Middle East war live: Several injured in Riyadh airport attack; Trump weighs joining Saudi strikes on Houthis

Pentagon has raised the US military death toll since the start of the war with Iran to 21, including two deaths unrelated to combat operations, The Washington Post reported, citing an official.

EgyptAir has temporarily suspended flights from Cairo and Alexandria to Riyadh until operations resume at King Khalid International Airport, in coordination with Saudi civil aviation authorities.

The airline said the decision was taken in light of the current situation.

Affected passengers can cancel their tickets and receive a full refund without fees, or change their itinerary to another destination in Saudi Arabia served by EgyptAir’s direct flights, without paying change fees or fare differences.

EgyptAir urged passengers to check their bookings through the airline’s customer service call centre for the latest updates.

Bahrain has praised the UAE National Guard’s Coast Guard Division for rescuing an Asian crew from an oil tanker that caught fire in the Arabian Gulf.

In a statement on October 10, Bahrain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs commended the UAE forces for their swift response, maritime emergency capabilities and efforts to save lives and provide critical medical assistance to survivors.

The ministry also called for stronger regional and international cooperation to safeguard commercial shipping, protect maritime crews and ensure freedom of navigation through vital sea lanes.

It stressed that securing these key maritime routes is essential to protecting global energy supplies, facilitating international trade and maintaining regional stability.

Saudi Arabia will begin a two-month process on October 11 to regularise the status of Yemeni nationals living in the kingdom illegally.

The scheme covers four categories, offering options including free six-month visit visas, electronic extensions for expired visitor documents, employer transfers and final exit visas.

Authorities will operate 23 status-correction centres across the kingdom, SPA reported.

Indian airline Akasa Air has extended its suspension of all flights to Saudi Arabia until October 13, following today’s attack on King Khalid International Airport.

The airline said on X that the decision was made in light of the “continuing security situation” in Saudi Arabia.

Akasa Air had already suspended flights to Saudi Arabia following Houthi missile attacks on the kingdom’s airports earlier this week.

The British and US embassies in Saudi Arabia urged their citizens to stay away from the capital’s King Khalid International Airport following an “incident” earlier today.

The US said in a post on X that it was aware of “attacks” on the airport, adding that government employees now need “special authorisation” to transit through it.

Following the incident, the UK’s Foreign Office said it was updating its travel advice to discourage people from travelling via the airport “until it is secure”. It also advised travellers to check that their flights were confirmed before heading to the airport.

Japan has strongly condemned what it described as repeated Houthi attacks on airports and other civilian facilities in Saudi Arabia.

In a statement posted on X, the Japanese Embassy in Saudi Arabia said attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure could not be tolerated under any circumstances.

The embassy also called on the Houthi movement to refrain from further escalation in Yemen and beyond its borders.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed that a supertanker transiting what it called an “unauthorised” route through the Strait of Hormuz suffered a “massive explosion” after hitting a mine.

In a statement carried by Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, the IRGC said the tanker had switched off its navigation and positioning systems while attempting to leave the strait carrying crude oil.

The statement warned that vessels violating what Iran described as the strait’s security rules risked severe consequences. The claim has not been independently verified.

Trump said Saturday he would soon decide whether to join Saudi strikes against Iran-backed Houthins after an attack on Riyadh's international airport.

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

The message was clear as US Vice President JD Vance shook hands in his native Ohio with a woman wearing a "Vance 2028" cap - at least from his supporter's perspective.

Donald Trump's deputy has yet to declare that he will run for the White House in two years' time.

But what was supposed to be a campaign rally on Friday for Republican candidates in November's US midterm elections in Lima, Ohio looked a lot more like a Vance rally.

With a theatrical flourish, Vance descended from the steps of Air Force Two, the vice presidential jet, and received a rapturous reception as he entered the event in a flag-draped airport hangar.

"Man, it feels good to be home," Vance said to cheers.

Unusually for Vance on the campaign trail, he then went down to greet the crowd in person - shaking hands, patting arms and meeting the lady with the black pro-Vance hat.

There's just one problem for Vance: the midterms themselves.

Polls show Trump's unpopularity, the Iran war and the price of living could cost Republicans their majority in Congress.

And Ohio - which voted for Trump in the last three presidential elections - has turned from a stronghold into one of the tightest electoral battlegrounds for the November 3 vote.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged citizens whose flights have been affected or who have been unable to reach their destinations due to the suspension or delay of some flights bound for King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh to contact Saudi embassies in the countries where they are currently staying.

The ministry said citizens should seek assistance and guidance from the relevant Saudi diplomatic missions.

Saudi Arabia's King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh has temporarily suspended operations after an attack on Saturday afternoon left several people injured, the Kingdom's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) announced. 

The attack comes amid continuing assaults targeting civil aviation facilities across the kingdom, according to the authority.

