

By Timour Azhari, Jana Choukeir and Tala Ramadan RIYADH, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Yemen's Houthis vowed on Wednesday to press on with attacks on airports and oil facilities in Saudi Arabia and said they struck the headquarters of oil giant Saudi Aramco, which was hit the day before. The Iran-aligned group said it had launched ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones at Saudi Aramco facilities inthe eastern city of Dhahran, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and an Aramco refinery in Riy

DUBAI: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has urged the UN Security Council to extend the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for another year, warning that its withdrawal would leave a security vacuum in southern Lebanon. Meeting UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Aoun reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to the continued presence of the peacekeeping force, highlighting its role since the start of its mission and the sacrifices made by its military perso

DUBAI: Four members of the Syrian Arab Republic’s Road Security forces were killed recently by unidentified gunmen on the Salamiyah-Athriya road in the Hama countryside, the Interior Ministry said on Wednesday. Ministry spokesman Noureddine Al-Baba said the attackers targeted two patrols on the road, state news agency Sana reported. “The criminal act will not deter us from continuing our mission to pursue criminals and bring them to justice,” Al-Baba said, adding that the attack would strengthen

Why did the Palestinian Authority postpone elections - again? Lubna Masarwa on Tue, 10/13/2026 - 13:44 A Hamas-Dahlan alliance threatened Fatah's electoral plans and exposed a wider struggle over Palestinian politics Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas attends the foundation stone ceremony of the Innovation and Excellence Compound in the West Bank city of Ramallah, on 9 September 2026 (Zain Jaafar/AFP) Off Three months after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced elections, the vote h
By Parisa Hafezi, Jonathan Saul and Phil Stewart DUBAI/LONDON/WASHINGTON, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Iran is deploying new tactics to target ships sailing through the Strait of Hormuz as it seeks to keep oil prices high and influence the US midterm elections, two senior Iranian officials told Reuters.

DUBAI: A tanker and a container ship were hit by projectiles of unknown origin in the Strait of Hormuz, the British maritime agency UKMTO said on Tuesday, as Iran keeps up its blockade of the strategic waterway in place since the start of the Middle East war. An investigation is underway, the agency said, without specifying whether the attacks caused any damage or casualties. Since the beginning of the war, triggered in late February by US and Israeli strikes against Tehran, Iran has claimed con

Trump says Somaliland is its own country, but should change its name MEE staff on Tue, 10/13/2026 - 19:40 Trump says Gulf of Aden breakaway state should be renamed 'Somalia Land' US President Donald Trump shouts to the press as he boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on 13 October 2026 (Alex Wong/Getty Images/AFP) Off US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he recognises the breakaway republic of Somaliland as “a totally different country”, although he would prefer it
Saudi Arabia faces mounting pressure to respond to Houthi attacks, as analysts urge Riyadh to work with Israel, the UAE, and the US to counter the threat.

Israel turns back Ethiopian Airlines cargo flight over Indonesian pilot's nationality Nadav Rapaport on Tue, 10/13/2026 - 13:05 Israel has barred pilots from 31 nationalities from landing in the country amid new restrictions People board an Ethiopian Airlines plane at the Bole International Airport, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 17 March 2020 (Eduardo Soteras/AFP) Off An Ethiopian Airlines cargo flight bound for Israel was forced to return to Addis Ababa after Israeli authorities refused it perm

Saudi Arabia refuses request from Netanyahu to join fight against Houthis, says report Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman denied a request by Israel to join the fight against the Houthis in Yemen, Israeli media have reported. A diplomatic source told Haaretz that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had, through US mediation, offered to help fight the Iran-linked group in part as a means of strengthening ties with the kingdom. Mohammed bin Salman, however, opposed the move, fe

Saudi Arabia refuses request from Netanyahu to join fight against Houthis, says report Alex MacDonald on Tue, 10/13/2026 - 09:52 Netanyahu reportedly offered to help fight the Iran-linked group in part as a means of strengthening ties with the kingdom Yemeni men stand in front of a digital billboard featuring the image of Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi in Sanaa, Yemen, on 11 October 2026 (Mohammed Huwais/AFP) Off Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman denied a request by Israel

RIYADH: The UAE and Malaysia condemned recent attacks on Saudi Arabia, including a missile strike on Riyadh’s airport, in separate calls with Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday. The calls came amid a series of attacks on the Kingdom’s airports, including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, both claimed by the Houthi militia. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the UAE’s deputy prime ministe

DUBAI: Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim Al Thani on Tuesday stressed that the security of Gulf states and the preservation of their sovereignty could not be compromised. "The security of the Gulf Cooperation Council states and the preservation of their sovereignty is a matter that cannot be compromised on," he said in the Qatari capital, Doha. The Emir also warned of the economic fallout from the war involving Iran which has triggered a global energy crisis. Sheikh Tamim said Qatar had been able to a

