al jazeera

By Enes Abuomer and Leila Minkara

    US President Donald Trump has signalled possible further military action against Iran, saying the US has knocked the “hell out” of the country.

    Iran says seven oil tankers have sustained damage in the Strait of Hormuz in a single day, marking the highest daily toll since the US-Israel war with Tehran began.

    Israeli attacks across Gaza have killed four Palestinians, including a child, in the past 24 hours as rights groups warn of a potential famine due to severe supply restrictions.

    Yemenis in Taiz face severe food and water shortages after Houthi forces blocked a key supply route, with the UN warning that aid delivery has halted for about 800,000 residents.

UAE closes Umm Al Quwain beaches following tanker oil spill

    The UAE has temporarily closed all beaches and coastal areas in Umm Al Quwain after an oil spill from a tanker caused marine pollution.

    In a statement posted on X, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment said monitoring systems had detected the spill, which also caused unusual odours reported by residents in Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain.

    The ministry said the odours “pose no health risks to residents”.

    Specialised teams have begun containing the spill, cordoning off affected areas and carrying out cleanup operations in coordination with local and federal authorities.

    The ministry said the coastal closures would remain in place until technical teams completed their assessments and identified measures needed to protect public safety and the marine environment.

Israeli far-right minister Ben-Gvir outlines ambitions for Gaza and occupied West Bank

    Israeli far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has spoken to US media about his ambitions to extend Israel’s control over the Palestinian territories.

    Here are key remarks from his interview with Time magazine:

    We need to take away the weapons from the Palestinian Authority (PA). As of now, they are training in Jericho. They’re not training to direct traffic, are they They want to do another October 7.

    We want sovereignty in [the occupied West Bank], where we also want voluntary emigration.

    If Israel wants to continue to live and not be destroyed, we have to capture all of Gaza.

    We have to promote voluntary emigration. Gaza could be a Riviera. It’s a beautiful place. But we can’t have one Hamas member there.

    Gaza was always ours. Israel is a tiny country. We have to be wider, broader.

US State Department denies US–Turkiye proposal on Hezbollah

    US State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott has said there is no US–Turkiye proposal to disarm Hezbollah nor any US-backed proposals to “change the structure of Lebanese politics” as established by the Taif Agreement, which ended Lebanon’s 15-year civil war in 1990.

    In a post on X, Pigott reaffirmed the US commitment to the trilateral framework agreement “to end the cycle of conflict once and for all.”

    The agreement, signed in June between Lebanon, Israel, and the US, aims to restore Lebanese sovereignty, disarm Hezbollah, and secure Israel’s gradual withdrawal from Lebanon.

Houthi media reports air strikes on water corporation building in al-Jawf, northern Yemen

    Houthi-affiliated media is reporting that Yemeni forces launched two air strikes on a water corporation building in the al-Hazm district of al-Jawf governorate, northern Yemen.

Saudi Arabia issues, then lifts emergency alerts in Abha and Khamis Mushait

    Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence has said the danger has passed in the southern city of Abha and nearby Khamis Mushait after emergency warnings were issued in both locations.

    In separate posts on X, the agency announced the alerts through the National Early Warning Platform before issuing further notices declaring that the danger had passed.

Iran’s attacks on seven ships in Strait of Hormuz mark ‘major escalation’

By Mohamed Vall

Reporting from Tehran, Iran

    Seven ships in one night: three hit mines, and four were directly attacked by the IRGC.

    The Iranians see those ships as being linked to the United States and encouraged by Washington. This is a major escalation because it is likely the highest single-day count acknowledged by the IRGC.

    It comes amid new statements from the IRGC that there is a new doctrine regarding how to face what it calls American aggression against Iran.

    Under this doctrine, simply imposing a maritime blockade on Iran is considered an act of war. It is no longer a situation where Iran is waiting for an air attack from the United States or Israel.

    The IRGC is talking about retaliation even when ships are simply crossing, believing these crossings are encouraged, aided and abetted by the Americans.

    It remains to be seen whether it will fulfil these threats in the coming days as more ships attempt to cross the Strait of Hormuz.

    The Americans and Israelis, meanwhile, are talking about an imminent resumption of war, and that is being felt here in Iran. Iran is bracing for this, saying it has what it takes to respond.

US candidate calls for settlement sanctions after West Bank detention

    US Democratic congressional candidate Brad Lander says he witnessed “features of apartheid” while touring infrastructure in the occupied West Bank.

    “It’s long past time to stop the settlements and end the occupation,” Lander said in a post on X, one day after his release from Israeli military custody following his detention while picking olives with Palestinian farmers.

    He added that the US should replicate UK sanctions on illegal settlements by passing the “Stop the Settlements Act”.

    The bill proposes sanctions on individuals or entities involved in building illegal settlements in Palestinian territories and prohibits US imports of settlement goods.

Saudi Civil Defence issues, then lifts emergency warning in Najran

    Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence has issued an emergency alert in Najran Province, only to lift it minutes later as safety threats subsided.

    In a post on X, the agency urged residents to continue following instructions and to avoid gathering or filming at affected sites.

‘Total incompetence’: US senators hit out at Trump over cost and casualties of Iran war

    US Senators Elizabeth Warren and Chris Murphy criticise President Donald Trump over the US-Israel war on Iran in separate posts on X.

    Warren said at least 23 US service members have been killed and more than $45bn in “taxpayer dollars” has been spent during the war.

    “Nobody can seem to explain what this war has accomplished or when it will end,” Warren said, adding that the conflict is nearing the eight-month mark.

    Murphy condemned the administration’s strategy, writing that “Trump started a war with Iran with no workable plan to protect our troops, diplomats or billion dollar bases. Every citizen should be furious about this. Just total, utter incompetence.”

