Middle East crisis: Saudi Arabia boosts readiness after Houthi attacks; US warns Iran over airbase incident

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Sanaa — Yemen’s internationally recognised government said its forces carried out 1,879 operations against the Iran-backed Houthis across multiple fronts as part of its ongoing “Dawn of Yemen” offensive.

Military spokesperson Col. Majeed al-Nuzaili said the operations killed 950 Houthi fighters and destroyed or disabled 380 military vehicles.

Al-Nuzaili said the operations targeted Houthi positions, command centers, weapons depots and other military assets. The announcement came as government forces pressed an offensive aimed at retaking territory still held by the group, including the capital, Sanaa. The figures could not be independently verified, and the Houthis did not immediately comment.

Iran challenged Britain to produce evidence linking Tehran to a suspected plot targeting RAF Fairford, rejecting Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s assessment that the operation was "almost certainly" directed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry called the allegations unfounded, accusing London of making serious claims without presenting supporting evidence and seeking to divert attention from Britain’s involvement in US-Israeli military operations against Iran.

Burnham told Parliament that British authorities believed the suspected plot was “highly likely” to have been coordinated in Iran and “almost certainly” directed by the Revolutionary Guards.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps chief, Ahmad Vahidi, warned foreign powers on Monday against threatening or interfering in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf, reinforcing Tehran's opposition to an expanded foreign military presence in the strategic waterway.

“No extra-regional power has the right to threaten, maintain a hegemonic presence or interfere in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf,” Vahidi said in a post on X.

Vahidi's remarks signal that Tehran intends to maintain its claim to a central role in determining security arrangements in the Gulf. They also underline the risk that disputes over military deployments and shipping restrictions could complicate efforts to restore normal commercial traffic.

Iran has repeatedly argued that countries outside the region should not dictate security arrangements in waters bordering its territory. The United States and its partners, meanwhile, have defended their military presence as necessary to protect navigation and regional security.

At least 94 people have been killed and 33 wounded in armed attacks and security operations in southeastern Iran since March 31, with clashes becoming more frequent and involving heavier weapons, a US-based human rights group reported Monday.

The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) documented at least 63 armed incidents between March 31 and Oct. 10, mainly in Sistan and Baluchestan province, which borders Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis claimed an attack targeting Riyadh's international airport on Monday, after a Saudi-led coalition said it had shot down a missile over the capital.

"Our armed forces were able to target (King) Khalid International Airport in the Saudi enemy's capital Riyadh this evening with a ballistic missile and the hit was precise," Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said. He added that the group also targeted the Khamis Mushait base in the kingdom's south with a drone.

Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars, and President of the General Presidency of Scholarly Research and Ifta Sheikh Dr. Saleh bin Fawzan Al-Fawzan, has condemned Houthi attacks on civilian facilities and the killing of innocent people, including worshippers travelling to the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.

The Grand Mufti, who also chairs the Council of Senior Scholars and heads the General Presidency of Scholarly Research and Ifta, described the targeting of civilians and worshippers as among the gravest crimes.

“The terrorist Houthi militia's targeting of civilian facilities and the killing of innocent people, including worshippers heading to the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, is among the gravest of crimes for which Allah Almighty has threatened painful punishment,” he said, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

He added that those who targeted holy sites and people travelling to the Sacred House of Allah throughout history had faced destruction and dire consequences.

“We ask Allah Almighty to put an end to these criminals and protect our country and Muslim countries,” he said.

A crude oil tanker was struck by an unknown projectile while sailing outbound through the Strait of Hormuz on October 11, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said.

In a warning issued on Monday, UKMTO said it had received a delayed report from a verified source about the incident in the strategic waterway.

Authorities are investigating, the agency said. It did not provide details about the vessel, the extent of any damage or possible casualties.

UKMTO advised vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to proceed with caution and report any suspicious activity to the agency.

A product tanker was struck by an unknown projectile while sailing outbound through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said.

In a warning issued on October 12, UKMTO said it had received a report from a verified source about the incident in the strategic waterway.

Authorities are investigating, the agency said, without providing details about the vessel, the extent of any damage or possible casualties.

UKMTO advised vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to proceed with caution and report any suspicious activity to the agency.

A container vessel was struck by an unknown projectile while travelling inbound through the Strait of Hormuz on October 11, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said in a warning issued on Monday.

The report was received after the incident from a verified source, UKMTO said, adding that the circumstances were under investigation.

The agency advised vessels transiting the strategic waterway to proceed with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO.

The warning did not provide details about the vessel, the extent of any damage or possible casualties.

A ballistic missile launched by Yemen’s Houthi militia towards Riyadh was intercepted and destroyed, the Saudi-led coalition said on Monday.

The announcement came after multiple blasts were reported in the Saudi capital, shortly after residents received a mobile phone warning of an aerial threat.

