saturday that the nation’s temporary leadership council has decided to halt military strikes against neighboring countries, with the exception of retaliatory action if Iran faces attacks from those nations first.

The declaration was made while Iran continues conducting military operations throughout the region as a response to strikes carried out by U.S. and Israeli forces against the Islamic Republic.

Officials in Azerbaijan announced Friday they successfully disrupted multiple terrorist operations allegedly orchestrated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including schemes to strike a critical oil pipeline and Jewish community locations.

According to Azerbaijan’s State Security Service, as reported by the government-run Azertag news agency, the planned attacks targeted the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, Israel’s embassy in the country, a synagogue serving the Ashkenazi community, and a prominent figure from Azerbaijan’s Mountain Jews, an ancient Jewish population.

Iranian officials have yet to respond to these allegations.

The threatened BTC pipeline carries oil through Georgia and Turkey to European markets and provides approximately one-third of Israel’s petroleum imports. Any successful attack on this infrastructure could significantly increase global energy costs as Middle Eastern conflicts continue into their second week.

This announcement follows Azerbaijan’s Thursday pledge to respond to what it described as an Iranian drone attack on its Nakhchivan territory, which reportedly wounded four individuals and damaged airport facilities. Tehran has categorically rejected claims it launched the drone strike.

Azerbaijani investigators determined that two Iranian nationals and one Azerbaijani citizen worked together to smuggle more than seven kilograms of C-4 explosives into the country under IRGC direction. International arrest warrants have been issued for four suspects.

On Friday, Azerbaijan withdrew its diplomatic personnel from Iran due to security concerns, further straining relations between the nations that have been complicated by Baku’s partnerships with Israel and Turkey.

BEIRUT – As Israeli airstrikes hammered southern Beirut neighborhoods early Monday morning, a pregnant Sudanese refugee named Ridina Muhammad had to make a desperate escape with her family, walking through darkened streets until they reached safety at a local church.

Muhammad, 32 and eight months pregnant, trekked for hours alongside her husband and three children before finding transportation to St. Joseph Tabaris Parish, one of the few places willing to shelter refugees and migrants during the current conflict.

The family joins approximately 300,000 people forced from their homes throughout Lebanon this week due to intense Israeli bombardments, which came as retaliation for rocket and drone attacks launched by Hezbollah into Israeli territory.

While government facilities house only 100,000 of those displaced, with others staying with family or sleeping outdoors, refugees and migrants report being denied access to official shelters – the same treatment they experienced during previous conflicts between Israel and Hezbollah.

Muhammad’s seven-year-old daughter lost the ability to speak following the 2024 war, and now the family faces even greater hardships with their home destroyed and Muhammad’s delivery date approaching at month’s end.

“I don’t know if there’s a doctor or not, but I’m really scared about it because I haven’t prepared any clothes for the baby, nor arranged a hospital, and I don’t know where to go,” Muhammad explained to reporters while her younger child rested against her swollen belly.

Despite registering with the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), Muhammad says she has received no assistance during this crisis.

“Us, as refugees, why did we register with the U.N., if they are not helping us in the most difficult times?” she questioned.

UNHCR Lebanon representative Dalal Harb acknowledged the agency’s mobilization efforts but noted the enormous challenge of reaching everyone given the rapid scale of displacement. She revealed that UNHCR’s Lebanon operations currently receive only 14% of needed funding.

The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), which previously assisted the church in hosting displaced individuals in 2024, has resumed its support role.

According to Michael Petro, JRS Emergency Shelter Director, the church reached capacity within 24 hours of the strikes beginning, now housing 140 people from South Sudan, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, and other nations.

“There are many, many more people coming than there were in 2024, and we have fewer and fewer places to put them,” Petro noted.

Petro revealed that weeks before the current escalation, he was assured government shelters would welcome migrants if warfare resumed. However, when strikes commenced and even Lebanese citizens struggled to find refuge, that policy appeared to shift.

“We’re hearing from hotlines up to government officials and ministries that migrants are not welcome,” Petro stated.

Lebanon’s Social Affairs Minister Haneen Sayyed did not respond to requests for comment, though she announced Thursday that Beirut shelters had reached full capacity.

When the bombardment started, 41-year-old Sudanese resident Othman Yahyeh Dawood loaded his two young sons onto his motorcycle and traveled 75 kilometers from the southern town of Nabatieh to St. Joseph’s, where they had previously found shelter in 2024.

“I know the area is safe and there are people who will welcome us,” Dawood said.

“We don’t know where to go; there’s war there (in the south), war here (in Beirut), war in Sudan, and nowhere else to go,” he added.

During Thursday’s annual parliamentary session in Beijing, Chinese officials presented their 15th five-year economic strategy, establishing the nation’s priorities across multiple sectors that will receive government backing and financial support.

The comprehensive plan addresses several key areas that could significantly impact global commodity markets:

RARE EARTH MINERALS AND METALS

For the first time in any five-year plan, Beijing specifically highlighted its dominance in rare earth minerals, committing to preserve its global leadership position while modernizing the sector. Officials also indicated they would strengthen their export control mechanisms, which have previously created supply shortages of essential minerals in international markets.

The nation’s commitment to expanding renewable energy infrastructure is expected to drive increased demand for copper and aluminum through extensive electrical grid development projects, many of which have already been announced. Despite China’s heavy dependence on imported materials like copper and iron ore, Beijing pledged to boost domestic mining and exploration efforts, though specific examples were not provided.

INDUSTRIAL OVERCAPACITY CONCERNS

Chinese leadership renewed their commitment to address excess production capacity in heavy industries including steel manufacturing, petrochemicals, and copper processing. While no specific reduction targets or output cuts were announced, the government did establish energy efficiency goals designed to accelerate restructuring within these carbon-heavy sectors.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY POLICIES

The plan sets a goal to reduce carbon intensity – measuring carbon emissions relative to economic output – by 17 percent, which represents a slight decrease from last year’s 18 percent target. Over the previous five-year period, carbon intensity actually dropped by only 12 percent. This approach allows total emissions to continue rising alongside economic growth.

Beijing aims to reach peak coal consumption within the next five years but removed previous commitments to phase down coal usage entirely. This change suggests coal consumption may stabilize rather than decline. The government did commit to generating 25 percent of all energy from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.

OIL AND NATURAL GAS STRATEGY

China plans to maintain consistent domestic oil production at 200 million tons per year while continuing to increase natural gas output and expand strategic petroleum reserves. The plan includes advancing preliminary work on the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline project with Russia, which Moscow considers nearly finalized despite ongoing pricing disputes that have caused significant delays.

The country will also continue expanding its coal-to-liquids industry, which converts coal into oil, gas, and petrochemical products.

AGRICULTURAL OBJECTIVES

By 2030, China seeks to boost annual grain production to 725 million metric tons, relying on advanced technology and improved crop yields as available farmland becomes increasingly limited. Officials reiterated their focus on securing reliable overseas food supply chains for the substantial quantities of agricultural products the nation continues to import.

The plan calls for addressing overcapacity issues in the pork industry while providing support for dairy and beef sectors, both of which have recently received tariff protection.

MOSCOW – The Russian government leveled serious accusations against Washington and Tel Aviv on Thursday, claiming both nations are deliberately attempting to involve Arab Gulf countries in an expanded Middle East war through provocative actions against Iran.

According to Moscow’s allegations, Gulf Arab nations – which maintain strong diplomatic ties with the United States and some with Russia as well – have faced Iranian drone and missile bombardments following weekend airstrikes conducted by American and Israeli forces against Iran on Saturday.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin reached out to four Arab Gulf nation leaders by telephone on Monday, proposing that Moscow could leverage its diplomatic relationship with Iran to communicate the region’s concerns about Tehran’s attacks on petroleum facilities throughout the area.

In an official statement released Thursday, Russia’s Foreign Ministry directly blamed America and Israel for intentionally attempting to pull Arab Gulf nations into a larger regional war.

“They deliberately provoked Iran into retaliatory strikes against targets in some Arab countries, which led to human and material losses, which the Russian side deeply regrets,” the ministry said.

“In doing so, they (Washington and Tel Aviv) are trying to drag the Arabs into a war for someone else’s interests,” the statement continued.

MOGADISHU – In a significant political development Wednesday, Somalia’s legislative body approved constitutional amendments that will postpone the nation’s upcoming elections and lengthen the terms of both parliamentary members and the country’s president.

The East African nation has struggled with ongoing instability and tribal conflicts since autocratic leader Mohamed Siad Barre was overthrown in 1991, leaving the country without effective central governance for decades.

Despite efforts by African Union peacekeeping forces to combat the terrorist organization al Shabaab, which has ties to al Qaeda, the militant group continues to maintain control over large rural territories and regularly launches attacks against major cities and towns.

Last August, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud negotiated an agreement with certain opposition figures that would have allowed direct legislative elections in 2026, though the presidential selection would remain in parliament’s hands. Legislation passed in 2024 had restored direct voting rights for citizens prior to the scheduled election.

During Wednesday’s session, 222 members of the combined parliament and senate – representing two-thirds of the total 329 legislators – approved the constitutional modifications through voice vote. The changes extend both legislative and presidential terms to five years, up from the previous four-year limit.

