On Friday, August 7th, 2026, Turkey announced that its recently signed joint defence pact with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan is "not aimed at any particular country." The agreement comes as Middle Eastern powers seek to bolster security ties amid ongoing tensions related to the US-Iran conflict.

In related developments, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis reportedly killed at least 58 government troops in missile and drone attacks, marking one of the deadliest days in Yemen's civil war in four years, according to a military source.

Meanwhile, Israel has refused to withdraw from additional areas in southern Lebanon unless the Lebanese army gains full control over two initial "pilot zones," a Lebanese presidential source told AFP.

US President Donald Trump expressed optimism about the conflict with Iran, telling reporters he believed the war would end soon.

These events highlight the complex and evolving security dynamics in the Middle East.

Sources