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Israel is adopting a more proactive, aggressive approach to countering the Iranian nuclear threat and regional ambitions with covert action against Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) figures in Tehran and the four-week Exercise Chariots of Fire, which is expected to culminate with a simulated air strike and commando attacks on Iran.

The UAE Ministry of Defence has cut the length of national service for male recruits holding a high school diploma or above, from 16 to 11 months. However, those without a high school diploma will now have to serve three years, up from two years previously. The national service for female recruits will be 11 months, down from 12 months previously.

Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces chief of staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri inaugurated a drone factory in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on 17 May. Bagheri had arrived the previous day, to be greeted on arrival in the Tajik capital by chief of the general staff Lieutenant General Imomali Sobirzoda.

British prosecutors have accused two former defence industry executives of orchestrating the payment of millions of pounds of bribes in Saudi Arabia, some of which went to Prince Miteb Bin Abdullah.

Iran appears to have succeeded in placing at least one surveillance mini-satellite into orbit in late December, based on imagery released this month showing large parts of the Bahraini capital Manama, including the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet.

Recently appointed United States Central Command (Centcom) commander General Michael Kurilla held a meeting with then Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan (MBZ) at Qasr Al-Shati, Abu Dhabi on 12 May, some three months after his predecessor had seemingly been denied an audience with MBZ.

The foreign policy stage is perhaps even more intriguing than domestic power politics as President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan (MBZ) formally takes over in Abu Dhabi. As de facto leader, MBZ has taken the UAE on a distinctly muscular foreign policy journey – albeit with limited returns given the financial, personnel and reputational costs involved. In recent years, the projection of hard power has been scaled back.

GSN Risk Grade – F6. Alimi takes charge: Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) chairman Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi held talks with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Bin Abdelaziz at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on 28 April, with Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman in attendance.

Regular analysis of satellite imagery of Perim Island in the Bab El Mandeb strait over recent weeks suggests a new 1,900m runway planned by the UAE remains incomplete, although enough of it has been built to mean it is probably usable by tactical transport aircraft.

Recently appointed United States Central Command (Centcom) commander General Michael Kurilla visited the US 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain on 29 April. It was his first visit since assuming command of Centcom on 1 April, when he took over from General Kenneth McKenzie.

The Iranian Army (Artesh) put a number of previously-unseen pieces of kit on display during the annual Army Day parade in Tehran on 18 April. The parade, overseen by President Ebrahim Raisi, featured the army’s ground forces, Air Force, Air Defence Force and the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (Nejada).

Chinese defence minister General Wei Fenghe made a brief tour of the Gulf in April, starting with a visit to Tehran on 27 April. He held talks on military cooperation and other matters with defence and armed forces logistics minister Brigadier General Mohammad-Reza Gharaei Ashtiani and other senior officials.

Oman has used its good offices to secure the release of more than a dozen foreign nationals in Yemen, including crew members of the UAE-flagged cargo ship Rwabee, which was captured by Houthi rebels in January.

The US Navy has set up a new multinational task force to patrol the seas around Yemen and nearby areas. The task force will have a presence in the Red Sea, Bab Al-Mandab Strait and Gulf of Aden.

US giant The Boeing Company is expected to sign a deal in the coming weeks to set up a helicopter maintenance joint venture with Saudi Arabian Military Industries (Sami). The deal is another step in Riyadh’s plan to localise more defence industry activity in the kingdom.