Latest war news. Kallas’s letter to the 27: ‘Strengthen Aspides with more ships and aircraft’

US President Donald Trump told Fox News’s special foreign affairs correspondent that he was at a “decision-making stage” and that “very important things” would happen in the near future regarding the war between the US and Iran. This was reported by the broadcaster itself, which stated that the tycoon said: “My question is: if and when will I blow the whole country to smithereens? They’d better behave themselves.” Trump also said he was “open” to a meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, after Tehran sent a list of demands to end the conflict.

The United States is ‘in constant contact with the Houthis’, who ‘have agreed not to fight against’ the US. This is according to the Fox News correspondent following a conversation with US President Donald Trump. This position is consistent with what the President had stated publicly on 12 September during a visit to Ireland: ‘We’ve had talks: the Houthis have contacted us and do not want to fight against us; they do not want us to target them and would far prefer us not to be involved; they let most ships through; there’s just one country they’re not very happy with”, referring to Saudi Arabia, but according to the tycoon, “we’ll sort it out”.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is due to travel to New York in the coming days to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, according to a report today by the Iranian broadcaster SNN.

The general debate of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly will take place in New York from 22 to 26 September and on 28 September.

It is reported that Pezeshkian will address the UN General Assembly and hold bilateral meetings and consultations with other world leaders.

Despite repeated calls from some US lawmakers to bar Iranian officials from entering the country, the 1947 United Nations Headquarters Agreement requires the United States to guarantee unhindered access to representatives of all UN Member States.

Il presidente iraniano Pezeshkian al Brics Business Forum a New Delhi, India, 11 settembre 2026. ( via REUTERS)

‘Throughout my career, I have tried not to be a political commentator of any sort, because I want my music and my shows to be about unity, not division; about humanity, not politics. But this is a humanitarian issue and I can no longer hide how I feel.’

Following the furore sparked by the exclusion of rapper Macklemore from his tour, after he made some pro-Palestinian statements, Ed Sheeran returns to the stage in Philadelphia and apologises to his fans, whilst also breaking his silence on the war in the Middle East.

Egypt, Jordan, Qatar and Kuwait have stated that the Houthi attack on the capital of Saudi Arabia represents ‘a threat to the security and stability of the region, as well as a violation of international law’. In separate statements, Al Jazeera reports, the respective governments have expressed their support for Riyadh, reaffirming their backing for its sovereignty and the protection of civilians. The Muslim World League has also condemned the attack, describing it as a violation of ‘all religious values, as well as international and humanitarian norms and laws’.

The IDF has announced in a statement that it killed two terrorists in Gaza at the weekend who had infiltrated Israel on 7 October 2023, as well as a commander of Hamas’s elite Nukhba unit. The latter was Basir Al-Barsh, the eldest son of the Director-General of Hamas’s Ministry of Health, who was struck down yesterday west of Jabalia. The two terrorists who had taken part in the 7 October massacre, the IDF states, were Yahya Hamdouna, of Hamas’s military wing, and Muhammad Rafaei, of Hamas’s Daraj Tuffah battalion, who had also infiltrated Israeli territory on 7 October. “Recently, the terrorists have stepped up their attacks against IDF troops and Israeli civilians and have been working to rebuild the terrorist organisation’s capabilities,” wrote the army spokesperson.

The Iranian military command has warned Middle Eastern countries that they will be “regarded as accomplices” if the United States resumes large-scale attacks against the country from American bases. “We warn that if the countries of the region – by continuing their ambiguous policy towards the Islamic Republic of Iran – side with the Great Satan’s aggression against a powerful and sovereign Iran, they will all be regarded as accomplices to this evil and can no longer expect restraint or fairness from the powerful Iranian armed forces”, stated the Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters in a communiqué, after receiving information that the United States, with the support of certain countries in the region, is preparing to resume actions against Iran.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi during a visit to Cairo, which took place as the United States warned of the risk of a rapid and unpredictable escalation of conflicts in the Middle East. The Egyptian President’s office announced that during the meeting, which was also attended by the head of Egyptian intelligence, Hassan Rashad, discussions centred on the conflicts in Iran, Gaza and Sudan, as well as attacks against Gulf states and threats to maritime security. The Egyptian president emphasised “the enormous importance of resolving regional crises through political and diplomatic channels”, the statement added. Meanwhile, Ratcliffe “praised Egypt’s key role in supporting efforts aimed at reaching peaceful and comprehensive agreements to resolve regional crises”.

Iran has received information that the United States, with the support of certain countries in the region, is preparing to resume military action against Iran; this was stated on Sunday by the country’s Central Military Command, according to state media reports.

The armed forces have stated that any US attack would trigger sustained attacks on US bases and interests in the region, adding that countries in the region that supported a US attack on Iran would be regarded as parties to the conflict.

On the issue of Houthi threats to maritime navigation in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Defence Minister Guido Crosetto has decided to set the record straight and, in a statement, clarifies: ‘Italia is not at war. Parliament has not been “excluded” from anything. The Quirinale has not been kept in the dark about anything.”

In the statement, Crosetto describes the headline in *Il Fatto Quotidiano* of 19 September (“Italia at war without telling the Italians or the President”) as “false, offensive, misleading and extremely serious” and maintains that the Italian military presence in Saudi Arabia has never been a secret. The minister points out that he has reported on this matter on several occasions in Parliament, as have the Chief of the Defence Staff, the Commander of the Joint Operational Command (COVI), the Foreign Secretary and the Under-Secretaries of State for Defence.

