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US-Iran war

US may join airstrikes against Houthis after Riyadh airport attacks: Trump

  • US, Israel launched strikes on Iran on Feb 28, with Trump declaring “major combat operations”
  • Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei martyred in the strikes, and his son Mojtaba succeeded him in March
  • A 2-week ceasefire agreed on April 8, followed by US-Iran face-to-face talks in Pakistan
  • A preliminary agreement reached in June, but renewed fighting and disputes over Strait of Hormuz continued through July
  • The war has now entered its 8th month, with Hormuz remaining at the centre of the crisis

Saudi stocks slide after attack on Riyadh airport

Saudi stocks fell after an attack on Riyadh’s international airport killed at least 12 people and wounded over 300, the deadliest in the kingdom in more than a decade, Reuters reports.

Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index .TASI dropped 1 per cent with most of its constituents in negative territory, including top lender Saudi National Bank 1180.SE, which was down 1pc. Oil major Saudi Aramco 2222.SE was down 0.6pc. 

US embassy restricts staff access to Saudi's Jeddah, Dammam airports

The US embassy in Saudi Arabia says staff working in the kingdom would now be required to request permission to use airports in the cities of Jeddah and Dammam, days after a similar order was issued for Riyadh, AFP reports.

“US government employees working in Saudi Arabia require special authorisation to use the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, as well as the airports in Jeddah and Dammam,” reads a statement published online following fatal attacks on Riyadh airport.

 

UN chief condemns 'lethal' Riyadh airport attack

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has condemned the attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport in a post on X.

“I am deeply shocked by & strongly condemn Saturday’s lethal attack by the Houthis on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which reportedly killed 12 people & injured hundreds of civilians,” he writes.

Guterres adds, “Attacks on civilians & civilian infrastructure are a violation of international law. These attacks must cease immediately.” 

Rubio says US strongly condemns recent attacks on Saudi Arabia

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday that the United States strongly condemns recent attacks on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Reuters reports.

He said an American citizen was killed in the strikes.

“These reprehensible attacks demonstrate a blatant disregard for innocent civilian life. They must stop now,” Rubio wrote on X. 

Deadly strikes on Saudi airports a 'grave escalation': UN envoy

Deadly strikes on civilian airports in Saudi Arabia represent “a grave escalation” by Houthis in Yemen, a UN special envoy has said, AFP reports.

“These attacks represent a grave escalation,” Hans Grundberg, the UN special envoy for Yemen, said in a statement after a strike on Riyadh’s international airport killed at least 12 people. “Such actions pose a serious threat to regional security, perpetuate cycles of violence and complicate even more peace efforts for Yemen.” 

Ex-Qatari PM calls Iran 'main enemy' of Persian Gulf states in sharp shift

Former Qatari Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani on Saturday called Iran the “main enemy” of Persian Gulf states, a sharp shift in rhetoric from his earlier advocacy of dialogue with Tehran.

“It has now become clear that Iran is our main enemy,” he wrote on X, urging Persian Gulf states to unite behind Saudi Arabia against threats originating in Yemen but directed from abroad.

In 2023, he had opposed confrontation with Tehran and advocated negotiations. 

US military releases video of strike on ship breaching Iran blockade

A US fighter jet struck and disabled a Panama-flagged cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman on Saturday after its crew ignored repeated warnings and attempted to breach Washington’s naval blockade against Iran, US Central Command said.

CENTCOM said the M/V Ocean Molica, also known as the Arika Sun, had previously departed an Iranian port and was attempting to transit regional waters when US forces intervened.

The fighter jet struck the vessel’s stern with a precision munition, completely disabling its propulsion system without injuring any crew members, according to the statement.

CENTCOM said US forces had disabled four commercial vessels and turned back 135 ships since resuming the blockade of all vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports on July 14.

It added that US forces had destroyed 10 tankers linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ multibillion-dollar shadow shipping network over the same period.

The command warned mariners to comply with blockade instructions and maintain contact with US naval forces when operating in the Gulf of Oman and approaches to the Strait of Hormuz. 

Trump says Iran will give US 'everything' in deal or 'they don't exist any longer'

President Donald Trump this week said that if Iran doesn’t give the administration everything they want in a deal, then they “don’t exist any longer.”

“I will tell you what, Iran will be very quick one way or the other,” Trump said during a campaign stop in Syracuse, New York, on Friday. “Either they give us everything or they don’t exist any longer.”

Earlier this month, Trump made similar comments regarding a peace deal with Iran, telling reporters on the White House lawn: “They’ll either sign a very fair deal, or they won’t exist any longer.”

 

US lawmaker urges united action against Houthis, curbs on Tehran

US Republican Congressman Joe Wilson on Saturday called for coordinated international action to defeat Yemen's Houthis following attacks on Saudi civilian airports, while urging efforts to curb Tehran's ability to spread its ideology abroad.

