Illustrative image. (Israeli Air Force)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has discussed renewed military action against Iran with United States President Donald Trump, with the forces of both countries reportedly preparing for a possible resumption of large-scale strikes, according to recent reports.

Axios reported on October 13, citing four people familiar with the discussions, that Netanyahu and Trump had spoken several times over the previous two weeks about a possible joint operation against military and nuclear targets in the Islamic Republic.

Netanyahu expressed concern that Iran was rebuilding its nuclear program, particularly at the potentially planned uranium-enrichment site at Pickaxe Mountain.

Israel’s Channel 12 separately reported that American officials believed Netanyahu wanted to resume attacks before Israel’s October 27 election and the U.S. midterm elections on November 3.

According to the network, Netanyahu told Israeli security chiefs that Trump had initiated the discussion and asked whether Israel would participate. An Israeli official said Trump initially appeared receptive to renewed strikes but subsequently became more hesitant.

Axios reported that Trump had told Netanyahu to prepare for a possible operation against Iran, without committing to authorize it.

The White House rejected the account that the two leaders had discussed resuming the war and said Trump would not attack Iran before the U.S. midterm elections. Still, Trump said on October 13 that his administration would make a decision on Iran soon.

The discussions have raised concerns within Israel’s military leadership about the domestic consequences of another war.

According to Axios, Israeli military chief Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir discussed with U.S. Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine the prospect of renewed fighting within three weeks. Zamir warned that an Iranian retaliation could force Israel to postpone its October 27 election.

Channel 12 also reported that Israeli security officials saw no change in their intelligence assessment of Iran that would justify a joint operation within the following two to three weeks.

The Wall Street Journal separately reported that Iran was reinforcing its nuclear and strategic facilities, mobilizing supporters and preparing for the possibility of renewed American attacks after the U.S. elections.

Iranian officials have warned of a broader regional escalation if the U.S. and Israel resume strikes, according to the newspaper.

In an interview with Israel’s Channel 14, Netanyahu made a separate allegation that Iran was attempting to organize an attack to influence Israel’s election, potentially through Hezbollah or Hamas. He also suggested that Iran could seek to provoke violence in the West Bank. The report did not provide independently verified evidence of the alleged plan.

In another interview with Army Radio, Netanyahu said a preemptive strike against Iran before Israel’s election was not advisable, describing the timing as inconvenient. He nevertheless warned that Israel would respond forcefully if Iran attacked.

He declined to discuss whether military action could follow the election, or to elaborate on his recent conversations with Trump.

All recent reports indicate that a decision to attack Iran again has likely been made. Only the timing and scale remain unclear. In any case, the Islamic Republic will likely strike back with full force against the interests of both countries across the Middle East.

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The Houthis (Ansar Allah) on October 14 released footage showing an operation against Saudi-backed forces at Dhubab airport, saying their fighters had driven back troops massing there, burned and captured military vehicles and taken prisoners.

The footage emerged as Houthi forces captured several positions in western Lahij province over the past 48 hours. They advanced along the Aghbarah and al-Mudaribah fronts, taking al-Sharjan, al-Ka’lalah, Harwazu, Jabal Harwazu, al-Khabakhib and Lower al-Mudaribah, among other locations.

The captured positions had been held by the Giants Brigades, the National Shield Forces and armed members of the Subaihah tribes.

Fighting around Dhubab had severely depleted the capabilities of the Giants Brigades and Subaihah fighters, with many commanders reportedly killed.

The Houthi advance toward Ras al-Arah and Khor Umairah is expected to continue, potentially setting the stage for a further push toward Aden.

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The developments underscore the failure of the Saudi-backed counterattack launched on October 5. Rather than reversing Houthi gains and securing the front around Bab al-Mandab, the campaign has been followed by continued fighting at Dhubab airport and further territorial losses for coalition-aligned forces in western Lahij.

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Yemen’s Houthis (Ansar Allah) are attempting to manufacture medium-range ballistic missiles modeled on an advanced Iranian weapon, using components traced to a Chinese supplier, according to a report published on October 14 by The Wall Street Journal.

The findings, based on an assessment by the weapons-monitoring organization Conflict Armament Research, point to an effort by the Houthis to expand domestic missile production and reduce their reliance on complete weapons systems supplied by Iran.

The proposed missile is modeled on Iran’s Kheibar Shekan, a solid-fuel, precision-guided ballistic missile with a reported range of up to 1,900 kilometers. Such a range would place all of Saudi Arabia and Israel within reach.

Yemeni authorities intercepted two shipments containing missile-related components in 2025 and provided information about them to Conflict Armament Research in July 2026, according to The Journal. The equipment was concealed among other commercial goods.

