Day 252 | Saudi intercepts Houthi missiles, White House divided over next steps

The Saudi-led Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen said that its air defense forces intercepted and destroyed a drone over the Riyadh region, according to a statement by coalition spokesperson Major General Turki Al-Maliki.

• Yemeni Armed Forces stated that approximately 387 Houthi fighters and commanders were "neutralized"
• Yemeni Forces announced a broad escalation in ground and aerial offensive operations under the "Dawn of Yemen" campaign Friday

Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Majed Abdullah Al-Nazili said that military units conducted 1,211 targeted strikes over recent hours. The attacks utilized combined combat assets, including fighter aircraft, unmanned aerial systems, field artillery, and multiple-launch rocket systems.

تواصل قواتنا المسلحة عملياتها القتالية ضمن عملية «فجر اليمن»، ونفذت خلال الساعات الماضية (1211) عملية استهداف ضد مواقع مليشيا الحوثي الإرهابية وتجمعاتها وتعزيزاتها وآلياتها ومصادر نيرانها، مستخدمة الطيران الحربي، والمسير، ومدفعية الميدان، والراجمات. ففي تعز، يواصل أبطال القوات المسلحة والمقاومة الشعبية خوض المعارك في جبهتي الشقب والأقروض، ولا سيما في صنمات والصراري، حيث استهدفت وحداتنا مواقع المليشيا وتحركاتها، وأجبرت مجاميع منها على التراجع، بإسناد من الطيران الحربي والمسير، فيما تستمر المواجهات في عدد من المحاور. وفي جبهة طور الباحة، تمكنت قواتنا من أبطال قوات درع الوطن والعمالقة، من السيطرة على عدد من المواقع، والتصدي لهجمات المليشيا ومحاولات تسللها. وفي جبهات مأرب، نفذت وحداتنا عمليات هجومية على مواقع في قطاعي رغوان ومحزام ماس، وواصلت استهداف تعزيزات المليشيا وتحصيناتها. وأسفرت عمليات الإستهداف على تحييد نحو (387) من قيادات المليشيا وعناصرها، وتدمير وإعطاب (96) وسيلة وآلية وعربة عسكرية، ومنصة إطلاق صواريخ. وتواصل قواتنا المسلحة أداء مهامها بعزيمة ثابتة، مع اتخاذ الاحتياطات الواجبة لحماية المدنيين والأعيان المدنية.

— الناطق الرسمي للقوات المسلحة اليمنية (@spokespersonyem) November 6, 2026

In Taiz Governorate, the military said joint armed forces and popular resistance units engaged in sustained combat along the Al-Shaqab and Al-Aqrudh axes, focusing on Sanamat and Al-Sarari.

Air support and drone sorties reportedly forced Houthi detachments to withdraw from several forward positions.

Further south, along the Tor Al-Baha front, that unified formations, including the Giants Brigades and Nation Shield forces, seized multiple tactical positions while repelling infiltration attempts and counter-offensives.

Meanwhile, in Marib Governorate, government units launched offensive assaults in the Raghwan and Mahzam Mas sectors, targeting Houthi fortifications and troop reinforcements.

Majed added that the operations resulted in the "neutralization" of roughly 387 Houthi fighters and field commanders, alongside the destruction or disabling of 96 military vehicles, transport assets, and missile launch platforms.

The statement concluded that government forces remain committed to their operational directives while maintaining standard precautions to protect civilian populations and infrastructure.

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi group said Friday that Saudi fighter jets and missile units conducted 67 strikes over the past 24 hours, alleging that civilian sites were targeted across five provinces.

Houthi military spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree stated that the strikes were reported across the governorates of Taiz, Lahij, Saada, Al-Jawf, and Marib. Saree alleged that the attack left dozens of civilians dead and wounded.

The aerial sorties were carried out by F-15 and Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft taking off from King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait and King Fahd Air Base in Taif, inside Saudi territory, Saree claimed, adding that the coordinated missile strikes were launched from the southern Saudi border region of Najran.

He noted that the latest operations bring the total number of Saudi air and missile strikes to 4,264 since the beginning of the ongoing escalation cycle.

• An investigation by The Wall Street Journal revealed that Yemen's Houthi movement runs an administrative channel via its Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (HOCC)
• Commercial operators attempting to avoid attacks are submitting formal declarations disclaiming links to 'Israel', the United States, the United Kingdom, or Saudi Arabia

An investigation by The Wall Street Journal stated that commercial shipping operators are utilizing an informal email application system operated by Yemen's Houthi movement to secure safe transit assurances through the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

The mechanism is administered through the Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (HOCC), an entity established by the Houthis in early 2024 to enforce maritime restrictions and process clearance applications from international shipping companies, as stated by the probe.

