Day 261 | Netanyahu says only unity government can guarantee ‘Israel's’ security

US President Donald Trump has told senior advisers in recent days that he may hold off on further attacks on Iran provided there are no new provocations from Tehran or the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, according to three people familiar with the matter cited by Reuters.

Trump has alternated between threats of escalation and signals of winding down the conflict, which the United States launched alongside ‘Israel’ in February.

Current and former officials say he has not settled on a clear path to resolve the unpopular war.

In meetings with national security advisers and after a series of intelligence briefings, however, he indicated he was considering restraint, the sources cited by the report said.

He has also shown sympathy for regional allies who have urged him not to return to full-scale fighting.

“I could end it immediately, but at the request of the nations that I am looking to protect, we are doing it a little bit longer way, a bit more civilly,” Trump told sports broadcaster Stephen A. Smith on Thursday.

In phone calls over the past two weeks, Trump sought views from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Both leaders pressed him not to resume attacks on Iran, according to a senior US official and another person familiar with the discussions.

Trump made no commitments either way.

On October 31 he had told the Saudi crown prince he planned a strike after the US midterm elections; the prince asked him to wait, arguing that economic sanctions were already producing results.

US intelligence assessments conclude that the naval blockade and sanctions are damaging Iran’s economy and that renewed strikes would not significantly alter Tehran’s negotiating demands, two officials said.

Briefings have also highlighted that some US precision munitions stockpiles have fallen to concerning levels.

A White House official stressed that Trump “is the architect and sole decision-maker” and that “only President Trump knows what he will do, and when.”

At the same time the US military remains prepared to escalate.

A third aircraft carrier is moving into the Middle East in the coming days to replace one of the two already operating there, though all three could remain if needed, according to people familiar with planning.

‘Israel’ continues to lobby for renewed strikes, while Iran has warned of an “immediate and decisive response” to any new attacks.

Tensions persist in the Strait of Hormuz, where Iranian forces recently claimed oil tankers struck naval mines after using unauthorized routes.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Sunday that it had targeted a US air defense radar installation at Bahrain's Al-Riffa Helicopter Base with six drones.

In a statement carried by Iranian media, the IRGC said the attack was part of the second phase of its response to what it described as "blatant aggression" by the US military.

The IRGC claimed the drones successfully struck their targets, with the impact heard in several parts of Bahrain.

It did not provide details of the extent of the damage or report any casualties.

The claim has not been independently verified.

Bahrain sounded its sirens two times on Sunday, with local media reporting that the country’s air defenses intercepted Iranian drones after the first siren was sounded. 

US previously denied similar Iranian claims

The latest announcement follows an earlier IRGC claim on Friday that it had destroyed a US early-warning radar system in Bahrain in retaliation for an alleged US airstrike on a telecommunications tower in Iran's Hormozgan province.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) rejected that claim, saying American forces had intercepted two Iranian one-way attack drones heading toward Bahrain. It reported no injuries or damage.

Strait of Hormuz tensions

The IRGC also reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, warning that further US actions would trigger a stronger response.

The waterway is a critical global energy shipping route and has been at the center of the conflict between Washington and Tehran, which began on February 28 with US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

Iran has sought to restrict maritime traffic through the strait, while Washington has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports and pursued operations to facilitate shipping through the waterway.

Neither the latest claimed six-drone strike nor the alleged damage to the radar installation has been independently confirmed.

Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior issued a second alert of a “potential threat” on Sunday, urging citizens and residents to remain calm, proceed to the nearest safe location.

After the first alert was issued earlier, Bahraini media reported that air defense systems had intercepted and destroyed Iranian drones over the kingdom.

No immediate reports of casualties or significant damage emerged.

An alert of potential threat. The Ministry of Interior urged citizens and residents to remain calm, proceed to the nearest safe location, and follow news through official channels for the protection of public safety. #Bahrain #MOI

— وزارة الداخلية - Ministry of Interior (@moi_bahrain) November 15, 2026

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said later that it had targeted a US air defense radar installation at Bahrain's Al-Riffa Helicopter Base with six drones.