The seized materials included custom-made metal components for missile motors and airframes, flight-stabilizing fins, parts of solid-propellant rocket motors, and heat-resistant materials designed to protect sections of a missile from the extreme temperatures generated during flight. Authorities also recovered tools, testing equipment, and raw materials.

Shipping documents examined as part of the investigation linked the specialized components to an unnamed Chinese precision-metal manufacturer that advertises expertise in custom aerospace parts.

Some of the imported goods had potential civilian applications, while others were specifically designed for use in missiles.

The Kheibar Shekan was unveiled by Iran in 2022. It uses solid fuel, allowing for relatively rapid preparation for launch, and is designed to maneuver during the terminal phase of flight, complicating interception by air defenses.

Iran used the missile against United States military bases during fighting in the Middle East earlier this year, according to The Journal.

Chinese companies have become a major source of goods seized from shipments bound for the Houthis, according to data cited by the newspaper from United Nations reporting and weapons investigators. The supply networks include components that can be used in missiles and drones, as well as other dual-use equipment.

The investigation does not establish how far the Houthis have progressed toward producing a functional missile based on the Kheibar Shekan. It does, however, show that the Houthis are expanding their weapons-manufacturing capabilities and are no longer relying fully on Iran.

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Ukrainian officials said on October 14 that new restrictions on SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service had disrupted several military drone missions, raising concerns about the potential impact on Ukraine’s military operations.

Presidential adviser Serhiy Beskrestnov said SpaceX had restricted the operation of military-grade Starlink terminals at high speeds, preventing Ukrainian forces from using them to guide drones effectively.

“Our defence forces did not receive a warning about this limitation, and this led to the disruption of several missions,” Beskrestnov wrote on Telegram.

Ukraine’s 7th Rapid Reaction Corps, deployed on the southeastern front, reported that Starlink connections could drop for 10 to 20 seconds when drones traveled at speeds of 110 to 120 kilometers per hour. The drones continued flying during the interruptions but became harder to control, the corps said in a statement to Reuters.

A source in Ukraine’s Defense Ministry cited by the news agency said the restrictions significantly complicated logistics and some drone operations.

The disruption has also drawn criticism from Poland, which pays for Ukraine’s Starlink subscriptions. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski questioned whether Elon Musk, SpaceX’s founder and a close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, was using the service for political purposes.

“Hey, @elonmusk, big man, are you playing politics with your products again?” Sikorski wrote on X, adding that European customers were watching Musk’s actions.

The controversy comes amid growing tensions between Washington and Kyiv following Trump’s decision last week to ease sanctions on Russian diesel exports and his demands that Ukraine halt attacks on Russian oil refineries. Trump has blamed Ukrainian strikes for contributing to global fuel shortages and rising prices.

Musk has publicly supported Trump’s position. On October 11, he endorsed the president’s criticism of Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries by reposting a video of Trump attacking the strikes and writing, “Zelenskyy has gone too far.”

Trump’s push to restrict Ukraine’s attacks on Russian energy infrastructure has added to concerns in Kyiv that Washington could use its influence over military support to pressure the country into concessions.

Those concerns have been compounded by disputes over intelligence sharing. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on October 13 that Ukraine had received no advance warning from its partners before Russian ballistic missile strikes on Kyiv.

Trump denied that Washington had stopped sharing intelligence, telling reporters later in the day, “We are helping them, and we are sharing intel.”

Starlink’s resistance to electronic jamming has made it vital to Ukraine’s drone operations, battlefield coordination and military logistics. Restrictions could make it harder for Ukrainian forces to control drones en route to targets deep inside Russia while disrupting frontline communications and resupply. Thus, the restriction shows that Washington is serious about pressuring Kyiv.

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Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on October 14 that a container ship carrying 2,500 containers struck a naval mine in the Strait of Hormuz, caught fire and sank, in the latest incident in the strategic waterway.

Iranian state television, quoting an IRGC Navy statement, said the vessel had been traveling on what the Guards described as an “illegal and dangerous route” when it hit the mine in the morning.

The vessel was identified soon after as the GFS PRIDE, a Singapore-flagged container ship owned by the United Arab Emirates.

A NAVAREA IX maritime warning issued early on October 14 identified the ship as involved in a security incident that caused a fire and left it drifting about one nautical mile east of Ras Makhbuq, off Oman. Footage circulating online later showed the vessel partially submerged, consistent with reports that it was sinking.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency reported two separate attacks on container ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

In one warning, UKMTO said a 50,000-tonne container ship was struck by an unknown projectile while traveling inbound through the strait. The vessel sustained minor damage, reported no casualties and continued its passage, according to the agency.

A second warning reported that a 19,000-tonne container ship was struck by an unknown projectile while traveling outbound. It also sustained minor damage, reported no casualties and continued its voyage. UKMTO did not identify either vessel by name and said authorities were investigating both incidents.

