Armed conflicts and attacks
Middle Eastern crisis
2025–2026 Iran–United States negotiations
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi announces that he will visit Pakistan, Russia, and Oman amidst a potential second round of ceasefire talks between Iran and the United States. (The Guardian) (Reuters)
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirms that U.S. special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will arrive in Islamabad, Pakistan, to meet with Araghchi. She also states that vice president JD Vance will travel to Pakistan if the second round of talks are proven "successful". (AP) (Al Jazeera)(Reuters)
2026 United States military buildup in the Middle East
U.S. Central Command confirms that the USS George H. W. Bush has arrived in the Middle East. (Navy Times)
Israeli forces kill at least 12 Palestinians in attacks on the Gaza Strip. (Al Jazeera)
Russo-Ukrainian war
Two people are killed in a Russian drone strike on Odesa, Ukraine. (The Kyiv Independent) (Reuters)
Allied Democratic Forces insurgency
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that Allied Democratic Forces insurgents killed at least 87 civilians in separate attacks last month in Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. (AFP via AA)
Business and economy
Economic impact of the 2026 Iran war
The International Energy Agency estimates that the damage to liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities in Qatar will strain the natural gas market for at least two years, and along with the Strait of Hormuz closure, will cause the loss of 120 billion cubic meters of LNG supply by 2030. (CBS News)