In a statement carried by Iranian media, the IRGC said the attack was part of the second phase of its response to what it described as "blatant aggression" by the US military.

The IRGC claimed the drones successfully struck their targets and that the impact was heard in several parts of Bahrain. It did not provide details about the extent of the damage or report any casualties.

The claim has not been independently verified.

Yemen's Houthi forces claimed they shot down a Saudi-operated CH-4 armed reconnaissance drone over Al-Jawf province early Sunday.

In a statement, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the drone was carrying out what he described as "hostile activities" in the province's airspace when it was intercepted using an unspecified weapon.

Saree claimed the aircraft was the fifth drone shot down by Houthi forces since the start of the latest escalation.

The claim has not been independently verified, and Saudi authorities have not immediately commented on the reported incident.

The reported incident comes amid renewed fighting between the Houthis and forces aligned with Yemen's internationally recognized government, alongside escalating hostilities between the group and Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia has reported intercepting Houthi missiles and drones targeting areas of the kingdom in recent days.

On November 12, the Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted suspected Houthi drones over the Riyadh region and the Eastern Province, following Houthi claims of attacks on Saudi oil and military infrastructure.

The CH-4 is a Chinese-made armed reconnaissance drone capable of conducting surveillance and carrying out airstrikes.

The latest claim comes as fighting in Yemen has intensified, with the World Health Organization reporting that more than 320,000 people have been displaced by the conflict since August 1.

Bahraini newspaper Al-Ayam reported early Sunday that air defense systems in the country had intercepted and destroyed Iranian drones over Bahrain.

The newspaper published the report but did not provide further details about the incident, including the number of drones intercepted or whether any casualties or damage were reported.

منظومات الدفاع الجوي تعترض وتدمر طائرات مسيرة إيرانية في سماء مملكة البحرين https://t.co/3EqxtKzOb4

— ALAYAM - الأيام (@ALAYAM) November 15, 2026

Earlier, the Bahraini Interior of Ministry issued an alert and urged citizens to seek shelter, but did not add any more details.

The reported interceptions come amid continuing military tensions between Iran and the United States, which have increasingly affected Gulf countries.

On Friday, November 13, the US military's Central Command (CENTCOM) said it had intercepted and shot down two Iranian one-way attack drones heading toward Bahrain.

It reported no casualties or damage.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) separately claimed it had destroyed a US early-warning radar system in Bahrain, an assertion denied by the US military.

Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior issued an alert early Sunday of a potential threat, urging citizens and residents to remain calm, proceed to the nearest safe location, and follow news through official channels.

“An alert of potential threat. The Ministry of Interior urged citizens and residents to remain calm, proceed to the nearest safe location, and follow news through official channels for the protection of public safety,” the statement by the ministry said on X.

An alert of potential threat. The Ministry of Interior urged citizens and residents to remain calm, proceed to the nearest safe location, and follow news through official channels for the protection of public safety. #Bahrain #MOI

— وزارة الداخلية - Ministry of Interior (@moi_bahrain) November 15, 2026

The alert comes amid heightened regional tensions.

In recent days, the US military reported intercepting Iranian attack drones headed toward Bahrain, while Iranian forces claimed a strike on a US early-warning radar in the kingdom (a claim denied by US Central Command, which reported no damage or injuries).

No further details on the specific nature of the latest threat were immediately available from official sources.

The Saudi-led military coalition announced early Sunday that its air defenses intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched by Yemen’s Houthi movement toward the Saudi capital, Riyadh.

In a statement posted on X by coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki, the group said: “Air defenses intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched by the Houthi terrorist militia toward Riyadh.”

التحالف: الدفاع الجوي اعترض ودمر صاروخين باليستيين أطلقتهما الميليشيا الحوثية الإرهابية باتجاه الرياض. https://t.co/95NUYNoKlk

— المتحدث الرسمي باسم قوات التحالف (@CJFCSpox) November 15, 2026

No immediate details were provided on any debris, casualties, or damage on the ground.

