Israel strikes Tehran airport
Israel says it destroyed 16 planes of the Quds Force at Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport. Explosions and large smoke plumes were seen overnight at Iran’s busiest domestic airport.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the planes were loaded with weapons and cash, intended to supply Iran-backed groups including Hezbollah, according to AP.
IDF also stated that several Iranian fighter jets were targeted in the strike, aiming to disrupt arms transfers to proxy groups.
Saudi and Pakistani defense officials meet
Saudi Arabia’s defense minister and Pakistan’s army chief met on Saturday to discuss ways to stop attacks coming from Iran. The meeting focused on regional security and rising tensions in the Middle East, AP reported.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, the discussion was held under the Joint Strategic Defense Agreement between the two countries.
Both sides talked about cooperation to prevent attacks that could threaten regional stability.
Pakistan has not yet released an official statement about the meeting. However, the two countries signed a mutual defense pact in September, which states that an attack on one nation would be treated as an attack on both.
Drone attacks target Saudi oilfield
Early Saturday, drone attacks targeted areas near Riyadh and the Shaybah oil field in Saudi Arabia, reported AP.
The Saudi Ministry of Defense said it intercepted all incoming drones. The attack focused on the Shaybah oil field, operated by Saudi Aramco, which produces about 1m barrels of oil per day.
Recent attacks linked to Iran have increasingly targeted Gulf oil infrastructure and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a route carrying around 20 percent of global oil and gas trade, according to AP.
Japan, Canada boost security ties
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and her Canadian counterpart Mark Carney signed a strategic agreement in Tokyo to strengthen cooperation on defense, energy and economic security, according to AP.
The deal comes as tensions in the Middle East raise concerns over global oil supplies, particularly shipments passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Both countries also agreed to start talks on a defense pact, expand military cooperation and launch new dialogues on economic security and cyber policy.