“The horrific Houthi terrorist attacks at Saudi Arabia’s civilian airports further underscore why allies and partners must come together to defeat the Houthis in Yemen,” Wilson wrote on X.

He also called for denying what he described as the “terrorist regime” in Tehran the ability to export its “deranged ideology,” linking the Houthi attacks to Iran's regional influence. 

Three planes damaged in attack on Saudi Arabia airport, officials say

The deadly attack that the Iran-backed Houthis claimed responsibility for Thursday on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, left three planes damaged, a report said.

Two regional officials told The Associated Press on Saturday that the Houthi strikes hit three aircraft. Saudi Arabia said Friday that three people were killed in the incident, while Saudia, the national airline of Saudi Arabia, released a statement only identifying one aircraft as being damaged.

The Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen claimed responsibility Thursday for the attacks targeting the airport.

Saudi-led coalition spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki wrote on X on Friday that "We are working to dismantle and destroy the ballistic missile network of the terrorist Houthi militia."  

Four Saudis, one American among 12 killed in Riyadh airport attack

Four Saudi nationals, two Bangladeshis, one American and one Palestinian were among the 12 people killed in the attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the Saudi civil aviation authority said.

The other victims included one Egyptian, one Jordanian, one Syrian and one Sudanese national, according to the report. 

Deadliest in a decade: 12 killed, dozens wounded in Riyadh airport attack

At least 12 people were killed and dozens wounded in an attack on Riyadh airport on Saturday, Reuters reported, citing three people briefed on the matter who said the death toll could rise.

The attack has been the deadliest in Saudi Arabia since a 2015 mosque bombing in the eastern city of Qatif. 

US may join airstrikes against Houthis after Riyadh airport attacks: Trump

President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States may decide "very quickly" to join airstrikes on the Houthi militia in Yemen after a fourth attack against Riyadh airport in a week.

"We're going to look at it. We just found out about the recent attack (on the Saudi airport), so we'll make a decision," Trump told reporters at the White House. "We move very quickly.”

Four people have been killed and dozens injured in strikes against King Khalid International Airport since Wednesday by the Iran-backed Houthis.
 

Services at Riyadh airport suspended after attack: Saudi civil aviation authority

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) says that due to an attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport this afternoon, operations have been suspended.

“The attack resulted in a number of injuries, the extent of which is currently being assessed,” the GACA statement reads.

“The Authority stated that operational activities at the airport have been temporarily suspended pending a full damage assessment and verification of facility safety, in coordination with the relevant authorities; further updates will be announced in due course.”

Iran's Araghchi says Netanyahu seeks prolonged conflict to avoid justice

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking to prolong the conflict to escape justice.

In a statement on X, Araghchi described Netanyahu as a “wanted war criminal” with Arab, American, and Iranian blood on his hands.

He said Netanyahu was desperately seeking to save himself by drawing the United States deeper into the conflict, at the cost of American lives and resources.

Araghchi also said that even some US senators wanted to withdraw from the conflict.

Kremlin says Putin relayed Iran's position on resolving conflict to Trump

The Kremlin said on Saturday that President Vladimir Putin relayed to US President Donald Trump Iran's position on a possible resolution to the US-Iran war, with the backing of the Iranian president, Russia's Interfax news agency reported.

"In coordination with the president of Iran, Putin conveyed to Trump the Iranian side's view on a possible resolution of the conflict," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying.

Yemen govt forces say advancing against Houthis in areas around Bab al-Mandab

Yemeni military sources tell AFP that their forces were advancing against the Houthis in areas around the Bab al-Mandab strait but have not yet secured control of the waterway, after the government launched an operation to recapture lost territory.

The government last week announced a counter-offensive aimed at retaking all areas held by the Houthis, after the group seized Yemen’s entire western coastline in a lightning offensive.

The Houthis confirmed that government forces had attacked in the Bab al-Mandab area but they claimed to have repelled the assault.

Sources from the military of Yemen’s internationally recognised government also said Mayun Island in the heart of the strait remained in Houthi hands as fighting continued.

Clashes in western Yemen, specifically around the strait, had killed at least 63 people in the past 24 hours, military sources from both sides tell AFP. Thirty-five members of government forces had been killed, while 28 Houthis had died, the sources said.

Yemeni government forces say they repelled Houthi attack north of Dhubab Airport

Forces aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognised government say they have killed several Houthi fighters north of Dhubab Airport.

In a post on X, the Southern Giant Forces said they had repelled an attack by the Houthis, destroying a large amount of the group’s equipment. The Southern Giant Forces added that the Saudi-led coalition had also targeted Houthi reinforcements with air strikes. 

Israeli jets strike area between Lebanon's Nabatieh al-Fawqa and Kfar Tebnit

Israeli warplanes have launched a raid on the area between the towns of Nabatieh al-Fawqa and Kfar Tebnit in southern Lebanon, Al Jazeera reports, citing the Lebanese National News Agency.

