US sends additional Patriot batteries to protect Saudi, Qatari energy sites: Axios

The US military has deployed two additional Patriot missile batteries to protect energy facilities in Saudi Arabia and Qatar amid preparations for possible renewed military operations against Iran, the Axios news site reported on Thursday, citing two US officials and a regional source.

One battery was sent to Saudi Arabia last month to protect a key oil facility, while another was deployed to Qatar to defend a natural gas facility, according to the report.

The deployments were intended to reassure both countries that Washington would protect their critical energy infrastructure if US President Donald Trump resumes major combat operations against Iran.

Trump said on Thursday that he was considering renewing a bombing campaign in the coming weeks.

“Now I have to make a decision: either Iran signs the deal, or it won't exist any longer,” he said.

Read: Trump vows to attack Iran 'very hard' if Tehran behind Flydubai flight incident

Axios reported that Saudi and Qatari leaders urged Trump in early August against launching a major attack that would include strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure, fearing retaliation against their oil and gas facilities.

US officials said those appeals were a key factor in his decision to pursue economic pressure instead.

The report said Washington would need Saudi permission to use the kingdom’s airspace for renewed major combat operations, but Riyadh would be unlikely to agree without assurances that its oil facilities were protected.

US Central Command spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins declined to comment.

Meanwhile, the US is sending additional warships, fighter jets and troops to the Middle East, Axios reported.

A US official said the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier and its strike group left San Diego on Sunday and were expected to reach the region around mid-November.

Officials have yet to determine whether the carrier will replace an existing deployment or increase the US presence to three carrier strike groups.

The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, carrying thousands of Marines from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, also departed for the region Monday and is expected to arrive by the end of November, the report said.

Houthis say Saudi Arabia launches strikes on Sanaa, 3 Yemeni provinces

The Yemeni Houthi group said Thursday that Saudi Arabia carried out airstrikes on the capital Sanaa and the provinces of Saada, Taiz and Amran.

The Houthi-run SABA news agency said warplanes allegedly belonging to Saudi Arabia targeted Sanaa and several locations across the three provinces.

The report provided no details on the sites targeted, casualties or damage.

Separately, Yemen’s military said 27 airstrikes targeted Houthi positions and gathering points in the southwestern province of Taiz.

Military spokesman Colonel Majid Abdullah al-Nuzaili said the strikes targeted a missile depot, command and control centres, supply and weapons sites, concentrations of Houthi fighters and military vehicles.

He said the strikes destroyed dozens of military vehicles and other assets and killed or wounded a number of Houthi fighters.

Brigadier General Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, earlier said on US social media platform X that air defences intercepted and destroyed drones and ballistic missiles launched toward the Saudi cities of Khamis Mushait and Jazan.

Al-Maliki also said the Houthis had targeted the Taiba power station in Saudi Arabia’s Medina with a drone two days earlier.

Iran urges Iraq to lift flight restrictions, restore normal air travel

Iran on Thursday called for restrictions on flights between Iran and Iraq to be lifted and for normal air travel between the two countries to resume.

In a statement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said Tehran, while respecting Iraq’s national sovereignty, called for “appropriate decisions” to lift the restrictions and restore normal operations by airlines of both countries.

The ministry accused the US of using sanctions and “economic terrorism” to disrupt Iran’s trade and air links with other countries.

It said restrictions on Iran-Iraq air travel run counter to the interests of both countries and have caused serious difficulties for hundreds of thousands of passengers, including pilgrims, patients, students and businesspeople.

The ministry said ties between Iran and Iraq are rooted in deep historical, religious, cultural and people-to-people connections, adding that transportation links should be managed through an “independent, responsible and forward-looking approach” based on their common interests.

Türkiye condemns Houthi attack on civilian infrastructure serving Prophet’s Mosque in Saudi Arabia

Türkiye on Thursday strongly condemned an attack by Yemen’s Houthi group on civilian infrastructure serving the Prophet’s Mosque in Saudi Arabia.

