Flydubai Probe Widens to Australia as Yemen Launches Offensive; Iran Oil Minister Resigns (Oct 04, 1835 UTC, 2135 Israel) (Evening Edition)

• Oil Minister Resigns — Iranian Minister of Petroleum Mohsen Paknejad resigned, and President Masoud Pezeshkian appointed Hamid Bovard as caretaker head of the Oil Ministry, the president's office said IRNA. No reason was given for the resignation Arab News. The move comes as Iran's security chief acknowledged a dire economic crisis, signaling regime paralysis TLDR Iran SITREP.
• Diplomatic Track — Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Iran is reviewing the US response to its proposed seven-day plan to end hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz IRNA. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said there is "no military solution and no solution based on more sanctions" to the conflict with the US Al-Manar TV.
• Hormuz Posture — Senior parliamentarian Alaeddin Boroujerdi called Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz an "unchangeable policy" IRNA. The IRGC spokesperson questioned whether the US is waging war on Iran or on the American people, citing the high costs of deploying new US forces IRNA.

• Border Shelling — Israeli artillery shelled the area between Zawtar Al-Sharqiya and Maifadoun, as well as Kawneen, in southern Lebanon, according to Al-Manar's correspondent Al-Manar TV. Israeli warplanes carried out an airstrike on the town of Al-Mansouri, and artillery targeted the Al-Deir neighborhood of Baraachit Bint Jbeil News. Israeli occupation forces also shelled Wadi Slouki and carried out a demolition operation in Majdalzoun Al-Manar TV. Israeli air strikes struck the Wadi al-Hujair area and the outskirts of Kfar Tebnit in the Nabatieh district Middle East Eye.
• Hezbollah Position — Hezbollah MP Hasan Fadlallah said the Lebanese government must establish an effective state presence in southern Lebanon before addressing the monopoly of arms or decisions concerning war and peace Al-Manar TV.

• IDF Strikes Kill Hamas Operatives — The IDF struck in the Khan Younis area and eliminated Muad Gamal Abu Nuseira, a commander in Hamas's military wing, and Saqr Nabil Musa Qaisi, a Nukhba Force terrorist who infiltrated Israeli territory during the October 7 massacre and also served as director of the Turkish organization Deniz Feneri IDF Official. A separate strike killed Mahmoud Ibrahim Dib Alyan, identified as a terrorist in Hamas's observation unit IDF Official. The IDF said the operatives were killed to "remove a threat" and were working to restore Hamas's capabilities in violation of the ceasefire agreement IDF Official.
• Other Incidents — Israeli occupation forces opened fire at Palestinians in Jabalia refugee camp, killing one Palestinian, according to Quds News Network Quds News Network. An Israeli drone targeted Al-Nafaq street in Gaza City Quds News Network.

• Agricultural Losses — Palestinian farmers in the occupied West Bank suffered more than $1.75 million in direct agricultural losses in one week as Israeli attacks intensified at the start of the olive harvest season, according to the Palestinian Agriculture Ministry. Between September 25 and October 1, damage to 1,582 olive trees was documented, with Jenin recording the highest losses at over $1.05 million Quds News Network.
• Political Proposals — Avigdor Liberman published a strategic plan for Judea and Samaria proposing an Israeli-Jordanian confederation, with Israel maintaining security responsibility and Jordan managing daily life for Palestinians in Areas A and B Israel Hayom.

• Yemen Offensive — Yemen's Saudi-backed government announced a major military operation to retake territory from the Iran-backed Houthis, aiming to restore state authority throughout Yemen Al Jazeera BBC News. Yemeni government forces repelled major Houthi assaults in Taiz and struck military targets in Houthi-controlled Sanaa Arab News. The Houthis claimed attacks on Saudi Aramco facilities in Riyadh and Khurais with ballistic missiles and drones, causing major fires Middle East Eye Iran International. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said Yemeni forces repelled and targeted Saudi reinforcements in eastern Al-Jawf after a failed advance Al-Manar TV.
• Ukraine Diplomacy — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine is ready for US-backed talks with Russia, with trilateral talks possibly this month in the UAE or another US-proposed venue Al Jazeera. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced $1.5 billion in military and reconstruction aid during a surprise visit to Kyiv Al Jazeera.

Sudan — An air strike in Sudan killed a UN aid truck driver, the World Food Programme said, noting the trucks were "clearly marked as humanitarian vehicles" Al Jazeera.

• UK Green Party Motion — Britain's Green Party became the first mainstream political party in the UK to formally adopt the position that Zionism is racism, passing the motion 1,022 to 813 at its conference in Brighton Quds News Network.
• Russia Space Warning — Russia's Dmitry Medvedev warned that 'blocking' the Rassvet satellite network could trigger 'full-scale space warfare' Al-Manar TV.

US Politics — Connie Chan, the Democrat endorsed by Nancy Pelosi to succeed her in California's 11th Congressional District, called for a "full arms embargo on the Israeli government" during a televised debate, saying she would vote to "end a genocide in Gaza and to end an apartheid state" and would not support US funding for Israel's Iron Dome Quds News Network.

India Protests — Mass protests demanding the resignation of the election commission chief shook India for a third day, with protesters saying voter-roll revisions removed millions of eligible voters to benefit PM Modi Al Jazeera.

Flydubai Investigation — Australian police and intelligence agencies joined the investigation into the Flydubai co-pilot's ties to Australia, where he stayed on a student visa issued in 2014 and studied from 2015 to 2017 Al Jazeera Jerusalem Post. The co-pilot, Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, allegedly planned to kill the captain quietly and crash the plane into a Tel Aviv skyscraper Jerusalem Post. An initial Israeli probe indicated the incident was likely carried out by a lone attacker, according to CBS News Arutz Sheva. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman called attempts to link the incident to Tehran a 'false flag' Al-Manar TV. Officials in Oman and Australia reportedly raised concerns about the co-pilot before the attack Jerusalem Post.