Live: Iran, Mecca Pact members agree to cooperate on regional security - Middle East Eye
Live Updates Macklemore kicks off 'Free Palestine' tour, calls for 'shared humanity' 4 days agoAmerican rapper Macklemore kicked off his "Free Palestine" concert tour in Dublin on Monday, after announcing that all tour proceeds would support organisations helping Palestinians.
He called for unity and "shared humanity" weeks after he was removed from Ed Sheeran’s tour over his pro-Palestine remarks.
American rapper Macklemore kicked off his “Free Palestine” concert tour in Dublin on Monday, calling for unity weeks after he was removed from Ed Sheeran’s tour over his pro-Palestine remarks. https://t.co/ByekS8xP1p
The US Embassy in Riyadh urged nonemergency government employees and their family members to leave Saudi Arabia, citing safety risks. The post on X added that US government employees working in the kingdom require special authorisation from Chief of Mission to use any airport in the country, following attacks on airports.
Most polling stations in Israel have opened as of 7am local time (5am GMT), in the first general election held since 7 October, 2023. Around 7.3 million people are eligible to vote, with most polling stations expected to be closed at 10pm ( 8pm GMT).
US President Donald Trump claimed that Iran was responsible for starting the conflict and called a ceasefire between the two a "waste of time". "We didn’t start the war with Iran. Iran started the war with us," he said during a rally in Corinth, Mississippi.
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said it intercepted and destroyed three ballistic missiles launched by Houthi forces towards Saudi Arabia's Eastern Region and another four drones launched towards the kingdom's southern region.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied on Monday reports circulating in Israeli media regarding firing the Israeli military chief, Eyal Zamir. "Another piece of fake news on panic channels 12 and 13 on the eve of the elections: I have no intention of firing the Chief of Staff, and we will continue working together for Israel's security," Netanyahu said in a post on X.
The US Embassy in Riyadh urged nonemergency government employees and their family members to leave Saudi Arabia, citing safety risks.
"Effective October 23, 2026, the Department of State ordered non-emergency U.S. government employees and U.S. government employee family members to leave Saudi Arabia due to safety risks," it said in a post on X.
The post added that US government employees working in the kingdom require special authorisation from Chief of Mission to use any airport in the country, following attacks on airports.
"U.S. citizens should be aware of potential attacks on airports, airspace closures, flight cancellations, and travel disruptions. Please take extreme caution if you choose to use airports in Saudi Arabia."
Security Alert: U.S. Mission Saudi Arabia (October 27, 2026) Effective October 23, 2026, the Department of State ordered non-emergency U.S. government employees and U.S. government employee family members to leave Saudi Arabia due to safety risks. Iranian-supported Houthis have engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including attacks on civilian airports and other critical infrastructure resulting in civilian casualties and severe travel disruptions. The hostilities have the potential to escalate rapidly beyond that immediate area. U.S. government employees working in Saudi Arabia require special authorization from Chief of Mission to use any airport in Saudi Arabia following recent missile and UAV attacks on airports in the Kingdom. - King Khalid International Airport (RUH) in Riyadh announced a partial reopening as of October 23 for domestic flights and some international flights operated by national carriers. A limited number of flights normally based at RUH are operating out of Qassim-based Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz International Airport (ELQ). - Operations at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah (JED) are operational with some delays and cancellations. - Operations at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam (DMM) are operational with some delays and cancellations. U.S. citizens should be aware of potential attacks on airports, airspace closures, flight cancellations, and travel disruptions. Please take extreme caution if you choose to use airports in Saudi Arabia. We recommend checking your flight departure status directly with the airline and with the airport. Read more: https://t.co/pzUJFbwnh1
United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres said on Monday that he is "deeply alarmed" over Israeli settler expansion and ongoing violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
He warned about the risk of ethnic cleansing, saying "We are seeing an increasingly coercive environment with the spectre of ethnic cleansing looming ever larger."
United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres said on Monday that he is “deeply alarmed” over Israeli settler expansion and ongoing violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, warning about the risk of ethnic cleansing. https://t.co/DR1NsxHKh1
Most polling stations in Israel have opened as of 7am local time (5am GMT), in the first general election held since 7 October, 2023.
Around 7.3 million people are eligible to vote, with most polling stations expected to be closed at 10pm ( 8pm GMT).
US President Donald Trump claimed that Iran was responsible for starting the conflict and called a ceasefire between the two a "waste of time".
