Saudi Arabia says it intercepted three missiles that were launched toward one of its military air bases. Authorities said air defence systems successfully destroyed the incoming projectiles before they could reach the target.


US-Iran War: Saudi Arabia Says Missile Launches Towards its Air Base

Bahrain and Kuwait, where the US has bases, prepared on Sunday for the chance that the Iran war could spill over onto its soil, with Bahrain calling on drivers to stay away from main streets and Kuwait setting up shelters in a complex of ministries following US attacks on Iran's nuclear sites. US troops hit Iran's three key nuclear facilities late on Saturday night, and President Donald Trump warned Iran it would be hit harder if it doesn't agree to peace.&nbsp;Iran had issued threats earlier that in case it was attacked by the United States, it might attack American interests in the region, including US bases. Bahrain is the site of the US Navy's 5th Fleet headquarters and there are multiple US bases in Kuwait. "In light of recent developments in the regional security situation, we urge citizens and residents to use main roads only when necessary, to maintain public safety and to allow the relevant authorities to use the roads efficiently," Bahrain's interior ministry said in a post on X. &nbsp;Bahrain has instructed 70% of its government workers to stay at home through an indefinite period, citing rising tensions, the Civil Service Bureau said. Meanwhile, Kuwait set up shelters in the country's ministries complex, a sprawling compound of structures that accommodates various government departments, including the justice and finance ministries, the finance ministry said. Bahraini officials last week reported that they had launched a national plan and a national civil emergency centre to prepare in the event of emergencies and went ahead to conduct tests for warning sirens nationwide.Regional media further reported the nation had established 33 shelters.<h2>US enters Iran-Israel war</h2>In a major escalation of tensions in West Asia, the US bombed three nuclear sites - Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan - in Iran and warned the Islamic Republic of more "precision strikes" if it did not end its conflict with Israel. This came days after the US president said that he would decide within ‘two weeks’ if he needs to bomb Iran. The US strike came on the ninth day of Operation Rising Lion, under which Israel hit several nuclear facilities inside Iran, killing top military officials and nuclear scientists. The Israel Defence Forces said that US strikes “were in coordination with the IDF” and it was a “crucial step stopping the Iranian regime's aggression.” As America entered the war, Donald Trump said that ‘there will either be peace or tragedy.’ "This cannot continue. There will either be peace or tragedy for Iran, far greater than what we have witnessed over the last eight days," Trump told a press briefing at the Oval Office. He also conveyed the goal of the US' strikes, saying, "Our Objective was the destruction of Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity, and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world's number one state sponsor of terror. Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success. Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated.”

US strikes Iran: Bahrain urges caution, Kuwait sets up shelters as Middle East conflict escalates

Bahrain and Kuwait, where the US has bases, prepared on Sunday for the chance that the Iran war could spill over onto its soil, with Bahrain calling on drivers to stay away from main streets and Kuwait setting up shelters in a complex of ministries following US attacks on Iran's nuclear sites. US troops hit Iran's three key nuclear facilities late on Saturday night, and President Donald Trump warned Iran it would be hit harder if it doesn't agree to peace. Iran had issued threats earlier that in case it was attacked by the United States, it might attack American interests in the region, including US bases. Bahrain is the site of the US Navy's 5th Fleet headquarters and there are multiple US bases in Kuwait. "In light of recent developments in the regional security situation, we urge citizens and residents to use main roads only when necessary, to maintain public safety and to allow the relevant authorities to use the roads efficiently," Bahrain's interior ministry said in a post on X. Bahrain has instructed 70% of its government workers to stay at home through an indefinite period, citing rising tensions, the Civil Service Bureau said. Meanwhile, Kuwait set up shelters in the country's ministries complex, a sprawling compound of structures that accommodates various government departments, including the justice and finance ministries, the finance ministry said. Bahraini officials last week reported that they had launched a national plan and a national civil emergency centre to prepare in the event of emergencies and went ahead to conduct tests for warning sirens nationwide. Regional media further reported the nation had established 33 shelters. US enters Iran-Israel war In a major escalation of tensions in West Asia, the US bombed three nuclear sites - Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan - in Iran and warned the Islamic Republic of more "precision strikes" if it did not end its conflict with Israel. This came days after the US president said that he would decide within ‘two weeks’ if he needs to bomb Iran. The US strike came on the ninth day of Operation Rising Lion, under which Israel hit several nuclear facilities inside Iran, killing top military officials and nuclear scientists. The Israel Defence Forces said that US strikes “were in coordination with the IDF” and it was a “crucial step stopping the Iranian regime's aggression.” As America entered the war, Donald Trump said that ‘there will either be peace or tragedy.’ "This cannot continue. There will either be peace or tragedy for Iran, far greater than what we have witnessed over the last eight days," Trump told a press briefing at the Oval Office. He also conveyed the goal of the US' strikes, saying, "Our Objective was the destruction of Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity, and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world's number one state sponsor of terror. Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success. Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated.”