The announcement comes amid a sustained period of cross-border attacks.

Since the resumption of intensified fighting earlier this year, the Houthis have repeatedly launched missiles and drones at targets in Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, energy infrastructure, and oil pipeline sites.

Saudi authorities have reported multiple successful interceptions in recent weeks, while also noting occasional damage from falling debris, including to an Aramco administrative building in Riyadh’s financial district earlier in November.

The Houthis, who control much of Yemen and are aligned with Iran, have claimed responsibility for many of the strikes.

The Saudi-led coalition, formed in 2015 to support Yemen’s internationally recognized government, has conducted operations against Houthi positions.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said Sunday morning two oil tankers exploded and caught fire after striking sea mines while attempting to cross the southern Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement, the IRGC Navy's public relations office said the vessels had switched off their navigation and automatic identification systems while attempting to secretly transit what it described as an unauthorized route.

The statement said the explosions occurred a short while before the announcement but provided no information about the tankers' identities, flags, crew members or the extent of the damage.

The IRGC Navy added that two other tankers attempting to cross the waterway covertly turned back toward the Persian Gulf after complying with warnings from its maritime traffic control center.

The announcement comes amid continued attacks and security incidents involving commercial vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman.

The waterway is a major international shipping route for oil and liquefied natural gas, making disruptions a significant concern for global energy markets.

Iranian forces have repeatedly reported tanker fires and explosions involving vessels they accuse of violating restrictions on maritime traffic through the strait.

‘Israel’ sees no immediate Iranian attack preparations but is updating strike plans and weighing the possibility of acting without US military support, according to a YNET report citing ‘Israeli’ security officials.

Despite a confidential International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report raising concern over the uninspected Isfahan Fuel Enrichment Plant—a facility Iran declared in June 2025 but has never allowed inspectors to examine—‘Israeli’ assessments find no signs that Tehran is preparing an imminent assault.

The IAEA report, obtained by Reuters and circulated ahead of a Board of Governors meeting, notes that inspectors still cannot confirm the plant’s precise location, safeguards status, or whether it holds nuclear material.

Iran has refused access to design plans.

Officials emphasize that the core worry is the lack of reliable monitoring of Iran’s remaining highly enriched uranium stockpile, estimated at about 450 kilograms, rather than confirmed new enrichment activity.

The report adds that the ‘Israeli’ military remains on high alert for possible renewed fighting.

“Military intelligence is updating potential targets, and the Air Force is reviewing lessons from previous operations, including Operation Roaring Lion, with a focus on sustaining air superiority in any extended campaign,” the report says.

‘Israeli’ officials stress that any decision to resume operations would require clearer political objectives, given that much of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure was not struck previously and that leadership change through air power alone would be difficult.

The United States has reinforced regional defenses without redeploying the long-range bomber force used in earlier operations.

Approximately 17 US warships, including two aircraft carriers (with the USS Theodore Roosevelt group expected), operate under Central Command, alongside roughly 200 fighter aircraft and a comparable aerial refueling fleet.

At least 16 American transport aircraft have landed at Ovda Air Base in southern ‘Israel’ since mid-October, and a Patriot system has been transferred to ‘Israel’.

These moves strengthen protection against possible retaliation but do not indicate a decision for another attack.

Iran has signaled expanded missile ambitions.

A Revolutionary Guard-affiliated outlet reported technical potential for ballistic missiles exceeding 2,000 kilometers—and potentially 3,000–4,000 kilometers with a lighter warhead on systems such as the Khorramshahr-4—reaching parts of Europe.

Officials also discussed longer-range concepts.

Revolutionary Guard spokesman Hossein Mohebbi said previous range restrictions had been lifted, following comments attributed to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei that responses to threats would face no geographical limits.

These claims remain unverified as operational capabilities.

‘Israeli’ caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly raised the possibility of confronting Iran and is expected to convene the security cabinet.

Mossad Director Roman Gofman has traveled to the United States for discussions on Tehran, another report by Axios added.

