Iranians celebrate setback for Trump in US election, and other Mideast news

Iranian officials felt more confident on Wednesday following a significant loss for U.S. President Donald Trump in the recent elections. World leaders are now awaiting to see if Washington will end the ongoing war with Iran. Meanwhile, the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed to have launched attacks on an airport in the Saudi capital of Riyadh.

The Israeli military reported that it targeted two suspects in Lebanon, resulting in the death of one individual. Here are the latest developments in the Middle East on Wednesday. Read our comprehensive coverage here.

Iran's leaders expressed satisfaction after the U.S. voters, concerned about the war and frustrated by increasing fuel prices, handed Democrats control of Congress in the Tuesday elections. This was a significant setback for Trump and his Republican Party. Iran's chief negotiator and parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, tweeted that Americans had rejected war, and warned that if the U.S. government ignores the voters' mandate for change, Iran would respond with a "nightmare".

However, Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, downplayed the idea that the U.S. would alter its approach towards the Islamic Republic.

The Middle East has been on high alert for weeks, wondering whether the U.S. would resume full-scale military operations against Iran. Negotiations are currently underway to prevent further fighting. On Wednesday, thousands of people participated in a government-organized demonstration in Tehran to mark the anniversary of the 1979 U.S. Embassy takeover. Pro-government demonstrators burned American and Israeli flags, chanting "Death to America" and "Death to Israel".

Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN peacekeeping chief, expressed concerns over Lebanon's security situation when the UNIFIL mission, which monitors the border between Israel and Lebanon, concludes on December 31. Lacroix warned that leaving the two armies "facing each other" without international presence could lead to unintended clashes and hamper support for communities in southern Lebanon.

He questioned who would monitor the U.N.-drawn Blue Line, prevent mishaps, and provide support to the region. The UNIFIL mission has been involved in intense violence for decades, including a full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2024.

The United States, Israel's closest ally, successfully persuaded the UN Security Council to wind down the mission after nearly five decades. The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, suggested three alternatives in June to maintain U.N. monitoring along the border. Lacroix stated that unarmed UN military observers could still operate in southern Lebanon, but raised concerns about their protection and support without a Security Council resolution. The council is scheduled to debate the issue on November 19.

Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for strikes on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as well as other targets in southern parts of the country. The group fired a ballistic missile towards the airport, causing significant damage, and also targeted a radar installation and a command and control center in Jazan province.

However, the accuracy of these claims could not be independently verified by the Associated Press. The Saudi civil defense issued alerts in Riyadh and other regions regarding potential dangers. The Houthi group frequently targets oil and logistics facilities and airports in Saudi Arabia as part of their opposition to what they describe as the kingdom's blockade on Yemen.

At least seven people, including two children, were killed in a recent airstrike in Yemen's southwestern province of Taiz, according to Houthi health authorities. The Houthi-run health ministry blamed Saudi Arabia for the attack, but no comment was made by Saudi authorities. This was the latest deadly strike in Yemen since the country's civil war intensified over three months ago, pitting the Iran-backed Houthis against Saudi Arabia and its ally, Yemen's internationally recognized government.

In Lebanon, the Health Ministry reported that a strike on a motorcycle in the village of Qabrikha resulted in the death of one person and injury to another. The Israeli military claimed to have targeted two suspects who were observing IDF soldiers, without providing further details. This marked the first drone strike in nearly a month, following a U.S.-brokered ceasefire that ended the latest Israel-Hezbollah conflict.