"We didn’t start the war with Iran. Iran started the war with us," he said during a rally in Corinth, Mississippi.
When talking about the ceasefire between Washingtom and Tehran, Trump said: "We did a little ceasefire, which I never liked very much,” he said. “We wanna be nice, but it was just a waste of time as far as I’m concerned."
The American president also claimed that Iran has missile capabilities that allow it to target Europe and the US. "They’d hit San Diego, they’d hit Los Angeles, they’d hit our cities too," he added.
Senior officials from the Mecca Defence Alliance met Iranian leaders in Tehran on Monday, with Iran’s top security official, Mohsen Rezaei, saying the talks showed US threats had little impact on regional diplomacy and would mark the start of a “real transformation”.
Members of the alliance, which includes Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, gathered in Tehran to negotiate as regional powers strive to end the Israeli-US war against Iran and establish a security framework independent of Washington.
The talks come as the conflict continues to threaten the region and the global economy, amid mounting fears of renewed Israeli-US attacks.
Senior officials from the Mecca Defence Alliance met Iranian leaders in Tehran on Monday, with Iran’s top security official, Mohsen Rezaei, saying the talks showed US threats had little impact on regional diplomacy and would mark the start of a “real transformation”. https://t.co/PDCTcShWyu
The Saudi-led coalition said that air defences intercepted and destroyed four drones launched by the Houthis towards southern Saudi Arabia.
After US President Donald Trump called a number of Arab nations "shithouse countries" on Saturday, his newly minted adviser on Arab-American affairs said the US president has since promised he wouldn't do it again.
"Libya, Yemen, Haiti, Somalia. Remember what I called them? Shithouse countries," Trump told a crowd of supporters at a rally in Perry, Georgia, where he is drumming up support for Republican candidates ahead of the 3 November midterm elections.
He added that the countries are "terror-infested".
"Why do we always have to take people from shithouse countries? Why can't we take people from like, well, Norway, Sweden? Why not Denmark?"
Amer Ghalib, his Yemeni-born adviser, wrote on his Facebook page on Sunday that he "contacted the president via text message" to express his "dismay and rejection of those remarks".
He said he later met with the president ahead of his rally in Port Huron, Michigan, on Sunday, and "reiterated my request".
"He expressed understanding of the situation and pledged to address the issue and ensure it does not recur," Ghalib added.
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said it intercepted and destroyed three ballistic missiles launched by Houthi forces towards Saudi Arabia's Eastern Region early on Tuesday.
Earlier, the Saudi Civil Defense issued warning alerts for a potential hostile threat in the Eastern Region and in Kharj governorate, before later indicating that the danger had passed in both areas.
Footage shows Israeli forces detaining and assaulting a young Palestinian in the town of Sinjil, north of Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank.
Footage shows Israeli occupation forces detaining and assaulting a young Palestinian man in the town of Sinjil, north of Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank. https://t.co/S1tSQrPkdO
Israeli settlers burned a Palestinian man's car near the town of Awarta south of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, local sources said.
The attack came as Israeli forces raided other towns in the Occupied Territories, including the town of Arraba, southwest of Jenin.
Less than two weeks before her wedding, Mayar Amrish sat with her family in the spacious courtyard of their home, making plans for the big day.
The 23-year-old Palestinian was preparing for her future, but within hours, her family home would be reduced to rubble.
Outside the house in Farsh al-Hawa, in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron, Israeli forces were launching a sweeping demolition and forced displacement campaign.
The assault, condemned as collective punishment against Palestinians, followed a shooting on Friday in which two Palestinians killed two Israeli soldiers.
Israel imposed a total lockdown on the city and launched a wide-ranging military assault involving home raids, arrests, demolitions and the forced displacement of thousands of people.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied on Monday reports circulating in Israeli media regarding firing the Israeli military chief, Eyal Zamir.
"Another piece of fake news on panic channels 12 and 13 on the eve of the elections: I have no intention of firing the Chief of Staff, and we will continue working together for Israel's security," Netanyahu said in a post on X.
"I do intend to permanently remove the Iranian nuclear threat. I will do so together with my friend President Trump," he added.
Israeli officials discussed carrying out actions in preparation for a strike on Iran at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's request, Israeli media reported on Monday.
Israeli military chief of staff Eyal Zamir led the opposition to proceeding with those actions, arguing that they could easily lead to miscalculations with Iran and prompt it to launch a preemptive strike.
