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• On October 26, the Yemeni army (Ansar Allah) shot down a Saudi-operated Wing Loong II over Taiz;
• On October 27, the Yemeni army (Ansar Allah) struck the Ras Tanura refinery in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province with a ballistic missile;
• On October 27, the Yemeni army (Ansar Allah) repelled Saudi-backed forces attacks near Bab al-Mandab;
• Fighting between Ansar Allah and the Saudi-backed forces continue in the western areas of Taiz city and south of Sabr mountain.

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Yemen’s Houthis (Ansar Allah) said October 27 that they had repelled an attack by Saudi-backed forces toward the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait, reporting heavy casualties and the destruction of several military vehicles as fighting continued in western Lahj.

In a statement, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, the Houthis’ military spokesman, said the forces were advancing from the south toward the strait under the supervision of Saudi officer Badr al-Harbi, whom he identified as commander of an advanced operational base in Aden.

The Houthis struck the troop concentrations with ballistic missiles and heavy weapons, causing large numbers of deaths and injuries, while ambulances rushed to the targeted areas, Saree said. The spokesman added that Houthi forces went on to destroy a number of military vehicles and thwart the advance.

“We warn those being misled against responding to calls from the Saudi enemy and its officers, who are pushing them into the furnaces of death,” Saree concluded.

The latest failed Saudi-backed attack follows a series of reported Houthi advances in western Lahj over the past several days.

On October 25, the Houthi-aligned Yemen Press Agency, citing southern political figure Adel al-Hasani, reported that the group had secured Wadi al-Nabiq after fierce clashes and was advancing toward al-Shatein, in the al-Mudharaba and Ras al-Arah districts.

The very next day, the agency reported that the Houthis had advanced beyond the Kahboub mountain range after positions held by the 31st Amaliqa Brigade collapsed, with remaining fighters withdrawing toward Aden.

Reports that surfaced around the same time Saree issued his latest statement described a further Houthi push toward al-Suqayyah following the reported gains around Kahboub.

The fighting has focused on the highlands and coastal routes of western Lahj, where control of the Kahboub range and surrounding areas could strengthen the Houthis’ positions along the southern approaches to Bab al-Mandab. The group captured the strategic coastal region in a lightning offensive last month.

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• During the past 24 hours, Iranian forces attacked several oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz;
• Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Ali Abdollahi warned that vessels violating Iran’s designated maritime routes and transit procedures in the Strait of Hormuz could face serious damage;
• Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority threatened action against South Korea’s Sinokor Shipping Company over repeated violations of Iran’s Strait of Hormuz transit rules;
• The UKMTO reported a vessel on fire 63nm southeast of Al-Faw, Iraq, on October 26.

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Illustrative image. (The Houthis’ Military Media)

Yemen’s Houthis (Ansar Allah) on October 27 claimed a series of missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia, including a ballistic missile strike on the Ras Tanura refinery that it said caused massive fires.

Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, the group’s military spokesman, said in a statement that the group had struck the refinery in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province with a ballistic missile, describing the strike as precise and claiming it caused “massive fires” at the site.

Bloomberg News, citing a person familiar with the matter, reported that Saudi Arabia had contained a fire near the Ras Tanura oil terminal early in the day. The extent of the damage was unclear, and Saudi authorities had not confirmed that the refinery itself had been struck.

A resident of the nearby city of Al Khobar told Agence France-Presse that he received a mobile phone alert before hearing an explosion.

In a separate statement, Saree said that Houthi forces had targeted two military transport aircraft with ballistic missiles, one at Najran Airport and the other at King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait. He said both operations had “achieved their objectives successfully.”

Saree subsequently claimed that a ballistic missile had struck Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense in Riyadh, describing the impact as a “direct hit.”

In the fourth statement, he said the Houthis had targeted Abha International Airport with a drone, claiming the strike was precise and had disrupted air traffic at the airport.

Saudi authorities had not immediately confirmed the claimed strikes on the military aircraft, Defense Ministry or Abha airport.

The Saudi-led coalition said during the day that it had intercepted and destroyed three ballistic missiles launched toward the kingdom’s Eastern Province and four drones directed toward its southern regions.

Saudi Civil Defense issued early-warning alerts in the Eastern Province and Kharj governorate before announcing that the danger had passed.

In a separate report, Reuters said the coalition had also announced the interception and destruction of two ballistic missiles launched toward Riyadh. Saudi Civil Defense authorities briefly issued an air raid alert in the capital.

The latest Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia come amid reports that the kingdom is seeking a negotiated end to the confrontation. Israel Hayom reported on October 26, citing unnamed Gulf diplomatic sources, that Riyadh had offered the group $1 billion through Iran in exchange for a ceasefire and an end to strikes on Saudi territory.

