Riyadh airport attack death toll rises to 14 as Houthis claim strike
The Houthis said they targeted King Khalid Airport in Riyadh, and BBC Arabic reported that the death toll from the attack has risen to 14. Hezbollah denied giving the group military support, while Saudi Arabia announced that a potential threat in Jazan had passed. The United Nations warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis in Taiz, and Yemeni parties accused Iran of stepping up its military backing for the Houthis.
Why it matters The report shows the escalation reaching a vital civilian facility in the Saudi capital, which bears on aviation security and travel in the region. The question of who backs the Houthis remains disputed, with Hezbollah denying involvement and Yemeni parties accusing Iran.
Democratic midterm win puts Hakeem Jeffries on track to become House speaker
Democratic gains in the US midterm elections have cleared the way for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to become the first Black speaker of the chamber, Sky News Arabia reported. Jeffries has formally announced his bid for the post, according to RT Arabic. He faces the twin task of confronting President Donald Trump while bridging divisions between moderates and progressives in his own party. He told CNN that ending the war in Iran is among the party's most urgent goals, part of a broader agenda to tackle the cost-of-living crisis in 2027.
Trump acknowledges Iran war weighed on midterm election results
President Donald Trump acknowledged that the war with Iran influenced the outcome of the midterm elections, saying he had no choice but to fight it despite the impact on Republican performance. According to CNN Arabic, he gave conditional backing to Vice President JD Vance's assessment, which blamed Republican losses in the vote on the war.