Authorities urged residents to remain calm, stay indoors and seek shelter away from windows and doors.

Saudi Arabia has issued safety guidelines for residents who receive warning messages from the National Early Warning Platform for Emergencies, urging them to remain calm, seek shelter and follow official instructions.

The guidance advises people to immediately move to the nearest safe place, such as inside a building or an interior room away from windows, and remain there until the danger has passed.

Residents are also advised not to leave their homes or buildings while the warning remains in effect. They should stay away from open areas, windows and glass, and avoid standing on balconies or rooftops.

Iran on Monday denied any involvement in an incident at Britain's RAF Fairford airbase, which has been used by the United States in its war with the Islamic republic.

"The Iranian ambassador in London, Ali Moussavi, has again categorically rejected the accusations concerning Tehran's role in the incident at the Fairford military base," state news agency IRNA reported, adding that he "called on the British government to present evidence supporting its allegations if it possesses any".

A senior Houthi official warned the United States on Monday that it would receive a "swift and painful response" if it entered the war in Yemen, where Saudi Arabia has reportedly requested its help in dealing with the group.

"If the US becomes involved in the aggression against Yemen, we will not deliberate over the decision to respond, rather, there will be a swift and painful response targeting the US and all its interests in the region," Houthi political bureau member Mohammed Al Bukhaiti told AFP in an interview.

He also warned "all employees and workers at Saudi oil facilities and airports to stay away from these sites, as they have become legitimate target

Americans have been detained in Saudi Arabia for photographing recent events, the US Mission in the kingdom has warned, cautioning citizens against filming or sharing images related to missile and drone attacks.

In a security alert issued on October 12, the US Mission cited a warning from Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior that filming, publishing or sharing information about missiles, drones and their impact sites could lead to legal consequences.

“Visitors and residents are subject to local laws while in Saudi Arabia,” the alert said.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was “almost certainly” behind a suspected plot targeting RAF Fairford, a British airbase.

“We will not tolerate these threats on our soil,” Burnham told Parliament.

“We will crack down on Iran’s use of criminal networks, using our full range of powers to target them and their funding streams, and we will bring further sanctions to restrict the capacity of Iran and the IRGC to do us harm,” he said.

The incident near RAF Fairford began in the early hours of September 27, when five British men in their 20s were arrested on suspicion of terrorism and explosives offences. The men were later released without charge on police bail under what authorities described as stringent conditions.

A tanker sailing out of the Strait of Hormuz was struck by an unknown projectile on October 11, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre has reported.

In a late-reported incident, the vessel’s crew were confirmed safe, while the environmental impact remains unknown, according to UKMTO.

Authorities are investigating the incident.

UKMTO has advised vessels transiting the area to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity to the centre.

Delta Air Lines announced Monday that it will delay the launch of direct US flights to Saudi Arabia as US air safety regulators warned of continued safety risks.

Delta had planned to launch direct service from Atlanta to Riyadh on October 23, but postponed the plan following weekend Houthi attacks on the Riyadh airport.

"Delta will delay the planned launch of its nonstop service between Atlanta and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, amid evolving developments in the region," the US carrier said.

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a notice to air missions cautioning about a "potentially hazardous situation" in the airspace around Jeddah, which is on the western side of the Middle Eastern country.

"Threats could pose a potential risk to aircraft at all altitudes, including during overflight, the arrival and departure phases of flight," the notice said.

The US Mission in Saudi Arabia has warned American citizens of possible flight cancellations, airspace closures and travel disruptions, urging caution when using airports.

US government employees must obtain special authorisation to use airports in the Kingdom and face additional travel restrictions in certain areas.

The mission also warned that filming or sharing footage of missile and drone incidents could lead to legal liability under Saudi law. Travellers are advised to follow local authorities’ instructions, monitor official updates and review US travel advisories.

Riyadh Air has extended its condolences to the families of those killed in the incidents at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, including a flynas cabin crew member.

In a statement, the airline expressed its sympathies to flynas following the death of Azza Ramzy Mohamed Hassan, a member of its cabin crew who lost her life in the incident.

Riyadh Air also wished those injured a full and speedy recovery, adding that its thoughts were with everyone affected by the incidents.

Saudi Arabia has said life in the Kingdom continues as normal, stressing that heightened readiness reflects the state’s preparedness for different scenarios rather than a cause for public anxiety.

The remarks were made during a government press conference attended by the Minister of Media and the chief executive officer of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City.

The minister also urged the public to rely on official sources for information and avoid circulating unverified content related to security and military operations.

Gulf Air has cancelled all flights to and from Riyadh until midnight on October 17, 2026, asking affected passengers to contact the airline for rebooking options.

In a travel advisory issued on Monday, the Bahrain-based airline said the cancellations would remain in effect from October 12 through October 17.

