Shafaq News | Latest breaking news in Iraq and the world https://shafaq.com/en/en?rss=1 Shafaaq News Agency Fri, 16 Oct 2026 02:30:35 +0000 ar hourly 3 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Iran-reports-tanker-fire-amid-escalating-Hormuz-attacks https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Iran-reports-tanker-fire-amid-escalating-Hormuz-attacks Iran reports tanker fire amid escalating Hormuz attacks

Shafaq News- Tehran

Iran's Army said on Thursday that naval surveillance teams had spotted a burning oil tanker in a restricted area east of the Strait of Hormuz.

The cause of the fire remains unknown, and no attacker has been identified.

According to Sepah News, an outlet affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the vessel was discovered during a patrol. Iranian authorities said the tanker had disabled its tracking systems while attempting to cross the restricted area.

The announcement followed a similar incident on Wednesday, although it remained unclear whether the two accounts involved different tankers. The IRGC said a container ship had sunk after striking a naval mine while crossing the strait through what Tehran described as an unauthorized route.

The IRGC also said a supertanker had struck a mine in the strait's southern passage on Saturday, causing an explosion and a fire in its engine room.

Maritime security data released Wednesday indicated that at least 10 vessels had come under attack in or near the Strait of Hormuz since Sunday, the highest three-day total since the US-Israeli war against Iran began on February 28, 2026.

]]> Thu, 15 Oct 2026 17:37:01 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Israeli-gunfire-hits-Gaza-hospital-amid-renewed-strikes https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Israeli-gunfire-hits-Gaza-hospital-amid-renewed-strikes Israeli gunfire hits Gaza hospital amid renewed strikes

Shafaq News- Gaza

Israeli airstrikes and gunfirehit several areas across the Gaza Strip on Thursday, wounding several Palestiniansand damaging buildings, including facilities at Nasser Medical Complex in KhanYounis, according to Palestinian media.

Strikes targeted several areasof Gaza City, including a building near Al-Muttaqin Mosque, west of Yarmouk, atent behind the Al-Abbas police station, and areas around Al-Abbas Junction andAl-Barbari station on Al-Jalaa Street. Palestinian media reported three peoplewounded in a drone strike near Al-Abbas Center, while artillery shelled easternAl-Tuffah.

An airstrike hit a house inAl-Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza, sparking a fire, as Israeli militaryvehicles advanced near Wadi Gaza, close to Salah Al-Din Bridge.

Further south, Israelimilitary vehicles reportedly fired at the oncology and administration buildingsof Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, while quadcopter drones opened heavyfire around Rafah Garage and Al-Agha Street. A separate drone strike nearAl-Hilal Hospital in the Al-Amal neighborhood left one Palestinian criticallywounded.

Read more: Waiting to heal: A Gaza family trapped between war and recovery

The Gaza-run Health Ministryrecorded 1,505 deaths and 5,332 injuries since the Oct. 11, 2025, ceasefire,alongside the recovery of 838 bodies, bringing the toll since Oct. 7, 2023, to74,396 Palestinians killed and 175,449 wounded.

The Israeli military alsoclaimed responsibility for killing Basel Nabil Abdul Rahman Kashta and AhmadRaja Al-Shaer, accusing them of procuring, trading, and smuggling weapons andmilitary equipment into Gaza. The two, it alleged, facilitated arms transfersand posed “an immediate threat to Israeli civilians” and troops near the YellowLine, which marks Israeli army positions under the ceasefire arrangement. Itdid not disclose when or where they were killed.

The Euro-Mediterranean HumanRights Monitor, meanwhile, warned that Israeli allegations concerning Gaza’shospitals could serve as a pretext for further attacks on medical facilities,noting that since early October, the Israeli military has stepped up claimsthat Hamas uses hospitals for military purposes, publishing cartoons and imagesof weapons on its Arabic-language Facebook page.

It disputed one allegationinvolving two purported Hamas affiliates reportedly filmed leaving Kamal AdwanHospital, one allegedly carrying explosives toward Israeli forces near theYellow Line. The footage established neither the individuals’ location nor anyconnection to the hospital, while its poor quality prevented verification ofwhether the objects shown were explosives, according to Euro-Med, which said aseparate daytime image of a destroyed building provided no evidence of thealleged attack.

Such accusations couldundermine medical services even without direct strikes, it cautioned, byrestricting access for patients, ambulances, healthcare workers, and essentialsupplies or forcing hospitals to suspend operations.

The organization estimatedthat more than half of Gaza’s major hospitals had been destroyed or renderedinoperable during the war, with over 1,700 healthcare workers killed and morethan 330 detained, including 81 still in custody.

Stressing that hospitals areprotected under international humanitarian law and that treating woundedmembers of armed groups does not, in itself, remove that protection, Euro-Med said“deliberate attacks on hospitals constitute war crimes,” arguing that continuedthreats to Gaza’s already damaged healthcare system could “indicate the specificintent required for genocide” by depriving Palestinians of essential treatment.

The group called on the UnitedNations, World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and International Committeeof the Red Cross (ICRC) to independently investigate Israeli allegationsconcerning hospitals and publish their findings, while urging internationalaction to safeguard Gaza’s remaining medical facilities “before it’s too late.”

Read more: Gaza health system near collapse

]]> Thu, 15 Oct 2026 17:33:31 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Riyadh-airport-attacks-kill-17-over-five-days https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Riyadh-airport-attacks-kill-17-over-five-days Riyadh airport attacks kill 17 over five days

Shafaq News- Sanaa

Houthi attacks on King Khalid International Airport inRiyadh killed 17 people and wounded 333 between October 7 and 11, the Coalitionto Support Legitimacy in Yemen said on Thursday.

