Day 238| Saudi intercepts Houthi ballistic missile targeting Najran

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Read more: Day 239 | Signs point to renewed major US military ops against Iran

The naval force of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that two supertankers caught fire and were immobilized after striking naval mines while attempting to navigate what Tehran described as an unauthorized route in the southern Strait of Hormuz.

According to a statement released by the IRGC Navy’s public relations department, the two vessels allegedly attempted to pass through the strategic maritime choke point using an unapproved corridor.

The Iranian military force asserted that explosions detonated in the engine rooms of both tankers following contact with sea mines, causing severe fires and rendering both ships disabled.

Iranian state media, citing the IRGC statement, reported that the two supertankers were carrying a combined cargo of more than 4.5 million barrels of crude oil.

Tehran further alleged that the crews abandoned the ships after the blasts, leaving the vessels stranded off the southern coast of the strait.

Speaking at a GOP midterm rally in Florida, US President Donald Trump stated that the United States could execute another limited round of Operation Epic Fury unless Iran agrees to reach a deal with Washington.

Abdullah Haji Sadeghi, the representative of Iran’s Supreme Leader to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has warned that Iran will deliver an “unprecedented blow” to its enemies if they take any further hostile action.

Sadeghi also said Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is in good health and continues to exercise leadership, despite his absence from public appearances, which he attributed to wartime circumstances.

Abdollah Haji Sadeghi, the Iranian Supreme Leader’s representative to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said Mojtaba Khamenei is in good health and continues to exercise leadership despite his absence from public view during the war.

Sadeghi also warned that Iran would deliver an unprecedented blow to its adversaries if they launch any new aggression against the country.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has criticized military relations between the United States and ‘Israel’, describing them as “parasitic” and questioning the cost to American taxpayers.

In a post on X, Araghchi claimed that the United States had spent “$11 BILLION in taxpayer money on missile defense for ‘Israel’” over the past three years. He also said Washington had fired more interceptors defending ‘Israel’ than ‘Israel’ itself.

The remarks come less than two weeks before the US congressional midterm elections, amid reported public frustration over Washington’s involvement in conflicts across the Middle East.

• US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz says Washington is preparing for a long-term confrontation with Tehran.
• The US hopes its blockade and bombing campaign will force Iran to make significant concessions.
• Waltz says eliminating Iran’s highly enriched uranium remains a strategic goal.

The United States is preparing for a prolonged war with Iran, with Washington hoping military and economic pressure will push Tehran into making significant concessions, US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said on Friday.

“We are preparing for a long-term standoff with Iran,” Waltz stated, adding that Washington hopes Iran will make “significant concessions” following the US blockade and bombing campaign, while identifying the removal of Iran’s highly enriched uranium as a key objective.

“Eliminating Iran’s highly enriched uranium is a strategic goal,” Waltz said.

The comments underscore Washington’s continued focus on Iran’s nuclear programme as the conflict and diplomatic deadlock persist. The US has maintained that any agreement must address Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium and prevent Tehran from rebuilding its enrichment capabilities.

The Strait of Hormuz also remains a major point of contention. Iran has offered to reopen the vital waterway under conditions that include lifting the US blockade and easing sanctions, while Washington has insisted that Iran’s nuclear programme must be addressed. Negotiations have yet to resolve the main disagreements between the two sides.

Read more: NYT says US, ‘Israel’ are preparing to strike Iran after elections

• Households are being advised to keep three days’ worth of bottled water and non-perishable food at home.
• Defence Secretary Wes Streeting warned that cyberattacks by hostile states or criminal groups could disrupt supply chains and supermarket payment systems.
• The government says the guidance also covers natural disasters, including severe storms, flooding and wildfires.

The UK government has urged households to keep emergency supplies at home amid concerns that cyberattacks, extreme weather and other crises could disrupt essential services.

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting announced the initiative on Thursday, Oct. 22, as part of a new national resilience campaign encouraging the public to prepare for emergencies that could affect access to food, water, electricity, communications and other everyday necessities.

Under the government’s updated Be Ready guidance, households are advised to keep enough bottled water and non-perishable food to last three days. The recommendations also include having a torch, spare batteries, a battery-powered or wind-up radio, a first-aid kit and some cash available in case electronic payment systems become unavailable.

Streeting warned that increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks could target businesses and critical infrastructure, potentially disrupting supply chains and access to essential goods.

He also raised the possibility of hostile state actors or terrorists causing interruptions to everyday services, asking how households would cope if supermarket payment systems stopped working.

The government has stressed that the campaign is intended to encourage practical preparation rather than cause alarm. The advice is designed to help people manage temporary disruptions while emergency services prioritise those most in need.

