Amid a renewed Yemeni government offensive against the Houthis, Axios reports that the U.S.-Saudi support dynamic remains unchanged: the U.S. continues to provide intelligence and targeting assistance for Saudi strikes while maintaining its refusal to offer additional direct support for Saudi-backed operations.

Zelensky: "Germany is not only helping Ukraine, we are helping each other. Ukraine and Germany are already jointly producing drones." "Ukraine will purchase more weapons and equipment in Germany. Work has begun on creating UAV units, and we are ready to help with training and share our experience."

"Super intelligence" is replacing "artificial intelligence" at Musk's AI venture. SpaceXAI will become SpaceXSI, adopting the term President Trump has been pushing. Musk confirmed it on X: "Yes, we will make that change." View quoted note →

German Chancellor Merz: "The Russian economy cannot wage this war indefinitely. We know that the Russian economy has already reached its pain threshold: 7% inflation, a 14% central-bank rate, falling oil and gas revenues and an increasingly large state deficit."

According to Israel’s Walla News, citing security sources, amidst ongoing rotations of troops, aircraft, and large surface combatants in the Middle East, in the coming weeks, the U.S. military will be looking to bolster its presence in Israel and the wider region in preparation for a potential escalation with Iran. This comes amidst a fragile “hot” ceasefire characterized by the ongoing U.S. blockade of vessels traveling to and from Iran, continued U.S. coercive economic measures, and continued Iranian strikes against commercial shipping v in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

Energy Secretary Wright: "We've got increasing supplies coming out of the Strait of Hormuz, and they've continued to rise."

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The fleet of USAF B-1B Lancer heavy bombers based in the UK for the Iran war are headed home. At least 10 of the B-1s have departed RAF Fairford so far today, bound for bases in the US.

Cockpit view from a Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29 Fulcrum as it shoots down a Russian jet-powered attack drone using an R-60M air-to-air missile.

Footage of a Russian attack drone slamming into the busy Pivnichnyi Bridge in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, today.

According to a release from Japan’s Ministry of Defense (MOD), “an object” that is likely a ballistic missile was launched from North Korea, in yet another test in recent weeks. Per a subsequent release, the Japanese MOD assesses that the object has already fallen, likely in open waters.

Footage reportedly shows multiple major fires at Russia’s Samara oil pumping station today following a Ukrainian drone strike. The facility is a key hub for Russian and Kazakh crude transported westward toward export facilities.

According to a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) release, the USCG interdicted the M/V Grace in early September while the vessel was en route to Cuba carrying fuel and employing measures characteristic of “dark fleet” tankers and bulk carriers. Following the interdiction, the USCG escorted the vessel to Progreso, Mexico, where the Mexican Navy conducted an inspection that “confirmed the presence of large quantities of fuel in the vessel’s ballast tanks.” The operation involved two USCG cutters, a fixed-wing aircraft, and other units.

According to Reuters, citing Western and Middle Eastern officials, Saudi Arabia is planning a renewed offensive aimed at reversing recent Houthi gains, which have reportedly brought the group control of key areas near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Saudi Arabia would reportedly not participate directly in a potential ground offensive but would instead provide close air support, coordinated through embedded joint terminal attack controllers (JTACs) and forward observers (FOs) operating alongside Yemeni government and allied forces.

The Royal Saudi Air Force is currently carrying out airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen. Sanaa is the Houthi’s main stronghold in Yemen.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Center has issued a warning after receiving a report of an attack involving an unknown projectile against a vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The crew is reportedly safe, while an assessment of the vessel and any potential environmental impact is ongoing.

The U.S. is set to deploy a third aircraft carrier to the Middle East and additional forces, amidst renewed negotiations between the U.S. and Iran over the the Strait of Hormuz and their nuclear program. Per reports, the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) and the Makin Island Amphibious Ready group are likely en route to the CENTCOM AOR, as it’s likely the forces are meant to apply additional pressure on Iran to seriously come to the table while simultaneously providing expanded strike options for the President should he decide to renew combat operations against Iran.

Early this evening in Moscow, Russia's Krasnozavodsk Chemical Plant suffered a sudden series of explosions, partially collapsing a building and setting it ablaze. The plant is a major Russian manufacturer of specialty ammunition, including warheads for Shahed-type drones.

The Joint Maritime Information Center issued Update 101 to its advisory on the Middle East maritime region, rating the regional threat level SEVERE. The update lists four confirmed incidents in the Strait of Hormuz since the last report. On September 28, a tanker was struck by an unknown projectile while outbound through the strait; a small fire was quickly extinguished and the vessel continued to its next port of call. On September 29, three separate tankers were struck by unknown projectiles while transiting the strait, two outbound and one inbound. All crews were reported safe with no environmental damage. Damage assessments on two of the vessels remain ongoing.

In a TIME interview conducted September 28th, President Donald J. Trump confirmed that he rejected a seven day ceasefire proposal from Iran over the weekend, saying its offer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz was "not good enough." When asked whether he plans to ramp up bombing after the midterms, he said "Possible" and did not rule it out when pressed further. When asked about previously saying he might "annihilate" Iran, President Trump said "Yeah, I would do that. It's possible," arguing it would "create peace in the world." He also claimed Iran has killed "72 to 75,000" protesters in recent months, a figure he said Iranian officials have disputed, claiming 3,000 instead. Neither figure is independently verified, but open source reports following the January protests put the number north of 30,000. Trump said the war, which he originally suggested would last six to eight weeks, continued into its seventh month because he "wanted to go further" after initial strikes. He claimed Iran's navy and air force have been destroyed, with "159 ships...at the bottom of the sea," and that the U.S. has effectively taken control of the Strait of Hormuz after Iran threatened to close it. On munitions, President Trump dismissed a Defense Department report on shortages as "mostly fake news" but acknowledged "some forms of ammunition are a little bit lower than other forms," saying manufacturers including Raytheon are building new production plants and running at increased capacity to restock.