Iran Update, October 11, 2026

Data Cutoff: 2:00 PM ET

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:

• The Houthis have continued to attack Saudi airports as part of the group's campaign to impose increasing pressure on Saudi Arabia via attacks on Saudi critical infrastructure. Saudi Arabia announced on October 10 and 11 that unidentified projectiles struck near King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and a terminal at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, respectively.
• The Houthi-Yemeni government frontlines have remained relatively stable since CTP-ISW's last data cutoff. The Southern Giants Brigades destroyed five Houthi armored vehicles that were traveling toward Yemeni government-held territory near Dhubab Airport on the Red Sea coastal plain on October 11.
• Saudi Arabia continued to target Houthi positions and communications infrastructure across Yemen to support Yemeni government-aligned ground forces and degrade the Houthis' ability to attack Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia struck Houthi positions near Jabal Sabr on October 11. Houthi and local Yemeni media reported that Saudi Arabia conducted additional airstrikes on Houthi-controlled territory in Taiz Governorate on October 10 and 11.

Toplines

The Houthis have continued to attack Saudi airports as part of the group's campaign to impose increasing pressure on Saudi Arabia via attacks on Saudi critical infrastructure. Saudi Arabia announced on October 10 and 11 that unidentified projectiles struck near King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and a terminal at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, respectively.[i] The attack on King Khalid Airport sparked a fire.[ii] The Houthis have targeted these airports repeatedly in recent days, including an October 10 missile attack on King Khalid Airport that killed over 10 people.[iii] Saudi Arabia has also intercepted a drone and two missiles, almost certainly launched by the Houthis, since CTP-ISW's last data cutoff.[iv]  Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree issued another warning on October 11 against using Saudi airports and airspace, threatening continued Houthi attacks on Saudi airports until the Houthis achieve their objectives.[v] Houthi objectives include ending Saudi support for the Yemeni government counteroffensive, lifting Saudi controls on Houthi-controlled ports and airports, paying war reparations and civil servant salaries, and granting the Houthis control over Yemen’s oil and gas resources. US President Donald Trump told reporters on October 10 that he is considering whether the United States will conduct strikes against the Houthis in response to recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.[vi]

The Houthi-Yemeni government frontlines have remained relatively stable since CTP-ISW's last data cutoff. The Southern Giants Brigades destroyed five Houthi armored vehicles that were traveling toward Yemeni government-held territory near Dhubab Airport on the Red Sea coastal plain on October 11.[vii] Yemeni government-aligned forces previously advanced to Dhubab Airport on October 5 and have not advanced further north at the time of this writing.[viii] Yemeni government-aligned forces separately intercepted a Houthi fixed-wing drone over Jabal Sabr, east of Taiz City, on October 11.[ix] The drone interception followed heavy engagements near Jabal Sabr on October 10 amid ongoing Houthi efforts to fully encircle and capture Taiz City.[x]

Saudi Arabia continued to target Houthi positions and communications infrastructure across Yemen to support Yemeni government-aligned ground forces and degrade the Houthis' ability to attack Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia struck Houthi positions near Jabal Sabr on October 11.[xi] Houthi and local Yemeni media reported that Saudi Arabia conducted additional airstrikes on Houthi-controlled territory in Taiz Governorate on October 10 and 11.[xii] The Houthis, local, and regional media reported that Saudi Arabia separately conducted multiple strikes targeting Houthi military positions and communications infrastructure in Sanaa, Saada, and Ibb governorates, including Sanaa International Airport, on October 10 and 11.[xiii] Saudi forces have conducted numerous strikes targeting Houthi military positions and communications infrastructure in recent days in order to degrade the Houthis’ ability to attack Saudi Arabia and conduct offensive operations against Yemeni government-aligned forces.[xiv]

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 continues to attack commercial ships using “unauthorized” routes through the Strait of Hormuz as part of its effort to enforce its control over the strategic waterway.^[xv] United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that unidentified projectiles struck two outbound tankers in the strait on October 10 and 11, causing a fire aboard the first vessel and damaging the second.[xvi] Supreme National Security Council Secretary Major General Mohsen Rezaei claimed on October 11 that Iranian forces target five or six small vessels each night that transfer oil to larger tankers through Omani waters.[xvii]  The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy separately claimed on October 10 that a “rogue” supertanker struck a naval mine while attempting to exit the strait through an “unauthorized” route.[xviii]  The IRGC Navy later claimed on October 11 that three tankers have struck mines and caught fire while using “unauthorized” routes since October 10 and warned that it will treat vessels that turn off their automatic identification systems (AIS) as “hostile.”[xix] US President Donald Trump announced on August 25 that the US Navy had cleared all mines from the strait.[xx]

US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated on October 10 that a US fighter jet struck the stern of the Ocean Molica, also known as the Arika SUN, after its crew ignored warnings and attempted to violate the US naval blockade on Iranian ports.[xxi] UKMTO reported on October 10 that an incident involving an unidentified tanker and military forces took place in the Gulf of Oman, which likely refers to the CENTCOM strike.[xxii]

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

See topline section.