War Room brief, Oct. 22: Iran strike plans, Houthi hits on Saudi Arabia, Russia frees an American

Iran

The New York Times reported, citing unnamed U.S. officials, that the U.S. and Israeli militaries have drawn up specific plans for renewed strikes on Iran after the Nov. 3 midterms, a "short but intensive" operation, CNBC reported. The Times also said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on an unannounced visit to Israel this week. Neither the meeting nor the plans have been confirmed on the record by either government in anything we read, and the Times says President Trump has not approved strikes. Trump told reporters the U.S. is not negotiating with Iran and that something "one way or the other" will "happen fairly soon," adding "most people seem to think it's after the election," per CNBC. Watch for any White House or Pentagon statement. Our full story: US and Israel have drawn up Iran strike plans for after Nov. 3.

Houthis and Saudi Arabia

The State Department ordered non-emergency U.S. government employees and their families out of Saudi Arabia, spokesman Tommy Pigott said on X, citing Iran-aligned Houthi attacks on civilian airports and other infrastructure, CBS News reported. Pigott said the order covers Saudi Arabia only. Saudi state media says an attack Wednesday on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam killed at least two people and injured eight, per CNBC; CNBC's earlier report said at least one, so casualty figures are still moving. Reuters reports Saudi Aramco told staff to evacuate its Dhahran headquarters and work remotely. Earlier this month a strike on Riyadh's King Khalid airport killed 12, CBS says. Iran has denied any role. Watch Bab al-Mandab shipping and Gulf airport notices.

Russia and Ukraine

Prisoner release: this was an American, not a Ukraine swap. Russia freed Stephen Hubbard, 74, of Michigan on Wednesday during U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff's visit to St. Petersburg. Trump said nothing was given in return, AP reported via PBS. Witkoff also held talks with Putin and had met Zelenskyy in Norway on Tuesday. AP notes Trump recently waived sanctions under a Ukraine-support law, which followed his Russian diesel import deal.

Starlink: the Wall Street Journal says Musk ordered the slowdown that hit Ukraine's drones; Trump says he was not involved. Details: our Starlink story.

Diesel and refineries: Ukraine ended its adherence to the energy truce Trump announced Oct. 11, and CNBC cites Kpler putting Russian diesel exports at 141,000 barrels a day in September versus 608,000 a year earlier. See diesel turned back up to $6.276. We did not find a confirmed new refinery strike dated today.

Markets box, 12:53 PM ET

CNBC had Brent at $111.81 (+2.8%) and WTI at $98.83 (+1.7%) at 11:07 AM ET; feeds and contract months differ, so compare moves rather than levels. We could not pull a verified VIX reading this run. Defense stocks are lower and airlines higher on a day crude is up, and we have found no source explaining either move. Context: crude oil chart, markets.

Sources: CNBC, CNBC oil, CBS News, PBS NewsHour/AP, Nasdaq.com, Chronicle markets board. Unconfirmed reports are labeled. This is market information, not investment advice.