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Hezbollah has spent the past three months rebuilding its military capabilities and preparing for a possible resumption of hostilities with Israel, following an influx of funding from Iran, Reuters reported on October 26, citing Lebanese security officials familiar with the group’s activities.

The group has focused on acquiring explosives and producing drones capable of attacking Israeli positions, according to two Lebanese security sources, who said that the group has also been working to restore command-and-control structures damaged during its previous battles with Israeli forces.

One of the security sources and another person close to Hezbollah said Iran had provided the group with tens of millions of dollars to strengthen its military capabilities.

The funding comes in addition to roughly $200 million Tehran provided to help displaced families in Hezbollah’s Shiite strongholds, Reuters reported earlier this month.

Hezbollah suffered heavy losses during two wars since 2023, and Israeli forces continue to occupy vast parts of southern Lebanon as a so-called “security zone.”

Hezbollah’s rearmament efforts come amid continued regional tensions following U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran in February. The group opened fire on Israel on March 2 in support of Tehran, prompting an Israeli offensive that killed more than 4,000 people in Lebanon and displaced roughly a quarter of the country’s population.

Hostilities largely subsided over the summer after an interim agreement between Washington and Tehran included a ceasefire in Lebanon, while the U.S. mediated talks between Beirut and Jerusalem.

Full-scale fighting has not resumed despite the subsequent collapse of the U.S.-Iranian agreement, but Israel has continued striking Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah is now preparing for the possibility that renewed U.S.-Iranian fighting could trigger another round of war on the Lebanese front, according to Reuters. However, the Lebanese security sources told the news agency that the group had not yet fully rebuilt its weapons stockpiles or restored its fighting force.

The group has also faced difficulties repairing its command structure after losses in key areas, including around the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil and the strategically important Ali al-Taher ridge, according to the sources and three other security officials familiar with its operations.

Hezbollah’s use of small units and limited anti-tank missile supplies reportedly left some fighters isolated during those battles, making it difficult for them to counter Israeli remotely operated weapons systems, including drones and remote-controlled vehicles.

The Israeli military told Reuters that it uses such systems to monitor southern Lebanon while reducing the exposure of its troops to danger.

The rearmament effort has also involved explosives intended for use in drones. Hezbollah acknowledged this month that explosives seized by Lebanese authorities belonged to the group and were intended for attacks against Israel.

A Hezbollah official and a Lebanese security source told Reuters that the material was specifically intended for explosive-laden drones.

In response to questions from Reuters, Hezbollah’s media office said Israel’s presence on Lebanese territory gave the group a legitimate right to resist. It also rejected claims that its command-and-control systems had broken down.

While Hezbollah has suffered heavy losses as the Reuters report suggests, the claim that the group is overall getting weaker does not match its performance during the last round of fighting, when it expanded the use of drones, especially first-person-view suicide quadcopters, inflicting some serious damage on Israeli forces and limiting their freedom of operation in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah is not likely to start another confrontation with Israel if war on Iran resumes. However, Israel itself could escalate to expand its occupation.

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Iran has threatened action against South Korean shipping group Sinokor beginning November 1 over violations of Tehran’s transit rules for the Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement, the Islamic Republic’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority said vessels linked to Sinokor had accumulated more alleged transit violations over the previous three months than those associated with any other shipping company.

It added that enforcement measures had already been taken against at least seven of the company’s vessels. Cargo owners, beneficiaries and insurers involved in the shipping arrangements were also warned that they could face legal action.

Seven vessels were named in the statement: Cyprus Prosperity, Mombasa B, Senegal Prosperity, Mersin Prosperity, Ghana Prosperity, Cameroon Prosperity and Angola Prosperity.

The threat comes as Sinokor has become one of the most important players in the oil tanker market during the war with Iran, deploying a large fleet to transport crude through the strategic waterway as other shipping companies have faced heightened security risks.

In a report published October 23, Bloomberg found that tankers owned by Sinokor carried 105.6 million barrels of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz in September, equivalent to nearly 40% of the oil crossing the waterway that month.

That exceeded the combined 97.3 million barrels attributed to vessels owned by the next three largest shipping groups, Saudi Arabia’s Bahri, Kuwait Oil Tanker Company and the shipping unit of Abu Dhabi National Oil Co.

A separate Bloomberg report published on October 27 highlighted Sinokor’s growing influence over the global tanker market, describing how its WhatsApp messages to shipbrokers announcing charter agreements and freight rates have become closely watched by industry participants.

