Crooked Bough News Round-up

— Hijab Dispute Tests ‘One Nation, Two States’ Alliance Between Turkey and Azerbaijan

 

at 10/13/26 6:07am

Click to see full-size image. Azerbaijan’s ruling New Azerbaijan Party on October 13 urged Turkey’s governing party to stop interfering in Azerbaijan’s domestic affairs after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s chief adviser and ruling-party lawmakers criticized restrictions on headscarves in Azerbaijani schools. In a statement released through its press service, the New Azerbaijan Party accused Turkish media outlets and social media platforms, including sources close to Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party, or AKP, of spreading what it described as false, biased and defamatory information about Azerbaijan. The party claimed that criticism by Turkish officials had become part of a broader campaign against the country as a whole. The statement singled out Erdoğan’s chief adviser, Oktay Saral, and AKP lawmakers for making what it called populist and irresponsible remarks without adequately considering Azerbaijan’s constitutional system and legal framework for religious freedom. “Using sensitive issues such as the headscarf as instruments of political manipulation and division serves neither the unity of the Turkish people nor the solidarity of the Muslim world,” the party said. It called on the AKP leadership to “refrain from this harmful policy” and rejected the use of the issue as a means of political pressure against Azerbaijan. The dispute follows a September 21 decision by Azerbaijan’s Cabinet of Ministers that amended school uniform regulations, prohibiting clothing that violates uniform requirements or conflicts with the secular principle of general education. The decision does not explicitly mention the hijab, but some schools have prevented girls wearing Islamic headscarves from attending classes. Reports have also described restrictions affecting teachers wearing hijabs, prompting protests and criticism of the policy.  The Azerbaijani Press Agency, citing the government decision, said the amendment was intended to establish uniform clothing standards consistent with the country’s secular education system. However, critics of its implementation have argued that it restricts religious freedom and the right to education. Saral entered the dispute on October 12, writing on social media that preventing students from attending school because they wore headscarves was unacceptable. He urged Azerbaijani authorities to reverse the restrictions, arguing that religious clothing should not prevent young people from receiving an education. “Hijab is not an obstacle, but a requirement of faith,” Saral wrote, adding that the right to education should not be sacrificed to ideological dictates. His remarks were reported by Turkish and Azerbaijani media. The criticism has extended beyond political statements. Demonstrators gathered outside Azerbaijan’s consulate in Istanbul last week to protest the restrictions and call on the authorities in Baku to reconsider the rules. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev responded indirectly to the growing criticism, warning against interference in the country’s way of life without explicitly naming Turkey. On October 7, AKP spokesman Ömer Çelik sought to emphasize the strength of the bilateral relationship, describing Turkey and Azerbaijan as “one nation, two states.” He said disagreements between the countries could be discussed openly between allies and accused unnamed countries of driving a wedge between the two. Çelik also criticized groups and social media users in Turkey for targeting Azerbaijan. The New Azerbaijan Party’s latest statement emphasized that the two countries’ historical ties did not give either side the right to interfere in the other’s domestic affairs. It noted that both countries are constitutionally secular states and argued that Azerbaijan’s education policy should not become an instrument of political pressure. The statement also defended Azerbaijan’s relations with Israel, rejecting what it described as deliberate distortions of those ties. It said Baku maintains normal interstate relations with Israel while supporting Palestinian rights, providing financial and humanitarian assistance to Palestinians, and backing a two-state solution with East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine. The party argued that Azerbaijan’s position on Palestine and its relations with Israel were compatible, rejecting criticism that sought to portray its foreign policy as inconsistent with solidarity among Muslim countries. Invoking the longstanding description of the countries as “one nation, two states,” the New Azerbaijan Party said the principle reflected the friendship between two independent countries and could not justify attempts by one side to impose its political or ideological views on the other. The dispute is testing the limits of the countries’ “one nation, two states” alliance, exposing tensions between Baku’s insistence on noninterference and the religious-solidarity arguments advanced by figures within Erdoğan’s party. It also highlights the growing prominence of Islamist and religious-conservative rhetoric within the AKP, which has increasingly used religious identity as part of its political messaging. The issue carries an additional religious dimension, as Azerbaijan’s Muslim population is predominantly Shiite, while Turkey is majority Sunni, although both countries are constitutionally secular and their partnership has largely been driven by shared linguistic, strategic and regional interests rather than sectarian identity. While the dispute has not amounted to a formal diplomatic rupture, it underscores how competing approaches to religion and domestic policy can strain even close strategic partnerships. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence NOW hosted at southfront.press Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org. The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com SOUTHFRONT.PRESS MORE ON THIS TOPIC: Turkey Supplied Ukraine With ‘Korkut’ Air Defense Systems Pakistan Strikes Houthis as Turkey Rejects Direct Role in Yemen The post Hijab Dispute Tests ‘One Nation, Two States’ Alliance Between Turkey and Azerbaijan appeared first on South Front.

[Category: #TURKEY, Editor's choice, Hot, Politics]

— Locations Of US Carrier Strike Groups – October 13, 2026

 

at 10/13/26 5:33am

This is the newest update of the ‘U.S. Carrier Strike Groups Locations Map’ exclusive series showing the approximate locations of U.S. Carrier Strike Groups. SouthFront: Analysis & Intelligence tracks locations of U.S. aircraft carriers using the available open-source information. No classified information was used in production of the map. click to see the full-size image Carrier strike group (CSG) is an operational formation of the United States Navy. It is centered on an aircraft carrier and a carrier air wing of 65 to 70 aircrafts. It’s composed of roughly 7,500 personnel, an aircraft carrier, at least one cruiser, a destroyer squadron of at least two destroyers and/or frigates. A carrier strike group also, on occasion, includes submarines, attached logistics ships and a supply ship. Carrier strike groups comprise a principal element of U.S. power projection over the world’s oceans ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence NOW hosted at southfront.press Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org. The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com SOUTHFRONT.PRESS The post Locations Of US Carrier Strike Groups – October 13, 2026 appeared first on South Front.

[Category: #MAPS, #USA, Editor's choice, Hot, U.S. CSG Locations Maps, Aircraft Carrier Strike Groups, US Navy, US Navy CSG Map, usa]

— Medvedev Reviews Russia’s New ‘Mak’ Howitzer Among Other Modern Weapons (Video)

 

at 10/13/26 4:24am

Click to see full-size image. (Screengrab\TASS) Russia is improving the accuracy and range of its weapons and must accelerate the production and delivery of new systems to its armed forces, Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said on October 12 after observing weapons tests in the Southern Federal District. “The accuracy and range of damage are constantly increasing. This opens up additional opportunities for destroying enemy targets in the depth of their defenses,” Medvedev said. He also praised Russia’s defense industry and scientific capabilities, saying the latest tests demonstrated the country’s ability to develop advanced weapons. “The results of today’s tests generally show that our science and our industry are capable of creating weapons that have no analogues in the world,” Medvedev said. Medvedev said work was continuing to improve several categories of weapons, including guided rockets, long-range and artillery munitions, loitering munitions, unmanned aerial vehicles and systems designed to counter drones. Among the artillery systems shown was the new Mak, a 152 mm wheeled self-propelled gun developed from the 2S44 Giatsint-K. The system is mounted on an eight-wheel BAZ-6910-027 chassis and armed with a 2A36 gun. It is powered by a 470-horsepower YaMZ-849 diesel engine, reportedly capable of propelling the vehicle at speeds of up to 80 km/h on roads, with a range of up to 1,000 kilometers. The Mak also features additional armor and a Doppler radar designed to measure the muzzle velocity of shells and improve firing accuracy. Full official specifications have not yet been released.  Medvedev called for the rapid introduction of the new systems into service, saying the task was “to launch serial production and supply of such modern and effective weapons to the army as soon as possible.” “Some of the samples that we have seen today are already being actively used,” he added, describing the discussion during his visit as focused on how those objectives were being achieved. Medvedev also noted that some of the systems presented during the October 12 visit had been demonstrated a week earlier during the Center-2026 military exercises before Russia’s supreme commander. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence NOW hosted at southfront.press Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org. The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com SOUTHFRONT.PRESS MORE ON THIS TOPIC: Ukrainian Attempts to Ease the Pincers on Several Fronts Fail Kyiv Loses Residents: Power Infrastructure Destroyed, City Enters “Survival Mode”   The post Medvedev Reviews Russia’s New ‘Mak’ Howitzer Among Other Modern Weapons (Video) appeared first on South Front.