Coalition spokesman Turki Al-Malki called the attacks onSaudi airports a threat to regional security, accusing the Houthis ofattempting to target dozens of airports, oil facilities and ports across theKingdom. He said King Khalid International Airport had come under 20 attackssince October 1, including one involving 10 drones as well as missiles andother projectiles.

Coalition Strikes Houthi Sites

The Coalition said it had destroyed 127 Houthi storage sitesin mountainous areas and several launch platforms, adding that it targetedenergy facilities, storage sites and maritime berths, along with ballisticmissile depots in the mountains around Sanaa.

Attack on Maashiq Palace

Yemeni Information Minister Muammar Al-Eryani said PrimeMinister Shaya Al-Zindani and all cabinet members were safe after what hedescribed as a five-missile Houthi attack on Maashiq Presidential Palace in thesouthern city of Aden.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree confirmed an attack inAden, saying it targeted a Saudi military operations headquarters at MaashiqPalace. A military source cited by the Houthi-run Saba news agency also saidweapons depots were targeted.

Marib And Taiz Fighting

Yemen TV, affiliated with the internationally recognizedgovernment, reported that the Houthis fired several ballistic missiles at thedensely populated city of Marib.

It also said government forces repelled heavy Houthi attacksin Taiz and inflicted losses on the group.

Houthi-appointed acting Taiz Governor Ahmed Al-Masawiseparately called on armed men in the city to leave homes and facilities,offering safe passage with their personal weapons through the NajdQasim–Al-Turbah–Aden road or a peaceful settlement to avoid further fighting.

Competing Saudi-Houthi Claims

Saree separately denied that the Houthis had carried out anyattack toward Saudi territory on Thursday, rejecting a Saudi claim of an attacktargeting Medina.

He also claimed Saudi forces had carried out more than 2,350airstrikes and missile attacks since the latest escalation and more than274,302 air raids over the past 12 years.

The Houthi-run Al-Masirah channel reported two Saudiairstrikes on farms in Al-Marashi district of Al-Jawf, as well as artillery anddrone attacks on the Al-Sheikh area in the border district of Monabbih.

]]> Thu, 15 Oct 2026 16:41:55 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Hezbollah-demands-return-of-explosives-seized-in-Lebanon https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Hezbollah-demands-return-of-explosives-seized-in-Lebanon Hezbollah demands return of explosives seized in Lebanon

Shafaq News- Beirut

Hundreds of kilograms of explosives seized by Lebanese authorities last week belonged to Hezbollah and were intended exclusively for use against Israel, the group’s lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said on Thursday.

Speaking at the Lebanese parliament, Fadlallah said Hezbollah had immediately informed security and judicial authorities that the vehicle and its cargo belonged to the group. He rejected allegations that the explosives were intended for political assassinations in Lebanon and demanded the return of the seized materials and the release of two detainees.

Lebanese security forces intercepted the vehicle at the Dahr al-Baidar checkpoint while it was traveling from the Beqaa Valley toward Beirut, arresting two men.

On Oct. 12, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam pledged to expand the investigation to identify those involved and uncover their plans and objectives. Salam noted that C-4 had been used in past political assassinations in Lebanon and vowed firm action against the possession, transport, or use of weapons outside state authority.

]]> Thu, 15 Oct 2026 15:11:12 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Pezeshkian-Iran-faces-unprecedented-challenges https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Pezeshkian-Iran-faces-unprecedented-challenges Pezeshkian: Iran faces unprecedented challenges

Shafaq News- Tehran

Iran is facing its most severechallenges since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, President Masoud Pezeshkiansaid on Thursday, accusing the country’s adversaries of seeking todestabilize it through military attacks and disruptions to essential supplies.

Addressing a meeting of EastAzerbaijan Province’s Planning and Development Council via video link,Pezeshkian said Iran had not experienced such intense pressure in the 48 yearssince the revolution, arguing that the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah AliKhamenei and several senior military commanders and officials in jointUS-Israeli strikes on Tehran on Feb. 28 had failed to trigger the widespreadinstability anticipated by Iran’s adversaries.

Pezeshkian accused Iran’sopponents of attempting to block supply routes and restrict access to essentialgoods while targeting gas facilities, power plants, and factories to deepeneconomic hardship. “The enemy thought that these attacks would cause famine,”he said, crediting businesses, manufacturers, industrial workers, andgovernment officials with preventing broader disruptions.

He also praised Iran’s armedforces for their response to the attacks.

Iran remains under a US navalblockade, which Washington reinstated in July after a ceasefire reached in Junecollapsed the following month. By Oct. 9, US Central Command (CENTCOM) hadredirected 133 commercial vessels as part of its enforcement operations, whileshipping through the Strait of Hormuz remained sharply reduced.

The restrictions have alsoaffected Iranian oil exports. Energy analytics firm Vortexa reported on Tuesdaythat Iran’s seaborne crude shipments fell to zero in the second week ofSeptember and remained at that level through Oct. 5. Approximately 83 millionbarrels of Iranian crude were still aboard tankers, including 43 millionstranded west of the Strait of Hormuz, while liquefied petroleum gas exportsdropped 48% month-on-month to their lowest level since at least January 2023.

Maritime tensions have alsoescalated, with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warningshipping companies last week against complying with US instructions andthreatening vessels using routes Tehran considers unauthorized.

Security data released onWednesday showed that at least 10 vessels had come under attack in or near theStrait of Hormuz since Sunday, bringing the number of reported incidents in thefirst half of October to 23.

]]> Thu, 15 Oct 2026 12:52:12 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Riyadh-intercepts-missile-over-Medina-Houthis-deny-involvement https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Riyadh-intercepts-missile-over-Medina-Houthis-deny-involvement Riyadh intercepts missile over Medina, Houthis deny involvement

Shafaq News- Riyadh/ Sanaa

Saudi Arabia intercepted and destroyed a cruise missile overthe western Medina region, Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Malki, spokesperson for theSaudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen, said on Thursday.