Under the procedure, vessel operators send formal declarations to a designated email address, disclaiming ownership, management, or crew links to 'Israel', the United States, or the United Kingdom, alongside detailed voyage itineraries and estimated arrival times at specific maritime waypoints.

The HOCC typically replies within 24 hours to signal whether a vessel is authorized for transit, directing crews to keep their Automatic Identification System (AIS) active and maintain watch on VHF Channel 16 during passage, Wall Street Journal adds.

The report adds that application traffic expanded after the Houthis declared a maritime embargo on Saudi ports and Saudi-linked shipping on Jul. 20, 2026, which was followed by reported strikes on tankers accused of violating the measure.

In one documented instance, the master of the Chinese container vessel Zhong Cheng Chang Ling (IMO: 1124310) certified that its owners, operators, and crew were Chinese nationals with no Western or Israeli ties, and affirmed adherence to the Saudi port restrictions, the probe adds.

The HOCC subsequently granted clearance, noting the vessel could safely navigate the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb, Gulf of Aden, and Arabian Sea. Following the exchange, the vessel updated its broadcast destination to "armed guard on board" and traversed the strait into the Indian Ocean without disruption.

Despite the adoption of the system by select carriers seeking risk mitigation, the arrangement carries sharp regulatory and legal risks.

The United States designates the Houthis as a foreign "terrorist" organization, and international maritime security bodies, flag administrations, and trade associations continue to advise vessels against registering with or communicating with the HOCC.

Maritime authorities said that the HOCC lacks legal standing under international maritime conventions, warning that correspondence with an armed non-state group risks breaching international sanctions frameworks.

Saudi Arabia rejected those allegations. In a public statement on social media platform X, Ambassador Dr. Rayed Krimly, Saudi Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy, dismissed the report's assertions regarding any official overtures: "I categorically deny the claims published by The Wall Street Journal regarding demands made by this militia," Krimly stated.

"All of this is pure fabrication by the writers or their alleged sources. These militias turned against the Yemeni government, caused famine among the Yemeni people, and dragged Yemen into conflicts and agendas that do not serve Yemen and its people"

I categorically deny the claims published by The Wall Street Journal regarding demands made by this militia. All of this is pure fabrication by the writers or their alleged sources. These militias turned against the Yemeni government, caused famine among the Yemeni people, and dragged Yemen into conflicts and agendas that do not serve Yemen and its people. They attacked commercial vessels in the Red Sea waterways, civilian and economic targets, and rejected all peace efforts. We also remind the writers that Yemen has a recognized government.

— AMB Dr. Rayed Krimly (@Rayedkrimly) November 5, 2026

• The blast is believed to have been caused by a missile strike
• Crew members brought a resulting fire under control without additional injuries, and no marine pollution was detected

A merchant sailor was killed following an explosion believed to have been triggered by a missile strike on an oil products tanker transiting the Arabian Gulf, the vessel’s operating firm said Friday.

The Marshall Islands-flagged tanker MT Velos Sapphire was sailing unladen toward Bahrain on Thursday when the blast occurred, according to a statement issued by Athens-based management company Velos Tankers.

"The company is greatly saddened to report the death of one of its seafarers, who was found fatally injured on board after having initially been reported missing in the aftermath of the explosion," the company stated.

No other crew members sustained injuries during the incident. Shipboard personnel managed to extinguish a blaze ignited by the blast, and company officials confirmed that no cargo spillage or marine environmental pollution occurred.

Following the strike, the tanker was escorted to Khalifa Bin Salman Port in Bahrain. An official maritime and security investigation has been launched to determine the precise origins and ordnance used in the attack, while marine engineers continue to inspect the extent of the damage sustained by the vessel's hull.

• Yemen's military's statement said the blast left dozens of civilians dead and wounded, characterizing the attack as a war crime
• The ministry urged the international community to designate the Houthi movement as a "terrorist organization" and cut off its weapons and financial supply chains

Yemen’s internationally recognized armed forces on Friday accused the Houthi movement of firing a ballistic missile into a crowded public market in southwestern Taiz Governorate, alleging the strike resulted in dozens of civilian casualties.

In a statement released by the Ministry of Defense and shared by the Yemeni Armed Forces' official spokesperson, authorities said the projectile struck Souq Al-Hadara in the Al-Wazi'iyah district. The ministry labeled the incident "a war crime that demands accountability for those who ordered and executed it".