Passengers affected by the cancellations have been advised to contact Gulf Air’s Global Contact Centre on +973 17373737 for assistance with alternative travel arrangements.

The airline apologised for the inconvenience and thanked passengers for their understanding.

Etihad Airways has cancelled a number of flights between Abu Dhabi and three Saudi cities, Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah, warning that the situation remains fluid and further changes to its flight schedule are possible.

The airline said all flights between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh had been cancelled until Monday, October 19, 2026.

Read the full report here.

Around 20 people were injured, some severely, in an explosion Monday as a group of Israeli high school students hiked near the Lebanese border, with unexploded ordnance suspected, officials said.

The military said soldiers and helicopters had been dispatched to the scene in northern Israel, a region from which Israeli forces have been pounding Lebanon, whose Hezbollah militants have fired periodic rockets across the border.

Citing medical sources, the Israeli police said that "the initial suspicion is that it was caused by an unexploded ordnance, as a result of which about 20 people were injured with varying degrees of severity".

Oil prices climbed to near two-week highs as continued Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia overshadowed prospects of additional supplies entering the market. Prices also rose despite US President Donald Trump welcoming increased Russian diesel exports and a Russia-Ukraine “energy ceasefire”.

Brent crude futures rose $1.24, or 1.2 per cent, to $106.19 a barrel by 11.24 GMT, reaching their highest level since September 29. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained $1.11, or 1.2 per cent, to $92.96 a barrel.

The funeral of Mohammed Yousuf Ali, an Indian national killed in the October 10 attack at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, will be held in the Saudi capital, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh said on Monday.

The embassy is assisting the bereaved family with the necessary formalities and arrangements for the funeral, according to an update shared on social media.

In its latest update on the injured Indian nationals, the embassy said three people remained in intensive care, while two others had been admitted to the ICU. Two injured people were in regular hospital wards, while the remaining patients had been discharged.

Embassy officials have visited hospitals treating the injured and remain in contact with their families, providing all possible assistance, the mission said.

Saudi authorities on Monday extended the suspension of operations at Riyadh's international airport following a series of deadly Houthi attacks.

Strikes on the airport last week killed at least 18 people, including 13 on Saturday in the deadliest attack on the country in more than a decade, which also left hundreds wounded.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation in a statement "announced the extension of the suspension of operations at King Khalid International Airport".

It said the extension was needed to "complete the necessary procedures to verify the safety of the facilities and their operational readiness".

The authority did not specify when operations would resume.

The attacks appear designed to increase the economic and security costs of Saudi Arabia’s military campaign in Yemen.

The Houthis have threatened airports, energy facilities and shipping routes, seeking to disrupt economic activity and increase pressure on Riyadh.

F. Gregory Gause, a Saudi specialist at the Middle East Institute, told The New York Times that strikes on Saudi infrastructure could inflict greater economic damage on the kingdom than comparable attacks on Houthi-held territory.

He warned that attacks on Riyadh airport could cause prospective investors to reconsider their plans.

The Red Sea is another concern. With disruptions affecting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia has increasingly relied on alternative export routes.

Further Houthi attacks around the Bab Al Mandeb Strait could threaten oil shipments and international trade.

Houthi fighters have tightened their siege of the Yemeni city of Taiz, where fighting has killed more than 60 people in the past 24 hours, military sources from both sides told AFP on Monday.

The Houthis have blocked all exits and carried out several attacks overnight, said a military source loyal to the internationally recognised, Saudi-backed government that holds the city.

The violence killed 22 members of the pro-government forces, the source said.

The Houthis lost at least 40 fighters, according to military sources from the Iran-backed movement, who said they were sending reinforcements.

The Houthis were keeping up their fight in Taiz governorate despite coming under Saudi airstrikes, the sources said.

The Australian embassy in Riyadh issued a new shelter in place order Monday, calling for people to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel, following a series of deadly attacks.

"Stay indoors, follow the advice of local authorities and avoid unnecessary travel," read a post by the embassy on an official social media account.

A Saudi broadcaster on Monday said the Saudi-led military coalition was responding to a missile and drone threat but did not specify where the projectiles were headed.

"Coalition: Dealing with a threat of drones and cruise missiles on the Kingdom currently underway," read a post published online by state-backed broadcaster Al Ekhbariya.

Iran said Monday it was "deeply concerned" by escalating attacks between Yemen's Tehran-backed Houthis and Saudi Arabia, after 14 people died in strikes on Riyadh's airport over the weekend.

"We are deeply concerned about the developments taking place in the Arabian Peninsula," foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told a weekly press conference, adding that Tehran was ready "to use our good offices to help facilitate dialogue between the parties".

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation said it is extending the suspension of operations at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport.

The extension is to allow authorities to continue the necessary measures to ensure the airport’s safety and readiness, the GACA says in a statement.

