Global News Brief: Iraq Closes Borders, Yemen Conflict Escalates, BRICS Summit
Iraq has closed three border crossings with Iran following a drone attack on a Saudi oil pipeline, which Baghdad and Riyadh stated originated from Iraqi territory. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, though an alliance of Iran-backed Iraqi militias denied involvement. Saudi Arabia has previously accused these groups of launching attacks on its soil.
U.S. President Donald Trump stated during a visit to Ireland that the Houthi rebels in Yemen had asked the U.S. to remain neutral in the ongoing conflict there, following their recent capture of the Bab el-Mandeb strait. Trump's visit to Ireland is primarily focused on golf but includes diplomatic engagements.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in New Delhi. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also attending, remarked that the Gulf conflict does not serve the "common interests of the international community." BRICS nations, including Russia, China, India, Iran, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, issued a joint statement calling for "maximum restraint" in the Gulf.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun emphasized that Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon, its reconstruction, and the return of its residents are "national constants" the state is committed to achieving. He visited the southern city of Nabatieh, where the Lebanese army recently deployed as part of an agreement with Israel brokered by the U.S.
In other international news, North Korea launched ballistic missiles following joint military drills between South Korea, the U.S., and Japan. Eritrea accused Ethiopia of destabilizing the Horn of Africa and supporting the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan. Somali pirates released a cargo ship after a ransom was paid. A cryptocurrency billionaire made a record donation to a UK political party. Bulgaria reported explosions at a munitions site. French authorities suspect sabotage in a train derailment. At least 26 students died in a stampede at a school in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Niger's military junta appointed a new chief of staff following a recent attempted coup. Russia has not yet decided if President Vladimir Putin will attend the G20 summit in Miami.
