Morning recap

Good morning Middle East Eye readers,

Here are the key developments from across the region:

The United States has extended existing sanctions on Iran until 2031 and added new ones targeting Russia. Explosions were heard in Riyadh, with civil defense authorities issuing and then retracting alerts for several provinces. Yemen's Human Rights Ministry accused the Houthis of attacking and looting Saudi-funded humanitarian and medical facilities. The Houthis claimed that Saudi Arabia launched 26 strikes against their control areas in the past 24 hours.

Turkey revoked Iran's Bank Mellat's operating license as the US pressures Tehran economically. Saudi Arabia informed European customers they won't receive crude oil allocations in October due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Former Palestinian Authority minister Sufian Abu Zaida claims he acted as a liaison between Israel and Hamas before October 7, 2023.

Three Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza, according to local hospital sources. Yemen's Foreign Minister Afrah Alzouba emphasized that Yemen is not an "Iranian bargaining chip" and its future is decided by Yemenis. Rear Admiral Abdullah bin Salem al-Shehri, commander of the Multinational Maritime Defence Coalition, stated that protecting international waterways is an international responsibility and warned that any threat will be deterred. US Central Command redirected 105 commercial vessels since enforcing a naval blockade against Iran.