Trump seems to holding to his promise to NOT mount a large attack on Iran before the Nov.3rd Midterm…
Reports seem to confirm that Iran IS experiencing money problems due to the US sanctions and blockade….
The US military is reporting that Iran proxies have reversed things, sending money back to the Iranian Royal Guards….
Oil continues to move thru the Strait of Hormuz , with some ships attacked by Iran…..
Still….Oil hits $110 per barrel for first time since May….
Talks between the two countries are making NO progress…
The Houthi’s continue land attacks against Saudia Arabia….
This while the Houthi’s are are in fight with Yemen’s forces…
On the West Bank Israeli settlers continue to harass and attack Palestinians with not redress from Israel police or military…
ISW….Iran Update, October 16, 2026
- The Iranian regime has reportedly found ways to ship a very limited and relatively inconsequential amount of petroleum product exports via maritime routes despite the US naval blockade. Iran’s ability to export energy products continues to be severely hampered by the US economic campaign, however.
- The Houthis are using imitative communications deception in an attempt to disrupt Yemeni government-aligned forces’ command and control and hinder government efforts to defend Taiz City.
- Yemeni government-aligned forces regained control of Dhubab Airport on the southern Red Sea coastal plain by October 15.
- Yemeni government-aligned forces are likely continuing to gradually advance further north and west in Marib Governorate along a major ground line of communication (GLOC) extending to Sanaa, Yemen’s capital.
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Iran-backed militias in the region have been sending money back to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to relieve the economic pressure it’s under after nine months of war, U.S. CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said Friday.
Why it matters: While the U.S. military has been preparing for a possible resumption of major combat operations against Iran, the Trump administration continues to put immense pressure on the regime with its naval blockade and severe sanctions.
- U.S. officials say the economic chokehold is causing serious difficulties for Iran and its security forces, while making the regime frustrated and aggressive.
- The White House hopes the pressure will induce Iran to make a deal that includes nuclear concessions. But so far, that hasn’t happened.
Driving the news: Cooper said the naval blockade has cost Iran $25 billion in lost oil revenue…
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- Despite those attacks, he said that the Strait of Hormuz is still open — with 400 ships and 100 million barrels of oil moving through it over the last week.
Yes, but: In recent weeks, CENTCOM has almost completely stopped conducting strikes against Iranian anti-ship missiles and attack drone launchers in the area of the strait.
- The pause in strikes, which was ordered by the White House to avoid escalating the war ahead of the midterm elections, made Iran more confident about launching attacks, a U.S. official said.
- Consequently, CENTCOM is concerned that the increase in ship attacks will cause shipping companies to think twice about transiting the strait — resulting in less oil coming out and a spike in oil prices.
- U.S. officials say Iran is also attacking more ships to try to raise oil prices and ratchet up pressure on Trump ahead of the midterms….
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ABU FALAH, West Bank (AP) — Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian villages across the occupied West Bank on Friday, setting fire to cars and trees and beating residents and a foreign journalist, in the latest violence to disrupt the territory’s annual olive harvest this month.
Local officials and the Palestine Red Crescent Society reported attacks in at least eight villages in the northern West Bank, where most of the olive groves are concentrated and tens of thousands of Palestinian families depend on them for income.
Settler violence against Palestinians has soared this year and spiked further in the weeks leading up to Israel’s election on Oct. 27. The far-right government that has emboldened the settlers could soon be voted out of power — or win another term….
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No commercial goods have entered the Gaza Strip for two days, Israeli authorities said Thursday, according to ABC News. The halt cuts off fruit, winter clothing and other items that private merchants bring in, just as people in the territory worry about getting through the cold months.
Israel blames Gaza’s merchants, saying they stopped the shipments over taxes imposed by Hamas. Palestinian importers deny that, and the dispute leaves unclear how long the suspension will last.
WHO IS AFFECTED AND WHAT CHANGES
Gaza is entirely dependent on whatever Israel lets through its border crossings, so any pause cuts supplies immediately. ABC News reported that, based on data released earlier this year by COGAT, the Israeli military body that oversees humanitarian affairs in Gaza, aid groups generally bring in staples such as flour. Merchants mostly import perishable foods such as fruit and meat….
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COGAT announced the suspension Wednesday. Its deputy spokesperson, Lt. Daniel Kantorovich, said the agency was acting on a decision by Palestinian merchants made a day earlier. He said the vendors had canceled coordination with Israel because of Hamas’s taxation and threats against them, and that the agency could reverse the step at their request. COGAT said no private-sector vendors had tried to bring in goods since the merchants notified Israel on Tuesday. Israel has long accused Hamas of charging fees on imports to fund its operations…..
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