Anna Lena Stahl
Hospital: Israeli attack kills two people in Gaza Strip
According to hospital reports, two people were killed in an Israeli attack in the Gaza Strip. The Shifa Hospital announced on Tuesday that they were a man and a woman. The Israeli military said it had targeted a fighter from the militant Islamist group Hamas. Four people were killed in air strikes in the Gaza Strip on Monday.
The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip has counted more than 1,500 Palestinians as dead in Israeli attacks since the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel began just over a year ago. UN organizations and independent experts generally consider the numbers to be reliable. However, the Hamas-controlled ministry does not break down how many civilians and fighters are among the dead.
Henning Ott
Iran: Two tankers burn after being hit by mines near Strait of Hormuz
According to Iranian sources, two tankers hit mines south of the Strait of Hormuz and caught fire. The Revolutionary Guard Navy left it unclear in its statement carried by state media when the incidents occurred. In addition, a US drone was shot down by Iran during the night, the statement continues.
Anna Lena Stahl
Hegseth in Israel – conversation with Netanyahu about Iran
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth discussed Iran with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an unannounced visit to Israel. This is reported from Israeli government circles. The Pentagon declined to comment, and the Israeli Prime Minister's office did not immediately respond to a request. Tensions between the USA and Iran had recently increased. There are also parliamentary elections in Israel next week, for which US President Donald Trump has pledged his support to Netanyahu.
Henning Ott
Mass arrest of ultra-Orthodox conscientious objectors
According to media reports, around 40 strictly religious Jewish conscientious objectors were arrested at Tel Aviv airport after returning to Israel. The army broadcaster reported that the mass arrest took place after the men landed on a plane from New York. The ultra-Orthodox Chabad movement, to which they belonged, had announced a series of protests.
The Times of Israel newspaper reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the arrest of strict religious conscientious objectors as “harmful.” The leader of the right-wing conservative Likud party is dependent on the support of the strict religious parties in the parliamentary elections in a week.
The dispute over compulsory military service for strictly religious Jews has long been a source of intense tension in Israel. The army is pushing for their conscription in view of the ongoing shortage of combat soldiers, while ultra-Orthodox parties reject conscription for their religious community.
Lara Dehari
Saudi Arabia postpones investor conference due to attacks
The attacks by the Houthi militia in Saudi Arabia are putting a heavy burden on the kingdom's economy. The annual investor conference Future Investment Initiative (FII), which was scheduled to open in Riyadh in just under a week, has been postponed until next year. The decision was based on a “deep commitment to our partners, members, speakers and delegates,” said the chair of the conference, Maha bint Mishari, on X. A new date has not yet been set.
Lara Dehari
Iran reports shooting down of US combat drone
Iran has reported shooting down a combat drone amid new military tensions with the US. The MQ-9 Reaper drone was hit and destroyed over the Strait of Hormuz by a new and advanced anti-aircraft system, Tasnim news agency reported.
According to the Tasnim agency, Iran's armed forces have already destroyed more than 50 drones of this type since the outbreak of war. There was initially no confirmation of this from the US Army. As a rule, the information cannot be independently verified.
Sabrina Frangos
UN cuts food aid to 700,000 Palestinians
Due to a significant funding shortfall, the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) has cut food aid to 500,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and 200,000 in the West Bank. The acting head of the organization, Carl Skau, said this on Monday (local time). He called on the international community to provide $450 million so that aid could be expanded again for the next six months.
In the Gaza Strip, only 1.1 million people will receive food aid in October instead of 1.6 million previously. In the West Bank, the number of recipients halved from 400,000 to 200,000. According to Skau, 1.4 million people in the Gaza Strip remain affected by acute hunger or worse food insecurity. Around 200,000 needed immediate help to avoid starvation.
Julie Leduc
Media: Iran summons German ambassador
According to Iranian media reports, the German ambassador is summoned to the Islamic Republic's Foreign Ministry because of "baseless accusations." The Iranian representative in Berlin had previously been summoned to the Foreign Office. The assassination attempts on the President of the Central Council of Jews, Josef Schuster, and the President of the German-Israeli Society, Volker Beck, would have legal consequences, the German ministry explained on
Julie Leduc
Saudi Arabia postpones investor conference until 2027 due to Iran war
Saudi Arabia is moving its most important investor conference to next year because of the Iran war. The “Future Investment Initiative” (FII) was originally scheduled for October 26th to 29th. The organizers announced on Monday that an exact new date will be announced shortly. The aim was to ensure that the event offered “the full scope, exceptional quality and unforgettable impression” that participants expected, it said. According to the news portal Semafor, major banks and financial investors had internally expressed security concerns about traveling to the kingdom.
The state-sponsored conference, unofficially known as “Davos in the Desert,” is considered a must-attend event for the global financial elite. Saudi Arabia wants to attract billions in investments to make its economy more independent of oil. According to a draft program, the guest list for the tenth edition included the heads of Goldman Sachs, Standard Chartered and Citi. In recent weeks, however, the country has been increasingly targeted by Iran-backed Houthi rebels from Yemen. These attacked military and civilian targets, including the headquarters of the state oil company Aramco and the international airport in Riyadh. At least 18 people have been killed and hundreds injured this month.