The messages have played an outsized role in shaping perceptions of tanker prices, the news outlet reported, as freight rates for very large crude carriers have surged more than 1,600% this year amid disruption caused by the war.

The report also examined concerns about transparency in the tanker market and the influence of the messages on the freight-rate benchmark maintained by London’s Baltic Exchange.

The latest Iranian threat adds a legal and regulatory risk to Sinokor’s already substantial exposure to the conflict, as its ships remain central to oil movements through the Gulf.

Commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained sharply below normal on October 17, with an AIS-based monitor recording seven vessel crossings in the preceding 24 hours, about 8% of the strait’s prewar daily average. This shows that the strategic waterway is still under the control of the Islamic Republic, which stepped up its anti-shipping attacks in recent weeks.

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A Russian ballistic missile struck Kyiv’s Southern Bridge overnight into October 27, damaging aboveground metro infrastructure and forcing authorities to close the key crossing over the Dnipro River.

Ukrainian media reported that Russia attacked Kyiv with ballistic missiles twice during the night and that one of the missiles struck the Southern Bridge.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said specialists were assessing the damage and that traffic across the bridge had been closed.

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Metro services on the Green Line were suspended between Osokorky and Chervony Khutir stations, with trains operating only between Syrets and Vydubychi stations. Local authorities had not yet announced when the affected services would resume.

The reported direct missile strike marks an escalation from the series of drone attacks Russia carried out against Kyiv’s bridges earlier in the month.

On October 1 and 2, Russian drones repeatedly struck the Southern Bridge, damaging a support structure, the roadway, barriers and protective concrete around the metro line. Later on October 3, a Russian drone hit the Northern Bridge, damaging its road surface and the overhead wires powering trolleybuses. The attacks disrupted traffic across several of the capital’s main crossings over the Dnipro River.

The latest ballistic missile strike marks a notable escalation in Russia’s campaign against bridges in the Ukrainian capital.

The strike also comes as Ukraine’s air defenses face mounting pressure from Russia’s sustained missile and drone strikes, with reported shortages of interceptor missiles adding to the challenge of protecting major cities and critical infrastructure.

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Click to see full-size image. (Telegram\Kalashnikov)

Russia’s Kalitka-KA anti-drone gun system uses artificial intelligence (AI) to calculate aiming corrections, allowing it to destroy an aerial target with about 10 rounds, a Russian National Guard serviceman said in a report aired by Vesti on October 25.

Mounted on a pickup truck and armed with a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun, a weapon also used in Russian tanks, the system is designed to protect military crews from drones or operate independently.

The Kalitka-KA uses AI to compensate for aiming errors and help operators engage moving aerial targets with individual shots rather than sustained bursts. The system is semi-automatic, with the software calculating firing corrections while the operator retains control of the engagement, according to the report.

The system can also work with a radar station, expanding its ability to detect and engage aerial targets, especially drones.

Kalashnikov Concern unveiled the Kalitka-KA in Moscow last September. The system combines a rotating machine-gun mount with an electro-optical unit equipped with two daylight cameras and a rangefinder. A thermal imager enables operation at night.

The system is available in stationary and vehicle-mounted configurations. Kalashnikov says it is designed to protect military positions and critical infrastructure against reconnaissance and attack drones flying at low and extremely low altitudes.

Gun-based anti-drone systems offer a cost-effective way to counter relatively cheap drones without expending expensive interceptor missiles. Russia is currently expanding their deployment to provide troops and critical infrastructure with an additional layer of close-range protection.

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Jordanian warplanes struck several sites in southern Syria late on October 26, killing at least seven people, including three children, according to Syrian authorities, after Amman said it had linked a deadly church shooting to terrorist groups operating across the border.

The strikes hit locations in the southern provinces of Daraa and Suwayda. Jordan described the operation as a counterterrorism measure conducted in coordination with Damascus, while the Syrian government said it had received no advance notification and condemned the civilian deaths.

The Royal Jordanian Air Force called the operation “Jordanian Deterrence – Hmoud,” saying it targeted hideouts belonging to terrorist organizations linked to the October 23 attack on a Greek Orthodox church in the Jordanian city of Karak.

“The terrorists behind the Hmoud attack have ties to the targeted terrorist organizations,” the Jordanian military said in a statement carried by the state-run Petra news agency.

It added that the strikes killed and wounded several members of the targeted groups and destroyed their equipment and vehicles. The military did not identify the organizations or specify the locations hit.

Syrian authorities, for their part, disputed Jordan’s account of coordination and said the strikes claimed the lives of civilians.

