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KYIV: Ukraine and Saudi Arabia have signed an air defence agreement during President Volodymyr Zelensky&#39;s visit to the kingdom facing Iranian drone attacks, two senior officials told AFP on Friday. Kyiv has sought to leverage its expertise in downing Russian drones to help Gulf nations, which are being attacked with the same kind of Iranian-designed Shahed drones that Russia fires on Ukraine. &quot;The point of the agreement is that Ukraine will support them in developing all the necessary components of air defence, which they currently lack,&quot; one official said of the document which, according to another was signed on Thursday. Both spoke to AFP on the condition of anonymity. Kyiv has been using a mix of cheap drone interceptors, electronic jamming tools and anti-aircraft guns to down Russian drones fired at its cities on a nightly basis for four years. It touts its anti-drone defences as the best in the world. Ukraine has proposed swapping its interceptors for vastly more expensive air-defence missiles that Gulf countries are using to down Iranian drones. Ukraine says it needs more of them to fend off Russian missile attacks. The deal signed between Ukraine and Saudi Arabia &quot;is not only about interceptors as such, but about building a system, integrating it with other air defence components, Ukrainian experience in its use, AI, and all the other elements of data analysis needed to counter Shaheds and other drones,&quot; one of the officials said. Zelensky confirmed on social media that both countries had &quot;reached an important arrangement&quot; on defence cooperation and that he had met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his visit. &quot;We are ready to share our expertise and systems with Saudi Arabia,&quot; Zelensky said, adding: &quot;Saudi Arabia also has capabilities that are of interest to Ukraine, and this cooperation can be mutually beneficial.&quot; He did not disclose what exactly has been agreed as part of the deal. Zelensky also met with Ukrainian anti-drone experts that have been deployed to the country since US and Israel launched strikes on Iran that spurred retaliatory drone and missile attacks from Tehran. &quot;Even in such a short time, Ukrainian experts were able to share extensive expertise,&quot; Zelensky said. &quot;Ukraine&#39;s expertise is unique, and recognised as such, and that is why everyone is so interested in our technologies and experience.&quot;

Europe

Ukraine and Saudi Arabia have signed a defence cooperation deal focused on air defence, with Kyiv offering anti-drone expertise developed against Russian attacks as Riyadh faces Iranian drone threats, in a partnership Zelensky said could benefit both countries.

Ukraine, Saudi signed air defence deal: senior officials to AFP

ISLAMABAD: A Thai-flagged bulk carrier was attacked while passing through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, while two other cargo ships were also struck by unidentified projectiles amid increasing tensions between the US, Israel, and Iran.&nbsp;&quot;The Thai-flagged bulk carrier &#39;Mayuree Naree&#39;... was attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz,&quot; after departing from a port in the United Arab Emirates, the navy said in a statement.&nbsp;While 20 crew members were rescued by the Omani navy, efforts were underway to rescue the remaining three crew members, the navy said, adding that the cause of the attack was under investigation.&nbsp;In a separate strike, an unknown projectile hit a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz abutting Iran, causing a fire and forcing the crew to evacuate, a maritime security agency said on Wednesday.&nbsp;&quot;It has been reported that a cargo vessel has been hit by an unknown projectile in the Straits of Hormuz, which has resulted in a fire onboard,&quot; the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said.&nbsp;In another strike, a second container ship was hit off the coast of the UAE by an unidentified projectile on Wednesday, a British maritime security agency said.&nbsp;&quot;The master of a bulk carrier has reported their vessel being hit by an unknown projectile. There is no report of any environmental impact. The crew is reported safe and well,&quot; said the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations.&nbsp;Last week, Iran&rsquo;s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in joint US‑Israeli airstrikes, plunging the Middle East into a major conflict. In response, Iran has launched missile and drone strikes targeting US and Israeli positions across the region.&nbsp;The conflict has heightened regional instability, disrupted global trade routes such as the Strait of Hormuz, and threatens broader economic and security consequences worldwide.&nbsp;

Middle East

A Thai bulk carrier was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, while two cargo ships were hit by projectiles, as US-Israel strikes on Iran escalate regional tensions, threatening trade, security, and global economic stability.