There were no reports so far as to whether there had been any casualties or damage. 

Iranian minister asserts nation's historical legacy after Rubio's remarks

Iran must be addressed with respect, as it is a living civilisation and a great nation with an enduring place in world history, Tourism Minister Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri says in response to remarks by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the wars involving Iran and Greece, IRNA reports.

In a statement responding to Rubio’s remarks at the Acropolis in Athens, Salehi-Amiri said late Friday that a nation’s deep-rooted identity cannot be reduced to a single war, king, or government.

“Iran cannot be defined by one war, one king or one government,” he said, describing Iran as one of the world’s oldest continuous civilizations and a major contributor to the development of order, culture, knowledge, and coexistence throughout human history 

US president says he is 'not happy' with Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabian airports

US President Donald Trump has condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi airports, saying he was “not happy” about the strikes that have killed civilians and disrupted air travel.

“Not good. It’s not a good thing. I’m not happy about it,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday, according to Anadolu Agency.

Saudi authorities said three Saudi nationals were killed in Thursday’s attacks on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport and a Saudia Airlines aircraft, with several other people injured. The strikes also damaged the aircraft and disrupted flights.

The latest attacks follow a wider wave of Houthi strikes on Saudi aviation facilities. Earlier attacks on airports in Riyadh and Abha killed three people and wounded 36, according to Saudi civil aviation authorities.

The Iran-aligned Houthis have threatened further strikes and warned airlines against operating in Saudi airspace as fighting intensifies between the group and Saudi-backed forces in Yemen. 

US envoy warns Yemen has returned to "full-scale war", urge diplomacy

United Nations Special Envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg says the country has slid back into “full-scale war” as fighting between the Houthis and internationally recognised government forces continues.

 

 

Trump says Iran war will end “one way or the other, very soon”

US President Donald Trump has said the Iran war will end “one way or the other, very soon”.

He added that the war will end either through battle or a negotiated settlement. 

Saudi-led coalition says destroyed more than 100 Houthi targets

The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen’s Houthis said Saturday it destroyed more than 100 military targets in a “large-scale operation” against the Iran-backed group, AFP reports.

The conflict between the Houthis and Yemen’s internationally recognised government – which Saudi Arabia supports – reignited in July, and has since spilled over into the neighbouring kingdom.

In addition to seizing territory along the Red Sea coast in Yemen, the Houthis have attacked transport hubs, oil facilities and other civilian targets in the world’s largest crude exporter with drones and missiles. 

Trump welcomed Russia's involvement in Iran settlement efforts, Kremlin says

The Kremlin has said US President Donald Trump welcomed Russia’s involvement in efforts aimed at reaching a settlement over Iran, Reuters reported.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump spoke over a phone call on Friday, following which Trump said that Russia had agreed to immediately supply diesel to US and global markets in an effort to lower fuel prices ahead of the US midterm elections next month.

Kremlin's comment comes a day after Putin told Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian that Moscow was ready to “do everything we can” to help end the war. 

Iran still capable of giving US a befitting response: Bloomberg

Iran has preserved missile and drone production capacity despite months of US and Israeli bombing, allowing Tehran to replenish its arsenals, Bloomberg reported Friday, citing Western officials familiar with the matter.

One Western official said Iran remains well-stocked with ballistic missiles and some anti-ship weapons and can quickly produce more. Russia is also providing missiles to Iran, the official said.

The assessments indicate Iran retains enough firepower to retaliate if the United States resumes airstrikes, according to Bloomberg.

The US-Israeli air campaign has likely severely degraded much of Iran’s prewar missile manufacturing capacity over the longer term, Bloomberg reported, citing an assessment by former CIA analyst Jim Lamson.

Western intelligence assessments as recently as June indicated Iran retained about three-quarters of the munitions it held before the war, Bloomberg reported. 

Vessel struck by unknown projectile off UAE coast, says UKMTO

A vessel was struck by an unknown projectile 13 nautical miles west of Al Jazeera in the United Arab Emirates on Friday, causing a fire that has since been extinguished, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said, citing multiple sources.

The status of the crew, extent of damage and environmental impact remain unknown, UKMTO said, adding that authorities were investigating the incident.

Iran Guards say struck tanker transiting Hormuz via 'illegal route'

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said that they had struck a tanker attempting to take an "illegal route" through the Strait of Hormuz, which Tehran has sought to blockade since the outset of the Middle East war.

Maritime trackers also reported on Friday that an unknown projectile sparked a fire aboard a ship off the UAE coast, but named a different vessel.

In a statement carried by official media, the Guards said Iranian forces "have taken control of the administration of the strait".