[Category: #RUSSIA, Editor's choice, Hot, Military]

— Medvedev Reviews New Russian Weapons (Video)

 

at 10/13/26 4:24am

Click to see full-size image. (Screengrab\TASS) Russia is improving the accuracy and range of its weapons and must accelerate the production and delivery of new systems to its armed forces, Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said on October 12 after observing weapons tests in the Southern Federal District. “The accuracy and range of damage are constantly increasing. This opens up additional opportunities for destroying enemy targets in the depth of their defenses,” Medvedev said. He also praised Russia’s defense industry and scientific capabilities, saying the latest tests demonstrated the country’s ability to develop advanced weapons. “The results of today’s tests generally show that our science and our industry are capable of creating weapons that have no analogues in the world,” Medvedev said. Medvedev said work was continuing to improve several categories of weapons, including guided rockets, long-range and artillery munitions, loitering munitions, unmanned aerial vehicles and systems designed to counter drones. Among the artillery systems shown was the new Mak, a 152 mm wheeled self-propelled gun developed from the 2S44 Giatsint-K. The system is mounted on an eight-wheel BAZ-6910-027 chassis and armed with a 2A36 gun. It is powered by a 470-horsepower YaMZ-849 diesel engine, reportedly capable of propelling the vehicle at speeds of up to 80 km/h on roads, with a range of up to 1,000 kilometers. The Mak also features additional armor and a Doppler radar designed to measure the muzzle velocity of shells and improve firing accuracy. Full official specifications have not yet been released.  Medvedev called for the rapid introduction of the new systems into service, saying the task was “to launch serial production and supply of such modern and effective weapons to the army as soon as possible.” “Some of the samples that we have seen today are already being actively used,” he added, describing the discussion during his visit as focused on how those objectives were being achieved. Medvedev also noted that some of the systems presented during the October 12 visit had been demonstrated a week earlier during the Center-2026 military exercises before Russia’s supreme commander. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence NOW hosted at southfront.press Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org. The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com SOUTHFRONT.PRESS MORE ON THIS TOPIC: Ukrainian Attempts to Ease the Pincers on Several Fronts Fail Kyiv Loses Residents: Power Infrastructure Destroyed, City Enters “Survival Mode”   The post Medvedev Reviews New Russian Weapons (Video) appeared first on South Front.

[Category: #RUSSIA, Editor's choice, Hot, Military]

— Hwasong-20 ICBM Takes Center Stage at North Korea’s Defense Show (Photos)

 

at 10/13/26 2:12am

Click to see full-size image. (Korean Central News Agency) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited a newly opened defense museum showcasing advanced missiles and other weapons, state media reported on October 13, as United States President Donald Trump raised the possibility of meeting Kim during a visit to Asia next month. Photographs released by North Koreas state-run Korean Central News Agency showed Kim and his daughter, Ju Ae, attending the opening of the Defense Revolution Museum. Notably, the displays included the massive Hwasong-20 intercontinental ballistic missile, which has not reportedly been tested yet. Click to see full-size image. (Korean Central News Agency) Click to see full-size image. (Korean Central News Agency) Click to see full-size image. (Korean Central News Agency) Click to see full-size image. (Korean Central News Agency) The exhibits also included a new submarine-launched ballistic missile, the Hwasong-16 hypersonic missile, 600-millimeter and 240-millimeter multiple rocket launchers, 155-millimeter howitzers and the Badasuri anti-ship missile. Other reported displays included Hwasal cruise missiles, reconnaissance and attack drones, an upgraded Chonma-20 tank and anti-tank guided missiles. Some of the more specific weapon designations remain tentative, as North Korea did not publish a complete inventory of the museums exhibits. The visit came a day after North Korea launched two ballistic missiles from its eastern coast. Both were believed to have fallen outside Japans exclusive economic zone, according to Japans Defense Ministry. Trump told reporters in Washington on the same day that he might hold talks with Kim during a trip to Asia next month. The U.S. president is scheduled to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen, China, on November 18 and 19. “I may,” Trump said when asked about a possible meeting. “Thatll be exciting, wont it? But I get along with him.” Pyongyang had not publicly responded to Trumps remarks as of October 13. The museum visit could serve to emphasize North Koreas military advances ahead of any potential meeting. Kim described the museum as demonstrating “how the dignity and security of the DPRK and the happiness of its people are defended and how peace of this land is achieved,” KCNA reported. KCNA also reported that North Korea had test-fired a tactical ballistic missile on October 12 to validate an upgraded core component of its weapons systems. Observers said the missile may have been a Hwasong-11A, also known as a KN-23, which can follow a quasi-ballistic trajectory and is believed capable of carrying a tactical nuclear warhead. Click to see full-size image. (Korean Central News Agency) Japans Defense Ministry said the first missile traveled about 220 kilometers, reaching a maximum altitude of 20 kilometers, while the second flew more than 910 kilometers at a maximum altitude of 70 kilometers. Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said Japan, the United States and South Korea were working together to analyze the second launch, including the possibility that it followed an irregular trajectory. Koizumi condemned the test, saying North Koreas frequent missile launches highlighted an increasingly serious security environment around Japan. He said North Korea had launched at least 18 ballistic missiles in 11 launches so far this year, with the number of launches already more than doubling and the number of missiles roughly tripling compared with the same period last year. North Korea has been developing missiles designed to maneuver during flight, complicating efforts to track and intercept them. The country has also pursued intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of carrying multiple independently targetable nuclear warheads, adding to concerns over the range and sophistication of its weapons program. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence NOW hosted at southfront.press Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org. The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com SOUTHFRONT.PRESS MORE ON THIS TOPIC: South Korea challenges The North With Hypersonic Glide Vehicle Test (Photos) North Korea Says It Tested AI-Aided Intermediate Missile The post Hwasong-20 ICBM Takes Center Stage at North Korea’s Defense Show (Photos) appeared first on South Front.

[Category: #NORTHKOREA, Editor's choice, Hot, Military]

— Military Situation In Ukraine On October 12, 2026 (Maps Update)

 

at 10/12/26 3:56pm

Click to see the full-size image Russian strikes destroyed targets in the Sumy, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, Kyiv, Odesa, Volyn, Chernihiv, Khmelnytskyi, Lviv, Mykolaiv, Vinnytsia, Rivne, Cherkasy, Zhytomyr regions, and the DPR; According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russian forces attacked Ukraine with 121 strike UAVs; Russian forces struck a cargo ship and a postal terminal in Odesa; Russian forces struck a gas station in the Kharkiv region; Russian forces struck an industrial facility in Pavlohrad; Russian forces struck Nova Poshta terminals in Mykolaiv; Russian forces struck railway infrastructure and oil depots in the Zhytomyr region; Ukrainian losses amounted to approximately 1,410 troops over the past 24 hours. Click to see the full-size image Russian forces took control of Kupiansk-Uzlovoy. Click to see the full-size image Russian forces took control of Starye Yary. Click to see the full-size image Russian forces took control of Lidino. MORE ON THE TOPIC: Ukrainian Attempts to Ease the Pincers on Several Fronts Fail Kyiv Loses Residents: Power Infrastructure Destroyed, City Enters “Survival Mode” Washington Gets The Diesel – Kyiv Gets The Bill The post Military Situation In Ukraine On October 12, 2026 (Maps Update) appeared first on South Front.

[Category: #FROMTHEFRONT, #MAPS, #RUSSIA, #UKRAINE, All articles, Editor's choice, Hot, Military, Politics, Russian Armed Forces]

— Ukrainian Attempts to Ease the Pincers on Several Fronts Fail

 

