Key political developments across the Arab world and beyond.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard on Monday hinted at the possible targeting of the main internet cables running along the seabed of the Strait of Hormuz, according to RT Arabic. The warning comes amid the ongoing war between Washington and Tehran, as Russian and Pakistani diplomatic efforts continue. Al Jazeera also reported that Hegseth held a secret meeting with Netanyahu.
Saudi Arabia's civil defense said on Sunday that six citizens were wounded when a projectile it attributed to Yemen's Houthi group struck a residential site in the southern city of Najran. It added that three homes and three vehicles were also damaged.
Israeli forces moved into areas of southern Syria on Sunday, amid reports of farmland being bulldozed and roads closed. Syria's state news agency SANA said agricultural land was razed, including olive groves, and Damascus condemned the moves. Residents told the BBC they have been cut off from their land, with reports putting the area cleared at hundreds of dunams.
Alaa Mubarak, son of the late Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, has commented on Egypt's support for Saudi Arabia. His remarks followed President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's call for parliament to vote on authorizing the deployment of Egyptian troops to the kingdom. According to RT Arabic, he said the stance rests on historic fraternal ties and shared Arab national security, and does not question Saudi military capabilities.
French President Emmanuel Macron has pledged to hold to account those responsible for the vandalism and looting that accompanied Saturday's protests across France, saying nothing justifies the violence. Al Jazeera reports that about 2,400 people were arrested and nearly 1,000 police officers were injured, while tensions flared again in Paris.
US President Donald Trump said his decision to postpone new sanctions on Russia is not a retreat from his position but a tactical move to keep negotiations to end the war in Ukraine alive. He warned that acting now could push Moscow to walk away from the talks. RT Arabic also quoted him as citing significant progress in the negotiations.
Gadi Eisenkot, Benjamin Netanyahu's main challenger in Israel's parliamentary elections set for October 27, responded on Sunday to a message of support from US President Donald Trump for the prime minister. Eisenkot said that choosing the country's leader is a matter for Israelis alone. According to CNN Arabic, the endorsement came about nine days before the vote and was the explicit backing Netanyahu had long sought.
US President Donald Trump said he would like Russia to stop helping Iran in its war with the United States, according to Russian media reports. The report gave no details on the nature of the assistance and included no response from Moscow or Tehran.
Saudi Arabia said two pilots were killed when a reconnaissance helicopter crashed near its border with Yemen, and that six people were injured when a projectile landed in Najran. The incidents come amid escalating tensions with the Houthis, who claimed they shot down a Saudi reconnaissance aircraft. Separately, Al-Azhar called for urgent Arab and Islamic mediation to end conflicts in the region.
Protests took place in several French cities over rising living costs and declining public services, BBC Arabic reported. The demonstrations were accompanied by clashes with police and outbreaks of rioting in some cities.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said on Saturday that Israeli authorities should urgently detain those responsible for an attack by settlers on a convoy of European diplomats visiting the occupied West Bank, and bring them before the courts. According to BBC Arabic, masked settlers attacked the delegation in the village of al-Tayba, drawing condemnation. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office questioned the circumstances of the incident and called for patience and conclusive evidence before accusations are made.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday accused US President Donald Trump of rewarding Russian President Vladimir Putin, after Washington suspended sanctions on Russia. Sky News Arabia describes the move as an exemption from sanctions imposed by Congress, while BBC Arabic calls it a suspension of new sanctions. The decision came as Russia stepped up attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities, drawing European criticism and deepening tension between Washington and Kyiv.
The Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen's internationally recognized government said on Sunday that it intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles fired by the Houthi group toward the kingdom. Other outlets reported the missiles were aimed at the city of Khamis Mushait, and that Saudi Arabia's Defense Ministry confirmed the interception. The available reports made no mention of casualties or damage.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has asked parliament to convene an emergency session to seek authorization for a possible military intervention in support of Saudi Arabia, Al Jazeera reported. The move has raised questions about the nature and limits of Egypt's role. Lawmaker Mostafa Bakri told RT Arabic the expected mandate is meant to defend the kingdom's security and borders, which he described as part of Egypt's own security.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard said on Saturday that two oil tankers caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz after each struck a mine. U.S. President Donald Trump said operations related to Iran would end soon, while Washington said most vessels had passed through without casualties. RT Arabic reported rising tension in the strait amid a growing number of incidents involving tankers and merchant ships.
Egypt's House of Representatives will hold a general session on Sunday, 18 October 2026, at 1 p.m., responding to President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's request for authorization to take any action Saudi Arabia asks for to protect and defend itself, according to Egyptian state television. Media reports quote Sisi as saying Egypt is ready to carry out any measure Riyadh requests for its security and will not allow its stability to be undermined.
The Russian embassy in Riyadh has advised Russian citizens to postpone trips to Saudi Arabia where possible, citing escalating hostilities between the kingdom and the Houthis. The advisory, as reported by Russian media, is a recommendation rather than a travel ban.
Palestinians and an American journalist were injured in an attack by Israeli settlers during an olive harvest in the occupied West Bank, BBC Arabic reported. The incident comes as the harvest season begins, amid a rise in settler attacks compared with previous years.
Katie Zakaria has left her post as White House press secretary, about five days after President Donald Trump appointed her, a senior US official told AFP on Friday. Other outlets, citing presidential advisers, reported that she was dismissed. Her exit followed debate over her professional qualifications and criticism of her performance at her first press briefing.
US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he was not responsible for the temporary slowdown of the Starlink satellite internet service used by Ukraine's military. RT Arabic, citing Britain's Telegraph, reported that Elon Musk had suggested to Trump that the network be slowed in Ukraine.
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