Saudi Arabia has intercepted three Houthi ballistic missiles and four drones as the Middle East war threatens further escalation. Jordan has launched air strikes in southern Syria following a deadly church attack, with Damascus reporting eight civilians killed. Meanwhile, US forces are reportedly preparing for possible strikes on Iran, which insists Washington meet seven conditions before negotiations. Follow this live coverage for all the latest updates: 08:11 PM, 27 October 2026Riyadh: Photos show damage caused by falling missile debris07:20 PM, 27 October 2026US consumer confidence up in October on lull in fuel price hikes
US consumer confidence improved in October, driven primarily by a lull in fuel price increases, according to a key indicator published Tuesday, a week before crucial midterm elections that will decide control of Congress.The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index rose by 7.5 points to 91.7 in October, the organization said in a statement. The data defied analyst expectations of a drop in confidence."The recovery was in line with retail gasoline prices easing from September to October," said Fergus McCormick, senior economist at the Conference Board."Yet, despite the increase in October, consumer confidence remained on the long-term downward trend that's persisted over the past few years."The rising cost of living is a core voter concern going into the November 3 elections, in which the Democratic Party is seeking to wrest control of Congress from US President Donald Trump's Republicans.Trump's war on Iran has driven up global energy prices, exacerbating already high inflation in the United States as the price for regular gasoline has increased by more than 40 percent since the start of the conflict.06:02 PM, 27 October 2026Israeli opposition warns PM is laying election groundworkThe party of Gadi Eisenkot, the main challenger to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, warned the premier was preparing to challenge the results of Tuesday's election by claiming it was being stolen."Netanyahu is in a panic - and he's laying the groundwork to challenge the results," Eisenkot's Yashar party said. "We have to be ahead of Likud by a huge margin; only then will there be no room to sow doubt about the results."05:46 PM, 27 October 2026Iran army says oil tanker on fire after hitting mines in Hormuz
The Iranian army said an oil tanker hit mines and caught fire while attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz via a route not authorised by Tehran."A few hours ago, an oil tanker in breach of regulations, having switched off its tracking systems and attempted to cross a prohibited and dangerous area east of the Strait of Hormuz, struck naval mines, causing damage and a fire," the army said in a statement carried by the official IRNA news agency.Iran claims control over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy conduit, and has targeted vessels that attempt to cross without its authorisation since the outbreak of the Middle East war on February 28.The Iranian military has reported on multiple occasions that tankers struck naval mines while attempting to transit areas Tehran considers off-limits.05:22 PM, 27 October 2026Saudi crown prince reviews Tehran talks with cabinetSaudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman chaired a meeting in Riyadh Tuesday where he and his council of ministers reviewed talks held in Tehran with the Mecca alliance a day earlier, state media reported."The council reviewed the substance of the talks held between the countries party to the Mecca Common Defence Agreement and senior officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran, reaffirming Saudi Arabia's commitment to establishing security and stability," read a statement released by state media.Senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan held talks with Iranian senior leaders in Tehran on Monday on the Middle East war, with Iran's security chief Mohsen Rezaei later calling the discussions "very good". 05:04 PM, 27 October 2026Turnout high as Israeli voters deliver verdict on NetanyahuIsraelis flocked to the polls in turnout unseen in decades, with a deeply divided electorate delivering a verdict on veteran right-wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the first election since the October 7, 2023 attack.After casting his vote in Jerusalem, Netanyahu expressed worry over high voting numbers among Israel's Arab minority and warned of attempts to "steal the election", a signal of a potential long fight ahead as he echoed his ally US President Donald Trump.Nationwide turnout in the first five hours of the election was the highest at that stage in nearly 50 years, with the Central Elections Committee giving a figure of 31.5 percent.Israelis are casting their ballots in the shadow of three years of multi-front regional wars triggered by October 7, with the trauma still fresh and questions over accountability and security central to the campaign.The close-fought vote comes as Israel looks increasingly isolated on the world stage, driven by its devastating military campaign in Gaza, soaring settlement construction and violence in the occupied West Bank, and a move towards hard-right religious nationalism.04:12 PM, 27 October 2026Qatar ruler, Iran president discussed war, Hormuz in Moscow meeting