"In carrying out this mission, a few hours ago, a giant LPG carrier named NV Sunshine, owned by NatWit, which was attempting to transit via the illegal route south of the Strait of Hormuz, was struck," they added.

Britain's UKMTO maritime agency said on Friday that a ship 13 nautical miles (24 kilometres) off the UAE's Al Jazeera Al Hamra, southwest of the strait, was struck by a projectile, which caused a fire on board.

"Status of the crew, damage assessment and environmental impact are unknown at present. Authorities are investigating," UKMTO said in a statement.

US weighs major strikes on Iran as pentagon prepares military options

US President Donald Trump has reportedly directed the Pentagon to prepare fresh military options against Iran, including potential strikes on its missile and drone capabilities, energy infrastructure and other military targets.

However, he said attacks would not resume before the November 3 midterm elections.
 

Iranian forces combat-ready against enemy, says defense ministry spox

Iran’s armed forces remain fully equipped and combat-ready against the enemy, with weapons production not only continuing but sharply increasing despite recent aggression, the Defense Ministry spokesman has said, Press TV reported.

In an interview, Brigadier General Reza Talaei-Nik declared that “the hands of the armed forces are full” in terms of equipment, weapons, and a continuous, resilient supply chain, stressing that there is no shortage facing the enemy.
 

France offers 'strictly defensive' support to protect Saudi energy infrastructure amid Houthi attacks

France is willing to help protect Saudi Arabia’s energy infrastructure in a “strictly defensive” capacity, the Foreign Ministry said amid heightened regional security tensions, Anadolu reported.

“We assure Saudi Arabia of our full solidarity in the face of these attacks,” a ministry spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said France was willing to participate in protecting energy infrastructure, particularly facilities in Yanbu and the East-West pipeline.

“Our willingness to participate, in a strictly defensive manner, in the protection of energy infrastructure, particularly Yanbu and the East-West pipeline in Saudi Arabia,” the spokesperson said. 

Oil falls as Trump comments on Iran talks ease supply concerns

Oil prices fell on Friday as Middle East supply concerns eased somewhat after US President Donald Trump said the country will not attack Iran before US elections next month amid productive talks to end their ‌war that has disrupted the market.

Brent crude futures fell 72 cents, or 0.7%, to $103.53 a barrel by 0220 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures fell 52 cents, or 0.6%, to $90.97.

OpenAI says Iran-origin operation used AI to plant articles in media outlets

An Iran-origin influence operation used artificial intelligence and fake journalist personas to place almost 100 articles in about a dozen online outlets around the world, OpenAI said Thursday.

The operation used seven fake journalist personas to pitch long-form articles focused on the US-Iran conflict to small and medium-sized online outlets, according to a blog post published by OpenAI.

The company said it banned ChatGPT accounts used by the operation, including accounts that prompted the model in Persian to refine articles and editorial pitches and generate batches of social media comments.

After articles were published, the operators also used ChatGPT to generate comments designed to appear as reactions from social media users, according to OpenAI.

OpenAI said the activity appeared consistent with a commercial actor running a for-hire influence campaign but that it could not identify the particular actor involved. 

US says Iran-backed Houthis profit from trafficking, recruit child soldiers

Human trafficking remains a lucrative part of Yemen’s war economy that “greatly benefits” the Iran-backed Houthis, who also recruit children and exploit migration routes for financial gain, the US State Department said in its 2026 Trafficking in Persons report.

The report designated Yemen a “Special Case” for the 11th consecutive year, citing the war, humanitarian crisis and limited government control. It also said Yemeni armed forces and government-supported groups have been implicated in recruiting and using child soldiers.

The report said Houthi-run “summer camps” are used to recruit children and estimated that about 400,000 Yemeni youths may have attended the camps in 2024.

Children have been recruited through coercion, abduction, threats and financial incentives and used in combat roles including guarding checkpoints, laying landmines and driving military vehicles, according to the report. 

Houthi attacks on Saudi airport triggers US security warnings, flight cancellations

A further attacks on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport Thursday prompted U.S. Embassy security warnings, travel restrictions for government personnel, and widespread flight cancellations, with some carriers suspending service for several days.

The U.S. Embassy warned of disruptions, including potential airspace closures and travel delays.

“The Houthis have engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including against civilian airports, and the military conflict has the potential to escalate,” the embassy stated on X.

The alert also advised U.S. citizens to avoid the Yemen border and announced that U.S. government employees now require special authorization to use the Riyadh airport.

Government personnel remain barred from traveling within 20 miles of the border and need approval to visit Jizan, Asir, and Najran provinces, as well as Qatif, Yanbu, and Taif, the alert said.

Flightradar24 reported hundreds of canceled flights, with carriers such as Lufthansa suspending multi-day service and IndiGo canceling all Riyadh flights through Oct. 9.

Air India also says it has canceled flights to and from Riyadh until Saturday amid escalating missile attacks by the Houthis.