at 10/12/26 3:35pm

Click to see the full-size image In the Krasny Liman direction, reciprocal fighting continues near Zarechnoye and Yampol; Russian units hold positions near Ivanovka and repel Ukrainian assaults along the Zherebets River. In the Sumy direction, heavy small-arms fighting is under way north of Sumy near Khoten; Russian assault groups are advancing near Korenok and Turya. In the Kharkov direction, Russian units continue clearing the “Volchansk cauldron,” having advanced more than 1,000 metres on 25 sectors in a single day. In the Zaporozhye direction, Russian troops are fighting in Omelnyk, control Lyubitskoye and Novosoloshino, while the Ukrainian grouping in Orekhov is supplied mainly under cover of fog and by drones. In the Dobropolye direction, Russian units are enveloping Sergeyevka from three sides; the garrison in Dobropolye is cut off and a gradual assault on the town is under way.  Krasny Liman direction  In the Krasny Liman direction reciprocal fighting continues near Zarechnoye and Yampol. Ukrainian units hold their positions and mount counterattacks. Russian troops continue to hold positions near Ivanovka and Zarechnoye despite the presence and activity of Ukrainian forces on individual sectors. Fighting for Zarechnoye continues. The situation on the approaches to Krasny Liman remains difficult. Russian fighters are holding back the pressure of Ukrainian units along the Zherebets River, preventing any significant forces from breaking across it. Heavy reciprocal fighting is under way near Katerinovka, Novomikhaylovka and Ivanovka. Partial Russian control is retained in Ivanovka. Ukrainian attacks from the direction of Drobyshevo do not cease. The Ukrainian side has not abandoned attempts to increase pressure from here toward Kolodezi. Fierce fighting continues in the area of Krasny Liman and its vicinity. Fresh Ukrainian reserves are regularly committed here. Russian troops hold the lines. Russian units are pressing Ukrainian defences from the direction of Zarechnoye. Attacks are also being conducted from the forest tracts in the northern part of the city. The Ukrainian side continues to mount active assaults toward the Mirnoye–Ivanovka strongpoints. Near Yampol Russian troops hold their positions and repel the assaults. document.createElement('video'); https://s1.cdnstatic.space/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/12860.mp4Download video Sumy direction  In the Sumy direction heavy small-arms fighting continues north of Sumy near Khoten. The “North” grouping reports advances by assault units near Korenok in Shostka district and Turya in Krasnopolye district. The Ukrainian side is attempting to infiltrate through tree lines into the rear of Russian units. Russian aviation, artillery and drone crews struck concentrations of personnel and equipment of Ukrainian units in the areas of Yuryevo, Barilovka, Radkovka, Velikaya Rybitsa and Demyanovka. In Shostka district Russian troops continue to advance near Korenok. In Krasnopolye district assault groups of Russian units are advancing near Turya. https://s1.cdnstatic.space/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/22588-.mp4Download video https://s1.cdnstatic.space/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/22583-.mp4Download video https://s1.cdnstatic.space/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/22581.mp4Download video Kharkov direction  On the right flank of the “East” grouping the Ukrainian side is attempting to compensate for the lack of success on the eastern bank of the Mokrye Yaly by advancing on the western bank. Consolidation in Fyodorovka and attempts to reach Bolshaya Novosyolka represent an effort to retain the initiative. However, the restoration of control over Ivanovka could sharply alter the balance: the flank would begin to exert pressure, and drone operators would obtain advantageous positions. On the sector south of Kharkov, near Kazachya Lopan and Goptovka, fighting continues for Novaya Kazachya. Russian units are attempting to take it. At the same time there is movement toward Tsypovka from the east. The capture of Tsypovka and Novaya Kazachya before the end of the autumn campaign would constitute a notable success. In the Liptsy direction fierce fighting continues near Bugayevka and Tokarevka. The Ukrainian side conducted one counterattack with two assault groups of the 58th Separate Motorised Infantry Brigade near Novaya Kazachya. It achieved no success; one assault group was completely destroyed, the second withdrew to its starting positions with losses. In the Volchansk and Veliky Burluk directions Russian troops continue clearing the “Volchansk cauldron.” In a single day progress exceeded 1,000 metres on 25 sectors. https://s1.cdnstatic.space/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/22576.mp4Download video Zaporozhye direction  From the right flank of the “East” grouping fighting is under way in Omelnyk. An important point is control over Lyubitskoye and Novosoloshino. Having taken these settlements, Russian units are already fighting beyond the defensive line. Vozdvizhevka has not yet been fully cleared, but the Ukrainian side is blocked there. The territory north of Vozdvizhevka is under Russian control. In the southern part of Ternovatoye Russian units are present; Ukrainian units are largely blocked by drones. Full control over territories such as Zelyonaya Dubrava, Zarnitsa, Svetlaya Dolina, Tersyanka and others has not yet been established. Favourable trends are noted near Ternovoye, Beryozovoye and Zaporozhskoye. The Ukrainian advance here has been localised; its grouping is blocked and cannot develop operations from this salient. Looking at the Orekhov salient as a whole, the envelopments from the left and right flanks remain substantial. This is the main problem for the Ukrainian side. Even the transferred special forces will achieve little until the flanks near Yurkovka and Lyubitskoye are eased. Supply into Orekhov is now possible mainly under cover of fog or by drones. Almost no other options remain. This creates constant difficulties and losses. The restoration of control over Lyubitskoye and Novosoloshino, together with the continuing offensive, creates mounting problems for the Ukrainian side. The attempt to ease the flank near Vozdvizhevka failed. https://s1.cdnstatic.space/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/21558-.mp4Download video https://s1.cdnstatic.space/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/21555-.mp4Download video https://s1.cdnstatic.space/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/21553-.mp4Download video https://s1.cdnstatic.space/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/76334.mp4Download video Dobropolye direction  South of Novopavlovka reciprocal fighting continues. The Ukrainian side is counterattacking in an attempt to dislodge Russian units. It is still too early to speak of a decisive turning point; the situation is developing dynamically. Successes have been noted in the area south of Dobropolye. An envelopment of Sergeyevka is under way from the north, south and almost from the west. Supply of Ukrainian units is possible mainly along a single road following the river — and then only in heavy fog. Inside Dobropolye itself the situation for the Ukrainian side is deteriorating rapidly. The garrison is cut off; a gradual assault on the town and the expulsion of Ukrainian forces from the microdistricts are under way. There is a chance that the town will be taken by the end of October. The Ukrainian side is attempting to reverse the situation after its initial misassessment of the direction of the strike. Reserves transferred in expectation of a movement toward Andreyevka are now being partially redirected to the south-west. Counterattacks are under way near Zolotoy Kolodets and Novovodyanoye. In Novovodyanoye the Ukrainian side succeeded in dislodging part of the positions, but not all. Through the ruined Zolotoy Kolodets it is attempting to advance toward Rubezhnoye — so far without success. Across the front, the pattern is the same: Russian units hold the line in the Krasny Liman direction, advance in Sumy and Kharkov, tighten the encirclement at Orekhov and Dobropolye. Drones, artillery and aviation remain decisive, and difficult terrain slows the pace without changing the trend. The Ukrainian side continues to transfer reserves and counterattack, yet fails to achieve a turning point. MORE ON THE TOPIC: Kyiv Loses Residents: Power Infrastructure Destroyed, City Enters “Survival Mode” Washington Gets The Diesel – Kyiv Gets The Bill Moscow Calls Out Kyiv’s Election Ceasefire Bluff The post Ukrainian Attempts to Ease the Pincers on Several Fronts Fail appeared first on South Front.

[Category: #FROMTHEFRONT, #RealWarInUkraine, #RUSSIA, #UKRAINE, All articles, Editor's choice, Hot, Military, Politics, Russian Armed Forces, Suggested Analyses]

— Houthis Strike Saudi Capital Once Again (Videos)

 

at 10/12/26 3:00pm

File image. The Houthis military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, announced on October 12 that the group had targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh with a ballistic missile. By Gods grace and assistance, our armed forces targeted King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, this evening with a ballistic missile, and the hit was accurate, Saree said in a statement. He separately announced an attack on Khamis Mushait Air Base, saying the operation was carried out using a drone and that the hit was direct. Saree also renewed a warning to international airlines and aviation personnel against operating flights to Saudi airports, declaring them unsafe except for airports and airspace serving the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. The warning extended to experts, employees, workers and travelers from around the world. The claims came as Saudi Arabia reported further incoming missile and drone threats during the day. Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, said air defenses had intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched toward Riyadh. The coalition also reported tracking drone and cruise-missile threats targeting the kingdom. It was not immediately clear from the statement whether the interceptions involved the same missiles described by Saree or another attack. The latest announcement follows a series of attacks on Saudi infrastructure in recent days. King Khalid International Airport remained closed on October 12 after a missile strike killed at least 13 people and wounded more than 300 last week. Saudi Arabia has opened an investigation into how its air defenses failed to prevent that attack, with regional officials telling the AP that the Houthis had used multiple drones followed by cruise and ballistic missiles. The escalation is unfolding as the Houthis continue in Yemen, mainly in the southwestern province of Taiz, with Saudi-backed forces failing to stop them. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence NOW hosted at southfront.press Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org. The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com SOUTHFRONT.PRESS MORE ON THIS TOPIC: Houthis Show New Gains in Taiz as Siege of Saudi-Backed Forces Tightens (Video) In Video: Saudi-Backed Forces Take Heavy Losses In Failed Marib Attack The post Houthis Strike Saudi Capital Once Again (Videos) appeared first on South Front.

[Category: #SAUDIARABIA, #YEMEN, Editor's choice, Hot, Military]

— Houthis Show New Gains in Taiz as Siege of Saudi-Backed Forces Tightens (Video)

 

at 10/12/26 2:30pm

File image. The Houthis (Ansar Allah) on October 12 released footage they said showed their fighters clearing Saudi-backed forces from the remaining areas of Jabal Habashi district, the al-Birin Triangle and the Yafrus junction in Yemen’s southwestern Taiz province. The footage showed close-range fighting, surprise attacks and fighters advancing into opposing positions and trenches. It also depicted the use of automatic rifles, sniper rifles, machine guns and 82 mm and 120 mm mortars, alongside the capture of several fighters, weapons and military vehicles. The Houthi military media said the groups fighters had driven Saudi-backed forces from the three locations and secured the areas.  Pressure on Saudi-backed forces around Taiz continues to intensify, with fighting on multiple fronts and reported Houthi movements toward the city’s western approaches. The recent advances tightened the encirclement of government-aligned positions and restricted their movement between frontlines. Alongside the fighting, tribal leaders in Jabal Saber, south of Taiz city, have been holding negotiations with Houthi forces over a possible handover of local areas without fighting, according to Yemeni media reports. The reported talks aim to prevent villages from becoming military positions or launching points for attacks and to spare populated areas further destruction. No agreement or transfer of control had been confirmed in the reports. The combination of Houthi advances on the western approaches and negotiations over Jabal Saber indicates the battle for Taiz city is drawing near. The Houthis maintain the upper hand. However, the difficult terrain and the high urban density of the city could play in favor of the defenders. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence NOW hosted at southfront.press Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org. The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com SOUTHFRONT.PRESS MORE ON THIS TOPIC: In Video: Saudi-Backed Forces Take Heavy Losses In Failed Marib Attack Fearing Houthi Strikes, Bin Salman Is Moving From Bunker to Bunker   The post Houthis Show New Gains in Taiz as Siege of Saudi-Backed Forces Tightens (Video) appeared first on South Front.