“Today is a historic day for it is the official completion of the constitution which had dragged for a long period,” the president told a press conference on Wednesday.

However, opposition party leadership, including multiple former presidents and past prime ministers, have denounced the constitutional amendment and continue to demand that elections move forward in May according to the original timeline.

A crude oil tanker sustained what appears to be hull damage following an explosion that occurred while the ship was moored near an Iraqi port facility, according to the vessel’s operating company.

The incident involving the Sonangol Namibe, which operates under a Bahamas flag, took place early Thursday morning near Iraq’s Khor al Zubair port when an unidentified small craft came alongside the tanker around 1:20 a.m. local time.

According to a statement from Sonangol Marine Services, the company representing the vessel, the small watercraft moved toward the left side of the oil tanker before the explosion occurred.

“The small boat approached the port side of the tanker and a short time later a loud bang was heard,” Sonangol Marine Services said in a statement.

The company reported that the tanker’s crew has observed water escaping from a ballast tank on the port side, indicating possible damage to the ship’s exterior structure. However, officials emphasized that the vessel continues to maintain stability and remains safely positioned in the water.

“The crew reports that a port ballast tank is losing water which suggests some form of hull breach but the ship remains stable and safely afloat,” the company stated.

MOSCOW, March 7 – Russian President Vladimir Putin offered his sympathies to Iran’s leadership following civilian deaths from what the Kremlin characterized as “armed Israeli-American aggression against Iran” while demanding an immediate end to the fighting.

During a Friday evening telephone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Putin conveyed his deep sympathies regarding the deaths of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Khamenei’s family members, Iranian government and military officials, and “numerous civilians,” according to Kremlin officials.

“Vladimir Putin reaffirmed Russia’s principled stance in favour of an immediate cessation of hostilities, the rejection of force as a method to solve any issues surrounding Iran or arising in the Middle East, and a swift return to the path of diplomatic resolution,” the Kremlin said.

The Russian president indicated he maintains ongoing communication with leaders from Gulf Cooperation Council nations.

“Masoud Pezeshkian expressed gratitude for Russia’s solidarity with the Iranian people as they defend their sovereignty and the independence of their country. He also provided a detailed update on the developments during the latest active phase of the conflict,” the Kremlin said.

NAIROBI, Kenya — Drivers found themselves trapped for hours on Saturday as flooding overwhelmed the streets of Kenya’s capital following intense overnight downpours.

Military personnel were called in to support emergency rescue operations, while the local toll road company eliminated charges for drivers using elevated highways.

The deluge started Friday and persisted through the night, completely submerging cars and forcing drivers in certain locations to walk through waist-deep floodwaters to find safety on higher ground.

Social media platforms filled with footage showing waterlogged residences throughout the city.

Military rescue teams were dispatched during the night to bolster emergency services as Kenya Red Cross response crews faced difficulties reaching stranded individuals.

Kenya Red Cross Secretary-General Ahmed Idris explained that search and rescue operations were working around the clock to help those trapped.

“We are severely limited by the traffic and the situation on what used to be roads. We are doing our best to reach those in need,” he wrote on X.

Local citizens attributed the severe flooding to blocked storm drains, arguing that municipal leaders should have prepared by maintaining proper drainage systems before the current wet season began.

Resident Aisha Bajaber expressed frustration on X, writing, “The whole city is flooded yet again. How long will officials keep ignoring the lack of drainage?”

The country has experienced continuous rainfall since the end of February, marking the beginning of the extended rainy period.

Past wet seasons have brought devastating floods, landslides, and mudslides that have claimed hundreds of lives and forced thousands from their homes.

Regional tensions in the Middle East reached new heights Saturday as Iran unleashed fresh waves of ballistic missiles and drone attacks, with Gulf nations reporting successful interceptions of multiple projectiles.

Saudi Arabian forces neutralized four drones targeting the nation’s significant Shaybah oil facility early Saturday morning, marking the second assault on the location within just hours. Residents of Dubai reported hearing multiple explosions during morning hours, with United Arab Emirates officials confirming “a minor incident resulting from the fall of debris after an interception.”

Israeli fighter aircraft conducted extensive bombing campaigns against targets in both Beirut and Tehran as the conflict continued to escalate. Saturday’s casualty figures showed devastating losses, with officials reporting at least 1,230 fatalities in Iran, over 200 deaths in Lebanon, approximately a dozen killed in Israel, and six American service members confirmed dead.

Intelligence sources revealed Russia’s apparent entry into the conflict, with two U.S. intelligence officials confirming Moscow had shared information with Iran that could assist Tehran in targeting American naval vessels, aircraft, and military installations throughout the region.

The expanding warfare showed no signs of abating as President Trump’s administration greenlit a fresh $151 million weapons package for Israel. This decision followed Trump’s declaration that negotiations with Iran would only occur after its “unconditional surrender.”

The conflict’s economic ripple effects reached Pakistan, where officials announced a substantial fuel price increase of 55 rupees per liter (approximately $0.20) overnight. Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar attributed the hike to surging global oil costs stemming from Middle Eastern hostilities, noting Pakistan’s heavy dependence on petroleum imports from Saudi Arabia and neighboring Gulf states.

Israeli defense forces identified Tehran’s Imam Hussein University as a primary target, stating the facility served as a training center for Revolutionary Guard personnel and housed “multiple military assets” utilized by the Guard. Military officials reported deploying more than 80 combat aircraft in Saturday’s latest assault wave, which struck an underground facility storing ballistic missiles and housing command operations where “senior officials of the Iranian regime” were stationed.

Additional targets encompassed launch facilities across Iran’s central and western regions, according to military statements.

Tehran’s morning hours were punctuated by explosions as fresh airstrikes pounded Iran’s capital city. The bombardment appeared concentrated on downtown Tehran and government facilities in the area.

Dubai International Airport, recognized as the globe’s busiest hub for international flights, experienced disruptions when travelers were evacuated into underground train tunnels following missile alert warnings. Mobile phone emergency notifications alerted Dubai residents Saturday morning about “potential missile threats,” with Emirati officials instructing citizens to find immediate shelter as air defense systems activated.

When questioned about the escalating situation during a White House meeting focused on student-athlete compensation in college athletics, President Trump sharply criticized the reporter’s inquiry. “I have a lot of respect for you, you’ve always been very nice to me,” Trump addressed Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy. “What a stupid question that is to be asking at this time. We’re talking about something else.”

Israeli citizens rushed to protective shelters throughout the country early Saturday after loud explosions signaled incoming Iranian missile attacks on additional targets. Emergency services reported no immediate casualty information was available.

Ukrainian officials confirmed Saturday that a deadly missile attack launched by Russian forces has claimed seven lives in the city of Kharkiv, with two children among the casualties.

Regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported through the Telegram platform that the missile impact caused significant damage to a five-story apartment complex located within one of Kharkiv’s residential districts. Emergency response teams have been deployed to the scene and are currently working to remove debris from the damaged structure.

The attack represents the latest in ongoing hostilities affecting civilian areas throughout Ukraine’s second-largest city.

BEIJING, March 7 – Leaders from China’s economically vital Jiangsu province unveiled ambitious strategies to boost artificial intelligence development and modernize industrial operations Saturday, responding to President Xi Jinping’s directive for the region to spearhead technological innovation.

As China’s second-largest provincial economy and a critical manufacturing hub for exports, Jiangsu plays a pivotal role in the nation’s economic landscape.

The province produced approximately 14 trillion yuan ($2 trillion) in economic output during 2025, creating an economy comparable to nations like Spain and serving as a cornerstone of Beijing’s efforts to maintain growth and industrial strength while facing mounting geopolitical pressures from Western countries.

Provincial Governor Liu Xiaotao, leading Jiangsu’s delegation at China’s National People’s Congress, announced Saturday that the region hosts over 1,500 companies focused on artificial intelligence and holds the nation’s second-highest computing power ranking, featuring 66 major AI systems and 283 algorithms officially registered with government regulators.

Transportation official Wu Yonghong revealed plans to expand “AI plus” transportation programs, creating approximately 50 demonstration projects that utilize artificial intelligence to enhance infrastructure oversight and shipping operations.

Yangzhou Mayor Zheng Haitao reported that artificial intelligence applications are already transforming local manufacturing, with 186 automated production systems established across industries including auto parts and environmental technology sectors.

Zheng explained that Yangzhou is implementing financial incentives, such as computing cost assistance and specialized talent recruitment programs, designed to draw businesses and establish a comprehensive artificial intelligence network.

President Xi, who serves as a representative in the Jiangsu delegation and frequently participates in their discussions, addressed provincial legislators Thursday, calling on the region to pioneer the nation’s development of “new quality productive forces” – Beijing’s terminology for technology-based economic advancement.

Xi’s remarks gained additional emphasis Thursday through China’s 15th five-year development strategy, which referenced artificial intelligence more than 50 times and featured a comprehensive “AI plus” framework designed to integrate the technology throughout Chinese economic and social systems.

China’s National People’s Congress brings together approximately 3,000 representatives from provincial and regional groups, including government officials, business leaders, scholars, and laborers, who debate and approve laws and policy directions during the yearly legislative gathering in Beijing.

