Houthi Rebels Warn US of Retaliation After Intercepted Saudi Missile Attacks

President Donald Trump labeled Houthi attacks as completely unacceptable after receiving a call from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman while coalition forces successfully intercepted three ballistic missiles aimed at Riyadh and Khamis Mushait. The group fired these weapons on Monday night, prompting explosions over the capital that officials confirmed were stopped before hitting their intended marks.

Houthi political bureau member Mohammed Al Bukhaiti issued a stark warning to AFP regarding any American involvement in strikes against Yemen. He promised a swift and painful response targeting U.S. interests if President Trump joined Saudi military operations. The rebels explicitly told all employees working at Saudi oil facilities and airports to stay away from those sites because they have become legitimate targets for their aggression.

This new threat follows the deadly assault on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh that killed at least 13 people and wounded hundreds more. President Trump condemned this specific attack during a press briefing at the White House, repeating his anger twice before declaring the Houthis misbehave very badly indeed. He stated clearly that no good comes from such actions while confirming he spoke with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman about the situation.

Oil prices slid in early morning trading across Asia on Tuesday after surging nearly two dollars per barrel the day before according to Reuters reports. Investors weighed the risk of supply disruptions caused by attacks on Saudi Arabia against a potential influx of Russian diesel fuel into global markets. Brent crude dropped 61 cents or roughly half a percent to settle at $106.04 a barrel after closing Monday near its highest mark since mid-September. Meanwhile U.S. West Texas Intermediate slipped forty-seven cents to reach $93.27 per barrel in the current market conditions.

An agreement between President Donald Trump and Russia allows Russian diesel to reach international markets alongside a temporary waiver of sanctions on Russian fuel shipments. This development helps offset fears that regional conflict might choke off vital energy supplies needed by economies worldwide. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander-in-chief Gen Ahmad Vahidi also warned foreign powers against interfering in the Strait of Hormuz and Persian Gulf waters during this tense moment.

No extra-regional power has the right to threaten or maintain a hegemonic presence inside these critical waterways as tensions rise between nations. The situation remains fluid with both sides issuing warnings while military interceptors continue to block incoming missiles from Iran-backed groups operating out of Yemen.

Ahmad Vahidi stated on Monday that supertankers are pulling away from the Persian Gulf as Revolutionary Guard attacks threaten vital oil routes. Bloomberg cited tanker-tracking data showing at least 10 supertankers and multiple Suezmax vessels have stopped or turned back from Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates. This hub sits outside the Strait of Hormuz and is essential for moving crude oil globally.

Saudi Arabia has opened a probe into its air defenses after Houthi missiles and drones struck Riyadh's international airport. The Associated Press reported that 13 people died and more than 300 were injured in the barrage that hit King Khalid International Airport. Officials say initial findings show Houthis used multiple drones to overload the system before firing cruise and ballistic missiles. The attack traveled over 620 miles without early warning, exposing blind spots in the kingdom's protection layers. One official noted the assault challenged U.S.-made Patriot systems because Houthi warheads can change direction midflight.

A cluster munition from a Hezbollah rocket blast killed a 14-year-old boy and hurt 24 students and teachers on a hike near Israel's northern border with Lebanon. The Times of Israel reported this tragedy occurred on Monday when an unexploded ordnance detonated during the walk. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed the explosive remained from a prior attack. Investigators claimed a student picked up the device and put it in a backpack before the blast minutes later. Police gave a different story, saying the munition exploded while held in the boy's hands. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled his schedule to visit the injured at the hospital, and Israeli officials plan to stop school hikes near the border zone.

Iran's Foreign Ministry dismissed British claims linking Tehran to a terror plot targeting RAF Fairford last September. London said the conspiracy was highly likely coordinated in Iran and almost certainly directed by Revolutionary Guards. Andy Burnham addressed the British Parliament with those assertions before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the injured. Tehran argued London used speculative language without proof, accusing the U.K. of trying to distract from its role in joint military actions against Iran.

