Overview

• The GCC Joint Defense Council in Doha condemned Israel’s violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and stated that an attack on Qatar is an attack on all member states.
• Ministers approved five actions: wider intelligence sharing via the unified command, a shared air operations picture, faster work on a ballistic‑missile early warning system, updated joint defense plans, and air and air‑defense drills within three months followed by a live exercise.
• UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed met Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze in Tbilisi to deepen cooperation in investment, agriculture and renewables under their 2023 CEPA, and witnessed an Eagle Hills–economy ministry agreement exchange.
• The UAE Ministry of Finance held Article IV consultations with an IMF mission to review macroeconomic performance, the financial sector and avenues to further develop fiscal policy.
• Hezbollah’s Naim Qassem called on Saudi Arabia to “open a new page” and said the group’s weapons are directed at Israel rather than Arab states in remarks delivered in Beirut.