Explosions Rock Riyadh As Saudi Airport Set To Reopen
Explosions could be heard in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, early on October 25 as authorities prepared to reopen the city’s international airport after a two-week closure caused by repeated attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels.
The Saudi-led military coalition said it had intercepted a ballistic missile targeting Riyadh and two drones in the capital area. It later reported intercepting a cruise missile aimed at the southern city of Khamis Mushait, while air raid warnings were issued in other southern areas.
An AFP journalist heard three explosions in Riyadh, where residents received warnings of a hostile aerial threat.
King Khalid International Airport was scheduled to resume flights on October 25, although the extent of its operations remained unclear. A Houthi military spokesman had warned that the airport remained "unsafe" and a "military target".
A Houthi attack on the airport earlier this month killed 13 people and wounded more than 300.
Saudi Arabia and the internationally recognized government in Yemen, which Riyadh supports, have come under increasing attacks in recent weeks from the Houthis as a years-long cease-fire collapsed during the summer as an offshoot to the US-Iran war that erupted in February.
Meanwhile, the Saudi civil defense agency said it had responded to falling debris in the Mecca and Medina regions on October 24 after intercepting two Houthi missiles.
The Houthis denied targeting the cities, the two holiest in Islam, labeling Riyadh's claim a "huge lie."
With reporting by AFP. This live blog entry has been updated.
Revolutionary Guards Strike Kurdish Group In Iraq, Iranian Media Reports
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps IRGC) carried out drone strikes against positions held by the Iranian Kurdish opposition group Komala in northern Iraq, the Mehr news agency reported on October 25.
"As part of a drone operation carried out by the Revolutionary Guards' ground forces, the headquarters of the terrorist and separatist group Komala, located in the Balisan region, was targeted last night," Mehr reported.
There were no immediate reports of casualties, and the IRGC has not confirmed the attack.
Iran has repeatedly targeted Iranian Kurdish opposition groups based in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region since conflict broke out in the Middle East in February.
With reporting by dpa and AFP
Saudi Arabia Says It Intercepted 2 Ballistic Missiles
Saudi Arabia said on October 24 that it had intercepted two ballistic missiles fired by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels toward the western cities of Taif and Yanbu.
Earlier, the kingdom’s Civil Defense Directorate briefly issued “potential danger” warnings for Taif, Yanbu, the holy city of Mecca, and the Red Sea port of Jeddah. The alerts were lifted minutes later after authorities announced that the danger had passed.
Saudi Arabia has faced repeated Iranian missile and drone attacks since the US-Israeli war against Iran began on February 28. In recent weeks, the Houthis have also intensified attacks on the kingdom, targeting airports and oil infrastructure.
A Houthi attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on October 10 killed 13 people and wounded more than 300. The Yemeni rebels have also warned airlines against using Saudi airspace.
The Saudi-led coalition backs Yemen’s internationally recognized government against the Houthis, who control the capital, Sanaa. A UN-brokered truce in 2022 had largely halted fighting between the two sides, but hostilities resumed earlier this year amid the wider Middle East conflict.
With reporting by Reuters and AFP
Iranian President Set To Meet Putin Next Week, Iranian Media Reports
Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian is set to meet his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, during a visit to Moscow next week, according to Iranian media.
Pezeshkian will be attending a meeting of gas-exporting countries, which will take place in the Russian capital on October 27.
Quoting Iran’s ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, Iran’s semiofficial Tasnim news agency said that the two leaders will discuss economic cooperation and geopolitics.
Pezeshkian is undertaking his Moscow visit amid mounting US and Israeli threats of renewed attacks against Iran.
On October 23, US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack warned that Washington could strike Iran as soon as this weekend.
Earlier this week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Iran for the first time since the start of the Iran war in late February.
The eighth Gas Exporting Countries Forum summit will discuss global gas market developments, cooperation among gas exporters, and promoting natural gas’s role in the global economy.
Saudi Arabia Postpones UN Forum Until 2027 Amid Regional Tensions
Saudi Arabia has postponed the United Nations World Data Forum and the Second Saudi Statistical Forum, originally scheduled for November 9–12 in Riyadh, until 2027.
The country's General Authority for Statistics announced the decision on October 23. It said the postponement was intended to ensure broad international participation by speakers, experts, and partners and to deliver an event that meets the expectations of the global data and statistics community.
The announcement follows Saudi Arabia's decision earlier in the week to postpone its flagship Future Investment Initiative conference, commonly known as Davos in the Desert, until next year. That event had been scheduled for October 26–29.
The postponements come amid escalating regional conflict and attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis that have disrupted business activity and raised security concerns.
Other events have also been affected. The Six Kings Slam tennis tournament in Riyadh was moved from October to December 27–30, citing organizational and logistical challenges. Saudi Arabia's round of the World Rally Championship was removed from the 2026 calendar, although the separate Middle East Rally Championship event remained scheduled.
Questions have also been raised about the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, due to take place in Saudi Arabia from January 7 to February 5. The Asian Football Confederation has discussed the possibility of postponement, but Saudi organizers have said preparations are continuing as planned.
New dates for the two statistical forums have not yet been announced.
Trump Considering Renewed Strikes On Iran After Midterms, Says Atlantic
US President Donald Trump is considering resuming military operations against Iran with several days of strikes, potentially shortly after the November 3 midterm elections, The Atlantic reported on October 22, citing US officials.
The magazine said Trump has received competing proposals from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Bessent reportedly argues that sanctions and a US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz could force Tehran to make concessions in negotiations. Netanyahu, meanwhile, has advocated another round of US-Israeli strikes aimed at overthrowing Iran's government.
According to The Atlantic, the administration appears to be considering a combination of economic pressure and military action. Potential targets include Iran's missile and drone arsenals, energy infrastructure, and nuclear facilities.
