Iraqi militia Islamic Resistance said on Oct 24 it monitored 171 incursions by US fighter and reconnaissance aircraft into Iraqi airspace between Sept 30 and Oct 23. The group accused the US of persistent violations and alleged Iraq’s closure of routes and border crossings with Iran was carried out at US direction. Iraqi government spokesman Haider al-Abadi said on Oct 21 the Shib border crossing in southern Maysan province was closed for technical reasons. Several Iraqi airports suspended fligh

Axios obtained a one-page, unclassified memo dated Oct. 23 in which U.S. intelligence warns of a marked increase in Iranian operations targeting U.S. diplomats and officials in the Middle East and beyond, saying some lethal plots have reached an "advanced stage." The memo, from Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to Secretary of State Rubio, says the underlying intelligence has been shared with senior State Department officials and urges lowering the classification level so Rubio can notify additional U.S. personnel currently not cleared to receive the information. U.S. officials say the intelligence was one factor behind recent staff reductions at multiple U.S. embassies in the region. The memo does not identify specific targets, non-Middle Eastern countries involved, or operational details.

A Yemeni security official told reporters on the 24th that the southern port city of Aden was hit by a missile attack and loud explosions were heard.