[Category: #YEMEN, Editor's choice, Hot, Military]

— Military Situation In Yemen On October 12, 2026 (Map Update)

 

at 10/12/26 1:38pm

Click to see full-size map. On October 11, Ansar Allah forces captured Jabal Habashi and al-Misrakh in Taiz province; On October 11, Ansar Allah carried out missile and drone attacks on King Khalid Airport in Riyadh, King Fahd Airport in Dammam, and Aramco facilities at Shedgum and Tanajib; Fighting is ongoing near the Bab al-Mandab. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ MORE ON THIS TOPIC: In Video: Saudi-Backed Forces Take Heavy Losses In Failed Marib Attack Fearing Houthi Strikes, Bin Salman Is Moving From Bunker to Bunker   The post Military Situation In Yemen On October 12, 2026 (Map Update) appeared first on South Front.

[Category: #MAPS, #YEMEN, Editor's choice, Hot, Military]

— Kyiv Loses Residents: Power Infrastructure Destroyed, City Enters “Survival Mode”

 

at 10/12/26 1:30pm

Kyiv is heading into winter with damaged energy infrastructure and a growing number of residents leaving the city, prompting Mayor Vitali Klitschko to publicly urge those who can to leave the capital. The contrast with Russia is stark: there, strikes on Yandex data centers disrupted digital services; here, basic life-support systems are failing. Energy: Dependence on a Single Node Since early October, strikes on Kyivs energy hub have intensified. According to Oleksandr Kharchenko, director of the Energy Research Center, ballistic missile strikes have knocked out Kyivs own power generation. The city now depends on power from elsewhere, primarily from the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant via the Kyivska substation, which is regularly targeted. document.createElement('video'); https://s1.cdnstatic.space/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/kyiv-energy-11.mp4Download video https://s1.cdnstatic.space/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/kyiv-9-1.mp4Download video https://s1.cdnstatic.space/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/kyiv-9-2.mp4Download video Kyiv is getting used to the dark: 70% of the city without water, most of it without power. The grid is being dismantled methodically, and air defenses are fading faster than substations can be repaired DTEK reports that emergency power outages have been introduced in several districts of the capital, and previously announced schedules are no longer in effect. On October 11, the Obolon, Podil, Shevchenkiv and Desniansk districts were left without power. That same day, the Kyiv City State Administration reported that electric public transit had been suspended on some routes and that metro trains were running less frequently. https://s2.cdnstatic.space/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/kyiv-energy-10.mp4Download video Trains have stopped, escalators are halted, and only emergency lights illuminate the stations https://s2.cdnstatic.space/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/kyiv-supermarkets-1.mp4Download video Kyiv supermarkets are operating without lights: shoppers feel their way between shelves, and checking expiration dates has turned into a flashlight quest. What used to be called choice is now called luck. Population Outflow Residents are leaving for safer regions in western Ukraine, with rental prices in destination areas up 20–40% and demand far outstripping supply. Ukrainian experts forecasts remain grim. Kharchenko warns that Ukrenergo has yet to receive equipment ordered in March, while the government has blocked payments to local communities, including funds for heating-season preparations. Kyivs schools now have a Plan B: generators and remote learning. The curriculum is adapting faster than the power grid What Comes Next The threat of a public-health crisis is not yet a reality, but it is becoming harder to avoid. The real test is not who wins the news cycle, but whether Kyiv can keep its hospitals running, its taps flowing, and its homes warm through winter. Speaking of which, how are the lights and plumbing in Zelenskys bunker? MORE ON THE TOPIC: Washington Gets The Diesel – Kyiv Gets The Bill Moscow Calls Out Kyiv’s Election Ceasefire Bluff The US Is Pulling the Plug on International Justice — Does Europe Have Its Own Power Source? The post Kyiv Loses Residents: Power Infrastructure Destroyed, City Enters Survival Mode appeared first on South Front.

[Category: #FROMTHEFRONT, #RealWarInUkraine, #RUSSIA, #UKRAINE, All articles, Editor's choice, Hot, Military, Politics, Russian Armed Forces]

— Two Additional Tankers Struck in Hormuz (Videos)

 

at 10/12/26 1:29pm

File image. Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on October 12 that it had struck a third supertanker in the Strait of Hormuz within two days, claiming the vessel caught fire. In a statement carried by Irans state media, the IRGC Navy said the tanker was hit in the morning while attempting to leave the strait. It accused the vessel of disregarding Iranian instructions and disrupting security in the waterway. The statement did not identify the ship, its flag or its operator, or specify what struck it. The announcement followed an earlier claim by the IRGC Navy that a supertanker had struck a naval mine while attempting to leave the strait through a southern route that Iran considers unauthorized. The force said in a statement issued late on October 11 that the explosion struck the vessels engine room. It described the tanker as capable of carrying about 2 million barrels of oil but did not disclose the tankers identity.  The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said during the day that it had received a delayed report of an incident a day earlier involving an outbound tanker struck by an unidentified projectile in the Strait of Hormuz. The crew was reported safe, while authorities were investigating. The agency did not identify the vessel or attribute responsibility for the incident. Preliminary data from maritime analytics firm Kpler, reported on October 12, showed a sharp decline in confirmed oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz toward the end of last week. Volumes fell to 2 million barrels per day on Saturday, down from 6.7 million on Friday and 22.8 million on Thursday. Confirmed flows averaged 10.5 million barrels per day over the seven days through Saturday, about 38% below the prewar baseline of 17.1 million barrels per day, according to the data. Kpler cautioned that the figures remained preliminary and could be revised upward. They also excluded Iranian-origin shipments. The decline underscores the continuing disruption to commercial shipping through the strategic waterway, which carried about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade before the war. The latest attacks show that Iran is still very much in control of the Strait of Hormuz, well capable of targeting any vessel it deems in violation of its restrictions. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence NOW hosted at southfront.press Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org. The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com SOUTHFRONT.PRESS MORE ON THIS TOPIC: Military Situation In Iran On October 12, 2026 (Map Update) The US Is Pulling the Plug on International Justice — Does Europe Have Its Own Power Source? The post Two Additional Tankers Struck in Hormuz (Videos) appeared first on South Front.

[Category: #IRAN, Editor's choice, Hot, Military]

— Washington Gets The Diesel – Kyiv Gets The Bill

 

at 10/12/26 1:19pm

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function(){ var player = videojs('content_video', { autoplay: false, loop: false, fluid: true, controlBar: { liveTracker: false } }); var shareOptions = { socials: ['fb', 'tw', 'reddit', 'messenger', 'linkedin', 'telegram', 'whatsapp', 'viber', 'vk'], url: window.location.href, title: "Washington Gets The Diesel - Kyiv Gets The Bill", description: "On October 11, Donald Trump announced an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Neither side had been consulted. Neither side knew what it meant. President Zelenskyy said he learned about the initiative from the internet, adding that he would support it if both parties assumed mutual obligations. Moscow offered no official confirmation. Members of the Russian State Duma stated they had no knowledge of any White House peace initiative or ceasefire arrangement. Europe declined to endorse ", image: "https://s1.cdnstatic.space/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Kyiv_Gets_The_Bill.jpg", // required for Facebook and Messenger fbAppId: '12345', // optional for Facebook redirectUri: window.location.href + '#close', // optional for VK isVkParse: true, // optinal embed code embedCode : "" }; player.share(shareOptions); player.downloadButton(); }); Download video On October 11, Donald Trump announced an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Neither side had been consulted. Neither side knew what it meant. President Zelenskyy said he learned about the initiative from the internet, adding that he would support it if both parties assumed mutual obligations. Moscow offered no official confirmation. Members of the Russian State Duma stated they had no knowledge of any White House peace initiative or ceasefire arrangement. Europe declined to endorse the proposal, prompting U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to accuse European governments of hypocrisy — noting that since the start of the war, Europe has paid Russia more for energy than it has provided Ukraine in military aid, while simultaneously opposing American arrangements to import Russian diesel. Nearly 24 hours passed before the details began to emerge through leaks to major international outlets. According to Axios, the “energy ceasefire” announced by Trump referred specifically to a mutual agreement to halt strikes on oil refineries. The asymmetry of that arrangement is stark. Ukraine has no functioning refineries left to protect. Its economy runs entirely on hydrocarbon imports from Europe. What Trump framed as a bilateral ceasefire is, in practical terms, a directive to Kyiv to stop hitting Russian refining infrastructure. The reason for that directive is not difficult to identify. The United States is facing severe fuel price increases, and Washington has quietly reached an arrangement to import Russian diesel. Monitoring resources indicate that as early as September 22, a tanker carrying Russian diesel — the Minerva Zen, sailing under a Greek flag — departed oil terminals in northern Russia bound for a port on the U.S. East Coast. The vessel is expected to arrive, reportedly in South Carolina, on October 12. The ceasefire announcement came nineteen days later. For Ukraine, the terms of this arrangement are unambiguous. Every strike on a Russian refinery now risks triggering a cutoff of U.S. intelligence sharing and weapons deliveries — a threat the American administration has already made explicit. Russia, meanwhile, faces no equivalent constraint. On the evening of October 11, Zelenskyy announced a Russian strike on Kharkiv’s Thermal Power Plant No. 5. He also reported that over the past week alone, Russian forces had conducted more than 200 strikes on Ukrainian electricity generation and transmission facilities, along with 17 strikes on gas and oil infrastructure. Ukraine has been told to stop striking the refineries that power the Russian war machine — in exchange for a ceasefire that protects infrastructure Ukraine no longer has. Russia continues striking Ukrainian power plants at a rate of more than 30 per day. The math here is not complicated — and it does not favor the side fighting for its survival. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ DEAR FRIENDS. IF YOU LIKE THIS TYPE OF CONTENT, SUPPORT SOUTHFRONT WORK: MONERO (XMR): 86yfEHs6pkoDEKCxc6MAnQX8cVHmzhYxMVrNuwKgNmqpWK8dDxjgGnK8PtUNJMACbn6xEGxmRauNTHJhUJpg9Mwz8htBBND BITCOIN (BTC): bc1qgu58lfszcpqu6fd8l98m378wgzugyg9y93lcym BITCOIN CASH (BCH): qr28d80s5juzv2793k5jrq59xrl5fxd8qg9h3zlkk2 PAYPAL, WESTERN UNION etc: write to info@southfront.press , southfront@list.ru If you face any problems sending funds to the addresses given above, please contact us: info@southfront.press and southfront@list.ru. Also be aware that many email services such as Hotmail, Yahoo etc. may block correspondence from info@southfront.press and some others put it in spam. If you want to support SouthFront but have no opportunity to do it via cryptocurrency, please contact us: info@southfront.press and southfront@list.ru. SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence NOW hosted at southfront.press Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org. The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com SOUTHFRONT.PRESS The post Washington Gets The Diesel Kyiv Gets The Bill appeared first on South Front.

