Iran's newly appointed Defence Minister Mehrdad Akhlaghi has warned US President Donald Trump against launching further attacks on Iran, asserting that Tehran has taken all necessary measures to counter the “Mother of All Bombs” and is confident in its military preparedness.
“We have taken all necessary measures to counter the ‘Mother of All Bombs’ and are confident in our preparations. We are carrying out our duties with complete confidence,” Akhlaghi said, as reported by Press TV.
Warning Trump against further escalation, he said, “Trump should focus on getting his forces out of the region safely. If he drops a bomb, he should consider how many of his troops might have to be carried out in body bags. If he follows through on his threats, he will have to face the consequences.”
Akasa Air has extended the suspension of all flights to and from Riyadh and Jeddah until and including October 27, citing the prevailing security situation in the Middle East.
In a travel update issued on October 18, the airline said the decision followed an assessment of the situation, with passenger and crew safety remaining its priority.
Passengers affected by the cancellations can opt for a full refund, to be credited to their original payment method within seven days, or reschedule their travel at no additional cost.
Those who booked through travel partners should contact them directly for assistance.
Akasa Air said it continues to monitor developments and assess the situation in real time.
Newly appointed Iranian defence minister Mehrdad Akhlaghi threatened to inflict "enormous damage" on the United States and its allies in the Middle East if Washington resumes its military campaign against the country.
"People can rest assured that they will most likely not dare to attack us," Akhlaghi told reporters shortly after securing parliament's vote of confidence. "If they (the US) do, they themselves and the region will suffer enormous damage."
The veteran defence official replaces Aziz Nasirzadeh, who was killed in a US-Israeli attack on a leadership compound on February 28, alongside former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior military commanders.
"If I receive parliament's vote of confidence, responsibility for the Ministry of Defence will fall to me at a sensitive juncture," Akhlaghi said before the vote, according to the ISNA news agency.
"Under such circumstances, defending the country requires an accurate understanding of the environment, an understanding of the logic behind developments, the identification of influential trends, and preparedness to face different possible futures," he added.
Although he does not hold a military rank, Akhlaghi has worked in the defence ministry for 42 years and has headed the Iranian Defence Industries Organisation, the state's weapons manufacturer, since 2013.
The United Nations sanctioned Akhlaghi in 2007 over his alleged involvement in nuclear or ballistic missile activities.
Egypt’s National Defence Council has approved sending troops to Saudi Arabia on a defensive mission, an Egyptian MP announced on Sunday, with parliament due to consider the deployment at an emergency session.
Mostafa Bakry, a member of the House of Representatives, reported on X that the council had approved both the deployment and the troops’ assigned mission during a meeting chaired by President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi. Parliament was scheduled to meet at 1pm Cairo time on Sunday, October 18, under Speaker Hesham Badawy.
Israeli police say they have opened an investigation into an alleged assault on diplomats in the occupied West Bank. Their statement cites footage circulating online that appears to show several diplomats being attacked in the village of Taybeh.
Public broadcaster Kan reported that the diplomats included representatives from France, Belgium and Poland. In a separate statement, Israel's military said the visit had not been coordinated with it and no soldiers were at the scene.
Violence by Jewish settlers against Palestinians has surged during the annual olive harvest. Activists say authorities do little to stop it. An attack on Friday seriously injured several people, including a Washington Post photographer.
"The Israel Police condemns violence of any kind and will work to complete these investigations until everyone who took part in these cases is brought to justice," the police statement said.
Police said they had contacted Israel's Foreign Ministry to help locate those who were attacked.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Saturday that he was "very disturbed" by footage of an attack on Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine by Israeli settlers in the West Bank.
"We're very disturbed by those images and what we're seeing,' he said, adding that the Trump administration has asked the Israeli government to "crack down on that stuff."
A Saudi reconnaissance helicopter crashed in the Najran region of southwestern Saudi Arabia due to a technical malfunction, killing its two crew members, the Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen said.
Major General Turki Al-Malki, the coalition’s official spokesperson, said the AH-6i reconnaissance helicopter belonged to Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of National Guard and crashed inside the kingdom’s territory.