Turkish defense officials announced Thursday they are monitoring the Iranian Kurdish militant organization known as PJAK, expressing concerns about the group’s impact on regional security and stability.

The announcement follows Tuesday reports that Iranian Kurdish organizations have been in discussions with U.S. officials regarding potential operations against Iranian security forces in Iran’s western regions, according to sources who spoke with Reuters.

Turkey, which maintains NATO membership and shares a border with Iran, is currently pursuing peace negotiations with the banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), an Iraq-based militant organization. Turkish leadership also supports incorporating Syrian Kurdish fighters into Syria’s official government structure, making them unlikely to endorse any cooperation between Washington and Iranian Kurdish militants.

“The activities of groups that fuel ethnic separatism, such as the terrorist organization PJAK, negatively affect not only Iran’s security but also the overall peace and stability of the region,” Turkey’s defense ministry stated during their weekly press conference in Ankara.

Turkish officials confirmed that government agencies are maintaining close surveillance of the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK), a banned militant organization with connections to the PKK. Both Turkey and its Western allies, including the United States and European Union nations, have classified the PKK as a terrorist organization.

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that upcoming U.S.-facilitated peace negotiations with Russia have been delayed due to ongoing Middle Eastern conflicts.

At the same time, America and Middle Eastern allies are requesting Ukraine’s help in defending against Iranian Shahed drones. According to Zelenskyy, Russia has launched tens of thousands of these same Shahed drones at Ukraine since beginning its invasion more than four years ago. Iran has deployed identical drone technology in response to combined U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iranian facilities.

The Middle Eastern conflict, now entering its sixth day, has shifted global focus from what analysts call Europe’s largest war since World War II. Western officials and experts report the Russia-Ukraine conflict has resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties, with no indication that year-long American-led peace initiatives will end hostilities soon.

“Right now, because of the situation around Iran, there are not yet the necessary signals for a trilateral meeting,” Zelenskyy stated Wednesday evening. “But as soon as the security situation and the overall political context allow us to resume that trilateral diplomatic work, it will be done.”

Multiple nations, including America, have contacted Ukraine seeking assistance with Iranian drone defense, Zelenskyy revealed. He disclosed recent conversations with leaders from the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait regarding potential cooperation.

Ukraine will only provide such assistance if it doesn’t compromise its own defensive capabilities and enhances Kyiv’s diplomatic position in ending Russia’s invasion, he explained.

“We help to defend from war those who help us, Ukraine, bring a just end to the war” with Russia, Zelenskyy stated.

Ukrainian forces have recently repelled Russian troops at several locations along the approximately 1,250-kilometer (750-mile) battle line, according to the Institute for the Study of War.

The Washington-based research organization reported this week that targeted Ukrainian counteroffensives reclaimed more territory than Ukrainian forces surrendered during February’s final two weeks, estimating recovered land at roughly 257 square kilometers (100 square miles) since January 1.

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Initial vote tallies from Saturday reveal that a political movement headed by a former rapper is dominating Nepal’s parliamentary elections, marking the nation’s first vote since a youth-driven uprising last year.

The National Independent Party, known locally as Rastriya Swatantra, has secured 27 out of 165 direct election seats while maintaining the lead in 90 additional districts, according to data from Nepal’s Election Commission.

The party’s candidate for prime minister is Balendra Shah, a politician who previously worked as a rapper before capturing Kathmandu’s mayoral position in 2022 and becoming a prominent voice in the 2025 movement that removed former Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli from power.

Shah, age 35, centered his campaign messaging around improving healthcare and educational opportunities for Nepal’s impoverished population, capitalizing on widespread public dissatisfaction with established political organizations.

In a direct matchup against Oli in a southeastern region, Shah currently holds a commanding advantage over the ex-prime minister while vote tabulation proceeds.

The remaining six decided races were captured by the Nepal Congress party alongside two communist political organizations.

Citizens are choosing 165 representatives for direct election to the House of Representatives, Parliament’s lower house. An additional 110 positions in the 275-seat legislature will be distributed using proportional representation, where parties receive seats corresponding to their vote percentages.

Vote tallying continued across most districts Saturday, with complete results anticipated over the coming two days. Election officials are using helicopters to retrieve ballot containers from isolated mountain communities in the country’s northern regions.

Political observers view this election as a three-party competition, driven by citizen anger over extensive corruption and calls for increased governmental transparency.

Though the National Independent Party only formed in 2022, it has attracted massive voter support in this election, establishing itself as the leading contender while mounting a serious challenge to two historically powerful parties: the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist).

The 2025 demonstrations opposing corruption and inadequate leadership began with restrictions on social media usage before expanding into widespread government opposition. The violent clashes resulted in dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries as demonstrators targeted government facilities and law enforcement responded with gunfire.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iranian forces launched heavy attacks against Gulf Arab nations in the early hours of Saturday, while Israel and the United States maintained their ongoing aerial bombardment of the Islamic Republic.

The conflict appears far from over. President Donald Trump’s administration greenlit a fresh $151 million weapons package for Israel following Trump’s declaration that he would refuse negotiations with Iran unless it agrees to “unconditional surrender.” American officials have cautioned that an upcoming bombing offensive will surpass anything seen during this week-long battle.

Iran’s representative to the United Nations declared the nation would “take all necessary measures” for its defense.

Video footage from the Associated Press captured explosions and billowing smoke across western Tehran as Israel announced it had launched a comprehensive strike operation. During the same early morning hours, loud explosions echoed through Jerusalem while Iranian missiles sent Israeli civilians rushing to protective shelters nationwide.

Israeli emergency response teams reported no immediate casualties.

Demonstrating how the conflict continues to spread, warning sirens blared throughout Bahrain as Iranian forces attacked the island nation. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia reported successfully intercepting drones approaching its massive Shaybah oil facility and destroying a ballistic missile aimed at Prince Sultan Air Base, where American military personnel are stationed.

American and Israeli forces have pounded Iran with continuous strikes, focusing on military infrastructure, government leadership, and nuclear facilities. The conflict’s objectives and timeline have changed multiple times, with the United States occasionally indicating its goal is removing Iran’s current government or supporting new internal leadership.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Qatar’s energy minister Saad al-Kaabi cautioned that the war might “bring down the economies of the world,” forecasting a complete halt to Gulf energy shipments that could drive oil prices to $150 per barrel.

Benchmark U.S. crude oil prices climbed above $90 per barrel on Friday, marking the highest level in over two years.

Intelligence sources indicate Russia has shared information with Iran that could assist Tehran in targeting American naval vessels, aircraft, and other regional military assets, according to two officials with knowledge of U.S. intelligence findings.

These sources, speaking anonymously due to lack of authorization for public comment, emphasized that intelligence has not revealed Russian direction of Iran’s use of this information.

Nevertheless, this represents the first evidence of Moscow’s involvement in the conflict.

Trump posted on social media Friday: “There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!” Following surrender “and the selection of a GREAT & ACCEPTABLE Leader(s),” he continued, America and its allies would assist in rebuilding Iran, making it “economically bigger, better, and stronger than ever before.”

These statements will likely generate additional questions regarding the war’s ultimate objectives. The fighting has claimed at least 1,230 Iranian lives, over 200 Lebanese deaths, and approximately twelve Israeli casualties, based on official counts from these nations. Six American service members have died.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian posted on social media that “some countries” had initiated mediation attempts, without providing details.

Iranian state broadcasting reported Friday that a leadership council had begun deliberations on convening the nation’s Assembly of Experts, responsible for choosing the next supreme leader.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated in a Friday television appearance that the war’s “biggest bombing campaign” remains ahead.

Israeli officials report extensively bombing a vast underground bunker complex that Iranian leadership intended to occupy during the hostilities over the past week.

Fresh evidence has emerged indicating that a fatal February 28 explosion at a school in Minab, an Iranian city approximately 1,100 kilometers (680 miles) southeast of Tehran, likely resulted from American airstrikes. This evidence encompasses satellite imagery, expert evaluation, a U.S. official’s account, and public data from American and Israeli military sources.

Iranian state media reported that more than 165 people died in the explosion, with children comprising the majority of victims.

Iran has accused Israel and the United States of responsibility for the blast. Neither nation has acknowledged involvement, though Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed American investigation into the incident.

The Iranian-supported militant organization Hezbollah reported that its forces engaged with an Israeli unit that landed Friday night in Lebanon’s eastern mountains. Lebanon’s Health Ministry confirmed at least three fatalities.

Israel has not confirmed this engagement, and its military has not responded to requests for comment.

Israeli forces have conducted repeated airstrikes against Beirut’s southern suburbs, areas with significant Hezbollah presence that also house hundreds of thousands of civilians.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry reports at least 217 deaths from Israeli strikes since Monday, with 798 people wounded.

Evacuation traffic clogged roads throughout the Lebanese capital as smoke rose from the city’s southern neighborhoods. Two medical facilities evacuated their patients and personnel.

“What can we do? We prayed here under the tree. During the night, we slept in the car because there is no place to stay,” said Jihan Shehadeh, among tens of thousands of displaced residents.

