A suicide car bomb and overnight gun battle at a security compound in Kohat highlights Pakistan's escalating domestic crisis as foreign pacts threaten to pull its military abroad.
Emergency warnings in Riyadh and al-Kharj come as Donald Trump signs the Lindsey O. Graham sanctions bill, dragging global shipping and diplomacy into the conflict.
The State Department has approved the $24.3bn deal, but intelligence reports warn Beijing could gain access to America's crown-jewel military technology.
Defence minister says Islamabad will meet its obligations under the new alliance, but unratified treaties and missing operational plans mean immediate military action is unlikely.
Video footage verified by experts confirms the loss of the US-built jet, marking a significant propaganda win and a dangerous escalation in the region.
The Saudi-led coalition vowed to protect Islam's holiest sites after destroying a drone south of Mecca, while Houthi rebels dismissed the accusation as a lie.
With the Strait of Hormuz already closed, a successful strike on the Red Sea bypass leaves the world's largest exporter with just days of local reserves.
The capture of Mocha and Perim island gives the rebels control of a vital global trade bottleneck, triggering Saudi airstrikes and sending thousands fleeing.
