The Swedish Armed Forces said the incidents occurred on Friday in the southern and northern areas of the Baltic Sea. Swedish airspace was not violated during either encounter, it said.

NATO fighter jets were launched “to maintain security in the shared airspace,” the Swedish military said in a statement.

“The Russian actions are serious and constitute a recurring pattern of behavior that threatens both our territorial integrity and security,” Vice Admiral Ewa Skoog Haslum, Sweden’s chief of joint operations, said.
The interceptions involved Sweden’s JAS 39 Gripen aircraft, which are used for national air defence and NATO-related missions.

Sweden joined NATO in March 2024, ending decades of military non-alignment following heightened security concerns in Europe.

Tensions in the Baltic Sea region have increased since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with NATO members strengthening surveillance and air patrol operations in the area.

In a statement posted on a domestic social media platform, Qaani said support for Hezbollah and the Lebanese resistance remained a responsibility for Muslims and described Israel’s withdrawal as an achievable objective.

“The minimum demand of the resistance is the withdrawal of the Israeli regime to the positions it held before the start of the 40-day war,” Qaani said.

His remarks come amid continued fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and growing diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire. Iran has repeatedly linked any broader regional settlement to an end to Israeli military operations in Lebanon.

Tehran is a key backer of Hezbollah, which has been engaged in cross-border hostilities with Israel since the conflict intensified earlier this year.

In a statement posted on a domestic social media platform, Qaani said support for Hezbollah and the Lebanese resistance remained a responsibility for Muslims and described Israel’s withdrawal as an achievable objective.

“The minimum demand of the resistance is the withdrawal of the Israeli regime to the positions it held before the start of the 40-day war,” Qaani said.

His remarks come amid continued fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and growing diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire. Iran has repeatedly linked any broader regional settlement to an end to Israeli military operations in Lebanon.

Tehran is a key backer of Hezbollah, which has been engaged in cross-border hostilities with Israel since the conflict intensified earlier this year.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said it detected 21 Chinese military aircraft, including J-16 fighter jets and unmanned aerial vehicles, operating around Taiwan on Monday alongside Chinese naval vessels participating in what Beijing describes as a joint combat readiness patrol.

The patrol marked the second such operation within a week and came as Taiwan remains alert to potential shifts in Chinese military behavior following discussions on Taiwan between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump during Trump’s recent visit to Beijing.

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has steadily increased military pressure on the island through frequent deployments of warships and military aircraft. Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims and maintains that only the island’s people can determine their future.

According to Taiwan’s defense ministry, the Chinese aircraft and naval vessels operated around multiple sectors of the island before the patrol concluded. Taipei responded by dispatching ships and combat aircraft to monitor the movements and maintain surveillance.

The ministry also released images captured by Taiwanese forces, including photographs from an F-16 fighter showing two Chinese aircraft flying near a Y-20 aerial refueling tanker. Additional images showed the Chinese guided-missile destroyer Yinchuan and a Taiwanese sailor observing the vessel through binoculars.

Speaking in Taipei on Tuesday, Pan Chun-kuang of the defense ministry’s intelligence department said the latest patrol had ended but stressed that Taiwan continued to monitor Chinese military activities in surrounding waters and airspace.

Pan said Taiwan was closely tracking the movements of China’s aircraft carrier Liaoning in the Western Pacific and would provide additional information on Chinese deployments when necessary.

The latest operation followed a similar Chinese readiness patrol conducted last Tuesday, one day before Taiwan President Lai Ching-te marked the second anniversary of his administration. Beijing has repeatedly labeled Lai a separatist and has rejected his offers for dialogue.

Military activity has also extended beyond the Taiwan Strait. Over the weekend, Taiwan’s coast guard reported an encounter with a Chinese coast guard vessel near the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands, a strategically important outpost in the northern reaches of the South China Sea.

Separately, Taiwan National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu said on social media that approximately 100 Chinese vessels were operating within the so-called first island chain, a strategic maritime corridor stretching from Japan through Taiwan to the Philippines.

China’s Ministry of National Defense did not immediately comment on Taiwan’s account of the patrol.