Meanwhile, Reuters reported that an empty Saudia commercial aircraft parked at a terminal was heavily damaged by fire.
 

Iran vows to continue uranium enrichment despite US reduction demands

Iran declared Thursday that it won't cease uranium enrichment, according to Mohammad Eslami, the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, Reuters reported.

Dismissing U.S. requests regarding Iran's nuclear facilities as "nothing new," Eslami said enrichment was "an inseparable part" of the nuclear process.

"Enrichment is an integral part of the nuclear process, and we will not abandon it in any way. How can you claim to have a nuclear industry if you don't have the starting point of the process? The nuclear industry is the driving force of science and technology," Eslami added, according to state media.

ran's nuclear program is a key sticking point in the conflict and a major obstacle to reaching a diplomatic agreement.

Eslami’s remarks came as President Donald Trump said Thursday that the United States was having productive discussions with Iran.


 

Iran says arms output sufficient for 'sustained and prolonged war'

Iran has enough weapons production capacity to meet the needs of a “sustained and prolonged war,” Defense Ministry spokesperson Reza Talaei-Nik said Thursday.

“We currently have the production capacity needed for a sustained and prolonged war within our production system,” Talaei-Nik said in an interview with state television.

He said Defense Ministry personnel were working alongside missile launch crews, drone units and Revolutionary Guards and army naval and air forces to use battlefield experience to upgrade weapons and equipment based on emerging threats.

Talaei-Nik said Iran would prioritize meeting its own military requirements but also planned to export surplus defense products, adding that prospects for exports were increasing.

“We first meet our own needs, and in the future we will increase our surplus for exports,” he said. 

Hegseth says US not seeking nation-building or ground occupation in Iran

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the United States was not seeking nation-building in Iran or a large troop deployment to control its territory, saying Washington’s aim was to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

Speaking to Real America’s Voice aboard the USS Lincoln, he said the US was “not trying to put a bunch of boots on the ground and control terrain.”

Hegseth said Iran could take the “easy way or the hard way,” adding: “Iran gets to choose, but ultimately the president will choose.” He warned that US action would be “swift and decisive” if the president chose to act. 

Saudi Aramco hires US firm to upgrade shared oil field as Iran lags behind

Saudi Aramco has hired a US engineering firm to upgrade an offshore oil field it shares with Iran, which has fallen far behind several neighbors in developing shared energy reserves.

KBR said on October 6 that it would provide engineering and project execution services for offshore processing facilities, gas compression and power systems at Marjan in the Persian Gulf. The work is intended to maintain production capacity and improve associated-gas processing. The company did not disclose the contract’s value.

The award follows a major Saudi expansion at the reservoir. Aramco said the Marjan project added 300,000 barrels a day of production capacity at the end of 2025. The expansion was designed to bring the field’s capacity to 800,000 barrels a day. 

Putin tells Pezeshkian ready to help resolve Iran war

Russian President Vladimir Putin told his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian on Thursday that Moscow was ready to take all possible measures to help end the conflict involving Iran, Russian news agencies reported.

“You know our position. On our part, we are ready to do everything we can to help you resolve this situation,” Interfax quoted Putin as saying during the talks.

“We know that Iran is making real efforts to end the conflict, which broke out through no fault of its own, no fault of Iran,” he added 

Trump says US will not attack Iran before midterms

President Donald Trump said on Thursday the United States would not attack Iran before the November 3 midterm elections, adding that Washington was having “productive discussions” with the Islamic Republic. 

Riyadh airport tells passengers to contact airlines before coming

Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport has called on passengers to contact airlines directly before heading to the airport, hours after multiple explosions echoed over the Saudi capital, AFP reports.

“We would like to inform passengers of the necessity to contact their airlines directly and check their flight status before proceeding to the airport,” it says in a statement posted on X. 

Iran not afraid of threats, will defeat US 'economic war', Pezeshkian says

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says his country is not afraid of threats and is determined to defeat the “economic war” being waged by the US, state news agency IRNA reports.

Pezeshkian says the Iranian people’s determination and unity helped the country withstand US-Israeli aggression, and that the US economic pressure campaign “is less visible but far more arduous and severe than a military war”.

“We are committed to serving the people with all our might and to defeat the enemy’s economic war,” he is quoted as saying.

Oil rises by over 4pc on supply concerns

Oil prices have jumped on persistent worries about supply from the Middle East, amid an increase in attacks on shipping in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reports.

Brent crude futures are up $4.55, or 4.54 per cent, at $104.75 a barrel as of 1205 GMT (5:05pm PKT) — the highest in over a week.

US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude has gained $4, or 4.53pc, to $92.28, its highest since October 2.

 

Smoke seen rising from aircraft at Riyadh airport, witness and people briefed on the matter say

Smoke has been seen rising from a stationary aircraft at Riyadh airport in Saudi Arabia, Reuters reports citing a witness and three people briefed on the matter.

