South Asia Watch

🇵🇰🤝🇸🇦 Pakistan's Deputy PM Ishaq Dar meets Saudi FM Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Islamabad for high-level talks to resolve escalating regional tensions. The visit kicks off a landmark quadrilateral summit with Turkey 🇹🇷 and Egypt 🇪🇬. This event positions Pakistan as a pivotal diplomatic hub for Middle East de-escalation. #Pakistan #SaudiArabia #MiddleEast

Italy refused permission for U.S. military aircraft heading to the Middle East to land at a base in Sicily. The flights were reportedly submitted without proper authorization and didn’t qualify as routine or logistical missions. This implies that they required formal approval and parliamentary oversight.

BREAKING: Italy blocks US military plane from landing in the country.

@MarioNawfal Aerial bombing appears to have escalated in the last two days. Israel/ US bombing on Iranian cities, as well as Iran's bombing on Gulf countries and Israel, has increased with damages being reported from both sides.

🇦🇪🇮🇷 The UAE's air defenses are engaging with missile and drone attacks originating from Iran, according to its Ministry of Defense. They said sounds heard in various parts of the country are the result of air defense systems intercepting ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones. Source: UAE MOD

@MarioNawfal @sentdefender These precision strikes are likely causing devastating damage to the command and control structure of Iranian military, and will inevitable have a grave impact on subsequent operations.

🚨🇮🇷 Multiple precision strikes hitting near Shiraz airport in the last hour. Southern Iran's largest city keeps getting pounded. Five weeks and the coalition is still finding targets to hit. Source: @sentdefender

@YumiBod @NewsWire_US Yeah, it used to be so but not anymore.

@MuhammadAli_PhD @NewsWire_US Whether Israel would allow it to happen? Is the US not in charge of its own foreign policy?

Trump Tells Aides He’s Willing to End War Without Reopening Strait Of Hormuz. — WSJ

Israeli officials say hundreds of strike waves and over 13,000 bombs have severely degraded Iran’s missile systems, air defenses, and weapons production. Israeli officials say hundreds of strike waves and over 13,000 bombs have severely degraded Iran’s missile systems, air defenses, and weapons production. After meeting those objectives, Israel has ordered strikes on other assets meant to inflict economic damage, including gas infrastructure and major steel plants. This appears to be a broader strategy to weaken the regime and “create conditions” for its collapse.

The Israel Defense Force has issued an urgent warning to residents of the Vard Avar Neighborhood in the Iranian capital of Tehran, stating that the Air Force is preparing to carry out strikes against military infrastructure in the designated area and residents are advised to remain in the their homes for the next four hours.

This is a much smaller crime in comparison with what the Trump administration has unleashed, in the form of unending wars, impacting its own people as well as against millions of people in the Middle East and beyond. The repercussions of this Israel-first war has pushed the whole world into an enduring economic catastrophe and human rights imbroglio.

The Pentagon is adamantly denying today’s story from the Financial Times, which alleged that a broker affiliated with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attempted to make a multimillion-dollar investment in several defense manufacturers in the lead up to the Iran War, with Spokesman Sean Parnell stating that the story is “false and fabricated,” while demanding an immediate retraction from FT. Parnell closed by saying: “Secretary Hegseth and the Department of War remain unwavering in their commitment to the highest standards of ethics and strict adherence to all applicable laws and regulations.”

Iran's drone strike is now confirmed, on the Kuwaiti-flagged M/T AL SALMI oil tanker anchored near Dubai. The strike caused hull damage, an onboard fire, and risks of an oil spill in UAE waters, with no crew injuries reported so far. The fully loaded tanker's vulnerability highlights supply chain risks, potentially spiking oil prices. It also confirms the current status of the Strait of Hormuz - open only for selected traffic.

Kuwait's Petroleum Corporation is reporting an Iranian attack earlier tonight on the Kuwaiti-flagged crude oil supertanker, M/T AL SALMI, while the ship was anchored off the coast of Dubai in the Persian Gulf. The tanker was fully loaded with oil at the time of the attack, with the strike causing significant damage to the vessel though no injuries. A fire is currently burning onboard the vessel, while concerns mount regarding a possible oil spill in the waters of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Wall Street Journal report reveals President Trump's willingness to halt the US military operation against Iran, even without restoring full access to the Strait of Hormuz. This signals a potential pivot toward de-escalation, and aiming to avert a prolonged conflict. But would he be able to proceed with this plan, given the extreme pressure from Netanyahu, under which this whole operation was initiated?

According to the Wall Street Journal, citing officials with knowledge on the matter, U.S. President Donald J. Trump has told aides that he is willing to conclude operations against Iran even if it means leaving the Strait of Hormuz in a deadlock. Per the report, the administration assesses that operations to forcibly reopen the strait will likely extend the conflict past the previously established 4-5 weeks and that reaching the goals of severely degrading Iranian conventional military capabilities may be the the route to go. Additionally, according to the report, other military options on the table, including ground operations, are not President Trump’s priorities right now.

