🌆 COMBATE Evening Roundup | October 31, 2026
• Hormuz tanker war escalates: eight tankers mined in 48 hours — Iran's IRGC says a fourth supertanker carrying over 2 million barrels hit a mine on the strait's unauthorized southern route and is burning. A Qatari LNG tanker was struck by a projectile in the Gulf, Oman evacuated 25 crew, and the UAE closed oil-hit beaches. Brent reached $114.
• Trump says Iran war will end "soon" as Qatar mediates again — Trump said talks with Iran are underway and Washington wants guarantees Tehran never obtains a nuclear weapon. Qatari mediators returned to Tehran after Iran rejected a seven-day confidence deal, demanding the blockade and oil sanctions end first; Pezeshkian set seven conditions for negotiation.
• US partially evacuates personnel from Saudi Arabia — Washington ordered non-emergency staff and families out over attack risks. Senator Murphy called renewed strike plans "delirious," while Axios reports Thursday's Trump–CENTCOM session focused on blockade and economic pressure, not strikes.
• Yemen captures new district; Saudi jets bomb own forces — Yemen's army took Al-Maqatira in Lahj province as Saudi warplanes struck fleeing Riyadh-backed fighters. Missiles hit the Maashiq palace and airport in Aden.
• Iran downs second US drone and readies NPT exit bills — The IRGC forced down another MQM-170 over Qeshm and destroyed a foreign-linked spy team, seizing 10 Starlink terminals. Ten bills to leave the NPT are prepared in parliament.
• Police storm Poland's Constitutional Tribunal — PM Tusk's forces entered the court and its chief was suspended, prompting accusations of a coup; President Nawrocki cut short a Senegal visit to return to Warsaw.
• US approves $2.1B Patriot sale to Ukraine as war intensifies — 500 PAC-3 missiles will be funded by allies. Ukrainian drones hit a Samara refinery and Kyiv lost power and water after blasts; Lavrov said Zelensky must travel to Moscow to meet Putin.
• Millions of Italians strike against rearmament — Over 1.5 million joined a general strike against military spending and living costs, with clashes in Rome and Turin. Germany's Merz said the Iran war cost Europe over €100 billion in eight months.
• Albania braces for rival Saturday protests — After 347 people were injured, including 200 police, Tirana deploys 2,000 officers and 5,000 body cameras; Kosovo named an acting police chief and suspended two prosecutors over the Zekaj murder.
• Pope votes in US midterms; Trump greenlights Haiti deployment — Leo XIV mailed his Chicago ballot, a first for a pontiff, as early turnout hit a record 47.9 million; Trump approved El Salvador sending 2,000 troops to Haiti.
📖 Full report: https://telegra.ph/COMBATE-Digest---combate-20261031-0000Z-10-31
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