OpenAI announced on October it disrupted an Iranian influence campaign that placed AI-generated news articles online. These stories aimed to spread disinformation, but technology caught them before they could cause widespread confusion. The incident highlights how digital tools can now defend against foreign manipulation attempts targeting the public record.

Intelligence reports confirm that a covert Iranian influence operation was disrupted. This campaign relied heavily on artificial intelligence to manufacture social media comments and invent fake journalist identities. The group pitched these fabricated stories to major global news outlets for publication. Actors operating in both English and Persian used ChatGPT to write content specifically targeting conflicts between the U.S. and Iran, as well as tensions involving Israel and Tehran. OpenAI released a statement assigning this specific campaign a score of 4 on their six-point influence operation scale. This rating highlights significant success because AI-generated material ended up in mainstream news feeds. Between July 2025 and October 2026, nearly 100 articles appeared under fictitious names like Noah Lamington and Sophia Gonzalez. These pieces ran in publications such as International Policy Digest, Eurasia Review, and Common Dreams without the public realizing they were fake.

Fighting continues to rage on the ground while political leaders make bold claims from afar. The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen's Houthis announced Monday that it destroyed ballistic missiles fired by the Iran-aligned group. Col. Turki Al-Maliki, the coalition's official spokesman, posted on X about intercepting and destroying two missiles launched toward Khamis Mushait. Earlier that same day, coalition forces confirmed they also shot down another missile heading for Riyadh as hostilities between the two sides persisted. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump did not rule out further military action against Iran during a Monday press briefing. He downplayed Tehran's military capabilities while predicting the conflict would end very soon and oil prices would plunge drastically.

When asked if the U.S. would take more steps after Britain and its allies linked Tehran to a terror plot at RAF Fairford, Trump said Washington would see what happens next. We're going to see, he told reporters outside the White House before adding that there is plenty of action available against Iran. He noted they have no Navy and no air force right there while claiming inflation has reached 301 percent in his narrative. Trump also predicted a swift end to the war stating oil prices would then fall sharply like a rock once hostilities stop very soon with Iran. This rhetoric follows a call President Donald Trump confirmed he had with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday. During that conversation, he sharply criticized recent Houthi strikes on regional targets while speaking to reporters on the South Lawn. The Houthis are misbehaving, Trump said before departing the White House Monday for Joint Base Andrews. They're misbehaving very badly, he insisted regarding ongoing attacks in the region. Turning his attention back to Tehran, Trump reaffirmed his administration's position that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon and stated that this goal is now happened.

They're never going to have a nuclear weapon." That was the sharp declaration made regarding Iran's nuclear ambitions. The tension remains high across the region while new incidents unfold daily.

A tanker struck by an unknown projectile while moving through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. UKMTO confirmed receiving this report immediately. "A verified source has reported that a Products Tanker has been struck by an unknown projectile whilst conducting an outbound transit," the maritime authority stated on X. Authorities are now investigating the attack. Ships have been advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity directly to UKMTO.

Meanwhile, Iran's Supreme Court upheld the death sentence for Ali Sina Mostafavi, a 38-year-old professional mountaineer. Human Rights for Sport issued this news. Iranian security forces raided his home in April and beat him severely. Branch 1 of the Kerman Revolutionary Court originally sentenced Mostafavi to death. "His sentence was confirmed on 28/09/2026 by Branch 41 of the Supreme Court," the rights group said on Facebook. He has climbed several peaks inside Iran plus Island Peak and Kalapatar in Nepal. He also attempted Ama Dablam. This case is part of a broader crackdown on prominent Iranian athletes following widespread protests.

