Morning update

Live Blog Update| War on Iran 27 October 2026 07:39 GMT Good morning Middle East Eye readers, Here are the latest developments: The US Embassy in Riyadh urged nonemergency government employees and their family members to leave Saudi Arabia, citing safety risks. The post on X added that US government employees working in the kingdom require special authorisation from Chief of Mission to use any airport in the country, following attacks on airports. Most polling stations in Israel have opened as of 7am local time (5am GMT), in the first general election held since 7 October, 2023. Around 7.3 million people are eligible to vote, with most polling stations expected to be closed at 10pm ( 8pm GMT). US President Donald Trump claimed that Iran was responsible for starting the conflict and called a ceasefire between the two a "waste of time". "We didn’t start the war with Iran. Iran started the war with us," he said during a rally in Corinth, Mississippi. The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said it intercepted and destroyed three ballistic missiles launched by Houthi forces towards Saudi Arabia's Eastern Region and another four drones launched towards the kingdom's southern region. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied on Monday reports circulating in Israeli media regarding firing the Israeli military chief, Eyal Zamir. "Another piece of fake news on panic channels 12 and 13 on the eve of the elections: I have no intention of firing the Chief of Staff, and we will continue working together for Israel's security," Netanyahu said in a post on X.