War returns to Iran with Israel, US strikes

Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree claims that the group has destroyed two Saudi transport aircraft with ballistic missiles, which targeted Najran Airport and Khamis Mushait Airbase, according to a post on X.

Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) says all vessels belonging to the South Korean shipping company Sinokor will face “legal action” starting on November 1, Al Jazeera reports.

In a post on X, it accuses Sinokor vessels of committing the highest number of crossing violations in the Strait of Hormuz over the past three months, adding that “appropriate actions” have been taken against at least seven of them.

In an address to the 8th summit of heads of state of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum in Moscow, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says the global energy security situation is facing grave challenges amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, Al Jazeera reports.

He adds that the targeting of energy infrastructure and facilities, and unilateral sanctions on countries and “economic terrorism”, have had a dire impact on the global energy landscape and market.

The Iranian ⁠navy says an ⁠oil tanker has ⁠caught fire after hitting naval mines ‌east of the Strait of Hormuz, adding that the vessel ⁠entered ⁠a prohibited area ⁠with its tracking ⁠systems ⁠switched off, Al Jazeera reports citing state media.

The Houthis claim to have repelled an offensive by Yemeni government forces, according to a statement from spokesperson Yahya Saree.

“Those mobilisations were targeted with a number of ballistic missiles and heavy weapons, resulting in a large number of dead and wounded, and ambulance vehicles rushed to the sites of the strikes,” he writes on X, adding that several vehicles were also destroyed.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has chaired a meeting in Riyadh where he and his council of ministers reviewed talks held in Tehran with the Makkah alliance a day earlier, AFP reports citing Saudi state media.

“The council reviewed the substance of the talks held between the countries party to the Makkah Common Defence Agreement and senior officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran, reaffirming Saudi Arabia’s commitment to establishing security and stability,” a statement released by state media reads.

Qatar’s ruler and the Iranian president discussed the Middle East war and the blockaded Strait of Hormuz during a meeting in Moscow, the emir’s office said, AFP reports.

“They reviewed developments in the regional situation, foremost among them the latest on the negotiations, the Strait of Hormuz, and energy supplies,” a statement said.

The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen’s Houthis said it had intercepted two ballistic missiles fired by the group at Riyadh, as the Iran-backed fighters pressed their attacks on the kingdom, AFP reports.

“Air defences intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched by the terrorist Houthi militia towards Riyadh,” the coalition spokesman said.

Multiple explosions were heard in the Saudi capital Riyadh, AFP journalists said, following weeks of attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis.

Residents received a text-message alert on their mobile phones warning of an “aerial threat” and instructing them to seek shelter.

Iran’s national security chief Mohsen Rezaei has met with the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, with the latter stressing the importance of pursuing Iran’s interests and implementing its conditions to end the conflict and the “‘no war, nor peace’ situation”, Reuters reports citing state media.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claims that the group has struck Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura refinery in the kingdom’s Eastern province with a ballistic missile, adding that fires have erupted at the site.

Iran needs to show good intentions, stop threats against Arab Gulf states and open the Strait of Hormuz for mediation efforts to succeed, a Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson said during a press briefing, Reuters reports.

Qatar, along with Pakistan, has been mediating between Washington and Tehran in an effort to end the US-Israeli war with Iran.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian met with Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Moscow on the sidelines of an energy forum, Iranian state media reports.

“The two sides reviewed the current state of relations between Tehran and Doha and emphasised the importance of deepening political and economic ties and making use of existing potential to strengthen bilateral cooperation,” state television said.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of a summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum in Moscow.

Saudi Arabia contained a fire near its biggest oil export terminal at Ras Tanura on the Persian Gulf following an attack in the region, a person with knowledge of the matter said, Bloomberg reports.

The blaze occurred during the early hours near facilities operated by state producer Saudi Aramco, the person said, asking not to be identified because the matter is private. The extent of the damage wasn’t immediately clear.

China is highly concerned about conflicts in the Middle East and ​surrounding regions and Beijing will send an envoy ‌to the relevant countries in the near future, foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a daily press conference, Reuters reports.