Thai bulk carrier, two cargo ships hit amid rising 'Strait of Hormuz' tensions

WASHINGTON: Energy Secretary Chris Wright on Friday said the US navy was preparing to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz &quot;as soon as it&#39;s reasonable to do it,&quot; as traffic through the key trade route remains choked due to the US-Israel war on Iran.&nbsp;&quot;As soon as it&#39;s reasonable to do it, we&#39;ll escort ships through the straits and get the energy moving again,&quot; he told US broadcaster Fox News&#39;s &quot;Fox and Friends&quot; show.&nbsp;US President Donald Trump had said on Tuesday that the US Navy would &quot;begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, as soon as possible&quot; in a bid to avoid disruption of global oil supplies.

Asia

US plans to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz soon, after disruptions caused by the Israel–Iran conflict, with US president Donald Trump supporting tanker protection to maintain global oil supplies.

US says to escort ships in Strait of Hormuz 'soon'

TEHRAN: Iran on Tuesday urged the United Nations Security Council to take action to stop the Islamic republic&#39;s war with Israel and the United States.&nbsp;&quot;The United Nations Security Council has a duty... if it wishes, it can certainly act, because there is no obstacle to its action except its own will,&quot; said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei during a foreign ministry briefing.

Iran asked the United Nations Security Council to help stop its war with Israel and the United States. Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the council can take action if it wants to and has the will to do so.

Iran urges UN Security Council to move to stop war

ISLAMABAD: Hundreds of passengers were stranded at Dhaka&rsquo;s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after multiple airlines halted or disrupted flights to the Middle East amid a sudden regional airspace squeeze, Bangladeshi media reported on Sunday.&nbsp; Services from Bangladesh to several Middle Eastern destinations were suspended from Saturday afternoon after some countries temporarily closed their airspace following US and Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran&rsquo;s retaliation.&nbsp;As news of the suspensions spread, crowds, dominated by migrant workers, alongside business travellers, Umrah pilgrims, and transit passengers, began gathering at the airport, with many of them left waiting for hours with limited clarity on next steps.&nbsp;Airport authorities said Bahrain, Kuwait, Dubai, and Qatar were among the locations affected by temporary airspace restrictions, leading to cancellations, delays, and rescheduling. They instructed airlines to notify passengers in advance via SMS, email, and call centers, ensure staff presence at the terminal, and provide coordinated updates to reduce hardship.&nbsp; Passengers were advised to contact airlines or travel agents to confirm flight status before coming to the airport, with Bangladesh&rsquo;s civil aviation regulator issuing similar guidance, the report said.&nbsp;Bangladeshi carriers Biman Bangladesh Airlines and US-Bangla Airlines suspended Middle East-bound flights, with airline officials urging passengers not to travel to the airport without prior confirmation and providing hotline details for updates, Bangladeshi media added.&nbsp;The disruption is expected to ripple beyond Gulf routes: airport officials noted that some long-haul flights from Dhaka, such as to London and Toronto, often pass through Middle Eastern airspace and may need rerouting, potentially increasing flight time and operating costs.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Bangladesh missions in several Gulf states issued safety advisories to expatriates, while the expatriates&rsquo; welfare ministry said stranded travellers would be assisted with overnight accommodation at the airport.

Bangladesh

Chaos at Dhaka’s airport followed after multiple airlines halted or disrupted Middle East flights due to regional airspace restrictions, leaving passengers stranded and prompting advisories, hotline updates, and rerouting concerns

Articles tagged with "US-Iran Conflict"

Ukraine, Saudi signed air defence deal: senior officials to AFP

Thai bulk carrier, two cargo ships hit amid rising 'Strait of Hormuz' tensions

US says to escort ships in Strait of Hormuz 'soon'

Iran urges UN Security Council to move to stop war

Middle East airspace disruption strands passengers at Dhaka airport