Iranian officials were emboldened Wednesday by a stinging election setback for U.S. President Donald Trump, and world leaders waited to see whether Washington would end the war with Iran.
Meanwhile, the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed they fired strikes on an airport in the Saudi capital of Riyadh. The Israeli military said it struck two suspects in Lebanon, killing one person.
Here is the latest news from the Middle East on Wednesday. Read our full coverage here.
Iranians celebrated after U.S. voters, concerned about the war and frustrated over rising prices for fuel, gave Democrats control of Congress in Tuesday’s vote — a major blow for Trump and his Republican Party.
Iran’s chief negotiator and parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, wrote Wednesday on X that “Americans said NO TO WAR, and we endorse this message.” He warned that if the U.S. government ignores the vote for change, “it will learn our NO comes with a Nightmare.”
But Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, dismissed thoughts that the U.S. will change its approach to the Islamic Republic.
The broader region has been on edge for weeks over whether the U.S. will resume full-scale military operations against Iran. Talks are ongoing aimed at preventing renewed fighting.
Underscoring the mutual hostility, thousands marched through Tehran on Wednesday at a government-organized demonstration commemorating the anniversary of the 1979 takeover of the U.S. Embassy.
Pro-government demonstrators burned American and Israeli flags and chanted “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.”
Jean-Pierre Lacroix said Wednesday that Lebanese officials fear a “security vacuum” between Israeli forces and the Lebanese army when the U.N. peacekeeping mission known as UNIFIL ends Dec. 31.
Lacroix, who recently returned from the Middle East, warned of the risks of leaving the two armies “sort of face-to-face” without a third-party presence. He questioned who would monitor the U.N.-drawn Blue Line separating Israel and Lebanon, prevent unintended clashes and support communities in southern Lebanon.
The border region patrolled by UNIFIL has experienced decades of violence, including a full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah militants in 2024. Israel has long accused UNIFIL of failing to prevent Hezbollah from building up its military presence along the border. Lacroix said efforts to disarm Hezbollah had failed because “there was no political will.”
The United States, Israel’s closest ally, successfully pushed the U.N. Security Council to end the mission after nearly five decades. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres proposed three options in June to maintain U.N. monitoring along the border.
Lacroix said unarmed U.N. military observers would still be authorized to operate in southern Lebanon but questioned how they could do so without protection or support.
He said a Security Council resolution adopted in 2000 remains in effect. The council is scheduled to discuss it Nov. 19.
In Yemen, the Iran-backed Houthis on Wednesday claimed without providing evidence that they targeted King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh as well as several areas in southern parts of the country.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said rebels fired a ballistic missile toward the airport, causing what he described as “major damages” to the airport. He also claimed that the group fired a drone at a radar installation and a ballistic missile at a command and control center in the Jazan province.
The Associated Press couldn’t independently verify these claims. The Saudi information ministry didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Saudi civil defense issued an alert in Riyadh overnight and other warning alerts of potential “danger” in Jazan and Najran early Wednesday.
The Houthis have repeatedly targeted oil and logistic facilities as well as airports in Saudi Arabia as part of their plan to fight what they describe as the kingdom’s “blockade” on Yemen.
At least seven people, including two children, were killed in an airstrike Wednesday in Yemen’s southwestern province of Taiz, Houthi health authorities said.
The Houthi-run health ministry said in a statement the strike hit a house in the district of Maqbanah and also wounded six other children.
The Houthi media aired footage it said was of the struck building. The footage showed a heavily damaged concrete building, with large sections of the roof and walls collapsing.
The ministry blamed Saudi Arabia, which didn’t immediately comment on the accusations.
It was the latest deadly strike in Yemen since the country’s civil war was revived more than three months ago. The fighting pits the Iranian-backed Houthis against Saudi Arabia and its ally, Yemen's internationally recognized government.
In Lebanon, the Health Ministry said the strike on a motorcycle in the village of Qabrikha killed one person and wounded another.
The Israeli military said in a statement that it had “struck two suspects who were observing IDF soldiers” without providing further details.
The attack was the first in nearly a month as such drone strikes have been rare since a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in late June ended the latest Israel-Hezbollah war.
This report will be updated throughout the day as new developments emerge.
Iranian government supporters carry portraits of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as they walk over U.S. and Israeli flags during the annual rally marking the anniversary of the 1979 U.S. Embassy takeover, outside the former embassy in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
Iranian government supporters step on U.S. and Israeli flags during the annual rally marking the anniversary of the 1979 U.S. Embassy takeover, outside the former embassy in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
Real Madrid produced another late comeback in the Champions League as Federico Valverde struck in stoppage time to seal a 3-2 win over AEK Athens on Wednesday.
Liverpool, however, fell to a surprise 3-2 defeat at Fenerbahce on a dramatic night of action, while Manchester City battled to victory over RB Leipzig by the same score after twice blowing leads, and Como beat Lens 9-1.
Last season's runner-up Arsenal beat Slavia Prague 2-1.
Madrid joined back-to-back defending champion Paris Saint-Germain as the only other team to have a 100% winning record after four games played in this season's competition. But that perfect start was put under serious threat in Greece.
