Middle East tensions flare as drones strike Iraqi Kurdistan and Gaza talks stall

Iranian‑launched drones hit the office of the Kurdistan Regional Government in Erbil on Monday, marking the first known strike on Iraqi territory since Tehran’s recent policy shift toward a more offensive posture. The attack, reported by local authorities, caused no casualties but prompted a swift condemnation from Baghdad and raised fears of wider escalation.

Settlers, diplomats and a house under siege

In the occupied West Bank, Louai Abu Ridi, a Palestinian‑American who owns one of three homes in Qusra near Nablus, returned to the village after a week of settler‑imposed blockade. He said he felt "terrified" and appealed for U.S. protection.

"I can't let the settlers steal my house while I was watching," he told reporters after landing at Ben Gurion Airport.

His brother, Qusai Abu Ridi, remains inside the house, documenting quad‑bike rides by settlers and the presence of Israeli forces outside. U.S. ambassador Mike Huckabee labelled the settlers’ actions "disgusting" on social media.

U.S. envoy pushes for Gaza peace amid Israeli resistance

U.S. envoy Jared Kushner met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, describing the talks as "lengthy, in depth and very productive". According to a Board of Peace official, the two agreed that a U.S. general should supervise the disarmament of Hamas before any Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog also praised President Donald Trump's peace plan, noting that Israel’s security interests are a "central element". However, Netanyahu has signalled no pull‑out from Gaza without a verified Hamas weapons hand‑over, and no official U.S. confirmation of the agreement has been released.

Wider regional flashpoints

In the Red Sea, Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed to have hit a Saudi military landing ship and four patrol boats off the coast of Mokha with ballistic missiles, though Saudi officials have not responded.

Meanwhile, Iran warned it would "escalate tensions" in the Strait of Hormuz if diplomatic talks with the United States fail, signalling a shift from a defensive to a fully offensive posture. Iran also said it was close to finalising a joint statement with Oman on managing traffic through the strait, a key U.S. demand.

Oman is also dealing with an oil spill from the grounded tanker Caroline Bezengi, which has leaked Russian crude across a protected marine area, hampering wildlife and local fisheries.

The United Nations rights chief urged all parties in Yemen to halt actions that could reignite full‑scale conflict, warning that the fragile 2022 truce is under strain.

What comes next?

Analysts expect heightened diplomatic activity in the coming weeks as the United States pushes its 15‑point Gaza roadmap while Iran tests the limits of its new offensive doctrine. Any further drone incursions or escalation in the Hormuz corridor could draw in global shipping firms and energy markets, while the situation in Qusra may prompt renewed calls for international protection of Palestinian civilians.

For now, the region remains on edge, with each side watching the other's next move closely.