U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, U.S. Air Force General Dan Caine, greet troops during a ceremony in memory of prisoners of war and missing service members on Sept. 18, 2026, at the Pentagon. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)
Top story
The U.S. administration is readying itself for possible strikes on Iran, according to Axios. The last U.S. attacks on Iran were in early September, as both sides are at a diplomatic deadlock, particularly over the Strait of Hormuz.
Against this backdrop, the Pentagon recently asked CENTCOM, the U.S. Central Command responsible for military operations in the Middle East, to "finalize preparations" for renewed strikes on Iran, which could take place jointly with Israel, Axios reported, adding that the new military operations could target Iran’s energy, strategic and nuclear infrastructure.
A Pentagon official said no date had been set, as media reports in recent days have pointed to a possible resumption of the war before the U.S. midterm elections in November or even before Israel’s legislative elections on Oct. 27.
Why it matters
Renewed war before November could affect the U.S. midterm elections, notably by driving up energy prices. In Israel, renewed fighting could benefit Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu politically.
Regional countries also fear another escalation, as Iranian counterstrikes have so far targeted infrastructure in Gulf states, Jordan and Iraq.
Another escalation could also reignite fighting in Lebanon between Hezbollah and Israel, which continues to occupy more than 600 square kilometers of Lebanese territory and carry out attacks there.
What to watch
The war between Iran-backed Houthis and Saudi Arabia is escalating. Explosions were heard in Riyadh Thursday, prompting students at international schools and diplomats to seek shelter. The Houthis claimed responsibility for a new ballistic missile attack on Riyadh’s international airport and warned airlines, "for the last time," to avoid Saudi airspace.
The day before, Saudi aviation authorities reported three killed and dozens injured after attacks on two of the country’s airports.
Saudi Arabia is supporting a counteroffensive in Yemen by the internationally recognized government. Fighting between the Houthis, who have controlled Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and large parts of the country for more than a decade, and government forces flared up again in July after years of relative calm, opening a new front in the broader Middle East war. Since then, Houthis have regularly targeted Saudi military and oil installations.
In other news
- Visiting Lebanon, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas met with President Joseph Aoun in Baabda Presidential Palace. Kallas expressed "the European Union’s willingness to provide necessary aid to Lebanon," including to the army and civil society organizations. Aoun welcomed "the efforts made by the European Union to avoid a vacuum after the UNIFIL phase." Kallas also met with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and is expected to meet Foreign Minister Joe Rajji.
- The Lebanese Army reported the seizure of "nearly 5 tons of metals as well as tobacco" Wednesday near Arsal, along the Syrian border, after an exchange of gunfire between smugglers and troops. The seizure came after Syrian authorities reported intercepting smuggled goods at the Lebanese-Syrian border and exchanges of gunfire between Syrian security forces and smugglers.
- The government is set to meet Thursday at 3 p.m. at Baabda Palace. The Cabinet session comes two days after Energy Minister Joe Saddi announced he would boycott government meetings over his and his backing party's, the Lebanese Forces, dissatisfaction with the 2027 budget, approved by the Cabinet last Thursday, and amid growing public anger over the management of the electricity sector.
