### [2026-05-17](/feed/2026/05/17/index.md) ##### Middle Eastern crisis # Saudi Arabia intercepts three drones launched from Iraq. ### Sources: 1. [Al Jazeera](https://aje.news/36vepz?update=4580840) ### Related: 1. [Pakistani prime minister Shehbaz Sharif arrives in Jeddah to begin a four-day diplomatic trip through Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey to push for a second round of Iran–U.S. peace talks. ](/feed/2026/04/15/pakistani-prime-minister-shehbaz-sharif-arrives-in-jeddah-to-begin-a-four-day-diplomatic-trip-through-saudi-arabia-qata.md) _Context: Middle Eastern crisis, Saudi Arabia_ 2. [Kata'ib Hezbollah announces the release of American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was kidnapped by gunmen in Baghdad on March 31. The group's condition for Kittleson's freedom is her departure from Iraq. ](/feed/2026/04/7/kata-ib-hezbollah-announces-the-release-of-american-journalist-shelly-kittleson-who-was-kidnapped-by-gunmen-in-baghdad.md) _Context: Iraq, Middle Eastern crisis_ 3. [Israeli airstrikes kill seven people, including the Hezbollah commander for Iraq, Youssef Hashem, and injure dozens more in Beirut and nearby Khalde, Lebanon. ](/feed/2026/04/1/israeli-airstrikes-kill-seven-people-including-the-hezbollah-commander-for-iraq-youssef-hashem-and-injure-dozens-more.md) _Context: Iraq, Middle Eastern crisis_ 4. [American freelance journalist Shelly Kittleson is kidnapped by armed men in Baghdad, Iraq. ](/feed/2026/03/31/american-freelance-journalist-shelly-kittleson-is-kidnapped-by-armed-men-in-baghdad-iraq.md) _Context: Iraq, Middle Eastern crisis_ 5. [Bahrain imposes a nighttime maritime curfew from 6:00{{nbsp}}pm to 4:00{{nbsp}}am to restrict sea traffic and strengthen coastal security following reported attacks attributed to Iran. [https:--today.lorientlejour.com-article-1501346-bahrain-announces-curfew-for-maritime-traffic-ministry.html (AFP via "L'Orient Today")]***Ten Kuwaiti soldiers are injured in a new wave of missile and drone attacks on Kuwait. [https:--saudigazette.com.sa-article-660088-world-10-kuwaiti-soldiers-injured-in-missile-and-drone-attacks ("Saudi Gazette")]*The foreign ministers of Egypt, Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, meet in Islamabad to express their "full support" for potential Iran–United States talks hosted by Pakistan. [https:--www.france24.com-en-live-news-20260329-pakistan-hosts-saudi-turkey-egypt-for-talks-on-mideast-war (AFP via France 24)]*United States president Donald Trump tells "Financial Times" that the U.S. could seize Kharg Island and "take the oil" in Iran, although "a deal could be made fairly quickly". [https:--www.ft.com-content-3bd9fb6c-2985-4d24-b86b-23b7884031f5 ("Financial Times")] [https:--english.news.cn-northamerica-20260330-e0958790470e42ccaf54eff1aaa783f8-c.html (Xinhua)]*An Iranian missile hits the Makhteshim chemical plant in southern Israel. A warning for the leakage of hazardous materials is issued for the immediate vicinity of the site. [https:--www.reuters.com-world-middle-east-adama-chemicals-plant-southern-israel-hit-by-iranian-missile-or-debris-2026-03-29- (Reuters)]*A visual evidence released by "The New York Times" shows that a sports hall in Lamerd in the Fars province of Iran was hit by a untested short-range Precision Strike Missile during the first day of the war on February 28, 2026. [https:--www.nytimes.com-2026-03-29-world-middleeast-us-precision-strike-missile-iran-lamerd.html ("The New York Times")]An Indonesian peacekeeper of the UNIFIL mission is killed and a second one is critically injured when a projectile explodes at their position near Aadshit al-Qusayr, Nabatieh Governorate. [https:--www.timesofisrael.com-indonesian-peacekeeper-killed-in-lebanon-explosion-2nd-critically-injured- ("Times of Israel")]2026 Lebanon war](/feed/2026/03/29/bahrain-imposes-a-nighttime-maritime-curfew-from-6-00-nbsp-pm-to-4-00-nbsp-am-to-restrict-sea-traffic-and-strengthen.md) _Context: