Pentagon withdraws bombers as Iran crisis and Yemen offensive escalate

The Pentagon has withdrawn all U.S. B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford in southern England following the discovery of a suspected terror plot. The bombers had been deployed since the start of the Strait of Hormuz conflict in late February and were primarily used for strikes on Iran. Meanwhile, additional vessels were attacked in waters near Iran and Oman, as Tehran reiterated its conditions for reopening the critical shipping lane, which carries about a fifth of global crude and LNG. Iran demands the lifting of sanctions and an end to the U.S. naval blockade, as stated by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

In Yemen, the Saudi-backed government launched a nationwide offensive to retake territory held by the Iran-backed Houthis. President Rashad al-Alimi announced the operation aims to liberate the country from what he termed a terrorist militia. Separately, OPEC+ member countries, including Saudi Arabia and Russia, agreed to maintain their November output targets unchanged, anticipating no further adjustments until next year. International benchmark Brent crude futures rose slightly to $102.33 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude dipped 0.3% to $90.85 per barrel.

On the political front, U.S. President Donald Trump appointed Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton as the new AI czar, leading a White House task force to research AI's risks and opportunities. In Brazil, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro took a surprise lead over leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, setting the stage for a potential runoff election. Meanwhile, in Asia, a McKinsey executive highlighted key traits of successful owner-CEOs, emphasizing the ability to balance long-term and short-term thinking.