PRAGUE — Members of the Czech Parliament’s lower chamber were scheduled to vote Thursday on whether to remove Prime Minister Andrej Babiš’s legal protections from prosecution in a $2 million fraud case connected to European Union funding.

If approved, the decision would enable Prague’s Municipal Court to proceed with the case and render a final judgment. The court had previously cleared Babiš on two occasions, but a higher court overturned those decisions, stating they failed to properly evaluate the evidence and directing the lower court to find him guilty in a new trial.

Babiš has maintained his innocence and declared the case “is clearly politically motivated.” Prosecutors initially sought a suspended sentence and financial penalty for the billionaire populist leader, who started his third term as prime minister in December.

The allegations focus on a property called the Stork’s Nest, which obtained EU funding after being moved from Babiš’s Agrofert business empire to his family members’ control. Subsequently, Agrofert regained control of the property.

The EU funding was designated for smaller businesses, which would have made Agrofert ineligible to receive it. The company eventually repaid the subsidy money.

Jana Nagyová, Babiš’s former business partner who authorized the subsidy application, will also face a new trial. She currently serves in the European Parliament, which has already removed her immunity protections.

Babiš regained leadership after his ANO (YES) party secured a decisive victory in October elections, creating a governing alliance with two smaller parties: the anti-immigration Freedom and Direct Democracy party and the conservative Motorists party.

The new coalition plans to reduce the country’s support for Ukraine and oppose certain European Union initiatives.

Commercial airline pilots across the globe are confronting unprecedented safety challenges as expanding military conflicts introduce missiles and unmanned aircraft into civilian airspace, creating dangerous conditions that aviation professionals say they weren’t prepared to handle.

The recent escalation of Middle Eastern warfare has launched hundreds of ballistic missiles and attack drones into airspace above some of the planet’s busiest aviation hubs. Iran’s retaliatory strikes against the United States and allied nations have targeted airports, forcing the cancellation of numerous flights from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, while only limited rescue operations have managed to evacuate thousands of stranded travelers.

Aviation industry professionals interviewed by Reuters – including eight pilots and multiple aviation security experts – describe how multiple simultaneous conflicts spanning from Ukraine to Afghanistan and Israel have created mounting pressure on flight crews, who must now navigate increasingly restricted airspace while contending with military drone activity extending well beyond active combat zones. This situation has intensified mental health challenges for pilots committed to protecting themselves and their passengers.

“We are not military pilots. We are not trained to deal with these kinds of threats in the air,” stated Tanja Harter, a pilot with Middle East experience who serves as president of the European Cockpit Association.

Harter explained that the current situation represents the most recent in a series of security challenges facing the aviation sector over recent years, potentially causing “fear and anxiety” among pilots. While airlines have established peer support programs to address these concerns, she noted that as a pilot, she would prefer not to “share airspace with missiles.”

Industry specialists report that airspace security has deteriorated significantly over the past two and a half years as conflicts have expanded, driven by a combination of GPS manipulation – where aircraft positioning systems are deliberately compromised – and increased presence of missiles and drones.

Recent incidents highlight these dangers: An Air France evacuation flight intended to transport stranded French citizens from the United Arab Emirates was forced to return due to missile activity on Thursday, while a Lufthansa pilot diverted from Riyadh to Cairo on Friday citing regional security concerns.

Aviation professionals working in Middle Eastern regions have developed extensive experience managing emergency situations, according to Lebanon’s civil aviation leadership. The current conflict escalation has rapidly tested these abilities, with March 5 video footage showing aircraft departing Beirut’s airport while smoke rose over the Lebanese capital’s buildings.

“Middle East pilots have always faced crises, so from the start we trained how to deal with contingencies, emergencies and everything else,” explained Captain Mohammed Aziz, who directs Lebanon’s civil aviation authority.

“No one can give you a guarantee that they won’t bomb the airport or will bomb the airport,” he added.

A Middle East Airlines pilot with ten years of experience described how Beirut routes have grown increasingly complicated. Previously, shoulder-launched anti-aircraft weapons in Lebanon typically reached 15,000 feet, prompting pilots to fly at higher altitudes for safety, while aircraft frequently carried additional fuel for potential diversions.

However, most missile strikes occur at sufficient distance to avoid direct risk, and pilots often remain too occupied with flight operations to dwell on external threats.

“You’re actually busy enough on the plane trying to make sure you have clearance to land, that everything is in order, so you don’t have time to process your emotions over what’s happening outside the plane,” the pilot explained.

The dangers extend beyond Middle Eastern regions. Following Russia’s 2022 Ukraine invasion, unmanned aircraft have become primary weapons for both sides. European airports from Stockholm to Munich have experienced drone-related disruptions, though suspected connections to the conflict remain unconfirmed.

Captain Christian von D’Ahe, who has piloted commercial aircraft for 15 years and leads Denmark’s Air Line Pilots Association, expressed concern about this developing threat.

“Drones are not easily detected,” von D’Ahe observed. “We can see them in the air, and they’re very small. So sooner or later, something will happen.”

Drone impacts on aircraft engines could result in complete power failure, while wing damage could severely compromise a plane’s maneuverability capabilities.

Most registered aircraft transmit identification signals through transponders that communicate with radar systems, but drones lack this technology, leaving pilots without warning. Standard airport radar systems struggle to detect drones, while specialized detection equipment is typically controlled by law enforcement or military agencies.

Dedrone, a counter-drone technology manufacturer, reported over 1.2 million drone violations occurred in the United States during 2023, with increases expected in future years.

Airports can deploy radar systems, frequency sensors, and jamming equipment to counter drones, with some systems capable of redirecting them off course. However, safety regulations prevent airports from shooting down drones.

Tim Friebe, a German air traffic controller and vice president of the Air Traffic Controllers European Unions Coordination, characterized drones as a “threat that is growing,” while noting airports often have few response options available.

“For now we have reports, pilot reports, or sometimes controllers spot drones. The problem is there’s not much you can do except shutting down the airport,” he stated.

Drone incidents forced closures at major international airports including Munich and London’s Gatwick last year, prompting operators to enhance their foreign object and drone detection capabilities, according to multiple industry officials.

Moritz Burger, a commercial pilot operating from Germany, recalled observing what appeared to be a balloon with attached structure while approaching a European airport for landing.

“I was looking out of the window and suddenly there appeared an object that passed by just below our aircraft. We could see it for maybe one, maximum two seconds,” he described, noting the incident was startling and provided no opportunity for evasive maneuvers.

“When you encounter such a near-miss or some passing object, there is not enough time to react. So it is unrealistic to expect that pilots could fly around such an object. There’s pretty much nothing we can do,” Burger concluded.

NEW YORK — Relatives and advocates for Americans imprisoned in Iran express growing concern that their loved ones could become casualties of the escalating Middle East conflict, either through accidental targeting during military strikes or through retaliation by Iranian authorities.

“For Americans imprisoned in Iran, this is about as terrifying a moment as it gets,” said Siamak Namazi, an Iranian American who was detained for nearly eight years before being released as part of a deal with the U.S. in 2023. “What these families are facing now is days of war with no clear end in sight.”

While U.S. officials decline to specify the number of Americans held in Iran, the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation, which advocates for hostages, reports six Americans are currently detained and face “unprecedented danger” due to the ongoing military conflict.

The documented cases include a former Washington-based journalist and a Jewish Iranian American from New York who went to Iran for family matters last year and has been prevented from returning home.

Two of the confirmed detainees are imprisoned at Evin Prison, Tehran’s infamous facility where Namazi was previously held, according to their representatives. The maximum-security complex houses many of Iran’s political prisoners and has previously been targeted in Israeli bombing campaigns.

Kamran Hekmati, a 61-year-old Long Island resident held at Evin, contacted his wife Monday during the early days of the conflict to confirm his immediate safety, according to his cousin Shohreh Nowfar.

However, his family remains concerned about his deteriorating health, as he has not received consistent treatment for bladder cancer since his detention began months ago, she explained.

“It’s an uncertain time in an uncertain country,” said Nowfar, who lives in Los Angeles.

Ryan Fayhee, who represents detained Iranian American journalist Reza Valizadeh at Evin, said he has emphasized the critical nature of the situation during ongoing discussions with White House and State Department officials.

Israeli military forces have recently used social media platforms to urge residents near the prison facility to evacuate as airstrikes continue. Relatives of other foreign prisoners at Evin have reported to European media that explosions have occurred close enough to shatter prison windows.

“It’s my job to let the administration and the Israeli government know that there are innocent American citizens within that prison,” Fayhee said. “They should take great care with this military action to avoid any unfortunate collateral damage.”

White House and State Department representatives declined to address specific questions regarding the detainees’ status, citing safety and security concerns, but demanded Iran release them immediately.

“President Trump has been clear that he wants every American wrongfully detained to be returned home safe and sound, and that there will be dire consequences for regimes who treat Americans as political pawns,” said Anna Kelly, a White House spokesperson.

Valizadeh is one of at least 15 journalists currently imprisoned in Iran, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

The 50-year-old left Iran in 2009 following his coverage of the country’s pro-democracy demonstrations, according to a petition his attorneys filed with the United Nations in January.

