Mintel World

MAP: Visual overview of the US–Israel strike campaign across Iran, highlighting dense strike clusters around key cities like Tehran, Kermanshah, and Bandar Abbas, targeting military, nuclear, and energy infrastructure, with over 15,000 combined strikes indicating a sustained, large-scale operation reshaping the regional battlefield.

NEW: 99 Spanish soldiers have been evacuated from Iraq to Turkey, Spain’s Defence Minister Margarita Robles said. The group included 57 troops in the US-led anti-ISIL coalition and 42 in the NATO mission. - Al Jazeera

Turkish FM Hakan Fidan in Doha: On the other hand, we emphasize that the war must not divert the international community's attention away from Palestine and the tragedy in Gaza. Israel, taking advantage of this created chaos, recklessly continues its ceasefire violations. The situation on the ground remains grave... We also strongly condemn Israeli actions aimed at restricting access to holy sites in East Jerusalem, particularly Al-Aqsa Mosque, and undermining the historical status quo. ​ Israel has begun to implement the same policy of occupation and destruction in Lebanon that it has been applying in Gaza. The international community must take the necessary responsibility against Israel's opportunistic policies based on faits accomplis and set a barrier against Israeli expansionism. The only key to true and sustainable security in the region is the establishment of a fair and honorable peace with the Palestinian people.

Turkish FM Hakan Fidan in Doha: Our position regarding this crisis is unequivocal: While we reject all actions targeting neighboring geographies, Israel, which capitalizes on regional instability, must under no circumstances be permitted to attempt to exonerate its own crimes and occupation policies behind the pretext of the current regional conflict.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Doha: It should be explicitly noted that Israel is the primary party responsible for this war that has plunged our region into an unparalleled crisis. These assaults, initiated by Israeli provocations during a period of active diplomatic negotiations and characterized by expanding objectives, have not only transformed our region into a vast zone of conflict but have also undermined global stability.

German Embassy announced: Due to the current security situation, staff of the German Embassy in Niamey have been temporarily relocated from Niger and are currently unable to provide consular assistance. For consular matters, please contact the German Embassy in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. We strongly reiterate the long-standing travel warning and urge German nationals to leave Niger.

NEW: The Saudi Ministry of Defense has released a video to observe Eid al-Fitr.

NEW: A US F-35 fighter jet made an emergency landing at US air base in the Middle East after it was struck by what is believed to be Iranian fire, according to two sources familiar with the matter. Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for U.S. Central Command, said the fifth-generation stealth jet was “flying a combat mission over Iran” when it was forced to make an emergency landing. Hawkins added, “The aircraft landed safely, and the pilot is in stable condition. This incident is under investigation.” - CNN

NEW: An Iranian missile has reportedly struck the Bazan oil refinery in Haifa, according to Axios. The facility is one of Israel’s key energy hubs, supplying up to 60% of domestic fuel demand, with a capacity of 200,000 bpd. The wider complex also includes petrochemicals, storage infrastructure, and power generation units.

NEW: Israel says it carried out its first-ever strikes on Iranian targets in the Caspian Sea, hitting dozens of sites including ships, a shipyard and a command center. - AP

BIG: QatarEnergy CEO says it may have to declare force majeure on long-term LNG supply contracts to Italy, Belgium, Korea and China for up to five years. - Reuters

The D.R. Congo army announced that 20 members of the M23 and Twirwaneho groups had surrendered in the Fizi territory of South Kivu.

NEW: A Greek-operated Patriot system deployed in Saudi Arabia intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched from Iran, Greek officials said Thursday. - Kathimerini

NEW: A SU-30 Russian military fighter jet entered Estonian airspace for three minutes on Wednesday without posing a serious security threat, the Estonian foreign minister said

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. has sunk more than 120 Iranian ships and struck over 7,000 targets across Iran. He repeated U.S. claims from last week Iranian ballistic missile attacks are down 90%. “The Iranians will still shoot, we know that, but they would shoot a lot more if they could,” Hegseth said. - WSJ

U.S. Central Command has released footage of airstrikes targeting the Iranian-made Cobra V8 electronic warfare system.

NEW: KNDS NV is in talks with clients in the Middle East to provide additional equipment for drone defense, Chief Executive Officer Jean-Paul Alary said. - Bloomberg

CENTCOM: U.S. forces are destroying Iranian naval targets that threaten international shipping in and near the Strait of Hormuz.

Riyadh Joint Statement of Arab and Islamic Ministers on Iranian Aggression: • The meeting aimed to discuss Iran’s attacks on Gulf countries. Attacks by the U.S. or Israel were not part of the agenda. • The strikes on Riyadh prior to the meeting further heightened concerns among Gulf states. • Gulf countries are uneasy with Iran using them as leverage against the U.S. through targeted aggression. •Turkey has consistently stated on every platform that Israel bears primary responsibility for the ongoing crisis. • In the adopted statement, Turkey ensured that criticism of Israel was included, highlighting Israel’s expansionist policies as the real cause of the conflict. • Turkey maintains a calm and prudent policy regarding Iran. • Despite missiles fired from Iran, Turkey has kept its composure and refrained from directly targeting Iran.

Could UAE use cover of war to retake Gulf islands from Iran? According to a report by GSN Online, the ongoing Gulf conflict has drastically deteriorated relations between the UAE and Iran, reopening a long-standing territorial dispute. Following severe attacks involving thousands of Iranian missiles and drones, the UAE has withdrawn its ambassador, prompting fresh discussions about Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs—three strategic islands claimed by the UAE but controlled by Iran. While some prominent local commentators are urging an international alliance to end the occupation of these islands, GSN Online notes that regional analysts consider a direct military attempt to retake them highly unlikely. Experts warn that trying to alter the territorial status quo would dangerously escalate the war and guarantee long-term instability in the region, regardless of the regime in Tehran. Map Source: SOAR ATLAS