
Show Notes
A brutal wave of Houthi missiles have struck Saudi Arabia’s main Riyadh airport, killing at least 14 in the deadliest attack on a Gulf nation since the US-Iran war began.
On today’s episode of Iran: The Latest, Venetia Rainey is joined by Riyadh-based Saudi analyst Salman Al-Ansari to examine the catastrophic attacks on King Khalid International Airport and why Iran’s Houthis are able to cause so much damage.
They also discuss what might happen next: will Donald Trump launch US strikes in Yemen? Will a new Arab-led coalition emerge? And why does Saudi Arabia think it has a better chance of defeating the Iranian proxy group now than before?
Plus, as Iranian officials threaten to destroy US data centres and other infrastructure in the Gulf if the conflict restarts, Aramco’s CEO warns of severe global crude oil shortages while the Strait of Hormuz remains under attack.
Highlights Trump weighs US strikes after Houthi missiles shut Riyadh airport Saudi Arabia vows ‘serious response’
CONTRIBUTORS: Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey Salman al-Ansari, Saudi analyst @alansari
WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk
CONTENT REFERENCED: The Houthi missiles that will make Trump think twice https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/12/houthi-missiles-trump-think-twice/ The UAE-backed ‘Giants Brigade’ changing the Saudi-Houthi war https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/09/giants-brigade-militia-changing-saudi-houthi-war/ Trump may join Saudi war after Houthi strike on airport kills 12 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/10/saudi-yemen-king-khalid-iran-gulf-war/
Winner Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026 Bronze Best News, Politics and Current Affairs - British Podcast Awards 2026 Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026 Nominated Podcast of the Year - London Press Club Awards 2026 The Telegraph, Winner Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026
Producers: Peter Shevlin and Max Bower Researcher and Social Producer: Anna Hindmarsh Studio Operator: Andy Watson Executive Producer: Venetia Rainey
► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor ► EMAIL US: Contact the team on [email protected] ► GET THE LATEST HEADLINES: Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from Iran: The Latest
Further details have emerged regarding US-Israeli plans for a joint military campaign against Iran after the midterm elections. Following sightings of Israeli Air Force jets flying up to the Iranian border on Monday, plans for a three-day military blitz on Iran’s nuclear facilities and energy infrastructure were revealed to the New York Times.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed his military to plan a multi-day bombing campaign targeting Iranian nuclear facilities and power grids, as talks with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signal preparation for joint military action against Iran.
British RAF Typhoon fighter jets will be deployed to defend cities and critical infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, following the Yemen-based militant group’s deadliest attack yet, a devastating assault that killed at least 70 people, all new recruits aged 18 to 20, at a training camp.
Houthi ballistic missile strikes kill 20 people in Yemen as Egypt considers sending military support to help Saudi Arabia counter Iranian threats in the Red Sea.
The Iran war has stretched the US Congress to breaking point and exposed Pete Hegseth’s leadership of the Pentagon as fundamentally lacking, according to an ex-tank commander who is neither a Republican nor a Democrat.