Rapid Alerts

MIDDLE EAST — On November 1, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran announced that it had designated the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) a hostile group and the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force terrorist organizations under Iranian law.

The measures took effect upon publication of the statement that day, according to the ministry.

Location: Saudi Arabia, countrywide

Event: Effective October 23, 2026, the Department of State ordered non-emergency U.S. government employees and U.S. government employee family members to leave Saudi Arabia due to safety risks.

PERSIAN GULF — United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) received multiple third-party reports on October 26 of a vessel on fire 63 nautical miles southeast of Al-Faw, Iraq, with crew status, damage assessment, and environmental impact unknown at the time of the report.

In a separate verified time-late report issued the same day, UKMTO stated that a tanker transiting outbound in the Strait of Hormuz was struck by an unknown projectile at 8:39 AM UTC on October 23, disabling the vessel.

MIDDLE EAST — Major General Turki Al-Malki, official spokesperson for the Saudi-led Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, stated on October 26 in releases carried by the Saudi Press Agency that coalition air defenses intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Houthi militia toward Riyadh.

Al-Malki further stated that coalition forces destroyed two ballistic missile launchers in Sanaa, and that one of those launchers had been used to fire the missile directed at Riyadh.

RIYADH — Major General Turki Al-Maliki, spokesman for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, stated on October 25 that air defenses intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Houthi militia toward Riyadh.

The spokesman said that a drone was intercepted and destroyed in the Riyadh region. Saudi Civil Defense stated that the danger had passed in Riyadh City.

PERSIAN GULF — On October 16, United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) received reports of two separate attacks on tankers northeast of Al Jubayl, Saudi Arabia, with all crew reported safe.

The first incident involved an unknown projectile striking a tanker at 9:00 AM UTC, approximately 68 nautical miles (78 miles, 126 km) northeast of Al Jubayl.

MIDDLE EAST — On October 15, Houthi forces fired missiles at the al-Maashiq presidential palace in Aden, Yemen, the seat of the internationally recognized government, killing two security personnel, Yemeni officials said.

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation has extended the suspension of operations at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh through October 17 following missile and unmanned aerial vehicle attacks earlier in the month that killed at least 17 people there, including one U.S. citizen, and injured hundreds, the Saudi-led coalition said.

MIDDLE EAST — United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations received time-late reports on October 13 of two container ships struck by unknown projectiles while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, one inbound and one outbound, with both vessels reporting minor damage, no casualties, and continued passage.

United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued Warning 172-26 for a 50,000 tonne container ship struck at 4:40 PM UTC while conducting an inbound transit, and Warning 173-26 for a 19,000 tonne container ship struck at 5:00 PM UTC while conducting an outbound transit.

SAUDI ARABIA — Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation announced on October 12 that the suspension of operations at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh has been extended to allow completion of procedures verifying the safety and operational readiness of the airport’s facilities, in coordination with the relevant authorities.

The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned in the strongest terms the continued attacks by the Houthi group on the airport, which it said resulted in injuries to a number of civilians, and affirmed full solidarity with Saudi Arabia along with support for measures safeguarding its security and stability.

SAUDI ARABIA — The Saudi-led coalition attributed an October 10 strike by Yemen’s Houthi forces on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh that killed 12 people, including one U.S. citizen, and injured 309, Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation said.

The coalition called the strike a war crime. On October 11, an unidentified projectile struck Terminal 4 at the same airport and caused a fire, the coalition’s spokesman said, while Saudi authorities reported injuries.

GULF OF OMAN — On October 10, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces disabled the Panama-flagged commercial cargo vessel M/V Ocean Molica, also known as the Arika Sun, in the Gulf of Oman after its crew ignored repeated warnings and attempted to run the ongoing U.S. naval blockade against ships entering or departing Iranian ports.

A U.S. military fighter jet struck the stern of the vessel with a precision munition, fully disabling the ship’s propulsion without harming the crew. The large cargo vessel was attempting to transit regional waters after having previously departed an Iranian port, CENTCOM said.

STRAIT OF HORMUZ — United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) received a report on October 10 that the master (Captain) of an outbound tanker was struck on the port side by an unknown projectile within the Strait of Hormuz at 7:20 PM UTC, causing a fire on board.