Despite big claims, US has not been able to install Venezuelan Opposition Leader María Corina Machado, having to rely on Maduro's remaining govt, currently being led by Delcy Rodriguez. Venezuelan people may not take this pill so easily esp when Maduro is still in US custody undergoing a shady trial.

According to the U.S. State Department daily public schedule, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to meet with Venezuelan Opposition Leader María Corina Machado at the State Department tomorrow. This comes as Machado has signaled her intentions to return back to Venezuela in preparation for future elections, as U.S. decision-makers have cautioned the opposition leader from preemptively going back before stability is assured.

Israeli National Security Minister Ben Gvir, outside the Knesset chamber, celebrates the passing of the death penalty law for Palestinian detainees. He celebrated with champagne describing it as historic and saying, “Soon we will count them one by one.” Many of these prisoners have no fair trial, no real legal access, while facing an endless detention.

@sentdefender @EndGameWW3 Meanwhile, Wall Street Journal report on President Trump's willingness to halt the US military operation against Iran, even without restoring full access to the Strait of Hormuz. This signals a potential pivot toward de-escalation, and aiming to avert a prolonged conflict.

The Department of War has announced that U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine with hold a press conference tomorrow at 8 am est.

This near-miss is part of over a dozen similar projectile attacks on Gulf shipping during the kart one month. This has led to disruption of vital oil routes in the Strait of Hormuz. Such incidents, even misses, sustain high maritime insurance premiums, and underscore vulnerabilities in the Strait of Hormuz.

According to UKMTO, a vessel 22nm northeast of Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia had 2 unknown projectiles splash within close proximity to it within an hour of each other. No damage was reported to the vessel and no injuries were reported either.

According to Bloomberg: Bilal Bin Saqib has suddenly become one of Pakistan’s most influential figures. This 35-year-old self-described “crypto bro” says he worked three jobs to get through college, including cleaning toilets. Eventually he forged close ties with crypto luminaries and World Liberty Financial, the platform co-founded by US President Donald Trump.

@MarioNawfal @LucaTaner Syria's strategic pitch is based on its Mediterranean ports and historical Kirkuk-Banias pipeline capacity of 1.5 million barrels per day However, rebuilding war-damaged infrastructure could take at least 2-3 years and billions of dollars in investment.

🇸🇾🇮🇷 Syria’s president pitching himself as Europe’s new energy lifeline Ahmad al-Sharaa told Europe that if Iran shuts the Strait of Hormuz or Red Sea, Syria’s strategic spot can keep Gulf oil flowing safely.

@MarioNawfal @DeItaone This means selected ships have already started crossing the Strait. But the privilege of selecting them rests with Iran.

🇨🇳 2 Chinese container ships just crossed the Strait of Hormuz. First major Chinese operator to do it since the war began. They tried days earlier. Turned back. Came through today. Both vessels. Empty containers. Chinese crew. Source: @DeItaone

U.S. President #Trump made a post on TruthSocial stating: The United States of America is in “serious discussions with A NEW, AND MORE REASONABLE, REGIME to end our Military Operations in Iran.” President Trump then adds, expanding on threats he has made before, if the Strait of Hormuz is not immediately opened, “we will conclude our lovely ‘stay’ in Iran by blowing up and completely obliterating all of their Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalinization plants!), which we have purposefully not yet touched.’ This will be in retribution for our many soldiers, and others, that Iran has butchered and killed over the old Regime's 47 year “Reign of Terror.”

I strongly condemn Sunday’s incident during which an Indonesian peacekeeper of @UNIFIL_ was killed amidst hostilities between Israel & Hizbullah. Another Indonesian peacekeeper was seriously injured in the same incident.   My deepest condolences to the family, friends & colleagues of the peacekeeper who died & to Indonesia. I wish a full & fast recovery to the injured peacekeeper. This is just one of a number of recent incidents that have jeopardized the safety & security of peacekeepers.   I call on all to uphold their obligations under international law & to ensure the safety & security of @UN personnel & property at all times.

@SouthAsiaIndex This resumption follows UK's ban on PIA operations in place since 2020, but now lifted since July 2025 after safety audits. The event boosts connectivity for Pakistan's diaspora in the UK, with four weekly flights planned from Islamabad and Lahore.

PIA airliner lands at Heathrow Airport, after 6 years — a historic moment in Pakistan's aviation.

This is another dangerous escalation, pointing towards the likelihood of stepping up the aggression, while diplomatic efforts are underway on the other side. Foreign Ministers of four Muslim countries gathered at Islamabad tonight to find a way out of this mess. Let's hope they can resolve the conflict amicably.

There Are Now Over 50,000 American Troops in the Middle East — NYT