Tehran had previously warned if it was attacked by the United States, it could target American assets in the region, including US military bases

US President Donald Trump has downplayed speculations of a rift in the Grand Old Party (GOP) over possible intervention by the United States. He says his supporters are ‘more in love’ with him and he is in love with them.“My supporters are more in love with me today, and I’m more in love with them, more than they even were at election time,” the President responded when asked about a possible rift in the GOP.&nbsp;Speaking from the South Lawn, Trump said, “I may have some people that are a little unhappy now, but… I have people outside of the base who can’t believe that this is happening. They’re so happy.” He added, “My base is more in love with me now than they have ever been.”But even though Trump is showing confidence in his MAGA support base, there has been disenchantment among his fan base regarding a major US intervention in the Middle East. Republican news anchor Tucker Carlson, former White House adviser Steve Bannon, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene all have voiced concerns against US inclusion in the war, saying that this contradicts with America First policy of Trump.A recent internal survey by Economist/YouGov shows that only 19 per cent of MAGA supporters are in support of any possible intervention in the Middle East conflict.&nbsp;This is not what people voted for in 2016 or 2024,” Bannon said during a recent podcast episode. “We didn’t elect Trump to become another war president.”"My supporters are for me. My supporters are America First and Make America Great Again. My supporters don't want to see Iran have a nuclear weapon," Trump said. Trump, when asked about his decision to mobilise the US forces in the Middle East he replied with his usual ambiguity, saying he has not decided on it yet.

President Trump brushes aside growing MAGA unease over U.S. intervention plans in the Middle East, claiming his supporters are "more in love" with him than ever, even as key allies like Bannon and Greene warn of betrayal.

US President Donald Trump has downplayed speculations of a rift in the Grand Old Party (GOP) over possible intervention by the United States. He says his supporters are ‘more in love’ with him and he is in love with them. “My supporters are more in love with me today, and I’m more in love with them, more than they even were at election time,” the President responded when asked about a possible rift in the GOP. Speaking from the South Lawn, Trump said, “I may have some people that are a little unhappy now, but… I have people outside of the base who can’t believe that this is happening. They’re so happy.” He added, “My base is more in love with me now than they have ever been.” But even though Trump is showing confidence in his MAGA support base, there has been disenchantment among his fan base regarding a major US intervention in the Middle East. Republican news anchor Tucker Carlson, former White House adviser Steve Bannon, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene all have voiced concerns against US inclusion in the war, saying that this contradicts with America First policy of Trump. A recent internal survey by Economist/YouGov shows that only 19 per cent of MAGA supporters are in support of any possible intervention in the Middle East conflict. This is not what people voted for in 2016 or 2024,” Bannon said during a recent podcast episode. “We didn’t elect Trump to become another war president.” "My supporters are for me. My supporters are America First and Make America Great Again. My supporters don't want to see Iran have a nuclear weapon," Trump said. Trump, when asked about his decision to mobilise the US forces in the Middle East he replied with his usual ambiguity, saying he has not decided on it yet.

President Trump brushes aside growing MAGA unease over U.S. intervention plans in the Middle East, claiming his supporters are "more in love" with him than ever, even as key allies like Bannon and Greene warn of betrayal.

'My supporters are more in love with me than ever': Trump shrugs off GOP backlash over possible Middle East war

Israel has intensified its ongoing offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, despite the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordering the Benjamin Netanyahu administration to prevent genocidal acts in its war with the Palestinian militant group.

Israel has intensified its ongoing offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, despite the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordering the Benjamin Netanyahu administration to prevent genocidal acts in its war with the Palestinian militant group. According to a report by the news agency AFP on Saturday (Jan 27), overnight strikes were reported on Khan Younis, the current epicentre of Israel's assault on Gaza. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said some of the dead and wounded had been taken to the city's barely functioning Al-Amal hospital. Fierce fighting between the Israeli military and Hamas militants has raged for days around Khan Younis, forcing tens of thousands to flee further south to Rafah on the border with Egypt. Click here to follow all updates on the Middle East crisis The Palestinian Red Crescent Society also said that Israeli tanks were targeting Al-Amal hospital and it was under siege with heavy gunfire. Thousands of civilians remained trapped in southern Gaza as fighting intensified. The ICJ ruling On Friday, the ICJ, the top court of the United Nations (UN), said that Israel must prevent genocidal acts in its conflict with Hamas and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. Israel must facilitate "urgently needed" humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territory, the ICJ said. However, it stopped short of calling for an end to the fighting. The genocide case against Israel at the ICJ was brought by South Africa. A long vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause, South Africa accused Israel of breaching the 1948 UN Genocide Convention, set up after World War II and the Holocaust. Also read | US, Israeli intelligence chiefs to meet Qatar officials to discuss second Gaza hostage deal: Report Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the case as "outrageous" while Hamas hailed the court's ruling. Following the ruling, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said it had sacked several employees accused by Israel of involvement in Hamas' Oct 7, 2023 attack. The United States in response said it had suspended additional funding to the agency. Also watch | Reactions to ICJ ruling on Israel's war in Gaza × Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) denied Israel's charges it had colluded with Hamas by ignoring Israeli evidence of the group's "military use" of Gaza hospitals. Death toll in Gaza crosses 26,000 The health ministry in the Gaza Strip said on Friday that the death toll in the war-torn region climbed to 26,083. A total of 183 people were killed in the last 24 hours, the ministry said, adding, 64,487 people have been wounded. Hamas' Oct 7 attack on Israel killed 1,140 people, official figures showed. Hamas militants also seized about 250 hostages and Israel says around 132 of them remain in Gaza, including the bodies of at least 28 dead captives. (With inputs from agencies)