The initiative will run for three years, with more than 500 organisations, including charities, businesses and community groups, involved in sharing preparedness advice. The government has also encouraged eligible households to register for the Priority Services Register, which helps utility companies identify customers who may require additional assistance during an outage.

The government said the three-day preparedness recommendation brings Britain into line with European countries including France, Ireland and the Netherlands, which have similar guidance.

Officials have acknowledged that not every household will be able to obtain all the recommended supplies immediately, emphasising that people can build their emergency kits gradually and take the steps that are practical for their circumstances. 

Read more: UK review urges restrictions on teachers, students wearing pro-Palestine badges

Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defense has announced that the danger has passed in Abha, Khamis Mushait Governorate and Najran Province following early morning alerts issued through the National Early Warning Platform warning residents of potential danger.

Authorities urged residents to continue following Civil Defense instructions and take precautions as directed.

This comes amid escalating Houthi attacks on the kingdom, with the Saudi-led coalition announcing the interception of a missile headed towards Riyadh early Friday.

• The UAE’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment says a tanker oil spill has affected beaches in Umm Al Quwain.
• All beaches and coastal areas in the emirate have been temporarily closed while authorities assess the damage and determine safety measures.
• The ministry says odors reported in Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain pose no health risks to residents.

The United Arab Emirates has temporarily closed all beaches and coastal areas in Umm Al Quwain after its environmental monitoring system detected an oil spill from a tanker affecting the emirate’s coastline, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment said early Friday.

The ministry said response teams had immediately begun containment operations, cordoning off affected areas and carrying out cleanup and remediation work in coordination with local and federal authorities to limit environmental damage.

Precautionary coastal surveys and environmental assessments are also underway to determine the extent of the spill’s impact and identify measures needed to protect marine life and the surrounding environment. The closures will remain in place until technical teams complete their assessments and establish the necessary safety and environmental protection measures, the ministry said.

The ministry also addressed odors reported in Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain, stating that they pose no health risks to residents.

Fishermen and other sea users have been urged to follow official instructions and avoid fishing in affected areas while monitoring and cleanup operations continue. The ministry called on the public to rely on official information and avoid circulating rumors, pledging to provide further updates as the situation develops.

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment confirms the UAE’s technical monitoring and environmental assessment system detected a tanker oil spill affecting Umm Al Quwain’s beaches. Odors noticed in Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain pose no health risks to residents. Teams immediately began containment, cordoning, cleanup and remediation with local and federal authorities to limit environmental impacts. Precautionary coastal surveys, monitoring and assessments continue to gauge impacts and protect the marine environment. With relevant authorities, the Ministry has temporarily closed all Umm Al Quwain beaches and coastal areas until technical teams complete assessments and identify safety and marine protection measures. Fishermen and sea users are urged to follow authorities’ instructions and avoid fishing in affected areas. The Ministry urges reliance on official channels, avoidance of rumors, and pledges updates on developments and measures taken. #MOCCAEUAE #UAE

— ‎وزارة التغير المناخي والبيئة (@MoCCaEUAE) October 22, 2026

• Trump said the war with Iran would end “very soon,” adding that the outcome was “almost insignificant” to him.
• Washington and Tehran remain at odds over the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions and the terms of a settlement, with Trump saying the two sides are not negotiating.

US President Donald Trump said that the war with Iran would end “very soon” as he addressed a rally in South Carolina on Thursday, Oct. 22, claiming his administration had settled eight wars and was close to ending two more, even as efforts to secure a lasting agreement with Tehran remain stalled.

“I settled 8 raging wars or soon to be wars, and we're close to ending 2 more,” Trump told the crowd before turning to the conflict with Iran. “We're gonna Iran finished very soon. One way or the other. It's almost insignificant to me which way,” he said, according to the remarks.

No breakthrough in efforts to end the war

Despite Trump's assertions that Iran had been defeated militarily and financially, Tehran's government remained in power, and the dispute over the Strait of Hormuz continued to obstruct a settlement.

In September, US and Iranian representatives explored a phased arrangement under which Iran would restore shipping access through the strait in exchange for Washington lifting its blockade and easing economic pressure. Trump rejected an Iranian proposal to reopen the waterway and restart peace talks, leaving the central disagreements unresolved.

The diplomatic impasse has persisted into October. On Oct. 22, Trump told reporters that Washington was not negotiating with Tehran and said that “something one way or another will happen, fairly soon.”

The prospect of renewed military action has also remained on the table. The New York Times reported that US and ‘Israeli’ military officials had drawn up plans for possible fresh strikes following the Nov. 3 US midterm elections. The report did not establish that Trump had approved a new campaign, and a White House official declined to comment on military plans that may or may not exist.