[Category: #RUSSIA, #UKRAINE, #USA, SouthFront TV, Ukraine Military Report, russia, ukraine, usa]

— Military Situation In Iran On October 12, 2026 (Map Update)

 

at 10/12/26 12:30pm

Click to see full-size map. Two additional oil tankers struck naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, triggering explosions and fires, according to the IRGC Navy; On October 11, the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker MT Valthera was hit by an unidentified projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, causing damage and a fire; On October 11, the oil-products tanker MT Petro Dolphin was struck by a drone while anchored off Sohar, Oman. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ MORE ON THIS TOPIC: The US Is Pulling the Plug on International Justice — Does Europe Have Its Own Power Source? Saudi Arabia Has Allies. But Who Will Fight Its War in Yemen?   The post Military Situation In Iran On October 12, 2026 (Map Update) appeared first on South Front.

[Category: #IRAN, #MAPS, Editor's choice, Hot, Military]

— In Video: Saudi-Backed Forces Take Heavy Losses In Failed Marib Attack

 

at 10/12/26 9:16am

File image. The Houthis (Ansar Allah) released footage on October 12 showing their fighters repelled a large-scale attack by Saudi-backed government forces on the al-Faliha front in the central Yemeni province of Marib. The footage, broadcast by the Houthi-run Al-Masirah network, showed a large force crossing the desert with armored vehicles and other military equipment before coming under artillery and mortar fire. The force received direct hits. Subsequent scenes showed several armored vehicles being struck, damaged and set ablaze. One military pickup truck was hit and overturned, while other vehicles retreated across the desert. The footage also showed wounded fighters lying on the ground as the withdrawal continued. Houthi military media said the defending forces later used guided missiles against the advancing vehicles, causing further destruction and fires.  The failed attack on the al-Faliha front comes as Saudi-backed forces struggle to turn their reported advances in Marib into a broader breakthrough. Although government forces have announced the capture of individual positions on several fronts in Marib, their operations have yet to produce a decisive shift in control or dislodge the Houthis from their established defensive lines. The Houthis therefore continue to hold the upper hand in Marib, where their defenses have withstood repeated attempts to advance. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence NOW hosted at southfront.press Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org. The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com SOUTHFRONT.PRESS MORE ON THIS TOPIC: Fearing Houthi Strikes, Bin Salman Is Moving From Bunker to Bunker Saudi Arabia Has Allies. But Who Will Fight Its War in Yemen? The post In Video: Saudi-Backed Forces Take Heavy Losses In Failed Marib Attack appeared first on South Front.

[Category: #YEMEN, Editor's choice, Hot, Military]

— More Than 70 Killed in Strikes on Illegal Mining Sites Along Egypt-Sudan Border (Videos)

 

at 10/12/26 7:58am

Illustrative image. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Amy Abbott) A Sudanese rights group said strikes on October 10 killed at least 72 people at a gold-mining site near Egypt’s border with Sudan. Emergency Lawyers attributed the strike to Egyptian warplanes. Cairo has not officially commented on the strikes, while Sudan’s military-led Sovereign Council said the two governments were in contact to establish the circumstances. Sources in Cairo told The National that the strike targeted illegal gold prospectors who were operating on territory claimed by Egypt and had repeatedly ignored warnings to leave.  Images circulating online appeared to show a leaflet warning of “immediate targeting,” although the material has not been independently verified. Click to see full-size image. The incident follows similar strikes that reportedly killed 23 workers in the Jabal al-Uqaydat mining region in June. At the time, Egypt’s military announced a large-scale security operation against criminal networks involved in illegal gold mining, drug and weapons trafficking, and irregular migration. Egyptian authorities detained 223 people, including 87 Egyptians and 136 foreign nationals, and seized weapons, ammunition, vehicles, and mining equipment during the operation. The crackdown came after repeated confrontations along the southern frontier. Egyptian border guard officer Lt. Col. Ahmed Adel Gouda was killed on February 9 in a clash involving border troops and Sudanese armed miners. Later on March 9, Brig. Gen. Ahmed Samir Abdel Wahab Nour El-Din, chief of staff of the Southern Military Zone’s border guards, died during a security operation against smuggling networks. Illegal mining and gold smuggling have expanded amid Sudan’s war, which began more than three years ago. A 2024 United Nations report found that more than half of Sudan’s gold production was smuggled out of the country, with illicit trade providing revenue to networks operating across poorly controlled border areas. Egypt has been badly effected by this. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence NOW hosted at southfront.press Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org. The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com SOUTHFRONT.PRESS MORE ON THIS TOPIC: China’s J-16 Faces Off Against French-Made Rafale in Landmark Egyptian Drills (Video) Drone Attack Sets U.S.-Owned Gas Tankers Ablaze In Egypt (Videos)     The post More Than 70 Killed in Strikes on Illegal Mining Sites Along Egypt-Sudan Border (Videos) appeared first on South Front.

[Category: #SUDAN, Editor's choice, Egypt, Hot, Military]

— Moscow Calls Out Kyiv’s Election Ceasefire Bluff

 

at 10/12/26 6:00am

File image. Russia on October 12 accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of using his demand for a 60-day ceasefire to give Ukraine’s military time to recover and prepare for renewed fighting, with the Kremlin offering to suspend attacks for just one day — the day of a presidential election. “Kyiv does not want to hold elections. This is absolutely obvious,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. “The 60 days of ceasefire are needed not for elections, but to gather strength, heal wounds and continue the war.” Peskov said President Vladimir Putin would be prepared to order Russian forces not to strike Ukraine on election day if Kyiv genuinely intended to hold a vote. “Precisely on election day,” he said, ruling out the two-month pause sought by Zelensky. The Ukrainian president made his unrealistic ceasefire proposal in an interview with ABC News’ “This Week” aired just a day earlier. “Please tell Putin, give us two months, 60 days of total ceasefire, 60 days, and we will organise elections,” Zelensky said. Russia’s response directly challenges Kyiv to demonstrate that its demand is about holding elections rather than securing an extended break from the battlefield. P eskov’s accusation was explicit: Moscow believes the proposed pause would allow Ukrainian forces to rebuild their strength before continuing the war. Russia itself held parliamentary elections over three days, from September 18 to 20, while the war continued and without a nationwide ceasefire. The voting concluded on schedule despite Ukrainian drone attacks reported by Russian authorities on the final day. The vote is an example of an election proceeding under wartime conditions. Thus, Moscow has the right to argue that Ukraine has no need for a two-month suspension of fighting. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence NOW hosted at southfront.press Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org. The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com SOUTHFRONT.PRESS MORE ON THIS TOPIC: The US Is Pulling the Plug on International Justice — Does Europe Have Its Own Power Source? Breakout from Dobropolye Fails: Ukrainian Losses Mount   The post Moscow Calls Out Kyiv’s Election Ceasefire Bluff appeared first on South Front.