The Syrian Civil Defense said seven people were killed across several locations in Daraa and Suwayda. Five members of one family, including three children, a woman and a man, died when a strike hit a tent in rural Daraa, while two older men were killed in separate strikes. Three other members of the family were injured.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry said the operation was conducted “without prior coordination or notification with the Syrian side,” according to a statement carried by the Syrian Arab News Agency early on October 27.

Damascus announced an investigation into the strikes and said it had opened direct communication channels with Jordan to address the incident. It also stressed the need for joint security and military coordination along the border, warning that such operations must respect Syrian sovereignty.

The strikes came hours after Jordanian security forces arrested three suspects in connection with the church shooting following a shootout in the Karak area. The suspects, two brothers and their brother-in-law, were wounded during the operation, authorities said.

The October 23 attack took place during a funeral at the Greek Orthodox church in Karak, killing nine people and wounding 34. The shooting shocked the country, where attacks of this kind are rare, and prompted King Abdullah II to promise a forceful response.

“The Nashama have chased them to the very end. We vowed the terrorists would not escape punishment, and no proponent of dark ideologies that divide Jordanians will be tolerated,” the king said on X after the strikes on Syria. “We pray that the martyrs’ souls rest in peace and wish the injured a speedy recovery.”

Jordanian Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya described the attack as the product of “a terroristic, extremist way of thinking.”

The investigation has also raised questions about the alleged organizational links behind the shooting. Jordan’s Public Security Directorate chief, Maj. Gen. Obaidallah Abd Rabbo Al-Maayta, said the three suspects were not affiliated with any group, telling reporters, “They only represent themselves.”

Jordan’s military, however, subsequently said those responsible for the attack had ties to terrorist groups in southern Syria without publicly identifying them or detailing the evidence.

Following the strikes, Syrian authorities closed the Nassib border crossing, suspending passenger and commercial traffic between the two countries.

The escalation highlights a growing security threat from terrorist groups operating inside Syria. With southern Syria serving as a base for their activity, and Damascus seen as either turning a blind eye or failing to contain them, neighboring countries face mounting pressure to act on their own.

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Click to see full-size image. (Russian Ministry of Defense)

In the Dnipropetrovsk direction, Ukrainian units are attempting to regain control of the western bank of the Mokri Yaly River. In the Sumy direction, assault units of the “North” grouping continue to advance deeper into the region with heavy fighting, engaging near Khoten, Velyka Rybytsia and Nikolskoye. In the Kharkiv direction, Russian assault groups are pressing Ukrainian defenses towards Kharkiv and in the north-east of the region. In the Zaporozhye direction, airborne troops of the “Vostok” grouping have driven more than five kilometers into Ukrainian lines, forced the Solyonaya River and taken Obshcheye. In the Slavyansk direction, Russian units have resumed offensive operations north of the agglomeration, fighting in the Lyman area and along the Ozyornoye–Yampol line. Meanwhile, the reluctance of several EU countries to allocate further funds to Ukraine has caused bewilderment in Berlin: the Czech Republic and Slovakia have already indicated they will not take part in a new lending program, and Hungary is expected to adopt a similar stance.

Dnipropetrovsk direction

Fighting continues along the Mokri Yaly River, where Ukrainian forces are trying to re-establish control of the western bank in order to threaten the flank of Burlatskoye. Ukrainian formations were recently observed capturing a chain of strongpoints near Veseloye.

Russian troops retain firm control of Veseloye itself and most of the fortifications on its immediate approaches. The situation in neighboring Komar remains obscured by the “fog of war”; Ukrainian forces are actively employing loitering drones against supply units. On the right flank of the Dnipropetrovsk direction an extensive combat zone persists, with assault groups from both sides operating. Ukrainian units are relying on infiltration into the near rear of Russian positions in an effort to disrupt the defense and reach the fortified line along the Shevchenko–Veseloye axis.

Sumy direction

Assault units of the “North” grouping continue to push deeper into the Sumy region amid heavy fighting. Ukrainian forces have not conducted significant offensive actions and have concentrated on strikes against civilian targets in the border areas. Russian aviation, artillery and drone crews have struck concentrations of personnel and equipment in the areas of Sumy, Pervomayskoye, Gnilitsa, Podishche, Markovske, Stepanovka, Korenek, Malaya Slobodka and Krasnopolye.

In the Sumy district there are no major changes: Russian assault troops are advancing step by step near Khoten, Velyka Rybytsia and Nikolskoye. In the Shostka district Russian units have cleared a section of woodland near Korenek. Russian forces continue to methodically press Ukrainian defenses, supported by artillery and drones, thereby expanding their control in the border districts.

