Trump's top cabinet members discuss Iran, Houthi conflict at Camp David, report says US President Donald Trump's top cabinet members met secretly at Camp David on Friday to discuss next steps in the Iran war and the Saudi-Houthi conflict in Yemen, Axios reported, citing three US officials familiar with the matter. Axios said the meeting, chaired by Vice President JD Vance, was not announced by the Trump administration, and the last time a similar meeting took place was in June 2025, just days before Israel went to war against Iran. Among the other participants were Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, White House envoy Steve Witkoff, CIA director John Ratcliffe and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, the outlet reported. "Things were decided or at least deeply discussed," one of the officials said, referring to the crisis in the Middle East.

Yemeni forces claim 71 attacks on Houthi targets in Taiz Yemen’s armed forces say they carried out 71 attacks targeting Houthi gatherings, reinforcements and military buildups across several areas of Taiz province, Al Jazeera reported. A Houthi military spokesperson said the operations targeting al-Aqrud, Samea, al-Ahkum, al-Akboush, Jabal Rasin, Jabal Jardad, Bani Omar, Bani Bakari, al-Kaawish and al-Athawir destroyed several Houthi transport and support vehicles and caused casualties among the group’s fighters.  Security forces of the internationally-recognised Yemeni government patrol a street and set up checkpoints in Taiz on 27 September 2026. (AFP)

'Netanyahu connecting flydubai incident to Iran for political reasons', report says A source close to the UAE government has accused the Israeli government of exploiting the flydubai incident for political purposes and delaying the restoration of flydubai service, according to Ynet. An Arkia aircraft brought Israeli passengers stranded in Dubai on Saturday, with an Israir plane expected to follow, while flydubai announced it was suspending all flights to Israel until further notice. One of the outstanding issues was an Emirati demand that a cargo aircraft accompany the passenger flight to transport passengers’ luggage, Ynet reported. “They are talking about ‘rescue flights’ as though there is a war in the country. There is no war,” the source told ynet.  He also claimed Emirati officials believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking to connect the attack to Iran for political reasons ahead of Israel’s election.  “The feeling in the Emirates is that everything is being done to drag this out because it serves Israel politically,” he said, comparing Israel’s conduct to “an arsonist who runs to start the fire and then runs to put it out.” Netanyahu had claimed that "a disaster on the scale of September 11" was prevented and the attacker "underwent Islamist radicalisation and came to crash the plane with its passengers on board".  “The one stopping the flights is Israel,” the source said. “If passengers can board an Arkia flight, why not Flydubai?” He argued that Israeli use of the term “rescue flights” created the impression that the UAE was facing a war or emergency. “Rescue from what? From whom? From where?” According to the source, Etihad is operating eight flights to Abu Dhabi beginning Sunday under a stricter security protocol, and the same procedures could be applied to Flydubai. He said Emirati authorities were conducting their own investigation into the Omani co-pilot suspected of trying to crash Wednesday’s flight and were willing to tighten screening procedures for aircrews. The source acknowledged that “clearly there was a failure,” but accused Israel of dragging out the crisis despite Emirati cooperation. “We are going crazy over Israel’s behaviour. It does not seem that the Israeli government understands what it is doing,” he said, according to Ynet.

Green Party leader Zack Polanski calls for de-proscribing Palestine Action Green Party leader Zack Polanski has called for Palestine Action to be de-proscribed, SkyNews reported. "And Greens, we stand with one voice now as we say, drop the charges, end the genocide, de-proscribe Palestine Action," Polanski told a party conference in Brighton to loud applause. Keir Starmer’s government proscribed Palestine Action in July 2025, meaning that expressing support for or membership of the direct action group - which aimed to cause property damage to companies manufacturing weapons that would be sold to Israel - is a criminal offence that could lead to a prison sentence of up to 14 years. The Green Party’s annual conference begun in the seaside town of Brighton, just two days after the ruling Labour Party’s conference ended. Party members are gearing up to vote on an unprecedented motion to declare Zionism a form of racism. The vote is expected to take place on Sunday, according to party insiders. If the motion passes, it will become official policy and the Greens will become the first major party in the country to recognise Zionism as racism. Zack Polanski has called for Palestine Action to be de-proscribed. It was met with huge applause from the audience at the party conference in Brighton. https://t.co/o56xLOpZhS pic.twitter.com/505Xqg9GQ0 — Sky News (@SkyNews) October 2, 2026

Death toll from Israeli strike on Gaza apartment rises to five, report says The death toll from an Israeli strike on an apartment in Gaza City has risen to five, Palestinian medical sources have told Al Jazeera. The dead include three women and a young girl. The attack set the apartment on fire and severely wounded several other people, while Israeli drones continued to fly over the area, Al Jazeera reported. As of Friday, the number of Palestinians killed since Israel agreed to a ceasefire and captive exchange in October 2025 has reached 1,441. More than 5,030 people have also been wounded in Israel's near-daily attacks on Gaza.