The increased tempo of Chinese military operations reflects Beijing’s continued effort to assert its claims over Taiwan while testing the island’s defensive readiness and signaling its opposition to any moves it perceives as supporting Taiwanese sovereignty.

Speaking at a news conference in Taipei marking two years since taking office, Lai said Taiwan remained committed to maintaining the status quo while accusing Beijing of escalating military pressure across the Indo-Pacific region.

“My government is committed to maintaining the status quo, and Taiwan is also a guardian of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” Lai said.

“China is the one undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” he added, citing Beijing’s expanding military exercises and deployments extending into the western Pacific.

The remarks came after Trump suggested last week that future US arms sales to Taiwan could serve as a bargaining tool in negotiations with China following meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Trump also indicated he was considering whether to hold direct talks with Lai, which would mark a significant break from decades of US diplomatic practice.

Washington shifted formal diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979, and no direct conversation between sitting US and Taiwanese presidents has occurred since then.

Lai said communication channels between Taipei and Washington remained open and that he would use any opportunity to convey the views of Taiwanese society directly to the US administration.

“The Republic of China, Taiwan, is a sovereign and independent country,” Lai said, using Taiwan’s formal constitutional name.

“No country has the right to annex Taiwan. The people of Taiwan pursue a democratic and free way of life.”
Lai also defended Taiwan’s continued purchases of US weapons systems, describing military procurement as necessary to preserve peace and deterrence across the Taiwan Strait.

Taiwan has increased defense spending amid rising Chinese military activity around the island and continued pressure from Washington for Taipei to assume greater responsibility for its own defense.
In Beijing, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office dismissed Lai’s comments, accusing Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party of destabilizing the region.

Spokesperson Zhu Fenglian said Taiwan could not prevent what she described as the “historical trend” of reunification with the mainland.
China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control, though it continues to publicly advocate what it calls “peaceful reunification.”

Taiwan recently reported increased Chinese military operations near the island and published rare images of Chinese fighter aircraft and naval vessels operating in nearby waters.

Lai reiterated that Taiwan’s future could only be decided by its people and said Taipei remained willing to engage in dialogue with Beijing on the basis of equality and dignity.

Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry thanked Washington for reaffirming that U.S. policy toward the self-governed island remained unchanged, following remarks by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during Trump’s state visit to China.In a statement, Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung expressed appreciation for repeated U.S. statements emphasizing peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

The ministry also accused Beijing of continuing military intimidation around the island through regular naval and air operations.“This demonstrates that Beijing is a major risk to current regional peace and stability,” the ministry said.Taiwan has emerged as the central flashpoint in increasingly strained U.S.-China relations, with Beijing claiming the democratically governed island as its territory and refusing to rule out the use of force to achieve unification.

Xi warned Trump during Thursday’s meeting that mishandling Taiwan-related disputes could push bilateral relations into a “dangerous place,” according to Chinese officials familiar with the talks.Rubio later told NBC News that it would be a “terrible mistake” for China to use force against Taiwan, reiterating Washington’s longstanding position supporting the island’s ability to defend itself.

Taiwan National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu endorsed Rubio’s comments in a post on X, stating that Taiwan was determined to “defend the status quo and deter aggression.”Taiwan’s defense ministry said seven Chinese warships were operating around the island during the previous 24 hours, although no Chinese military aircraft were detected.

A senior Taiwanese security official said the island occupied a critical position within the so-called “first island chain,” a strategic arc stretching from Japan through Taiwan to the Philippines that is viewed by Washington and its allies as central to Indo-Pacific security.

Taipei is also closely monitoring whether Beijing increases military deployments following the Trump-Xi summit and ahead of the second anniversary next week of President Lai Ching-te taking office, the official said.China’s Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The latest exchanges underscore how Taiwan remains one of the most sensitive and potentially destabilizing issues between Washington and Beijing despite efforts by both governments to stabilize broader ties through diplomacy and trade engagement.

The case, being heard at the Seoul Central District Court, is part of a series of legal proceedings against Yoon following his removal from office last year after a brief imposition of martial law that triggered political turmoil in the country.

Prosecutors allege the drone operation heightened military tensions with North Korea and risked exposing sensitive information about South Korea’s military capabilities after one of the drones crashed.