Morning update Good morning Middle East Eye readers, Here are the latest developments: The Yemeni Network for Rights and Freedoms said violations by Houthi forces have killed at least five civilians and left more than a dozen others wounded over the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, Yemen’s state-run Saba news agency reported a Houthi attack early on Tuesday targeting a hospital in Taiz. The attack left at least one person injured and damaged the medical facility. Etihad Airways said it cancelled fli

• Saudi minister says ‘energy security can’t be taken for granted’ • Yemeni rebels warn of ‘swift, painful response’ if US joins war • Iran ‘deeply concerned’, offers to help broker talks • Riyadh airport to remain shut RIYADH: Saudi Arabia vowed a “serious” response after Houthi strikes turned Riyadh’s international airport into a target, killing 18 people in under a week and leaving the world’s biggest oil exporter facing its worst security crisis in more than a decade. “Energy security can’t

The Tigray conflict puts the UAE’s backing of Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic role under scrutiny.

Amid Gaza's ruins, Taekwondo athletes return to training after three years of genocide At Al-Bureij Camp in central Gaza, Taekwondo athletes are back on the mat after three years of genocide. Coach Mahmoud Al-Kronz is training children amid the rubble with limited resources, keeping sport alive and giving his students a break from the weight of war. Before October 2023, his team was preparing to compete at the Fujairah championship in the UAE. Repeated displacement and famine brought training

Riyadh rocked by explosions as Iranian strikes in Hormuz rise Sean Mathews on Mon, 10/12/2026 - 21:01 Iran said it could attack US tech companies' assets in the Gulf, as their allies, the Houthis, claim fresh attacks Vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, on 12 October 2026 (Reuters/Stringer) Off Saudi Arabia’s capital came under intense attack from the Houthis on Monday night local time after the Yemeni group claimed it targeted Riyadh’s airport, following repeated s

Hamas, Dahlan and Barghouti: Palestinian hopes fade as elections cancelled Lubna Masarwa on Mon, 10/12/2026 - 19:03 Talks had reportedly been underway about a coalition among the nation's most popular political forces A mural depicts imprisoned Fatah official Marwan Barghouti on Israel’s separation barrier in Bethlehem, in the occupied West Bank, on 24 December 2024 (Ahmad Gharabli/AFP) Off Last week marked three years since 7 October 2023. Over the years of covering Israel’s occupation of P

'Riyadh no longer feels safe': Houthi strikes shatter Saudi capital's aura of calm Faisal Edroos on Mon, 10/12/2026 - 16:25 Deadly attacks on the kingdom's main airport have shaken expatriates' sense of security and threatened Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to become a global hub for tourism and investment Smoke and flames rise from King Khalid Airport in Riyadh on 10 October 2026 after Yemen's Houthis attacked the facility (Reuters) Off Riyadh has long presented itself as a safe haven from the tu

Saudi authorities said on Monday they were extending the suspension of operations at the international airport in the capital, Riyadh, after deadly weekend attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis. Operations at King Khalid International Airport, Saudi Arabia’s second-busiest airport after Jeddah, were suspended to “allow for the completion of procedures to ensure the safety and operational readiness of the airport’s facilities”, the Saudi civil aviation authority said in a statement. The airpor

'Except Mecca and Medina': Chaos across Saudi airports as Houthis claim Riyadh strikes MEE staff on Mon, 10/12/2026 - 10:38 Riyadh and Dammam airports were reported closed in a FlightRadar24 update, while Jeddah faced widespread cancellations and delays A CCTV screengrab shows the moment King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was hit in a Houthi strike, 10 October 2026 (Saudi Media Ministry/AFP) Off Terminals across Saudi Arabia were left in chaos on Monday after repeated attacks on Riy

DUBAI: Iran is still reviewing a US response to its proposal regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and will reply to Washington via intermediaries when the review is over, foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday. Baghaei also told a press conference that Iran continues to exchange messages via intermediaries, without elaborating. Qatar and Pakistan, among others, have acted as mediators in efforts to end the war that began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran o
DUBAI, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Iran is still reviewing a US response to its proposal regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and will reply to Washington via intermediaries when the review is over, foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday. Baghaei also told a press conference that Iran continues to exchange messages via intermediaries, without elaborating. Qatar and Pakistan, among others, have acted as mediators in efforts to end the war that began with US and Israeli str
By Sarah El Safty and Jana Choukeir DUBAI, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Several top energy executives were dropped from the schedule of the WPC Energy Congress in Riyadh, as Saudi authorities pressed ahead with the event despite deadly attacks on the capital claimed by Yemen's Iran-alignedHouthis. The chief executives of ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies, Shell, Chevron and BP had all been expected at the event, which began on Sunday, but were no longer on the agenda that conference organisers released early Mond

Emirati investigators said the co-pilot accused of attacking a captain on a flight to Israel drifted toward extremism during his time as a student in Australia.

