As MidEast tensions boil, Japan and N. Korea supply arms to Western combatants

(Originally published Aug. 1 in “What in the World“) U.S. forces launched an airstrike on an Iraqi paramilitary base Tuesday that they said threatened American troops in the country, part of a day of violence that threatened to plunge the region into wider war.

The airstrike hit a base south of Baghdad used by Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Force, which is reportedly dominated by members loyal to Iran. Baghdad, which is pushing for U.S. troops to leave the country by next month, condemned the attack as a violation of the U.S. forces’ mandate.

The airstrike followed the reported launch last week of several rockets against Ain al-Asad airbase west of Baghdad, where U.S. troops are located. It was the first such strike since February.

The U.S. strike coincided with Israel’s airstrike Tuesday against a Hezbollah official in a Beirut suburb and came a little over a week after Israeli F-15s conducted an air strike against a Houthi-controlled port in Yemen.

Hours later, Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran where he was attending meetings between the regional militias in Iran’s “axis of resistance” and newly inaugurated Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Haniyeh was Hamas’ chief negotiator in ceasefire talks with Israel and Hamas blamed Israel for his assassination and Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, reportedly issued an order for Iran to retaliate directly against Israel.

Ukraine, meanwhile, received the first of its F-16s from Denmark and the Netherlands. Kyiv continues to face barrages from Russian forces, and the Ukrainian military said Wednesday it had fended off one of the largest fusillades in months—89 missiles and drones.

The U.S. has handed Ukraine so many of its own Patriot missiles that it is turning to Japan to sell it some to replenish its own stockpile. Japan’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency said it would sell the Pentagon 10 Pac-3 interceptor missiles for roughly $19 million.

Russian forces have reportedly deployed a North Korean-built anti-tank missile carrier, the Bulsae-4, in Ukraine. Until the vehicle was spotted, North Korean military assistance appeared to be limited largely to supplying Russia with ammunition and missiles.