Trump again: 'Iran war could end very soon, probably right after elections' US President Donald Trump has again said that the war with Iran could end soon, "probably right after the elections", while questioning who in Tehran Washington could negotiate with. Speaking at a rally in Mobile, Alabama, Trump said: "I don't know who the hell to deal with. There's nobody to deal with. Nobody wants to be president. I say, who do I speak to in Iran? … Knock knock, nobody home." Trump also reiterated that Iran "will never have a nuclear weapon". He added that previous US presidents had failed to act. "This should have been done by other presidents for years … We always have to do the dirty work," he said. Trump once again painted a picture of an Iran left defenceless and in deep economic crisis: "They have no navy, they have no air force, they have no radar, they have no anti-aircraft [defence systems]," he said, adding: "Their economy is down the tubes … They have about 310 percent inflation."

Israeli passengers arrive at Ben Gurion Airport after flydubai suspension Israeli passengers stranded in Dubai arrived at Ben Gurion Airport on an Arkia Airlines flight, the first since the Emirati airline flydubai suspended the route and Israel's flag carrier El Al cancelled planned repatriation flights, Reuters reported. The flights were suspended after an Israel-bound flight made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on 30 September, after its co-pilot allegedly attempted to crash the plane. The flydubai flight was travelling from Dubai to Ben Gurion Airport with 180 passengers on board, most of them Israeli. About an hour before its scheduled arrival, the plane began a steep descent, dropping from 34,000 feet (10,363 metres) to 16,000 feet (4876.8 metres) in less than two minutes. It eventually landed safely in Tabuk, in northwestern Saudi Arabia.

Israeli strike on Gaza apartment complex kills four Palestinians Four Palestinians, including a young girl, were killed and several others wounded in an Israeli air strike that targeted a residential apartment complex west of Gaza City, Al Jazeera reported.

Settlers kill 19-year-old Palestinian in West Bank, two injured, six detained Israeli settlers killed 19-year-old Palestinian Bahaa Sami Amin Nathsheh in Kobar, north of the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah, Palestinian news agency Wafa reported, citing the health ministry. The ministry told Wafa that settlers opened fire at several Palestinians, wounding Nathsheh, who hails from Kafr Aqab town near Jerusalem. Israeli forces then arrived at the scene and prevented Palestinian medics from providing treatment to the casualty, Wafa said, citing the Palestinian Red Crescent Society. Another Palestinian was injured after being hit by a tear gas canisters in the head.  *Two Palestinians were injured by settlers in Yabrud, east of Ramallah. Wafa reported that the settlers, protected by Israeli forces, attacked the outskirts of the town before the residents attempted to confront the assailants. *Israeli forces detained six Palestinians from the occupied West Bank governorates of Jerusalem and Tubas, Wafa reported, citing Jerusalem Governorate and the Palestine Prisoner’s Society (PPS). According to the latest figures from Addameer, the Palestinian Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, there are currently 9,350 Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli prisons and detention centres, including 350 child prisoners and 90 female prisoners.

Crude oil tanker hit by unknown projectile off Oman, UKMTO says The master of a crude oil tanker has reported being struck by an unknown projectile 4 nautical miles east of Oman, ⁠according to the United Kingdom ​Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). In a post on X, UKMTO said all crew are reported safe and no environmental impact is currently reported. It advised vessels transit with caution. UKMTO WARNING 149-26 Click here to view the full warning.⤵️ https://t.co/4vjKc1kTda #MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/wJUAcPtJBU — UKMTO Operations Centre (@UK_MTO) October 2, 2026