The statement characterized the strike as part of an ongoing pattern in which Houthi fighters target civilian zones following front-line setbacks or unsuccessful missile tests.

https://t.co/THaYcSG0bt

— الناطق الرسمي للقوات المسلحة اليمنية (@spokespersonyem) November 6, 2026

It renewed calls for foreign governments and international bodies to designate the Houthis as a terrorist organization, halt arms flows, and sever their financing streams.

The military restated its determination to safeguard regional security and international maritime transit lines by proceeding with its "Dawn of Yemen" military campaign in line with international humanitarian law.

• Houthi military spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree claimed the strikes resulted in dozens of civilian casualties
• Saree warned that the attack would not pass without response and retribution

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi group accused the Saudi-led coalition on Friday of carrying out three airstrikes on a popular market in southwestern Yemen, alleging that the attack left dozens of civilians dead or wounded.

In a statement, Houthi military spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree said that a Royal Saudi Air Force F-15 fighter jet took off from King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait at 7:10 AM.

Saree said that the aircraft conducted three successive air raids targeting the Souq Al-Hadara in the Al-Wazi'iyah district of Taiz Governorate before departing provincial airspace at 8:00 AM to return to base.

The strikes reportedly resulted in "dozens of dead and wounded among civilians," Saree said, characterizing the incident as a "grave violation against non-combatants."

Concluding his remarks, the military spokesperson vowed that the strikes would trigger a military response, stating that "these brutal crimes will not pass without response and punishment."

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a phone call with his Emirati counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to discuss the latest regional developments.

The two ministers exchanged views on the situation in the region amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to preserve stability, according to a statement from Iran’s Foreign Ministry.

An Iranian lawmaker has warned that any renewed US or 'Israeli' attack on Iran could trigger missile strikes reaching Europe, according to Iran’s Tasnim news agency.

Hosseinali Haji Deligani, a member of parliament representing Shahin Shahr, said Iran’s response would be "massive, multiplied and strategic," with no geographical restrictions.

"The range of the responding missiles will also encompass Europe, and this will lead to the oil price crossing the $150 threshold," he told Tasnim.

Haji Deligani also described the US naval blockade of Iran as "a form of war," warning that Iranian forces would respond "at the appropriate moment."

US President Donald Trump said he would prefer not to destroy what remains of Iran but warned that he might be forced to do so, adding that his decision on Iran would become clear soon.

According to Axios, citing US officials, Trump and senior national security advisers met on Thursday to discuss Iran, as US Central Command remains on high alert for a possible resumption of military operations.

Meanwhile, Reuters quoted a senior Iranian official as saying that Tehran had sent a nuclear proposal through Qatar.

The official said Iran would only discuss the proposal after Washington meets Tehran’s seven demands, highlighting the ongoing diplomatic standoff despite preparations for a possible renewed confrontation.

Former Iranian Foreign Minister and adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Aliakbar Velayati said the region faces two possible paths: collective security or collective insecurity.

In a post on X, Velayati described Iran as a strategic link between the Persian Gulf, Central Asia, the Caucasus and the Sea of Oman, warning that energy and transit corridors seeking to bypass the country would become "too expensive or unstable."

He also argued that crises stretching from Gaza to the Red Sea and from Lebanon to Iraq demonstrate that regional security is interconnected.

"Either collective security is achieved, or everyone experiences collective insecurity," Velayati said.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said two oil tankers caught fire after striking naval mines, one east of the Strait of Hormuz and the other inside the strategic waterway.

The IRGC claimed the vessels had attempted to cross through an unauthorized shipping route with support from the US military.

It reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz remains closed and said the situation would not change until Washington meets Iran’s seven conditions.

The force also accused US Central Command of trying to force oil tankers through unauthorized, mine-contaminated routes, warning that such attempts would lead to further failures.

The Iranian army warned that any new attack or hostile action in the region would not lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, insisting that the United States must meet Tehran’s seven conditions to restore passage through the strategic waterway.

The army spokesperson said that if Iran comes under attack, its forces will target all tangible and intangible US assets "without geographical restrictions."

The spokesperson also said Iran’s Supreme Leader had stressed the importance of responding swiftly to any attack during a meeting with military commanders.

Russian President Vladimir Putin met Iran’s security chief Mohsen Rezaei in Moscow on Thursday to discuss regional security amid diplomatic efforts to end the US-'Israel' war on Iran.