Saudi Arabia's energy minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman on Monday said recent developments required a serious response, in remarks made after multiple fatal attacks by the Houthis on Riyadh airport and across the kingdom.

"The events of recent weeks are serious, our response must be equally serious," the minister told an energy conference in Riyadh.

China condemned on Monday recent attacks by the Houthis on Saudi Arabia, expressing "serious concern" about the conflict between Riyadh and the Yemeni group intensifying.

"China condemns the attacks that caused heavy casualties and expresses serious concern over the intensification of the conflict," foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a regular briefing.

UAE travellers faced flight disruptions on Monday, October 12, with cancellations and delays affecting services from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Several flights linking the UAE with Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Abha, were affected, alongside services to other regional and international destinations.

Passengers were also advised to check updates for flights to and from Tel Aviv following the recent security incident involving flydubai flight FZ1073.

The UAE’s suspension of Iranian airline services to and from the country remains in place until further notice.

Travellers should check the latest information with their airline before leaving for the airport, as schedules and flight statuses may change.

Dr Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, has called for renewed Gulf cooperation on security and defence, warning that attacks on Saudi Arabia undermine the security of the UAE and every other Gulf state.

In a post on X, Gargash said the attacks on Gulf countries had exposed the shared nature of the threats facing the region, stressing that the security of its states could not be separated.

He said the attacks had stemmed from the aggressor's mistaken belief that Gulf countries were the weakest link in a war they had sought to avoid.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received a phone call from his Iranian counterpart, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran Abbas Araghchi, to discuss the recent regional escalation and efforts to address it, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The Saudi-led military coalition said on Monday that it had "intercepted and destroyed" a ballistic missile fired by pro-Iranian Houthi fighters towards southern Saudi Arabia.

"The coalition intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Houthi terrorist militia towards Khamis Mushait," Major General Turki al-Malki, a spokesman for the coalition, wrote on X.

The US military has ramped up the enforcement of its naval blockade of Iranian ports, with four commercial vessels disabled, 135 ships turned around, and 10 tankers linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard destroyed over the past three months as of Sunday (October 11).

According to the US Central Command (CentCom), a US fighter jet struck the stern of the Panama‑flagged M/V Ocean Molica(also known as Arika Sun) with a precision munition in the Gulf of Oman, disabling its propulsion without harming the crew.

CentCom said the cargo vessel's crew had ignored repeated warnings and attempted to run the blockade after previously departing an Iranian port.

Australia's foreign minister condemned on Monday "unacceptable" attacks by pro-Iranian Houthi fighters against civilians in Saudi Arabia, advising citizens not to travel to Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport.

"Australia condemns the Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia, including those on Riyadh airport which have stolen the lives of so many innocent people," top diplomat Penny Wong said on X.

One person was killed and 11 others were wounded in Sunday's attack at Riyadh's international airport, Saudi Arabia's civil aviation authority said.

"The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) clarifies that the attack resulted in the fatality of a Pakistani resident... and injuries to 11 others," the authority said on X.

The US has accepted some of Iran’s seven conditions for ending the conflict, but Tehran considers Washington’s response “inadequate”, Iranian official Mohsen Rezaei said Sunday on X.

“The US has agreed to some of Iran’s seven conditions, but we consider its response INADEQUATE,” said Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. He added there would be “no return to the status quo ante”.

Rezaei also accused Washington of failing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resorting to “smuggling”.

“Now, after the US fleet failed to reopen the Hormuz, he has resorted to smuggling,” he wrote. “The US military has never sunk to such a disgraceful low!”

Iran offered to restore normal shipping within seven days if Washington met its demands. The US responded through Qatari intermediaries.

During the UN General Assembly, Iran presented its seven-condition proposal, with an offer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restore normal maritime traffic "within seven days" if Washington met its demands.

Rezaei’s remarks indicate that, despite some apparent concessions, a gap remain between the two sides over the terms of possible deal. The US delivered its response through Qatari intermediaries.

A drone has hit a crude oil tanker near Sohar Anchorage off Oman, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations.

Two Indian seafarers were reported missing following the attack.

UKMTO, an update posted on X, stated that it reclassified the incident as an "attack" following confirmation that the tanker had been hit by an "uncrewed aerial vehicle".

The crew were evacuated by local authgorities, according to UKMTO said. The environmental impact was also not immediately available.

Day 226: Houthis issue new threat to Saudi Arabia’s airspace

Day 225: US, UK warn citizens to avoid Riyadh airport

Day 224: Trump eases curbs on Russian diesel imports

Day 223: Trump: No Iran attack before midterm elections

Day 222: Trump warns US may finish Iran war in a ‘not-so-nice’ way

Day 221: Iran warns US, Israel: Response to attack will be ‘devastating’

Day 220: Mecca Alliance could be 'NATO of Mid-East’ vs Houthis