Two Iranians charged over suspected plot to target Jews in Manchester Two Iranian nationals were charged in Britain with preparing a terrorist attack against the Jewish community in northern England, police said on Friday. Rahman Salehi, 35, and Salam Ahmadyan, 36, have been charged with preparing to commit or assisting another to commit an act of terrorism in Manchester on the eve of Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. "It is no secret that this country faces a range of serious threats from the Iranian regime," Home Secretary (interior minister) Shabana Mahmood said in a statement. "They target our Jewish communities and try to silence their critics overseas, often through proxies and criminal networks to hide their involvement." Iran has always denied such accusations. Counterterrorism police said Salehi and Ahmadyan had allegedly tried to acquire components and equipment to make an improvised explosive device and conducted reconnaissance on potential targets for attack. Report by Reuters

UK condemns Houthi attacks on Taiz, minister says The United Kingdom condemns the latest Houthi attacks in Taiz region and threat to civilians, said Stephen Doughty, the minister of state for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan. In a post on X, Doughty said: "Houthi violence has reignited Yemen's conflict, driving tragic loss of life, displacement and suffering."  "The UK stands with the internationally recognised Government of Yemen to secure lasting peace," he added.

Missile debris injures resident in Ahad Rafidah, Saudi Civil Defence says Debris from a ballistic missile that was shot down in Saudi Arabia's Ahad Rafidah Governorate in the Asir region injured a resident, according to the Saudi Directorate of Civil Defence. In a post on X, the directorate said vehicles and a prayer room inside a building suffered damage due to the falling debris. #الدفاع_المدني : سقوط شظايا اعتراض صاروخ باليستي في محافظة أحد رفيدة بمنطقة عسير نتج عنه إصابة مقيم وأضرار في مصلى داخل مبنى ومركبات. pic.twitter.com/kZUS82I0Vj — الدفاع المدني السعودي (@SaudiDCD) October 2, 2026

Death, displacement and disease: A young Gaza doctor on life under Israeli bombardment A young  Palestinian  doctor who survived  Israel 's genocidal  war on Gaza  has described what it was like confronting the burden of patient care almost immediately after graduating. In the first episode of Middle East Eye's The Gaza Podcast, which was recorded inside the besieged enclave, Maryam Youssef described the horrors she experienced while volunteering - and living - at Nasser Hospital. She recalls contracting chickenpox and being forced to isolate in a room for days as bombs rained down around her, and how she has struggled to process the trauma of surviving the conflict. "I had chickenpox after two days [of starting work at the hospital]," Youssef told podcast host Hussam Tannera. Read more:  Death, displacement and disease: A young Gaza doctor on life under Israeli bombardment

Oman has emerged as a key player in recent months after long serving as a central mediator between Washington and Tehran.

Battle in Yemen's Taiz kills scores of combatants, report says Yemen's Houthis and Saudi-backed forces fought over an area near a waterway crucial to global energy flows, killing 80 combatants over the past day, sources on both sides told AFP on Friday. Fighting in Taiz has raged since the Iran-aligned Houthis began a lightning offensive against the internationally-recognised, Saudi-backed government. The civil war, which dates to 2014 but had been dormant following a truce in 2022 roared back to life in July.

Israel's government has run fake accounts aimed at Canadians, retaliated against Canadian MPs and diplomats, and punished Norway, Ireland, Spain, Australia, France and Britain for recognising Palestine or sanctioning its ministers.

Trump says US not ‘doing the export ban’ US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he will not authorise an export ban on diesel, hours after G7 countries agreed to release diesel and crude oil from their emergency reserves. G7 countries agreed on Friday to release 100 million barrels of diesel and crude.

The report follows comments by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the attempted hijacking, saying that the hijacker underwent radical Islamist indoctrination and was clearly suicidal.

Inside Somaliland: The Israel-Turkey clash coming to the Horn of Africa Israel’s  recognition of Somaliland has been framed as giving it a launchpad to strike  Yemen’s  Houthis across the Red Sea, but Israel could also be on a collision course with an even more strategic foe and  US  ally in the Horn of Africa:  Turkey.   Officials and analysts in Somaliland say their diplomatic normalisation with Israel in January 2026 -widely condemned by the wider Muslim and Arab world - was, in part, motivated by the need to check Turkey’s growing military footprint in Somalia. Somaliland wants Israel to provide air defence systems to counter a build-up of Turkish drones and warplanes next door, officials in Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland’s republic, which is recognised only by Israel, say. “We need air defence systems,” Mohamed Osman Fadal, a senior foreign affairs advisor to Somaliland’s president, said in an interview. “Turkey has F-16s in Mogadishu, and it wants to build a drone base in Somalia.” Read more:  Inside Somaliland: The Israel-Turkey clash coming to the Horn of Africa Muslims pray along a market street before breaking their fast as they commemorate the holy month of Ramadan in Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland, on 19 February 2026 (Tony Karumba/AFP)

The nine-day tours are touted while Israel is engaged in wars with several countries in the region

Somaliland officials say Yemen's Houthis need to be engaged, but they want to enlist Israel against Turkey and Somalia

Israeli military conducts explosion in southern Lebanon Israeli army carried out two large explosions in the southern Lebanon town of Majdal Zoun, located in the Tyre District, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency has reported. Details on the explosions, including possible casualties or damage, remain unclear.

