+++ Iran War +++: USA warns US airlines against flights to Saudi Arabia

Numerous flights in Riyadh canceled again after attacks

The attacks and threats by the Yemeni Houthi militia against Saudi Arabia are also affecting air traffic in Riyadh this Monday. About 60 percent of scheduled flights at the Saudi capital's airport are expected to be canceled, according to data from aviation analysis firm Cirium. On Sunday, 99.7 percent of all connections at King Khalid International Airport were canceled. At the weekend, a total of 14 people were killed and hundreds were injured in two attacks on the airport.

Türkiye, Pakistan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia condemn Houthi attacks on airports

Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia condemn attacks by Iran-backed Yemeni Houthi rebels on Riyadh International Airport. In a joint statement, the group of states (R4) described the attacks as a dangerous escalation and assured Saudi Arabia of their solidarity. “The group holds the Houthi militia fully responsible for the consequences of these attacks and any related impacts that threaten regional and international peace and security, and calls for their immediate and unconditional cessation,” it said.

Agency: Saudi Arabia and Iran discuss reducing tensions

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are discussing the recent escalation of the regional conflict and efforts to reduce tensions, according to an agency report. This is reported by the state-run Saudi news agency. It is the first publicly known contact between the two politicians since Yemen's Iran-allied Houthi rebels intensified their attacks on the kingdom. The government in Tehran is ready to support a dialogue between Saudi Arabia and Yemen, the Iranian Foreign Minister said on Telegram.

USA warns US airlines against flights to Saudi Arabia

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is urging American airlines to exercise caution when flying to or via Saudi Arabia. The reason for this is security risks caused by ongoing military activities and disruptions to navigation systems, the authority said. The warning, which runs until December 10, follows recent attacks on Riyadh's international airport. “Threats could pose a potential risk to aircraft at all altitudes,” the FAA states. The US airline Delta Air Lines actually wanted to offer direct flights to Riyadh from October 23rd. However, Delta boss Ed Bastian recently stated that safety would decide whether flights would begin.

Saudi Arabia reports attack on Dammam airport

Saudi Arabia has reported an attack on the international airport in the Gulf city of Dammam. The authorities initially did not provide any further information. At least one flight was diverted from King Fahd Airport, according to flight data service Flightradar24. The report came a few hours after another attack on King Khalid International Airport in the capital Riyadh. According to the Saudi-led military coalition, a bullet hit a passenger terminal there. According to the authorities, there were injuries. Further details were initially not known.

BP cancels conference in Riyadh after airport attack

The British energy company BP is canceling its participation in the World Petroleum Congress in the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh. The background is a rocket attack on the international airport there with numerous deaths and injuries. The company said it was unable to be there in person due to the disruption to air traffic. According to a report in the Financial Times, the heads of ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies and Shell are also withdrawing from the conference.

USA: 21 deaths in the Iran war

The number of US soldiers who died in connection with the Iran war has risen to 21, according to the Pentagon. However, the two new deaths were not soldiers who died in combat, a government official told the German Press Agency. One person died by suicide, another without enemy influence. Details about the circumstances of the deaths were initially not known.

According to leading Democrats in the US House of Representatives, the subsequent recording is a correction that came about under pressure from Congress. “There is no excuse for a mistake of this magnitude,” said a statement from the Armed Services Committee’s ranking Democrat, Adam Smith, and Rep. Chrissy Houlahan.

Apparently new attacks on airports in Riyadh and Sanaa

After the devastating attack on Riyadh's international airport, the Houthi rebels apparently continue to set their sights on the airport. The Saudi-backed coalition in Yemen says an “unidentified projectile” was targeted at Terminal 4 at Riyadh International Airport. Further details are not currently known. At the same time, Saudi Arabia is said to have launched a counterattack in Yemen: Al-Masirah TV, a channel run by the Houthi rebels, reports an attack on Sanaa's international airport. There is currently no statement from Saudi Arabia.

Israeli Defense Minister Katz threatens to kill Hamas leader al-Haja

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz threatens to kill the head of the Islamist Hamas, Chalil al-Haja. Katz said on Platform He would be “sent to the depths of hell” to join his comrades.

In the same post, Katz posted a photo showing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with al-Haja. Katz accused Erdogan of continuing to roll out the red carpet for Hamas' murderers and supporting their terrorist activities.

Houthi rebels renew warning for air traffic in Saudi Arabia

After the attack on Riyadh's international airport with twelve deaths, the Yemeni Houthi militia reiterates its warning against using Saudi Arabian airports. Airlines, airport employees and travelers should take the warning seriously, the group said. Saudi Arabia bears responsibility for failed interception maneuvers.

US military attacks ship again after leaving Iran

The US military says it has again attacked a civilian cargo ship after it left an Iranian port. A US fighter jet hit the Panamanian-flagged cargo ship “M/V Ocean Molica” in the stern in the Gulf of Oman and disabled its propulsion, said Centcom, the US command responsible for the region. The crew of the ship was not harmed, it was said.

The freighter ignored repeated warnings and tried to break the existing naval blockade against Iran, it said. The ship was attempting to transit regional waters after leaving an Iranian port, Centcom said.

