Iranian and US forces were engaged in a tense race on Saturday to locate a missing crew member from a downed American fighter jet, marking the first such incident inside Iranian territory since the war began.

Tehran claimed responsibility for shooting down the US F-15 aircraft, stating it was destroyed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force using advanced air defence systems. Iranian officials said the aircraft was completely destroyed and that search operations were ongoing. Local media also suggested that a reward would be offered for capturing any surviving crew member.

US media outlets reported that American special forces had successfully rescued one of the two crew members, while efforts continued to locate the second, who remains missing.

In a separate incident, Iran’s military said it had also shot down a US A-10 ground-attack aircraft over the Gulf. According to US reports, the pilot was safely recovered.

The US Central Command did not immediately confirm the loss of the F-15. However, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that President Donald Trump had been briefed on the situation. Trump later told NBC that the incident would not impact ongoing diplomatic efforts, saying the realities of war would not alter negotiations.

The conflict, now over a month old, began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran that reportedly killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The escalation has since spread across the Middle East, disrupting global markets and affecting millions worldwide.

Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf criticised the Trump administration on social media, mocking what he described as a lack of strategic direction.

Meanwhile, fresh strikes were reported across Iran, Israel, and Lebanon. Explosions were heard in northern Tehran, while US strikes west of the capital reportedly hit civilian areas. According to Iran’s Alborz provincial authorities, 13 civilians were killed and dozens injured in one such attack.

The ongoing exchanges have increasingly targeted economic and industrial infrastructure, raising concerns over global energy security. Iran has effectively restricted access to the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas supplies.

Former Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, writing in Foreign Affairs, suggested Tehran could pursue a diplomatic resolution by limiting its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief and reopening the strategic waterway.

Tensions have also spread to Gulf states. A drone strike on a Kuwaiti oil refinery caused fires, while another attack damaged a power and desalination facility. In Dubai, authorities reported minor damage from debris following an aerial interception, though no casualties were recorded.

In Lebanon, Israeli forces said they had carried out more than 3,500 strikes targeting Hezbollah positions since hostilities began. The Israeli military confirmed attacks on infrastructure in Beirut and the Bekaa Valley, including the destruction of key bridges.

Lebanon’s health ministry reported that at least 1,345 people have been killed and more than 4,000 injured since the conflict escalated. Hezbollah has not disclosed its casualty figures.

Source: Khaleej Times

Air travel across Italy was disrupted on Friday after a technical fault affected the country’s air traffic control systems, resulting in flight delays and cancellations.

Air traffic control provider ENAV said it had introduced temporary restrictions on air traffic capacity after detecting overnight anomalies in the data transmission network supporting air traffic services nationwide.

Authorities said the disruption was not caused by sabotage and confirmed that the technical issue had been resolved later in the day.

Data from aviation analytics company Cirium showed that 192 flights had been cancelled by around 1000 GMT. At the same time, only about 31% of departures from Italian airports were leaving on schedule.

The situation was particularly challenging at the country’s major airports. On-time departures stood at approximately 25% at Milan Malpensa Airport and 28% at Rome Fiumicino Airport.

ENAV announced at around 1325 GMT that it had restored full operational capacity, bringing the technical disruption to an end.

Source: Reuters

Saudi telecom operator STC Group is offering free, unlimited calls to and from Saudi Arabia for customers roaming overseas, helping travellers maintain contact with their families amid continuing flight disruptions.

Announced on X, the initiative runs from October 12 to October 19. STC said the offer was intended to support customers facing difficulties staying connected with loved ones during an uncertain period.

“We understand how difficult it can be to be away from family, particularly during times like these,” the company told Arab News.

STC added that free, unlimited calling would make it easier for customers outside the Kingdom to communicate with relatives and provide reassurance during the disruption.

The initiative comes as flights to and from Riyadh face interruptions following a recent attack on King Khalid International Airport.

On Monday, Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation announced on X that the airport’s operational suspension had been extended to allow safety inspections of its facilities to be completed. The authority did not provide a timeline for the resumption of flights.

Traveller Welcomes Initiative but Calls for Free Internet

Hisham Al-Ghasim, a Saudi citizen whose return journey from Bangkok to Riyadh was disrupted, welcomed STC’s offer but said free internet access would have been more practical.

His existing mobile package already covered calls, while internet connectivity was important for arranging alternative travel, making bookings and accessing essential applications.

He told Arab News that providing unrestricted internet access instead of free calls would have been more useful because many everyday communications and travel arrangements depend on online services.

Al-Ghasim had completed a business trip to Bangkok and was waiting for a taxi when he received a notification that his return flight had been delayed.

He said he was informed that his departure had been postponed by three days. Although he had been following developments, he had not expected his flight booking to be cancelled.

His original itinerary involved an Emirates flight via Dubai to Riyadh. He subsequently arranged to end his journey in the United Arab Emirates instead.

After reaching Dubai, Al-Ghasim contacted the Saudi Consulate General, which offered assistance with returning to the Kingdom by road through organised group transport.

Saudi Missions Assist Stranded Citizens

Saudi embassies and consulates have also been helping citizens affected by flight cancellations associated with regional security developments.

Their support includes arranging emergency accommodation and helping travellers identify alternative routes to return home as aviation disruptions continue.

Source: Arab News

flydubai has cancelled all flights to Riyadh until October 14, the airline confirmed in a statement.

A spokesperson said the carrier is monitoring the situation in coordination with the relevant authorities and will notify passengers of any changes to flight schedules through its official communication channels.

Passengers affected by the cancellations have been advised to visit the Manage Booking section on the airline’s website, flydubai.com, to review available refund or rebooking options.

Customers who purchased tickets through travel agents should contact their agents directly for assistance.

The airline apologised to passengers for the inconvenience caused by the disruption and said it would continue to provide updates through its official channels.

Source: Emirates247

Qatar Airways has temporarily suspended services to Riyadh and Dammam, issuing a travel alert for passengers travelling to the two Saudi Arabian destinations.

The Qatari airline said it was monitoring developments in Saudi Arabia in coordination with the relevant authorities. In response to the evolving situation, the carrier halted flights to both cities until further notice.

Passengers have been urged to verify their flight status through the airline’s official website or mobile application before travelling.

Qatar Airways said the safety of passengers and crew remains its highest priority. The airline added that customers affected by the suspensions would be contacted directly, with additional updates published on its website as more information becomes available.

Source: QNA

Several UAE airlines have cancelled flights to Saudi Arabia, disrupting services to Riyadh and Dammam between October 10 and October 14, according to airline announcements and published flight schedules.

Flydubai confirmed that its flights between Dubai and Riyadh would remain cancelled through October 14. The airline said it was monitoring developments in coordination with the relevant authorities and would communicate further schedule changes through its official channels.

Passengers affected by the cancellations have been advised to visit the Manage Booking section on flydubai’s website to review available refund and rebooking options. Customers who purchased tickets through travel agents should contact their respective agents for assistance. The airline also apologised for the inconvenience caused by the changes.

Etihad Airways has cancelled selected flights between Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh for the period from October 10 to October 12.

Emirates has also recorded cancellations on several services between Dubai and Riyadh on October 11 and 12. Disruptions extended to flights connecting Dubai with Dammam on October 11.

For October 12, Emirates' published schedules listed flights EK823 and EK821 between Dubai and Dammam as cancelled, while flight EK827 remained scheduled to operate.

The cancellations reflect schedule adjustments by multiple UAE carriers serving Saudi Arabia during the affected period.

Airlines have advised passengers to monitor official communication channels for the latest flight information and to contact their carriers or travel agents to discuss available options if their journeys have been affected.

Source: Emirates247