A day before the sinking was reported, Iran’s regular Navy announced the deployment of operational units in a new formation east of the Strait of Hormuz and across the Sea of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

In a statement, the Navy said the units would maintain “continuous, real-time surveillance” of enemy activities and maritime traffic throughout the area. It urged vessels not to switch off their electronic equipment and called on ships to coordinate their passage with Iran’s armed forces.

The successive incidents came amid an intensifying wave of attacks on commercial shipping. Reuters reported on October 14 that at least five incidents involving tankers and other commercial vessels had occurred around the Strait of Hormuz in the preceding 48 hours, including drone strikes.

The news agency said attacks on commercial vessels had reached their highest level since the war began, citing maritime security data and reports to UKMTO.

The attacks underscore Tehran’s growing ability to threaten and influence passage through the strait, even as Washington rejects Iran’s claim to control the waterway.

Commercial traffic remained severely curtailed on October 14, although passage had not stopped entirely. Reuters reported that some oil continued to transit the waterway, while the U.S. military was guiding vessels along a route off Oman’s coast.

The latest incidents further increased the risks for shipowners and crews operating through one of the world’s most important energy corridors.

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Russia is testing redesigned external weapon mounts on its Mi-8AMTSh-VN military helicopters, potentially expanding their ability to carry cruise missiles and jet-powered drones.

The modifications have been observed on helicopters associated with Russian special operations forces. The new mounting structures replace Soviet-era BD3-57KrV weapon racks with a more aerodynamic design. The modifications reduce the number of external attachment points from six to four, while each retains a reported maximum payload capacity of 500 kilograms.

The redesigned mounts could also address limitations in the older system, which made it difficult to fully equip B8V20 unguided rocket pods positioned close to the helicopter’s fuselage.

The changes appear intended to improve weapons integration and allow greater flexibility in configuring the aircraft’s external armament. However, the intended weapons fit has not been officially confirmed.

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The weapons options likely include compact cruise missiles like the Dan-T as well as jet-powered drones. The Dan-T has a launch weight of 268 kilograms, carries a warhead weighing up to 130 kilograms, reaches a maximum speed of 500 kilometers per hour and has a stated range of 450 kilometers. Its listed guidance system combines satellite navigation with inertial navigation. The cruise missile is designed for launch from helicopters.

The Mi-8AMTSh-VN, also known as the Sapsan, is a specialized armed variant of the Mi-8 transport helicopter developed for military operations, including missions involving the deployment of troops in difficult environments.

The new mounts could expand its role by allowing it to carry a broader range of guided weapons alongside its existing rocket armament.

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Yemen’s Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree announced on October 14 that the group had attacked Saudi Aramco facilities in Dhahran and Riyadh and at King Khalid International Airport, threatening further strikes against the kingdom.

In a statement, Saree said the operation involved “a large number of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones.” The spokesman claimed the weapons struck their targets accurately, causing destruction and fires at the targeted sites.

Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry said a day earlier that an attack had caused a limited fire in an administrative building at Aramco’s complex in Dhahran, in the kingdom’s Eastern Province. No injuries or fatalities were reported.

A source at the company told Reuters that a ballistic missile struck an office tower in the complex, damaging its top three floors.

Saree said the attacks were retaliation for Saudi strikes on Sanaa and other areas under Houthi control. He claimed Saudi Arabia had carried out 2,281 airstrikes and missile attacks against Yemen during the current escalation, accusing the kingdom of committing dozens of crimes.

The spokesman warned that Houthi operations against targets inside Saudi Arabia would continue over the coming days, specifically threatening airports and oil installations.

He urged international shipping companies, civilians and workers to stay away from the targeted sites and called for the immediate evacuation of the sites, declaring them “legitimate targets” for Houthi forces.

The latest threats came after the Saudi-led coalition launched strikes against Houthi-held areas a day earlier, including the al-Sabah fuel facility on the outskirts of Sanaa. The coalition had warned civilians to evacuate the area, saying the operation was intended to neutralize Houthi capabilities to threaten Saudi Arabia, Yemen and international waterways.

The Saudi Civil Defense said debris from two intercepted Houthi missiles fell on residential areas in Riyadh, injuring four people and damaging 15 homes.

On October 14, residents reported hearing new explosions in the capital, and the Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted a ballistic missile launched toward Riyadh. No casualties or damage were immediately reported from that incident.

The exchanges follow a series of Houthi attacks on Saudi airports. A strike on King Khalid International Airport on October 10 killed 13 people and wounded more than 300, according to Saudi authorities. Another attack the following day killed one person and injured 11, further disrupting aviation operations in the kingdom.