Qatar's ruler and the Iranian president discussed the Middle East war and the blockaded Strait of Hormuz during a meeting in Moscow, the emir's office said on Tuesday."They reviewed developments in the regional situation, foremost among them the latest on the negotiations, the Strait of Hormuz, and energy supplies," a statement said.03:56 PM, 27 October 2026Iran says supreme leader met with security chief over Hormuz
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has met with security chief Mohsen Rezaei to discuss regional security and the Strait of Hormuz, his office said Tuesday.During the meeting, the first publicly announced encounter between Rezaei and the leader, they discussed "strengthening bilateral relations with neighbouring countries" and "safeguarding national and regional security through the management of the Strait of Hormuz," Khamenei's office said in a statement.Khamenei "emphasised the need to safeguard the rights and interests of the Iranian nation and the resistance front by adhering to the conditions set by the country's authorities, with the aim of ending the war and the state of neither war nor peace," it added.Their meeting was announced a day after Rezaei held talks with senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan - countries which recently signed the mutual defence Mecca Pact.03:54 PM, 27 October 2026Saudi Arabia intercepts two ballistic missiles targeting RiyadhSaudi Arabia’s air defences intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched towards Riyadh by Yemen’s Houthi militia, the Saudi-led coalition said on Tuesday.The coalition’s spokesperson announced the interception in a statement shared on social media. No further details were immediately provided about the incident or whether there were any casualties or damage.03:08 PM, 27 October 2026Australia warns against Saudi travel, urges caution at airportsAustralia has reiterated its advice against travelling to Saudi Arabia, warning of continued Houthi threats, airport disruptions and risks from missile and drone attacks.In a social media advisory, the Australian Embassy urged travellers to postpone all visits, including religious trips, and specifically advised against travelling to airports in Riyadh, Dammam and Abha.Australians already in the kingdom who wish to leave were advised to consider road or rail transport, where safe, including routes to aviation hubs in the UAE and Qatar.The embassy warned of frequent flight cancellations, delays and airspace closures, urging passengers to reconfirm flights before heading to airports.Those remaining in Saudi Arabia were advised to prepare for possible shelter-in-place orders and avoid oil facilities and other critical infrastructure.02:58 PM, 27 October 2026Netanyahu urges Israelis to vote 'the right way' as he casts ballotPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on Israelis to vote "the right way" on Tuesday as he cast his ballot in Jerusalem, facing a close-fought race in a pivotal general election.Israelis are flocking to the polls for the first time since Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack, with a deeply divided electorate delivering their verdict on the veteran leader.02:46 PM, 27 October 2026Jordan acknowledges Syrian civilian deaths in strikesJordan on Tuesday said its airstrikes over Syria killed some 20 militants of the extremist Daesh group, but also acknowledged that civilians had been killed in the attacks.The numbers given in remarks by Jordanian government spokesperson Mohammad al-Momani differ from what Syrian first-responders reported. Syria's civil defense said it only recovered the bodies of seven civilians killed in Jordanian strikes in the southern Daraa and Sweida provinces. Five of those were a family, including three children and a woman; two of the men who were killed were elderly.Al-Momani said the attacks were based on intelligence on "confirmed threats and planned terrorist acts against Jordan," and expressed regret over the civilian casualties.Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.02:36 PM, 27 October 2026Syria condemns Jordan strikes as 'unacceptable violation' of airspaceSyria on Tuesday condemned strikes on the country's south by Jordan a day earlier that Amman said targeted the Islamic State jihadist group in retaliation for a deadly church attack last week.A foreign ministry statement expressed "condemnation and rejection, in the strongest terms", calling the strike "an unacceptable violation and breach of Syrian airspace without any prior coordination". It also said the attack was "a blatant violation of the principles of good-neighbourliness and Syrian national sovereignty".02:15 PM, 27 October 2026Iran president, Qatar ruler meet in Moscow: Iranian state media