 Several people were injured in the incident, although authorities have yet to establish the exact number of casualties. 

GACA said airport operations had been suspended as a precaution while the relevant authorities assessed the damage and inspected facilities to ensure they were safe.

The assessments are being conducted in coordination with the relevant agencies, the authority added. 

Further updates will be announced once more information becomes available.

The US Mission in Saudi Arabia has urged American citizens to avoid King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and surrounding areas following reported attacks on the airport on Saturday, October 10.

In a security alert issued on October 10, the mission said it was aware of the attacks and advised US citizens to stay away from the airport and nearby areas.

The mission also warned of possible flight cancellations, airspace closures and travel disruptions. Travellers were advised to check their flight status directly with their airline and the airport before setting out.

The alert said US government employees working in Saudi Arabia must obtain special authorisation to use King Khalid International Airport.

They are also prohibited from travelling within 20 miles of the Yemen border due to safety risks.

Special authorisation is required for travel to the provinces of Jizan, Asir and Najran, as well as the cities of Qatif, Yanbu and Taif, the mission said.

Doctors were being told by the health ministry to report hospitals across the Saudi capital to help address a serious emergency situation, a medical source told AFP.

"ER doctors are being called to hospitals across Riyadh," the medical source in the city told AFP. "We were told we are dealing with a 'serious emergency situation'.

Kuwait Airways has cancelled two flights between Kuwait and Riyadh on Saturday, October 10, citing the closure of the Saudi capital’s airport due to the security situation.

The airline cancelled flight KU775 from Kuwait to Riyadh and return flight KU776 from Riyadh to Kuwait.

Kuwait Airways urged passengers to monitor their flight status for updates. The airline said it would send notifications and text messages to the phone numbers registered in passengers’ bookings.

Travellers can also follow the latest updates through the airline’s official channels.

King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was attacked again on Saturday and evacuated, two regional officials told The Associated Press, as Saudi Arabia faced a fresh wave of assaults linked to the widening Iran war.

One official said air traffic at the airport had been halted. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to comment publicly.

The reported attack came two days after three Saudi citizens, including a pilot, were killed at the airport. The facility has been targeted several times over the past week, following a major military offensive by a Saudi-led coalition against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in neighbouring Yemen.

The Houthis claimed responsibility for earlier attacks, including one on Wednesday that killed a Sudanese national. There was no immediate statement from the group on Saturday.

The airport issued an alert urging passengers to check their flight status with airlines before travelling to the airport.

Meanwhile, fighting in Yemen has intensified between the Houthis and forces aligned with the Saudi-backed Yemeni government. The Saudi-led coalition has provided air support to government forces seeking to reverse recent Houthi advances along the Red Sea, a strategically important shipping corridor that offers an alternative route to the Strait of Hormuz.

Canada has advised its citizens in Saudi Arabia to avoid all travel to King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh due to ongoing military activity affecting airport operations and causing travel disruptions.

Canadians have been urged to monitor local media, follow instructions from local authorities and check their flight status directly with airlines before departure.

The advisory also warns travellers to move away immediately if they encounter military debris or fragments and contact local authorities. They have also been told not to post, share or like related material on social media.

Canadians in Saudi Arabia can register their presence with the Canadian government for updates. For emergency consular assistance, they can email SOS@international.gc.ca or call +966 11 202-3288 or +1-613-996-8885.

SriLankan Airlines has temporarily suspended all flights to Riyadh and other destinations in Saudi Arabia until October 18, 2026, following a security incident at Riyadh Airport. The airline said services would resume once safety and operational assessments confirm conditions are suitable for commercial flights. Passengers should check updates at srilankan.com or contact the airline for assistance.

Saudi Arabia and Oman have discussed efforts to contain regional tensions and promote diplomatic solutions following attacks targeting civilian facilities in the Kingdom.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud received a phone call from his Omani counterpart, Badr bin Hamad Albusaidi, during which the two ministers discussed the latest regional developments and the need to support diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions and strengthen regional security and stability.

In a statement posted on X, Oman’s Foreign Ministry said Albusaidi expressed Oman’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its categorical rejection of attacks on civilian facilities or actions that endanger the security of the Kingdom and the safety of civilians.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, the Omani foreign minister also condemned the targeting of Abha Airport and King Khalid International Airport.

Both sides stressed the importance of continued coordination and consultation, alongside intensified efforts to contain tensions, restore calm and resolve outstanding issues through peaceful mean

Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh has issued a travel alert urging passengers to confirm their flight status with their airline before heading to the airport.

The alert, issued on October 10, asks travellers to contact their airline directly to check whether their flight is operating.