No further details were provided about the missile's originor intended target.

In a statement, Yemen's Houthi group (Ansarallah) deniedlaunching an attack on Saudi territory, describing the claim as a "majorfalsehood."

Earlier, the group said a Saudi fighter jet had been struckby a surface-to-air missile over the northern Yemeni province of Saada,reporting a direct hit.

Yahya Saree, the Houthi military spokesperson, identifiedthe aircraft as a Saudi Typhoon fighter jet that had taken off from an airbasein Taif, western Saudi Arabia. Saudi authorities did not immediately comment onthe allegation.

Ansarallah also claimed on Wednesday that it had targetedKing Khalid International Airport in Riyadh with a ballistic missile.

Since October 5, five Saudi airports have come under Houthiattacks, leaving 20 people dead and hundreds injured, while causing propertydamage and disrupting air traffic.

The attacks come amid escalating military confrontationsbetween Saudi Arabia and the Houthis since July, including strikes on civilianaviation facilities and energy infrastructure in the kingdom.

Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition supporting Yemen'sinternationally recognized government against the Houthis since March 2015. Thegroup has controlled the capital, Sanaa, and several other provinces sinceSeptember 2014.

]]> Thu, 15 Oct 2026 10:45:00 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Syria-sentences-two-to-death-over-coastal-violence https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Syria-sentences-two-to-death-over-coastal-violence Syria sentences two to death over coastal violence

Shafaq News- Aleppo

Syria’s Military Criminal Court in Aleppo sentencedtwo defendants to death on Thursday over their involvement in the March 2025coastal violence, imposing prison terms on several others and acquitting two.

During the hearing, the court sentenced Al-WaddahIsmail and Maher Ali to death after convicting them of offenses involvingincitement to civil war and sectarian fighting, and leading armed groups formedto attack government forces. Maher Al-Othman received a 12-year prison term forparticipating in those offenses.

Mohammed Bakour, a member of the Defense Ministry’s82nd Division, was handed a 20-year sentence for intentional murder, whileAmmar Abdul Aal, of the 54th Division, received three years. Captain Shannanand Khaled Al-Muhaimid, also affiliated with the 54th Division, were eachsentenced to two years, while Mahmoud Shaheen received two months for causingbodily harm.

Abdul Raouf Bakr and Mohammed Louay Zarzouri wereacquitted.

The rulings followed an earlier round of verdicts inthe same case on Sept. 17, 2026, which included a death sentence, prison terms,and an acquittal.

Background To The Coastal Violence

The case stems from violence that erupted alongSyria’s coast in March 2025, when former-regime loyalists launched coordinatedattacks on army and security positions on March 6, killing 238 personnel,according to Syria’s National Commission for Investigation and Fact-Finding.

The commission documented 1,426 civilian deaths butattributed subsequent abuses against civilians to individuals and small groupsacting for different reasons, rather than an organized or systematic campaign.

A Reuters investigation, however, found thatgovernment-aligned forces and armed groups carried out mass killings inAlawite-populated areas between March 7 and 9, documenting nearly 1,500 deathsacross more than 40 locations and tracing chains of command toward seniorauthorities in Damascus.

A subsequent UN Commission of Inquiry concluded thatboth forces aligned with Syria’s new government and armed groups loyal to theformer Al-Assad government likely committed war crimes.

The civilian killings disproportionately affectedSyria’s Alawite community, the minority sect to which the Al-Assad familybelongs.

]]> Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:44:43 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Israeli-strikes-kill-five-in-Gaza-as-division-withdraws https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Israeli-strikes-kill-five-in-Gaza-as-division-withdraws Israeli strikes kill at least five in Gaza

Shafaq News- Gaza

Israeli attacks killed more than five Palestinians across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, including two in a strike on a vehicle in southern Gaza.

Earlier, an Israeli airstrike on a residential apartment in Gaza City's Al-Rimal neighborhood killed a woman and wounded others, while another Palestinian was shot dead by Israeli forces east of the city.

Separately, the Israeli military announced that its 99th Division had completed its mission in northern Gaza and withdrawn from the enclave after four months of operations east of the Yellow Line.

The military said its forces had destroyed above-ground and underground infrastructure and sought to prevent Hamas from rebuilding its military capabilities. It claimed to have destroyed around eight kilometers of tunnels, including a surveillance operations room.

According to the Israeli military, more than 100 militants were killed during the operations, including individuals involved in the October 7, 2023, attacks and others accused of holding Israeli hostages. The 162nd Division will continue operations in the area, it added.

Meanwhile, Gaza's Health Ministry reported on Wednesday that the overall Palestinian death toll since October 7, 2023, had reached 74,392, with 175,440 wounded.

The ministry said 1,501 Palestinians had been killed and 5,323 injured since the October 11, 2025, ceasefire, while another 838 bodies had been recovered.

]]> Wed, 14 Oct 2026 21:25:30 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/US-strikes-Iran-linked-vessel-as-attacks-on-Hormuz-shipping-rise https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/US-strikes-Iran-linked-vessel-as-attacks-on-Hormuz-shipping-rise US strikes Iran-linked vessel as Hormuz shipping attacks rise

Shafaq News- Washington/Tehran

The US military struck an Iran-linked dhow lastweek after it allegedly conducted surveillance and targeting operations againstUS Navy ships in the Gulf of Oman, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said onWednesday.

The incident occurred on October 6. The crew was safelyevacuated before the vessel was destroyed, and efforts are underway torepatriate its members.

Meanwhile, security data released on Wednesday showed thatat least 10 vessels had been attacked in or near the Strait of Hormuz since Sunday,the highest daily total since the war began on February 28, 2026.