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian met on Tuesday with Qatar's Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Moscow on the sidelines of an energy forum, Iranian state media reported."The two sides reviewed the current state of relations between Tehran and Doha and emphasised the importance of deepening political and economic ties and making use of existing potential to strengthen bilateral cooperation," state television said.There was no mention of discussion of the Middle East war, triggered by US-Israeli strikes on February 28 on Iran, which responded with missile and drone strikes across the region including Qatar.The meeting took place on the sidelines of a summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum in Moscow.Qatar has taken part in recent months in mediation efforts to end the war which has spread across the region.Pezeshkian is to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin later on Tuesday.02:09 PM, 27 October 2026Two charged in UK with state security offences over airbase plot: policeUK anti-terrorism police said Tuesday that two men have been charged with national security offences after an incident last month at a British airbase used by the United States.The head of National Counter Terrorism Policing, Laurence Taylor, said two British nationals have been charged: one with assisting a foreign intelligence service, believed to be in Iran, and another with entering a prohibited place for a purpose "prejudicial" to the UK.02:02 PM, 27 October 2026Human rights watchdog says Houthi damage to Taiz road worsens humanitarian situationHuman Rights Watch says the Iran-backed Houthi rebels used explosives to severely damage a road leading into the besieged city of Taiz, worsening an already dire humanitarian situation.The rights group said in a report released Monday that the Hayjat al-Abd road is a crucial entry point for food, fuel and medicine.It warned that destroying the road would violate international law if the Oct. 18 attack was intended to "disable infrastructure indispensable to civilian survival."The attack may also have harmed civilians. 01:48 PM, 27 October 2026Houthis say strike on gas station kills at least 2Yemen's Houthi-run Health Ministry on Tuesday blamed government forces for strikes on a gas station in Taiz province that killed at least two people and wounded several others.The attack occurred as fighting around the besieged provincial capital intensified.Health Ministry spokesperson Anees al-Asbahi accused government forces of targeting the gas station late Monday.Houthi-controlled Al-Masirah TV aired footage showing two bodies in body bags and several wounded people receiving treatment at a hospital. The Associated Press couldn't independently verify the claim. 01:44 PM, 27 October 2026Early turnout in Israel vote highest since 1981: elections committeeVoter turnout in the first three hours of Israel's pivotal general election stood at 16.68 percent, the Central Elections Committee said on Tuesday, the highest at this stage of the vote since 1981."By 10 am, more than 1,200,000 Israelis had voted. The nationwide voter turnout stands at 16.68 percent," Dean Livne, acting director general of the committee, said in a televised statement.01:39 PM, 27 October 2026Jordan says holds 'great respect' for Syria following strikesJordan said on Tuesday it was keen to safeguard its ties with Syria, after it struck the south of the country in retaliation for last week's attack on a church."Jordan holds great respect for the Syrian state and its brotherly people, and coordination between Jordan and Syria in fighting terrorism and weapons and drug smuggling is ongoing and has been for years," government spokesman Mohammad Al Momani said.01:28 PM, 27 October 2026Jordan says killed more than 20 jihadists in strikes on SyriaJordan said Tuesday it had killed more than 20 jihadists in strikes on Syria conducted the day before, in retaliation for a deadly attack on a church."The preliminary results of these operations indicate significant losses among Daesh's ranks - estimated at more than 20 fighters - and the destruction of a large weapons depot belonging to the organisation," said government spokesman Mohammed Al Momani.Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.12:33 PM, 27 October 2026Houthi official says Egypt's military support for Saudi declaration of warA Houthi official said Tuesday that the Egyptian parliament's decision to authorise military support for Saudi Arabia to defend against the Iran-backed group's attacks was a declaration of war."Egypt and its parliament declared support for what is called the defence of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and in doing so, it declares war against the Republic of Yemen," said Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a member of the Houthis' political bureau, in a Telegram post.10:15 AM, 27 October 2026US updates Saudi travel alert as Riyadh airport resumes limited international flightsThe US Mission in Saudi Arabia