US military disables cargo ship in Gulf of Oman

The US military disables a cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman that is said to have tried to break through a naval blockade against Iran. A US fighter jet hit the stern of the Panama-flagged ship with precision ammunition and disabled the engine, US Central Command (Centcom) said. The crew was not harmed.

Authority: Tanker attacked again in Strait of Hormuz

Another tanker was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz. According to the captain, the ship was hit by an “unknown projectile,” reported the British Maritime Safety Authority (UKMTO). A fire broke out, but the crew was said to be safe. The extent of the damage is still unclear, it said. It is also still uncertain who was responsible for the attack.

Since the start of the Iran War at the end of February, Iran has blocked traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, which is important for global energy trade, with threats and attacks on ships. There has recently been regular shelling again in the strait, which is only 35 to 40 kilometers wide at its narrowest point. Iran's Revolutionary Guards announced on Friday that they had attacked a liquid gas tanker on a route near the Omani coast.

Saudi Arabia: Twelve dead in attack on Riyadh airport

At least twelve people were killed and more than 300 injured in an attack on the international airport in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Saturday. Saudi authorities attributed the attack to Iran-backed Houthi rebels. It was the third and most serious attack on the airport so far this week. The Saudi Civil Aviation Authority said the dead included four Saudis and citizens from the United States, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan, Egypt and Bangladesh.

Saudi Arabia: Attack on Riyadh airport

Operations at the main airport in the Saudi capital Riyadh have been temporarily suspended following an attack on Saturday. The state aviation authority said several people were injured in the attack at King Khalid Airport. She spoke of a continuation of ongoing attacks on the oil-rich monarchy's aviation facilities. She did not provide any specific information.

Yemen's Iran-allied Houthi militia has recently increased its attacks on neighboring Saudi Arabia and has previously claimed responsibility for attacks on Riyadh airport and other facilities on Saudi territory. There was initially no statement of responsibility from the rebel group for Saturday's attack.

Saudi Arabia confirms: Injured in attack on Riyadh airport

The Saudi Arabian Civil Aviation Authority confirms that King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh has been the target of an attack. According to the authorities, there were injuries in the incident. Flight operations have been temporarily suspended.

US Embassy in Saudi Arabia: Attacks on airport in Riyadh

The US Embassy in Saudi Arabia speaks of attacks on the King Khalid International Airport in the capital Riyadh. The mission is urging U.S. citizens to avoid King Khalid International Airport and its surrounding areas.

Riyadh airport again targeted by attacks

The airport in the Saudi capital Riyadh has been attacked again, according to two regional representatives. According to one of the representatives, the airport was evacuated on Saturday. The other reported that air traffic had been suspended. Both wanted to remain anonymous because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

King Khalid International Airport was the target of a series of attacks last week after a Saudi-led coalition launched a military offensive against the Iran-backed Houthi militia in neighboring Yemen. The Houthis have claimed responsibility for previous attacks, including another on Wednesday that killed a Sudanese national and injured eight other people. There was initially no statement from the Houthi militia on Saturday.

A Riyadh resident, Ahmed Sajed, told the AP news agency he heard at least two explosions. The airport issued a terse warning urging passengers to check their flight status with airlines before traveling to the airport.

Abbas postpones parliamentary and presidential elections

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is postponing the parliamentary election in the Palestinian territories planned for the end of November to September 2027. The presidential election, which has been overdue for more than two decades, should also take place on September 11th next year, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported, citing a decree from Abbas.

Wafa cites military restrictions by Israel, the expansion of Jewish settlements, attacks by armed settlers and a lack of freedom of movement as reasons for canceling the elections in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. For the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian leadership also cites the precarious security situation and the pending deployment of international security forces.

Originally, the Palestinians were supposed to elect a parliament for the first time in two decades on November 28th after more than 20 years. In the last election on January 25, 2006, the Islamist Hamas won a majority of 74 of the 132 votes in the Palestinian Legislative Council. A year later, it took sole control of the Gaza Strip after fighting with Abbas's rival Fatah. Parliament was then largely unable to act. At the end of 2018, the Palestinian Constitutional Court ordered its dissolution.

Authorities: Five dead in Israeli strikes in Gaza Strip

At least five people were killed in two Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip, according to local health authorities. Four died near a shopping center in Gaza City, doctors said. One person was killed in an attack south of the city. The Israeli military says the attacks were targeted by militants. The army does not provide any details. In recent weeks, Israel has increased its attacks on Hamas. The country accuses the Palestinian militant organization of rearming itself and carrying out attacks in violation of the ceasefire. Hamas rejects this and, in turn, accuses Israel of undermining the ceasefire agreed upon under US mediation.

Iran claims attack on tanker ship

Iran's Revolutionary Guards say they have attacked a liquid gas tanker. The LPG tanker "NV Sunshine" was fired upon in the Strait of Hormuz, said a statement from the military organization carried by Iran's Tasnim news agency.

The tanker was reportedly on a southern route near the Omani coast. In recent months, the US Navy has accompanied civilian merchant ships there with their transponders switched off in order to obtain the hand