The Cradle ✔

❗️Since midnight, Israeli occupation forces have targeted multiple towns and villages in southern Lebanon with extensive artillery shelling, machine-gun fire, and detonation operations. The bombardment hit the outskirts of Baraachit, Beit Yahoun, Meifdoun, Nabatieh el-Fawqa, Wadi Nahlah between Majdal Selm and Shaqra, Wadi Zabqine, and Wadi al-Hujeir, alongside heavy machine-gun bursts directed at Haret Abdel-Nabi, Al-Qantara, and the Houza area near Aita al-Jabal. Additionally, occupation forces carried out a controlled explosion and military vehicle movements inside the town of Zawtar al-Sharqiya. These actions coincided with intensified hostile military maneuvers from Mays al-Jabal toward Wadi al-Salouqi, alongside ongoing machine-gun rakes targeting the outskirts of Shaqra and Baraachit.

❗️Tehran warns diplomatic channels will close permanently if US launches new military strikes Tehran is awaiting an official response from Washington regarding a comprehensive proposal delivered through regional mediators, but will permanently close all diplomatic channels if the US launches fresh military strikes, according to Mohsen Haddad, editor-in-chief of the Iranian daily Al-Wefaq. Speaking to Al Jazeera, Haddad emphasized that Iran maintains a firm stance on the mandatory implementation of its seven core framework points before any final negotiations can proceed. "If diplomatic efforts failed and a military confrontation between Iran and the United States resumed," Haddad warned that Tehran would not return to the negotiating table with the Trump administration under fire. The warning underscores growing skepticism in Tehran over US intentions as mediator-driven proposals linger without a response from the White House. Iranian officials have repeatedly cautioned that continued US threats or renewed aggression will destroy the remaining diplomatic framework, leaving direct confrontation as the sole operational reality.

VIDEO | An Israeli drone targets the movement of local fisherman off the coast of Qlaileh, south of the Lebanese city of Tyre, in southern Lebanon.

❗️Turkish parliament ratifies Mecca Joint Defense Agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan The Turkish Grand National Assembly officially ratified the landmark Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, legally binding NATO's second-largest military to a mutual defense pact with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan amid escalating regional warfare and sustained strikes by Yemen's Armed Forces. First signed at a trilateral summit in Mecca on 7 August, the trilateral security framework incorporates a binding NATO-style collective defense clause asserting that an armed attack originating externally against any member state will be treated as an attack against all. Under Article 2 of the agreement, the three signatory nations commit to providing immediate assistance, including military forces and technological resources, to safeguard the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of partner states. The parliamentary approval in Ankara paves the way for the Turkish government to submit a follow-up mandate allowing the direct deployment of military personnel to Saudi Arabia.

VIDEO | "I would rather not have to destroy the country if possible but maybe I'll have to. You'll know soon enough." US President Donald Trump stated on Thursday that Washington is weighing a devastating fresh round of military operations that could "destroy the rest of Iran," warning that any collapse of diplomatic negotiations will trigger an immediate escalation. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office following a high-level national security briefing, Trump indicated that military planners are preparing targets to permanently neutralize Iran's nuclear capabilities and critical infrastructure. "I would rather not destroy the rest of the country if possible, but maybe I'll have to," Trump declared, adding that the international community will "know soon enough" whether he authorizes the offensive. Assessing the cumulative damage inflicted by months of US-Israeli bombardment, Trump estimated that restoring Iranian civilian and industrial infrastructure will take at least 25 years.

Qatar poised to become number one US LNG buyer after war on Iran cuts exports: Report Iranian retaliatory strikes cut Qatari exports by more than two-thirds, prompting the country to resell US gas in a bid to maintain its reputation as a reliable supplier

WATCH | Ana Kasparian critiques the illusions of electoral politics, calling on US citizens to hold Democrats accountable to an electorate fed up with funding foreign wars. 👉 Full episode

Rubio expected to quit Trump cabinet to 'salvage' 2028 presidential bid: Report The US Secretary of State and other Republicans reportedly fear fallout from Trump's war on Iran after their decisive defeat to Democrats in the midterm elections

Algeria's Niger deployment redraws the Sahel's fault lines Algiers's first foreign ground deployment since 1973 signals a broader struggle over Sahel security, Moroccan influence, and control of Africa's energy corridors. By Aidan J. Simardone

Albanian PM claims Iran 'fueled' mass protests against Kushner luxury resort In June, Albanians organized weeks of mass protests over Jared Kushner's plan to take over an Albanian island, allegedly to establish a luxury resort

WATCH | The US-Israel alliance and its supporting lawmakers face unprecedented scrutiny from US citizens rejecting the parasitic relationship, says US-Armenian commentator Ana Kasparian. 👉 Full episode

Turkish parliament approves first article of Mecca defense pact Lawmakers backed the agreement as a ‘complementary’ partnership to NATO

❗️Gulf stock markets rise as US midterm losses fuel hopes of Iran de-escalation Most Gulf stock markets closed higher on Thursday as investors anticipated that Republican setbacks in this week's US congressional elections could potentially lower the likelihood of further escalation with Iran, lifting risk appetite across the region. Saudi Arabia's benchmark index advanced 0.6%, supported by gains in the country's largest lender by assets, Saudi National Bank, which rose 1.6%, and Al-Rajhi Bank, which added 0.8%. Sahara International Petrochemical fell 2.9% after reporting a larger third-quarter loss. Dubai's main stock index ended unchanged, while blue-chip developer Emaar Properties gained 1.8%. After trading closed, the company reported a sharp increase in third-quarter profits. Abu Dhabi's benchmark index climbed 0.6%, with conglomerate International Holding Company rising 1.9%. Qatar's benchmark index recorded the region's strongest gains, rising 1.8%, while Qatar Islamic Bank advanced 2.9%. Egypt's blue-chip index rose 1%.

Silicon Valley giants lost hundreds of millions in US midterms: Report Major Big Tech contributors to the Republican party included OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman and his wife

⭕️ Brent crude prices climbed on Thursday as markets assessed the potential direction of the US-Israeli war on Iran following significant losses for President Donald Trump's Republican Party in this week's midterm elections. As of 12:55 GMT, Brent crude futures had gained $2.19, or 2.3%, to $96.81 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose $1.32, or 1.5%, to $89.44 a barrel.

Israeli president warns Jewish terrorism against Palestinians can spark 'civil war' Israeli army units in the occupied West Bank are increasingly dominated by religious-nationalist Jewish settlers who engage in violence against Palestinians to ethnically cleanse their lands and annex them to Israel

❗️Saudi Arabia issued warnings on Thursday over a possible threat to Yanbu, the kingdom's main oil export hub on the Red Sea.

World Medical Association shields Israeli doctors complicit in Palestinian prisoner torture: Report A senior ethics official at the Israeli Medical Association reportedly approved the starvation diet imposed on thousands of Palestinian prisoners

❗️Turkiye's Defense Ministry announced on Thursday that a Turkish soldier was killed on 31 October by cross-border fire originating from Iran, adding that Tehran had launched both judicial and administrative investigations into the incident. During its weekly press briefing, the ministry said the soldier was killed while attempting to intervene in an illegal border crossing. It added that Turkish and Iranian officials had met at the site on Tuesday, with Ankara coordinating with Iranian authorities to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

Yemen demands $51bn in reparations, Saudi ‘recognition’ in exchange for ceasefire: Report The kingdom reportedly reached out to Sanaa after the Yemeni army began its massive campaign of strikes on Saudi military and energy infrastructure