Regional tensions escalate as military chiefs prepare urgent talks and strikes hit Saudi targets

Military leaders from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan are planning a top-level meeting to review defense plans after recent Houthi missile attacks struck parts of the kingdom. The Saudi foreign ministry confirmed the move following strikes that targeted areas including Yanbu and Riyadh, while local authorities in Jazan reported that an earlier emergency alert has now been lifted. Meanwhile, the United States is handing over a diplomatic and logistics center at Baghdad airport to the Iraqi government. This transfer aligns with plans to wrap up the US-led coalition's military presence in Iraq by the end of September, following an agreement signed with US charge d'affaires Steven Fagin. On the diplomatic front, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated in a television interview that Washington holds the responsibility for deciding when the ongoing conflict will conclude. Conversely, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used his United Nations address to claim Israel has severely damaged Iran's military capabilities and thanked the United States for its backing. British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband also held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, warning that the United Kingdom will reject any hostile actions or threats on British soil from groups tied to Tehran.