Iran Update, November 1, 2026

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and The Critical Threats Project (CTP) at the American Enterprise Institute are publishing updates Monday through Friday to provide analysis on the war with Iran and the broader Middle East. Weekday updates cover events from the past 24-hour period, whereas weekend updates are abbreviated and cover the Houthi-Saudi conflict and major breaking developments related to the war with Iran. 

Key Takeaways:

• Iran likely struck a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz on November 1 as part of its efforts to disrupt civilian shipping. United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organization (UKMTO) reported on November 1 that an unidentified projectile struck a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.
• The Houthis are continuing to attempt to advance southeastward from Taiz Governorate into Lahij Governorate, potentially to set conditions to besiege or capture Aden City. A Marib-based Yemeni journalist reported that Houthi fighters advanced onto elevated terrain in al Maqatirah District, Lahij Governorate, on November 1.
• Saudi air defenses intercepted one Houthi ballistic missile and one drone launched toward Saudi Arabia's southern region on November 1. The Houthis have not claimed the attack as of this writing.

Toplines

See “Iranian Strike Campaign” and “Arabian Peninsula” sections.

US and Partner Military Operations

Nothing significant to report.

Iranian Strike Campaign

• Assessed Iranian War Aims:
  • Secure international recognition of Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz
  • Degrade the US ability and willingness to continue the war
  • Restore deterrence vis-à -vis the United States and its regional partners
  • Divide the United States and Israel from the Arab states

Iran likely struck a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz on November 1 as part of its efforts to disrupt civilian shipping. United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organization (UKMTO) reported on November 1 that an unidentified projectile struck a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.[i] The Iranian regime calculates that it can pressure the United States into a diplomatic settlement that favors Iran by disrupting shipping and keeping oil prices high. Iran continues to be the only threat to civilian shipping in the strait.

US-Iran Negotiations

Nothing significant to report.

Iranian Domestic Affairs

Nothing significant to report.
Lebanon

Nothing significant to report.

Iraq

Nothing significant to report.

Arabian Peninsula

The Houthis are continuing to attempt to advance southeastward from Taiz Governorate into Lahij Governorate, potentially to set conditions to besiege or capture Aden City. A Marib-based Yemeni journalist reported that Houthi fighters advanced onto elevated terrain in al Maqatirah District, Lahij Governorate, on November 1.[ii] Pro-Yemeni government media reported that Yemeni government reinforcements deployed to the district later on November 1.[iii] The source did not specify whether Yemeni government-aligned forces recaptured territory in al Maqatirah District, however, which suggests that the area remains contested at the time of this writing.[iv] Yemeni government-aligned forces reportedly repelled another Houthi attempt to advance southeastward from southern Taiz Governorate into al Maqatirah District on October 30. The Houthis likely seek to capture terrain that overlooks Tur al Balah District and leads to Aden City. Such territory would support a potential Houthi effort to besiege or capture Aden City.[v]

Yemeni government-aligned forces continued to engage Houthi fighters in central Jawf Governorate on November 1. A Marib-based Yemeni journalist reported that Yemeni government-aligned forces repelled a Houthi attempt to advance to Jabal Huwayshiyan from the northeast. Jabal Huwayshiyan is a mountain range overlooking al Hazm, the governorate’s capital.[vi] Yemeni government-aligned forces recaptured Jabal Huwayshiyan between October 30 and 31.[vii] Yemeni government-aligned forces are likely attempting to recapture territory in central Jawf Governorate as part of an effort to set conditions to recapture al Hazm.[viii]

Saudi Joint Forces Command spokesperson Major General Turki al Maliki announced that Saudi Arabia targeted unspecified "vital resources" in Houthi-controlled Dhamar and Hudaydah governorates on November 1.[ix] Pro-Yemeni government media and Houthi media reported that Saudi Arabia struck Houthi troop concentrations in Dhamar Governorate.[x] Houthi media separately reported that Saudi Arabia struck oil infrastructure in Bajil District, Hudaydah Governorate.[xi] Saudi Arabia previously struck Houthi oil and fuel storage infrastructure in Yemen on October 13, likely to both maximize economic pressure on the Houthi political organization and constrain the Houthis’ ability to sustain their military forces.[xii]

Saudi air defenses intercepted one Houthi ballistic missile and one drone launched toward Saudi Arabia's southern region on November 1.[xiii] The Houthis have not claimed the attack as of this writing. The Houthis have repeatedly targeted Saudi critical infrastructure as part of the Houthis’ ongoing strike campaign to compel Saudi Arabia to halt military operations against the Houthis and accept the Houthis’ demands, which include lifting Saudi controls on Houthi-controlled ports and airports and granting the Houthis control over Yemen’s oil and gas resources.[xiv]