An outside adviser told the magazine that "the economic pressure is working, and we believe Iran is getting close to the edge." The adviser added that new strikes "would push them over."
However, The Atlantic questioned whether the strategy would succeed, noting that Iran's negotiating position has changed little despite severe economic pressure. The magazine warned that renewed attacks could trigger wider regional escalation without forcing Tehran to surrender.
US officials stressed that no decision had been made about resuming strikes after the elections. The report described ongoing discussions and military preparations, not an approved attack plan.
The uncertainty comes amid high energy prices and stalled negotiations. Trump has publicly ruled out new attacks before the midterms, leaving open the possibility of a later decision.
ABC News: US, Israel Draw Up Plans For Renewed Strikes On Iran
The US and Israeli militaries have developed plans for possible renewed joint attacks on Iran in the coming weeks, with operations expected after the November 3 US midterm elections, ABC News reported on October 22, citing two Israeli sources familiar with the plans.
The sources said US President Donald Trump was reluctant to destabilize oil markets further during the final days of the election campaign. The reported plans include attacks on Iranian petrochemical facilities and nuclear sites, including the facility known as Pickaxe Mountain.
One source said the plans did not include attacks on civilian infrastructure such as power plants. The sources also said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu favors renewed military action, although the decision to resume joint strikes rests with Trump. One source did not rule out unilateral Israeli action but said it would still require Washington's consent.
The White House confirmed the United States would not attack Iran before the election. Spokeswoman Anna Kelly told ABC News that "the United States will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the midterm elections."
A separate White House official said the administration does not comment on "sensitive military plans that may or may not exist." The official added that Trump "keeps all options on the table" to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
ABC reported that the plans were discussed during Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's visit to Israel earlier that week. The Pentagon declined to comment.
US Relocates Personnel In Middle East As Iran Tensions Push Oil prices Higher
The United States has been reducing or relocating some military personnel stationed at bases in the Middle East amid regional security threats, US media reported on October 21 and 22.
NBC News, followed by CBS News, reported that some US personnel had been moved from bases in Jordan, Qatar, and Kuwait. The State Department also ordered nonessential personnel and family members to leave Saudi Arabia, citing security risks that included attacks by Iran-allied Houthi forces in Yemen.
US Central Command spokesman Captain Tim Hawkins said: "We regularly move US service members and assets to optimize mission readiness. We do not discuss related movements for operational security reasons." He added that US forces remained ready to protect American personnel and interests.
The movements came as The New York Times, ABC News, and The Atlantic reported that Washington and Jerusalem were considering options for renewed attacks on Iran after the November 3 US midterm elections. However, officials have not established publicly that the personnel changes were preparations for a specific attack. Some measures were explicitly linked to Houthi threats.
Separately, Axios reported that dozens of Israeli fighter jets and refueling aircraft conducted a long-range sortie toward Iran's border on October 19, before turning back. US and Israeli officials described the operation as a demonstration of military capability and a deterrent, although the circumstances raised concerns about possible miscalculation.
Oil prices also rose amid renewed tensions. CBS News reported that Brent crude reached approximately $112–$113 a barrel on October 22, after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps claimed attacks on vessels near the Strait of Hormuz. The claims had not all been independently verified.
Iran-Pakistan Border Trade Suspended As Trucks Stranded
Commercial trade between Iran and Pakistan remained suspended at the Gabd–Rimdan and Taftan crossings this week, leaving hundreds of trucks stranded, according to Pakistani media and AFP on October 21.
Iranian lawmaker Fadah Hossein Maliki said Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, had ordered the border reopened during his Tehran visit on October 20. Maliki said Iranian officials later told him reopening was one-way: Pakistani trucks could enter Iran, but Iranian trucks could not enter Pakistan. This account has not been independently confirmed.
AFP reporters saw trucks waiting at Gabd–Rimdan, with drivers reporting delays and inadequate access to food and drinking water. Pakistani officials and trade representatives confirmed that bilateral commercial traffic had stopped, although some vehicles carrying transit goods to Central Asia or Turkey were allowed through. Passenger movement reportedly continued at the Rimdan-Gabd border crossing.
The reasons remain disputed. Pakistani officials described the suspension as a temporary measure to improve security, strengthen border management, and curb smuggling. Iranian trade representatives, meanwhile, said sanctions-related banking problems were preventing Pakistani importers from completing procedures for goods purchased from Iran.
US sanctions can expose foreign financial institutions to penalties for dealings with sanctioned Iranian entities, but the available evidence does not establish that Washington directly ordered Pakistan’s restrictions.
Maliki warned that Iran could close its own border if restrictions persist.
Bessent Cites Satellite Images Showing No Crude Tankers At Iran's Kharg Terminal
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent posted satellite images of Iran's Kharg Island oil terminal on October 22, saying no crude-oil tankers were visible at the facility.
"Kharg Island is now nothing more than a monument to the only thing the Iranian regime can still produce: failure," Bessent wrote on X. He said the US government's Operation Economic Outcast was cutting off Iran's oil revenues and restricting funds used to support terrorism, its nuclear program, and senior officials from the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.
The post followed Bessent's remarks on October 20 that no oil loading had been observed at Kharg since August and that Iran had no remaining oil cargoes at sea.
A Bloomberg analysis published on October 19, based on European Union satellite imagery and vessel-tracking data, found that no crude-oil tankers had docked at Kharg's main export terminals since late August. The analysis also found no tanker activity at Iran's smaller Jask export terminal during the period examined.
Separate reports citing Bloomberg, Kpler, and Vortexa data indicated that Iran loaded no crude oil onto tankers in September, following a sharp decline in shipments after the US naval blockade was reinstated.
However, reports have also documented limited Iranian exports of other petroleum products despite the blockade.