has renewed its warning over airport security and flight disruptions following Houthi attacks on the kingdom.In an October 27 security alert, the mission said Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport had partially reopened on October 23 for domestic flights and some international services operated by national carriers.Some flights normally based in Riyadh are operating from Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Qassim.Jeddah and Dammam airports remain operational, although delays and cancellations continue.The mission also reiterated that the US State Department ordered non-emergency government employees and their families to leave Saudi Arabia effective October 23. US government personnel require special authorisation to use Saudi airports.Travellers have been urged to exercise extreme caution and check flight status directly with airlines and airports.09:25 AM, 27 October 2026Polls open in pivotal Israeli election: AFP
Israelis began voting on Tuesday in the first general election since Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack, with voters to deliver their verdict on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the country's rightward drift.Some 7.3 million people are eligible to vote, with the last polls to be published showing Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, running neck and neck with his main centrist rival Gadi Eisenkot. Most polling stations will close at 10:00 pm (2000 GMT).06:28 AM, 27 October 2026Saudi coalition intercepts four Houthi drones targeting southern regionThe Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted and destroyed four drones launched by Yemen's Houthi militia towards Saudi Arabia's southern region. Coalition spokesman Major General Turki Al-Malki confirmed the interceptions.04:53 AM, 27 October 2026Saudi air defences intercept three Houthi ballistic missiles targeting Eastern RegionThe Saudi-led coalition said its air defences intercepted and destroyed three ballistic missiles launched by Yemen's Houthi militia towards Saudi Arabia's Eastern Region. Coalition spokesman Major General Turki Al-Malki confirmed the interceptions.03:25 AM, 27 October 2026Oman urges Gulf security pact including IranOmani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi urged a Gulf security framework including Iran and a non-aggression pact among the region’s eight states, the Foreign Ministry said Monday.Speaking at Cambridge University’s Girton College, he called for “a new regional security structure” designed and implemented locally, saying reliance on external powers had lasted too long.Excluding Iran would make any framework inherently unstable, he said.“It’s not a matter of whether you’re friendly or hostile to Iran,” Albusaidi said. “A Non-Aggression Pact between all eight states should be the goal,” he added, referring to the six Gulf Cooperation Council members, Iraq and Iran.03:40 AM, 27 October 2026'Entering new path could be considered': Iran tells US, insists on 7 conditions for new talksWashington must fulfill seven conditions before Tehran considers negotiations, an Iranian official said on Monday, warning against a temporary deal followed by renewed military action or pressure.Ali Bagheri Kani, deputy for foreign policy and international security at the Supreme National Security Council secretariat, spoke to state television after Mecca Pact talks involving Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan in Tehran.“If the United States fulfills them, then entering a new path could be considered,” he said.Bagheri Kani suggested Washington might pursue a short-term agreement to claim a political victory before the November 3 midterm elections, then resume military operations or increase pressure.He said countries had proposed shortening Iran’s seven-day implementation period.“Today, at the meeting, Mr. Rezaei said that if the issue is the number of days, we could accept five days or even four days,” he said, referring to council secretary Mohsen Rezaei.“But the important point is that these seven conditions must be fulfilled,” he added.“We have no doubt whatsoever that these seven conditions must be fulfilled. Once that happens, we will decide what to do next.”03:15 AM, 27 October 2026Syria shuts main border crossing Tuesday with Jordan after strikes
Syria said it was closing its main border crossing in the country's south with Jordan on Tuesday after deadly strikes that Amman said came in retaliation for a jihadist attack on a church last week.Syria's border and customs authority announced the closure of the Nassib border crossing, known as Jaber on the Jordanian side, "due to the current circumstances", and suspended all "passenger and commercial traffic in both directions".02:35 AM, 27 October 2026Syria says death toll in Jordan strikes rises to 8Syria said the death toll in Monday's strikes in its south had risen to eight, as Jordan said it had targeted "terrorist organisations" after a deadly jihadist attack on a church.Health officials said "hospitals in Daraa provin