A total of 23 attacks were recorded in the first half ofOctober, nearly double the monthly average of incidents reported since theconflict began.

According to security firm Vanguard, the InternationalMaritime Organization (IMO), and the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), fourvessels came under attack on Tuesday and six on Sunday which recorded the highestdaily total since the conflict began.

Maritime sources reported that two sailors were missing,while separate reports indicated that a container ship had sunk in the latestattacks.

The IMO said about 24 sailors had been killed in incidentsnear the Strait of Hormuz since the conflict began.

Iran began targeting commercial vessels transiting thestrategic waterway in March in response to US-Israeli strikes on Iranianterritory. It has continued attacking ships using routes it has not approved.

The attacks have disrupted shipping through the Strait ofHormuz, a major route for oil and other goods exported from Gulf countries.

]]> Wed, 14 Oct 2026 21:22:44 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Houthis-claim-missile-strike-on-Riyadh-airport-and-Saudi-forces https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Houthis-claim-missile-strike-on-Riyadh-airport-and-Saudi-forces Houthis claim missile strike on Riyadh airport and Saudi forces

Shafaq News- Riyadh

Yahya Saree, military spokesperson for Yemen’s Houthimovement (Ansarallah), said on Wednesday that the group had targeted King KhalidInternational Airport in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, with a ballisticmissile, claiming a “direct and accurate” hit.

Saree also said Houthis had struck Saudi military build-upsin the Ras al-Ara and Al-Mudharaba areas of Yemen with three ballistic missiles,claiming that the strikes caused a large number of casualties and damagedseveral military vehicles.

Earlier in the day, Saree announced attacks on King KhalidInternational Airport and two facilities belonging to Saudi oil giant Aramco,using ballistic and cruise missiles and drones.

On Tuesday, the Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen’sinternationally recognized government said it had intercepted and destroyed sixdrones and six missiles launched by the Houthis toward Saudi Arabia’s Easternand Southern regions, as well as Riyadh and Dhahran.

Since October 5, five Saudi airports have come under Houthiattacks, resulting in 20 deaths and hundreds of injuries, alongside propertydamage and disruptions to air traffic, according to the report.

The attacks come amid escalating military confrontationsbetween Saudi Arabia and the Houthis since July, including strikes targetingcivil aviation facilities and energy infrastructure in the kingdom.

Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition supporting Yemen’sinternationally recognized government against the Houthis since March 2015. Thegroup has controlled the capital, Sanaa, and several other provinces sinceSeptember 2014.

]]> Wed, 14 Oct 2026 20:09:47 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Katz-threatens-expanded-Israeli-occupation-of-Lebanon https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Katz-threatens-expanded-Israeli-occupation-of-Lebanon Katz threatens expanded Israeli occupation of Lebanon

Shafaq News- Beirut

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened on Wednesdayto launch an attack on Lebanon, seize additional territory, destroy Beirut’ssouthern suburbs and displace their residents if Hezbollah joins Iran in anyattack on Israel.

During a visit to occupied areas in southern Lebanon,accompanied by Israeli military Northern Command chief Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo,91st Division commander Brig. Gen. Yuval Gez, and several other militarycommanders, Katz said, “If Hezbollah joins Iran in an attack on us, areas in Nabatiehand along the Litani River will be lost and become part of Israel’s permanentsecurity zone.”

Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said Iranian ForeignMinister Abbas Araghchi stressed during a phone call with Lebanese PresidentJoseph Aoun the need to halt Israeli attacks on Lebanon, noting that Tehran“attaches great importance to this issue.”

Separately, Aoun stated that Lebanon remained committed tothe continued presence of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL),amid Israel’s occupation of villages and towns in southern Lebanon. He conveyed Lebanon’s position to Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UNunder-secretary-general for peace operations, citing the importance of UNIFIL’srole since the start of its mission. Aoun added that the “force’s withdrawal would create a vacuumwith negative implications for regional security and leave developments in thearea without international monitoring.”

The presidential statement said Aoun hoped the UN SecurityCouncil would respond to Lebanon’s request to maintain UNIFIL’s operationalmission for the coming year, particularly if Israeli forces withdraw to theinternationally recognized border and the Lebanese army deploys in the area. 

In Southern Lebanon, Israeli airstrikes targeted Nabatiehal-Fawqa, Toulouseh, and Wadi al-Hujair in southern Lebanon, local media said,without reporting casualties.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry recorded 4,386 deaths and 12,424injuries from Israeli attacks between March 2 and October 10.

]]> Wed, 14 Oct 2026 17:23:31 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Yemeni-government-claims-1-250-Houthis-neutralized https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Yemeni-government-claims-1-250-Houthis-neutralized Yemeni government claims 1,250 Houthis neutralized

Shafaq News- Sanaa/ Aden

Yemen’s internationally recognizedgovernment forces claimed on Wednesday to have “neutralized” around 1,250Houthi fighters and destroyed or damaged more than 460 military vehicles andpieces of equipment during Operation Dawn of Yemen, launched on October 5.

The military spokesperson reported2,309 attacks across several fronts using warplanes, drones, artillery, rocketlaunchers, and sniper units, targeting Houthi defensive positions, commandcenters, reinforcements, and supply routes. Government forces also reportedcontinuing airstrikes and ambushes against Houthi positions and reinforcementsin Taiz province.

Meanwhile, Yemen’s government-runSaba news agency reported that a woman was killed and her daughter and twosisters were wounded when a landmine allegedly planted by Houthi forcesexploded in a field in Bani Amer village, southern Taiz.

Houthi-affiliated Al-Masirahtelevision, separately, reported that Saudi fire wounded four people, includingtwo African migrants, in border districts of Saada province. The Houthi-runHealth Ministry said Saudi artillery shelling killed a man and wounded his wifein Taiz’s Hayfan district, while a Saudi airstrike killed a woman and woundedfour others in Al-Shamayatayn district.