Israel-Hamas war: Israeli offensive intensifies in Gaza despite ICJ ruling

Israel&nbsp;and Kosovo established diplomatic relations on Monday, via online links due to the coronavirus crisis, under a US-brokered deal that includes a pledge by the Muslim-majority country to open an embassy in Jerusalem.

Israel&nbsp;has since August normalised ties with four Arab nations under a series of deals brokered by former US President Donald Trump, collectively known as the Abraham Accords.&nbsp;

But the majority-Muslim parties to those accords,&nbsp;the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Suda,&nbsp;have all said their diplomatic missions will be in Tel Aviv, in line with a global consensus against recognising Jerusalem as&nbsp;Israel's capital until the Palestinian conflict is resolved.

During a signing ceremony held via Zoom video conference,&nbsp;Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi said the new ties were "historic" and "reflect a change in the region and in the Arab (and) Muslim world's relationship with&nbsp;Israel".

Ashkenazi said he had received an official request from Kosovo to establish a Jerusalem embassy, which&nbsp;Israeli officials hope will open by end-March.

Only two countries - the United States and Guatemala - have embassies in Jerusalem. Others, including Malawi and Honduras, have pledged to make the move.

The status of Jerusalem is one of the thorniest obstacles to forging a peace deal between&nbsp;Israel&nbsp;and the Palestinians, who with broad international backing want East Jerusalem, captured by&nbsp;Israel&nbsp;in the 1967 Middle East war, as their capital.

The ceremony included the unveiling of a commemorative plaque that will be placed at the entrance to Kosovo's embassy in Jerusalem upon opening,&nbsp;Israel's foreign ministry said.

Kosovo Foreign Minister Meliza Haradinaj-Stublla said Kosovo and&nbsp;Israel&nbsp;share a "historic bond" and had both "witnessed a long and challenging path to existing as a people and becoming states".

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, almost a decade after a guerrilla uprising by its ethnic Albanian majority.

Haradinaj-Stublla said she had spoken in recent days with US&nbsp;Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who she said voiced President Joe Biden's support for Kosovo's new relations with&nbsp;Israel&nbsp;and economic agreement with Serbia.

Israel and Kosovo established diplomatic relations on Monday, via online links due to the coronavirus crisis, under a US-brokered deal that includes a pledge by the Muslim-majority country to open an embassy in Jerusalem.

Israel and Kosovo established diplomatic relations on Monday, via online links due to the coronavirus crisis, under a US-brokered deal that includes a pledge by the Muslim-majority country to open an embassy in Jerusalem. Israel has since August normalised ties with four Arab nations under a series of deals brokered by former US President Donald Trump, collectively known as the Abraham Accords. But the majority-Muslim parties to those accords, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Suda, have all said their diplomatic missions will be in Tel Aviv, in line with a global consensus against recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital until the Palestinian conflict is resolved. During a signing ceremony held via Zoom video conference, Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi said the new ties were "historic" and "reflect a change in the region and in the Arab (and) Muslim world's relationship with Israel". Ashkenazi said he had received an official request from Kosovo to establish a Jerusalem embassy, which Israeli officials hope will open by end-March. Only two countries - the United States and Guatemala - have embassies in Jerusalem. Others, including Malawi and Honduras, have pledged to make the move. The status of Jerusalem is one of the thorniest obstacles to forging a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians, who with broad international backing want East Jerusalem, captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war, as their capital. The ceremony included the unveiling of a commemorative plaque that will be placed at the entrance to Kosovo's embassy in Jerusalem upon opening, Israel's foreign ministry said. Kosovo Foreign Minister Meliza Haradinaj-Stublla said Kosovo and Israel share a "historic bond" and had both "witnessed a long and challenging path to existing as a people and becoming states". Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, almost a decade after a guerrilla uprising by its ethnic Albanian majority. Haradinaj-Stublla said she had spoken in recent days with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who she said voiced President Joe Biden's support for Kosovo's new relations with Israel and economic agreement with Serbia.

Israel and Kosovo establish diplomatic relations in US-brokered deal

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US-Iran War: Saudi Arabia Says Missile Launches Towards its Air Base

Bahrain urges caution, Kuwait sets up shelters as Middle East conflict escalates

Trump denies GOP backlash over possible Middle East war

Israel-Hamas war: Israeli offensive intensifies in Gaza despite ICJ ruling

Israel and Kosovo establish diplomatic relations in US-brokered deal