Middle Eastern crisis, Saudi Arabia_ 6. [Bahrain imposes a nighttime maritime curfew from 6:00{{nbsp}}pm to 4:00{{nbsp}}am to restrict sea traffic and strengthen coastal security following reported attacks attributed to Iran. [https:--today.lorientlejour.com-article-1501346-bahrain-announces-curfew-for-maritime-traffic-ministry.html (AFP via "L'Orient Today")]***Ten Kuwaiti soldiers are injured in a new wave of missile and drone attacks on Kuwait. [https:--saudigazette.com.sa-article-660088-world-10-kuwaiti-soldiers-injured-in-missile-and-drone-attacks ("Saudi Gazette")]*The foreign ministers of Egypt, Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, meet in Islamabad to express their "full support" for potential Iran–United States talks hosted by Pakistan. [https:--www.france24.com-en-live-news-20260329-pakistan-hosts-saudi-turkey-egypt-for-talks-on-mideast-war (AFP via France 24)]*United States president Donald Trump tells "Financial Times" that the U.S. could seize Kharg Island and "take the oil" in Iran, although "a deal could be made fairly quickly". [https:--www.ft.com-content-3bd9fb6c-2985-4d24-b86b-23b7884031f5 ("Financial Times")] [https:--english.news.cn-northamerica-20260330-e0958790470e42ccaf54eff1aaa783f8-c.html (Xinhua)]*An Iranian missile hits the Makhteshim chemical plant in southern Israel. A warning for the leakage of hazardous materials is issued for the immediate vicinity of the site. [https:--www.reuters.com-world-middle-east-adama-chemicals-plant-southern-israel-hit-by-iranian-missile-or-debris-2026-03-29- (Reuters)]*A visual evidence released by "The New York Times" shows that a sports hall in Lamerd in the Fars province of Iran was hit by a untested short-range Precision Strike Missile during the first day of the war on February 28, 2026. [https:--www.nytimes.com-2026-03-29-world-middleeast-us-precision-strike-missile-iran-lamerd.html ("The New York Times")]An Indonesian peacekeeper of the UNIFIL mission is killed and a second one is critically injured when a projectile explodes at their position near Aadshit al-Qusayr, Nabatieh Governorate. [https:--www.timesofisrael.com-indonesian-peacekeeper-killed-in-lebanon-explosion-2nd-critically-injured- ("Times of Israel")]2025–2026 Iran–United States negotiations](/feed/2026/03/29/bahrain-imposes-a-nighttime-maritime-curfew-from-6-00-nbsp-pm-to-4-00-nbsp-am-to-restrict-sea-traffic-and-strengthen.md) _Context: Middle Eastern crisis, Saudi Arabia_ 7. [An airstrike in Kirkuk, Iraq, hits a base of the Popular Mobilization Forces, killing one member and injuring four others. ](/feed/2026/03/28/an-airstrike-in-kirkuk-iraq-hits-a-base-of-the-popular-mobilization-forces-killing-one-member-and-injuring-four-other.md) _Context: Iraq, Middle Eastern crisis_ 8. [Fifteen fighters from Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), including a commander, are killed in an American airstrike on a PMF base in the Al Anbar Governorate. ](/feed/2026/03/24/fifteen-fighters-from-iraq-s-popular-mobilization-forces-pmf-including-a-commander-are-killed-in-an-american-airstri.md) _Context: Iraq, Middle Eastern crisis_ 9. [ The Saudi Arabian defense ministry reports that air defenses intercepted and destroyed 56 hostile drones targeting several areas across the country. ](/feed/2026/03/13/the-saudi-arabian-defense-ministry-reports-that-air-defenses-intercepted-and-destroyed-56-hostile-drones-targeting-seve.md) _Context: Middle Eastern crisis, Saudi Arabia_ 10. [The Iraqi Air Force carries out airstrikes on Islamic State hideouts near Hatra in northern Nineveh Governorate, Iraq, using F-16 fighter jets, killing four militants and destroying logistical facilities. ](/feed/2026/02/6/the-iraqi-air-force-carries-out-airstrikes-on-islamic-state-hideouts-near-hatra-in-northern-nineveh-governorate-iraq-u.md) _Context: Iraq, Middle Eastern crisis_