Kharkiv direction

Fierce fighting continues on all sectors of the front in the Kharkiv region. Russian units are pressing Ukrainian defenses towards Kharkiv and in the north-east of the region. The Ukrainian side is reinforcing its motorized infantry brigades with recruits from training centers.

On the Liptsy sector Russian assault groups are advancing south of Novaya Kazachya. Most of the area is already under Russian control; fighting is shifting towards Tsupovka. On the Volchansk and Velykyi Burluk sectors the heaviest fighting continues around Prikolotnoye and Malyi Burluk. Advances have been recorded near Bugayevka and Kotovka. Russian assault troops are pushing forward under heavy conditions in the Prikolotnoye, Bugayevka and Malyi Burluk areas, gaining up to 800 meters in the past 24 hours.

Zaporozhye direction

Near Malye Shcherbaki Russian airborne troops are expanding their zone of control and advancing along the gully towards Novoyakovlevka. In the Novopavlovka area Russian forces are holding their positions and striking Ukrainian units that are transferring reserves in an attempt to retake Orekhov.

The battle for the approaches to Orekhov is intensifying. While the southern outskirts of the town remain the scene of heavy fighting, Ukrainian forces continue to send small assault groups into Malaya Tokmachka. Members of Ukrainian units were recently hit by drones near the center of the village. It is likely that the Ukrainian side is attempting to reach IK-88, an area long used as the main defensive node for Malaya Tokmachka.

As a result of coordinated action by unmanned systems troops, artillery, aviation and assault troops of the 39th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade of the 68th Army Corps of the “Vostok” grouping, Russian forces have driven more than five kilometers into Ukrainian defenses, forced the Solyonaya River, overcome a system of engineer obstacles including an anti-tank ditch, and taken control of Obshcheye.

Slavyansk direction

East of the Slavyansk–Kramatorsk agglomeration Russian assault units continue to advance in the Raiskoye area. On the Krasny Liman sector Russian forces have resumed offensive operations north of the agglomeration. Fighting is under way in the Lyman area and along the Ozyornoye–Yampol line. Advances have been noted towards Maslyakovka and near Rai-Aleksandrovka. From the Zarechnoye area Russian units are moving towards Maslyakovka.

Meeting engagements continue in the Zarechnoye, Stavki and Dibrova sectors. Over the past 24 hours Russian units conducted several successful attacks towards Stavki and Dibrova. Reports from the eastern approaches to Krasny Liman are of particular interest: an advance from Zarechnoye towards Maslyakovka has been recorded, although the settlement itself has not yet passed under Russian control. Further south, heavy fighting continues along the Yampol–Ozyornoye line.

Conclusion

In the Dnipropetrovsk sector the struggle centers on the western bank of the Mokri Yaly and the retention of Veseloye. In the Sumy direction Russian forces are slowly pressing the defense near Khoten, Velyka Rybytsia and Korenek. In the Kharkiv direction pressure continues on Prikolotnoye, Bugayevka and Malyi Burluk. In the Zaporozhye direction the more than five-kilometer penetration, the forcing of the Solyonaya and the capture of Obshcheye create conditions for further envelopment of the Orekhov grouping. In the Slavyansk direction the resumption of attacks north of the agglomeration and fighting along the Ozyornoye–Yampol line are gradually eroding Ukrainian defenses.

Meanwhile, the reluctance of several EU member states to provide further funding for Ukraine has caused consternation in Berlin, according to Politico, citing European diplomats and officials. “How can one seriously expect our taxpayers to send even one more euro from the cohesion funds to those who refuse to take part in defending the EU against the greatest threat to our common security?” a German diplomat told the publication. The Czech Republic and Slovakia have already indicated they will not participate in a new lending program; according to two sources, Hungary is likely to take the same position. At a recent EU summit Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Ukraine would require an additional €70 billion in 2027.

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• On October 26, Saudi, Turkish and Pakistani officials met Iranian leaders in Tehran to discuss regional security and efforts to prevent further escalation;
• Commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz fell sharply, with five commodity vessels recorded on October 24 and none on October 25;
• During the past 24 hours, Iranian forces reportedly attacked several oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.

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Illustrative image. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Amy Abbott)

Egypt’s parliament on October 26 authorized President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi to provide military support to Saudi Arabia against attacks by Yemen’s Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah.

The authorization, approved by a two-thirds majority following closed-door deliberations, allows Sisi to take necessary measures in coordination with Riyadh to defend Saudi territory, sovereignty and holy sites against external aggression.

A regional official briefed on the plans told The Associated Press that Egypt would provide air defense systems and warplanes to help intercept missiles and drones targeting Saudi Arabia. The official said the support would not include deploying ground troops to Yemen.