In Saudi Arabia, Civil Defenseauthorities said falling debris from an intercepted ballistic missile injuredan Arab expatriate in Riyadh and caused limited damage to a house and vehicle.

Earlier today, Houthi forces claimed to have launched ballistic and cruise missiles anddrones at Saudi Aramco facilities in Dhahran and Riyadh and King KhalidInternational Airport, describing the operation as retaliation for Saudiattacks on Sanaa and other Houthi-controlled areas.

]]> Wed, 14 Oct 2026 16:27:35 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Houthis-claim-strikes-on-Saudi-oil-facilities-Riyadh-airport https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Houthis-claim-strikes-on-Saudi-oil-facilities-Riyadh-airport Houthis claim strikes on Saudi oil facilities, Riyadh airport

Shafaq News- Sanaa

Yemen’s Houthi forces claimed onWednesday to have launched ballistic and cruise missiles and drones at SaudiAramco facilities in Dhahran and Riyadh and King Khalid International Airportin the Saudi capital.

Houthi military spokesperson YahyaSaree claimed the strikes hit their targets accurately, causing destruction andfires. He described the operation as retaliation for Saudi attacks on Sanaa andother Houthi-controlled areas, alleging that Saudi Arabia had carried out 2,281air and missile attacks during the recent escalation.

Saree threatened further strikes onSaudi airports and oil facilities in the coming days, warning internationalshipping companies, civilians, and workers to stay away from and immediatelyevacuate the facilities identified as targets.

Separately, Saudi-led coalitionspokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki announced the interception of aballistic missile launched by the Houthis toward Riyadh, according to astatement carried by the Saudi Press Agency. The coalition statement did notaddress the Houthi claims of damage to Saudi oil facilities or report anycasualties.

Meanwhile, the Houthi-affiliatedAl-Masirah television channel reported that a woman was killed and four others,including a child, were wounded in an alleged Saudi airstrike on the Bani Amerarea in Taiz province. The channel also reported four Saudi airstrikes on Haribdistrict in Marib province.

]]> Wed, 14 Oct 2026 11:05:31 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Saudi-led-Coalition-steps-up-operations-in-Yemen https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Saudi-led-Coalition-steps-up-operations-in-Yemen Saudi-led Coalition steps up operations in Yemen

Shafaq News- Sanaa

New strikes hit Houthi-held areas across Yemen on Tuesday, while theSaudi-led coalition announced a targeted operation against the group in Sanaa.

Majed Abdullah Al-Nuzaili, spokesperson for Yemen’s internationallyrecognized armed forces, said forces taking part in Operation Fajr al-Yemen hadcarried out 2,200 strikes on the eastern and southern fronts. He claimed around1,200 Houthi fighters had been “neutralized” and more than 440 militaryvehicles and pieces of equipment destroyed or damaged. The figures could not beindependently verified.

Houthi-affiliated Saba news agency separately reported Saudi artillery fireon areas of Shada district in Saada province.

The group’s military spokesperson Yahya Saree said Saudi aircraft andmissiles carried out 104 strikes over the previous 24 hours across Sanaa,Dhamar, Taiz, Amran, Lahj, Al-Jawf, Marib, Saada and Hodeidah, putting thetotal number of Saudi air and missile strikes since the latest escalation beganat 2,281.

Houthi military media also issued evacuation warnings for locations it saidthe group’s forces intended to target.

The latest escalation follows a Houthi attack on King Khalid InternationalAirport in Riyadh that killed at least 13 people and injured more than 300.Saudi Arabia has so far largely provided air support for Yemeni forces fightingthe Houthis, without deploying ground forces on a large scale.

]]> Tue, 13 Oct 2026 17:00:22 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Iran-Navy-reports-tanker-fire-near-Hormuz https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Iran-Navy-reports-tanker-fire-near-Hormuz Iran Navy reports tanker fire near Hormuz

Shafaq News- Tehran

Iran’s Navy said on Tuesday it identified a damaged, burning oil tanker east of the Strait of Hormuz, alleging the vessel had switched off its tracking systems and attempted to cross a restricted area.

The Navy said it was continuously monitoring ship traffic and “enemy movements” east of the strait, in the Gulf of Oman, and the Arabian Sea. It urged vessels to comply with international law, keep their electronic systems operating, and coordinate with Iranian armed forces for safe passage.

On October 12, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said a supertanker had been hit and caught fire while attempting to leave the strait after allegedly disabling its navigation system and ignoring warnings. The Navy did not identify Tuesday’s tanker or say whether it was the same vessel.

IRGC Navy commander Ali Ozmaei had warned that vessels disabling their navigation and identification systems would be classified as hostile.

Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued four notices on October 12 concerning a tanker, a crude oil tanker, a petroleum products tanker, and a container ship struck by unidentified projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday. It also reported a drone attack on a tanker near Oman’s Sohar anchorage, where local authorities were assisting with the crew’s evacuation.

]]> Tue, 13 Oct 2026 17:00:04 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/385-families-begin-return-to-Syria-s-Ras-Al-Ain https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/385-families-begin-return-to-Syria-s-Ras-Al-Ain 385 families begin return to Syria’s Ras Al-Ain

Shafaq News- Al-Hasakah

A fifth convoy carrying 385 displaced families left camps in northeastern Syria’s Al-Hasakah province on Tuesday, heading for Ras Al-Ain (Serekaniye) and its countryside after years of displacement.

Mustafa Abdi, a member of Syria’s Parliament and the presidential team implementing an agreement* with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), told Shafaq News that two more convoys were scheduled to depart on October 14, with one expected to carry about 450 families to Ras Al-Ain, while the other will bring around 50 families originally from Al-Hasakah city back from Ras Al-Ain.