“The accident resulted in the martyrdom of its aircrew, consisting of two officers,” Al-Malki said in a statement.
He offered condolences to the families and loved ones of the two officers, praying for them to be granted mercy and patience.
The coalition did not provide further details about the circumstances of the crash.
The attack by alleged Israeli settlers on Washington Post Photojournalist Heidi Levine in the West Bank has drawn widespread condemnation.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that US President Trump was disturbed by the images of the attack.
"We're very disturbed by those images and what we're seeing....the President has been very clear, he's said this repeatedly, he does not want to see friction or crisis going on in the West Bank," he told reporters at Joint Base Andrews.
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee demanded action against the attackers and said the US had called for a full investigation of the incident.
"Heidi Levine, photojournalist for Washington Post suffered serious injuries from vicious & cowardly attack. Heidi is US Citizen, clear ID as journalist. Details of who under investigation, but those who attacked unarmed reporter should spend YRS in prison. We have called for a full investigation, arrest, and prosecution to the fullest extent of the law to whoever participated in this. Attacking a female photographer is despicable act of terror carried out by masked cowards. Dishonourable act of senseless violence," he said.
Iran and Pakistan have temporarily suspended cross-border movement and exchanges due to technical issues and security concerns, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said.
"Due to certain technical issues and the need to implement precautionary measures, cross-border movement and exchanges have been temporarily suspended," Baghaei said while responding to inquiries regarding the land border status.
"The relevant authorities from both countries are in close contact, consulting and working to resolve the issue as soon as possible so that operations at the border crossings can return to normal," IRNA reported him as saying.
Pakistan has also halted trade through the Gabd-Rimdan and Taftan checkpoints, citing efforts to strengthen security, curb smuggling and improve border administration.
Officials from both countries are in talks to resolve the issues, with a reopening expected soon, according to Pakistani officials.
Saudi Arabia intercepted and destroyed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the Eastern and Riyadh regions, as well as two ballistic missiles launched towards Khamis Mushait, the Saudi-led coalition said on Sunday.
Major General Turki Al-Malki, spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, said the drones were intercepted and destroyed. He also confirmed that two ballistic missiles launched by the Houthi militia towards Khamis Mushait were intercepted and destroyed.
The announcements were reported by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on October 18.
US President Donald Trump said the war with Iran would end “very quickly” and predicted that US fuel prices would fall below pre-war levels once hostilities cease. Speaking at a rally in Kentucky, he defended US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, claiming they had crippled Tehran’s nuclear capabilities.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh called for an end to fighting across the region, including in Lebanon. He accused the US and Israel of violating a June memorandum of understanding by launching strikes on Iran and Lebanon, and said Washington must ensure Israel honours any ceasefire. Tehran also reiterated its readiness to address questions about its nuclear programme and its offer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days.
The US Embassy in Riyadh has issued a security alert urging American citizens to take extreme caution when using airports in Saudi Arabia, following recent missile and drone attacks on airports in the Kingdom.
Operations at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh remain suspended, while airports in Jeddah and Dammam are operating with some delays and cancellations.
US government employees now need special authorisation from the Chief of Mission to use any Saudi airport. The embassy advised citizens to follow Saudi Civil Defense alerts and to check flight status directly with their airline and airport.
The UK has warned British nationals travelling to Saudi Arabia that their travel insurance could be invalidated if they travel against official advice, as security concerns and the risk of further attacks continue across the Kingdom.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advises against all travel within 10km of the border with Yemen and all but essential travel to the rest of Saudi Arabia.
The FCDO has urged British nationals to stay away from King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh following a serious incident on October 10, 2026, at about 3pm local time. Travellers have been advised to follow instructions from Saudi authorities and avoid the airport until it is declared secure.
The FCDO warned that further attacks on airports, along with travel disruption and flight cancellations, were very likely. British nationals seeking to leave Saudi Arabia have been advised to consider travelling by land to a neighbouring country and flying from there, while checking entry and exit requirements before setting off.
The FCDO also warned that the possibility of renewed Iranian attacks remained amid continuing regional tensions, despite a memorandum of understanding announced by the US and Iran on June 17.