Sisi has repeatedly stressed that Cairo’s role would be strictly defensive, seeking to reassure Egyptians concerned that the country could become entangled in another regional war.

“I’m not speaking about fighting anyone or attacking anyone. I’m speaking only for defense,” Sisi said earlier this month.

He also reiterated that Egypt’s military effort would focus on protecting Saudi territory and borders rather than conducting attacks on Yemen.

The limited scope of the proposed mission means Egypt’s decision is unlikely to significantly change the military balance inside Yemen.

Egyptian air defense systems and warplanes could help Riyadh withstand further missile and drone attacks, but the announced approach does not involve an Egyptian ground campaign or direct strikes against Houthi positions across the border in Yemen.

Egypt’s involvement in the war has been cautious before. Cairo joined the Saudi-led military intervention in 2015, initially contributing naval and air forces to the campaign against the Houthis. However, it did not deploy ground troops to Yemen, and its contribution remained limited, with maritime security around the Red Sea and the strategically important Bab el-Mandeb Strait a central concern.

Egypt renewed its participation in the coalition during the following year but never became a major ground-combat participant in the conflict.

The latest authorization therefore provides Riyadh with the prospect of additional defensive military support without signaling a large-scale Egyptian campaign inside Yemen.

Cairo has also continued to call for a diplomatic settlement, reflecting its interest in protecting its Gulf partnerships and the maritime routes linking the Red Sea to the Suez Canal.

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• The Yemeni army (Ansar Allah) struck King Khalid Airport in Riyadh and Saudi’s East-West oil pipeline pumping stations with missiles and drones;
• The Yemeni army (Ansar Allah) struck the Saudi-backed troop concentrations and weapons depots in Aden’s Salah al-Din area and Lahij’s al-Wahat area;
• Fighting between Ansar Allah and the Saudi-backed forces continue in the western areas of Taiz city and south of Sabr mountain.

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Russia’s Defense Ministry announced on October 26 that its forces struck a Ukrainian drone depot, two power substations, port infrastructure and a cargo vessel during a large-scale overnight attack, targeting facilities it said supported Ukraine’s armed forces.

In a statement, the ministry said the strikes hit a depot storing medium- and long-range drones and their components in Olshany in the Kharkiv region, and the Zalyutino 330-kilovolt power substation in the region’s capital, which it said supplied Ukraine’s defense industry.

Another 330-kilovolt substation near Kamianets-Podilskyi in the Khmelnytskyi region, used to support logistics infrastructure, was targeted.

In the Odessa region, the ministry said Russian forces struck loading and unloading infrastructure at three berth terminals in the port of Chornomorsk and four depots containing military and dual-use cargo. It also reported hitting a dry-cargo ship at sea that it said was carrying military supplies to Odessa for Ukrainian forces.

Ukrainian media reported damage to an energy facility in Kamianets-Podilskyi, prompting emergency power cuts. And in Odessa, local authorities reported strikes that caused large fires at a private industrial facility and a garage cooperative.

Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched 140 attack drones and four missiles overnight, including 70 jet-powered drones, three Kh-59/69 guided missiles and one Kh-31P anti-radiation missile. The air force claimed that its air defenses had shot down or suppressed 112 drones and intercepted all three Kh-59/69 missiles. Yet it reported impacts at 15 locations.

Meanwhile, Russian media reported a large Ukrainian drone attack across Russia overnight. Russia’s Defense Ministry said its air defenses intercepted 290 Ukrainian drones over 16 Russian regions, including border areas and regions in central and southern Russia.

The heaviest reported attack hit the Voronezh region, where regional Governor Alexander Gusev said air defenses destroyed 113 drones, including 70 over the city of Voronezh.

The attack killed three civilians and left 39 others wounded. Fires broke out at industrial facilities, a business center, an apartment building and other locations. Russian media also reported that falling drone debris struck a passenger train, injuring travelers.

Ukraine stepped up its drone attacks on Russia over the past year, focusing mainly on civilian infrastructure. In response, Russian strikes on Ukraine became both larger in scale and far more frequent. In some recent weeks, strikes hit Ukraine on a daily basis.

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Yemen’s Houthis (Ansar Allah) released footage on October 26 showing attacks with Rujum drones against Saudi military targets along the border in the provinces of Najran, Jizan and Asir.

The video, which runs for more than six minutes, shows the drones tracking targets across mountainous and rocky terrain before striking fortified positions, troop gatherings and military vehicles. One of the vehicles hit was an M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle.