The renewed fighting is part of a broader escalation in Yemen, where Saudi Arabia is backing forces aligned with the internationally recognized government against the Houthis. The Saudi-led campaign intensified after Houthi forces made advances along Yemen’s Red Sea coast toward the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

Saree said the Houthis would continue to match what he called Saudi “escalation with escalation” and maintain a policy of “blockade for blockade” until Saudi Arabia ends its military campaign and lifts the blockade on Yemen.

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Russia’s state defense corporation Rostec revealed that its Citadel anti-aircraft gun system can destroy drones while using several times less ammunition in some cases than conventional anti-aircraft artillery.

“Thanks to its fire control system and shells with remote-detonation fuses, the Citadel anti-aircraft artillery system has demonstrated significantly lower ammunition consumption per target destroyed than standard anti-aircraft artillery systems. In some cases, consumption is several times lower,” a Rostec representative told Izvestia, according to the TASS news agency on October 13.

The ZAK-30 Citadel is designed to protect fixed installations against all types of drones. It combines radar and electro-optical sensors operating in visible and infrared spectrums with an automated fire-control system that detects and tracks targets, calculates firing solutions and directs the guns.

The system uses 30 mm programmable fragmentation ammunition with remote-detonation fuses. Rather than requiring a direct hit, the shells detonate at a calculated point along a drone’s flight path, scattering fragments intended to destroy or damage the target.

Each combat module carries 300 rounds and has a stated engagement range of up to 1,000 meters against fixed-wing drones and 800 meters against small multicopters.

The system includes a command post that can control several combat modules positioned approximately 1 kilometer away and has a crew of five.

Rostec also compared Citadel with foreign counter-drone systems, including Germany’s Rheinmetall Skynex, which uses a 35 mm cannon and programmable AHEAD fragmentation ammunition, and the U.S. Phalanx close-in weapon system and land-based C-RAM, both armed with 20 mm Vulcan guns.

The Russian company said Skynex’s larger-caliber ammunition produces a powerful fragmentation field but increases the system’s weight and cost, while Phalanx and C-RAM rely on high rates of fire and consume more ammunition because they do not use the same type of programmable airburst projectiles as Citadel.

Russia’s Defense Ministry announced on October 6 that Citadel systems had been supplied to the armed forces for counter-drone operations. It is still unclear, however, how many have been delivered.

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• The Yemeni army (Ansar Allah) advanced in the Jabal Arus area south of Taiz;
• The Yemeni army (Ansar Allah) advanced in the areas west of Lahij province;
• The Yemeni army (Ansar Allah) forces are reportedly attempting to outflank Saudi-backed forces around Bab al-Mandab through Al-Mudharabah district in Lahij province;
• On October 12, the Yemeni attacked King Khalid Airport in Riyadh, Khamis Mushait Air Base and Abha with missiles and drones.

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Click to see full-size image. (Rostec)

Russia’s state defense corporation Rostec revealed that its Citadel anti-aircraft gun system can destroy drones while using several times less ammunition in some cases than conventional anti-aircraft artillery.

“Thanks to its fire control system and shells with remote-detonation fuses, the Citadel anti-aircraft artillery system has demonstrated significantly lower ammunition consumption per target destroyed than standard anti-aircraft artillery systems. In some cases, consumption is several times lower,” a Rostec representative told Izvestia, according to the TASS news agency on October 13.

The ZAK-30 Citadel is designed to protect fixed installations against all types of drones. It combines radar and electro-optical sensors operating in visible and infrared spectrums with an automated fire-control system that detects and tracks targets, calculates firing solutions and directs the guns.

The system uses 30 mm programmable fragmentation ammunition with remote-detonation fuses. Rather than requiring a direct hit, the shells detonate at a calculated point along a drone’s flight path, scattering fragments intended to destroy or damage the target.

Each combat module carries 300 rounds and has a stated engagement range of up to 1,000 meters against fixed-wing drones and 800 meters against small multicopters.

The system includes a command post that can control several combat modules positioned approximately 1 kilometer away and has a crew of five.

Rostec also compared Citadel with foreign counter-drone systems, including Germany’s Rheinmetall Skynex, which uses a 35 mm cannon and programmable AHEAD fragmentation ammunition, and the U.S. Phalanx close-in weapon system and land-based C-RAM, both armed with 20 mm Vulcan guns.

The Russian company said Skynex’s larger-caliber ammunition produces a powerful fragmentation field but increases the system’s weight and cost, while Phalanx and C-RAM rely on high rates of fire and consume more ammunition because they do not use the same type of programmable airburst projectiles as Citadel.

Russia’s Defense Ministry announced on October 6 that Citadel systems had been supplied to the armed forces for counter-drone operations. It is still unclear, however, how many have been delivered.

