Group of Seven foreign ministers have warned of new sanctions against Iran for its drone and missile attack on Israel. They also urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict. An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran early Friday saw troops fire air defenses at a major air base and a nuclear site near the central city of Isfahan. It came days after Tehran’s unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on Israel. Israel also carried out a missile strike targeting an air defense unit in southern Syria that caused material damage according to the state-run SANA news agency. Israel had vowed to respond to Iran’s unprecedented weekend attack. Allies have urged Israel to hold back on any response to the attack that could spiral.

China has surged sales to Russia of machine tools, microelectronics and other technology Moscow uses to produce missiles, tanks, aircraft and other weaponry. That's according to two senior Biden administration officials who discussed the sensitive findings last week on the condition of anonymity. The officials say last year about 90% of Russia’s microelectronics came from China, which Russia has used in missiles, tanks and aircraft. Nearly 70% of Russia’s approximately $900 million in machine tool imports in the last quarter of 2023 came from China. China says it’s not providing Russia with arms or military assistance, although it has maintained robust economic connections.

Two Western officials have told The Associated Press that the United States is trying to create a new military agreement with Niger that would allow it to remain in the country, weeks after the junta said its presence was no longer justified. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation, said Washington was actively working on options for a revised deal aimed at retaining its foothold in the West African nation. Niger plays a central role in the U.S. military’s operations in Africa’s Sahel region, concerned about the spread of jihadist violence where local groups have pledged allegiance to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group.