[Category: #RUSSIA, #UKRAINE, Editor's choice, Hot, Military]

— Fearing Houthi Strikes, Bin Salman Is Moving From Bunker to Bunker

 

at 10/12/26 2:54am

file image. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been moving between heavily guarded palaces with bunkers as Houthi attacks intensify against the kingdom, The Wall Street Journal reported on October 12, citing officials familiar with his movements. The 41-year-old crown prince is also protected by a handpicked security team, according to the report, which notes that his last public appearance was on October 6, when he gave blood during a national donation drive. The heightened security marks a sharp reversal from Saudi officials’ earlier assurances that the Houthi threat was under control. The group has expanded its attacks to Saudi airports and energy infrastructure, exposing the kingdom’s vulnerability despite years of military involvement in Yemen. At least one Houthi missile struck Riyadh’s international airport on October 10, killing at least 12 people and injuring hundreds. Another strike hit the airport the following day. Earlier attacks targeted the kingdom’s main east-west oil pipeline, which allows Saudi Arabia to transport crude to the Red Sea while bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi officials had underestimated the threat posed by the Houthis. Saudi intelligence indicated that Iran was actively pressing the group to enter the war, but some officials assessed that the Houthis had already suffered substantial military damage from United States and Israeli attacks the previous year and would make decisions based on their own interests rather than Tehran’s, the Journal reported. The conflict is now jeopardizing bin Salman’s efforts to establish tourism and international investment as pillars of the Saudi economy. An international investment conference scheduled for later this month is now in doubt, while the costs of the war have widened the budget deficit and increased the risk of an economic contraction. Foreign investment fell during the first two quarters of the year, and rising defense and infrastructure spending threatens to divert funds from the crown prince’s economic diversification program. Several major projects have been stalled or placed under review. Saudi Arabia’s Finance Ministry now expects the economy to shrink by about 3.6% by the end of this year, according to the report. Bin Salman has sought closer ties with President Donald Trump, including a pledge to invest around $1 trillion in the United States. Washington, however, has so far resisted Saudi requests for military assistance to roll back the Houthi advance, although it has sent military advisers. Riyadh has turned to Pakistan for support, is seeking air defense systems abroad and is considering recruiting foreign fighters to support its Yemeni allies while exploring a diplomatic way to contain the conflict, the report said. Meanwhile, Turkey, a signatory to the Mecca defense pact, has ruled out an offensive role, while reports of possible Syrian involvement remain unconfirmed. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence NOW hosted at southfront.press Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org. The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com SOUTHFRONT.PRESS MORE ON THIS TOPIC: Houthis Claim Key Taiz District as Pressure Tightens on Provincial Capital (Videos) Saudi Arabia Has Allies. But Who Will Fight Its War in Yemen? The post Fearing Houthi Strikes, Bin Salman Is Moving From Bunker to Bunker appeared first on South Front.

[Category: No Category]

— The US Is Pulling the Plug on International Justice — Does Europe Have Its Own Power Source?

 

at 10/11/26 5:14pm

Click to see the full-size image On October 9, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced blocking sanctions against the International Criminal Court as an institution: a ban on all transactions, the freezing of assets under US jurisdiction, and the cutoff of cloud services, software, and payment processing. “Either the ICC will end its threats, or we will end the ICC,” he said. The sanctions include a six-month transition period and take full effect by April 2027. That date, not the announcement itself, is Europe’s real deadline. Rubio also tied Israeli interests to the US action. The ICC had previously issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Announcing the sanctions, Rubio called the Court’s actions against “the United States and our close ally Israel” “illegitimate and baseless.” The mention of Israel indicates that the measures are intended to cover not only American personnel but also Israeli officials. document.createElement('video'); https://s1.cdnstatic.space/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/UhP9R4n1wo2Wrrpb.mp4Download video Europe: Between Declaration and Enforcement The European Commission called the sanctions “deeply regrettable” and said it was “ready to take any necessary measures” to keep the Court functioning and protect operators within the Single Market. But the same formula contains a brake: the six-month delay “leaves room for dialogue.” Kaja Kallas, speaking for the EU, called threats against the Court “unacceptable,” reaffirming commitment to the rules-based order but stopping short of announcing any protective mechanism. António Costa promised support through political, diplomatic, financial, and practical means, without naming a single concrete instrument. Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot is one of those publicly demanding activation of the EU Blocking Statute. “The Court’s independence cannot depend on whom it investigates. Europe must act,” he said, after securing a place for the issue on the agenda of the October 12 meeting of EU foreign ministers. The Netherlands, where the Court sits, asked the European Commission to prepare the statute but called it a “nuclear option,” emphasizing that six months provide space for dialogue. Germany and France joined a joint statement by eight countries expressing “strong disagreement,” without mentioning countermeasures. Why the Blocking Statute Is No Panacea The Blocking Statute (Council Regulation No. 2271/96 of 1996) was created to counter US extraterritorial sanctions related to Cuba, Iran, and Libya. Its mechanism includes a prohibition on EU companies and citizens complying with the designated third-country sanctions, a refusal to recognize foreign court judgments based on those sanctions, and the right to recover damages in court. In 2018, after the US withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal, the regulation was expanded. Adding the US sanctions against the ICC to the regulation’s annex would mean a legal prohibition on European banks, insurers, and cloud providers complying with the US restrictions. But its purpose is not to save the ICC itself. It protects European operators and jurisdiction: the regulation binds European operators and cannot compel American banks, Microsoft, Amazon, or payment systems to keep servicing the Court. Activating the statute in this case would be unprecedented: in its thirty years of existence, it has never been applied against US sanctions affecting an international judicial institution. Its earlier use concerned US measures against those same countries, which were bilateral trade restrictions rather than an assault on a body of international justice. If the EU goes ahead, it would be the first time the Blocking Statute is transformed from a trade-defense instrument into an instrument for defending what Brussels calls the “international legal order.” That is why it is called “nuclear”: it means legal confrontation, but it does not solve the problem of technological dependence. The ICC relies on American banking services, payment systems, cloud servers, and software. The Blocking Statute can prohibit European companies from complying with the sanctions, but it does not create an alternative to dollar clearing, global payment networks, or the servers where the Court’s data is stored. For Washington, it is enough that American companies themselves refuse to work with the ICC because of the risk of secondary sanctions; the Blocking Statute cannot prevent that. What Is Already Happening and What Might Happen The practical effects of the sanctions are already beginning to show. In response to earlier US measures, the ICC has shifted its office and collaboration software from Microsoft to openDesk, a German open-source platform, and developed workarounds for banking, insurance, and payroll. It has also paid staff months in advance to limit potential payroll disruption. But these safeguards do not eliminate the Court’s broader reliance on American financial and technological infrastructure, and full sanctions could still disrupt its operations. The alternatives Europe can offer are limited: activating the Blocking Statute, developing payment and clearing alternatives to dollar-based infrastructure, and providing European cloud services. None can be implemented quickly enough to replace American financial and technological infrastructure by April 2027. Click to see the full-size image The Asymmetry That Explains Everything The ICC began work in 2002, and its early practice focused predominantly on African conflicts: the DRC, Uganda, Sudan, Kenya, and Libya. This imbalance fueled accusations of selectivity and neocolonialism; in 2025, three Sahel states announced their withdrawal, calling the Court an “instrument of neocolonial suppression.” The United States signed the Rome Statute under Clinton but never ratified it; in 2002, Congress passed the American Service Members’ Protection Act, authorizing the president to use “all necessary means” to free any American detained by the ICC. Washington did not object to the Court’s early focus on African situations, even as it rejected jurisdiction over itself. Its opposition hardened once the ICC moved toward cases involving the US and its allies. In 2020, after the Appeals Chamber authorized an investigation into crimes by US military personnel and the CIA in Afghanistan, Washington sanctioned Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda and a senior Court official. The following year, Prosecutor Karim Khan “deprioritized” the American component of the case. No US citizen has ever been indicted by the ICC. Rubio calls the ICC a “body of globalists” threatening US sovereignty and has urged US allies to rein it in. The criticism has a real basis: the Court can hear cases involving crimes committed on the territory of a state party even if the accused’s country has not joined the Rome Statute. But the ICC remains a treaty court, dependent on state cooperation, Western donors, and political decisions of the UN Security Council. Washington’s contradiction is built into the design itself: the US is attacking an institution that grew out of the liberal order it helped create. Europe’s is different: a declaratory commitment to international law coexists with the practical costs of reducing reliance on American infrastructure. What October 12 Will Reveal October 12 will show whether the EU moves from declarations to legal obligations. If the final document includes a European Commission decision to add the US sanctions against the ICC to the annex of Regulation 2271/96, that would mean a legal prohibition on European companies complying with the US measures — an unprecedented use of the Blocking Statute. If the outcome is a general declaration, a call on Washington to rescind the sanctions, and a mandate for the Commission to “prepare options,” that would confirm a scenario in which Europe defends the principle of ICC independence but is not prepared to pay for that defense through a direct collision with US extraterritorial jurisdiction. The probability of full and immediate activation of the statute on October 12 is low. A more realistic scenario is a political declaration of support, a Commission mandate to prepare a legal mechanism, and the preservation of the six-month pause for negotiations. The Dilemma Beyond The Hague The question is not whether the ICC survives past April 2027. The question is whether Europe can defend the international legal order when the costs of that defense fall on its own companies, banks, and technological supply chains. The Blocking Statute is a test of the EU’s ability to act not as a regulator but as a geopolitical player willing to bear the costs of conflict. If Europe limits itself to declarations and negotiations, it will confirm the formula Washington has already internalized: European sovereignty ends where American extraterritorial jurisdiction begins. If it activates the statute, it will launch an open legal conflict with an ally on which its security depends. For now, every signal points to a third option: prepare the instrument, defer the decision, and bet that Washington will back down on its own. MORE ON THE TOPIC: Saudi Arabia Has Allies. But Who Will Fight Its War in Yemen? The Baltic Fuse: How Europe Is Building the Infrastructure for War With Russia Trump’s Surprise Energy Ceasefire Comes With Threats for Kyiv The post The US Is Pulling the Plug on International Justice — Does Europe Have Its Own Power Source? appeared first on South Front.

