On this week’s episode of the War Brief, hosts Sarmad Jawad and Murtaza Hussain break down the most critical military and foreign policy developments across the Middle East and Eastern Europe over the past week.
In Yemen, Ansarallah, also known as the Houthis, continue their rapid advances across western Yemen, moving to encircle the city of Taiz and firming up their control control over the vital Bab al-Mandab Strait. As Saudi Arabia reportedly plans a major military offensive against the group with the support of regional countries, Ansar Allah is establishing facts on the ground in their battle to control Yemen.
In Gaza, the Israeli military has continued to carry out strikes killing Palestinian civilians in Gaza—including deadly strikes targeting journalists and members of Gaza’s small Christian community. According to most recent figures, Gaza’s Health Ministry has recorded at least 1,431 Palestinians killed and 5,026 wounded since the October 2025 ceasefire.
In Europe, Moscow has issued a direct warning to NATO, threatening the use of its full military arsenal—including nuclear weapons—if Western operations isolate the militarized exclave of Kaliningrad.
Meanwhile in Iraq, U.S. allies in Iraq feel betrayed by Trump’s withdrawal of forces from the country, even as many ordinary Iraqis celebrate the withdrawal.
Despite claims from Donald Trump, Tehran firmly maintains control over the Strait of Hormuz, striking eight oil tankers in just five days. Iran is preparing contingency plans for an escalated conflict, including likely targeting of naval and aerial support bases like those on the Indian Ocean island Diego Garcia.
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