Read more: Trump claims Democrats want to raise Palestinian flag in Kansas

The Saudi-led coalition said air defense systems intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis toward the Saudi capital, Riyadh.

The interception comes amid a sharp escalation in Houthi attacks targeting Saudi Arabia in October 2026, with missiles and drones reportedly directed at Riyadh and other parts of the kingdom.

Recent incidents have heightened security concerns around the capital, airports and energy infrastructure, with Saudi authorities reporting interceptions of incoming projectiles and damage linked to falling debris. 

Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defense announced that the danger has passed in Riyadh, urging residents to continue following safety instructions and avoid gathering or filming the incident site.

The announcement follows an activation of the emergency warning platofrm earlier.

This comes amid escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, including a deadly Oct. 10 attack on Riyadh airport, which killed more than a dozen people.

Saudi Arabia’s National Early Warning Platform issued an alert in Riyadh on Friday, warning residents of a potential danger and urging them to follow the instructions provided by the authorities.

This comes amid escalating Houthi attacks on the kingdom.

• Yemen’s Houthi-run Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center reiterated its warning to airlines against using Saudi airports and airspace, exempting the airspace over Mecca and Medina.
• The center said the warning would remain in effect until what it described as the “aggression and blockade” against Yemen ends.
• It disclaimed responsibility for risks or consequences affecting aircraft, crews and passengers if airlines disregard the warning.

Yemen’s Houthi-run Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center has renewed its warning to airlines against using Saudi airports and airspace, threatening to disclaim responsibility for any consequences arising from non-compliance, according to a statement issued early Friday.

In the statement, the center urged airlines to take the warning seriously and avoid Saudi airports and airspace, with the exception of the airspace over Mecca and Medina.

The center said the warning would remain in effect until the end of what it described as the “aggression and blockade” against Yemen. It also disclaimed responsibility for any risks or consequences affecting aircraft, their crews or passengers if airlines ignored its warning.

The statement was issued under the slogan “Escalation for escalation,” signaling the Houthis’ stated intention to maintain pressure amid the ongoing dispute over Yemen.

The warning raises potential concerns for airlines operating routes through Saudi airspace, although the statement itself does not specify a date for the warning’s expiration beyond its stated conditions or detail particular measures that could be taken against non-compliant aircraft.

Read more: Yemen retracts tribal gathering warning as Saudi-led coalition rejects Houthi claims

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it intercepted and destroyed two drones launched by Yemen’s Houthis toward Saudi Arabia’s southern region.

This comes amid multiple Houthi drone and missile attacks on Saudi Arabia in recent days.

• Yemen’s Defense Minister Taher al-Aqili apologized for a Defense Ministry warning that tribal gatherings could be considered legitimate military targets, calling it “incorrect and unacceptable.”
• Al-Aqili said he had ordered an immediate investigation and stressed that Yemeni armed forces would not target tribal or civilian gatherings.
• He accused the Houthis of exploiting the erroneous statement to sow discord between Yemeni tribes and government forces.

Yemen’s Defense Minister Taher al-Aqili has apologized Thursday for a warning issued by the Defense Ministry that tribal gatherings could be considered legitimate military targets, describing the statement as “incorrect and unacceptable,” while the Saudi-led coalition has separately denied allegations that it threatened to target tribal and civilian gatherings.

In a statement published on Oct. 22, al-Aqili said he had ordered an immediate investigation into the ministry’s warning and apologized to Yemen’s tribes on behalf of himself and ministry personnel.

He stressed that Yemeni tribes were central to the government’s efforts to restore state authority, adding that the armed forces would not target any gathering, whether tribal or civilian, and reaffirming their commitment to international humanitarian law. He also accused the Houthis of exploiting the erroneous statement to sow discord between tribes and government forces.

Separately, the Saudi-led coalition’s Joint Forces Command rejected Houthi allegations that it had threatened to target Yemeni tribal and civilian gatherings. Coalition spokesperson Major General Turki Al-Maliki described the claims as “completely baseless,” accusing the Houthis of using them to mislead public opinion and draw tribal communities into armed conflict.

The coalition also emphasized the historical and social ties between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s tribes, reiterating its stated commitment to Yemen’s stability and security.

The statements follow a warning issued by Yemen’s Saudi-backed government on Oct. 22 that tribal rallies and other civilian gatherings in Houthi-controlled areas could be treated as “legitimate military targets.” The warning prompted backlash, with the subsequent apology acknowledging the statement as erroneous. The Houthis had condemned the warning, while the Saudi-led coalition separately rejected allegations that it had threatened to target tribal and civilian gatherings, accusing the movement of spreading misleading claims.

Read more: Saudi-led coalition releases footage of operation targeting alleged Houthi arms smuggling