[Category: #EU, #IRAN, #ISRAEL, #MIDDLEEAST, #RUSSIA, #UKRAINE, #USA, All articles, Editor's choice, France, Germany, Hot, Military, NATO, Politics, Spain, UK]

— Breakout from Dobropolye Fails: Ukrainian Losses Mount

 

at 10/11/26 4:48pm

Click to see the full-size image In the Sumy direction, Ukrainian units struck one of the pipes used to supply Russian groups near Korchakovka, which may create local difficulties; however, reports of counterattacks near Korchakovka and Yunakovka remain unconfirmed. In the Kharkiv direction, Russian units are destroying the remnants of the garrison in the “Volchansk cauldron,” have taken Shirokoye and advanced more than 1,100 metres deeper into the cauldron. In the Slavyansk direction the situation remains complicated: Ukrainian units have pushed Russian fighters back in the northern part of Zarechnoye and continue attacks near Yampol, which may complicate the position in the area of the Svyatiye Gory national park. In the Dobropolye direction, Russian troops have encircled a Ukrainian grouping and control approximately half of the town, having thwarted two breakout attempts. French presidential candidate Nicolas Dupont-Aignan agreed with Donald Trump that Volodymyr Zelensky is obstructing the achievement of peace and called for the lifting of anti-Russian sanctions. Sumy direction  Ukrainian formations struck one of the pipes through which supplies were delivered to small groups of Russian units operating near Korchakovka on the Sumy direction. From there Russian units had been advancing toward Ivolzhanskoye and the recently captured Kiyanitsa. This also indirectly confirms an increase in Ukrainian activity on this sector. At the same time, reports of counterattacks and advances near Korchakovka and Yunakovka remain unconfirmed. North of Miropolye crossings on the edge of the village were struck. Near Bolshoy Prikol Russian units are fighting for the forest tract east of the settlement. Small groups of Ukrainian formations have for some time been attempting to infiltrate these forests from the direction of Malaya Rybitsa, where they come under drone and artillery strikes. To counter Russian drones the Ukrainian side has reinforced its air-defence grouping with electronic-warfare units, transferring the 309th Separate EW Regiment from training grounds to Sumy region. Heavy fighting continues near Khoten. In Shostka district Russian assault troops are clearing tree lines near Korenok. document.createElement('video'); https://s1.cdnstatic.space/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/13194-.mp4Download video https://s1.cdnstatic.space/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/22559-.mp4Download video https://s1.cdnstatic.space/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/22551.mp4Download video Kharkiv direction  Fierce fighting continues on all sectors of the front in Kharkiv region. Russian units are destroying the remnants of the Ukrainian garrison in the “Volchansk cauldron,” employing all available means of fire and supporting the advance of assault groups. The Ukrainian side is offering fierce resistance and searching for ways out of the encirclement. Ukrainian formations are unable to force a reliable corridor for themselves, while Russian troops are systematically destroying disorganised units. Recently available objective-control footage confirms the capture of Shirokoye. Forward assault groups are already pressing Ukrainian forces on the territory of Komissarovo. Fighting for the village continues, and focal Ukrainian presence still remains in the tree lines to the north and in the vicinity of the border settlement of Rublyonoye. Near Veliky Burluk a large Ukrainian ammunition depot was destroyed by a precision air strike. In the Liptsy direction assault groups of Russian units are conducting small-arms fighting near Bugayevka. There is progress near Tokarevka. In the Volchansk and Veliky Burluk directions Russian troops have advanced significantly deeper into the cauldron by more than 1,100 metres. https://s1.cdnstatic.space/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/22561-.mp4Download video https://s1.cdnstatic.space/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/22560-.mp4Download video https://s1.cdnstatic.space/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/29969.mp4Download video Slavyansk direction  At the beginning of the week the actions of small Ukrainian groups were noted in Rai-Aleksandrovka and the forest tract north of it; at the same time a Russian presence was maintained in Nikolayevka. Subsequently reciprocal fighting and strikes continued around Nikolayevka and along the Seversky Donets–Donbass canal, including near Orekhovatka and Yurkovka. Russian positions were also repeatedly noted in Fyodorovka. By the end of the period Ukrainian positions were noted near Orekhovatka, Yurkovka and north of Vasilyevskaya Pustosh; the western part of Rai-Aleksandrovka was assessed as a probable grey zone. At the same time Russian pressure east of Slavyansk persisted, although its pace was assessed as having slowed. Ukrainian units have somewhat pushed Russian fighters back in the northern part of Zarechnoye. Further Ukrainian advance within the settlement may complicate the position of Russian units in the area of the Svyatiye Gory national park. Simultaneously Ukrainian forces continue attacks near Yampol. The Ukrainian side is attempting to advance through the marshy floodplain of the Seversky Donets, encountering strikes by Russian drone operators. Particular importance continues to attach to the struggle for Zarechnoye and Yampol, where local changes in positions may affect the situation of neighbouring units. https://s1.cdnstatic.space/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/12850-.mp4Download video https://s1.cdnstatic.space/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/23987.mp4Download video Dobropolye direction  In the area of Dobropolye Russian units are conducting a successful assault. The Ukrainian grouping has been taken into encirclement and is being cut into two parts. Approximately half of the town is already under control. Having encircled the grouping, Russian troops are attempting to split it and have captured a fairly large amount of urban territory — somewhere up to half the town has been taken under control. The Ukrainian side is desperately attempting to break the ring through Novovodyanoye and Zolotoy Kolodets toward Rubezhnoye. In Novovodyanoye positions are intermingled. Fighting is stubborn. Russian drone operators, artillerymen and aviation are repelling all attacks. Until Dobropolye is taken, further movement is likely to be difficult. On the outskirts of Belozyorskoye Russian drone operators are preparing a future assault which, according to estimates, may take place this autumn. Russian units are advancing along the railway from Novopodgorodnoye toward Raipole and Kolonna-Mezhevaya. Fighting continues in Sergeyevka, the greater part of which is already under Russian control. Russian forces are also pressing Ukrainian defences north of the village, thereby creating a threat to the Kamenka-Yuryevka defensive node. Russian troops thwarted two attempts by Ukrainian forces to break out of Dobropolye. Conclusion  In the Sumy direction this is expressed in the pressing of defences in the forest tracts and fighting near Kiyanitsa and Khoten. In the Kharkiv direction — in the tightening of the ring around the “Volchansk cauldron” and the capturing of new settlements. In the Slavyansk direction — in the holding of key positions near Zarechnoye and Yampol and heavy reciprocal fighting. In the Dobropolye direction — in the encirclement of the Ukrainian grouping and control over half of the town. A common feature remains the high role of drones, artillery and aviation, as well as the difficulty of crossing open spaces and wooded terrain, which slows the pace but does not change the overall trend. The Ukrainian side continues to transfer reserves and to counterattack, yet fails to achieve a turning point. French presidential candidate and leader of the party “Debout la France,” Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, agreed with U.S. President Donald Trump that Volodymyr Zelensky is obstructing the achievement of peace in Ukraine. “He is right. This is an obstacle on the path to peace. He is right,” Dupont-Aignan said on the CNews television channel. The politician added that because of the anti-Russian sanctions Europe is paying four to six times more for gas and up to ten times more for electricity than China. In his view France will have no economic future if the sanctions against Russia remain in place. “Therefore the sanctions must be lifted. We must help Trump conclude peace with Putin,” he noted. U.S. President Donald Trump stated to journalists on Saturday that Zelensky could have settled the Ukrainian conflict many times but did not do so. Therefore, according to him, Ukraine needs a new leader. MORE ON THE TOPIC: Trump Turns to Russian Diesel. Can Britain Keep Zelensky Afloat? Ukranian Defenses Crack in Zaporozhye Military Situation In Ukraine On October 10, 2026 (Maps Update) The post Breakout from Dobropolye Fails: Ukrainian Losses Mount appeared first on South Front.

[Category: #FROMTHEFRONT, #RealWarInUkraine, #RUSSIA, #UKRAINE, All articles, Editor's choice, Hot, Military, Politics, Russian Armed Forces, Suggested Analyses]

— Saudi Arabia Has Allies. But Who Will Fight Its War in Yemen?

