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BREAKING: US State Dept is preparing to issue an ordered departure of some personnel and family members at US embassies across the Gulf - US Officials

JUST IN: Several U.S. embassies across the Middle East have reportedly just ordered all staff and their families to leave the region. • Saudi Arabia🇸🇦 • Qatar 🇶🇦 • United Arab Emirates 🇦🇪 • Bahrain 🇧🇭 • Jordan🇯🇴 • Oman🇴🇲 Contributed by: @BeamTracker_

Trump on Ukraine war: We're getting closer to settling Putin's war with Ukraine, maybe now. The closest we've been.

NOW: Columns of smoke are seen rising from Sirik, southern Iran. This follows reports of 3-4 explosions heard in the coastal city. The cause is currently unclear . Contributed by: @BeamTracker_

JUST IN: Several U.S. embassies across the Middle East have reportedly just ordered all staff and their families to leave the region. • Saudi Arabia🇸🇦 • Qatar 🇶🇦 • United Arab Emirates 🇦🇪 • Bahrain 🇧🇭 • Jordan🇯🇴 • Oman 🇴🇲

Nasrallah ordered Hezbollah to abandon cell phones, convinced Israel was tracking his fighters. Instead, they given pagers. One of the most extraordinary intelligence operations in history. The full story, reconstructed in 3D. Tomorrow on YouTube.

Nasrallah ordered Hezbollah to abandon cell phones, convinced Israel was tracking his fighters. Instead, they were given pagers. One of the most extraordinary intelligence operations in history. The full story, reconstructed in 3D. Tomorrow on YouTube.

President Macron says foreign leaders are being fooled by AI-generated videos of riots that never happened. Speaking in Doha, Macron condemned what he called “unacceptable and even stupid comments,” accusing foreign actors of manipulating the narrative. He also rejected claims that France had been overrun by migrants and Islamists as “completely false.”

CORRECTION: Within the past hour, we shared reports from Reuters and AFP claiming that U.S. embassy staff and their families were leaving the Gulf. The U.S. State Department has since denied the broader claim, and we have deleted our original post. What is confirmed: According to State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott, the department has ordered the departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel and their family members from Saudi Arabia only.

NBC reports that the U.S. military has begun reducing its troop presence at bases across the Middle East, while the State Department is ordering further staff reductions at diplomatic missions across the region. Please note, no offical confirmation of this report.

Iran is threatening to expand its target list in the event of another major war. A senior Iranian security official told Fars News that if renewed fighting includes assassinations of senior officials or civilian casualties, Tehran would consider U.S. political targets, as well as the infrastructure of countries participating in the war, legitimate targets for retaliation.

Iranian singer Mansour Jafari delivered a direct message to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a performance of his song “Bibi Gol”: “Finish the job with the Islamic Republic.”

Tensions between Egypt and Turkey are resurfacing over control of the Eastern Mediterranean. Egypt has formally rejected Libya’s ratification of a maritime agreement with Turkey, declaring it legally invalid and warning that it reserves the right to take necessary measures to protect its maritime interests. The disputed 2019 agreement establishes maritime boundaries between Turkey and Libya, potentially affecting competing claims over offshore energy resources. The dispute also involves Greece and Cyprus, which have challenged Turkey’s maritime claims in the region.

Reporter: Why are embassy personnel being ordered to depart their posts in the Middle East? Trump: I don’t know that they are. You’re telling me something, I wouldn’t know that. 🧐

North Korea is suffering major internet disruptions. Government websites and state media, including KCNA, are affected. The cause remains unknown, with a possible cyberattack among the explanations being examined.

JUST IN: The U.S. accuses Russia of conducting potentially hostile space operations after its COSMOS 2612 military satellite deliberately maneuvered dangerously close to a commercial satellite.

High chances Iranian launchers were targeted tonight in Sirik.

Saudi Arabia reports attack on Dammam airport late Wednesday, killing at least one person and injuring eight others; damage assessment underway.