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• Syria Leaves Door Open for Joining Disastrous Saudi War on Yemen
• Syria Is Preparing to Join Saudi War on Yemen, and It Would Be a Big Mistake

Illustrative image. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Katherine Walters)

A Saudi-led coalition carried out strikes on oil facilities west of Sanaa on October 13 after warning residents to evacuate the area.

The strikes followed an announcement by coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki urging civilians to leave the Yemen Petroleum Company’s Al-Sabaha Central Station and nearby storage areas ahead of a planned operation. Al-Maliki released a map identifying the area covered by the warning but did not specify the intended military objective.

The Saudi-led coalition appeared to be borrowing a tactic used by the Israel Defense Forces in Gaza and later in Lebanon and Iran, issuing mapped evacuation warnings before carrying out strikes in designated areas.

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Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said the targeted facility was “empty of petroleum derivatives and has no military value for targeting,” citing a source within the oil company.

The Yemen Petroleum Company separately said its storage facilities were empty and that the strike would not affect oil reserves or fuel supplies for residents. The facility lies on a hill overlooking western Sanaa, where a nearby fuel station is used by the public.

Before the strikes, Saree warned that any Saudi attack on Sanaa would be met with a “firm and painful” response in Riyadh. Following the attack, the Houthis threatened Saudi oil infrastructure, identifying Saudi Aramco’s headquarters in Dammam, an Aramco refinery in Riyadh and King Khalid International Airport as potential targets.

The spokesman described Aramco facilities as “legitimate targets” and urged workers and civilians to stay away from them.

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The escalation comes after a series of Houthi missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, including a deadly attack on Riyadh’s international airport on October 10 that killed at least 13 people and injured more than 300.

The attacks have disrupted aviation and heightened pressure on Saudi authorities to strengthen the kingdom’s air defenses.

The latest exchange adds to the widening conflict between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition, which supports forces aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognized government. The Houthis will certainly execute their threat and respond with full force, possibly within hours.

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The Houthis (Ansar Allah) advanced on multiple fronts in southwestern Yemen on October 13, tightening pressure on Saudi-backed forces around Taiz while threatening to outflank government-aligned troops defending their remaining positions near the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait.

In Taiz, Houthi fighters reached the city’s western entrance and captured the al-Hangar checkpoint, with footage showing their presence at the position.

The advances came as Houthi forces pushed south of the city, clearing the areas of Anbian and Wateer, as well as positions along the approaches to Taiz.

The latest gains threaten to further isolate Saudi-backed forces defending Taiz. The Houthis had already tightened their encirclement of the city after capturing Turbah, south of Taiz, on October 4, cutting off most supply routes from government-held territory.

The advance toward al-Hangar and the fighting south of the city put additional pressure on the remaining positions and routes connecting the city with areas held by the government.

Farther south, in neighboring Lahj province, Houthi forces reportedly cleared al-Sharjan, al-Ka’ala, Harazu and al-Khabakhib in the province’s western areas.

The advance adds pressure on Saudi-backed forces deployed along the approaches to Bab al-Mandab, where the Southern Giants Brigades have been fighting to regain territory lost to the Houthis.

The two fronts pose distinct but connected threats to the Saudi-backed deployment. Around Taiz, the Houthis are tightening their hold on the city and its surrounding approaches. In western Lahj, their advance threatens to outflank the Southern Giants Brigades and other government-aligned units near Bab al-Mandab and Kahbub, potentially cutting those units’ routes for reinforcement or retreat.

If the Houthi advance in western Lahj continues, Saudi-backed forces near the strait risk being isolated as the Houthis pressure the forces’ positions from the north and east.

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Ukraine received no advance warning from its partners before five Russian ballistic missiles struck infrastructure in Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on October 13, raising fresh concerns about intelligence cooperation as tensions between Kyiv and the Trump administration deepen.

Zelenskyy described the attack in a post on X as “particularly vile” and stressed the importance of receiving intelligence from Ukraine’s partners about incoming ballistic missiles.

“This is precisely what helps prevent people from being killed — when there is an early warning about ballistic missiles,” he wrote.

The Ukrainian president did not identify which partners had failed to provide a warning, but the United States is likely playing the main role in providing such intelligence.

His remarks came amid an escalating dispute with U.S. President Donald Trump over Washington’s decision to facilitate Russian diesel exports, its pressure on Ukraine to halt attacks against Russian oil refineries and Trump’s announcement of an energy ceasefire that Kyiv had not publicly agreed to.

Trump announced on October 9 that Russia would supply diesel to the U.S. and global markets following a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The agreement marked a reversal of years of U.S. policy aimed at restricting Russian energy revenues following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The U.S. Treasury Department subsequently issued a temporary license easing sanctions on certain Russian diesel shipments.