Emirati investigators said the co-pilot accused of attacking a captain on a flight to Israel drifted toward extremism during his time as a student in Australia.

Iran’s security chief accuses Trump administration of oil smuggling near Oman Mohsen Rezaei has accused the Trump administration of recruiting “thugs” to smuggle oil through coastal waters off Oman. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council secretary said the UAE military and the commander of US Central Command also participate in the operation, according to state-linked news agency ISNA. Trump “claims every day that the Strait of Hormuz is open, but in response I say: ‘You are smuggling, but th

Iran security chief accuses Trump of ‘smuggling’ oil through Hormuz Iran’s security chief claimed on Sunday that US President Donald Trump's adminitation hired “thugs” in the coastal waters of Oman to smuggle oil through the Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Trump “claims every day that the Strait of Hormuz is open, but in response I say: ‘You are smuggling, but the strait is under Iranian control and we manage it,'” Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei was quoted a

Houthi forces warn against use of Saudi airports following Riyadh attack Fleur Hargreaves on Sun, 10/11/2026 - 13:56 Warning comes one day after an alleged Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh airport forced authorities to halt operations Military spokesman of Yemen's Houthi group Yahya Saree addresses a Palestine solidarity rally in the capital Sanaa on 2 May 2025 (Mohammed Huwais/AFP) Off Yemen’s Houthis have delivered renewed warnings to stay away from all Saudi airports except Mecca a
By Jana Choukeir, Maha El Dahan, Timour Azhari and Yasmine Ghania DUBAI/RIYADH, Oct 11 (Reuters) - One person was killed and nearly a dozenhurt in a new attack Riyadh's international airport on Sunday, Saudi authorities reported, a day after a strike claimed by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis that killed 13 people and wounded more than 300.
By Jana Choukeir, Maha El Dahan, Timour Azhari and Yasmine Ghania DUBAI/RIYADH, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis claimed responsibility for Saturday's strike on Riyadh's international airport that killed 13 people and wounded more than 300, as Saudi authorities reported people were injured in a new attack on the airport on Sunday.
By Jana Choukeir, Maha El Dahan and Timour Azhari DUBAI/RIYADH, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Yemen's Houthis warned airlines, travellers and airport workers on Sunday to stay away from Saudi airports, a day after an attack on Riyadh's international airport killed 12 people and wounded more than 300 others. It was the deadliest such attack in the kingdom in more than a decade and comes amid an escalation of fighting between the Iran-backed Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces.
By Jana Choukeir, Maha El Dahan and Timour Azhari DUBAI/RIYADH, Oct 11 (Reuters) - The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said an "unidentified projectile" had targeted Riyadh's international airport on Sunday, causing a fire, hours after the Iran-backed Houthis warned airlines and travellers to stay away from Saudi airports. The coalition also said Saudi air defences had intercepted a cruise missile in the vicinity of King Khalid International Airport. No further details were immediately available.

US president Donald Trump says he is weighing whether the US will join Saudi strikes against the Iran-backed Houthis Saturday’s attack was the third launched on the Saudi capital’s main airport this week- with the missile making it past Saudi air defences to strike terminals 3 and 4 of King Khalid airport where hundreds of passengers were awaiting domestic flights. The attack killed at least 12 people and injured 309 at last count, say Saudi officials. The dead include four Saudi citizens, two

Morning recap Good Morning Middle East Eye readers, If you are just joining us, here are key developments from across the region and beyond: * At least 12 people were killed and 309 others injured in an attack on Saudi Arabia's King Khalid International airport in Riyadh as Iran-backed Houthis escalated the campaign they launched this summer against the kingdom. * President Donald Trump says the US ‘may’ join Saudi strikes against Yemen’s Houthis following the latest attack on Riyadh airport.