The Rujum is a modified version of the Chinese-made YD6-1000S hexacopter bomber drone featuring a 44-minute flight time and a 2 kg payload capacity, adapted to deploy munitions such as 60 mm mortars.

In recent weeks, there have been reports of scores of Saudi troops being killed or wounded along the border. No official overall toll has been published, however.

The escalation along the Yemen-Saudi border could be a prelude to a large-scale Houthi raid into the kingdom. The group carried out several successful incursions in the past, sometimes advancing multiple kilometers into Najran, Jizan and Asir.

Such a move by the Houthis could further complicate the situation for Saudi Arabia, which is already struggling to stop the advance of the Houthis inside Yemen and to counter the group’s deep strikes on Saudi territory.

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ROSTOV-ON-DON REGION, RUSSIA – JULY 15, 2019: Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) officers detain two members of a cell of the Islamic State terrorist organization (banned in Russia). Video screen grab/ Russian Federal Security Service/TASS.

A drone sabotage plot targeting a key component of Moscow’s missile defense system and an electric power facility has been thwarted, and two agents of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) involved in preparing the attacks have been detained, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said on October 26.

“The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation has thwarted the sabotage and terrorist activities of two individuals from the Transcaucasus, born in 1991 and 1998, who were acting as agents for the Security Service of Ukraine and were involved in the preparation of a terrorist attack,” the FSB said in a statement.

The SBU planned an attack by launching strike drones, the FSB added, revealing that the two agents were supposed to launch the attack drones in the Moscow region, with the subsequent operation of the drones being controlled from Ukrainian territory.

“The individuals were apprehended by officers of the Russian FSB while in the process of preparing to carry out a terrorist attack at an electric power facility, as well as at one of the key components of Moscow’s missile defense system,” the statement read.

The SBU agents retrieved first-person-view drones and components for improvised explosive devices from caches in the Smolensk and Kaluga regions for use in terrorist attacks, the statement added.

The arrests follow two other operations reported by Russian security services this month. On October 13, the FSB said it had detained a woman who had assembled nine explosives-equipped drones for a planned attack on the Baltimore military airfield near Voronezh. The drones were intended to strike military infrastructure and aircraft, according to the security agency.

On October 15, the FSB announced the arrest of a Swedish citizen in the Pskov region, saying he had entered Russia to sabotage military facilities after serving in a Ukrainian military drone unit. The agency said he was arrested near the border with Latvia and Belarus.

These recent plots resemble Operation Spider’s Web, in which Ukrainian intelligence used drones smuggled into Russia to strike air bases and damage Russian aircraft, including strategic bombers, more than a year ago.

Ukrainian intelligence is clearly still attempting to replicate the operation, expanding the scope of its targets from air bases to other strategic military facilities and even civilian infrastructure. These efforts, however, have been a complete failure so far.

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Senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan were in Tehran on October 26 for planned talks with Iranian leaders, as regional powers seek to contain escalating tensions and avert a possible resumption of the war involving Iran, the United States and Israel.

The delegations include Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, Pakistani army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin. They are expected to meet Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei and other senior officials to discuss regional security, according to Iranian authorities.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the discussions would address Israel’s policies, developments in the Palestinian territories and Lebanon, and the consequences of U.S. and Israeli military action against Iran.

He added that the agenda had not been finalized but would “undoubtedly address the most pressing threats to regional security.”

Saudi Arabia confirmed that its defense minister was leading a delegation to Tehran. Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy Rayed Krimly said the visit was intended to promote dialogue, reduce tensions and support mediation efforts led by Qatar and Pakistan.

The talks follow a visit to Tehran last week by Munir, during which the idea of bringing the four countries together was proposed, according to Iranian officials.

Qatar also sent mediators to the Islamic Republic a day earlier as diplomatic efforts intensified to prevent renewed fighting.

Previous mediation by Pakistan and Qatar helped produce an interim agreement in June intended to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping, end the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports and begin negotiations on a broader settlement, including Iran’s nuclear program.

The agreement quickly unraveled as fighting resumed around Hormuz, leaving Washington and Tehran without a lasting settlement.

The planned meeting also brings Iran into high-level contact with all three countries that signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement in August. The pact between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey treats an armed attack against one member as an attack against all, making the diplomatic engagement with Tehran particularly significant as tensions spread across the region.

Saudi Arabia has also been facing escalating missile and drone attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah.

Meanwhile, Washington and Tehran have exchanged increasingly sharp warnings over the possibility of renewed military operations.

The talks are intended to explore regional security arrangements and support diplomatic efforts to prevent another regional escalation. However, the latest available reports have not established that the planned meeting will conclude or produce an agreement.