Hezbollah’s Secretary-General, Naim Qassem, has stated that countering “Israel’s arrogance” is only possible through resistance. Qassem, as reported by international Arabic-language media, spoke yesterday at the Conference of the Martyrs of the Resistance to mark the 55th anniversary of the founding of the Imami Student Organisation in Pakistan: “Resistance is the only way to liberate the land,” he said. “We have put this resistance to the test in Lebanon and have found that it liberates the land and the people, forces the Israeli enemy to flee in a shameful and humiliating manner, and restores the Palestinian cause’s vitality and potential.” The Palestinian cause, he added, is a “central issue” and that “resistance in all its forms is necessary”. Resistance means “rejecting the enemy and fighting when we are able to fight, each according to their own position and role”. Regarding the US-Israeli war against Iran, Qassem stated that “the attack aimed to overthrow the regime, but it encountered difficulties. “Even if it takes a long time, Iran has won, and even if it takes us days or months, we will be victorious because we have stood firm in our positions and prevented them from achieving their objectives.” “We are the rightful owners of this land and we must resist, however great the sacrifices may be,” he concluded, “and victory will come.”

“The dichotomy between war and negotiation is not real; we must both fight and negotiate: fight with wisdom and authority, and negotiate with authority and rationality at the appropriate time.” This was stated by the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, in his opening address to the session, on the eve of the so-called ‘Sacred Defence Week’. According to him, unless Iran’s rights are recognised, the conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz will not be met. “When the time comes,” he explained, “we will use all the military might at our disposal to repel the enemy and deal them fatal blows; but once we have achieved a significant victory on the ground, we will consolidate these gains through diplomatic means until we reach the stage of deterrence, inflicting defeat upon the enemy whilst simultaneously strengthening the components of our power”. “Today, our positions on the diplomatic front are absolutely clear, rational and non-negotiable,” continued Ghalibaf – “Our messages and the explanation of our conditions, conveyed through mediators, have been made clear to the other side, and the enemy knows full well that the path of deception and unilateral imposition is closed. Until these conditions are met, the legitimate rights of the Iranian nation are recognised and the Americans’ commitments are fulfilled, there will be no scope for a return to the previous terms of negotiation or for the opening of the Strait of Hormuz.”

The US Embassy in Jerusalem has issued a travel advisory to US citizens in Israel following the Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia. The statement urges Americans to “maintain a heightened level of vigilance and to be aware of possible flight cancellations, airspace closures and travel disruptions”.

Egypt has condemned the Houthi attacks on Riyadh “in the strongest possible terms”, describing them as a “flagrant violation” of Saudi Arabia’s security and stability and of international law. In a statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said the attacks represented a “dangerous escalation” that could heighten regional tensions and further destabilise the region. Cairo said it “categorically rejects” any attempt to undermine Saudi Arabia’s security or sovereignty and expressed its full solidarity with the kingdom. It also backed any measures taken by Saudi Arabia to preserve its security, stability and territorial integrity, adding that the security of Saudi Arabia and Egypt is “indivisible”.

Jordan has condemned the Houthis’ ballistic missile attack on Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. In a statement, the Jordanian Foreign Ministry also condemned what it described as attempts by the Houthis to target civilians and civilian sites in Bish, Taif, Farasan and Yanbu. The ministry described the attacks as a “flagrant violation”, whilst spokesperson Fouad al-Majali stated that Jordan stands “in full solidarity” with Saudi Arabia.

US President Donald Trump has returned to the White House after leaving Camp David, in Maryland – where he had been staying – a day earlier than planned. This has been reported by several US media outlets. The Hill points out that Trump’s early return to the White House follows a new security alert issued by the US State Department, which advised Americans in the Middle East to “remain on high alert” and to prepare for possible travel disruptions in light of the new attacks launched by the Iran-backed Houthis against Saudi Arabia. “This military conflict has the potential to escalate rapidly,” states the US State Department’s statement.

“No, we are not at war. Indeed, the European Aspides mission was established and remains a defensive mission, aimed solely at ensuring the safe passage of merchant ships travelling through the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait by protecting them from any attacks by the Houthis. We shall continue to do so in the face of the worsening situation in the strait, urging the European Union to extend the mission, because we have a strong strategic interest.” This was stated by the Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Antonio Tajani, in an interview with *Corriere della Sera*, in response to a question raised in the context of the clashes between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, following an air raid that struck an Italian fighter jet at a Saudi airbase. “40 per cent of Italia’s total commercial maritime traffic and 60 per cent of the goods we export to Asia pass through the Red Sea. We have been calling for months for Aspides to be strengthened, asking other states to stand alongside us. I will reiterate this next week in New York, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly,” added Tajani.

The US State Department has issued a security alert aimed at American citizens in the Middle East or those planning to travel to the region, warning that the conflict involving Iran and the Houthis in Yemen “has the potential to escalate rapidly”. “Due to tensions in the Middle East, the security situation remains complex, with the risk of an unexpected escalation”, reads the State Department’s statement, which adds that “US citizens currently in the Middle East should exercise the utmost vigilance and be aware of the possibility of flight cancellations, airspace closures and service disruptions”. “The Houthis, supported by Iran, have launched hostilities against Saudi Arabia, also targeting civilian airports. This military conflict has the potential to escalate rapidly”, the statement continues, adding that “US citizens outside the Middle East should seriously reconsider travelling to or transiting through the region” and “those travelling to or from the region should monitor information regarding airport and airline operations”.