A strike on a train that imperiled former European leaders and CIA officers is among a spate of attacks that risked a dangerous escalation with the West, experts say.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that these potential strikes "intend to paralyze NATO" in an attempt to demonstrate that Article 5 "exists only in theory."

Russian President Vladimir Putin cast his vote online in elections for Russia’s lower house, the Duma. In footage shared by Russian state media, Putin can be seen navigating the online voting system and responding enthusiastically after successfully casting his vote.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed leaders and representatives from seven regional countries for talks on deepening cooperation on Friday, as overnight Russian strikes in multiple regions sparked fires and caused several deaths and injuries.

A powerful bomb has exploded at a mosque near police offices in northwestern Pakistan, killing at least 15 people and wounding 56 others. The attack occurred in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province,

Lee Jae Myung said the U.S. ally, whose support for the Iran war President Donald Trump has criticized as insufficient, was focused instead on safeguarding navigation in the region.

Hundreds of thousands of Iranians are rallying in the biggest government-organized show of defiance since the war began.

The United States has approved visas for top Iranian officials to attend next week's high-level United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York.