Several residents told Shafaq News they were optimistic about returning home and hoped to regain stability after years of displacement.

Read more: 500+ displaced families return to Syria’s Ras Al-Ain

The returns follow years of displacement caused by military operations in northeastern Syria, including the 2019 Turkish-led offensive around Ras Al-Ain.

*On January 30, Damascus and the SDF announced a ceasefire agreement providing for the phased integration of military and civilian institutions into Syrian state structures, security arrangements in northeastern Syria, and the return of displaced residents to their home areas.

]]> Tue, 13 Oct 2026 15:36:34 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Saudi-airstrike-hits-Yemen-Petroleum-Company-west-of-Sanaa https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Saudi-airstrike-hits-Yemen-Petroleum-Company-west-of-Sanaa Saudi airstrike hits Yemen Petroleum Company west of Sanaa

Shafaq News- Riyadh/ Sanaa

A Saudi airstrike hit the Yemen Petroleum Company inAl-Sabahah, west of Sanaa, on Tuesday, after the Saudi-led coalition andYemen’s Houthis exchanged threats over possible strikes, Houthi-affiliatedmedia reported.

The Coalition urged civilians to evacuate an oil companyfacility and a central station in Sanaa, prompting the Houthis to threatenretaliatory strikes against Saudi oil facilities and airports. 

Houthi movement’s spokesperson, YehyaSaree, warned that any Saudi strikes on Sanaa would be met with a “harsh andpainful” response in Riyadh, calling on experts, engineers, and other employeesat Saudi oil facilities to stay away from locations the group considerspotential targets.

Houthis also renewed warnings to airlines, airportpersonnel, and passengers regarding Saudi airports and airspace previouslyidentified by the movement.

The spokesperson said the group would target Aramco’sheadquarters in Dammam, King Khalid Airport in Riyadh, and an Aramco refineryin Riyadh if Saudi Arabia proceeded with strikes on the sites announced by thecoalition. 

Separately, the Saudi-led coalition said its air defenseshad intercepted and destroyed three drones north of Riyadh. Houthi-affiliatedAl-Masirah television reported two Saudi airstrikes on the Bani Mu'in andBakeel areas in the Razih border district. The reports could not beindependently verified.

]]> Tue, 13 Oct 2026 14:05:48 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Qatar-Emir-Dialogue-with-Iran-continues-despite-attacks https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Qatar-Emir-Dialogue-with-Iran-continues-despite-attacks Qatar Emir: Dialogue with Iran continues despite attacks

Shafaq News- Doha

Qatar remains committed to dialogue and peaceful solutions despite Iranian attacks on its territory but will defend its sovereignty and security, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said on Tuesday.

Addressing the Shura Council, Sheikh Tamim said the security of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states was “non-negotiable.” He also called for stronger protection of navigation in the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz and of energy, water, and civilian infrastructure.

Qatar has also condemned recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. In statements on October 9 and 10, the Foreign Ministry condemned Houthi attacks on King Khalid International Airport, including an attack that also targeted a Saudi Airlines aircraft, calling them threats to regional security, civilian safety, and air navigation. Doha said Saudi Arabia’s security was inseparable from Qatar’s and the GCC’s collective security.

Iran launched repeated missile and drone attacks on Qatar after the US-Israeli war with Iran began on February 28, including a March 18 missile attack that caused extensive damage at the Ras Laffan energy complex. Doha condemned the attacks as violations of its sovereignty while continuing to mediate between Tehran and Washington.

Houthi attacks on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport have killed at least 18 people over the past week and wounded more than 300, according to Saudi authorities, disrupting air travel.

Qatar’s strategy, Sheikh Tamim said, was to defend itself without being drawn into war, maintain essential services and energy flows, support efforts to reopen waterways, and pursue negotiations.

On Yemen, the Emir called for a comprehensive political settlement that preserves the country’s unity and territorial integrity.

]]> Tue, 13 Oct 2026 08:08:09 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Houthis-claim-fresh-strikes-on-Saudi-airport https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Houthis-claim-fresh-strikes-on-Saudi-airport Houthis claim fresh strikes on Saudi airport

Shafaq News- Sanaa

Yemen’s Houthi movement (Ansarallah) said on Monday that it had targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh with a ballistic missile and Khamis Mushait Air Base in southern Saudi Arabia with a drone, claiming both strikes hit their targets.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the missile struck the airport on Monday evening, while a separate drone operation directly hit the air base. He renewed the group’s warning to international airlines, aviation personnel, and travelers against using Saudi airports, describing them as unsafe. His warning excluded airports and airspace serving the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

A previous attack on the airport on October 10 killed 13 people and injured more than 300, according to Saudi authorities and a subsequent update from the Indian Embassy in Riyadh.

Separately, the Saudi-led Coalition said it had intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis toward Riyadh. Saudi Civil Defense issued a warning in the capital before later announcing that the threat had passed.

]]> Mon, 12 Oct 2026 20:47:45 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Iran-rejects-UK-accusation-over-Fairford-incident https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Iran-rejects-UK-accusation-over-Fairford-incident Tehran rejects UK accusation over RAF Fairford incident

Shafaq News- Tehran

Iran rejected on Monday a British accusation that Tehran wasbehind a security incident at RAF Fairford, a Royal Air Force base in southwestEngland, used by the US for bomber deployments.

Iran’s ForeignMinistry strongly condemned British officials’ claims of Iranian involvement inthe incident. “London and those who planned and carried out this fabricatedoperation bear responsibility for the consequences of these lies,” the ministrysaid, calling the British allegations a “vile conspiracy” aimed at advancingwhat it called an anti-Iran campaign.

Earlier today, 29countries, including Britain and the US, issued a joint statement backingLondon’s conclusion that Iran was involved in the Fairford incident.