Zelenskyy criticized the arrangement as “a weak decision, unfortunately, a weak decision by strong partners,” according to a statement released by the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington.

In a separate online statement, he argued that the agreement would benefit Moscow by providing resources to sustain its combat effort.

Trump responded by blaming Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries for contributing to high American diesel prices and suggesting that Ukraine needed a new president.

The dispute has unfolded as the administration seeks to reduce fuel costs ahead of the November midterm elections, with Trump presenting the diesel arrangement as part of his effort to lower prices and revive negotiations to end the conflict.

The friction intensified further after Trump announced on October 11 that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an immediate “energy ceasefire,” under which both sides would stop attacking each other’s energy infrastructure.

Neither side had publicly confirmed a finalized agreement when Trump announced it, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on October 13 only that contacts on the matter were continuing.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine had refrained from attacking Russian oil refineries and other energy facilities during the two days following Trump’s announcement, while accusing Russia of continuing to strike Ukrainian energy infrastructure.

“These are absolutely clear signals that they have no intention of refraining from strikes on Ukraine,” he said.

Against this backdrop, reports have emerged that Washington warned Kyiv it could lose critical military and intelligence support if it continued attacking Russian refineries.

The Washington Post reported on October 12, citing a Ukrainian security adviser and a Western official familiar with the matter, that U.S. officials had urged Ukraine to suspend the attacks and reminded Kyiv of Washington’s role in supplying weapons and intelligence.

The Ukrainian adviser said Kyiv interpreted the message as a warning that Washington “could cut intel and everything going under PURL if you don’t stop.” PURL is a NATO mechanism through which European allies finance purchases of U.S. weapons for Ukraine.

CNN separately reported, citing two European officials, that the Trump administration had warned Ukraine it could suspend intelligence sharing and the mechanism through which European countries purchase American weapons for Kyiv.

Zelenskyy’s latest remarks suggest that the Trump administration may be escalating pressure on Kyiv, with the growing rift potentially beginning to affect the security relationship between the two countries.

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Azerbaijan’s ruling New Azerbaijan Party on October 13 urged Turkey’s governing party to stop interfering in Azerbaijan’s domestic affairs after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s chief adviser and ruling-party lawmakers criticized restrictions on headscarves in Azerbaijani schools.

In a statement released through its press service, the New Azerbaijan Party accused Turkish media outlets and social media platforms, including sources close to Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party, or AKP, of spreading what it described as false, biased and defamatory information about Azerbaijan.

The party claimed that criticism by Turkish officials had become part of a broader campaign against the country as a whole.

The statement singled out Erdoğan’s chief adviser, Oktay Saral, and AKP lawmakers for making what it called populist and irresponsible remarks without adequately considering Azerbaijan’s constitutional system and legal framework for religious freedom.

“Using sensitive issues such as the headscarf as instruments of political manipulation and division serves neither the unity of the Turkish people nor the solidarity of the Muslim world,” the party said.

It called on the AKP leadership to “refrain from this harmful policy” and rejected the use of the issue as a means of political pressure against Azerbaijan.

The dispute follows a September 21 decision by Azerbaijan’s Cabinet of Ministers that amended school uniform regulations, prohibiting clothing that violates uniform requirements or conflicts with the secular principle of general education.

The decision does not explicitly mention the hijab, but some schools have prevented girls wearing Islamic headscarves from attending classes. Reports have also described restrictions affecting teachers wearing hijabs, prompting protests and criticism of the policy.

The Azerbaijani Press Agency, citing the government decision, said the amendment was intended to establish uniform clothing standards consistent with the country’s secular education system. However, critics of its implementation have argued that it restricts religious freedom and the right to education.

Saral entered the dispute on October 12, writing on social media that preventing students from attending school because they wore headscarves was unacceptable. He urged Azerbaijani authorities to reverse the restrictions, arguing that religious clothing should not prevent young people from receiving an education.

“Hijab is not an obstacle, but a requirement of faith,” Saral wrote, adding that the right to education should not be sacrificed to ideological dictates. His remarks were reported by Turkish and Azerbaijani media.

The criticism has extended beyond political statements. Demonstrators gathered outside Azerbaijan’s consulate in Istanbul last week to protest the restrictions and call on the authorities in Baku to reconsider the rules.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev responded indirectly to the growing criticism, warning against interference in the country’s way of life without explicitly naming Turkey.

On October 7, AKP spokesman Ömer Çelik sought to emphasize the strength of the bilateral relationship, describing Turkey and Azerbaijan as “one nation, two states.” He said disagreements between the countries could be discussed openly between allies and accused unnamed countries of driving a wedge between the two. Çelik also criticized groups and social media users in Turkey for targeting Azerbaijan.

