THE HOUTHIS SET SAUDI ENERGY SITES ON FIRE

Dozens of Houthi missiles and drones hit Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran, including Aramco facilities and the Jizan refinery complex 2YNT Yemen truce unravels as Houthis attack Saudi Arabia and ground fighting intensifies3GDN Houthis strike Saudi Arabian cities in significant expansion of Middle East war. Riyadh confirmed fires and a temporary halt to operations; the Houthis claim "significant damage" 8CRD New Yemeni missile strikes halt operations, spark fires at critical Saudi energy sites. Saudi airstrikes followed in Marib and Taiz within hours, and a Yemen truce that held for four years is effectively over 2YNT Yemen truce unravels as Houthis attack Saudi Arabia and ground fighting intensifies. The part worth noticing: Saudi crude is one of the supplies Chinese refiners have been using to replace Iranian barrels 12YNT Report: Iran’s offshore oil stockpile could run out by October as US blockade dries up revenues, so every Saudi facility knocked offline tightens the market Washington is trying to keep supplied.

No Iranian crude has crossed the US blockade since mid-July, and the oil already parked outside it has dropped from about 90 million barrels to 29 million, per Kpler data reported by the Wall Street Journal 12YNT Report: Iran’s offshore oil stockpile could run out by October as US blockade dries up revenues. At current rates that is gone by mid-October, with payments drying up by December. Inflation is above 80 percent, and Tehran just doubled petrol prices for heavier users 10AJE As fuel prices rise again, Iran’s government urges citizens to cut back. The last big fuel price hike, in 2019, set off nationwide protests, which is not nothing.

Former president Hassan Rouhani said the public should get a say on ending the war if a ceasefire meets Iran's demands 5JPO Iran's ex-president Rouhani urges public say on ending war, prompting calls for arrest. Hardliners responded exactly as you would expect: Kayhan's editor called for an investigation and IRGC-linked Tasnim accused him of helping the enemy 5JPO Iran's ex-president Rouhani urges public say on ending war, prompting calls for arrest. With Mohammad Khatami having already praised the expired Islamabad memorandum, that is two ex-presidents off-message in a matter of weeks. Not a revolt, but a crack.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband told Parliament that "settler terrorists" are carrying out ethnic cleansing in parts of the West Bank, and that the UK now considers the occupation unlawful in its entirety 1GDN UK accuses Israeli ‘terrorists’ of ethnic cleansing in West Bank with government backing. The package bans settlement imports, sanctions services like construction and financing, and adds personal sanctions and export limits 1GDN UK accuses Israeli ‘terrorists’ of ethnic cleansing in West Bank with government backing. France and Canada announced settlement goods bans the same day. It is the strongest language any British government has used about Israel.

US officials are informally discussing cuts to permanent troops and bases in the region, according to CNN's sources, after Iranian strikes exposed how vulnerable they are, including a CIA outpost in Riyadh that was effectively destroyed 11AAM US officials discuss smaller Mideast footprint after Iran conflict: CNN. Some damaged sites may simply not be rebuilt. It is an odd thing to plan while deployments are reportedly being extended into 2027 17ABC Trump weighs declaring protracted war over, but Iran has other plans and the Patriot interceptor stockpile sits at roughly 36 percent of its pre-war level 4FOX US rebuilding weapons stockpile could delay orders from allies. Make of that what you will.