The aircraft was believed to be empty at the time, the three people briefed on the matter say.

There is no immediate official confirmation from Saudi authorities on the reported incident. 

Pentagon orders military to prepare for possible major combat operations in Iran: report

The Pentagon instructed US Central Command several days ago to conclude preparations for resuming major combat operations in Iran, Axios reported citing US officials. 

Oil rises as Middle East supply concerns persist amid shipping attacks

Oil prices rose on Thursday on persistent worries about supply from the key Middle East producing region amid an increase in attacks on shipping in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported.

Brent crude futures rose $1.33, or 1.33%, at $101.53 a barrel by 0116 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) ‌crude futures gained $1.11, or 1.26%, to $89.39.
 

Attacks on tankers in Hormuz hit highest of any week since start of Iran war, sources say

Attacks on tankers sailing through the Strait of Hormuz hit their highest last week of any week since the ?Iran war began, according to maritime security sources tracking incidents, amid ‌a bigger export push by Gulf producers.

Attacks, attempted attacks and harassment activity including drone overflights, surveillance and hailing using VHF radio by Iran's Revolutionary Guards have persisted ?in the strait, the US Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) said ?in a note on Sunday.

"These actions continue to demonstrate Iran’s ?intent to assert presence along key transit lanes and maintain pressure ?on transiting vessels," the JMIC said.

In the week of September 28-October 5, there ?had been at least 12 attacks on oil, liquefied natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas tankers around the Strait of Hormuz, according to data from three maritime security ?sources who analysed incidents based on information received from the area.

That ?was the highest number of attacks in a single week since the US war with ‌Iran ?began on February 28, the sources said.

Separate data collated by the UN's shipping agency, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), showed nine incidents involving vessels in the same week. 

Iran attacks led US troops to abandon major Kuwait base

Iranian missile and drone attacks forced US troops to abandon Camp Buehring, a major American military base in Kuwait, during the opening days of the war, CBS News reported Wednesday, citing newly obtained footage and witness accounts.

Videos obtained and authenticated by CBS News showed impacts and damage to buildings and military equipment at the base. American forces faced ballistic missiles and drones, while three US service members said Iranian F-5 fighter jets were also used in the attacks.

“They hit us bad,” a service member told CBS News. “It was horrible. There were a lot of brave guys who stayed to fight there — and people at home don't know what happened. We had to abandon the base.”

Soldiers defending the base also ran critically low on .50-caliber ammunition, CBS News reported. A senior Army logistics official confirmed concerns about ammunition supplies and other munitions, including Patriot missile batteries.

Most of the roughly 7,000 troops at Camp Buehring had been moved elsewhere before the war, but more than 100 remained. Those troops eventually packed up and moved into the Kuwaiti desert, where they established forward operating bases.

No US personnel were killed by enemy fire at Camp Buehring or the desert positions, according to CBS News. US Central Command declined to comment.

 

Pentagon tells CENTCOM to prepare for resuming major combat operations in Iran: report

The Pentagon has instructed US Central Command to complete preparations for a possible resumption of major combat operations against Iran, Axios reported Wednesday, citing US officials.

The directive, issued several days ago, did not set a date for strikes, and President Donald Trump has not made a final decision, according to the report.

US and Israeli sources told Axios that renewed operations could take place before the US midterm elections and potentially before Israel’s elections a week earlier.

If major combat operations resume, they are expected to include large-scale strikes on Iranian energy, infrastructure and nuclear targets, Axios reported.

“The Department's job is to develop and present military options to the President,” a Pentagon official told Axios.

Trump’s national security team met at Camp David Friday for several hours, with part of the meeting focused on a possible resumption of major combat operations against Iran, an Israeli official told the outlet.

Axios reported that US-Iran negotiations have made no progress, with Qatari mediators still awaiting an Iranian response to a US counterproposal seeking nuclear concessions.

Trump also spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Wednesday, their second call in days. If major combat operations resume, the United States and Israel would most likely act in tandem, with the Israeli military participating, Axios reported. 

Yemen's govt forces claim 1,860 Houthis neutralised in thousands of strikes

Yemen’s government forces said Wednesday they carried out thousands of strikes against Houthi targets as part of Operation "Dawn of Yemen," claiming 1,860 fighters were "neutralized."

"As part of Operation 'Dawn of Yemen', armed forces executed 2,103 targeting ops against various Houthis militia military targets across all fronts, resulting in neutralizing 1,860 militia members & destroying hundreds of military positions & material," a spokesman for the armed forces said on X.

In a statement posted on X, coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki also said that 82 targets had been destroyed across Saada, Hodeidah, al-Jawf and Marib, including 11 ballistic missile storage sites found in mountainous areas.
 

