Iran's government says seven oil tankers have caught fire or were been damaged in the strategic Strait of Hormuz. This comes amid rising tensions over the prospect of a return to all-out war. Iranian state television cites the Revolutionary Guard Corps navy, which threatens to strike U.S. military bases if the United States continues guiding commercial ships through the strait. The U.S. is meanwhile sending more military assets to the region. Mediators are trying to bring Washington and Tehran back to talks. Iran has proposed ending the conflict if the U.S. meets certain conditions, but President Donald Trump rejected it, though discussions have continued.

El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele says he has launched a military operation to rescue four Salvadoran aviation technicians kidnapped by gangs in Haiti. The announcement comes three days after gangs attacked an armored vehicle in Croix-des-Bouquets, Port-au-Prince. Bukele demands the hostages be returned alive and unharmed. He warns of a more forceful response if they are not released. The four are aviation technicians, and the Salvadoran mission in Haiti focuses on medical evacuations. The U.N.-backed force continues to fight gangs in the area. Gang violence has displaced nearly 1.5 million people in Haiti in recent years.

The younger sister of Stephen Hubbard, the American who was freed after spending more than four years in a Russian prison, says he was in disbelief about his release. Patricia Hubbard Fox told The Associated Press that she spoke to her brother Wednesday and that he thought he was going to die in prison after he was taken captive in 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. She added that he suffered beatings and starvation while he was incarcerated. The U.S. government has disputed Russia's allegation that Hubbard was involved in military activity.

Israeli forces have detained Democratic congressional candidate Brad Lander as he helped Palestinian farmers harvest olives in the West Bank. He was released hours later, but dozens of other volunteers, including American rabbis, remained in custody. The Israeli military said the farmers and volunteers failed to seek prior approval for the harvest, posing a security risk. Lander, running in the U.S. elections to represent a New York district, criticized the detentions on social media. This year's harvest has been marked by violence, with Palestinians required to coordinate with the Israeli military to access more farmland than in previous years.

Turkey has submitted a mutual defense agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan to its parliament for ratification. The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement was signed in August. It commits the countries to view an armed attack against one of them as an attack on all three. Turkish officials emphasize that the pact is defensive with no plans to deploy troops to Yemen. The agreement aims to enhance cooperation among the three nations amid regional uncertainty. Turkey and Pakistan are assessing possible military support for Saudi Arabia. The pact includes joint training, exercises and a 10-year commitment. A retired Pakistani general will lead the secretariat.

Russia's top domestic security agency says it has detained a German national who is alleged to have served in the Ukrainian army. The Federal Security Service, or FSB, made the announcement without providing the man's name or details about his arrest. According to the FSB, the man signed a three-year contract with the Ukrainian armed forces in 2025 but deserted after not receiving pay. He now faces criminal charges of mercenary activity. The agency also alleged he was involved in hostilities in Afghanistan, Somalia and Syria. German authorities said they were aware of the reports, but refused to comment further.

There were only a few flights by Saudi carriers from the Saudi capital's airport on Wednesday, even as Saudi authorities declared it's open for business. Major airlines including Lufthansa and Air France have cancelled flights through mid-November. Meanwhile a British navy maritime security organization says the crew of a tanker is safe after an unknown projectile ignited a fire aboard the vessel off Oman. A Saudi official said Wednesday Houthi drones have been destroyed over Saudi Arabia's holy city of of Madina. And a Houthi military spokesman said Wednesday a ballistic missile struck a military camp adjacent to Yemen’s Aden airport.

Israelis are set to vote on October 27 to decide if Benjamin Netanyahu will continue as prime minister or if Gadi Eisenkot will take the lead. Polls suggest a tight race between Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party and Eisenkot's centrist Yashar! party. Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, faces criticism for policy failures and legal issues. Eisenkot, a former military chief, offers a moderate alternative but remains strong on security. Other key figures include Naftali Bennett, Itamar Ben-Gvir, and Mansour Abbas, each representing different political ideologies and priorities in this pivotal election.