Saudi Arabia extended its shutdown of King Khalid International Airport through Oct. 17 on Monday. Deadly missile and drone strikes targeted the capital's main airport recently. The official Notice to Air Missions extends the suspension of flight operations as civil aviation inspectors and security forces assess damage and work to restore airspace safety across the region. "The closure impacts nearly 700 flights per day," Flightradar24 said on X. This decision follows a weekend of escalating violence. A Houthi strike Saturday killed 13 people and injured more than 300. Another strike Sunday killed one person.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated Monday that the September terror plot targeting RAF Fairford was highly likely coordinated in Iran. It is almost certainly directed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). "We will not tolerate these threats on our soil," Burnham said Monday in parliament. "We will crack down on Iran's use of criminal networks, using our full range of powers to target them and their funding streams, and we will bring further sanctions to restrict the capacity of Iran and the IRGC to do us harm," he added. The United States, Britain and other allies condemned Iran in a joint statement. "The UK has also concluded this event demonstrates the IRGC's continued willingness to project hostile activity beyond its borders through covert networks and proxy actors." Any attempt by Iran to threaten, silence, intimidate, harass, harm, or coerce people on our territories through proxies or any other means is unacceptable, the statement said. Iran's ambassador to Britain, Seyed Ali Mousavi, denied Tehran's involvement in the suspected plot targeting air base after being summoned to the British Foreign Office on Monday.

Iran deployed 50-plus military units along its borders to ensure security, according to Iranian state media. Brig. Gen. Ali Jahanshahi, commander of the Iranian Army Ground Forces, announced this deployment in an Oct. report. These actions show how regulations and government directives directly affect the public safety and daily life of citizens everywhere. The limited access to information privileges those with connections while leaving others in the dark about critical developments. Communities face real risks when borders close and flights stop without clear communication.

A recent interview with Mehr News Agency reveals a stark reality about Iran's military posture. The state-sponsored outlet reported that most ground troops sit right on the borders of the northwest, west, southwest, east, northeast and southeast of the country. They are especially concentrated along the Makran coast. Jahanshahi claimed these units enjoy very good readiness by God's grace.

The forces positioned there include special forces, rapid reaction teams, special operations groups, mechanized brigades, and artillery units. All of them have operational support behind their lines. Tehran took significant measures to overhaul its defenses after joint strikes by Israel and the United States in 2025. Jahanshahi told the outlet they revised operational plans and modified their combat structure. They also prioritized equipping units with new weaponry featuring precision-strike, smart, and network-enabled capabilities.

Saudi Arabia issued an urgent early warning Monday. Residents in Riyadh got a possible hostile threat alert. The Saudi Civil Defense posted this on X: Early warning platform: Potential hostile threat in Riyadh. Follow safety instructions. Officials advised residents to remain alert and follow emergency safety protocols as defense forces assessed the situation. Reports surfaced of multiple booms across Riyadh. Reuters said a witness heard three loud explosions.

Thick black smoke billows into the sky from an oil tanker after a reported attack near the Strait of Hormuz. This visual confirms the escalating danger in the region. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent joined Fox and Friends Weekend to discuss economic sanctions on Iran and Russia. He also talked about maritime tension in the Gulf of Oman. His comments face criticism from Democratic politicians regarding these policies.

Former Deputy National Security Advisor KT McFarland appeared on Fox and Friends to react to the Houthi rebel attack on a Saudi airport. This happened on Monday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of breaking an energy ceasefire during that same broadcast segment. Bessent says the US will continue to pressure Iran's economy regardless of political pushback.

Houthis threaten Saudi Arabia's airspace after the Riyadh airport attack. The warning is serious given their alignment with Tehran. An opinion piece by Fox Ali Shihabi, a Saudi author and political analyst, argues America cannot afford to look away. Some in Washington would like to believe the Houthis are somebody else's problem. It is easy to understand why. America is already deeply engaged in the war with Iran. There is little appetite for widening the battlefield with midterm elections approaching.

The Houthis have cynically given Washington a reason to limit its involvement by signaling that American shipping will not be targeted. But Yemen is not a separate conflict. The Houthis are a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization aligned with Iran and armed and supported by Tehran. They are waging a campaign against Yemen's Saudi-backed government. This forms part of the same regional confrontation.

The good news is that the war is beginning to move in the right direction for the Yemeni government, although the battle will be challenging. Government forces, supported by Saudi air power, have expelled the Houthis from some strategically important areas around the Bab el-Mandeb. They are demonstrating their capacity to operate effectively.