Julie Leduc
Egypt postpones vote on military aid to Saudi Arabia in the fight against Houthis
Egypt's parliament has postponed a vote on military action to support Saudi Arabia in its conflict with Yemen's Houthi rebels. According to MPs, the lower house postponed a second non-public session to October 26th on Monday. The Egyptian Social Democratic Party instructed its MPs on Sunday to abstain from voting. The reason given was that there was not enough information about the objectives, duration, costs and risks of the operation. The party warned against an indefinite military commitment, citing the country's economic situation and possible threats to Red Sea shipping and Suez Canal revenues.
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi had asked parliament for approval to provide military support to the kingdom following recent attacks by the Houthis on Saudi infrastructure. Sisi said on Saturday that Egypt would take all necessary measures to protect its Gulf allies. According to the Egyptian constitution, sending armed forces to combat missions abroad requires a two-thirds majority in parliament and consultation with the National Defense Council.
Laura Thalmeyer
Laura Thalmeyer
US calls for release of embassy staff in Yemen
The US State Department on Monday called for the “immediate and unconditional release” of Yemeni employees at the embassy in the capital Sanaa. The occasion was the fifth anniversary of the arrest of 20 Yemeni employees of the US mission by the Houthi militia.
The embassy had already ceased operations in 2015 after the Houthis captured Sanaa and ousted the elected government, but local staff continued to provide security and basic maintenance at the facility until the Iranian-backed militia seized it.
Henning Ott
Lavrov in Tehran: Iran hopes for diplomacy
In view of the military tensions between Tehran and Washington, Iran is hoping for a diplomatic way out. “The common view of Iran, Russia and many other countries is that the region's problems have no military solution and must be addressed through diplomacy and political solutions,” Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said at a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in the Iranian capital.
Previously, delegations from both countries met to discuss the implementation of bilateral agreements and consultations on regional developments. A meeting between Lavrov and Iranian President Massoud Peseschkian was also planned for the evening (local time). According to a translation, the Russian Foreign Minister spoke of “productive, open and sincere negotiations.” Russia wants to remain true to its commitments within the framework of bilateral cooperation.
Laura Thalmeyer
Riyadh further restricts air traffic after Houthi attacks
Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh remains only accessible by air to a limited extent due to ongoing attacks by the Houthi rebels. King Khalid International Airport requires prior approval for every landing and departure. In addition, the airport is not available as an alternative airport in an emergency. According to Bloomberg, attacks in recent weeks have damaged buildings and destroyed at least one plane. A date for the resumption of regular operations has not yet been set. Several airlines have already suspended or reduced their connections. Qatar Airways canceled flights to Riyadh until October 24 and reduced service to Jeddah. Etihad Airways and the Indian airlines Akasa Air and Air India also temporarily suspended connections.
The restrictions hit Saudi Arabia shortly before the Future Investment Initiative (FII) investment conference, to which Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is expecting international guests in Riyadh next week. Organizers are considering contingency plans, including a hybrid event format, according to Bloomberg. The background is the escalating fighting between the Saudi-led forces and the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. In early October, the Saudi-led military alliance launched a comprehensive offensive against the militia. The fighting continued over the weekend; There were several air alert warnings in Riyadh and deaths were also reported near the Yemeni border.
Laura Thalmeyer
Lavrov arrived in Tehran for talks
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Tehran amid ongoing military tensions between the US and Iran. The talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and President Massoud Peseschkian will focus on bilateral agreements, regional developments and joint logistics and energy projects. Consultations on the situation in the Persian Gulf and possible ways out of the international crisis are also planned. Moscow blames the “unlawful aggression of the USA and Israel against Iran”.
The Iranian leadership fears a new military escalation and recently expected a possible attack by the USA or Israel. US President Donald Trump declared at the beginning of October that he did not want to attack Iran before the congressional elections on November 3rd. Tehran sees Russia as an important ally and hopes for military support in the war. However, Moscow's options are limited by the war in Ukraine. In early 2025, Russia and Iran concluded a strategic partnership agreement that is intended to deepen military and economic cooperation for 20 years. It does not contain an assistance clause in the event of war.
Henning Ott
Dozens dead and injured in Houthi attack in Yemen
Dozens of soldiers from the internationally recognized government were killed or injured in a rocket attack by the Houthi militia in Yemen. More than 53 soldiers were killed or injured. The provincial government said another 200 recruits were injured. However, there was initially uncertainty about the exact number of victims.
An army spokesman said the Houthis had attacked a training camp for police and security forces in the southern province of Shabwa with three rockets. The Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for the attack and said the attack was aimed at Saudi troops in the area.
“The attacks will not stop the state from protecting citizens and restoring state institutions,” Rashad al-Alimi, chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, told Saba news agency. Videos circulating on social media appear to show scenes after the attack.
Henning Ott
Foreign Office summons Iranian ambassador
The Foreign Office has summoned the Iranian ambassador in Berlin, Majid Nili Ahmadabadi. The background is Iranian assassination plans against Jewish representatives in Germany. Attacks on Jewish life and those who defend it will not be tolerated, the ministry announced on Platform X on Monday. The assassination attempts on the President of the Central Council of Jews, Josef Schuster, and the President of the German-Israeli Society, Volker Beck, would have legal consequences