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File image.

Senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan were in Tehran on October 26 for planned talks with Iranian leaders, as regional powers seek to contain escalating tensions and avert a possible resumption of the war involving Iran, the United States and Israel.

The delegations include Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, Pakistani army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin. They are expected to meet Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei and other senior officials to discuss regional security, according to Iranian authorities.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the discussions would address Israel’s policies, developments in the Palestinian territories and Lebanon, and the consequences of U.S. and Israeli military action against Iran.

He added that the agenda had not been finalized but would “undoubtedly address the most pressing threats to regional security.”

Saudi Arabia confirmed that its defense minister was leading a delegation to Tehran. Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy Rayed Krimly said the visit was intended to promote dialogue, reduce tensions and support mediation efforts led by Qatar and Pakistan.

The talks follow a visit to Tehran last week by Munir, during which the idea of bringing the four countries together was proposed, according to Iranian officials.

Qatar also sent mediators to the Islamic Republic a day earlier as diplomatic efforts intensified to prevent renewed fighting.

Previous mediation by Pakistan and Qatar helped produce an interim agreement in June intended to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping, end the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports and begin negotiations on a broader settlement, including Iran’s nuclear program.

The agreement quickly unraveled as fighting resumed around Hormuz, leaving Washington and Tehran without a lasting settlement.

The planned meeting also brings Iran into high-level contact with all three countries that signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement in August. The pact between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey treats an armed attack against one member as an attack against all, making the diplomatic engagement with Tehran particularly significant as tensions spread across the region.

Saudi Arabia has also been facing escalating missile and drone attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah.

Meanwhile, Washington and Tehran have exchanged increasingly sharp warnings over the possibility of renewed military operations.

The talks are intended to explore regional security arrangements and support diplomatic efforts to prevent another regional escalation. However, the latest available reports have not established that the planned meeting will conclude or produce an agreement.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence

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Click to see full-size image. (Rostec)

Russia has equipped its upgraded Yak-130M combat jet trainer with an onboard defensive system designed to detect incoming missile launches and counter radar- and infrared-guided weapons, state defense conglomerate Rostec announced on October 26.

The aircraft carries the President-S130 defense suite, which uses a three-stage process to protect the aircraft from incoming threats.

According to Rostec, the system automatically detects a missile launch, deploys electronic countermeasures against detection and guidance systems, and releases expendable decoys designed to divert missiles that use radar or infrared homing.

The announcement comes as Russia advances flight testing of the upgraded aircraft. The third Yak-130M prototype made its maiden flight on October 9 at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, operated by United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), a subsidiary of Rostec.

The additional aircraft is expected to accelerate testing, with the first deliveries to customers planned for 2028, the company said.

The Yak-130M is a modernized version of the Yak-130 trainer, redesigned to expand the aircraft’s combat capabilities. Its upgraded equipment includes a new airborne radar, an electro-optical and laser targeting system, and an expanded weapons suite.

Rostec said the aircraft can engage both ground and aerial targets, including long-range fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

The addition of the President-S130 suite is intended to improve the aircraft’s ability to operate in environments where it faces missile threats.

Despite the signficant extension of the Yak-130M combat capabilities, the aircraft will retain its original advanced training role.

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Click to see full-size image. (Rostec)

Russia has equipped its upgraded Yak-130M combat jet trainer with an onboard defensive system designed to detect incoming missile launches and counter radar- and infrared-guided weapons, state defense conglomerate Rostec announced on October 26.

The aircraft carries the President-S130 defense suite, which uses a three-stage process to protect the aircraft from incoming threats.

According to Rostec, the system automatically detects a missile launch, deploys electronic countermeasures against detection and guidance systems, and releases expendable decoys designed to divert missiles that use radar or infrared homing.

The announcement comes as Russia advances flight testing of the upgraded aircraft. The third Yak-130M prototype made its maiden flight on October 9 at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, operated by United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), a subsidiary of Rostec.

The additional aircraft is expected to accelerate testing, with the first deliveries to customers planned for 2028, the company said.

The Yak-130M is a modernized version of the Yak-130 trainer, redesigned to expand the aircraft’s combat capabilities. Its upgraded equipment includes a new airborne radar, an electro-optical and laser targeting system, and an expanded weapons suite.

Rostec said the aircraft can engage both ground and aerial targets, including long-range fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

The addition of the President-S130 suite is intended to improve the aircraft’s ability to operate in environments where it faces missile threats.

Despite the signficant extension of the Yak-130M combat capabilities, the aircraft will retain its original advanced training role.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence

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Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org.

The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation

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