Trump weighs potential Iran strikes before midterm elections: report

The White House has asked the Pentagon to develop options for potential strikes on Iranian targets ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections, The Atlantic reported Wednesday.

Citing administration officials, the outlet reported that the size and targets of potential strikes — as well as whether the administration will ultimately proceed — are still being debated.

Supporters of limited strikes acknowledge that such action alone would not bring Iran to the negotiating table, restore safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz or lower gasoline prices before Election Day, the report said.

“It would make the president look like he got a win and that gas prices would start going down,” a Republican told the outlet.

The report also said a limited operation could be followed by more substantial military action after the midterms, when Trump has publicly suggested military action could resume.

A White House official told Fox News Digital that the commander in chief has “all options available at any time.”

 

Syria could send 20,000 troops to Yemen as Saudi Arabia battles Houthis: report

Syria is weighing whether to send troops to Yemen to support the Saudi-led coalition against the Houthis, Axios reported Wednesday.
Citing US officials, the outlet said Saudi Arabia and Syria have been discussing the possible deployment, with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa considering the request but not yet making a final decision.

Syria could send between 10,000 and 20,000 troops, the outlet reported.

The issue was discussed during a meeting between al-Sharaa and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh earlier this week.

Although the United States has not publicly taken a position on a possible deployment, Washington has been consulted by both countries and does not oppose a Syrian deployment in principle, Axios reported.

President Donald Trump said Oct. 5 that the military campaign against the Houthis would “work out very well.”
 

Saudi Arabia says three foreign nationals killed in Houthi attacks on airports

Saudi authorities said on Wednesday that three people were killed in attacks on two of the kingdom's international airports including in the capital Riyadh, after Yemen's Houthis claimed to have fired on both transport hubs.

The Iran-backed fighters earlier took responsibility for a flurry of attacks that included firing a ballistic missile at Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport as the conflict deepens with Saudi Arabia, which backs Yemen's government.

"On Tuesday and Wednesday... Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport were subjected to attacks targeting their facilities," the kingdom's civil aviation authority said in a statement, without blaming anyone for the attacks.

An Egyptian and an Algerian national were killed at Abha airport and a Sudanese national was killed at the airport in Riyadh, the agency said, with 36 people wounded in the attacks.

The Saudi-led coalition that backs pro-government forces in Yemen said on X that it "destroyed the ballistic missile launch platform" used in the attack on Riyadh.
 

Putin marks 73rd birthday with call to Iran, offers Tehran help to ease US tensions

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, held a phone call Wednesday in which the Russian leader expressed Moscow's willingness to assist Tehran in navigating tensions with Washington, Iranian state media reported.

The call came on Putin’s 73rd birthday.

The two leaders praised the "positive and expanding trajectory of relations" between Moscow and Tehran and stressed a shared commitment to further strengthen strategic alignment.

On the war, Putin “referred to efforts by some countries to mediate and help reduce tensions, saying that Russia supports” them, Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported.

Iranian friends “can be assured that Moscow is also ready to play a role and provide assistance in this regard,” Putin said. 

Houthis attack Aden airport as fighting intensifies in Yemen

Yemen's Houthis attacked Aden's international airport with ballistic missiles ?and explosive-laden drones on Wednesday, the country's Transport Ministry said, as fighting between the Iran-aligned group and Saudi-backed government forces intensified.

One missile landed near the runway minutes before ‌a flight from Cairo was due to land, the ministry said. The airport is the main international gateway for parts of Yemen outside Houthi control.


 

Ghalibaf warns US seeking to foment insecurity inside Iran

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has warned that the United States has shifted its focus from military action to creating insecurity inside Iran, state media reported.

According to Iran’s state news agency IRNA, Ghalibaf said the US had realised that military action “could not inflict damage on Iran,” creating what he described as a deterrent effect.

He said Washington had consequently intensified pressure on Iran’s economy and was seeking to disrupt security within the country.

“They have concentrated serious and fundamental pressure against Iran on economic issues and disrupting security inside the country,” Ghalibaf was quoted as saying. 

Attacks on tankers in Hormuz hit highest of any week since start of Iran war, sources say

Attacks on tankers sailing through the Strait of Hormuz hit their highest last week of any week since the Iran war began, Reuters reports citing maritime security sources tracking incidents.

Attacks, attempted attacks and harassment activity, including drone overflights, surveillance and hailing using VHF radio by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have persisted in the strait, the US Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Centre (JMIC) says in a note from Sunday. 

IEA, EU discuss proposed release of oil, diesel stocks: diplomats

The International Energy Agency (IEA) and the European Union have discussed the release of oil and diesel stocks proposed last week with diplomats and analysts, expecting it to include volumes pledged in March, Reuters reports.

IEA countries have met to discuss the plan, as has the EU’s oil co-ordination group, diplomats say.

