Morning Briefing – Oct 13, 2026

Saudi response

Saudi Arabia’s energy minister said the kingdom would respond seriously to recent Houthi attacks, after strikes on Riyadh airport facilities caused deaths and disruption. The Saudi-led coalition also said it intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile over Riyadh on Monday night, while the Houthis said they had again targeted the airport. [1]

Flights and regional impact

Air travel remained affected: Qatar Airways said it would temporarily suspend flights to Riyadh and Dammam, while Etihad cancelled services to several Saudi cities. The airport at Riyadh was expected to remain closed until Saturday, according to the BBC report. [1]

Iran’s position

Iran urged Saudi Arabia to avoid a military approach and seek a political solution, according to Middle East Eye. Separately, Trump said Iran wanted an agreement with Washington but, in his assessment, did not know how to achieve one. These were political statements, not evidence of negotiations. [2] [3]

Sources: 1. BBC News · 2. Middle East Eye · 3. Middle East Eye

About this briefing

AI-assisted synthesis with automated evidence checks. Reporting window: 12 Oct 2026 18:00 to 13 Oct 2026 06:00 UTC. Sources may be partial and their claims have not been independently verified. Feed excerpts only: Middle East Eye.