During the meeting, Rezaei also handed Putin a letter from Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, according to Iranian state broadcaster Press TV.

• Rutte said neither Russia nor Ukraine is likely to win the war.
• He argued that a negotiated peace agreement involving concessions from both sides is ultimately inevitable.
• He said Iran's nuclear capabilities have become significantly weaker, although regional threats remain.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has said that neither Russia nor Ukraine is likely to emerge victorious from their ongoing war, arguing that the conflict will ultimately have to be resolved through negotiations and a peace agreement involving concessions from both sides.

In remarks reported by Bloomberg, Rutte said wars of this nature eventually end with the parties returning to the negotiating table and reaching a settlement based on mutual compromise.

He described diplomacy as the inevitable outcome of prolonged, draining conflicts, offering a pragmatic assessment of how the war in Europe is likely to conclude.

Rutte also addressed tensions in the Middle East and Iran's nuclear programme, saying that although Iranian threats and risks in the region have not entirely disappeared, Tehran's nuclear capabilities are now "much weaker" than they were previously.

His assessment comes amid recent military strikes and economic pressure targeting Iran and its nuclear-related infrastructure and programmes.

Read more: US strikes Iran as fears of renewed war grow

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for two hours on Thursday, delivering a message from Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei and discussing bilateral strategic cooperation, regional security and the ongoing conflict with the United States, according to Iranian state media.

During the meeting, Rezaei conveyed Khamenei’s message to Putin and stressed the need to strengthen relations between Tehran and Moscow, particularly by accelerating the implementation of major agreements between the two countries.

He described Iranian-Russian strategic cooperation as essential to maintaining regional stability and countering what Tehran considers unilateralism in international affairs.

A significant portion of the talks focused on developments in West Asia and the Persian Gulf, including recent US moves and threats against Iran.

Rezaei reiterated Tehran’s position that responses from Western parties to its demands had been unsatisfactory, insisting that Iran had clearly outlined its conditions and that opposing parties must explicitly meet them.

Putin, meanwhile, welcomed the Supreme Leader’s message and highlighted Iran’s important role in regional affairs, according to the Iranian account of the meeting.

The Russian president also pointed to shared positions between the two countries on several regional and international issues, reaffirming Moscow’s commitment to expanding ties with Tehran and calling for continued consultations between their political and security officials.

The meeting comes amid diplomatic efforts to end the war between Iran and the United States, with Moscow emerging as an important channel for Tehran's high-level diplomatic engagement.

Rezaei has previously said Iran would not resume negotiations with Washington or reopen the Strait of Hormuz until the United States meets seven conditions set by Tehran. Their specific terms have not been fully disclosed.

Iran submitted a proposal on its nuclear programme to the United States through Qatar, but Tehran will only discuss it after Washington meets seven demands set by Iran, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Thursday.

The official, speaking anonymously, said Washington was reviewing the proposal but declined to disclose its contents.

The development comes as diplomatic efforts to end the war between Iran and the United States intensify, with mediators seeking to prevent a renewed escalation after the US midterm elections. US President Donald Trump has declined to rule out resuming military operations following the vote, while Tehran has warned it would broaden its retaliation if hostilities resume.

Iran's senior security official Mohsen Rezaei reiterated Tehran's conditions on Thursday during a visit to Russia, saying Iran would neither reopen the Strait of Hormuz nor enter negotiations until Washington implements its seven demands.

Those demands include lifting US sanctions, releasing frozen Iranian assets and paying war reparations. Washington, meanwhile, has insisted that Iran's nuclear programme must be included in any initial negotiations.

US War Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington is committed to preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, describing the ongoing war as a “courageous and historic effort” under US President Donald Trump’s leadership.

“When we say that Iran will not have a nuclear weapon, we actually mean it,” Hegseth said, adding that the United States would undertake the “hard work” necessary to ensure that outcome.

He said the military campaign was intended to ensure that Iran “never gets a nuclear weapon,” reiterating the Trump administration’s stated objective of preventing Tehran from developing nuclear arms.

Hegseth made the remarks in a video statement posted on his scoial media accounts, defending the administration's military campaign against Iran, arguing that the operation was necessary to prevent Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons. He also called for continued investment in rebuilding the US military.

The comments come amid continued tensions between Washington and Tehran and repeated warnings from Trump and his administration that preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon remains a central objective of US policy. Moreover, the video statement was posted amid doubts about the future of Hegseth's job, as Republicans deal with the fallout from the US midterm elections.