The advisory comes as Etihad Airways cancels several flights between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh from October 10 to 12 due to operational disruption at the Saudi airport.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has cancelled legislative elections scheduled for November 28, 2026, and set a new date for presidential and legislative polls, the official news agency Wafa reported on Saturday.

The decree followed a decision by the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and consultations with Palestinian factions and political groups.

According to Wafa, the consultations reached a national consensus that Israeli measures posed obstacles to holding elections as scheduled. They also highlighted the need to establish suitable political, security and on-the-ground conditions for free, fair and inclusive elections.

Both presidential and legislative elections are now scheduled for September 11, 2027

Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun said Trump's decision to revoke flight restrictions between Lebanon and the U.S. that were imposed four decades ago was an indication of US confidence in steps taken by Lebanon to address civil aviation safety.

Direct flights between the US and Lebanon were suspended in 1985 by the Reagan administration following the hijacking of TWA Flight 847.

Trump made the surprise announcement that he would allow American carriers to resume direct flights to Lebanon during a visit by Aoun to Washington in July. While he ordered the lifting of the restrictions nearly two weeks ago, the decision was publicly announced on Saturday.

The move comes after the Iran-backed Hezbollah group was severely weakened by two wars with Israel over the past two years in which many of the group's political and military commanders were killed.

Two regional officials said Saturday that attacks by Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels on Riyadh airport on Thursday damaged three planes. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to brief the media.

Three Saudi citizens were killed and several were wounded, Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation said Friday.

Air traffic was again disrupted Friday evening when the Houthis fired another missile at the airport, one of the officials said. Flightradar24, a flight-tracking platform, said many flights were diverted.

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.

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.

"We are carrying out a large-scale operation targeting the personnel and capabilities of the Houthi terrorist militia," Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi coalition, wrote on X.

"We destroyed 136 military targets in areas controlled by the Houthi terrorist militia," he said in a separate post.

The Houthi's Almasirah TV channel reported that Saudi missiles targeted areas in the northwestern Yemeni governorate of Saada.

The UAE has strongly condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid International Airport and a Saudia aircraft, which killed three Saudi nationals and injured several civilians.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed the UAE’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia and support for measures to protect its security and stability, while extending condolences to the victims’ families and wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

US President Donald Trump said Friday that he had secured Russian leader Vladimir Putin's agreement to release diesel into US and global markets, vowing this will help cool surging energy costs amid war with Iran.

"Russia will immediately supply over 300,000 Tons of Diesel Fuel to the American and Global Marketplace, another 500,000 Tons during the month of November," Trump said on social media following talks with Putin.

The US Treasury Department added that it is issuing a temporary license for Russian diesel to flow to global markets.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on October 9 that US forces had redirected 133 commercial vessels to ensure compliance with restrictions imposed in the region.

The command shared the update on social media but did not provide further details about the vessels or their destinations in the statement.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Friday 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.

Iranian forces "have taken control of the administration of the strait", the Guards said in a statement carried by the state news agency IRNA.

"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".

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains around 75 per cent below pre-conflict levels, with maritime attacks, security threats and navigation interference continuing to disrupt commercial vessels, according to a UKMTO report published on October 9.

Here are the key developments:

• Shipping traffic: 129 outbound and 146 inbound transits were recorded over the past seven days.

• Vessel attacks: 11 attacks were reported in a week — 10 in the Strait of Hormuz and one in the Arabian Gulf.

• Damage to vessels: Seven of the 11 vessels attacked in the Strait sustained minor damage but continued their voyages.

• Route risks: Since July 6, 41 of 59 commercial shipping incidents in the Strait have occurred along the southern route.

• Threat levels: The risk remains severe in the Strait of Hormuz and moderate in the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.

• Navigation interference: UKMTO recorded nine GNSS interference reports in seven days and 18,881 anomalous AIS positions.

• Red Sea and Gulf of Aden: No attacks were reported in the defined reporting area during the latest seven-day period, although security risks remain.

• Piracy: 41 piracy-related incidents have been recorded in the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and off the Somali coast this year. One vessel remained under pirate control as of October 7.

The report highlights the continued challenges facing commercial shipping, as vessels navigate security threats, disrupted routes and unreliable navigation signals across key regional waterways.

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

Day 219: Trump weighs ‘easy or hard’ option as Iran holds firm

Day 218: Iran's IRGC warns US of 'more lethal' response 

Day 217: US sends 9,000 more troops, third carrier to Middle East

Day 216: US sends 9,000 more troops, third carrier to Mid-East

Day 215: Iran says received US response to its proposal to end war

Day 214: Iran threatens strikes as it awaits US response to Hormuz plan

Day 213: Iran supreme leader says US will be forced out of Middle East

Day 212: Trump expects talks with Iran to resume in coming week

Day 211: US military activity surges around Strait of Hormuz

Day 210: Trump discusses Iran conflict with Xi Jinping