Gains hold ground, yet risks linger. Battlefield momentum feels encouraging. This shift changes how Americans weigh their involvement. The United States already feeds Saudi Arabia intelligence and targeting support while avoiding direct strikes. That help matters. American satellites and surveillance systems locate missile batteries, drone facilities, command centers, and mobile launchers quickly.

Direct U.S. air power could make that intelligence far more effective. Aircraft operate inside American networks. Information flows fast from sensors to shooters. Saudi planes receive sophisticated data too, but sharing it with partners adds steps. Dissemination, release, and command checks slow things down. A short delay lets a mobile launcher fire, move, and vanish in minutes.

Putting American aircraft directly into the sensor-to-shooter loop cuts detection time. Attacks happen sooner against time-sensitive assets like mobile launchers or drone hubs. Washington collects vast data already. Exploiting it faster yields greater effect without expanding into a large campaign. A limited role focuses on specific threats rather than open-ended war.

Direct U.S. Air Force involvement helps greatly, but success does not depend on it. Saudi Arabia possesses the aircraft and resources needed to back Yemeni forces. Ground troops prove capable of fighting themselves. Washington could speed things up without taking responsibility for the conflict. The calculus remains complex.

Mojtaba Khamenei defies malicious attacks as U.S. troops focus on Iran's 350,000 soldiers. On Oct. 8, the Supreme Leader claimed strikes failed to undermine domestic security forces. He praised police personnel who resisted attacks launched in February under Operations Epic Fury and Roaring Lion. His remarks appeared on X just as the Army released a new guide for identifying Artesh members. Estimates from the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security placed ground forces at 350,000 personnel back in June.

"The criminal US-Zionist enemy's desperate efforts and malicious attacks on the pillars of social order and security, which are unparalleled throughout history, have not caused the courageous personnel of the Police Force to waver even a fraction in their mission," Khamenei wrote. He specifically praised Iran's Law Enforcement Command, known as FARAJA. Accusations flew against the United States and Israel for targeting that institution. The focus on striking police levels from highest command down to frontline units underscored its importance more than ever.

Iran's security apparatus splits into three branches. Artesh handles conventional territorial defense primarily. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps protects the republic and projects power abroad. FARAJA manages domestic law enforcement and internal security duties. This structure defines how Iran fights at home and abroad today.

The Senate race between Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed and GOP nominee Mike Rogers took a sharp turn after their debate on "One Nation." El-Sayed made national headlines when he refused to say whether Iran or Israel is a greater threat to the U.S. Meanwhile, Trump weighs action against Houthis following a brutal attack on Riyadh's airport.

Foreign policy expert Harley Lippman weighed the possibilities of potential U.S. responses to these strikes on "Fox Report." Attacks on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport and others have killed at least 20 people. This violence sparked international condemnation and potential military responses against Iran-backed Houthi forces.

The Federal Aviation Administration warned U.S. airlines Sunday to exercise extreme caution in or over Saudi airspace. Citing heightened security risks from ongoing conflict, Reuters reported the agency's urgent message. Navigation systems are also disrupted, making travel dangerous. The FAA notice to airmen remains effective through Dec. 10. This warning follows a series of strikes targeting Riyadh, including renewed attacks over the weekend.

"Threats could pose a potential risk to aircraft at all altitudes," the FAA stated clearly. This danger includes overflight, arrival, and departure phases of flight for any plane in the region. Data from flight-tracking service Flightradar24 showed significant disruptions across three major Saudi airports. Operations were reportedly suspended at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh following the strikes.

Ground operations at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam faced similar suspensions. No departures occurred over a two-hour period there. Only three arrivals logged over four hours, highlighting how quickly things can shut down. King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah also suffered significant flight disruptions. A total of 156 flights were canceled, representing 20% of scheduled traffic. Another 374 flights faced delays, accounting for 49% of the schedule, Flightradar24 said.

Fox News' Emma Bussey contributed to this report as live coverage continues here. Anders Hagstrom and Emma Bussey covered these developing events for viewers watching closely. The situation remains fluid and dangerous for anyone traveling near the conflict zone.