Latest war news. Saudi Arabia reopens the East-West oil pipeline following Houthi attacks

Only 29 per cent of American adults approve of Donald Trump’s foreign policy, and an even lower 26 per cent approve of his handling of the war with Iran. These are the latest figures showing his popularity at an all-time low as Donald Trump arrives at the UN today to deliver the opening address to the General Assembly, according to a new poll commissioned by CNN from SSRS. The poll is set to further alarm Republicans ahead of the November election, as it reveals cracks in support amongst GOP voters for the President’s foreign policy. Whilst last March 73 per cent of Republican voters approved of the way Trump was handling foreign policy issues, that figure has now fallen to 60 per cent overall.

And the figures are even lower if we look solely at the war with Iran, particularly amongst Republican voters under the age of 45, 53 per cent of whom disapprove of the conflict, and amongst those who do not identify with the ‘Make America Great Again’ (MAGA) slogans, 54 per cent of whom also reject Trump’s war. Overall, the CNN poll shows an overwhelming majority of voters – three-quarters – are convinced that Trump does not have a clear plan for the situation in Iran, with 78 per cent believing he is not doing enough to end the war and its severe economic consequences for the US domestic economy. And seven in ten Americans believe it will be a long-term war. A war that, according to 70 per cent, harms America’s interests, and which, according to 76 per cent, was not worth fighting, given the losses of American military personnel and the financial burden on the US government.

Il presidente degli Stati Uniti Donald Trump, a bordo di “The Beast”, lascia Gracie Mansion dopo un incontro con il sindaco di New York Zohran Mamdani a New York, Stati Uniti, il 21 settembre 2026. REUTERS/Bing Guan

Gulf leaders are set to ask US President Donald Trump, during their meeting scheduled for today on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, to avoid further escalation of the conflict with Iran. This is according to Bloomberg, which cites sources stating that officials from the Gulf Cooperation Council – a six-member bloc comprising Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar – have been coordinating ahead of the meeting with the US President.

The authorities in Taiz have raised the alert level and deployed additional security forces as the military escalation continues in southern and western Yemen, with intense artillery fire and Houthi missile strikes. This is according to Al Jazeera. According to available information, neither side has so far made any significant territorial gains. However, some attacks have struck populated areas, forcing many civilians to flee their homes. The situation is particularly serious along the western coast, where the authorities report a daily increase in the number of displaced people. Government forces and international humanitarian organisations are also facing increasing difficulties in reaching the areas affected by the fighting. Another aspect of the escalation is the growing use of drones. Government forces claim to have shot down several, including some equipped to carry mortar rounds.

Iran is reportedly prepared to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the United States eases military pressure and lifts the blockade on Iranian ports. This is according to Al Jazeera, citing international media. The Arab television channel explains that the Japanese news agency Kyodo News was the first to report the story, describing it as “an intensification of Tehran’s efforts to restart negotiations with Washington”. The proposal has reportedly already been delivered to the mediators.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has threatened to evacuate the entire population of Gaza City to the south of the Strip should another Israeli civilian or soldier be abducted and taken to the Palestinian enclave. Katz stated that intelligence reports indicate the existence of such plans. This was reported today by Haaretz.

“If even a single Israeli soldier or civilian is kidnapped, the entire city of Gaza, with its houses, its towers of terror and its one million inhabitants, will be evacuated southwards,” Katz said during a ceremony commemorating the 1973 Yom Kippur War. The minister added that, in the event of a further abduction, Israel would act as it did during the war in the Gaza Strip. Katz directed the warning at Hamas and its supporters, explicitly naming Iran and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Iran’s national airline, Iran Air, has announced that it has not received any ban on operating flights to countries bordering Iran, on the eve of a tightening of US sanctions against the Iranian aviation sector. “Iran Air has not received any official communication or instruction from the civil aviation authorities of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Iraq regarding the interruption or suspension of the airline’s flights to Istanbul, Baku and Najaf,” the airline announced, according to the Iranian news agency IRNA.