‘Israeli’ military Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir has reportedly expressed reservations about the timing of another offensive without American backing.

‘Israel’s’ preferred path remains coordinated action with Washington, but US President Donald Trump has so far shown reluctance for major new strikes while focusing on other priorities, including an upcoming trip involving China.

‘Israeli’ officials increasingly recognize that any renewed campaign may need to be conducted independently.

US Vice President JD Vance is seriously considering sitting out the 2028 presidential race after Republicans’ heavy losses in the November 3 midterm elections, according to people close to him cited by CNN.

CNN reported, citing roughly a dozen allies and advisers, that Vance has given serious consideration to forgoing a White House bid.

While he has not made a final decision or set a timeline, and some allies still view a run as more likely than not, those around him describe a vice president torn between political ambitions, a fracturing MAGA coalition, and the demands of fatherhood after the birth of a fourth child over the summer.

The midterms delivered a sweeping setback for Republicans, with Democrats flipping seven Senate seats—including Vance’s former seat in Ohio—and making major gains in the House.

Allies say the results have scrambled calculations about whether any Republican can win the presidency in 2028, particularly if the unpopular war with Iran continues.

One ally told CNN: “The question isn’t if JD can do it. It’s: If the Iran war is still happening, can any Republican do it? If they don’t end the war in Iran, no Republican has a shot at 2028.”

Another said: “I wouldn’t be surprised by any decision he makes. He’s only 42. He’s young enough that he can have a comeback should this environment make success impossible. It just may not be his time.”

The morning after the election, Vance posted a lengthy message on X blaming the war for the losses, writing that “the reason we lost is the war” and calling for a refocus on domestic priorities.

The post reportedly irritated President Donald Trump privately.

Trump later said publicly of Vance: “Maybe he won’t run. I don’t know who’s going to run.”

Terry Schilling, president of the American Principles Project and a Vance backer, said the field “has been blown open” and that there is no clear heir apparent, while adding he would be surprised if the vice president did not ultimately run.

Other potential contenders, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, have drawn early interest from some donors.

Vance had previously indicated he would reassess after the midterms and has said there is “a chance” he never runs, citing his young family.

Iranian state television has warned that modified versions of the Khorramshahr ballistic missile could reach American military installations in Europe, specifically naming RAF Fairford in Britain as a potential target.

The report, broadcast on Saturday by Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), stated that “the range of Iran’s missiles is not limited to what they have seen.”

It claimed that modifications to the Khorramshahr’s warhead could increase its range severalfold.

The Khorramshahr-4, unveiled in 2023, has a claimed range of 2,000 kilometers while carrying a 1,500-kilogram warhead; a lighter warhead could extend that distance, though independent verification of any such capability remains absent.

The broadcast reviewed missiles and drones Iran has used in conflicts with ‘Israel’ and the United States since June 2025 and presented the Khorramshahr as part of an arsenal able to threaten more distant American facilities.

Directed at Britain, it suggested that British air defenses were not necessarily more capable than Israel’s, which it claimed Iranian missiles had already penetrated.

The report referenced an order by Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on October 31 for armed forces to respond to attacks without geographical restrictions and to update target lists.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards had earlier indicated that the country’s longstanding self-imposed 2,000-kilometer limit on ballistic missile ranges had been lifted, without confirming deployment of longer-range systems.

Analysts note that reducing warhead weight on systems like the Khorramshahr could theoretically extend range toward parts of Europe, consistent with earlier Western assessments of lighter-payload variants reaching around 3,000 kilometers.

However, there is no independent confirmation that Iran currently fields a version capable of reliably striking RAF Fairford, a base that has hosted US bomber operations.

The warnings occur amid stalled diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.

Tehran has demanded an end to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports and sanctions relief before talks resume, while Washington continues economic pressure and has indicated it seeks a decisive outcome.

The IRIB report marks a more specific escalation by naming a particular British site linked to a purportedly extended-range Khorramshahr.

For coverage of the previous day, visit the link below.

Read more: Day 260 | US forces say responded to suspected drone activity over base in Britain