 

Iran says peace deal with US 'not out of reach'

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has told Russian President Vladimir Putin that Tehran is prepared to pursue a balanced and fair agreement with the United States aimed at securing lasting peace and stability in the region.

According to Al Jazeera, citing Iran’s Fars News Agency, Pezeshkian said Iran was “fully prepared” to reach an agreement that protects its national interests and the rights of its people.

“Our red line is the national interests and rights of the Iranian people,” Pezeshkian said, adding that an agreement with Washington would be possible if the United States adhered to international legal frameworks.

The Iranian president also said Tehran was ready to work with neighbouring countries to promote regional peace and security without the presence or interference of countries from outside the region. 

Iran has 'lost complete control' of Hormuz Strait: Rubio

Iran has "lost complete control" of the Strait of Hormuz, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday, adding that Tehran's economy was "in total and complete freefall".

"There's almost as much oil flowing out now as there was before this conflict began. So they've lost complete control of the Straits," Rubio said during a visit to Athens. 

Former Iranian oil minister denies Trump claim he resigned over 'no oil' in country

Ex-oil minister Mohsen Paknejad has pushed back against US President Donald Trump’s accusation that he resigned because Iran has “no oil”, Al Jazeera reports.

Paknejad resigned on Sunday for “personal reasons” and was replaced by acting minister Hamid Bovard.

“My resignation has nothing to do with Trump’s claims last night,” he says in a statement. 

Brent futures rise to above $100 as investors weigh supply threats

Oil prices have risen, with Brent futures holding above $100 a barrel, on continued Middle East supply risks and a storm heading for oil-producing regions in the United States, Reuters reports.

Brent crude futures were up 75 cents, or 0.75pc, to $101.33 a barrel at 5pmPKT. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was up 39 cents, or 0.44pc, to $89.83.

Investors are not convinced that recent rises in supply and exports from the Middle East are sustainable, PVM analyst Tamas Varga said.

Downward pressure on prices abated because of the approaching US storm, as well as conflict in the Middle East and Ukraine, Varga said. 

Iran's military chief of staff says Oct 7 'accelerated decline' of Israel

The Hamas attack of October 7, 2023, has accelerated Israel’s decline, the chief of staff for Iran’s armed forces says, as Israelis mark the third anniversary of the deadliest day in their country’s history, AFP reports.

“The Resistance Front turned its defensive strategy into an offensive strategy for the legitimate defence of the Palestinian people and their land, and accelerated the decline of the Zionist regime (Israel),” Ali Abdollahi says in a statement. 

US 'ideas' on Iran's nuclear work at odds with Tehran's demands, senior Iranian official tells Reuters

Washington's "requests and ideas" about Iran's nuclear programme are at odds with Tehran's demands, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Wednesday when asked about US Vice President JD Vance's comment that Tehran must cut enrichment to end the war with Washington.

"Vance's comments are Washington's ideas and requests (...) Americans are free to make requests and have ideas, but they are at odds with Iran's demands," the senior Iranian official, who is directly involved in indirect negotiations with the United States, said.

The official added that no negotiations had taken place with the US about Iran's nuclear programme and that Washington must first meet Tehran's conditions before nuclear talks can start.

The official said US recognition of Iran's right to nuclear enrichment is Tehran's red line, which "it will not show flexibility on in any way. However, he added that details of enrichment can be discussed later".  

Turkiye sending technical, defensive support to Saudi Arabia to help fight Houthis, say officials

Turkiye is sending mainly defensive and technical support to Saudi Arabia to help it fight Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis, two officials said on Wednesday, after the Nato member and Pakistan pledged to act on the collective defence commitment of their newly formed alliance.

A Turkish official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the support expected from Turkey was only in the form of military equipment, intelligence sharing, and weapons systems, adding that no other form of deployment had taken place as part of the alliance so far. 

Iranian official says 'illegal routes' in Strait of Hormuz to soon be blocked

An adviser to the commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has told the semi-official Fars News Agency that transit routes in the Strait of Hormuz deemed illegal by Tehran, referring to the southern pathway hugging Oman’s coast, will soon be closed, Reuters reports.

Mohammadreza Naqdi says these “few routes” have been created by blasting and damaging some of the rocky passages in the strategic waterway and are used by “small boats smuggling oil and transferring it to tankers”, challenging the narrative that Gulf oil exports are regaining pre-war levels.

“The Strait of Hormuz is closed, and the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran have full control over it. This situation will continue until Iran’s legitimate demands are met,” he adds. 

Pezeshkian says Iranians must 'endure hardship' to stand up to the West: local media

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says cultural and sports complexes will be closed in Iran if necessary to provide electricity and energy needed for industrial production.

“We must not allow the production cycle to be damaged. We will reduce the consumption of electricity, gas, gasoline, water and other energy sectors,” he told Iran’s Fars news agency. “[The] condition for resistance and standing up to the West is for everyone to endure hardship.”