“Trump is open to meeting anyone at the UN”, “We are open to a meeting with Pezeshkian”, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said today in an interview with NBC. “I don’t think anything is on the agenda at the moment, but we are certainly open to something like that,” the US diplomat clarified.

18 settembre 2026, Washington, casa bianca , USA nella foto : rubio e Natalie Harp, assistente esecutiva del presidente. ascolta il presidente degli Stati Uniti Donald J Trump foto IPP/Samuel Corum - Pool Via Cnp/CNP via ZUMA Press warning avaiaible only for itlian market Trump rompe con le tv americane: 5 canali smettono di seguirlo. E dopo la messa al bando di Cnn la Casa Bianca lancia la Trump Tv

Saudi Arabia has resumed operations on its East-West Pipeline and could resume exports today from the port of Yanbu on the Red Sea, according to Reuters, which cites three sources familiar with the matter. Drone attacks forced Saudi Arabia to shut down the East-West Pipeline on 13 September, halting crude oil shipments from the port of Yanbu.

Iran is prepared to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the United States lifts its blockade on Iranian ports. This was reported by the Japanese news agency Kyodo, citing a senior official in Tehran, who added that the Iranian proposal had been conveyed to Washington in recent days and would form the basis for discussions with mediating countries at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The same official ruled out a meeting between Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the Assembly, but said that progress towards an agreement remained possible. “There is a possibility of moving towards an agreement,” he said, provided Washington can demonstrate “seriousness and commitment” so as to enable progress to be made in the diplomatic process.

There are “various indications and intelligence reports” suggesting that Hamas is planning further abductions of Israelis. This was stated by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, who did not provide details of the threat, but warned “the terrorist organisation and its supporters, from Iran to Erdogan: if even a single Israeli soldier or civilian is abducted, the entire population of Gaza City — one million residents — will be evacuated southwards”. This was reported by the Times of Israel. Katz, who was speaking at an annual ceremony commemorating soldiers killed in the 1973 Yom Kippur War, also threatened to strike the city’s “houses and towers of terror”. “It will be treated in the same way as Rafah, Beit Hanoun and 70 per cent of the Gaza Strip, until they are returned”, he added, referring to the areas of the Strip that the IDF razed to the ground during the war against Hamas following the 7 October attack. Currently, almost all of Gaza’s inhabitants live in Gaza City and the surrounding coastal areas, whilst the Israeli army controls much of the Gaza Strip.

Iran has offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the United States takes the first steps towards easing military pressure, according to the Japanese news agency Kyodo. The proposal, which has already been conveyed to Washington via mediators, provides for the resumption of talks aimed at bringing a definitive end to hostilities between the two countries, the official said. Tehran intends to use the United Nations General Assembly, which is meeting this week in New York, to consult with the countries acting as intermediaries. The official ruled out a meeting between Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the Assembly, but said that progress towards an agreement remains possible. “There is a possibility of moving towards an agreement,” the official said, adding, however, that Washington must demonstrate “seriousness and commitment” for diplomacy to make progress.

Israel will not withdraw from the Yellow Line in the Gaza Strip to new deployment lines until Hamas has been ousted and the Palestinian territory has been demilitarised, with all weapons and tunnels removed. This was stated by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz during the state ceremony in memory of those who fell in the Yom Kippur War, held today at the National Memorial on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. Israel’s position on maintaining forces along the Yellow Line had also been reiterated in recent weeks.

Katz also addressed the possibility of a third round of fighting with Iran. “We will not allow a threat to our communities. The job is not yet done and, if we have to, we will strike a third time, until the regime of terror is overthrown and removed,” he said. The minister had already warned on 9 September, during a visit to Israeli forces on Mount Hermon, that Israel had struck Iran twice and that, “when necessary”, it would do so a third time to counter what he described as threats to the country’s security.

