Houthis claim Saudi refinery hit as Egypt approves aid

Summary

Houthi forces claimed a missile strike on Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia's largest refinery, and Egypt's parliament authorised military support for Riyadh, so the Gulf confrontation now runs on military and diplomatic tracks at once.⁠12

The Houthis called Egypt's decision a declaration of war, while Saudi authorities had not confirmed the refinery claim.⁠23

On the diplomatic side, Qatar's foreign minister urged Iran to 'demonstrate good faith' by reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending threats against its neighbours, and the two sides discussed the war and the strait at a meeting in Moscow.⁠4

Oil prices rose as investors weighed the Iran talks against Houthi attacks and wider Middle East tensions that threaten supply.⁠5

In Africa, confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo reached 10,060, with 4,887 deaths reported by the DRC's Ministry of Public Health, and cases have also been noted in Kenya and Nigeria.⁠67

In Brazil, leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva narrowly defeated right-wing senator Flávio Bolsonaro in the October 25 runoff, ending a run of seven consecutive conservative election wins over 18 months.⁠8

For Iran, CNN reported, citing US officials, that American forces can launch operations within 96 hours of an order from President Trump, so whether that order comes in the coming days is the next point to watch.⁠9