“We strongly condemn the Houthis’ attack on civilian infrastructure serving the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“These provocative attacks, which threaten Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and security and target the sacred values of the Islamic world, must end immediately and unconditionally,” it added.

The ministry also reiterated Türkiye’s support for Saudi Arabia and urged restraint amid regional tensions.

“We reiterate our strong support for Saudi Arabia and emphasise the need to avoid steps that would further escalate tensions in the region,” it said.

OIC, Arab states condemn drone attack on Saudi Arabia's Medina power station

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and several Arab countries on Thursday condemned a drone attack on a power station in Medina, Saudi Arabia, that the Saudi-led coalition attributed to the Houthis.

The statements from the organisation, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain followed a Saudi announcement that the Taiba electricity distribution station, which provides power to the Prophet's Mosque, had been targeted.

The organization's General Secretariat said it "strongly condemned and denounced" the attack.

It described the targeting of vital infrastructure and facilities in Medina as "a dangerous escalation and a blatant violation of the sanctity of holy sites," as well as international and humanitarian laws and norms.

The organisation affirmed its full solidarity with Saudi Arabia in measures taken to protect its territory, security and stability, defend Islamic holy sites and safeguard citizens and residents.

The UAE Foreign Ministry said the drone attack constituted "a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of Saudi Arabia and a threat to its security and stability."

It reiterated Abu Dhabi's full solidarity with the kingdom and support for measures aimed at safeguarding its security and stability.

Jordan also condemned the attack, saying it represented a "blatant violation" of Saudi sovereignty and threatened the kingdom's security, stability and territorial integrity.

It also described the attack as a violation of international law and the UN Charter.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Fuad Majali affirmed Jordan's "absolute solidarity" with Saudi Arabia and its support for measures taken to protect the kingdom, its institutions, citizens and residents.

Kuwait said the targeting of an electrical facility serving the Prophet's Mosque was part of what it described as repeated hostile attacks against civilian infrastructure.

"Such attacks constituted a violation of Saudi sovereignty, international law and international humanitarian law, while also provoking the feelings of Muslims worldwide and threatening the sanctity of Islamic holy sites," the Foreign Ministry said.

Kuwait reaffirmed its full solidarity with Saudi Arabia, saying the kingdom's security was inseparable from the security of Kuwait and other Gulf Cooperation Council states.

Bahrain condemned "continued attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis against Saudi Arabia."

Manama said it supports Saudi Arabia in measures taken to defend its sovereignty and security under its right to self-defence.

Bahrain also called on the UN Security Council to take a firm position against repeated Houthi attacks and ensure the implementation of relevant resolutions, including Resolution 2216 of 2015 and Resolution 2817 of 2026.

Saudi-led coalition says it intercepted 2 ballistic missiles, 4 drones over southern Saudi Arabia

The Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen’s government said on Thursday evening that it intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles and four drones over southern Saudi Arabia.

In a statement, the coalition said the two ballistic missiles were intercepted and destroyed over the cities of Khamis Mushait and Jazan.

Four drones were also intercepted and destroyed over Khamis Mushait, it added.

The coalition said its forces would continue “taking and implementing operational measures to deter the Houthi militia.”

It provided no further details about casualties or damage caused.

Tanker struck by unknown projectile in Strait of Hormuz catches fire: UK maritime agency

A tanker was struck by an unknown projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, causing a fire aboard the vessel, the UK Maritime Trade Operations said.

The organisation said it received a third-party report of the incident at 1750GMT.

The crew was reported safe, while the extent of damage to the tanker and any environmental impact remained unknown, it said.

Supertanker hit, catches fire near Oman in Strait of Hormuz: report

A supertanker with a capacity of 2.5 million barrels was hit Thursday in the Strait of Hormuz and caught fire, Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency reported.

The vessel was reportedly struck 8 kilometers (5 miles) off the coast of Oman while sailing on an “unauthorized route” through the waterway.

No details were available about the vessel, the cause of the incident, or possible casualties.