The White House counsel’s office gave Politico 48 hours to retract or correct recent reports about alleged tensions among staff, warning of unspecified consequences, Axios reports. The deadline expires Thursday. Contributed by @AZIntel.

Amid reports of U.S. embassy personnel departures across the Gulf, a U.S. Air Force C-130H Hercules has been tracked operating around Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

The FBI arrested a 17-year-old in McKinney, Texas, over an ISIS-inspired plot to assassinate Republican Congressman Keith Self and carry out a terrorist attack in North Texas. The suspect was arrested after acquiring a firearm. Self is a vocal critic of Sharia law and Islamic extremism. He co-founded the “Sharia-Free America Caucus”

Russia launches fresh overnight attacks on Kyiv, Ukraine, injuring six people, despite signaling readiness for trilateral peace talks with the United States; missiles struck homes and a petrol station, RFE/RL reports.

U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States was "not negotiating" with Iran and that a development was expected "fairly soon." He said that most people believed it would come after the election.

U.S. President Donald Trump: "American Manufacturing is BOOMING. Jobs are coming HOME. We're breaking ALL Economic Estimates. Now Apple is committing to purchasing 100 MILLION DOLLARS of PENNSYLVANIA Titanium for its NEW iPhone.  The Radical Left said it couldn't be done. We proved them wrong, AGAIN! I WILL ALWAYS FIGHT FOR THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE OF PENNSYLVANIA. This Investment will be incredible for the people of the 14th Congressional District (Guy Reschenthaler is doing an amazing job!), and the entire Commonwealth. Remember this Investment on Election Day! President DONALD J. TRUMP".

Mediators in the U.S.-Iran talks are moving urgently to prevent escalation and a return to war, the Wall Street Journal reports. Proposals on the table include releasing part of Iran's frozen funds abroad, with interest, in exchange for nuclear concessions such as allowing IAEA inspectors back into the country.

Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation says a Houthi attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam killed one person and wounded eight others.

A Russian facility that repairs Buk and S-300V air defense systems, the 75th Arsenal near Serpukhov, was hit overnight by Ukrainian forces. Damage unknown.

The IRGC Navy has warned that U.S. military bases across the region could be targeted if Washington continues pushing vessels through a mined passage it describes as illegal, calling the statement a serious warning.

Trump: "I called Google Maps to change the name of the Atlantic Ocean to Trump Ocean. Sundar said, 'No, no, no. This time I'm not doing it.' He said, 'Oceans are different, sir. They cover a lot of countries. Please don't ask us to do that.' So we'll probably pass. Let's keep it the Atlantic Ocean."

Aramco President, speaking to Al Arabiya Business: Markets have lost about 3 billion barrels of supplies since the start of the crisis.

As the drums of war grow louder, Brent crude has surged past $113 a barrel, reaching its highest level in 5 months.

Elon Musk: "I do think at times the X feed can be a little dark." "I do think there's too much political rage bait on X."

Iran's Mohsen Rezaei: capabilities were withheld during earlier stages of the fighting and will be used in a future war.

Elon Musk on Israel: The neighboring countries have tried to annihilate Israel several times. Not once, multiple times. In Israel, they realize that if you let people into Israel who want to kill Israelis, they will do so. They're quite pragmatic about this, and they try to make sure that doesn't happen.

Iran’s rial continues its collapse against the U.S. dollar, losing more than half its value since the start of 2026. January 5: 1 USD = 1,350,000 rials October 22: 1 USD = 2,730,000 rials

Fox News: “Do you see Vice President JD Vance as your successor in 2028?” President Trump: “No, but he’s very capable”

President Trump on Iran: "It's a very small price to pay. The number one state sponsor of terror. The most evil nation on Earth. If they had a nuclear weapon, they'd use it within one day or one hour. I would say one hour."

Zelensky: I don't think Putin will risk nuclear weapons. I don't think they'll take the risk of using nuclear weapons. I'm sure they won't have any allies left, including countries like America and China. That's far too dangerous, even for nuclear powers.