Illustration by Abro Last week, reports emerged that an Israeli plumber had thwarted an alleged attempt by the co-pilot of a FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv to hijack/crash the aircraft. Interestingly, as further details were made public, social media platforms were flooded with thousands of posts alleging that the incident was a false flag operation orchestrated by the far-right Israeli government and its allied countries’ intelligence agencies. I will not delve into the numerous anomal

DUBAI: The US military said on Saturday it had disabled a commercial cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman after the ship’s crew ignored warnings and attempted to run an ongoing naval blockade against Iran. “A US military fighter jet struck the stern of Panama-flagged M/V Ocean Molica (also known as the “Arika Sun”) with a precision munition, fully disabling the ship’s propulsion without harming the crew,” the US Central Command posted on X. CENTCOM said the cargo vessel had atte

Attack on Riyadh airport leaves 12 dead, more than 300 injured MEE staff on Sun, 10/11/2026 - 01:03 Saudi-led military coalition vows 'firm' response as Trump says US may join strikes on Houthis A Flynas plane lands at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on 19 September 2026. (AFP) Off At least 12 people were killed and 309 others injured in an attack on Saudi Arabia's King Khalid International airport in Riyadh as Iran-backed Houthis escalated the campaign they launched this summer

Air France enforces Israeli ban affecting pilots from Muslim countries Elis Gjevori on Sat, 10/10/2026 - 19:30 Israeli restrictions exclude crews holding certain nationalities, even if they also have French citizenship An Air France Boeing is parked at a gate at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) on September 16, 2026. (Daniel Slim/AFP) Off Air France has agreed to enforce an Israeli order barring pilots and cabin crew of certain nationalities from flights to Israel, including those from

Calling the flydubai captain, who is still recovering from his injuries at a Dubai hospital, a "hero" to India, Israel and the world, Herzog said he looks forward to welcoming him in Jerusalem as he "regains" his strength.
By Timour Azhari and Federico Maccioni RIYADH/DUBAI, Oct 10 (Reuters) - The organisers of two major Saudi energy and investment conferences said their events will go ahead this month and reassured visitors on security, after missile attacks on Riyadh's airport left four people dead and an airliner heavily damaged this week. The attacks led to widespread flight disruptions, with people taking land routes or circuitous alternative flights. The UK, France and Germany have warned their citizens to a

Netanyahu’s former aide alleges attempt to alter 7 October records MEE staff on Sat, 10/10/2026 - 09:58 Avi Gil says Netanyahu shelved a captive exchange deal and that his chief of staff tampered with records on the morning of the Hamas-led attack Benjamin Netanyahu attends a memorial ceremony marking the third anniversary of the October 7 attack, at Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem, 5 October 2026 (Debbie Hill/Pool/AFP) Off Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing renew

DUBAI: Two Palestinian films that screened at the Toronto International Film Festival will make their Middle East and North Africa premieres in the international competition at the Doha Film Festival, which runs from Nov. 19-27. “Conversation with the Sea,” directed by Palestinian filmmaker Muayad Alayan, had its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival before its North American premiere in Toronto.‘Conversation with the Sea’ is directed by Palestinian filmmaker Muayad Alayan. S

On Oct 10, 2025, Israel began pulling its troops from parts of Gaza as a peace agreement it signed with Hamas went into effect. A year later, it has expanded its occupation to about 70 per cent of the Palestinian territory — one of its many violations of that ceasefire. The 20-point peace plan envisaged by United States President Donald Trump, titled ‘Comprehensive Plan to End Gaza Conflict’, has not just remained stalled; it has been torn apart by Washington’s own ally Israel. At the time, Trum

On Oct 10, 2025, Israel began pulling its troops from parts of Gaza as a peace agreement it signed with Hamas went into effect. A year later, it has expanded its occupation to about 70 per cent of the Palestinian territory — one of its many violations of that ceasefire. The 20-point peace plan envisaged by United States President Donald Trump, titled ‘Comprehensive Plan to End Gaza Conflict’, has not just remained stalled; it has been torn apart by Washington’s own ally Israel. At the time, Trum

• UK records the highest growth among major sources, with inflows rising 19.4pc • Saudi Arabia remains the largest source, contributing $2.686 billion KARACHI: Workers’ remittances increased by 14 per cent in the first quarter of FY27 compared with the same period of the previous fiscal year, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Friday. However, remittance inflows declined slightly by 1.9 per cent in September compared with August of the same year. The growth trend c

How the Red Sea came to the brink of a new regional war Sean Mathews on Fri, 10/09/2026 - 21:08 A war between Ethiopia and Eritrea would not be isolated this time, and would likely draw in regional powers Members of the Ethiopian Federal Police patrol aboard a pickup truck as they resume operations after federal forces pushed back the Tigray People's Liberation Front in Mekelle, Ethiopia, on 9 October 2026 (AFP) Off Overconfident. That is how best to describe the mood in the capitals of Et

Hammam al-Hammami is believed to have been targeting the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv The co-pilot who tried to seize control of a passenger jet flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv last week was planning to launch a suicide attack targeting the passenger terminal at Israel’s international airport, prosecutors in the United Arab Emirates said on Friday. Hammam al-Hammami attacked the plane’s Indian pilot with an emergency axe, but failed to prevent his badly injured colleague