The charges include benefiting the enemy, a provision that can apply even without direct coordination if national security interests are harmed.

Yoon has denied the allegations, with his legal team stating he did not take any action that could provoke a military confrontation with North Korea.

The trial is one of eight cases currently involving Yoon, reflecting the legal fallout from his presidency and the controversial martial law declaration. The court is expected to issue a ruling at a later date.

Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya central military command said the vessel was en route from China when it came under attack, warning that Iranian forces would respond. A spokesperson described the incident as “armed piracy” and said retaliation would follow.U.S. President Donald Trump said earlier that a U.S.

Navy destroyer intercepted the ship, identified as the MV Touska, after it failed to comply with repeated warnings while attempting to breach a U.S.-imposed maritime blockade on Iranian ports.Trump said the vessel was disabled after the USS Spruance fired on its engine room and that U.S. Marines had taken control of the ship.

He added that the Touska was subject to U.S. Treasury sanctions due to a history of alleged illegal activity.The U.S. Central Command said the destroyer issued warnings over a six-hour period before using force to stop the vessel, marking the first such interception since the blockade began last week.

It added that U.S. forces have turned back at least 25 commercial vessels attempting to navigate the restricted waters.The confrontation comes amid heightened instability in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil and gas shipments, which has remained largely closed since the outbreak of the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran seven weeks ago.

Iran briefly reopened the strait on Friday following a ceasefire in Lebanon but shut it again within 24 hours, citing continued U.S. naval restrictions. The uncertainty has disrupted maritime traffic, with vessel tracking data showing tankers reversing course in recent days.Energy analysts warned that the renewed tensions could drive volatility in oil markets after a brief easing late last week.

Amrita Sen, founder of Energy Aspects, said developments over the weekend underscored the fragility of the situation and the risk of further escalation.

The incident adds pressure on diplomatic efforts to stabilize the region, with markets and governments closely monitoring the standoff for signs of either de-escalation or further conflict.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it was analyzing the latest launch in coordination with U.S. authorities. A separate launch detected on Tuesday from the Pyongyang area is believed to have involved a ballistic missile, though officials said it may have failed shortly after takeoff.

Yonhap news agency, citing military officials, reported that Tuesday’s projectile flew eastward before showing signs of abnormality in the early stage of flight and disappearing. South Korean authorities are assessing whether the launch constituted a failed ballistic missile test.

Seoul typically confirms ballistic missile launches promptly as they violate United Nations Security Council resolutions, while taking a more cautious approach when projectiles may be cruise missiles or conventional weapons.

North Korea has consistently rejected UN restrictions on its weapons programs, arguing they infringe on its sovereign right to self-defense.

The launches come amid renewed tensions following statements from North Korean officials indicating no shift in their stance toward South Korea. Jang Kum Chol, a senior foreign ministry official, said Pyongyang continues to view Seoul as a hostile adversary despite recent diplomatic signals.

“The identity of the ROK, the enemy state most hostile to the DPRK, can never change with any words or conduct,” Jang was quoted as saying by state media KCNA, using the formal acronyms for South and North Korea.

His remarks followed earlier comments from Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, which some in Seoul had interpreted as conciliatory after South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed regret over drone incursions earlier this year.

Jang said those remarks were intended as a warning rather than a gesture of goodwill, underscoring Pyongyang’s continued hardline posture.
The Korean Peninsula remains technically at war, as the 1950–1953 conflict ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty.

Vladimir region governor Alexander Avdeev said on Telegram that “enemy drones attacked civilian infrastructure,” adding that two adults and their seven-year-old son were killed when a drone struck a residential building.

He said a five-year-old girl was hospitalized with burns.Russian officials said the scale of aerial activity was among the largest reported in recent months, with air defence systems engaged across multiple regions.

Some of the drones were approaching Moscow, leading aviation authorities to briefly suspend operations at the capital’s airports as a precautionary measure.No immediate comment was issued by Ukrainian authorities regarding the reported strikes.

Both sides have intensified drone warfare as part of the broader conflict, frequently targeting infrastructure and logistical nodes.

The incident underscores the continued expansion of aerial attacks beyond frontline areas, with civilian regions increasingly affected as both Russia and Ukraine deploy long-range unmanned systems.