A Turkish diplomatic source told Reuters that foreign ministers from Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Britain, France and Germany will gather in Istanbul on Friday. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is hosting the meeting, which will focus on regional conflicts.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on who will disarm Hamas in Gaza: I told our American friends, "You say you can find some international force that will come and disarm Hamas. Be my guest. Bring it." They searched for another month, another month, another month, another month. And of course, they found nobody. Therefore, that mission will fall to us. It will fall to us.

Israeli PM Netanyahu: "A year ago, Iran was about to destroy us with atomic bombs. When I learned about this, I initiated an operation to go it alone. Alone. Good people here told me, 'Fine, but we need to get a green light from the United States.' I said, 'No, no. There is no green light. We have no choice. Our existence is not a subject for negotiation.'"

Netanyahu on Saudi Arabia demanding a Palestinian state: "Guys, if you believe that nonsense... Yes, publicly they say that. I don't want to tell you what I'm hearing."

Reuters: Saudi Aramco instructed its employees on Thursday to evacuate the company’s headquarters in Dhahran and switch to remote work.

A Greek bank is under investigation after the U.S. Treasury Department issued an administrative order to advance the probe. Greece's Ministry of Finance followed with an announcement. It is implementing the Iran-related sanctions. It also supports the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing.

NOW: Aircraft bound for Dammam and Hofuf airports are flying holding patterns amid reports of a Houthi attack targeting Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province.

Netanyahu on Iran: We've done it before, and we'll do it now and bring the final blow. Either we destroy them or they destroy us. That's what the voters have to decide on.

An ISIS cell in Rankous, in the Damascus countryside, was hit in a Syrian Internal Security operation. Several cell operatives were arrested. Others were killed or wounded, per Al-Hadath. Syrian state TV: Internal Security personnel were also among the dead and wounded in the clashes.

Employees at Saudi Aramco's headquarters in Dhahran have been ordered to evacuate. The company told staff to continue their work remotely. i24NEWS

IRIB: First images of the Iranian Army's drone production line released.

Investigations and legal proceedings in France remain ongoing, according to President Emmanuel Macron, who added that the justice system is fully mobilized. "Several thousand individuals have been taken into custody, and several hundred have been incarcerated," Macron stated. Further details on those detained and their cases will be released in due course.

Lockheed Martin would build 850 F-35s over 10 years under a framework deal with the Pentagon announced Thursday. Congress still has to sign off.

Four unmanned aerial vehicles were intercepted over Riyadh and Medina, the Saudi-led coalition announced.

Report: The Saudi capital, Riyadh, is under attack by Houthi forces.

MAP: The Houthis claim to have launched 4 separate missile and drone attacks across Saudi Arabia, targeting the Defense Ministry headquarters in Riyadh, Dammam International Airport, Aramco’s facilities in Yanbu and Abha International Airport.

A strike in the Tal al-Hawa area of Gaza killed at least one Hamas terrorist, according to initial reports.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang on AI doomsday warnings: "When you say that it will be the end of the human civilisation, first of all, it's not true." He called such claims "made up" and "cheap" at an Nvidia event in Berlin.

Putin sends fishing trawlers to spy on Britain. An investigative analysis finds 500 incidents of Russian civilian vessels loitering above vital undersea cables. Telegraph.

President Macron said earlier that "illegitimate" protests would be banned. French authorities have since lifted the ban on demonstrations, and students are now protesting in central Paris against the government while calling for better conditions in the education system.

U.S Treasury: Iran no longer has any floating oil storage. WSJ https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/irans-fleet-of-shadow-tankers-has-run-out-of-oil-after-monthslong-u-s-blockade-0822b050

Trump signals something BIG could happen with Iran very soon, possibly even before the US midterm elections. “We’re not negotiating,” Trump declared, warning that something will happen “fairly soon.”

Peter Thiel on AI: The government doesn't really know how to regulate it. They don't want to regulate you. They want to yell at you. They want to complain about you and yell at you.

Scott Bessent: There has no crude loading at Iran's Kharg Island for weeks now.