Artillery attack injures six people, including two children, in Yemen’s Taiz Six civilians, including two children and a woman, have been wounded in artillery shelling of residential neighbourhoods in central Taiz, Yemen’s state-run Saba news agency reported, citing local sources. Saba reported that the shelling, which it attributed to the Houthis, hit the Old Airport and Wadi al-Qadi areas.

Pakistan sent four planeloads of weapons to Saudi-backed government in Yemen: Report Pakistan  sent four cargo planes of armaments to the  Saudi- backed, internationally recognised government of  Yemen  in September as the kingdom mobilises to try to push back a sweeping Houthi offensive. The Pakistani weapons shipments to the port city of Aden, reported by Reuters on Friday, suggest that Islamabad is increasing its involvement in the war. Pakistan delivered air defence systems, light artillery, drones and anti-drone systems to Aden, Reuters reported, citing a Pakistani government official. In addition, Pakistani military advisers are also on the ground with their Saudi counterparts supporting Yemeni troops. Multiple western and Arab officials have told Middle East Eye that Saudi Arabia is preparing for a high-intensity campaign to counter a Houthi offensive that has put the group in control of the entirety of Yemen’s Red Sea coastline. Read more:  Pakistan sent four planeloads of weapons to Saudi-backed government in Yemen: Report This picture taken during a tour for foreign media organised by the Saudi-backed Yemeni government shows Yemeni forces inside a military camp in the southern Hadramawt province, on 20 January 2026 (Fadel Senna/AFP)

Deployments come as the US deploys a new aircraft carrier and thousands of marines to the region

Pakistani military advisors are deployed with Saudi counterparts to support the Yemeni government

Reuters also reported Friday that Saudi Arabia is preparing an offensive against the Houthis to break the chokehold and secure the shipping routes in the Red Sea.

US President Donald Trump's administration is deliberating on how to approach the Iran war, now in its eighth month, as US midterm elections approach in November.

As part of a U.S.-brokered agreement with Israel and Lebanon, residents of some southern villages are cautiously returning to their homes. What they have found is a shell of their former lives, and a daily menacing presence of the Israeli occupation.

Houthis say Saudi forces launched 94 strikes in Yemen in 24 hours Yemen's Houthis said on Friday that Saudi forces launched 94 strikes against areas under their control in the past 24 hours, as the Iran-aligned group and the Riyadh-backed government clash in the countrys revived civil war. The group said that the number of Saudi strikes on its positions had reached 1,350 since the start of the renewed fighting, saying they targeted areas across Houthi-held Yemen.

DOJ filings show Israel hired Brad Parscale's Clock Tower X for "GPT framing results on GPT conversations" and paid Piro Inc. to run a think tank that put out 124 largely AI-written reports in nine days. Perplexity, Copilot and ChatGPT have cited the material.

I was captured by Israeli soldiers and experienced three days of brutality.

Saudi-led coalition says it destroyed three missiles launched by Houthis The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis said ‌on Friday that it had intercepted and destroyed three ballistic missiles launched by the Houthis towards the southern Saudi city of Khamis Mushait.

Lapid says young Israelis told him 'even babies' in Gaza should be killed There are "no innocent people" in Gaza and Israel should "also kill two-week-old babies" in the Palestinian enclave, Israel's former prime minister Yair Lapid has recounted young Israelis telling him. "I heard all the rhetoric of: 'they all need to be killed,' 'there are no innocent people'," Lapid said in an interview on Wednesday, describing "a furious and painful meeting with a group of really young people" he had recently met. The former prime minister, who is now part of the centrist-right wing alliance of the Together party, added that he asked them, "What about babies? They said: 'babies too, because eventually they'll grow up and become terrorists'," Lapid recounted, adding that they said it applies even to two-week-old babies. Read more:  Lapid says young Israelis told him 'even babies' in Gaza should be killed Israelis protest outside the defence ministry in Tel Aviv, calling for action to secure the release of captives held in Gaza, 17 May 2025 (Jack Guez/AFP)

The contours of the battle over the future of the Democrats' policy toward Israel are starting to take shape, and J Street is trying to cement support for the existence of a Jewish ethno-state as the Party's bottom line.

