Iran Attacks

• Yemen's Houthi rebels have launched a new wave of deadly attacks targeting Saudi-backed government troops, according to Yemeni state media. • Amidst the escalation, political figures including Cruz have argued that the Trump administration should pursue a strategy aimed at "regime collapse." • Separately, the U.S. Army announced on Friday that it is opening test ranges to private companies developing drones and missiles.

• On July 31, 2026, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held discussions with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. • Jaishankar urged Iran to ensure that commercial shipping and seafarers are not targeted amid escalating tensions in West Asia. • This diplomatic outreach highlights India's commitment to maintaining maritime security and the stability of global trade routes.

US announces attacks early on Thursday, as experts say strikes carried out by both sides in previous day increase risk of return to all-out war US-Saudi strikes in Iraq push region into ‘uncharted territory’, analysts warnWelcome to our live coverage of the continuing crisis in the Middle East.The ​US has said it is conducting ​airstrikes ‌in ‌Iran, after a lull of several days in direct US attacks on targets in Iran.The renewed hostilities sent oil prices spiking. Brent crude, the international standard, jumped 7.3% to $88 a barrel.The office of the Iraqi president, Nizar Amidi, called the US-Saudi airstrikes on multiple logistics and weapons sites in eastern Iraq “a blatant violation of Iraq’s sovereignty”.An oil refinery in Jazan, on the Red Sea coast, had temporarily shut down due to “relatively significant” damage from a Houthi attack on Saturday, a Saudi official told the Associated Press.Saudi Arabia is seeking to build an international coalition to protect ⁠shipping in the ⁠Red ​Sea from Houthi attacks, Reuters quoted two people familiar with the deliberations as saying. Continue reading...

• Asian stock markets experienced a significant decline, highlighted by South Korea's KOSPI sinking 8% and Taiwan's benchmark index falling nearly 4%. • The sell-off was driven by a combination of AI-related jitters, geopolitical tensions following Iranian attacks, and fears that China's growing semiconductor ecosystem will pressure established chipmakers. • Other regional markets also retreated, with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng easing about 1.5% and mainland China’s Shanghai Composite and CSI 300 both declining over 0.5%.

• Former President Trump's decision to pause attacks on Iran highlights the limitations of U.S. military power in asymmetric conflicts. • Despite aerial campaigns, Tehran has not been bombed into submission, as Iran leverages its mountainous geography and drone/missile capabilities to maintain strategic leverage. • The situation demonstrates that the U.S. cannot enforce its demands without initiating a ground war, an option the American government seeks to avoid.

• Asian stock markets experienced a significant decline, highlighted by South Korea's KOSPI sinking 8% and Taiwan's benchmark index falling nearly 4%. • The sell-off was driven by a combination of AI-related jitters, geopolitical tensions following Iranian attacks, and fears that China's growing semiconductor ecosystem will pressure established chipmakers. • Other regional markets also retreated, with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dropping about 1.5% and mainland China’s Shanghai Composite and CSI 300 declining over 0.5%.

Tehran has not been bombed into submission, leaving America unable to enforce its demands without a ground war that it does not wantHas Iran won a war it didn’t start against the United States? It is not a victory in any conventional military sense: about 3,500 Iranians have been reported killed and the US-led bombing has caused anywhere between $150bn and $270bn of damage.Yet Donald Trump’s decision to pause, rather than intensify, the 13-night summer bombing campaign in effect represents a degree of recognition that the US cannot achieve its stated goals by military power alone. Continue reading...