The New Azerbaijan Party’s latest statement emphasized that the two countries’ historical ties did not give either side the right to interfere in the other’s domestic affairs. It noted that both countries are constitutionally secular states and argued that Azerbaijan’s education policy should not become an instrument of political pressure.

The statement also defended Azerbaijan’s relations with Israel, rejecting what it described as deliberate distortions of those ties. It said Baku maintains normal interstate relations with Israel while supporting Palestinian rights, providing financial and humanitarian assistance to Palestinians, and backing a two-state solution with East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine.

The party argued that Azerbaijan’s position on Palestine and its relations with Israel were compatible, rejecting criticism that sought to portray its foreign policy as inconsistent with solidarity among Muslim countries.

Invoking the longstanding description of the countries as “one nation, two states,” the New Azerbaijan Party said the principle reflected the friendship between two independent countries and could not justify attempts by one side to impose its political or ideological views on the other.

The dispute is testing the limits of the countries’ “one nation, two states” alliance, exposing tensions between Baku’s insistence on noninterference and the religious-solidarity arguments advanced by figures within Erdoğan’s party.

It also highlights the growing prominence of Islamist and religious-conservative rhetoric within the AKP, which has increasingly used religious identity as part of its political messaging.

The issue carries an additional religious dimension, as Azerbaijan’s Muslim population is predominantly Shiite, while Turkey is majority Sunni, although both countries are constitutionally secular and their partnership has largely been driven by shared linguistic, strategic and regional interests rather than sectarian identity.

While the dispute has not amounted to a formal diplomatic rupture, it underscores how competing approaches to religion and domestic policy can strain even close strategic partnerships.

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• On October 11, Ansar Allah forces captured Jabal Habashi and al-Misrakh in Taiz province;
• On October 11, Ansar Allah carried out missile and drone attacks on King Khalid Airport in Riyadh, King Fahd Airport in Dammam, and Aramco facilities at Shedgum and Tanajib;
• Fighting is ongoing near the Bab al-Mandab.

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Russia is improving the accuracy and range of its weapons and must accelerate the production and delivery of new systems to its armed forces, Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said on October 12 after observing weapons tests in the Southern Federal District.

“The accuracy and range of damage are constantly increasing. This opens up additional opportunities for destroying enemy targets in the depth of their defenses,” Medvedev said.

He also praised Russia’s defense industry and scientific capabilities, saying the latest tests demonstrated the country’s ability to develop advanced weapons.

“The results of today’s tests generally show that our science and our industry are capable of creating weapons that have no analogues in the world,” Medvedev said.

Medvedev said work was continuing to improve several categories of weapons, including guided rockets, long-range and artillery munitions, loitering munitions, unmanned aerial vehicles and systems designed to counter drones.

Among the artillery systems shown was the new Mak, a 152 mm wheeled self-propelled gun developed from the 2S44 Giatsint-K. The system is mounted on an eight-wheel BAZ-6910-027 chassis and armed with a 2A36 gun. It is powered by a 470-horsepower YaMZ-849 diesel engine, reportedly capable of propelling the vehicle at speeds of up to 80 km/h on roads, with a range of up to 1,000 kilometers.

The Mak also features additional armor and a Doppler radar designed to measure the muzzle velocity of shells and improve firing accuracy. Full official specifications have not yet been released.

Medvedev called for the rapid introduction of the new systems into service, saying the task was “to launch serial production and supply of such modern and effective weapons to the army as soon as possible.”

“Some of the samples that we have seen today are already being actively used,” he added, describing the discussion during his visit as focused on how those objectives were being achieved.

Medvedev also noted that some of the systems presented during the October 12 visit had been demonstrated a week earlier during the Center-2026 military exercises before Russia’s supreme commander.

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited a newly opened defense museum showcasing advanced missiles and other weapons, state media reported on October 13, as United States President Donald Trump raised the possibility of meeting Kim during a visit to Asia next month.

Photographs released by North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency showed Kim and his daughter, Ju Ae, attending the opening of the Defense Revolution Museum.

Notably, the displays included the massive Hwasong-20 intercontinental ballistic missile, which has not reportedly been tested yet.

Click to see full-size image. (Korean Central News Agency)

Click to see full-size image. (Korean Central News Agency)

Click to see full-size image. (Korean Central News Agency)

Click to see full-size image. (Korean Central News Agency)

The exhibits also included a new submarine-launched ballistic missile, the Hwasong-16 hypersonic missile, 600-millimeter and 240-millimeter multiple rocket launchers, 155-millimeter howitzers and the Badasuri anti-ship missile.

Other reported displays included Hwasal cruise missiles, reconnaissance and attack drones, an upgraded Chonma-20 tank and anti-tank guided missiles. Some of the more specific weapon designations remain tentative, as North Korea did not publish a complete inventory of the museum’s exhibits.