Valizadeh became a U.S. citizen in 2022 while employed in Washington by Radio Farda, the Persian-language division of Radio Free Europe, which receives U.S. government support.

He was arrested in 2024 after traveling to Iran to see his aging parents and received a 10-year prison sentence on accusations of working with the U.S. government.

The U.S. has formally classified Valizadeh as wrongfully detained, indicating officials believe in his innocence and have transferred his case to the State Department’s special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, the government’s top hostage negotiator.

Another American whose situation has become known publicly is Afarin Mohajer, a California resident who was born in Iran.

She was arrested in September and faces charges of sharing anti-government propaganda on social media and insulting Iran’s Supreme Leader and Islam, according to her son Reza Zarrabi, a political activist living in Germany.

Zarrabi did not respond to recent interview requests, but has previously told European journalists that his mother avoids political activities and believes she was detained to suppress his vocal criticism of the Iranian government.

Hekmati’s relatives are certain the New York City jewelry store owner represents another case of Iran’s “hostage diplomacy.”

For decades, Iran has imprisoned Americans hoping to secure the freedom of Iranians detained in the U.S. or to extract political concessions from Washington. Just last week, the U.S. moved to penalize Iran for hostage-taking, with the State Department designating the country as a state sponsor of wrongful detention one day before the current conflict erupted.

Nowfar explained that her cousin Hekmati departed Iran following the 1979 revolution but had made multiple trouble-free return visits.

In May, Iranian officials detained him at the airport, confiscated his passport and prohibited his departure. He was subsequently charged under Iranian legislation that criminalizes visits to Israel within the previous decade.

Hekmati’s family insists his most recent Israel trip occurred approximately 13 years ago for his son’s Bar Mitzvah ceremony. They also reject espionage allegations claiming he met with Mossad operatives.

“They just wanted to have a hostage. An American hostage,” Nowfar said.

Additional worries exist that Hekmati’s religious background could lead to further mistreatment, according to Kieran Ramsey, chief investigative officer at Global Reach, a nonprofit organization working on Hekmati’s case.

“He’s not only American, he’s also Jewish — and we had had some concerns early on in this case of him” getting bullied, said Ramsey, who previously directed the U.S. government’s Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell.

Namazi understands the anguish families experience while seeking reassurance, remembering a devastating 2022 fire that claimed at least eight prisoners’ lives during his imprisonment at Evin.

“I remember the smoke, the confusion, and the total absence of reliable information,” the 54-year-old Washington resident said. “For us prisoners it was terrifying. My mother says that night was one of the hardest she endured.”

Following recent U.S. and Israeli military strikes against Iran, a fabricated video showing crowds watching flames and debris fall from a burning skyscraper allegedly in Bahrain gained widespread circulation online.

Users on social platforms claimed the footage showed damage from an Iranian missile attack on the building. However, experts determined the video was artificially created using AI technology and distributed by Iranian government-linked accounts to exaggerate the nation’s military achievements.

Several telltale signs revealed the video’s artificial nature, including two vehicles that appeared fused together on the left side of the frame and a person whose arm passed through a backpack unnaturally.

Since the Iran conflict erupted last weekend, numerous fake and misleading videos have flooded online platforms, driven largely by government-sponsored propaganda campaigns focused on portraying battlefield victories and inflating casualty numbers.

“The content that’s coming from state actors tends to be a little better targeted,” explained Melanie Smith, senior director of policy and research on information operations at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue. “They have a very clear kind of narrative structure and the videos are just used to support some kind of statement they want to make about the conflict and about the kind of geopolitical situation writ large.”

Iranian-aligned social media profiles have promoted stories that overstate the damage and death counts from their nation’s military operations, echoing themes found in Iran’s official state broadcasting. This messaging strategy has resulted in numerous computer-generated videos depicting fictional airstrikes, similar to the bogus Bahrain tower footage.

A continuing Russian-connected disinformation campaign known as Operation Overload, sometimes called Matryoshka or Storm-1679, has been distributing videos that falsely represent intelligence services and media organizations. The operation aims to create fear and uncertainty to influence public behavior, using methods previously employed during electoral periods. One example included a fabricated warning supposedly from Israeli intelligence advising Israeli citizens in Germany and America to avoid public spaces or remain indoors entirely.

While false and manipulated videos have appeared during other recent military conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars, researchers note a significant difference in the current situation: limited information flowing from Iranian citizens due to internet blackouts and widespread censorship, eliminating perspectives that might have supported or contradicted the Iranian government’s narrative.

“In Ukraine, that message was so full-throated it really changed the entire dynamic of the conflict because the world really aligned with the perspective of Ukrainians facing the attacks and showing resilience in light of the attacks, but we’re sort of missing that story from Iran,” said Todd Helmus, a senior behavioral scientist at RAND who studies irregular warfare, terrorism and information operations.

Beyond state-sponsored efforts, opportunistic social media users seeking viral content have significantly contributed to the misinformation surrounding the Iran war’s initial days, sharing outdated footage from previous conflicts as current events, posting video game sequences as authentic combat footage, and creating their own AI-generated material.

Artificial intelligence technology has enabled misinformation campaigns impossible during earlier conflicts, even those occurring just years ago. Combined with government-sponsored false information and media restrictions, this creates an even larger void where accurate information becomes difficult to identify.

“The volume of AI content is starting to just pollute the information environment in these kinds of crisis settings to a really terrifying degree,” Smith noted. “The inability to get access to verified and credible information in times like this — it’s getting harder and harder to do that.”

Nikita Bier, X’s head of product, announced Tuesday that the platform would remove users from its revenue-sharing program for posting AI-generated conflict content without proper labeling. Initial violations result in 90-day suspensions, with permanent bans for repeat offenses. Emerson Brooking, director of strategy and resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab, cautioned that social media platforms now serve as battlegrounds in modern warfare, and users should recognize their potential exploitation by government actors, regardless of their physical distance from actual combat zones.

“If you’re in these spaces, just understand that this is an extension of the physical battle space,” he warned. “That there are actors on all sides of the conflict that are actively trying to spread propaganda and disinformation to convince you that certain things are true that aren’t. That your eyeballs and your attention are an asset.”

Mexican officials have broadened their investigation into drug cartel fuel smuggling schemes at major seaports following revelations from a recent Reuters report that exposed the criminal operations.

According to a February government document obtained by Reuters, Mexico’s anti-corruption ministry is now conducting internal investigations at the ports of Guaymas, Tampico and Ensenada, along with probes within the Navy and customs departments.

Authorities had previously acknowledged investigating suspected fuel smuggling activities at the Port of Tampico, leading to the arrest of 14 individuals last year, including customs officials and Navy personnel.

The government disclosed details about these fuel smuggling investigations while responding to inquiries from the opposition National Action Party (PAN) regarding alleged corruption within government agencies that reportedly enabled fuel smuggling operations to thrive across Mexico. These details were included in a comprehensive 217-page response addressing senators’ questions about the administration’s policy achievements.

Port officials at Guaymas, Tampico and Ensenada did not respond to comment requests, nor did representatives from Mexico’s Attorney General’s office, Navy or customs agency.

The fuel smuggling operation involves creating fraudulent shipping and customs documents for fuel imports, primarily from the United States. Criminal organizations avoid Mexico’s substantial tax on imported diesel and gasoline by falsely declaring these products as other petroleum-based materials that are exempt from duties. These fraudulent schemes can save smugglers more than half of a cargo shipment’s total value.

According to the U.S. Treasury Department, illegal fuel operations and stolen crude oil now represent the second-largest revenue stream for Mexican cartels, trailing only behind narcotics trafficking.

Criminal smugglers have escalated their operations from truck and rail transportation to utilizing petroleum tankers, a shift that U.S. and Mexican security authorities say demonstrates coordination between cartels and corrupt port employees.

Reuters’ 2025 investigation traced a vessel that unloaded imported diesel at the Ensenada and Guaymas ports, with the cargo falsely declared in Mexico as tax-exempt lubricants, resulting in $7 million in lost government revenue.

Three Mexican security officials and an undated government security document reviewed by Reuters indicated the importing company was believed to be a shell operation for the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

In their inquiries, PAN officials pressed the federal government to detail how it would investigate, dismantle and prosecute all participants in the fuel smuggling network, including any high-ranking government officials who may be involved.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum faces mounting pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to intensify efforts against drug cartels.

Neither PAN officials nor the president’s office provided responses to comment requests.

MEXICO CITY – The man who orchestrated the takedown of notorious drug kingpin “El Mencho” has spent the last four years living like a prisoner in his own country, confined to armored government facilities after barely surviving a cartel assassination attempt.

Omar Garcia Harfuch, Mexico’s 44-year-old security minister, operates from a specially-constructed apartment within the security ministry that features a bedroom, fitness center, kitchen and conference space for 25 people. Visitors to his quarters can hear gunshots from a shooting range elsewhere in the building, while a red phone on his desk connects him directly to Mexico’s president, according to a senior government official familiar with the setup.

