Advertise on podcast: The AL-Monitor Brief

The Riyadh airport will remain closed this week following deadly Houthi strikes over the weekend, and Iran offered to help foster dialogue. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Saudi authorities said three people were killed in attacks on the Riyadh airport, and US President Donald Trump said he will not attack Iran before the November midterm elections. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The US is providing intelligence support to Saudi Arabia and oil flows in the Middle East are recovering. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Israelis are calling for an independent probe of the Oct. 7 attack and the Yemeni government accused the Houthis of targeting the Aden airport. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Turkey and Pakistan agreed to prepare forces to deploy to Saudi Arabia under the Mecca pact. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Saudi-backed Yemeni government began a major offensive against the Houthis, and Egypt hosted Eritrea, Sudan and Somalia for a summit. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The US sent more naval forces to the Middle East, and Saudi Arabia accused the Houthis of targeting Medina, which the group denied. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The UAE pledged to investigate the circumstances surrounding the FlyDubai flight to Israel, and Iran-backed militias in Iraq said they are not bound by a timetable on disarmament. Editor's note: This podcast was updated on Oct. 1, 2026 to include a denial from the Syrian government regarding the Hezbollah meeting.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

US troops completed their withdrawal from Iraq, and oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz are up. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

UAE Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed is visiting Saudi Arabia, and Iraq said flights to and from Iran would resume. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan is in Washington for talks, and eight Marines were injured in an earlier Iranian attack on a ship in Hormuz.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Turkey agreed to withdraw from a key base in Iraq, and Yemen pleaded for US help in the fight against the Iran-backed Houthis. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jordan's King Abdullah told Al-Monitor discussions with US President Donald Trump and regional leaders were "very good," and Iran flight cancellations are mounting amid a new sanctions threat. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Saudi Arabia is reportedly resuming operations at its East-West pipeline, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi on the UN General Assembly sidelines. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From Al-Monitor Live New York, host Adam Lucente interviews diplomatic correspondent Elizabeth Hagedorn on the Middle East developments surrounding the United Nations General Assembly. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.