The visit came a day after North Korea launched two ballistic missiles from its eastern coast. Both were believed to have fallen outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone, according to Japan’s Defense Ministry.

Trump told reporters in Washington on the same day that he might hold talks with Kim during a trip to Asia next month. The U.S. president is scheduled to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen, China, on November 18 and 19.

“I may,” Trump said when asked about a possible meeting. “That’ll be exciting, won’t it? But I get along with him.”

Pyongyang had not publicly responded to Trump’s remarks as of October 13. The museum visit could serve to emphasize North Korea’s military advances ahead of any potential meeting.

Kim described the museum as demonstrating “how the dignity and security of the DPRK and the happiness of its people are defended and how peace of this land is achieved,” KCNA reported.

KCNA also reported that North Korea had test-fired a tactical ballistic missile on October 12 to validate an upgraded core component of its weapons systems. Observers said the missile may have been a Hwasong-11A, also known as a KN-23, which can follow a quasi-ballistic trajectory and is believed capable of carrying a tactical nuclear warhead.

Click to see full-size image. (Korean Central News Agency)

Japan’s Defense Ministry said the first missile traveled about 220 kilometers, reaching a maximum altitude of 20 kilometers, while the second flew more than 910 kilometers at a maximum altitude of 70 kilometers. Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said Japan, the United States and South Korea were working together to analyze the second launch, including the possibility that it followed an irregular trajectory.

Koizumi condemned the test, saying North Korea’s frequent missile launches highlighted an increasingly serious security environment around Japan. He said North Korea had launched at least 18 ballistic missiles in 11 launches so far this year, with the number of launches already more than doubling and the number of missiles roughly tripling compared with the same period last year.

North Korea has been developing missiles designed to maneuver during flight, complicating efforts to track and intercept them. The country has also pursued intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of carrying multiple independently targetable nuclear warheads, adding to concerns over the range and sophistication of its weapons program.

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The Houthis’ military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, announced on October 12 that the group had targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh with a ballistic missile.

“By God’s grace and assistance, our armed forces targeted King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, this evening with a ballistic missile, and the hit was accurate,” Saree said in a statement.

He separately announced an attack on Khamis Mushait Air Base, saying the operation was carried out using a drone and that “the hit was direct.”

Saree also renewed a warning to international airlines and aviation personnel against operating flights to Saudi airports, declaring them unsafe except for airports and airspace serving the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. The warning extended to experts, employees, workers and travelers from around the world.

The claims came as Saudi Arabia reported further incoming missile and drone threats during the day. Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, said air defenses had intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched toward Riyadh. The coalition also reported tracking drone and cruise-missile threats targeting the kingdom.

It was not immediately clear from the statement whether the interceptions involved the same missiles described by Saree or another attack.

The latest announcement follows a series of attacks on Saudi infrastructure in recent days. King Khalid International Airport remained closed on October 12 after a missile strike killed at least 13 people and wounded more than 300 last week.

Saudi Arabia has opened an investigation into how its air defenses failed to prevent that attack, with regional officials telling the AP that the Houthis had used multiple drones followed by cruise and ballistic missiles.

The escalation is unfolding as the Houthis continue in Yemen, mainly in the southwestern province of Taiz, with Saudi-backed forces failing to stop them.

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The Houthis (Ansar Allah) on October 12 released footage they said showed their fighters clearing Saudi-backed forces from the remaining areas of Jabal Habashi district, the al-Birin Triangle and the Yafrus junction in Yemen’s southwestern Taiz province.

The footage showed close-range fighting, surprise attacks and fighters advancing into opposing positions and trenches. It also depicted the use of automatic rifles, sniper rifles, machine guns and 82 mm and 120 mm mortars, alongside the capture of several fighters, weapons and military vehicles.

The Houthi military media said the group’s fighters had driven Saudi-backed forces from the three locations and secured the areas.

Pressure on Saudi-backed forces around Taiz continues to intensify, with fighting on multiple fronts and reported Houthi movements toward the city’s western approaches.

The recent advances tightened the encirclement of government-aligned positions and restricted their movement between frontlines.

Alongside the fighting, tribal leaders in Jabal Saber, south of Taiz city, have been holding negotiations with Houthi forces over a possible handover of local areas without fighting, according to Yemeni media reports. The reported talks aim to prevent villages from becoming military positions or launching points for attacks and to spare populated areas further destruction. No agreement or transfer of control had been confirmed in the reports.

The combination of Houthi advances on the western approaches and negotiations over Jabal Saber indicates the battle for Taiz city is drawing near. The Houthis maintain the upper hand. However, the difficult terrain and the high urban density of the city could play in favor of the defenders.

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