The trilateral peace talks in Abu Dhabi achieved a major humanitarian milestone today, Thursday, February 5, 2026, with the exchange of 314 prisoners of war. In a "157-for-157" swap, the first in five months, both Moscow and Kyiv released soldiers under the mediation of the UAE and the United States. U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff praised the move as a tangible result of "detailed and productive" diplomatic engagement. While the Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed that it

New satellite imagery and field testimonies have exposed extensive damage to the "Gaza War Cemetery" in the Tuffah neighborhood, where soldiers from the UK, Australia, and Canada from both World Wars are interred. According to The Guardian , Israeli heavy machinery leveled entire rows of headstones to create sand berms, particularly affecting sections holding the remains of over 100 Australian and British servicemen who fell during battles with Ottoman forces. While former ce

In an unprecedented move, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) decided on Thursday, February 5, 2026, to significantly expand the unit responsible for protecting senior officers. For the first time, the military will recruit "permanent security personnel" to provide 24/7 protection for high-ranking generals and military delegations abroad. The protection will even extend to certain officers after they retire, reflecting a heightened threat level following two years of high-profile

On Thursday, February 5, 2026, the Iranian military sent a blunt message to Washington, describing U.S. bases in the Middle East as "easy targets" and highly "vulnerable." Army spokesman Amir Akraminia urged President Donald Trump to choose between "compromise or war," emphasizing that Iran's reach extends to every American facility in the region. This rhetorical escalation coincides with the heavy U.S. naval buildup, including the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group. This milit

The media team of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi announced that he will be laid to rest this Friday in the city of Bani Walid, next to his brother Khamis. The decision came after his supporters were prevented from holding the funeral in his hometown of Sirte, where local authorities imposed "inhumane" conditions, including a ban on displaying his photos or holding a wake longer than three days. As the forensic examination in Zintan concludes, the 444 Brigade has deployed reinforcement

The New START treaty, the final pillar of nuclear arms control between the U.S. and Russia, officially expired today, Thursday, February 5, 2026. Moscow announced it is no longer bound by any "mutual pledges," effectively removing the cap of 1,550 deployed warheads. While President Putin assured China of Russia's "responsibility," the absence of a legal framework raises fears of an unrestrained global arms race for the first time since the Cold War. Washington has remained la

Wednesday was a day of pure agony in Gaza, as 24 Palestinians—including 7 children, 6 women, and a paramedic—were killed in a sudden surge of bombardment and gunfire. The hospitals witnessed soul-crushing scenes: small boxes carrying the remains of children and families weeping over unidentified bodies returned by Israel. For the people of Gaza, this wasn't just a violation of the months-long "Phase Two" ceasefire; it was the return of a nightmare they never truly escaped. Th

Ukrainian and Russian negotiators convened in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday for a critical second round of trilateral security talks mediated by the United States. Ukrainian Chief Negotiator Rustem Umerov confirmed the start of the meetings, which involve separate and joint sessions to bridge the vast divide over territorial control and the fate of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. The Kremlin, however, has imposed a total media blackout, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stating

The fragile hope for Gaza’s wounded vanished on Wednesday as Israel cancelled the coordination for patients and injured Palestinians to exit through the Rafah Crossing. The Israeli decision followed a sharp military escalation early Wednesday morning: an Israeli officer was critically wounded by gunfire in the northern Strip, prompting retaliatory strikes that killed at least 9 Palestinians, including four children and an infant, according to Gaza's Civil Defense. Despite the

A high-stakes aerial and maritime confrontation erupted in the Gulf as a U.S. F-35C fighter jet intercepted and shot down an Iranian Shahed-139 drone targeting the USS Abraham Lincoln. While U.S. Central Command cited "self-defense," Ebrahim Rezaei, a key figure in the Iranian Parliament's National Security Committee, mocked the U.S. military’s celebration, calling it "empty bullying" and warning that "more drones are on the way." The friction intensified hours later in the S

At the conclusion of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's visit to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Turkey issued a landmark joint statement following talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Both nations demanded a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a lasting ceasefire, while formally joining the "Peace Council" to support the U.S.-backed civilian administration of the strip. Regarding Yemen, the two powers emphasized the country's unity and sovereignty, explicitly rejecting

A major shift in the Syrian conflict unfolded today, February 3, 2026, as Syrian Internal Security Forces began entering the city of Qamishli. The deployment of armored vehicles and government units follows a comprehensive agreement between Damascus and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). To facilitate the transition, a total curfew was imposed by Kurdish "Asayish" forces, effective until Wednesday morning. This move follows Monday’s entry into Hasakah and is part of a "seque

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian officially instructed Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Tuesday to seek "fair and balanced" negotiations with the U.S. in Istanbul this coming Friday. Pezeshkian’s move comes amid intense regional mediation but remains conditional on an environment "free of threats." This marks the most significant diplomatic shift since President Donald Trump combined military buildup with an invitation to talk. The stakes are immense: Trump has warned of

Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia KHARTOUM, Feb. (Xinhua) -- A Sudan Airways passenger plane touched down on the newly resurfaced runway of Khartoum International Airport on Sunday, marking the first commercial flight to reach the capital since civil war erupted in April 2023. The arrival from Port Sudan carries significant symbolic weight for a nation attempting to rebuild after years of devastating conflict. Under heavy security, 160 passengers -- including government employees

Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia CAIRO, Feb. (Xinhua) -- Plans for potential U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations remain uncertain as reports of an upcoming meeting in Istanbul were questioned by Iranian officials, while both sides continue to exchange warnings and bolster military deployments amid rising regional tensions. MIXED SIGNALS ON POTENTIAL U.S.-IRAN TALKS U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi are repo

Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia TRIPOLI, Feb. (Xinhua) -- Libya notched its highest annual oil production since 2015 last year, while experts warn that political fragmentation may threaten long-term gains despite major new deals. Libya hit a milestone in 2025, averaging 1.374 million barrels per day (bpd) and up 501,000 bpd, with National Oil Corporation (NOC) Chairman Masoud Suleiman announcing the figure at the Libya Energy & Economic Summit last month. Also on the summit, Li

Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia An Egyptian ambulance is pictured at the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing in North Sinai, Egypt, Feb. 2, 2026. The Rafah land crossing began operating on Monday, with a number of Palestinians arriving on the Egyptian side of the crossing to prepare for entry into the Gaza Strip, Palestinian sources said.The limited operation followed an initial trial phase conducted on Sunday and comes as part of the ceasefire agreement between Israel a

Israeli officials have warned the United States against falling for an Iranian "deception," according to Channel 12. During high-level meetings in Washington last week, Israel’s Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and Intel Chief Shlomi Binder presented three mandatory conditions for any "good deal": zero nuclear weapons, a total halt to ballistic missile production, and the termination of support for proxies like Hezbollah and the Houthis. Israel views the current unrest in Iran as a

For the first time in nearly a year, the Rafah Border Crossing between Gaza and Egypt reopened on Monday, February 2, 2026. The initial phase of operation remains highly restricted, allowing only 50 individuals per direction daily, primarily prioritizing critical medical cases and students. The process is being monitored by the European Union Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) alongside Palestinian Authority staff. While residents like amputee "Mohammed Nasser" view the reopen

U.S. media sources have confirmed that the Pentagon is rapidly reinforcing air defense systems across the Middle East in anticipation of a major Iranian retaliatory strike. Under directives from President Donald Trump, the U.S. is deploying additional THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) systems and multiple Patriot missile batteries. This defensive surge aims to shield Israel, regional allies, and U.S. forward-deployed forces from a potential "proportional response" s