Iran is “fully prepared for war, but may also enter into negotiations should national interests so require”. This was stated by the spokesman for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hossein Mohebbi, in an interview with the official news agency ‘IRNA’, emphasising that talks can constitute “another battlefield”. Mohebbi believes that “negotiating does not mean making compromises”, but rather “it is another form of warfare”, adding that, “whilst one form of war is fought with weapons”, negotiations involve a “war of words, arguments and diplomatic methods”. “What matters,” he continued, “is that we must be 100 per cent combat-ready, and we possess this capability and this preparedness. The Armed Forces are now 100 per cent ready to fight, and the IRGC has prepared for a protracted conflict. However, this does not mean we reject negotiations.”

Iran has offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the United States takes the first steps towards easing military pressure, according to the Japanese news agency Kyodo. The proposal, which has already been conveyed to Washington via mediators, provides for the resumption of talks aimed at bringing a definitive end to hostilities between the two countries, the official said. Tehran intends to use the United Nations General Assembly, which is meeting this week in New York, to consult with the countries acting as intermediaries. The official ruled out a meeting between Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the Assembly, but said that progress towards an agreement remains possible. “There is a possibility of moving towards an agreement,” the official said, adding, however, that Washington must demonstrate “seriousness and commitment” for diplomacy to make progress.

France has expressed its appreciation for the role played by Pakistan in the exchange of messages between Iran and the United States. This position emerged during a meeting between the French Foreign Minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, and his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

According to a statement from the French Foreign Ministry, Mr Barrot emphasised the need for negotiations that are “as inclusive as possible” to help secure energy supplies and address “the threats posed by Iran in the nuclear, ballistic and regional spheres in a sustainable manner”.

China opposes possible US sanctions against Iranian airlines, which Beijing has described as “illegal”. This was stated today by the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, during a press conference. “China consistently opposes illegal unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law nor the authorisation of the United Nations Security Council,” said Guo. This stance comes a day after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, in a television interview, had threatened possible measures against Iranian airlines.

Six civilians, including two children and a woman, have died in an air raid carried out by Saudi forces in Al-Mukha (Mocha), on the Red Sea. This was reported by the Houthi-affiliated television channel Al Masirah, as cited by Al Jazeera.

Further reading

Yemen is becoming Riyadh’s Vietnam

15 September 2026

Syrian state television has reported that the Israeli army is raiding a number of homes in southern Syria, near a United Nations facility. It reported that an Israeli patrol “advanced into the western neighbourhood near a United Nations facility in the town of al-Rafid, on the outskirts of Quneitra, and searched several homes”.

“This visit comes in the wake of the cowardly war waged against us by the United States and the Zionist regime, the subsequent developments, and, in fact, amidst a situation that effectively remains a state of war.” This was stated by the Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on his arrival in New York ahead of the UN General Assembly, according to a post on his Telegram channel. “Naturally,” he continued, “our primary objective is to use this important international platform to defend the legitimacy, rights and interests of the Iranian people.” Araghchi added that the international organisation has lost credibility and trust due to its failure to uphold world peace and security. He emphasised that the UN General Assembly will open today under the theme ‘restoring trust’.

“This reflects a universal recognition that trust in the organisation has eroded, or has vanished altogether, due to its inability to effectively maintain international peace and security,” said the minister. “Certain nations arrogate to themselves the right to act with impunity, disregarding international institutions, international law and even the collective conscience of humanity; they claim immunity for themselves and their allies,” he added. The Iranian minister concluded: “Consequently, we see a criminal entity such as the Zionist regime being given carte blanche to commit whatever acts it chooses, whilst Western and European nations, which present themselves as champions of human rights and humanitarian law, remain silent.”

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has vowed to “firmly defend” his country’s positions before leaving for New York to attend the UN General Assembly. “We emerged from the war with our heads held high, and this is a source of dignity and pride for us all. We will therefore firmly defend our positions in international forums,” he said before leaving Iran, according to state television.

