In an unprecedented moment, U.S. First Lady Melania Trump chaired the UN Security Council as war tensions shadowed a debate on children, technology and education in conflict. With 473 million children living in or fleeing war zones, members called for digital access, safeguards and accountability, even as major powers clashed over responsibility on the ground.

The UN Security Council met in emergency session as tensions between the United States, Israel and Iran escalated sharply. Diplomats warned the crisis could expand into a broader regional war.

The UN Security Council will meet in emergency session Saturday after Russia and China requested urgent discussions on the reported attack on Iran by the United States and Israel. A second meeting requested by France, Bahrain and Colombia will address the broader escalation of violence across the Middle East.

The U.N. Security Council erupted into one of its most charged debates of the year as Iranian dissidents described torture, assassinations and a nationwide blackout, while the United States warned that “all options are on the table” and Iran accused Washington of laying the groundwork for illegal intervention.

Senior UN officials warned the Security Council that Ukraine’s civilian crisis is worsening as large-scale Russian strikes continue to devastate infrastructure and communities. Member states clashed sharply over responsibility, with European nations condemning Moscow, China urging negotiations without sanctions, and Russia denying civilian targeting. The divide underscored the gap between diplomatic rhetoric and the urgent humanitarian reality on the ground.

The U.N. Security Council convened in emergency session as Washington’s operation in Venezuela detonated a familiar fault line inside the chamber. From warnings of a dangerous precedent to defenses framed as law enforcement, diplomats clashed over sovereignty, legality, and power—leaving the authority of the U.N. Charter itself under scrutiny.

Somalia begins its January presidency of the UN Security Council, returning to the body after 54 years as it confronts a crowded agenda dominated by Somaliland tensions, the war in Gaza, and Sudan’s deepening humanitarian crisis.

Israel’s recognition of Somaliland triggered sharp divisions at the UN Security Council, with Somalia and regional allies warning the move threatens sovereignty, regional stability, and security in the Horn of Africa.

The United Nations has warned that Sudan’s war is entering a more dangerous phase, as intensified fighting, widespread drone strikes, and mounting civilian casualties raise fears of regional destabilization. Briefing the Security Council, senior UN officials cited escalating violence in Kordofan, attacks on civilians and peacekeepers, and a deepening humanitarian crisis as the conflict nears its 1,000th day.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that Yemen risks slipping into a dangerous new phase of conflict as southern forces advance and humanitarian conditions deteriorate. Briefing the Security Council, he urged restraint, renewed UN-led dialogue, and the immediate release of detained UN personnel, warning that unilateral actions could deepen fragmentation and trigger wider regional instability.