The operation, expected to be launched in the coming weeks, will be led by Yemeni forces on the ground, which are overseen by Riyadh and supported by Saudi air strikes.

Iraq says gets US exemption for Iranian flights to and from holy city The United States has granted sanctions exemptions for some Iranian airlines to operate flights to Iraq's holy city of Najaf, the Iraqi prime minister's office said on Friday. It said Baghdad had secured "an agreement allowing Iranian airlines, with the exception of Mahan Air, to operate 40 flights daily to and from Najaf" , a city sacred to Shia Muslims. The US announced sweeping new sanctions targeting Iranian airlines last month as part of its efforts to pressure Iran's economy, with the two sides still to make peace in the Washington's war on Tehran. Last week, Najaf airport suspended all Iranian flights in cooperation with the sanctions, leaving travellers scrambling for alternative routes.

Turkey's defence ministry condemns Houthi drone attack on Saudi Arabia Turkey's defence ministry condemned a Houthi drone attack targeting Saudi Arabia and other actions by the group, calling for an end to such acts that threaten regional stability. The ministry said the continued Houthi threat in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab was negatively affecting not only regional security but also international maritime trade and global stability.

Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, spoke from his hospital bed in Abu Dhabi, according to a video shared by Narendra Modi.

Green Party members to vote on declaring Zionism a form of racism at conference The  Green Party’s  annual conference has begun in the seaside town of Brighton, just two days after the ruling Labour Party’s conference ended. Party members are gearing up to vote on an unprecedented motion to declare  Zionism  a form of racism. The vote is expected to take place on Sunday, according to party insiders. If the motion passes, it will become official policy and the Greens will become the first major party in the country to recognise Zionism as racism. Read more: Green Party members to vote on declaring Zionism a form of racism at conference Leader of the Green Party, Zack Polanski, takes part in a march against far-right extremism, organised by the Together Alliance, in London on 28 March 2026 (Reuters/Hannah McKay) ​​​​

Former Israeli prime minister says failure to challenge calls for killing and starving Palestinians has eroded Israel’s moral standards

G7 countries rebuke Iran for attack on neighbours The G7 countries have condemned Iran’s attacks on its neighbours amid the US’s war on Tehran. The countries met for an emergency meeting on Friday to discuss releasing diesel and crude reserves amid pressure from the US as a global energy crisis drags on.

If the motion passes, the Greens will become the first major party in Britain to recognise Zionism as a form of racism

A UAE source criticized Israel's description of flights from the Emirates as 'rescue flights,' saying the UAE agreed to additional security measures, but Israel rejected revised flydubai procedures.

Maryam Youssef tells The Gaza Podcast why she volunteered at the Nasser Hospital, what it was like contracting chickenpox as bombs rained down around her and her struggle to process the trauma of war

Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan are set to decide next steps for engaging Yemen's Houthis politically following increased attacks by the Iran-backed group.

G7 plans oil and diesel supply offers of up to 100 million barrels, Macron says G7 countries plan to offer one another up to 100 million barrels of crude oil and diesel over four months, French President Emmanuel Macron says. Members also agreed to keep diesel exports flowing within the group, with Macron saying they would impose “no ban” on those shipments. “It has been agreed to continue coordinating actions to help facilitate the exit of shipments from the Strait of Hormuz,” Reuters quoted him as saying. His comments follow US President Donald Trump’s announcement that Europe would immediately release a “massive” quantity of diesel from its reserves.

Trump says Europe agrees to immediate diesel release European countries will begin releasing large quantities of diesel immediately, US President Donald Trump says. He announced the move on Truth Social, writing: “Europe has just agreed to release a massive amount of their heavily stocked Diesel Oil. The process will begin immediately. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia to hold emergency talks on Houthi attacks Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia will top the agenda when Pakistan, Turkey and the kingdom convene emergency talks next week, Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar says. Speaking to reporters in Islamabad, Dar said the strategic political defence committee would meet under the three countries’ “Mecca Joint ⁠Defence Agreement”. The countries signed the pact in August, several weeks before the Houthis began attacking the kingdom. Dar added that more than six other countries want to join the agreement.