The Cradle ✔

❗️ Indian-crewed vessel attacked in Strait of Hormuz as Omani navy rescues survivors An Indian-crewed vessel sailing outbound through the Strait of Hormuz was targeted in an attack on Monday, according to an incident report published today by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) following verification by the Indian government. The Royal Navy of Oman successfully rescued the surviving crew members from the stricken vessel, while maritime authorities confirmed that the current status of the dhow remains unknown.

❗️Gulf stocks mixed after US strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island Gulf stock markets closed mixed on Tuesday. Saudi Arabia's benchmark index slipped 0.1%, pressured by a 0.8% decline in Saudi Telecom Company. Saudi Aramco, however, gained 0.2% after announcing a sharp increase in third-quarter earnings. Qatar's benchmark index recovered from earlier losses to close 0.2% higher, supported by a 0.6% gain in Qatar National Bank, the Gulf's largest lender. Dubai's benchmark index edged up 0.1%, supported by a 2.4% rise in Emaar Properties. Abu Dhabi's benchmark index declined 0.3%. Elsewhere, Egypt's blue-chip EGX30 index rose 1.6%.

❗️Iran dismisses diplomatic breakthrough, warns of crushing response to any US-Israeli attack Iran’s negotiating team spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated on Tuesday that no concrete agreements or breakthroughs have been achieved during the latest round of indirect peace proposals exchanged with the United States through regional intermediaries. "Past experiences close the door on any optimism regarding America’s seriousness in diplomacy," IRNA quoted Baghaei as saying. While indirect talks continue via mediators, Tehran emphasized its military readiness to deliver a "crushing response" to any hostile military action launched against Iranian territory. Despite the diplomatic deadlock, Baghaei noted that Iran remains open to utilizing diplomatic avenues to protect its national security and secure its legitimate regional interests. "At the same time, Iran will not miss any opportunity to use diplomacy to secure its legitimate interests and demands, deter the enemy’s aggression, and establish security in the region," he added.

❗️Tehran demands Washington 'fully and explicitly' accept seven conditions to reopen Strait of Hormuz Washington must explicitly fulfill Tehran’s core demands before any reopening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz can take place, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council and senior security official Mohsen Rezaei stated on social media. "America’s response to Iran’s rights and demands was not convincing, and they must fully and explicitly address Iran’s seven conditions and act upon them," Rezaei wrote, adding that "only in this case will the Strait of Hormuz be reopened." His remarks follow earlier statements from Iranian diplomatic officials indicating readiness to lift naval restrictions only after Washington completely halts its economic blockade and foreign military presence.

Yemen hits Saudi forces with deadly missile strikes The Yemeni army said ‘dozens’ of troops were killed and wounded, including military commanders

BREAKING | One Palestinian was killed and several others injured in an Israeli airstrike targeting a tent in Gaza City, according to medical sources cited by Al-Araby TV.

❗️Dubai's Emaar weighs $3 billion buyout of construction subsidiary Dubai-based real estate developer Emaar Properties is reportedly weighing a potential buyout of its construction subsidiary, Emaar Development, in a deal valued at up to $3 billion, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. Emaar Properties, which already holds just over 79 percent of the subsidiary, could announce the proposed transaction within days. The company is scheduled to hold a board meeting this week to review the proposal and has sought legal and financial advice, although discussions remain ongoing and no final decision has been reached. Emaar Development has a market capitalization of $13.68 billion, according to LSEG data. The developer, known for building the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, has played a major role in establishing Dubai as a regional business and tourism hub, particularly during the post-COVID-19 real estate boom. In June, Emaar announced plans for an urban development project worth nearly $55 billion in Dubai, designed to accommodate 150,000 residents.

BREAKING | Yemen's Armed Forces target Saudi military supply depots and troop concentrations in Midi and Al-Qambur Yemen's Armed Forces launched a series of targeted military strikes against Saudi coalition military positions and ammunition depots near the coastal city of Midi, in Hajjah governorate, and Al-Qambur, according to Al-Masirah. Yemen's Armed Forces confirmed that the retaliatory strike was carried out using a fleet of UAVs, achieving direct and precise hits on the designated military targets. The operation resulted in confirmed deaths and injuries among enemy forces, as well as the total destruction of several weapons and ammunition storage facilities across the sector.

Eisenkot refuses to join US-backed 'unity government' with Netanyahu Washington reportedly seeks a 'stable Israeli government' formed quickly, with Netanyahu eyeing Eisenkot for a so-called 'moderate' coalition

❗️Hezbollah categorically rejects Damascus security allegations, maintains focus is countering Israeli aggression Hezbollah's media relations department issued a formal statement strongly rejecting accusations from the Syrian Internal Security forces alleging the party's connection to an alleged sabotage cell. The statement affirmed that Hezbollah maintains no presence or organizational ties within Syrian territory and bears no involvement in any activities undermining Syria's security and stability. "Hezbollah’s Media Relations denies entirely the accusations contained in the Syrian Internal Security Forces statement regarding an alleged cell linked to the party, and reiterates that Hezbollah has no presence or ties in Syrian territory, nor any relation to any activity that disrupts Syria's security and stability," the media office stated in its official press release. The statement emphasized that repeating such allegations fails to alter the resistance movement's steadfast position focused squarely on countering Israeli aggression across Lebanon and Syria. "Hezbollah's compass is confronting the Israeli enemy, which persists in its aggressions against Lebanon and Syria and continues its occupation of their lands," the department noted, adding that "confronting this enemy and its expansionist plans remains the utmost priority around which efforts and positions should unite, away from accusations that only serve its interests."