REPORTER: "Ilhan Omar had a very shocking response to reporters today when they asked her if was married to her brother... She said, 'Not to my knowledge.'" Trump: : "That's not a good answer. That's an answer that a lot of us assumed."

Jarrod Agen: "We are now the largest producer and exporter of oil and gas in the world... Thank goodness President Trump has unleashed American energy, particularly gas. All of Europe is now turning to America for natural gas."

Virginia Senate President Pro Tempore Louise Lucas has reportedly been arrested and taken into federal custody on charges including drug trafficking, money laundering, fraud and firearms offenses. A DOJ press conference is expected shortly.

A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck southwest China's Xizang (Tibet) Autonomous Region.

AG Todd Blanche: "This morning, seven individuals were arrested or surrendered for allegedly participating in a large-scale RICO drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy. One of those individuals is the President pro tempore of the Virginia State Senate, Lillie Louise Lucas... Senator Lucas has been charged and indicted with five counts: racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, conspiracy to launder money, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, and maintaining a drug-involved premises."

JD Vance: I find it a ittle ironic that European countries -- who have nothing like the technology Elon Musk has developed in Starlink and have universally waged regulatory war against SpaceX -- are all now running to SpaceX saying, 'Please do what we need you to do.'

Trump: "Why don't you take that light out of my face?"

JD Vance: I find it a little ironic that European countries -- who have nothing like the technology Elon Musk has developed in Starlink and have universally waged regulatory war against SpaceX -- are all now running to SpaceX saying, 'Please do what we need you to do.'

A U.S. judge has ordered Trump to sit for a deposition in his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC. The case stems from a BBC documentary that misleadingly edited his January 6 speech to make it appear he encouraged the Capitol riot. The BBC apologized but denies defamation. Two senior executives resigned over the controversy. -AP

Southern Lebanon: The IDF hit terror infrastructure located in Bani Hayyan.

I'm asking you personally to help. A mother of six, a righteous giyores, is suffering and urgently needs medical treatment. Her family simply cannot afford it. Please take a moment to watch Rabbi Ari Bensoussan's message and give whatever you can. Let's help this mother get the care she needs. DONATE HERE: https://thechesedfund.com/kupahsheltzedaka/a-mother-of-six-is-suffering?aff=os

All clear in Najran, Saudi Arabia, following an early warning for a possible hostile threat. Saudi Civil Defense.

In a Truth Social post, President Trump condemned Iran's treatment of protesters and accused the regime of fabricating reports of attacks and mines in the Strait of Hormuz. According to Trump, Tehran is deliberately creating threats to shipping through the strait. He believes the goal is to push oil prices higher ahead of the U.S. midterm elections. He restated his position: "IRAN CAN NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON, AND THEY WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!"

TRUMP: "..more Oil is coming through the Hormuz Strait now than it did even prior to the beginning of the Conflict.."

A Vot Tak journalist posed as a Belarusian job seeker on Telegram and was offered $30,000 to torch a drone factory in Gliwice, southern Poland. The recruiter, operating as "Joker," first offered cash to burn vehicles with Ukrainian plates. The arson plot came later. Vot Tak traced the account to a Russian phone number registered in the Saratov region. The facility belongs to Flytronic, which builds FlyEye reconnaissance drones used by Ukrainian forces. Its parent is WB Group, Poland's largest privately owned defence manufacturer. Polish prosecutors opened an investigation into suspected recruitment for sabotage on behalf of a foreign intelligence service. The Internal Security Agency (ABW) is handling the case. @InsiderGeo

U.S. President Donald Trump: "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: “More Oil Is Now Coming Out of the Persian Gulf Than Before the Iran War.”"

JD Vance: Would I say that we're seeing civilizational death in France? No, I wouldn't say that. Do I think that we're seeing real civilizational risk? Yes. And my hope and my prayer is that people in France return to some basic principles.

Iran could face renewed strikes if it does not accept an agreement soon, as mediators have cautioned Tehran that President Trump may lose interest in a deal after the U.S. midterm elections. Mediators are awaiting Iran's response to the latest U.S. counterproposal. I24NEWS.

