This is an entry from: Live: UN experts say 'reasonable grounds' to believe US committed war crime in Iran school strike Pakistan says time has come to implement Mecca defence pact 17 September 2026 16:38 BST Pakistan’s defence minister has said the time has come to implement the Mecca defence agreement with Saudi Arabia and Turkey as Houthi attacks on the kingdom intensify. Speaking to Geo News on Wednesday, Khawaja Asif said Pakistan remained committed to defending Saudi Arabia and the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, adding that Islamabad had a duty to protect them even without the agreement. “Makkah Agreement applies to us, and we will fulfil our duty,” said Asif without elaborating on what Pakistan may do. Houthi officials have denied targeting the holy city. "Our operations target its [Saudi] oil facilities and military bases, which are far removed from the sacred sites," Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree said.
This is an entry from: Live: UN experts say 'reasonable grounds' to believe US committed war crime in Iran school strike Pakistan says time has come to implement Mecca defence pact 17 September 2026 16:38 BST Pakistan’s defence minister has said the time has come to implement the…
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Ukraine and Russia have indicated a willingness to resume U.S.-brokered peace talks and support a proposed humanitarian mission, though significant disagreements over territory and security guarantees remain unresolved. This diplomatic development follows a reported local ceasefire agreement for Kherson, but was complicated by recent missile strikes on Kyiv and conflicting claims regarding drone interceptions.
Ukraine and Russia have indicated a willingness to resume U.S.-brokered peace talks and support a humanitarian mission in Kherson, though significant disputes over territory and security guarantees persist. These diplomatic developments occurred concurrently with reported missile and drone attacks on Kyiv and claims by Moscow of intercepting Ukrainian drones, highlighting the continued intensity of the conflict.
Ukraine and Russia have indicated a willingness to resume U.S.-brokered peace negotiations and support a humanitarian mission led by First Lady Melania Trump, which includes a proposed local ceasefire in Kherson. However, significant obstacles remain, as deep disagreements persist regarding territorial control and security guarantees.
Despite these diplomatic signals, Russia launched missile and drone strikes on Kyiv shortly after President Putin stated he agreed "in principle" to restart talks.
Reuters reported that US President Donald Trump stated on October 23 that further military strikes against Iran remain an active policy option, referencing prior operations. These remarks were made during a campaign rally in Florida amid ongoing regional hostilities and concerns over disruptions to Persian Gulf shipping lanes.