This fortress-like existence began in 2020 when cartel gunmen ambushed Harfuch’s armored vehicle during his morning commute, firing over 400 rounds at his SUV. The security chief fought back and survived with three bullet wounds, but two of his protective detail and an innocent bystander lost their lives.

Harfuch attributed the attack to Nemesio Oseguera, the 59-year-old leader of the violent Jalisco New Generation Cartel who went by “El Mencho.” For those close to the security minister, the recent elimination of the cartel boss represented a deeply personal victory for a man still haunted by his guards’ deaths.

The security chief chose not to provide comment for this report, which draws from conversations with twelve associates, colleagues and security experts.

Associates believe Harfuch will maintain his cautious security posture despite El Mencho’s death. However, the successful operation has significantly raised the profile of President Claudia Sheinbaum’s security minister, who many credit with leading her administration’s more aggressive cartel strategy. Political observers now view him as a leading contender for the presidency when Sheinbaum’s term concludes in 2030.

“Omar Garcia Harfuch stands as today’s top presidential prospect,” stated Armando Vargas, a security specialist with the México Evalua research institute. “He represents the most prominent figure behind this new approach.”

This strategy carries significant dangers: El Mencho’s elimination sparked nationwide violence that claimed 25 National Guard lives and may intensify deadly conflicts as competing cartel factions battle for territory.

The approach also marks a dramatic shift from previous President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s “hugs not bullets” policy, during which cartels expanded their influence across large territorial areas and branched out from narcotics into extortion, human smuggling, and stolen fuel operations.

Harfuch gained recognition within Mexico City’s administration while current President Sheinbaum served as the capital’s mayor.

Rodrigo Canales, who provided security counsel to Sheinbaum, explained that Harfuch assisted her through challenging early mayoral years when senior police officials faced corruption allegations.

“He possesses Claudia’s complete confidence, which he earned through exceptional loyalty and effectiveness during critical early moments of her mayorship,” Canales explained.

Sheinbaum elevated Harfuch to lead the city’s police force in 2019 after removing his predecessor due to a money laundering controversy.

The assassination attempt occurred less than a year into his new position. Following the initial firefight, he took cover in his armored vehicle’s rear seats until backup forces arrived, as he described in subsequent interviews. Authorities arrested twelve alleged Jalisco cartel members who received life sentences.

After the ambush, he relocated from his residence to Mexico City police headquarters. His already limited social circle became even more restricted, with only brief opportunities to see his children.

“He transformed from someone who could dine out, socialize with friends, and attend colleagues’ celebrations, to being confined in an office, spending nearly 90 percent of his time within police facilities,” described a longtime friend who has known Harfuch for two decades.

Similar to the cartel leaders he pursues, one mistake could prove fatal.

Harfuch descends from a distinguished Mexican military and political lineage.

His grandfather, Marcelino Garcia Barragan, served as defense minister during the 1960s, while his father, Javier Garcia Paniagua, was both a senator and presidential candidate who directed a federal security organization in the 1970s.

This combination of police and military background is uncommon in Mexico and positions Harfuch uniquely to oversee the nation’s militarized public security framework, according to two sources who have collaborated with him.

“Garcia Harfuch seemed destined to continue his father and grandfather’s legacy,” observed Gladys McCormick, a Syracuse University professor specializing in U.S.-Mexican relations.

However, this same heritage generates skepticism within segments of the governing leftist Morena party. Both his grandfather and father presided over periods of military misconduct and suppression of social movements by security personnel.

Critics also point to Harfuch’s connection to the notorious 2014 disappearance of 43 students from Ayotzinapa teachers’ college. A 2022 truth commission report identified him—then a mid-ranking federal police officer—as participating in meetings where officials developed a narrative that concealed security forces’ involvement in the disappearances.

Harfuch, who faced no wrongdoing accusations, previously stated he only participated in meetings to assist in coordinating the search for the missing students. No local or federal officials have received sentences in this case.

For the United States, Harfuch has become central to security cooperation with Mexico as President Donald Trump pressures America’s southern neighbor to combat cartels aggressively, threatening U.S. military intervention if Mexico fails to demonstrate progress.

Derek Maltz, former acting head of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, recalled meeting Harfuch last year following Mexico’s transfer of 29 suspected high-ranking cartel members to the U.S. in what represented the largest such handover at that time.

“He made direct eye contact and told me, ‘This is only the beginning,’” Maltz remembered.

Though initially skeptical, Maltz witnessed Mexico subsequently transfer another 63 suspected cartel leaders and eliminate the country’s most sought-after drug lord. “I’m extremely impressed with current developments,” he stated.

These prisoner transfers highlight what officials from both nations describe as unprecedented cooperation and intelligence sharing as they work to dismantle cartels through military operations, money laundering investigations, and drug and weapon seizures.

The pursuit of El Mencho intensified in November when the Jalisco cartel abducted two of Harfuch’s investigators in Zapopan, a cartel stronghold, according to the senior Mexican official.

Military forces raided suspected cartel members’ residences, and interrogations yielded intelligence that helped narrow the search for El Mencho. Reuters first reported the kidnappings’ role in the hunt for El Mencho. The agents were freed after one week.

The decisive breakthrough occurred when authorities traced one of El Mencho’s several girlfriends to his residence, Defense Minister Ricardo Trevilla has revealed. A new U.S.-military-led task force pinpointed the house’s exact location, Reuters previously reported.

However, the government official indicated the real mistake wasn’t the romantic relationship; it was the 59-year-old cartel leader’s desire to visit his two children with the woman. Mexican forces struck after the girlfriend and El Mencho’s children departed.

Following a gun battle, El Mencho died aboard a military helicopter while being transported to a hospital. Eight of his bodyguards also perished. Two soldiers died during the operation; two others later succumbed to injuries.

Harfuch received a confirmation message containing an image of El Mencho’s body, still wearing body armor, the Mexican official revealed.

“I conversed with him Sunday morning after El Mencho was eliminated,” said Eduardo Clark, a senior health official in Mexico who maintains a close relationship with Harfuch. “He expressed to me, ‘this brings enormous relief.’”

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced Thursday that the military alliance has no plans to activate its collective defense provision following Wednesday’s interception of an Iranian missile near Turkey’s border.

Speaking with Reuters from Brussels on March 5th, Rutte stated definitively that “Nobody’s talking about Article Five” when asked about the alliance’s response to the incident.

The confrontation occurred when NATO defense systems successfully intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile that was traveling toward Turkish territory. This represents the first direct involvement of a NATO member nation in the ongoing Middle East crisis, creating concerns about potential escalation that could draw in the entire 32-member alliance.

Article Five represents NATO’s cornerstone mutual defense commitment, establishing that any attack against one member nation constitutes an attack against all alliance partners.

Despite ruling out the collective defense response, Rutte expressed NATO’s backing for American military actions targeting Iran, explaining that the country was approaching the point of “becoming a threat to Europe as well.”

Affluent Gulf nations are confronting their most severe food security crisis since the worldwide food emergency of 2008, as ongoing conflict with Iran jeopardizes ports and interrupts maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

The current situation is putting to the test approaches implemented following 2008, when skyrocketing food costs led Gulf countries to transition toward import-reliant policies that involved investing heavily in overseas agricultural ventures.

This approach replaced previous costly programs that attempted to boost local production of essential grains but faced obstacles from the area’s harsh climate and water scarcity. Saudi Arabia, for instance, started reducing a domestic wheat cultivation program in 2008 to become nearly entirely dependent on imports.

Currently, with international shipping disrupted and airspace restrictions in place across many nations in a region that depends on food imports for 80%-90% of its supply, experts anticipate price increases and shortages of certain products.

“With over 70% of GCC foodstuffs being imported through the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf states face shortages if the war persists,” said Neil Quilliam, associate fellow at think tank Chatham House.

“While GCC countries have taken steps to diversify suppliers and ensure sufficient stores to withstand disruption, this can only last several months. At this point, price increases and longer lead times will start to hit the markets,” Quilliam added.

Experts caution that even brief blockages in Hormuz requiring ships to reroute from major ports to smaller facilities will generate pressure.

The majority of significant Gulf ports, including Dubai’s Jebel Ali and key ports in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the Saudi Gulf coastline, are positioned where most arriving traffic must navigate through the Hormuz passage.

Iranian attacks targeted many of these crucial supply lines including Jebel Ali, the region’s biggest container port, this week, halting operations for several hours.

“The biggest immediate effect will be due to the blockade of Jebel Ali, serving about 50 million people,” Ishan Bhanu, lead agricultural commodities analyst at Kpler, said about the Dubai port that also serves as a re-export hub to the region and beyond.

UAE ports located outside the strait possess limited capacity. Khorfakkan can accommodate 5 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) and Fujairah handles less than 1 million and would struggle to compensate for capacity lost at Jebel Ali or Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa Port.

“Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Iraq effectively become landlocked and will depend on overland routes through Saudi Arabia,” Bhanu added, warning of costly congestion.

These bottlenecks have yet to materialize and the UAE has stated its strategic reserves of essential goods provide coverage for four to six months of requirements. Officials urged residents to report unjustified price increases through a dedicated hotline.

Grocery store employees informed Reuters that shelves remain mostly stocked, although suppliers are requiring more time to restock certain items. Dubai this week temporarily eased truck-movement restrictions to sustain the flow of merchandise.