Any further transit by commercial vessels through the U.S.-backed southern Omani corridor of the Strait of Hormuz will prompt Iranian attacks on U.S. bases in the region, according to an Iranian statement. Tehran described the message as "a serious warning."

i24NEWS: There is no reason to attack Iran before the elections unless preparations for an Iranian missile attack are detected.

i24NEWS: The U.S. is carrying out a large-scale evacuation of family members of American diplomats from all Middle Eastern countries except Oman and Israel, according to two regional diplomats.

Ramadan Muhammad Ashkhada Diab has been ELIMINATED He headed the Popular Resistance Committee in Khan Yunis and was killed from the air yesterday. Recently, he advanced attacks on IDF troops and Israeli civilians. He also helped restore Hamas capabilities in systematic violation of the ceasefire. Founded in 2000, the group was once under Fatah. It is now tied to Hamas, Hezbollah and the IRGC. Its members joined the October 7 raid, murdering civilians and soldiers and abducting others into Gaza. IDF and Shin Bet

Zelenskiy: Ukraine's Starlink speed is still not restored. "We are tackling the issue." He hopes to talk Starlink with Rubio in the coming days and discussed more satellite options with Finland.

Freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and Qatar's security remain U.S. commitments. Rubio told the Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. U.S. State Department.

Iran will treat American and Israeli targets as legitimate if Trump backs any attack Netanyahu launches against the country, a senior Iranian official told Lebanon's Al Mayadeen. The official claimed Netanyahu's influence over Trump has been proven and said Tehran would no longer observe restrictions it previously placed on itself.

France's Marine Le Pen: I have the feeling that we are facing a state that is collapsing. We are facing a power in its final days that, in reality, no longer has control, can no longer maintain order, and can no longer anticipate.

CENTCOM: "Our naval blockade has halted all of Iran's seaborne trade for 100 days now, except for approved humanitarian aid. We and blocked at least $25 billion in crude exports from Iran."

Wall Street Journal Report: Starlink speeds in Ukraine improved shortly after a Thursday phone call between President Trump and Elon Musk. Frustrated with the restrictions, Trump asked Musk to lift them. Earlier in the week, he told aides and allies he wanted the slowdown in Ukraine reversed.

I’m not so convinced anything major is going down this weekend

Russian President Putin described the territories in eastern Ukraine as "historically Russian land" while insisting that Russia is not preparing for war with Europe.

The Israel and Lebanon meetings in Tampa, Florida, ended with no breakthrough, a U.S. source told Al Hadath. Israel accused the Lebanese army of "failing" to disarm Hezbollah. Lebanon rejected an Israeli proposal on participation in a mechanism monitoring Hezbollah's disarmament. The two sides did not agree on which countries would oversee security arrangements in southern Lebanon. No date was set for another round.

Zelensky: I believe that even the Russians need Ukraine to join NATO, because that would provide them with greater security than Ukraine remaining outside NATO. That is my personal opinion

Report: Omar is not the real name of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), according to two sources cited by Fox News Digital. New court filings from U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro identify her as "Ilhan Nur Said Elmi, a/k/a Ilhan Abdullahi Omar." Federal agents searched her home on October 12 in an investigation tied to immigration paperwork. Omar denies any fraud and calls the search political intimidation. DOJ has not publicly confirmed the name allegation. She has not been charged.

Question: "Zelensky said these new Russian strikes overnight are proof that nothing has changed with Putin, that he doesn't want peace. How do you see it?" Trump: "Well, we'll see how it all works out. That's been happening a lot."

Trump on Iran: We’ve knocked the hell out of them, and we may do it a little bit further.

Tom Skerritt, the Emmy-winning actor known for his roles in “Alien,” “Top Gun” and the 1990s television series “Picket Fences,” has died at age 93. Contributed by @AZIntel.

At least 16 people were killed and 32 injured after a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Tibet, China, earlier, with hundreds of homes collapsing.

Trump on Iran: "We've knocked the hell out of them -- and we may do it a little bit further."