Iran

• Pakistan retaliated against Iran's strikes on Sunni Baloch seperatists by carrying out "precision military strikes" against alleged militant hideouts inside Iran, killing at least nine.
• In several cases, Iran and Pakistan are both fighting the same militant groups - and both accuse the other of giving them safe haven.
• Two unidentified Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps officials told the NYT that Iran's goal with these cross-border strikes is to show strength and convey a warning that it's not afraid to strike back (although its recent strikes have been limited enough to avoid causing a major escalation).

• A Houthi drone struck a U.S.-owned bulk carrier in the Gulf of Aden, causing a fire that sent the Indian Navy scrambling to rescue the crew of 22 (including nine Indians).
• The U.S. then responded with a fourth round of strikes on Houthi missile sites.
• As signalled, the U.S. re-designated the Houthis as terrorists, effective 30 days from now. The renewed designation will require U.S. banks and donors to freeze funding for the Houthis.

• The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) - an East African regional bloc - called an extraordinary meeting for tomorrow in an effort to broker a ceasefire between the two armed factions fighting in Sudan.
• One of the two leaders - Muhammad Hamdan Dagalo (aka Hemedti) - has the upper hand in fighting right now and is eager to lock in a ceasefire agreement that formalizes his gains, but his rival - Gen. Abdel Fattah al Burhan - is boycotting the summit, which will ensure there won't be a big breakthrough.