Geopolitics & Infrastructure Risk: Iran’s IRGC claimed it struck Amazon’s data infrastructure in Bahrain and targeted US-linked radar and an F-15 hangar in Jordan, as the US-Iran exchange escalates and Gulf states report intercepts—raising fresh concerns for regional tech, logistics, and business continuity. Israel-Palestine Land & Housing: A new ARIJ study says Israel accelerated settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank in H1 2026, with plans covering 22,650 dunums and approvals for nearly 20,000 new housing units—fueling fears of long-term fragmentation. Energy & Trade Routes: Kuwait said Iran attacked power and desalination plants for a fourth day, while Iraq weighs pipeline routing options as Syria’s historic corridor is pitched as a faster, cheaper alternative to Jordan. GCC Investment & Real Assets: Hines named a new Asia-Pacific and Middle East head (ex-India leadership), and Saudi state fund SVC made a limited-partner-style bet in Seedra Ventures’ second vehicle, signaling continued appetite for tech-enabled growth. Construction Supply Chain Outlook: Reports on engineered wood, excavators, and used construction equipment point to ongoing demand drivers tied to infrastructure spending and mass-timber code adoption.