1. US pulls diplomats from Saudi Arabia amid Houthi attacks

The US State Department has ordered non-essential diplomats and family members of US government employees to leave Saudi Arabia amid escalating Houthi attacks. The decision follows a series of strikes on Saudi infrastructure, including attacks around Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport and a Houthi drone strike on a Saudi Aramco oil facility. The US has also warned that Iran-backed Houthi hostilities could rapidly intensify.

2. UK deploys Typhoons to defend Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks

The UK has authorised additional military support for Saudi Arabia as Houthi missile and drone attacks escalate. RAF Typhoon fighters will conduct defensive counter-air operations over Saudi Arabia to protect cities, civilians and critical infrastructure. Britain is also extending air-to-air refuelling support by 90 days, deploying military advisers and making an RAF A400M aircraft available for the movement of military materiel. The Typhoons will operate in a defensive role and will not conduct offensive strikes against the Houthis.

3. Netanyahu says bringing down Iranian regime is Israel’s primary objective

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that bringing down Iran’s regime is Israel’s “primary objective”. Speaking in northern Israel, Netanyahu said the Iranian government must be eliminated to prevent it from rebuilding its nuclear programme and regional network. He said he had discussed the issue with US President Donald Trump.

4. Swavlamban 2026 to focus on indigenous naval technologies

The Indian Navy’s fifth Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Seminar, 'Swavlamban 2026', will be held at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi on October 26 and 27. The event will bring together the Navy, start-ups, MSMEs, industry, academia and investors, with focus areas including maritime surveillance, counter-UAS, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, NBCD systems and naval safety. The Navy will also release the Swavlamban 5.0 document, a Compendium on Technology Imperatives and NAUSETU interface standards.

5. 33rd edition of SIMBEX begins in Visakhapatnam

The 33rd edition of the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise, SIMBEX-2026, began at Visakhapatnam on October 21 and will continue until October 26. Singapore’s Republic of Singapore Navy ship RSS Supreme is participating alongside Indian Navy ships INS Nilgiri and INS Kamorta. The harbour phase will continue until October 23, followed by a sea phase in the Bay of Bengal from October 24 to 26 involving anti-submarine, anti-surface and anti-air warfare drills, seamanship exercises and tactical manoeuvres.

Savio Rodrigues

Savio Rodrigues is a Research Analyst at Escape Velocity MediaWorks Pvt Ltd and writes for Chakra News on Defence, Geopolitics, National Security. He holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Mumbai.