Iran’s strikes on the Gulf beginning Saturday prompted many to stockpile goods and caused a temporary decline that intensified panic, serving as a preview of potential future scenarios.

“It is worth noting that perception risk matters and even if stocks are sufficient now, public runs on supermarkets can spook the public,” Quilliam said.

Several residents have already observed some price increases.

“Is it just me whose groceries cost three times as of yesterday?” one shopper wrote in a local Facebook group on Tuesday. “Even the bananas cost have gone crazy.”

Items like bananas that deteriorate rapidly are especially susceptible to any shipping rerouting that extends travel times. Airlifting perishable food when airspace reopens to reduce journey time will increase costs.

“If food is flown in or brought in overland, that is going to be more expensive than shipping,” said Justin Alexander, Gulf analyst at GlobalSource Partners and director at Khalij Economics.

“It may be that governments choose to absorb some of that cost through subsidizing the food. And they’ve certainly done that in previous crises,” Alexander noted.

Beyond investing internationally to secure access to major food production centers, Gulf nations have also been building modern silos capable of storing hundreds of thousands of tons of strategic grains over the past two decades. These facilities provide a cushion for staples that can be preserved for months like wheat, rice and cooking oils.

The UAE launched its Fujairah grain silos in 2016 on the Indian Ocean coastline outside the Strait of Hormuz, with approximately 300,000 metric ton capacity. Officials selected this location strategically to circumvent Hormuz since Iran had previously threatened to block the strait during periods of increased tensions with the West.

“Fujairah’s grain silos act as a strategically important pressure valve providing routing flexibility and risk diversification when the Gulf’s maritime environment tightens,” said Sudhakar Tomar, president of India Middle East Agri Alliance Ecosystem.

The project initially envisioned emergency supplies to be distributed throughout the entire Gulf region. However, practical challenges, including vast distances and insufficient road or rail connections between nations, meant it remained domestic. Other Gulf states have subsequently constructed their own storage facilities, including Qatar’s Food Security Terminal at Hamad Port with 51 climate-controlled silos.

Regional collaboration among Gulf Cooperation Council members will be essential to preventing food shortages, but the six-nation alliance has historically faced coordination difficulties.

“It will require close cooperation amongst GCC states to manage complex logistics and ensure that all six states and Iraq are sated,” Quilliam said.

BERLIN – A Berlin court has sentenced a Syrian refugee to 13 years behind bars for a knife attack at the city’s Holocaust memorial that left a tourist fighting for his life, court officials announced Thursday.

The 20-year-old defendant, who authorities say supported the Islamic State, attacked a 30-year-old visitor from Spain with a knife, slashing his neck at the memorial site located in central Berlin.

The victim suffered severe, life-threatening wounds that required immediate emergency medical intervention and placement in a medically-induced coma to save his life.

According to prosecutors, the Syrian national had spent weeks preparing to target and kill Jewish individuals, driven by his views on the ongoing Middle East conflict, which led him to select the memorial as his attack location.

The memorial site serves as a tribute to the 6 million Jewish victims murdered during Adolf Hitler’s Nazi regime throughout World War Two.

Luxembourg has become just the second nation worldwide to constitutionally guarantee abortion access, following in France’s footsteps with this landmark decision.

The tiny European country operates under a constitutional monarchy system, though the royal family wields minimal actual authority in governance. This limited royal influence stems from a 2008 confrontation when Grand Duke Henry publicly opposed legislation permitting doctor-assisted suicide. In response, Luxembourg’s parliament enacted measures that stripped away much of the monarch’s decision-making authority, essentially reducing the royal role to ceremonial functions.

BRONKHORSTSPRUIT, South Africa (AP) — Under the guidance of their female instructor, a group of women and girls fire their 9mm handguns at targets during weapons training at a shooting facility in the farming community of Bronkhorstspruit, located near South Africa’s capital city of Pretoria.

These participants, ranging in age from 13 to 65 years old, are seeking methods to defend themselves in a nation where violence against women has become such a severe issue that officials declared it a national emergency this past November.

“Check your grip, check your line of sight,” calls out Claire van der Westhuizen, the primary female trainer at Lone Operator shooting facility, as the women with polished fingernails prepare for another shooting round.

This specialized training program caters exclusively to women and includes practice sessions that simulate real-life defensive situations, including firing techniques while positioned on the ground.

According to U.N. Women, the United Nations organization focused on gender equality, South Africa records some of the world’s most alarming femicide statistics. Research conducted in South Africa during 2022 revealed that more than 35% of women over 18 had encountered physical or sexual assault during their lifetime, with intimate partners being the most common perpetrators.

Sunette du Toit, a 51-year-old working grandmother, decided to pursue weapons training following a terrifying home break-in where five intruders restrained her and burglarized her residence, she explained to The Associated Press.

“I was not in a position to defend myself at that point,” du Toit said. “I had to do this (firearm training) for myself to gain my confidence back to be able to move in public, and even in my own house, without feeling vulnerable.”

She described the women’s weapons training community as “a family of support.”

Gun ownership in South Africa faces strict government oversight. Individuals seeking firearms for personal protection must be at least 21 years old and successfully complete competency examinations and criminal history screenings.

Self-protection training programs for women are emerging across the nation.

In Johannesburg, South Africa’s most populous city, 33-year-old Tatiana Leyka began studying jiujitsu martial arts for personal defense, fully understanding her country’s dangerous reputation.

“I think it’s a No. 1 priority,” she said at the end of a Saturday morning class that included escaping chokeholds, avoiding being trapped against walls and other moves to help women flee attacks by men. “With the rise in numbers of gender-based violence, it’s good for you to be able to defend yourself, even if it’s just to be able to get away.”

U.N. Women reports that South Africa’s female murder rates exceed global averages by five to six times.

Mpiwa Mangwiro-Tsanga, who handles policy creation and advocacy at Sonke Gender Justice, a women’s rights organization, stated that data indicates roughly 15 women lose their lives daily in South Africa because of gender-related violence. One out of every three women has experienced sexual assault or harassment.

“That is how bad it is,” she said. “We are competing with conflict countries.”

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to classify violence against women and girls as a national emergency followed years of demands from women’s advocacy organizations. These groups point to economic disparity, deeply rooted male-dominated social structures, and inadequately funded law enforcement as contributing elements.

“It is a shame that our country has the dubious distinction of having one of the world’s highest levels of violence against women and girls,” Ramaphosa said in a statement announcing “national action.”

While this declaration allows officials to allocate resources toward addressing the problem, activists highlight decades of elevated gender violence statistics and a national strategic framework introduced six years ago that has failed to resolve issues as proof of a gap between policy creation and actual execution.

The shortage of women’s shelters and other safe havens demonstrates that South Africa’s policies have appeared forward-thinking in documentation but have been inadequately executed, Mangwiro-Tsanga explained.

“The reality here in South Africa is that a man who raped a woman will be arrested, go to prison. The state will spend more on that rapist than it will spend on the survivor of that rape,” she said.

South Africa maintains extremely low conviction rates for sexual assault cases, with approximately 8% of those reported in 2021 leading to convictions. Many cases were dismissed from the legal system, while the majority were never brought to trial, according to Amnesty International.

Even with promises from government officials of renewed efforts, South African women are pursuing their own protective measures, sometimes keeping their training hidden from spouses and boyfriends.

Michael Palin, who manages a jiujitsu training facility, noted that not all participants’ partners are aware they attend classes. Some women claim they are visiting the shopping mall located in front of the gym.

Marguerite Hershensohn, a 49-year-old beauty therapist, participates in firearms classes alongside her 21-year-old daughter, Nika. Hershensohn expressed gratitude that her daughter is acquiring gun defense skills rather than depending solely on police protection.

“Yes, we have to respect those authorities,” she said. “But they’re not always around.”

The women participating in the training “don’t look like G.I. Jane,” Hershensohn said. “We just look like normal women.”

However, Mangwiro-Tsanga cautioned that the trend of women turning to firearms or martial arts when society fails to safeguard them can also create problems. Rather than addressing the perpetrators, “it burdens women and girls who are already burdened,” she said.

Stephanie Graham, who teaches the jiujitsu classes, acknowledged that while many women in her program develop greater confidence, there is no assurance they will consistently be able to protect themselves.

“We can only hope that it’ll give us more confidence and heightened awareness so that we can perceive a threat a little bit earlier than the average person would,” Graham said.

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Ongoing conflict in the Middle East has created massive transportation disruptions for thousands of Muslim pilgrims who traveled to Saudi Arabia for Umrah religious observances, with many now stuck without clear paths home while others have abandoned their spiritual journeys entirely.

The regional warfare has overshadowed what should have been a sacred experience for those who completed the religious ceremonies at Islam’s holiest locations.

Indonesian Vice Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak reported Thursday that over 58,860 Indonesian citizens remain trapped in Saudi Arabia due to flight cancellations and airspace restrictions.

Officials are working with Saudi leadership and commercial carriers to reduce accommodation and transportation expenses for displaced pilgrims, Simanjuntak explained. The administration is also recommending that approximately 60,000 additional travelers delay their Umrah plans until April due to security concerns.