Crew were reported safe. Damage assessment and environmental impact remained unknown at the time of the report. Vessels were advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO while authorities investigate.

YEMEN — A company security officer reported that a tanker sighted multiple explosions close to the ship about 69 miles (111 km) south of Al Mukha, Yemen, on Sunday, October 4.

The officer reported the crew safe and no environmental impact. The warning says authorities are investigating, and it advises ships to pass with caution and to report suspicious activity.

MIDDLE EAST — On October 1 a maritime reporting center received a third-party report that an unknown projectile had struck a tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway between Iran and Oman, and that a fire had started.

The report said the crew was safe, and it left the damage assessment and any environmental effect unknown. It did not name the tanker, the projectile, or who fired.

MIDDLE EAST — U.S. Central Command completed the orderly departure of U.S. forces and equipment from Erbil Air Base in northern Iraq on September 30, marking the end of the Operation Inherent Resolve mission in Iraq, the command said.

The U.S. Department of War stated the same day that the United States and Coalition partners formally concluded Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq, consistent with the September 2024 U.S.-Iraq joint statement.

MIDDLE EAST — The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), flagship of Carrier Strike Group 9, left Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego on September 27 bound for the Arabian Sea station Adm. Daryl Caudle, U.S. Chief of Naval Operations, named on August 31.

Caudle told sailors at a Fort Meade, Maryland, town hall that Roosevelt would take station in the Arabian Sea so USS George Washington, the Japan-based Pacific carrier then covering the Iran conflict, could return to its Pacific role.

WEST BANK — On September 27, U.S. Embassy Jerusalem said checkpoints across the entire West Bank region will be closed from September 27 to October 3, and that there is no regular entry into Israel except for strictly medical and humanitarian reasons.

The embassy said Jerusalem ID holders can still commute and travel freely. It said Arbel permit holders cannot cross checkpoints even by shuttle.

MIDDLE EAST — On September 21, a tanker on an inbound transit through the Strait of Hormuz was struck by an unknown projectile. Two crew members received minor injuries, after which the ship continued to its next port under its own power.

No environmental impact has been reported, and authorities are investigating the incident, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

SAUDI ARABIA — The Joint Forces of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen said Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces brought down a drone south of Mecca at 6:50 p.m. Saudi time on September 15 (3:50 p.m. UTC), before the aircraft entered prohibited airspace over the city.

Coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki, in a Saudi Press Agency statement dated September 16, attributed the drone to the Houthi group and said the security of the Two Holy Mosques and Umrah visitors was a red line.

YEMEN — Staff Colonel Majid Abdullah Al-Nuzaily, official spokesperson for the internationally recognized Yemeni Armed Forces, said on September 13 that the air force was still destroying Houthi equipment, gatherings, and fighters inside a declared kill zone around the Red Sea port of Mokha and the Dhubab district in western Taiz Governorate.

A kill zone, also called a kill box in the Aden command’s Arabic statement, is a pre-marked patch of ground set aside for concentrated fire. Al-Nuzaily said the air force had opened that box on September 11 and asked civilians to stay off the Taiz-Mokha road and the Mokha-Dhubab road until a further notice.

JAZAN, SAUDI ARABIA — The General Directorate of Civil Defense said that on September 12 a projectile launched by Houthi forces struck Al-Tuwal Governorate in the Jazan Region, wounding two people and damaging a mosque plus other buildings and vehicles.

The same evening, the National Early Warning Platform, the Civil Defense cell-broadcast system that pushes emergency text to phones on licensed mobile networks, issued potential-danger warnings for Abha City and Khamis Mushait Governorate in the Asir Region.

GULF OF OMAN — On September 8, U.S. Central Command said its forces struck five crude oil carriers it identified as belonging to the IRGC after the Guard twice fired ballistic missiles at a U.S. Navy warship over the preceding two days.

The command said the warship evaded both attacks, stayed on patrol, and that no American personnel were harmed in those ship attacks or the tanker strikes that followed.

MIDDLE EAST — U.S. Central Command said its forces struck three Iranian crude oil carriers on Sept. 5 after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched ballistic missiles toward two U.S. Navy warships in regional waters.

The command said an aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer evaded the incoming fire and that no American personnel were harmed.