Italy warns against ‘all travel’ to Saudi Arabia over security risks

    Italy’s Foreign Ministry reiterates its warning against all travel to Saudi Arabia, citing a continued deterioration in the kingdom’s security situation.

    In an updated travel advisory issued on October 22, the ministry urged Italians to “postpone all travel to the kingdom” and “avoid using airports on Saudi territory”, recommending facilities in neighbouring countries instead.

    It also advised travellers to use alternatives to air transport for essential journeys within Saudi Arabia or across its borders.

    Italian citizens already in the kingdom were urged to “exercise the utmost caution” and follow instructions from local authorities, particularly to “shelter in place” during emergencies.

    The ministry warned citizens against approaching military and security installations, energy and transport infrastructure, or sites affected by military activity.

    It added that travel to the southern provinces of Jazan, Najran and Aseer remained “strongly discouraged”, particularly near the border with Yemen.

Saudi Arabia intercepts Houthi ballistic missile over Riyadh

    The spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition, Turki al-Maliki, says air defences have intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis towards Riyadh.

What’s happening in the occupied West Bank

    Israeli forces have carried out raids and arrests across the occupied West Bank, while settlers have attacked Palestinian farmers and disrupted the olive harvest.

    Here are some of Thursday’s developments, according to Palestinian news agency Wafa:

    Israeli forces have arrested at least 36 Palestinians across the occupied West Bank, including a former female prisoner, farmers and solidarity activists.

    Israeli settlers have assaulted two Palestinians harvesting olives near Marah Rabah, south of Bethlehem, while another farmer was injured in a pogrom in Jenin.

    Settlers have stolen 17 bags of olives and harvesting equipment near Yabad, west of Jenin, and seized olive crops from farmers in the Hebron area.

    Settlers have set fire to olive trees near Imatin, east of Qalqilya, and attacked farmers near Nablus, while Palestinian officials have documented 409 attacks on the olive harvest since October 1.

    Israeli forces have continued bulldozing Palestinian land east of Jenin to build a road linking two illegal Israeli settlements, while closing roads and checkpoints across several governorates.

Israel’s ‘Yellow Line’ seen as a ‘killing zone’ by Palestinians in Gaza

By Hani Mahmoud

Reporting from Gaza, Palestine

    One year into the “ceasefire”, Palestinians across the Gaza Strip have been left to face two harsh and persistent realities: the expansion of the “Yellow Line” and the ongoing attacks.

    The size of the Gaza Strip is getting smaller and smaller with each passing day, and this is because Israel is expanding what is called the “Yellow Line”. For the Israeli military, it is known as a buffer zone. For Palestinians, it is a killing zone.

    The “Yellow Line” is pushing more Palestinians into smaller spaces in the western part of the Gaza Strip. In northern areas such as Beit Hanoon and Beit Lahiya, people cannot go back to their homes.

    In the eastern part of Gaza City, two of the most densely populated neighbourhoods are now completely empty of their residents: Shujayea and Tuffah.

    The area that is under Israeli military control exceeds 60 percent of the Gaza Strip. Many of the public facilities, infrastructure and roads are left inaccessible, forcing people into smaller areas.

Saudi Arabia says danger has passed in Riyadh after alert

    Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence says the danger has passed in Riyadh after an emergency warning was issued earlier through the National Early Warning Platform.

    In a post on X, the agency urged residents to continue following instructions and to avoid gathering or filming at affected sites.

Israeli artillery targets several towns in south Lebanon

    Israeli artillery has shelled the outskirts of several southern Lebanese towns, according to the country’s National News Agency.

    The agency reported intermittent shelling near the towns of Mayfadoun and Zawtar ash-Sharqiyah in the Nabatieh district, as well as Baraachit and Wadi al-Salouqi further south near the Israeli border, following earlier strikes on Baraachit and Haddatha.

    NNA added that Israeli forces continued intensive sweeping operations in the town of Khiam, with no immediate reports of casualties.

Saudi Arabia issues emergency warning in Riyadh

    Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence says an alert has been issued through the National Early Warning Platform in Riyadh, warning residents of potential danger.

    In a post on X, the agency urged residents to follow emergency safety instructions.

Tehran criticises ‘Iran conflict’ framing of US-Israel war

    Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei says naming the US-Israel war the “Iran conflict” obscures responsibility as it “erases the aggressors from the frame and places the targeted country in the title”.

    In a post on X, Baghaei says war names can “shape narratives that serve the aggressors”, citing an American University analysis on how conflicts are framed.

    Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has threatened to attack US military bases across the Middle East if US warships continue escorting vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.

    The IRGC says it attacked four ships in the northern Gulf over alleged illegal oil transfers, while three others reportedly struck mines in the strait. Neither claim has been independently verified.

    The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency says at least 14 vessels were attacked between October 8 and 17, with shipping traffic remaining 70 percent below pre-war levels.

A recap of recent developments

    US President Donald Trump signals further attacks on Iran, telling reporters at the White House that the US has knocked the “hell out” of the country and may go further.

    US Central Command says “America’s steel wall naval blockade against Iran” has reached 100 days, declaring that the operation has halted all seaborne trade with the country.

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Trump has endorsed him as the leader best placed to “finish the job” in the war against Iran.

    An Iranian lawmaker calls on authorities to allow the use of nuclear weapons if the US launches further attacks on the country.

    Yemeni forces carry out 780 targeted operations against Houthi fighters in 24 hours as part of their “Dawn of Yemen” offensive, according to military media.

    Israeli strikes and gunfire across Gaza kill at least four Palestinians, according to local health officials.