Ministry spokesman Ichsan Marsha described the situation as an “urgent humanitarian and logistical issue.”

Stranded pilgrim Zanirah Faris told Indonesia’s iNews television that her original departure was scrapped, with airline officials rebooking her on a March 12 flight instead.

Faris appealed to Indonesian leadership for assistance, particularly for travelers unable to cover unexpected accommodation expenses.

“Not everyone can book additional stays at a hotel,” she explained, noting the psychological impact as well. “I’m disappointed because my children have been waiting for me.”

Indonesia, which has the globe’s largest Muslim community, sends hundreds of thousands of citizens to Saudi Arabia each year for Umrah observances, particularly during Ramadan’s holy period. Unlike Hajj pilgrimage requirements, Umrah can be completed throughout the year.

Malaysian Consul General in Jeddah Mohamad Dzaraif Raja Abdul Kadir confirmed Tuesday that approximately 1,600 Malaysian Umrah participants were also stranded in Saudi Arabia, though he noted via Bernama news service that the pilgrims remained in good health.

His diplomatic office established round-the-clock coordination centers to track developments and provide support to affected nationals.

Malaysia Airlines announced temporary restoration of return flights from Jeddah and Medina through Sunday.

Additionally, Malaysia’s foreign affairs department confirmed coordination with diplomatic posts, regional authorities and aviation companies to retrieve stranded citizens, including the religious travelers.

Gulf region airports function as vital connection points for passengers traveling between Europe, Africa and Asia.

Egyptian resident Maged Kholaif, 44, had planned to return to Kuwait from Saudi Arabia on February 28 — the day hostilities began — when his departure was canceled and postponed several days.

The disruption sharply contrasted with the peaceful spirituality he had experienced during Umrah, creating “a very difficult feeling.”

Stranded alongside his wife and mother-in-law, Kholaif searched desperately for alternative routes to Kuwait, where his children waited. He grew increasingly anxious hearing reports from Kuwait about air raid sirens and explosions.

“Everyone got scared,” Kholaif recalled.

He ultimately chose overland travel and reached Kuwait Tuesday for an emotional family reunion.

Once “you have your children in front of your eyes and in your embrace, whatever happens next doesn’t matter as long as you’re together,” he reflected.

In Michigan, 47-year-old Javed Khizer decided to cancel Umrah travel plans for his family to Saudi Arabia through Turkey and Qatar connections.

“We were looking at the news and everything. We could only understand that the situation is getting worse,” he said. “It was a difficult decision. … Who knows whether I will be there for next Ramadan or not? It’s not guaranteed.”

For devout Muslims, Ramadan represents a period of heightened spiritual focus and daily fasting between sunrise and sunset.

Umrah is commonly called the minor pilgrimage and allows year-round participation, contrasting with the annual Hajj requirement. Hajj, representing one of Islam’s fundamental pillars, must be completed once during a Muslim’s lifetime if financially and physically possible.

American pilgrim Majid Mughal, 52, who is visiting Saudi Arabia with his family, said “we consider coming to the sacred land as a calling from Allah, and during this sacred month of Ramadan, I think, it is highly recommended to come and visit if you can.”

However, he acknowledged he would have postponed the trip had he anticipated the outbreak of warfare. Mughal’s family learned about the military strikes while traveling to Saudi Arabia, and while some passengers on different routes became stuck at airports, their flight continued normally.

“So far, everything is OK, thank God. There (are) no problems here,” he reported during his visit. “There are lots of people during the Ramadan time. I see security as usual,” adding: “We do feel safe.”

The family attempts to concentrate on religious observances, fasting, prayer and family connection, but staying disconnected from news coverage proves challenging while they must constantly reassure relatives at home about their safety, Mughal explained.

Return travel concerns also weigh heavily on their minds.

“We are checking the flight details, the departure details almost daily just to make sure the flights are still operating,” he said, noting his children must return to classes and he needs to resume work responsibilities.

Lebanese militant organization Hezbollah dedicated months to rebuilding its weapons stockpile through Iranian assistance and domestic production facilities, anticipating inevitable renewed conflict with Israel, according to six intelligence sources with knowledge of the group’s activities.

Following significant losses during the devastating 2024 confrontation with Israel, Hezbollah leadership determined that future combat was unavoidable and could potentially threaten the organization’s survival, sources indicated.

Reuters obtained information from three Lebanese contacts briefed on Hezbollah operations, two international officials stationed in Lebanon, and one Israeli military representative, all requesting anonymity due to lack of authorization for media statements.

These previously unreported details about Hezbollah’s rearmament campaign have not been disclosed before.

Youssef al-Zein, who leads Hezbollah’s media operations, declined to discuss military activities with Reuters, though he confirmed the organization’s commitment to “fight to the last breath.”

FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND WEAPONS RESTOCKING

Established by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in 1982, Hezbollah initiated rocket and drone strikes against Israel on Monday following the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, drawing Lebanon into the expanding Middle Eastern conflict.

While this decision surprised some internal officials, Hezbollah had been systematically preparing military supplies and command infrastructure for eventual confrontation with Israel, the six sources confirmed.

The organization operated with a $50 million monthly allocation, primarily funded by Iran for fighter compensation, according to a Lebanese source familiar with the group’s financial and military operations. An international official verified this monthly budget figure.

The duration of this funding arrangement and its comparison to previous financial support remained unclear.

Hezbollah stated that Iranian funding supported housing costs for individuals displaced during the 2024 conflict. Approximately 60,000 Lebanese citizens, predominantly from the Shi’ite Muslim population that forms Hezbollah’s support base, remained homeless throughout the past year due to destroyed residences.

The organization also focused on restoring drone and rocket inventories through domestic production, confirmed by the first Lebanese source, international officials, and the Israeli military representative. The Israeli official noted Hezbollah utilized Iranian financing for both weapons smuggling and local manufacturing, though production capacity had decreased.

The second international official reported that the group had positioned additional rockets and Iranian-supplied logistical equipment in southern Lebanon prior to current hostilities.

Hezbollah’s media representatives did not respond immediately to inquiries about rearmament activities and Iranian support.

Israeli military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani confirmed to Reuters that Hezbollah “had a lot of arms left” while actively seeking additional weapons. “They were trying to smuggle and we were preventing that,” Shoshani stated.

ESCALATING ATTACK FREQUENCY

The 2024 conflict concluded with a U.S.-mediated ceasefire after two months of intensive fighting. Hezbollah ceased attacks on Israel, which continued targeting what it described as Hezbollah’s military reconstruction efforts.

Israeli forces maintained positions at five strategic hilltop locations in southern Lebanon.

Lebanese authorities began seizing Hezbollah weapons in the southern region last year, though Israel claimed the group’s rearmament pace exceeded disarmament efforts.

Speaking with Reuters prior to Hezbollah’s entry into regional warfare, the first Lebanese source confirmed the organization had been reconstructing military capabilities “in parallel” with Israeli efforts to eliminate them.

Current attack patterns indicate Hezbollah’s weapons inventory levels.

The organization launched 60 drones and rockets on March 2, its initial attack day, with similar numbers the following day, according to the second international official monitoring Hezbollah activities.

However, March 4 saw Hezbollah deploy more than double that quantity of projectiles, suggesting access to larger weapons caches, the official explained.

ALMA, an Israeli research organization monitoring northern border security, estimated Hezbollah’s pre-attack arsenal at approximately 25,000 rockets and missiles, primarily short and medium-range varieties.

A March 4 Hezbollah video displayed a fighter preparing a drone in forested terrain. Defense analyst Riad Kahwaji from Dubai’s Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis identified the device as a Shahed-101, which he confirmed could be manufactured locally.

ANTICIPATING EXISTENTIAL CONFLICT

Hezbollah has redeployed elite Radwan force members to southern Lebanon, Reuters reported this week. These fighters had been relocated from the area following the 2024 conflict.

Post-ceasefire Israeli strikes targeted what Israel identified as Hezbollah training facilities. In late February, Israeli military forces attacked eight military installations used by the Radwan force for weapons storage and confrontation preparation.

The Israeli official and first international representative reported Hezbollah’s recruitment difficulties as a result.

The organization lost 5,000 fighters during the 2024 war, representing unprecedented damage to its military force, though the second Lebanese source indicated approximately 95,000 fighters remained.

Before entering current regional conflict, Hezbollah became convinced Israel would execute a major operation designed to “disable its ability to retaliate,” the first Lebanese source revealed.

A third international official familiar with Hezbollah’s strategic thinking explained this assessment motivated the group’s initial strike decision, anticipating Israel would eventually shift focus from Iran to Hezbollah.

“They knew they were next on the list,” the official stated.

Two soldiers from Ghana are fighting for their lives after missiles struck their United Nations peacekeeping base in Lebanon on Friday, according to Ghana’s military officials.

The attack targeted the command center of Ghana’s UN peacekeeping forces stationed in Lebanon, Ghana’s armed forces confirmed in an official statement released from Accra on March 6th.

Military officials described the injuries sustained by the two Ghanaian peacekeepers as critical following the missile bombardment of their headquarters facility.