Algeria-Three members of the Polisario Front, including the son of the movement’s late longtime leader Mohamed Abdelaziz, were killed during an operation targeting Morocco’s defensive barrier in Western Sahara, the independence group said, underscoring continuing tensions in the disputed territory.

In a statement carried by the Sahrawi news agency SPS, the movement said Lehbib Mohamed Abdelaziz had “fallen on the field of honor.” The Polisario subsequently declared three days of mourning.

Lehbib Mohamed Abdelaziz was the son of Mohamed Abdelaziz, the historical leader of the Polisario Front and president of the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), who led the movement from the territory’s independence declaration in 1976 until his death in 2016.

The Polisario said the 37-year-old officer was killed during military action directed against Morocco’s defense system in the disputed territory. The group provided no additional details regarding the circumstances of the operation.

Spanish media reported that a drone strike attributed to Morocco occurred east of the defensive barrier, although no official confirmation was immediately available.

The structure, commonly known as the Sand Wall, stretches approximately 2,700 kilometers across Western Sahara. Morocco constructed the fortified barrier between 1980 and 1987 to limit incursions by Polisario fighters and secure areas under its control.

Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony rich in mineral resources, remains one of North Africa’s longest-running territorial disputes. Morocco administers most of the territory, while the Algeria-backed Polisario Front seeks independence and claims sovereignty over the region.

A United Nations-backed ceasefire that largely held for nearly three decades collapsed in 2020, prompting the Polisario to resume armed operations against Moroccan forces.

The diplomatic landscape surrounding the dispute shifted further last October when the United Nations Security Council, with support from the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, backed a Moroccan proposal that would grant Western Sahara autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty.

The latest fatalities highlight the continuing security risks in the territory despite ongoing international efforts to find a political solution to the decades-old conflict.

The dispute centers on a 26,000-square-kilometer area in the Gulf of Thailand believed to contain significant oil and natural gas reserves estimated to be worth about $300 billion. Both countries have claimed the area for more than 25 years.

Cambodia this week launched a compulsory conciliation process under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) after Thailand ended a 2001 framework agreement governing negotiations over the contested maritime zone.

Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said Bangkok would appoint two representatives to participate in the UN-backed process but criticized Cambodia’s decision to move ahead with arbitration rather than continue bilateral negotiations.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn defended the move, saying direct talks had been exhausted and expressing hope that Thailand would engage constructively in the process.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said Thailand would halt all other negotiations with Cambodia, including talks related to land-border issues, and maintain the closure of border checkpoints.

Relations between the neighbors have remained strained since deadly border clashes last year that killed nearly 150 people and displaced more than 300,000, although a ceasefire agreed in December remains in place.

The UNCLOS conciliation process involves a five-member panel that issues non-binding recommendations. It has been used successfully only once before, when Timor-Leste and Australia resolved a decades-long maritime dispute.

The Philippine Coast Guard said it deployed aircraft on Wednesday to monitor the Chinese research ship Xiang Yang Hong 33 near Iroquois Reef in the Spratly Islands, where it observed the vessel launching a service boat toward the reef.The coast guard said the operation “confirmed ongoing unauthorized marine scientific research activities” within waters over which the Philippines claims sovereign rights and jurisdiction.

Iroquois Reef lies at the southern edge of Reed Bank, an area believed to contain substantial natural gas and oil reserves and long viewed as strategically significant for Manila’s energy security.

During the aerial patrol, Philippine authorities also reported spotting 41 vessels identified as part of China’s “maritime militia” anchored near Iroquois Reef and around Thitu Island, a Philippine-controlled outpost in the Spratlys inhabited by about 400 civilians and home to a recently established coast guard station.“The Philippines has not granted such consent to the People’s Republic of China for any marine scientific research activities in these waters,” the coast guard said in a statement.

It added that the presence of the research vessel alongside the concentration of Chinese maritime militia ships represented “a serious infringement on Philippine sovereign rights and maritime jurisdiction.”China’s embassy in Manila defended the activities, reiterating Beijing’s longstanding claim of “historic rights” over much of the South China Sea and asserting that the islands and reefs concerned were Chinese territory.

The embassy said Chinese research vessels had carried out their missions “in accordance with international law.”The Xiang Yang Hong 33, a research vessel capable of supporting deep-sea submersible operations, departed China more than three weeks ago and has since been tracked near several Philippine-claimed features in the Spratly chain, including Sabina Shoal and Second Thomas Shoal, both recurring flashpoints between the two countries.

Tensions between Beijing and Manila have intensified in recent years as China expanded coast guard, naval and maritime militia deployments across the contested waterway, where competing territorial claims overlap with key shipping lanes and potentially resource-rich seabeds.

China claims nearly the entire South China Sea despite a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that found Beijing’s sweeping claims had no legal basis under international law. China has rejected the ruling.