Ragazze iraniane camminano accanto a un murale raffigurante un uccello della pace in una strada di Teheran, in Iran. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH

The United States intends to reopen its military base in Narsarsuaq, in southern Greenland, as part of a new agreement with Denmark: this is according to Reuters, citing sources within the Trump administration. The base, which closed in the 1950s, was established during the Second World War and gave rise to a settlement whose population has now dwindled to just a few dozen people. An agreement to strengthen security in the Arctic and the North Atlantic between Denmark, the United States and Greenland is due to take place in New York today: the ceremony will be attended by US President Donald Trump, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen.

(Air raids by the Saudi-led coalition on the Yemeni port city of Al-Makhā (Mokha) have killed six people, according to the Saba news agency, which is affiliated with the anti-government Houthi fighters. “Six civilians, including two children and a woman, were killed and a further eight, including a child and a woman, were injured,” Saba reported. The Houthis, pro-Iranian fighters who until now had controlled much of northern Yemen, including the capital Sana’a and Hodeida to the west, have advanced southwards in the space of a few days, capturing the Red Sea port of Mokha in early September. They then took control of the Red Sea coast and islands, consolidating their presence in the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Further reading

Hunting ban in Arabia: from the Red Sea to the Gulf, the issue affecting Italy

19 September 2026

In a joint statement, Mexico and France have called for the suspension of the right of veto within the UN Security Council in cases of mass atrocities, including genocide, crimes against humanity and large-scale war crimes. “Mexico and France welcome the renewed momentum towards suspending the use of the veto in the United Nations Security Council in cases of mass atrocities, such as genocide, crimes against humanity and large-scale war crimes,” reads the statement published by the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The communiqué notes that the political declaration on the suspension of the right of veto in cases of mass atrocities was first tabled by Mexico and France in 2015; over the past four months, it has gained the support of a further 21 states from Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Asia: to date, 128 states have expressed their support, including the United Kingdom.

Donald Trump is set to face a packed schedule of meetings with leaders from four continents later today at the United Nations General Assembly, against the backdrop of an unstable Middle East and a war in Ukraine that has now lasted four and a half years and shows no signs of abating, despite repeated attempts at mediation by the US President. Trump is expected to begin the day with an address to the assembled delegates, before meeting no fewer than 11 world leaders in bilateral or group meetings. Although the content of his speech is not yet known, last year Trump caused a stir with an aggressive address, claiming that their countries were ‘going to hell’ due, amongst other things, to climate policy and mass immigration.

Later today, Trump will meet British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Venezuela’s interim leader Delcy Rodriguez, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and representatives from the Gulf States. In the evening, he may meet dozens more leaders, albeit only briefly, during a reception reserved for heads of state.

The situation in Yemen represents “an unacceptable threat to regional stability and security, to global energy security, as well as to the rights and freedoms of navigation and to maritime security in the Red Sea and the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb”. This is stated in a communiqué issued by the G7 foreign ministers on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. “We condemn in the strongest possible terms,” the statement continues, “the ongoing and unacceptable attacks carried out by the Houthis in Yemen and against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including those targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, which are exacerbating humanitarian suffering. We express our full solidarity with the legitimate government of Yemen and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We urge the Houthis to immediately cease all military action, threats and attacks against civilian shipping, and to return to the political process in good faith. We call on Iran to cease arming and supporting the Houthis, in breach of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1747, 2140 and 2216. Their deplorable actions constitute a dangerous spiral of escalation that risks further exacerbating the conflict, undermining international trade and creating global economic instability. We reiterate, in particular, the vital need to ensure permanent maritime security, as well as the rights and freedoms of navigation worldwide, in order to prevent lasting disruptions to global supply chains – especially with regard to energy flows, fertilisers and foodstuffs – which would be extremely damaging to the economies and vulnerable populations of the region and beyond”.