MIDDLE EAST — U.S. Central Command said Tuesday that its forces successfully completed a wave of strikes against Iranian military targets on September 1.

According to the Command, U.S. forces struck Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets including air defense sites, radar systems, maritime assets and facilities, mine laying capabilities, and communications sites.

CENTCOM: “Today at 12 p.m. Et, U.S. forces began striking Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets in Iran. The strikes follow recent attempted attacks by the IRGC against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and against American service members deployed in the region.”

STRAIT OF HORMUZ — The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center, the Royal Navy-sponsored office that records incidents for commercial shipping, said on August 31 that a tanker reported being struck by three unknown projectiles 17 nautical miles, about 20 miles (31 kilometers), east of Khasab, Oman, while finishing an outbound transit of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway between Oman and Iran that connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman.

UKMTO logged the incident as an attack, but the report did not name the tanker, its flag, its owner, or the type of projectile.

INDIAN OCEAN — On August 31 the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) published Advisory 123-26 after a ship’s Captain reported an incident involving a tanker and military forces in the Indian Ocean.

The report gave no vessel name, flag, International Maritime Organization number, course, or crew status, and no latitude or longitude for the contact.

MIDDLE EAST — U.S. Central Command has refuted the claim by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that strikes by the United States were an “act of aggression”, stating that the U.S. took limited, precise action against IRGC mine-laying forces that posed an imminent threat to civilian mariners, commercial shipping and the free flow of global commerce.

U.S. Central Command: “CLAIM: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed in a recent statement that strikes by U.S. forces to prevent the IRGC from placing mines in the Strait of Hormuz were an “act of aggression.” This claim is absolutely FALSE.

GULF OF OMAN — The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center issued Warning 120-26 after the master of an oil tanker reported the ship struck by an unknown projectile 9 nautical miles (10 miles, 17 kilometers) northeast of Ash Shishah, Oman.

UKMTO logged the report at 8:25 p.m. UTC on August 24 and classified the event as an attack. The master said the projectile damaged the engine room and left the tanker unable to proceed. UKMTO said the crew was reported safe and that environmental impact was unknown in the initial warning.

YANBU, SAUDI ARABIA — A tanker was struck by an unknown projectile 63 nautical miles west of Yanbu on August 24, producing a fire on the main deck.

All crew members were accounted for and safe. No environmental impact was reported. Vessels were advised to transit the area with caution and report any suspicious activity.

DOHA — On August 18 the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defense stated that its air defense systems detected two ballistic missiles launched from Iran toward the UAE.

Two missiles were launched: one fell outside UAE territorial waters and the other inside, but neither struck land. The UAE Interior Ministry briefly issued a public alert that was later lifted, and Iran has made no immediate official comment on the launches.

STRAIT OF HORMUZ — United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued Warning 115-26 on August 18 stating a Company Security Officer said that a vessel was struck by an unknown projectile while conducting an outbound transit of the Strait of Hormuz.

The impact caused damage to the engine room and resulted in a crew casualty. The remaining crew are being assisted by the Omani Coast Guard. No environmental impact has been stated. Authorities are investigating.

MIDDLE EAST — Two explosive-laden Hadid-110 drones that the Kurdistan Counter-Terrorism Directorate stated were launched from across the Iranian border struck the private office of Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and the residence of the Parastin Agency director in the Pirmam district of Erbil province at 12:28 a.m. local time on August 17.

The Kurdistan Counter-Terrorism Directorate stated the drones targeted the sites and reported no casualties. Barzani described the attacks as a dangerous escalation and an unacceptable threat to the region’s security and stability.

NEWPORT NEWS AND ARABIAN SEA — HII Newport News Shipbuilding completed acceptance sea trials of the future USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) on August 15, with the ship returning to the yard after testing key systems at sea.

On the same date, Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, concluded a 10-day trip to the Middle East that included a visit to USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in the Arabian Sea.

STRAIT OF HORMUZ — United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued Warning 113-26 on August 15 after receiving a verified report that a bulk carrier was struck by an unknown projectile that hit the hull in the Strait of Hormuz.

The incident occurred at 8:00 PM UTC on August 14. The crew are safe. No damage assessment has been released and environmental impact remains unknown at present.