 

at 10/11/26 3:09pm

Click to see the full-size image Saudi Arabia is desperately trying to reverse its losses on the ground in the Yemeni conflict, while Houthi attacks reach its airports and threaten its oil trade. Yet the coalition Riyadh has assembled does not match the war it wants to fight. Washington is engaged in the conflict with Iran, Turkey excludes offensive deployments, and Pakistan draws the line at crossing into Yemen. The kingdom has foreign support, but the burden of recovering and holding territory still falls on its weakened Yemeni partners. Retreat Before the Counteroffensive By early October 2026, Riyadh was responding to a deteriorating military position. The Houthis’ September advance along Yemen’s western coast brought the loss of Mokha and strategic positions around Bab el-Mandeb. These setbacks exposed the weakness of Saudi-backed forces and strengthened the Houthis’ leverage over a shipping route increasingly important to Saudi oil exports. The renewed Saudi–Houthi escalation began with the July 13, 2026, strike on Sanaa airport’s runway. Saudi aircraft sought to prevent an Iranian Mahan Air flight carrying a senior Houthi delegation from landing without coalition permission. The plane later landed in Hodeida after Omani mediation, but the Houthis retaliated against Abha airport and subsequently announced a blockade on Saudi shipping. The strike broke the relative calm established by the 2022 truce; September’s coastal offensive then turned the confrontation into a major territorial setback for Riyadh’s partners. The retreat exposed divisions within the anti-Houthi camp. Saudi–Emirati cooperation had broken down, and the withdrawal of the UAE left command arrangements that Riyadh failed to replace effectively. The factions expected to carry the offensive remained divided and poorly prepared for a sustained campaign. Saudi airpower could not compensate for the absence of a coherent local force. The cost is also being felt inside Saudi Arabia. The October 10, 2026, attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport killed 12 people and wounded 309, according to Saudi authorities, and temporarily suspended operations. Riyadh blamed the Houthis, who renewed their warning against using Saudi airports and airspace on October 11. Airport disruption, cancelled flights and attacks on oil facilities bring the economic consequences of the war directly into the kingdom. The Saudi air campaign has not secured its civilian infrastructure. Operation Dawn of Yemen began on October 5, 2026, after Saudi-backed Yemeni leader Rashad al-Alimi announced military action the previous day. The immediate objective was to recover the coastal positions lost in September, alongside the Saudi-backed Yemeni government’s broader ambition to restore its authority over Houthi-held territory. On October 11, the coalition announced the destruction of 136 military targets in a large-scale operation. That tally says little about whether Saudi-backed units can hold territory, secure supply routes or reopen shipping lanes. document.createElement('video'); https://s1.cdnstatic.space/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/MwUIx4tl5cNdZYgVCRvM8RzXwzUnchE.mp4Download video Houthi footage released October 10, 2026: Shawaz drone strikes on Saudi-backed forces in Kahbub and Al-Waziya, as presented by the movement’s military media Why Taiz Matters The counteroffensive has produced conflicting accounts of control on the coast. On October 9, 2026, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Yemen announced that Bab el-Mandeb and Mayun Island had been cleared of Houthi forces. The Houthis maintained that they still held those positions. Control of the waterway remains contested, despite Riyadh’s announcements of success. Taiz adds another strain after the coastal setbacks. Pressure on its approaches threatens supply routes and forces Saudi-backed units to divide their effort between the inland front and the Red Sea coast. The Houthis can disrupt their opponents’ counteroffensive without winning every coastal engagement: sustained pressure inland prevents those opponents from concentrating their forces. Saudi airpower does not resolve the fragmentation of the Saudi-backed Yemeni forces expected to hold the ground. https://s1.cdnstatic.space/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/1152802-11.mp4Download video Houthi military footage released October 10, 2026: the movement presents advances and the surrender of opposing fighters in Sami, As-Silw and Al-Mawasit, Taiz province. The fighting places further pressure on the ground forces on which Riyadh’s campaign depends The Iran War Narrows Saudi Options The US–Israeli war with Iran, which began in February 2026, has expanded the military demands on Washington. Regional deployments, shipping protection and operations against Iran compete with Saudi requests for a larger American role in Yemen. Riyadh cannot assume that American support will expand on its terms. Its dependence on outside assistance has grown at the same time as the regional war has made that assistance more conditional. The Iran war compounds Saudi Arabia’s vulnerability. Disruption at Hormuz has increased Riyadh’s dependence on its westbound pipeline and Red Sea ports. Southbound cargoes from Yanbu must pass Bab el-Mandeb; northbound exports follow a different route. Moving crude across the peninsula bypasses Hormuz, but it does not remove the threat to shipping off Yemen. Pressure at Bab el-Mandeb gives Iran an additional advantage while the Houthis gain territory and bargaining power of their own. Their overlapping interests put Riyadh under pressure on two fronts. A Washington–Tehran agreement would not automatically end the war in Yemen: the Houthis have their own territorial, political and economic demands. Washington is already involved through military advisers, intelligence and targeting support. The issue is the extent of that involvement, not American neutrality. Earlier in October 2026, Trump rejected Saudi requests for direct strikes; after the Riyadh airport attack, he said the United States might join them. Riyadh still lacks a firm American commitment to the wider offensive. Its requests compete with Washington’s military operations and priorities in the Iran war. Allies Draw Their Own Lines Riyadh’s response is to widen its support network through the Mecca pact, signed with Turkey and Pakistan on August 7, 2026, and activated on October 5. But an agreement to defend Saudi Arabia is not an agreement to win its war in Yemen. Pakistan’s military presence and Turkey’s technical, intelligence and air-defense assistance address the kingdom’s security without supplying a joint ground campaign across the border. The alliance has a secretary-general, retired Pakistani general Nauman Mahmood, but its detailed force-generation timetable, operational command arrangements, cost-sharing formula and mission duration remain unpublished. On October 8, 2026, Ankara excluded offensive operations while parliamentary ratification was pending. On October 9, Islamabad confirmed a substantial military presence in the kingdom but ruled out crossing into Yemen to attack the Houthis. Riyadh is obtaining defensive commitments, not a combined expeditionary army. Pakistan’s decision-making has also shifted. In 2015, parliament unanimously rejected participation in the Yemen war while promising to defend Saudi territory and holy sites. In October 2026, reinforcement commitments are proceeding without a parliamentary vote. The government says it followed the necessary procedures. The political result is a narrower domestic debate over a commitment that could draw Pakistan further into the conflict. Fewer political checks make deployments easier to authorize and harder to reconsider once costs and casualties accumulate. Pakistan’s own security pressures add another burden: the October 11, 2026, emergency in opposition-run Khyber Pakhtunkhwa coincides with its commitments to Saudi Arabia. Islamabad is extending support abroad while managing a deepening confrontation at home. Peshawar, October 11, 2026: police guard the approach to the Red Zone. Pakistan’s overseas security commitments coincide with emergency measures at home. https://s1.cdnstatic.space/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/sssx.io_1791748877144.mp4Download video Saudi-led coalition footage, October 9, 2026: the coalition announces strikes on three Houthi missile launchers. The continuing attacks inside Saudi Arabia expose the limits of destroying individual launch sites Defensive support can still sustain the offensive by freeing Saudi assets for use in Yemen. France’s support for the defense of Yanbu and Britain’s refueling assistance contribute to that effort. But none of this repairs the weakness of Riyadh’s Yemeni ground forces. Pakistan also has its border with Iran and its mediation role to consider, while Turkey keeps its commitment separate from offensive operations. Each partner sets limits according to its own interests. Different Interests, No Shared Victory Pakistan’s proposed $1.21 billion IMF disbursement awaits board approval. Turkey’s September 2026 inflation was 29.73%, with its policy rate at 37%. Both face financial pressures that favor limited missions over an open-ended expedition. Who pays for the current assistance remains undisclosed. Saudi Arabia’s updated deficit forecast is 4.9% of GDP. September 2026’s non-oil purchasing managers’ index stood at 55.3, indicating expansion before the latest escalation. The airport attacks and disruption to transport now place that activity under additional pressure. Riyadh must finance the campaign while protecting the infrastructure and trade on which its wider economic plans depend. The Houthis are using that pressure to advance their negotiating demands. On October 10, 2026, the Houthi authorities proposed reciprocal exclusion of airports, ports and other humanitarian infrastructure from blockade and attack. The proposal seeks to exchange limits on disruption for concessions over access and blockade. It puts the economic consequences of continued fighting at the center of the bargaining. The conflict of interests runs through the entire coalition. Riyadh wants to reverse Houthi gains and protect Saudi infrastructure. The Saudi-backed Yemeni government wants to restore its authority. Turkey and Pakistan seek bounded commitments, and Washington calculates its involvement against the Iran war. The Houthis seek concessions while preserving their military leverage. A common adversary has not produced an agreed objective or a shared willingness to bear the cost. Saudi Arabia therefore has partners willing to help defend the kingdom, but those partners have made no common commitment to reverse Riyadh’s setbacks in Yemen or sustain the ground campaign of the Saudi-backed Yemeni government. That is the gap behind the coalition’s announcements and strike tallies. Without stronger local forces and a political settlement addressing shipping, attacks and access, additional foreign support can prolong the campaign without resolving it. Riyadh risks remaining surrounded by allies while carrying a war none of them has agreed to finish. MORE ON THE TOPIC: Houthis Claim Key Taiz District as Pressure Tightens on Provincial Capital (Videos) Military Situation In Yemen On October 11, 2026 (Map Update) Houthis Strike Riyadh Airport Again, Claim Hits on Saudi Oil and Gas Facilities (Videos) The post Saudi Arabia Has Allies. But Who Will Fight Its War in Yemen? appeared first on South Front.

[Category: #EU, #IRAN, #MIDDLEEAST, #PAKISTAN, #SAUDIARABIA, #TURKEY, #USA, #YEMEN, All articles, Americas, Editor's choice, Europe, France, Hot, Military, NATO, Politics, UK]

As of 10/13/26 6:30am. Last new 10/13/26 6:30am.