Global · Middle East · Iran conflict

US-Iran War Escalates: US-Saudi Strikes in Iraq, Iran Hits Jordan Base

The Middle East conflict between the United States and Iran escalated significantly on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, breaking a four-day lull in direct hostilities. US Central Command and Saudi Arabian forces launched joint airstrikes against Iran-aligned armed groups in Iraq, killing at least 20 members of Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces), according to Iranian and Iraqi sources. The strikes targeted sites described as responsible for recent drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities. President Trump confirmed the operation on Fox News, saying it was coordinated with the Iraqi government and warning that the US would strike Iran 'hard.' Saudi-US strikes hitting Iraqi territory prompted Baghdad to call an urgent security meeting, with influential cleric Muqtada al-Sadr urging Iran-backed factions to keep Iraq out of the war.

Separately, Iran launched a new missile barrage that Jordan intercepted early Wednesday, hours after the US military said it had knocked down another Iranian attack targeting American forces in the region. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed that US warplanes used Israeli bases for strikes against Iran, deepening Israel's direct involvement. Netanyahu met Trump at the White House, calling it an 'excellent' meeting, as the two aligned on next steps in the campaign against Tehran. Chinese satellite imagery analysis published this week also challenged official US and Iranian casualty and damage claims from earlier strikes.

The escalation has sent oil prices surging more than 6% to around $87 per barrel. Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen are now weighing fees on commercial shipping through the Bab al-Mandeb strait, threatening further disruption to global trade routes. The UK is exploring building a naval coalition to secure the Strait of Hormuz. Formula 1 has set a mid-September deadline to decide whether Gulf-hosted season-ending races can proceed. The conflict's expanding geographic footprint — drawing in Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Yemen's waterways — raises acute fears of a broader regional war.

East Asia · Japan conflict

Magnitude-7.1 Earthquake Strikes Kumamoto, Japan; 18 Dead, TSMC and Toyota Disrupted

A powerful magnitude-7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture in southwestern Japan, killing at least 18 people including one foreign national and leaving many more trapped under collapsed buildings and rubble. Soldiers and emergency workers spent the day after the quake combing through the wreckage of a heavily damaged shopping mall — where an explosion driven by building internal pressure destroyed walls and propagated blast waves — as well as collapsed houses across the region. Fault lines from the earthquake were visible on the surface, and a shinkansen bullet train was reported stopped directly above one of the fault ruptures, raising immediate concerns about infrastructure safety and the country's disaster response readiness.

The economic impact of the quake extended well beyond the immediate human toll. TSMC's Kumamoto semiconductor fabrication plant — a strategically critical facility that Japan invested heavily to attract as part of its effort to rebuild domestic chip production — reported operational disruptions, as did Toyota manufacturing operations in the area. These interruptions carry significant implications for global supply chains in both the automotive and semiconductor sectors, given Kumamoto's growing importance as a hub for advanced manufacturing.

The disaster drew rapid international attention, with South Korea and China expressing condolences and Taiwan signaling it was preparing to offer support. The Japanese government activated emergency response measures and political parties established crisis taskforces. The quake renews longstanding questions about Japan's preparedness for major seismic events in industrial zones, particularly as the country has encouraged high-value foreign manufacturing investment in earthquake-prone regions.

Middle East · Yemen conflict

Houthis Consider Charging Fees on Ships Crossing Bab Al-Mandeb

Yemen's Houthi movement is considering imposing fees on commercial ships transiting the Bab al-Mandeb strait, one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints, according to regional officials familiar with the discussions. The proposal emerged just days after the Houthis announced a maritime blockade in the area. If implemented, the fees would effectively transform the group's military control over the strait into a revenue-generating toll system, with major consequences for global and regional shipping.

The move comes as the Houthis have already significantly disrupted Red Sea shipping since late 2023, forcing many commercial vessels to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope at considerable extra cost. Separately, tracking data showed a Saudi tanker named 'Layla' — carrying 2.12 million barrels of oil — reappeared on navigation systems off Egypt's Ain Sokhna after its signal went dark for 12 days, despite Houthi claims of having struck the vessel, raising further questions about the group's claims and the safety of oil shipments in the region.

Perhaps most significant geopolitically, sources confirm that China has been in direct contact with the Houthis to secure safe passage guarantees for its tankers through the Red Sea, underscoring how the strait's instability is forcing even major powers to negotiate with the group. For regional economies that depend on Red Sea trade — including Egypt's Suez Canal revenues, Saudi oil exports, and the broader Gulf supply chain — the prospect of formalized Houthi toll collection represents a serious and lasting shift in the regional maritime order.

South Asia · Pakistan conflict

Pakistan Security Forces Kill 32 Terrorists in KP and Balochistan Operations

Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced on Wednesday that security forces had killed 32 terrorists during comprehensive joint operations conducted over the preceding 24 hours across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan — two provinces that have long been the epicentre of militant activity in the country. The operations reflect an ongoing and intensifying military campaign against armed groups operating in Pakistan's restive western regions.

Separately, in Swat's Matta tehsil, an active operation resulted in the death of four more terrorists, but also claimed the life of Elite Force Constable Gulfam, who was martyred during the engagement. The Swat valley, once cleared of Taliban influence through major military offensives, has seen a resurgence of militant activity in recent years, making operations like this a recurring feature of the security landscape.

These developments come alongside broader unrest in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, where police accused the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) of operating under an external agenda and said sophisticated weapons were recovered from arrested suspects. Taken together, the incidents underscore the persistent security pressures facing Pakistan across multiple fronts, with implications for civilian safety, regional stability, and the government's capacity to manage both militant threats and domestic political tensions simultaneously.

Southeast Asia · Singapore conflict

Singapore Arrests Three Teenagers over Plots to Carry Out Attacks

Singapore authorities announced Monday the arrest of three teenagers in connection with separate plots to carry out violent attacks, including shootings, stabbings, and bombings. The cases were disclosed together as part of a broader warning from officials about the growing threat of youth radicalization in the tightly governed city-state. The arrests underscore that even Singapore — long regarded as one of the most secure and stable societies in Southeast Asia — is not immune to the ideological currents driving young people toward extremist violence.

The announcement is significant for the region because Singapore has historically been vigilant and relatively successful in countering radicalization, using a mix of detention-without-trial powers, community rehabilitation programs, and surveillance. The fact that multiple teenagers were simultaneously implicated in separate attack plots suggests either a coordinated network or parallel radicalizing influences, both of which would represent a qualitative shift in the nature of the domestic security threat. Authorities did not specify the ideological motivation behind the plots, but the use of the phrase "youth radicalization" points to concerns similar to those seen in other parts of the world where online extremist content has targeted younger demographics.

For Southeast Asia more broadly, the arrests serve as a reminder that the region continues to grapple with homegrown radicalization, even in its wealthiest and most controlled urban environments. Neighboring governments in Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, which have their own histories with extremist recruitment, will be watching how Singapore investigates and prosecutes these cases. The outcome is likely to reinforce calls across the region for stronger cross-border intelligence sharing and investment in counter-radicalization programs targeting young people.