Gulf of Oman / Bab el-Mandeb, Two commercial vessels were struck on August 11 in separate incidents confirmed by both the Joint Maritime Information Center and United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations.

In the Gulf of Oman, the container ship Vela Nova was hit by a missile fired from a helicopter. The vessel was 71 nautical miles from the Pakistani coast when the strike occurred. The master reported damage to the stern and steering compartment.

STRAIT OF HORMUZ — UK Maritime Trade Operations reported that a vessel was struck by an unknown projectile approximately 18 nautical miles (33 km) east of Khasab, Oman, on August 8. The impact caused a fire that was extinguished.

The vessel and crew were reported safe, with no environmental impact. Authorities are investigating. Vessels were advised to transit with caution and report suspicious activity.

Yemen / Red Sea / Strait of Hormuz, The U.S. Mission to Yemen stated on August 6 that it expresses deepest condolences to the families of the Yemeni soldiers killed that day in Hadhramawt and Marib.

The mission attributed the attacks to the Iran-backed Houthis and described them as another example of their terrorism against the Yemeni people. It wished the wounded a speedy recovery.

STRAIT OF HORMUZ — UK Maritime Trade Operations issued Advisory 103-26 on August 2 reporting an incident approximately 20 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman.

At 8:37 p.m. UTC on August 2 the master (Captain) of a tanker reported hearing an explosion in close proximity of the vessel.

STRAIT OF HORMUZ — The Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that negotiations with Oman regarding the Strait of Hormuz are in their final stages. The Joint Maritime Information Center Update 079, covering March 1 to August 2, listed two confirmed maritime security incidents in the Strait of Hormuz on August 1.

An LNG carrier, name withheld, was struck by an unknown projectile at 11:30 p.m. UTC on July 31 while transiting outbound, 11 nautical miles north-east of Lima, Oman.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of State on August 1 advised Americans currently in the Middle East to exercise caution and heightened vigilance and to prepare for flight cancellations, periodic airspace closures, and potential travel disruptions.

Some airlines in the region have postponed resumption of earlier flight schedules; others have cancelled some routes.

MIDDLE EAST — The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on July 30 again claimed full control of the Strait of Hormuz and said two oil tankers that tried an unauthorized route turned back after a fire broke out on one of them.

The same day Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates condemned continued UAV attacks by Iran-affiliated militias operating from Iraqi territory against Saudi oil facilities in the Eastern Region.

MIDDLE EAST — On July 29, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that five Iranian rockets traveling 8,500 miles per hour had been knocked down the previous night and that U.S. forces would hit Iran very hard in response.

U.S. Central Command confirmed that Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces launched multiple ballistic missiles from Iran at 5:45 p.m. ET on July 28 in an attempted surprise attack on U.S. forces based in the Middle East, with all missiles successfully intercepted and U.S. forces remaining at a high state of readiness.

MIDDLE EAST — On July 28, U.S. Central Command and the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces conducted precision strikes against Iran-aligned terrorists that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps directed to attack U.S. forces and Saudi energy infrastructure.

U.S. and Saudi fighter aircraft struck multiple terrorist logistics and weapons sites across eastern Iraq in response to over 30 IRGC-directed aerial drone attacks in the last 72 hours.

MIDDLE EAST — On July 28 the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces launched multiple ballistic missiles from Iran in an attempted surprise attack on U.S. forces based in the Middle East, according to U.S. Central Command.

According to U.S. Central Command all Iranian missiles were successfully intercepted. The command added that U.S. forces remain vigilant and at a high state of readiness.

MIDDLE EAST — On July 27, the Saudi Ministry of Defense stated that air defenses intercepted and destroyed a number of drones during the past hours that attempted to target petroleum facilities in the Eastern Region and Riyadh.

The official spokesperson, Major General Turki Al-Maliki, said the attempts were launched from Iraqi territory and carried out by Iranian-backed terrorist militias.

JORDAN — The General Command of the Jordanian Armed Forces-Arab Army stated that Royal Jordanian Air Force aircraft intercepted and downed two drones that breached Jordanian airspace from Iranian territory on the morning of July 27.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) separately reported intercepting two unmanned aerial vehicles identified near the Jordanian border the same morning.