Speaking at a diplomatic forum in Antalya, Sharaa said Damascus was seeking either to revive the framework of the 1974 disengagement agreement or to establish a new arrangement guaranteeing security for both sides. He added that progress on such terms could open the door to extended negotiations on the broader Golan issue.

The remarks come after Israeli forces entered a United Nations-patrolled buffer zone separating Israeli and Syrian positions on the Golan Heights following the ouster of former Syrian leader in December 2024.

Sharaa accused Israel of violating the 1974 disengagement accord and said Syria was working toward a security agreement that would ensure Israeli withdrawal to positions held under that arrangement. He reiterated that any future negotiations would depend on restoring those lines.

Israel captured most of the Golan Heights from Syria during the and later annexed the territory, a move not recognised by most of the international community.

Earlier this year, Syrian Foreign Minister said ongoing discussions with Israel were focused on recently occupied areas and did not extend to the broader territorial dispute over the Golan Heights.

Israeli Prime Minister has repeatedly indicated that Israel does not intend to relinquish control over the territory it holds in the Golan Heights.

Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop said Bamako considers Morocco’s proposal granting autonomy to Western Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty as “the only serious and credible basis” for resolving the conflict.

He made the remarks at a joint press conference with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita.Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony largely controlled by Morocco, remains Africa’s only territory with an unresolved post-colonial status.

The region is also claimed by the Polisario Front, which seeks full independence and advocates for a United Nations-supervised referendum on self-determination for the Sahrawi people.Mali’s decision comes amid worsening diplomatic ties with Algeria, a key backer of the Polisario Front.

The move is likely to deepen regional tensions, as Algeria and Morocco have long been at odds over the future of the territory.Rabat has promoted its autonomy initiative as a pragmatic solution, while the Polisario Front insists on implementing a 1991 agreement that provides for a referendum on independence under UN oversight.

The geopolitical context has shifted in recent months. In October 2025, the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution supporting Morocco’s autonomy plan, signaling growing international backing for Rabat’s position.

The disputed territory is rich in natural resources, including phosphates, and its surrounding waters are considered among the most productive fishing zones in the region, adding economic significance to the political conflict.

The remarks come at a moment when global attention remains focused on pathways toward a sustainable settlement that prevents further escalation and strengthens regional stability.

President Vladimir Putin, speaking ahead of his upcoming visit to New Delhi, said that Moscow expects a resolution that ensures its strategic goals in Donetsk and Luhansk.

At the same time, officials emphasized that discussions with multiple nations, including the United States and partners in Asia, are aimed at pursuing diplomatic channels that keep negotiations open.

Russian authorities maintain that the long conflict in eastern Ukraine began years before the full-scale escalation, shaped by tensions between Ukrainian forces and local groups.

Moscow continues to argue that its interests in Donbas are tied to security concerns and cultural ties, although Kyiv rejects any proposal involving territorial concessions.

Despite stark differences between the two sides, recent engagements with U.S. representatives have drawn international attention.

Putin received envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow, calling the meeting productive and describing the dialogue as grounded in proposals earlier discussed with U.S. leadership.

Russian state media highlighted that Moscow has accepted some ideas put forward in ongoing diplomatic exchanges, framing the talks as an important step toward identifying areas of mutual understanding.

While details remain undisclosed, the acknowledgement of progress has been seen by analysts as a positive gesture toward keeping diplomatic avenues active.

Russia currently holds significant portions of Ukrainian territory, including full administrative control of Luhansk and most of Donetsk.

Ukrainian officials nonetheless insist that all regions recognized internationally as Ukrainian must remain under Kyiv’s sovereignty, expressing opposition to any form of territorial compromise.

Even with positions firmly held, observers note that the recent diplomatic activity suggests both sides acknowledge the importance of international mediation.

In particular, the involvement of global actors has helped sustain pressure for dialogue rather than prolonged military escalation.

International organizations continue to advocate for a negotiated outcome rooted in international law, regional security guarantees and humanitarian considerations.

The global community has consistently emphasized the importance of protecting civilians and maintaining the integrity of diplomatic platforms that encourage peaceful resolutions.

For Russia, the Donbas region holds political, historical and strategic significance, making it central to its stated goals.

However, the recent diplomatic tone suggests Moscow remains aware that long-term peace and regional stability will require the involvement of multiple nations and structured discussions.

Ukraine, meanwhile, continues to receive broad international support for its sovereignty as it defends the remaining parts of Donetsk still under its control.

Kyiv also maintains active diplomatic communication with partners to build consensus on a settlement that reinforces its territorial integrity.

As both sides navigate a complex geopolitical environment, global attention remains focused on preventing further military escalation.

Diplomats hope that sustained discussions, even amid disagreements, may eventually help bridge gaps and lead toward a roadmap addressing both security concerns and humanitarian priorities.

With heightened interest from global powers, including major states in Europe, Asia and North America, the coming months will likely see intensified diplomatic exchanges.

The hope among mediators is that continued dialogue will help reduce tensions and create meaningful steps toward a durable, internationally accepted agreement.