War in the Middle East: Saudi Arabia intercepts ballistic missiles and drones from Yemen

Many details about the course of the war, such as casualty figures or details of battles, cannot be independently verified. For our live blog, in addition to our own research, we use material from the news agencies dpa, Reuters, epd, KNA, and Bloomberg. Important Updates Saudi Arabia intercepts two ballistic missiles from Yemen Iran: Supertanker sails through the Strait of Hormuz on sea mines Reports: Casualties after settler attacks in the West Bank CNN: US military considers using the "Mother of All Bombs" against Iran Container ship sinks after attack off Hormuz – second freighter hit Ulrike Putz Saudi Arabia intercepts two ballistic missiles from Yemen The military in Saudi Arabia reportedly repelled an attack with two ballistic missiles from the Houthi militia from Yemen. They allegedly flew towards the large city of Chamis Muschait in the southwest of the country. Two drones were also intercepted and destroyed in the area of the capital Riyadh, and another in the east of the country, as Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led military alliance against the Houthis, stated on the night of platform X. Barbara Klimke Iran: Supertanker sails through the Strait of Hormuz on sea mines Apparently, a supertanker has sailed on a sea mine in the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian Revolution Guard reported an explosion and a fire on board. The ship is said to have loaded more than two million barrels (each containing 159 liters) of crude oil, according to Iranian media, citing the powerful military organization. According to this, the tanker attempted to pass the strait unlawfully with deception maneuvers and support from the US military. The Revolution Guard emphasized that the Strait of Hormuz is closed. These details have not yet been independently verifiable. The extent of the tanker fire, as well as the whereabouts and well-being of the crew members, remain unclear. The US military's regional command (Centcom) and the British Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) provided no information about the incident reported by Iran during the night. The Strait of Hormuz, which is only 35 to 40 kilometers wide at its narrowest point, has become the central conflict point between Tehran and Washington in the Iran war. Iran has been blocking traffic largely with threats and attacks on ships since the beginning of the war at the end of February. Barbara Klimke Missiles on Aden Airport Two missiles struck the international airport in Aden in southern Yemen. The authorities in Aden blame the Houthi militia, allied with Iran, for the attack. There were no casualties, although a passenger plane was preparing for takeoff to Cairo at the time of the detonation. The military coalition led by Saudi Arabia, in turn, reportedly intercepted a ballistic missile on the Saudi oil city of Yanbu in the Red Sea. The military coalition also destroyed two cruise missiles over the Red Sea and three drones in Saudi Arabia. The aggressors were not identified. Saudi Arabia operates oil exports through the port city of Yanbu in the west of the country to bypass the strategically important Strait of Hormuz in the east of the Arabian Peninsula. The military coalition led by Saudi Arabia, in turn, reportedly intercepted a ballistic missile on the Saudi oil city of Yanbu in the Red Sea. The military coalition also destroyed two cruise missiles over the Red Sea and three drones in Saudi Arabia. The aggressors were not identified. Saudi Arabia operates oil exports through the port city of Yanbu in the west of the country to bypass the strategically important Strait of Hormuz in the east of the Arabian Peninsula. Reports: Casualties after settler attacks in the West Bank According to reports, a series of injuries has occurred following attacks by radical Israeli settlers in various places in the occupied West Bank. In addition to several Palestinians, a foreign journalist was also treated in the hospital, reported Palestinian and Israeli media. The violence was mainly directed against Palestinian helpers in the olive harvest. In an incident in the place Abu Falah, settlers allegedly beat two Palestinians, according to a report from the Palestinian news agency Wafa. According to the report, another man was shot in the leg. The Israeli military said in the afternoon that soldiers had fired warning shots into the air and at a suspicious person in the area. The Palestinian allegedly ran towards them with a sharp object. The Israeli army further said that it is investigating the incident in Abu Falah, where the journalist was also injured. They spoke of a "violent confrontation". Israeli forces allegedly ended it. According to Wafa, the Israeli military allegedly used tear gas against Palestinians. The most important rival of Benjamin Netanyahu in the upcoming parliamentary election in Israel, Gadi Eisenkot, condemned the settler violence. "This handful of troublemakers do not represent the Israeli public," he said at the same time. The former military chief demanded harsh police measures against them. The Israeli army also stated: "Attacks and violence against innocent civilians are serious and unacceptable acts." The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported, citing eyewitnesses in a village in the area of the city of Ramallah, that approximately 30 masked settlers attacked and ordered to go to the olive harvest helpers. Israeli security forces arrived but did not arrest any of the attackers. The situation in the occupied West Bank has further intensified since the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023, in Israel and the resulting Gaza war. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, more than 1100 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since then in Israeli military operations, armed clashes, or their own attacks. At the same time, violence by radical Israeli settlers against Palestinians has greatly increased. The Israeli military is repeatedly accused of not being resolute enough in opposing it. The situation in the occupied West Bank has further intensified since the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023, in Israel and the resulting Gaza war. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, more than 1100 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since then in Israeli military operations, armed clashes, or their own attacks. At the same time, violence by radical Israeli settlers against Palestinians has greatly increased. The Israeli military is repeatedly accused of not being resolute enough in opposing it. EU and Gulf States postpone summit in Riyadh The European Union has postponed the summit with the Gulf states in Saudi Arabia scheduled for October 24th. The EU did not give a reason for this, only stating that a new date would be announced at a later time. However, the reason for the decision is likely growing security concerns due to the attacks by the Houthi militia allied with Iran from Yemen on Saudi Arabia. Last weekend, 13 people were killed and hundreds more injured in an attack on the international airport of the capital Riyadh. The airport, where the delegations were supposed to land, has been closed since then. The postponement of the meeting in Riyadh is a setback for Saudi Arabia's efforts to present itself as a host of international events despite the escalating conflict with the Houthis. The EU wanted to demonstrate its solidarity with the Gulf states with the meeting. Despite the cancellation, the EU emphasized the great strategic importance of the relations with the region. In the past two weeks alone, the Houthi militia has reportedly attacked the international airport in Riyadh twenty times, according to Saudi sources. Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led military alliance against the Houthis, said this. A total of 17 people were killed and more than 330 were injured. Since Saudi Arabia entered the civil war in Yemen in 2015, the Houthis have repeatedly attacked targets in the Kingdom. In attacks on oil facilities of the state-owned company Aramco with drones and missiles, about half of Saudi Arabia's oil production and about five percent of the world's oil supply were interrupted in 2019. CNN: US military considers using the "Mother of All Bombs" against Iran According to a media report, the US military has prepared attack plans against energy and atomic facilities of the Islamic Republic for the case of new fighting in the Iran war, which also includes the use of its most powerful conventional bomb. This is reported by CNN, citing US officials familiar with the operation. If US President Donald Trump orders such attacks, the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb – also known as the "Mother of All Bombs" – could be dropped. The use of the largest non-nuclear weapon in the US arsenal would mean a significant escalation of the conflict. According to insiders, however, there are doubts in military circles about whether the strategic objectives can actually be achieved with the bomb. The approximately ten-ton explosive was first tested in 2003. The US forces first used the bomb in April 2017 in the fight against the Islamist militia IS in Afghanistan. The target at that time was an extremist tunnel system. According to insiders, however, there are doubts in military circles about whether the strategic objectives can actually be achieved with the bomb. The approximately ten-ton explosive was first tested in 2003. The US forces first used the bomb in April 2017 in the fight against the Islamist militia IS in Afghanistan. The target at that time was an extremist tunnel system. Container ship sinks after attack off Hormuz – second freighter hit After an attack near the Strait of Hormuz, a container ship is said to have sunk. According to maritime security sources, the vessel is said to be the GFS Pride sailing under the flag of Singapore. The freighter has a capacity of 2824 standard containers. There was no statement from the operator company based in the United Arab Emirates at first. The Pakistani maritime authority warned about the containers drifting in the sea belonging to the sunken GFS Pride. Previously, the Iranian Revolution Guard had informed that a freighter had sailed into a sea mine and sunk in the waters south of the Strait of Hormuz. The ship had caught fire. The GFS Pride belongs more to the smaller freighters used mainly for passenger services. According to data from the UN Maritime Organization IMO, the ship is the second commercial ship to sink in the region since the beginning of the war between the USA and Iran on February 28th. The same fate threatens another ship: The bulk carrier Cape Dao sailing under the flag of Antigua and Barbuda is said to be sinking after a failed rescue attempt, according to the British risk management group Vanguard. The ship was already hit by a projectile on September 23rd. The operator company of the Cape Dao, also based in the United Arab Emirates, was also initially unreachable for a statement. The GFS Pride belongs more to the smaller freighters used mainly for passenger services. According to data from the UN Maritime Organization IMO, the ship is the second commercial ship to sink in the region since the beginning of the war between the USA and Iran on February 28th. The same fate threatens another ship: The bulk carrier Cape Dao sailing under the flag of Antigua and Barbuda is said to be sinking after a failed rescue attempt, according to the British risk management group Vanguard. The ship was already hit by a projectile on September 23rd. The operator company of the Cape Dao, also based in the United Arab Emirates, was also initially unreachable for a statement.