• Trump threatened to destroy what remains of Iran, saying he would prefer not to but might have to.
• He said US forces remain “locked and loaded” for potential further military action.
• Trump praised Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth amid speculation over his future following Republican midterm losses.

US President Donald Trump threatened further destruction in Iran on Thursday, saying he would prefer not to devastate what remains of the country but could resort to additional military action if necessary, as Washington maintains pressure on Tehran amid uncertainty over the future of the conflict.

“I would rather not destroy the rest of the country if possible, but maybe I’ll have to,” Trump said, adding: “You will know soon enough.”

He also reiterated that the United States remains prepared to resume military operations, declaring that if Washington had to continue its campaign against Iran, US forces were “very much locked and loaded.”

The remarks signal that the possibility of renewed US strikes remains on the table despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to reach an agreement with Tehran.

Trump also praised Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, saying he had “done a fantastic job” as questions mount over his political future following Republican losses in the Nov.  3 midterm elections.

Hegseth has faced growing criticism over his role in the war, with some Republicans questioning the administration's handling of the conflict and whether the United States should have launched the campaign in the first place.

Trump's endorsement comes amid reports that the administration could consider replacing Hegseth as Republicans face mounting pressure to account for the electoral losses. Reuters reported that some Trump advisers had discussed the possibility of removing the defense secretary, although the Pentagon has said he remains committed to serving through the end of Trump's term. 

The election results have also intensified scrutiny of the war's political and economic costs. Vice President JD Vance acknowledged that the conflict contributed to the Republican defeat, saying the war was a reason voters turned against the party. Trump, however, has defended the decision to attack Iran and maintained that the campaign was justified. 

The latest threats come as diplomatic efforts continue to avert a return to large-scale fighting. Washington has maintained that it remains prepared to resume military operations, while Tehran has warned that any renewed US attack would provoke a forceful response.

Read more: Trump admits war on Iran responsible for election loss but ‘we had to do it’

• Turkey's parliament ratified the trilateral defense agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan on Wednesday, approving it by 279 votes to 119.
• Signed on Aug. 7, the Mecca pact stipulates that an armed attack against one member will be considered an attack against all three.
• Ratification clears the way for Ankara to determine the scope of potential military assistance to Riyadh, although any deployment is expected to prioritize training, advisory services and military equipment.

Turkey’s parliament ratified Wednesday a trilateral defense agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, paving the way for Ankara to determine the extent of potential military support for Riyadh amid renewed clashes with Yemen’s Houthis.

The agreement, known as the Mecca defense pact, was approved on Wednesday by 279 votes to 119, with 398 of the Turkish parliament’s 592 members participating in the vote. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling alliance holds a majority in the legislature.

The ratification was opposed by several opposition parties, including the Yeni Party and the pro-Kurdish DEM Party, which warned that the agreement could draw Turkey into regional conflicts while creating military obligations without clearly defined limits or adequate parliamentary oversight.

Signed by Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan on Aug. 7, the pact stipulates that an armed attack against any one of the three countries will be treated as an attack against all, establishing a framework for collective defense.

The parliamentary approval removes a key obstacle to potential Turkish military assistance to Saudi Arabia. However, any deployment is expected to focus primarily on military training, advisory support and the provision of equipment rather than sending a substantial number of Turkish troops.

Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler said on Oct. 23 that Ankara would determine the scope of its support following parliamentary ratification, emphasizing that the objective would be to reinforce Saudi Arabia's defensive capabilities and deter further attacks.

"We absolutely do not foresee entering into any conflict with the Houthis," Guler said, adding that Turkey's priority was to prevent further regional escalation and contribute to security and stability.

Renewed Houthi-Saudi escalation

The agreement has gained renewed significance amid escalating hostilities between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis since early October, including deadly missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi airports and energy infrastructure.

Saudi Arabia, which leads a military coalition that intervened in Yemen's civil war in 2015 in support of the internationally recognized government against the Houthis, launched a new offensive against the group on Oct. 4.

The escalation has accelerated efforts by Ankara, Riyadh and Islamabad to put their defense arrangement into practice. Senior officials from the three countries held emergency talks in Riyadh on Oct. 5, agreeing to take the necessary steps to make the previously agreed military forces and capabilities available for rapid deployment in Saudi Arabia.

Turkey's ratification marks a significant step in the implementation of the trilateral agreement, although the nature and extent of any Turkish military contribution remain to be determined.

Read more: Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey activate joint defense under Mecca Pact: statement