Guo called on related parties to resolve differences ​through dialogue and negotiation and also expressed concerns ⁠about the spillover and transmitting of the Middle East ​conflict to the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea ​region.

“China will soon send a special envoy to visit countries in the regions to strengthen communication with relevant parties, promote contact ​and dialogue, help ease tensions and prevent the situation ​from deteriorating further,” Guo said.

Iran’s Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Mohsen Rezaei said the United States had failed to bring security to any country in the region, adding that Washington’s inability to provide security guarantees had become evident.

In a post on X, he said security in West Asia must originate from within the region itself and that any foreign intervention must be prevented.

Italy’s Edison said that QatarEnergy would not be able to deliver liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes to the utility until the end of December.

In a message on the platform of Italy’s energy markets manager, Edison said that further three LNG cargoes would be affected, Reuters reports.

QatarEnergy first notified a so-called “force majeure” suspension of LNG deliveries in April, due to the disruptions caused by the US-Iran conflict.

A Houthi official says that the Egyptian parliament’s decision to authorise military support for Saudi Arabia to defend against the group’s attacks was a declaration of war, AFP reports.

“Egypt and its parliament declared support for what is called the defence of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and in doing so, it declares war against the Republic of Yemen,” said Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a member of the Houthis’ political bureau, in a Telegram post.

Oil prices fell sharply, with Brent crude dropping more than 6 per cent after reaching its highest closing level since March, as diplomatic efforts to ease US-Iran tensions raised hopes of a deal, Reuters reports.

Brent crude futures for December delivery stood at $109.68 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate fell to $101.02. However, reports of further Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia kept concerns over regional oil supplies in focus.

An Israeli drone bombed a home in southern Lebanon on Monday as Israeli forces shelled several areas, carried out an airstrike and detonated explosives in fresh violations of a ceasefire, Lebanon’s official National News Agency (NNA) reports.

The drone dropped two bombs on a house between Shoukin and Mayfadoun in Nabatieh district, with no injuries reported.

Israeli artillery also shelled the al-Sawwan area on the outskirts of Mayfadoun intermittently and struck Mansouri in Tyre district, according to the agency.

Iran’s Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Ali Abdollahi has warned that any vessel violating Iranian security protocols in the southern waters “will put itself at risk and face serious damage,” IRNA reports.

General Abdollahi made the remarks during a visit to the coast of the Sea of Oman on Monday.

“Any vessel that attempts to deviate from the designated route or disregard Iranian procedures, for any reason, will put itself at risk and face serious damage.”

General Abdollahi said the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) maintains full control over the Persian Gulf coastline, its islands, and the Strait of Hormuz, with all maritime traffic in the area under their close surveillance.

The deputy secretary of Iran’s top security body, Ali Bagheri Kani, has said noted that the meeting in Tehran with Makkah pact officials took place amid major strategic developments in the region over recent months, which he attributed to the “brutal aggression” by Israel and the US.

According to Iran’s IRNA news agency, Kani said after the meeting all four countries had emphasised self-reliance and the development of domestic capabilities during the moot.

KLM, the Dutch arm of airline group Air France KLM, will not operate flights to various destinations in the Middle East for the entire 2026/2027 winter season, reports Reuters.

Flights to the Saudi cities of Riyadh and Dammam are cancelled through November 27, 2026. Passengers whose flights have been cancelled will be notified, the airline said.

Oil prices edged lower as the potential for a resolution in the US-Israeli war on Iran kept supply fears at bay, but Brent stayed close to six-month highs as attacks on Saudi Arabia lowered hopes of immediate stability in the region, reports Reuters.

Brent crude futures were down 66 cents, or 0.57 per cent, at $115.15 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude was down 44 cents, or 0.43pc, at $101.32.

Last week, Brent prices surged to more than $117 a barrel, the highest level since April, after a wave of Iranian attacks on tankers around the strait. Brent prices touched $117 on Monday as well.