The dispute followsthe US withdrawal of all 12 B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford. British PrimeMinister Andy Burnham claimed that there were “strong indications” that Iranplayed a role. Tehran deniedinvolvement and summoned British Ambassador Hugo Shorter over the allegations.

]]> Mon, 12 Oct 2026 19:42:59 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/IRGC-struck-oil-tanker-in-Strait-of-Hormuz https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/IRGC-struck-oil-tanker-in-Strait-of-Hormuz IRGC struck oil tanker in Strait of Hormuz

Shafaq News- Tehran

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said onMonday that it had struck an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, setting it onfire.

In a statement, the IRGC warned that it would take firmaction against commercial vessels and oil tankers cooperating with the USmilitary. “The tanker had turned off its navigation system and ignored ourwarnings.”

Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations(UKMTO), a British maritime security agency, reported an incident involving anoil tanker near the Sohar anchorage off Oman. The agency reported that thevessel had been struck by a drone and classified the incident as an attack. Ithas not been established whether the incident involved the tanker targeted bythe IRGC.

]]> Mon, 12 Oct 2026 16:11:00 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Al-Hasakah-Governor-Kurdish-Council-discuss-integration-and-living-conditions https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Al-Hasakah-Governor-Kurdish-Council-discuss-integration-and-living-conditions Al-Hasakah Governor, Kurdish Council discuss integration and living conditions

Shafaq News- Al-Hasakah

Al-Hasakah Governor Nour al-Din Ahmed met on Monday with adelegation from the Kurdish National Council in Syria, led by Mohammed Ismail,to discuss living conditions, the integration of service institutions, andsecurity in the province, a council source told Shafaq News.

Also attending were Syrian People's Assembly member FaslaYusuf, integration committee official Hassan Sharu, and members of thecouncil's presidential body, Suleiman Oso and Zahra Ahmed.

Earlier, thousands of demonstrators from across Al-Hasakahgathered in the city's central square, calling for the Syrian state to extendits authority across the province.

Kurdish political parties in Syria have urged calm followingrecent protests in Al-Hasakah, calling for dialogue among the region'scommunities and urging that public demands be addressed peacefully.

]]> Mon, 12 Oct 2026 14:06:05 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Gaza-deaths-mount-as-Israeli-raids-sweep-West-Bank https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Gaza-deaths-mount-as-Israeli-raids-sweep-West-Bank Gaza deaths mount as Israeli raids sweep West Bank

Shafaq News- Gaza/ Ramallah

Israeli attacks killed atleast two Palestinians and wounded several others across the Gaza Strip onMonday, just over a year after the October 2025 ceasefire, while Israeli forcesarrested more than 20 Palestinians during raids across the West Bank and EastJerusalem.

Palestinian media identifiedthe fatalities as two men aged 22 and 29, killed in a strike near MuawiyaMosque in Al-Mawasi, Rafah, which also injured three others.

Israeli military vehiclesadvanced into eastern Deir Al-Balah amid artillery shelling, while tankstargeted eastern Khan Younis and gunfire was reported near Al-Shujaiya in GazaCity, Hamad City in northern Khan Younis, and southern parts of the city.

Two Palestinians were woundedby Israeli fire east of Khan Younis and in Al-Bureij refugee camp. Israelinaval vessels also opened fire toward Al-Sudaniya beach in northwestern Gaza,with surveillance drones flying at low altitude over Khan Younis.

Read more: Waiting to heal: A Gaza family trappedbetween war and recovery

Overnight, an Israeli strikeon a phone-charging station in Khan Younis’ Al-Buraq neighborhood killed threePalestinians and wounded six others, according to Palestinian reports, whichsaid a seven-year-old boy died from injuries sustained the previous day inJabalia refugee camp.

In Al-Mawasi, a Palestinianwoman was shot in the back inside her tent, while Israeli forces demolishedhomes along Baghdad Street in Gaza City’s Al-Shujaiya neighborhood.

Residents of easternAl-Shujaiya feared further displacement after the Yellow Line, separatingIsraeli-controlled areas from the rest of Gaza, reportedly moved westward,bringing additional homes into the restricted zone. “I want to go live in thecemetery,” one Palestinian woman lamented, expressing her desperation over theloss of homes and shrinking space available to civilians.

The Gaza-run Health Ministryrecorded five deaths over the past 24 hours, including three Palestinianskilled in recent attacks and two who succumbed to earlier injuries, alongside18 wounded. The ministry put the toll since the Oct. 11, 2025, ceasefire at1,493 killed and 5,299 wounded, with 836 bodies recovered, bringing the overallfigures since Oct. 7, 2023, to 74,382 deaths and 175,416 injuries.

Palestinian media alsoreported the evacuation of five patients and their companions through the KaremAbu Salem/Kerem Shalom crossing.

On Sunday, Gaza’s GovernmentMedia Office documented 5,474 alleged Israeli ceasefire violations over theprevious year, including the detention of 203 Palestinians, and said that only74,855 of the 219,000 expected trucks carrying aid, commercial goods, and fuelhad entered the Strip, while 14,012 of a projected 36,800 travelers had crossedthrough Rafah.

Read more: When grief consumes the body: A Gaza mother's long war

West Bank Raids And OliveHarvest Attacks

Israeli forces detained 27Palestinians, including former prisoners, during overnight operations acrossthe West Bank and East Jerusalem, according to Palestinian media, which said thearrests included nine people in Tulkarm, six in Jenin, five in Al-Khalil, fourin Bethlehem, two in Nablus, and one in Al-Eizariya, east of Jerusalem. APalestinian was moderately wounded during a raid in Qabatiya, south of Jenin.

In Asira Al-Qibliya, south ofNablus, troops detained farmers and arrested a young man. A child was alsoreportedly taken into custody in Kafr Malik, northeast of Ramallah, whileformer detainee Muayyad Shobaki was arrested during the olive harvest in Qalqilya’sAl-Hasamis area.

