Houthis Strike Saudi Airports as Mecca Pact Triggers Joint Deployment; UK Threatens Expulsion of 27 Israeli Diplomats (Oct 06, 1151 UTC, 1451 Israel) (Evening Edition)

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held talks with UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jean Arnault in Tehran IRNA. President Masoud Pezeshkian urged new ambassadors to promote brotherhood and unity, and said European perceptions of Iran do not reflect reality IRNA. Iran appointed Hamidreza Dehghani-Poudeh as its new ambassador to the UAE IRNA. The IRGC claimed to have dismantled a terrorist team involved in the assassination of two Sunni clerics in Sistan and Baluchestan province IRNA. Iran's Intelligence Ministry announced the dismantling of three operational cells affiliated with a Takfiri-terrorist group in southeastern Iran, with 10 arrests and two killed Al-Manar TV. CENTCOM said it destroyed 13 commercial vessels and rerouted 130 ships enforcing the maritime blockade on Iran IranWire. President Trump said Iran will pay a heavy price if it transfers drones to the UK IranWire.

A drone fell in the town of Shalifa near Baalbek, and the Lebanese army imposed a security cordon Bint Jbeil News. Lebanon's energy minister said the electricity sector suffers from a production capacity deficit, with plants supplying only about a third of demand; 24 companies are interested in investing in the energy sector, and Lebanon is studying buying electricity from Turkey via Syria Bint Jbeil News. A threat reportedly received by residents of a building in Kafr Rumman, allegedly from Mossad, led the municipality to evacuate the building pending investigation Bint Jbeil News.

The IDF dismantled a 1.5-kilometer-long underground tunnel route in the northern Gaza Strip, east of the Yellow Line, as part of ongoing operations by the Northern Brigade under the 99th Division IDF Official. Defense Minister Israel Katz instructed the military to increase readiness ahead of the October 7 anniversary, citing intelligence that Hamas intends to carry out assaults against Israeli forces Manniefabian. Prime Minister Netanyahu said Hamas will try to challenge Israel with remaining forces before the elections, and Israel will respond with overwhelming force Behold Israel. One Palestinian was killed in an Israeli airstrike near Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City Al-Manar TV Quds News Network. Israeli aircraft carried out airstrikes targeting eastern Khan Younis Quds News Network. A former UN food agency official claimed he was fired for highlighting hunger in Gaza The Guardian. UN Secretary-General called for a Gaza ceasefire ahead of the October 7 anniversary Arab News.

Defense Minister Israel Katz told the cabinet that the IDF is preparing for a scenario in which Palestinian Authority forces turn their weapons against Israel in Judea and Samaria, in which case war would be declared against the PA Behold Israel Manniefabian. Israeli forces stormed the town of Kafr Qaddum, east of Qalqilya Al-Manar TV. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posed for a photo in front of a Palestinian residential building being demolished in Jerusalem's al-Tour neighborhood Quds News Network.

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey triggered a mutual defense pact for the first time, aiming to ensure rapid deployment of Pakistani and Turkish military forces to Saudi Arabia Financial Times Jerusalem Post The National. The move follows the Houthi offensive and missile attacks on Saudi Arabia. The UAE is promoting Lana Zaki Nusseibeh as a candidate for UN Secretary-General Quds News Network. Ten American nations issued a joint statement condemning Iranian 'terrorist activities' and proxies IranWire.

Kenya's Ministry of Health confirmed the first imported Ebola case Al Jazeera.

Britain is likely to expel 27 Israeli diplomats if Israel proceeds with closing the British consulate in East Jerusalem, according to sources Al Arabiya Middle East Eye Al Jazeera. Israel ordered the consulate closed in retaliation for British sanctions on settlements in the occupied West Bank. UEFA will investigate a spitting incident at an Ireland-Israel football match, where an Israeli player is accused of spitting on an Irish coach Al Jazeera. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Germany continues to criticize Israel's conduct of the war, including insufficient humanitarian aid to Gaza, but added that criticism must not lead to tolerating antisemitism in Germany Quds News Network. Russia imposed a plague quarantine following a lab death in Siberia Al Jazeera.

President Trump said gas prices are driven by refinery issues, not Strait of Hormuz threats IranWire. Trump also said Iran will pay a heavy price if it transfers drones to the UK IranWire. The US Army will execute the Fort Hood shooter by firing squad, its first execution in decades Al Jazeera. The US completed its troop withdrawal from Iraq on September 30, with Iraq declaring 'Sovereignty Day' Responsible Statecraft.

India opposition leaders were briefly arrested in a protest against the election chief Al Jazeera. Singapore referred eight civil servants to police over property purchases Al Jazeera. Iran's President Pezeshkian said Iran is ready to expand ties with Thailand IRNA.

Saudi Arabia's civil aviation authority said three people were wounded in attacks on Jazan and Najran airports near the Yemen border Al Arabiya Arab News Al Jazeera Iran International. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed strikes on Saudi troop concentrations in Jizan and other areas, causing dozens of casualties N12 Chat Al-Manar TV. Yemen's Saudi-backed government forces captured Mokha, tightening coalition control of Bab al-Mandab TLDR Iran SITREP. The Houthis claimed over 200 casualties among Saudi-backed forces in strikes on Ras al-Arah and Al-Saqiya Al-Manar TV. The UAE is promoting Lana Zaki Nusseibeh for UN Secretary-General Quds News Network.