Iran says seven ships hit near Hormuz as US and Israel reportedly plan post-midterm strikes Aramco evacuates headquarters and US pulls diplomats as Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia intensify Russia strikes Kyiv after Witkoff-Putin talks as Ukrainian drones target Moscow Ebola reaches Nigeria as WHO warns of a more complex outbreak Oil climbs to five-month high as global stocks fall Millions of exploit attempts follow AI-found PHP flaws as sites return online French risk premium hits euro-crisis levels as borrowing costs pass US Death toll passes 150 after drone strike on Abyei market Trilateral Ukraine talks eyed for November as Witkoff's Putin remark angers allies Magnitude 7 earthquake kills at least 16 in northern Tibet France bans non-union protests ahead of Saturday demonstrations Lula accepts Bolsonaro's terms for record disclosure before Brazil run-off AI debt worries weigh on markets as Meta credit risk hits record Taiwan and China prepare as Super Typhoon Champi approaches Israel's race stays tight as Netanyahu courts right-wing voters Experts expect Meta to fight $25bn New Mexico penalty on appeal Israel frees nine settler suspects to house arrest as UN calls West Bank violence out of control Serbia's student list rallies in Belgrade as campaign closes before Sunday's vote North Korea to restart border propaganda broadcasts as tensions rise DeepSeek reportedly raises $15bn as TSMC seeks rare-earth workarounds Germany arrests Ukrainian man suspected of spying for Russia Italian truckers ease fuel-price protests as government lines up aid Trump asked Musk to lift Starlink limits in Ukraine, as Rubio says access is Musk's call Tesla profit falls as analysts debate SpaceX merger Protests in Indonesia demand action as haze blankets Southeast Asia Ankara rejects Greek and EU criticism of Libya maritime deal Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict turns to proxy groups after eight months ICC wins EU Sakharov Prize while under US sanctions Indonesia moves to shore up markets ahead of MSCI index change Retail investors fully subscribe Jio Platforms IPO Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan and Indonesia sign defence industry pact Nestlé removes Russian business from accounts after Kremlin takeover Albanian lawmakers scuffle in parliament as street protests continue NATO agency to let Ukraine buy weapons through its procurement system Aung San Suu Kyi speaks to son for first time in over five years Israeli fire kills four in Gaza as hospitals face fuel and medicine shortages Barclays to cut 5,000 jobs as it steps up AI adoption Iran says seven ships hit near Hormuz as US and Israel reportedly plan post-midterm strikes Aramco evacuates headquarters and US pulls diplomats as Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia intensify Russia strikes Kyiv after Witkoff-Putin talks as Ukrainian drones target Moscow Ebola reaches Nigeria as WHO warns of a more complex outbreak Oil climbs to five-month high as global stocks fall Millions of exploit attempts follow AI-found PHP flaws as sites return online French risk premium hits euro-crisis levels as borrowing costs pass US Death toll passes 150 after drone strike on Abyei market Trilateral Ukraine talks eyed for November as Witkoff's Putin remark angers allies Magnitude 7 earthquake kills at least 16 in northern Tibet France bans non-union protests ahead of Saturday demonstrations Lula accepts Bolsonaro's terms for record disclosure before Brazil run-off AI debt worries weigh on markets as Meta credit risk hits record Taiwan and China prepare as Super Typhoon Champi approaches Israel's race stays tight as Netanyahu courts right-wing voters Experts expect Meta to fight $25bn New Mexico penalty on appeal Israel frees nine settler suspects to house arrest as UN calls West Bank violence out of control Serbia's student list rallies in Belgrade as campaign closes before Sunday's vote North Korea to restart border propaganda broadcasts as tensions rise DeepSeek reportedly raises $15bn as TSMC seeks rare-earth workarounds Germany arrests Ukrainian man suspected of spying for Russia Italian truckers ease fuel-price protests as government lines up aid Trump asked Musk to lift Starlink limits in Ukraine, as Rubio says access is Musk's call Tesla profit falls as analysts debate SpaceX merger Protests in Indonesia demand action as haze blankets Southeast Asia Ankara rejects Greek and EU criticism of Libya maritime deal Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict turns to proxy groups after eight months ICC wins EU Sakharov Prize while under US sanctions Indonesia moves to shore up markets ahead of MSCI index change Retail investors fully subscribe Jio Platforms IPO Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan and Indonesia sign defence industry pact Nestlé removes Russian business from accounts after Kremlin takeover Albanian lawmakers scuffle in parliament as street protests continue NATO agency to let Ukraine buy weapons through its procurement system Aung San Suu Kyi speaks to son for first time in over five years Israeli fire kills four in Gaza as hospitals face fuel and medicine shortages Barclays to cut 5,000 jobs as it steps up AI adoption

Symbolic image: Iran says seven ships hit near Hormuz as US and Israel reportedly plan post-midterm strikes

Symbolic image

Iran says seven ships hit near Hormuz as US and Israel reportedly plan post-midterm strikes

12 sources

Iran's IRGC says seven vessels were hit near Hormuz, while the New York Times reports US-Israeli plans for renewed strikes after the 3 November midterms.

The IRGC Navy said it struck four ships involved in oil transfers in the Gulf and that three more caught fire after hitting mines near the Strait of Hormuz. It warned that confrontation would extend to US bases if Washington keeps urging vessels through mined waters. The New York Times, citing US officials, reported on Wednesday, 21 October, that the two militaries have drawn up plans for a three-day operation against nuclear sites, energy infrastructure and missile and drone arsenals. Trump has not approved it, according to the report, and the White House denied to Drop Site that strikes are planned before Israel's 27 October election. TASS reports Trump said no talks with Tehran are under way and that the situation will change fairly soon.

Israeli election complicates timing

Netanyahu said on Wednesday he has directed the IDF and Mossad to topple Iran's regime. Israeli security officials warned, according to KAN, that a strike now could look like election interference, and opposition leader Yair Lapid said there is no reason to attack before the vote.

Tehran threatens wider response

IRGC spokesperson Hossein Mohebi said Iran would now respond to an attack by invading the attacking country. Iranian officials also threaten data centers and undersea cables, while Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Tehran will give diplomacy another chance if the US shows sincerity.