❗️In latest domestic political posturing, Trump claims US will end US military aid to Israel by year's end US President Donald Trump claimed during an interview with Fox News that Washington plans to completely cut off its $4 billion annual military assistance package to Israel by the end of this year under an alleged agreement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump stated that Netanyahu had proposed the termination himself, asserting that Israel’s growing economy rendered direct subsidies unnecessary while insisting that Washington would simply allow Tel Aviv to buy US weaponry outright. Despite Trump’s assertions of an imminent end to foreign military financing, regional analysts and defense watchdogs view the rhetoric as a political maneuver rather than a structural shift in US foreign policy. The $3.8 billion annual aid framework, codified under a binding 10-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in 2016, is legally anchored through 2028, and any formal cancellation or restructuring would require congressional authorization that faces overwhelmingly partisan resistance in Washington. Furthermore, pivoting from direct grants to weapon sales preserves the flow of US military technology to Tel Aviv while removing congressional oversight and public accountability over arms transfers. Rather than signaling a reduction in US support, the proposed structural shift would allow the Israeli war ministry to bypass political scrutiny, ensuring uninterrupted access to advanced US munitions under the guise of fiscal independence. The announcement also aligns with Netanyahu's stated policy of reducing Israel's dependence on US military financing and shifting toward joint defense projects. Netanyahu previously proposed phasing out US military aid over the next decade, rather than ending it immediately.

❗️Aramco profits jump 34.5% in third quarter despite facility attacks Saudi state-owned oil giant Aramco reported a 34.5 percent year-on-year increase in third-quarter net profit on Tuesday, despite attacks on its facilities. The rise was primarily driven by higher revenues and the company's withdrawal from a joint venture. The world's largest oil exporter recorded net profits of $36.25 billion for the three months ending 30 September, up from $26.9 billion during the same period last year and $32.7 billion in the second quarter. Adjusted net income reached approximately $31.2 billion, exceeding the median analyst forecast of $30.66 billion based on estimates from 12 analysts surveyed by Aramco.

Overwhelming majority of Lebanese Shia reject Hezbollah disarmament: Poll The poll reveals that over 80 percent of Shia do not trust the Lebanese state and want the government to be changed

UPDATE | Israeli occupation forces assaulted Al Jazeera correspondent's wife during West Bank raid Israeli occupation forces raided the home of Al Jazeera correspondent Montaser Nassar in the West Bank town of Dura early today, assaulting his wife and confiscating his personal mobile device before taking him into military custody, according to Al Jazeera. Nassar had been actively broadcasting live updates on an ongoing military raid in Dura from his residence when armed Israeli troops advanced on the apartment building. Family testimony confirms that when Nassar approached the entrance, Israeli soldiers breached the home, physically attacked his wife, and seized his communication equipment to suppress coverage of the military operation. Israeli occupation forces blindfolded and handcuffed the journalist, detaining him alongside several other local residents at approximately 2:30 AM local time before releasing him later.

BREAKING | Two massive explosions carried out by Israeli occupation forces target Kounine, in southern Lebanon.

Iranian FM says Tehran pursuing regional security framework 'free of foreign influence' Araghchi stressed that Iran bears no hostility towards its Gulf neighbors, but will not shy away from striking enemy assets in the region

❗️Israeli attacks kill 19 Palestinians in Gaza over three-day escalation Israeli occupation forces have killed at least 19 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip since Saturday, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Health officials reported six fatalities in the preceding 24 hours alone, following 13 deaths documented over the weekend as Israeli aerial bombardments and artillery shelling continue to target civilian infrastructure in the besieged enclave. Among the casualties, First Lieutenant Khaled Ibrahim Mohammad Shalouf, a 44-year-old internal security officer from the Rafah governorate, was killed this afternoon when an Israeli strike targeted the University College of Applied Sciences (UCAS) in southern Khan Yunis. In a separate strike in Khan Yunis, civil police officer Tamer Mahmoud al-Humaidah succumbed to severe injuries after an Israeli drone strike targeted his location in a displacement camp while he was carrying out security duties. Local educational authorities and human rights organizations noted a sharp rise in Israeli military attacks targeting civil police and internal security personnel, municipal workers, school pupils, university students, and educational facilities across the Gaza Strip in recent weeks.

BREAKING | Israeli occupation forces target Zawtar and Mayfadoun, in southern Lebanon, with artillery shelling.

❗️️Yemeni forces strike Saudi-backed troop concentrations with ballistic missiles, dozens reportedly killed or wounded Yemeni Armed Forces spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree announced in a statement on Tuesday that the Yemeni Armed Forces targeted Saudi enemy troop concentrations in the Ras al-Ara and al-Mudaraba areas, under the command of Saudi officer Badr al-Harbi, with several ballistic missiles. Saree said the strikes hit their targets accurately, leaving dozens killed and wounded, including commanders.

❗️An Israeli war ministry spokesperson denied any involvement in the recent series of airstrikes targeting Iran's Qeshm Island in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, according to AFP. When asked directly by the news agency whether Israeli occupation forces coordinated or participated in the bombardment alongside US units, the military representative responded with a brief "No."