Settlers disrupted harvestingin Yasuf, east of Salfit, allegedly stealing olives and agricultural equipmentand forcing farmers off their land. Similar incidents occurred in Deir Istiya,northwest of Salfit, Turmus Ayya, northeast of Ramallah, and Khirbet Aqawawisin Masafer Yatta, south of Al-Khalil.

Palestinian media also reportedthat settlers in Beit Ur Al-Tahta released livestock among olive trees,damaging farmland, and Israeli forces uprooted dozens of trees in Al-LubbanAl-Sharqiya, south of Nablus, and closed the village entrance.

Settlers accompanied byIsraeli soldiers also damaged a home and cattle farm in Kafr Malik, while anattack in Birin, near Al-Khalil, targeted residential property and electricityinfrastructure.

In Fuqu'a, east of Jenin,residents reported that Israeli forces had given farmers just one day toharvest olives near land allegedly seized by a settler who established a newoutpost. Defying the restrictions, a Palestinian woman sang to the trees, “Oh,our olive trees, bearers of our flag.”

Detention And DemolitionConcerns

The Palestinian Prisoners’Media Office said Israeli authorities extended the detention of journalistBushra Al-Tawil from Al-Bireh for another four months, the third suchextension. It alleged that Al-Tawil was dragged and struck on the head withmetal restraints in an unmonitored room at Ohalei Kedar Prison, leaving herwith swelling.

The organization also accusedIsraeli authorities of denying medical care to Palestinian detainees from Gazaat Ganot Prison, including those injured during a crackdown on Oct. 7.

In the Negev, Israeliauthorities demolished Khalid ibn Al-Walid Mosque in the unrecognized Bedouinvillage of Al-Dahiya and began razing homes belonging to the Abu Wadi familyafter a Beersheba court rejected a request to suspend the orders.

Approximately 60 homessheltering around 300 family members face demolition, Palestinian outlets said,noting that residents have rejected proposals to relocate to Rahat.

At Al-Aqsa Mosque inJerusalem, dozens of Israeli settlers entered the compound under policeprotection and performed religious rituals, including singing and dancing,according to the Islamic Waqf Department. An Israeli soldier reportedly joinedthem near the Dome of the Rock.

Humanitarian Situation

The head of the InternationalCommittee of the Red Cross delegation in Israel and the Occupied Territoriestold Al-Araby TV that Israeli authorities had barred the organization fromvisiting Palestinian detainees for three years. The official estimated thatapproximately 33,000 Palestinians remained displaced in the West Bank andwarned of worsening conditions in Gaza ahead of winter, citing drinking watershortages and approximately 8,000 bodies still buried beneath rubble.

The Palestinian Colonizationand Wall Resistance Commission documented 2,256 incidents across the West Bankin July, attributing 1,458 to Israeli forces and 798 to settlers. At least1,183 Palestinians, including 210 children, have been killed in the West Banksince October 2023, according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society recorded approximately 26,000 arrests acrossthe West Bank and East Jerusalem during the same period.

]]> Mon, 12 Oct 2026 13:16:28 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Drone-strikes-oil-tanker-off-Oman-coast https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Drone-strikes-oil-tanker-off-Oman-coast Drone strikes oil tanker off Oman coast

Shafaq News- Hormuz

An oil tanker was targeted by a drone near Sohar, Oman, early on Monday, theUnited Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said.

The agency did not identify the vessel or provide details on the extent ofthe damage or its condition following the attack. No casualties were reported.

Responsibility for the attack remains unclear.

Separately, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that atanker caught fire after striking a sea mine while attempting to cross theStrait of Hormuz along an unauthorized route.

The crew’s status, the extent of the damage, and the environmental impactremain unknown.

No link between the two incidents has been confirmed.

The IRGC has previously warned that shipping companies complying with USinstructions could face sanctions. It has also threatened to pursue vesselsusing routes Tehran considers unauthorized, including those beyond the maritimegateway.

]]> Mon, 12 Oct 2026 05:42:55 +0000 https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Houthis-claim-Saudi-airport-Aramco-strikes https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Houthis-claim-Saudi-airport-Aramco-strikes Houthis claim Saudi airport, Aramco strikes

Shafaq News- Sanaa

Yemen’s Houthis (Ansarallah) on Sunday claimed that they had carried out four operations using ballistic and cruise missiles and drones against two Saudi airports and two Aramco facilities over the previous 24 hours.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the operations targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh in three phases, Aramco facilities at Shedgum and Tanajib in the Eastern Province, and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. The strikes closed King Khalid airport, disrupted air traffic at King Fahd airport, and sparked fires at the two Aramco sites, he added.

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) confirmed that Saturday’s attack on King Khalid International Airport killed 12 people and injured 309. The Indian Embassy in Riyadh said on Sunday that one of the injured later died, raising the death toll to 13.

Coalition spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki also said an unidentified projectile struck Terminal 4 on Sunday, causing a fire, while air defenses intercepted and destroyed a cruise missile near the airport. Another projectile landed near King Fahd International Airport in Dammam.

Saree further claimed Houthi forces struck Saudi military concentrations in the Ras Al-Ara and Al-Saqiya areas of Lahj province with six ballistic missiles and two drones, killing or wounding dozens. Houthi forces also fired locally produced surface-to-air missiles at Saudi military aircraft, forcing them to “withdraw.”

The operations were retaliation for 124 Saudi airstrikes over the previous 24 hours on Sanaa, Taiz, Marib, Al-Jawf, Hajjah, Al-Hudaydah, and Saada, Saree said, with Saudi forces carrying out 2,058 airstrikes since the latest escalation began.

]]> Sun, 11 Oct 2026 17:49:04 +0000