The record 15-time European champion twice went behind at Allwyn Arena and needed Valverde's long-range strike in the 92nd minute to seal victory.
"Of course, I prefer to win more comfortably, but these games in the final minutes — only we can win them,” Madrid coach Mourinho told broadcaster Movistar.
Madrid also needed a late rally to beat Roma 4-3 last month, scoring three goals in the last 10 minutes, including a 90th minute winner from Antonio Rudiger.
AEK led through Aboubakary Koita in the first half before Jude Bellingham leveled with a back heel.
Stavros Pilios put the home team 2-1 ahead in the 75th, but Kylian Mbappé equalized three minutes later.
Mbappé then hit the bar before Valverde's dramatic winner.
“The players have courage. I’m very lucky to have players of this quality. Very lucky,” Mourinho said.
Madrid is second in the standings, behind PSG on goal difference.
Liverpool twice blew the lead against Fenerbahce before losing for the first time in this season's Champions League.
Trey Nyoni and Alexander Isak gave the Merseyside club the lead in each half, with former Manchester United striker Mason Greenwood and Archie Brown leveling for Fenerbahce on each occasion.
Vedat Muriqi struck the winner in the 89th as Liverpool fell to back-to-back losses in all competitions following defeat to Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday.
“The main reason I can find for why we lost this game is we conceded from three set pieces,” Liverpool coach Andoni Iraola said. “We knew it was one of the strengths of Fenerbahce. We concede from a free-kick, a corner and even from the long throw at the end. It’s frustration because it’s a difficult place to come here and play.”
Victory will have been particularly sweet for Fenerbahce interim coach, former Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt.
It was Fenebahce's first win in the Champions League since 2008.
Erling Haaland came back to haunt Leipzig and drag City over the line after being pushed to the limit at Red Bull Arena.
The Norway striker has scored 13 goals against the German club from his time at Borussia Dortmund and City. He came up with the winner in the 78th after City twice failed to hold onto the lead.
Haaland, who scored five goals in City’s 7-0 rout of Leipzig in 2023, slid in to turn home Elliot Anderson’s cross to seal victory.
City led through an own goal from Castello Lukeba in the first half but conceded four minutes into the second half when Ridle Baku equalized.
Enzo Fernandez headed City back in front and Antonio Nusa leveled again soon after, leaving to Haaland to hit his 14th goal of the season.
First-half goals from Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres put Arsenal on course for victory at Slavia Prague and despite conceding in the 90th, the Premier League champion sealed a 2-1 win.
Tasos Douvikas scored a hat trick and Cesc Fabregas’ Como routed Lens 9-1 to make it three victories in four matches of its debut season in the competition.
Douvikas has scored in all four of Como’s matches.
Nico Paz also found the net and then instead of celebrating went and grabbed a T-shirt featuring an image of Jesús de Miguel, the Tenerife forward who died following an on-field collision with the opposing team’s goalkeeper.
Paz spent time in Tenerife’s youth system from 2014-16.
Napoli coach Massimiliano Allegri was in crisis following a 4-1 loss at Porto.
Gabriel Veiga, Jakub Kiwior and Samu Aghehowa scored in the second half for the hosts after Scott McTominay’s momentary equalizer.
It was Napoli’s third loss in four matches of the league phase; and the Partenopei are struggling in Serie A, too — having been beat 2-0 at Juventus on Sunday.
Porto has a perfect 10 wins in 10 matches to lead the Portuguese league but had lost its opening three matches in the Champions League.
Konstantinos Karetsas’ first goal for Borussia Dortmund gave the 1997 champion a 2-1 win over Real Betis.
The Greek winger entered for the injured Serhou Guirassy with 10 minutes of the first half remaining and was involved in the buildup after the break when Fábio Silva opened the scoring off the rebound from Álvaro Vallés’ save of Jobe Bellingham’s initial effort.
Aitor Ruibal equalized in the 67th to set off wild celebrations among the many visiting supporters.
Vallés pulled off a point-blank save to deny Bellingham an immediate response before he was finally beaten by Karetsas for what proved the winner in the 72nd.
It gave Dortmund three wins from four games.
Portuguese winger Carlos Forbs scored for the second straight Champions League game to give Club Brugge a 2-1 win at PSV Eindhoven.
Norwegian club Viking earned its first victory in the Champions League proper by beating Azerbaijani club Sabah 4-1.
In the second-tier Europa League, Rennes drew 0-0 with Olympiakos.
James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
See AP’s full soccer coverage here
Como's head coach Cesc Fabregas celebrates after the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Lens and Como in Lens, France, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
Manchester City's Erling Haaland, center, celebrates after scoring this side third goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between RB Leibzig and Manchester City in Leipzig, Germany, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Fenerbahce's Kojo Peprah Oppong celebrates at the end of the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Fenerbahce and Liverpool in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Fenerbahce's Archie Brown, center, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Fenerbahce and Liverpool in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Liverpool's Alexander Isak celebrates after scoring his side's second goalduring the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Fenerbahce and Liverpool in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
AEK Athens' Stavros Pilios celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between AEK Athens and Real Madrid in Athens, Greece, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe has a shot blocked during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between AEK Athens and Real Madrid in Athens, Greece, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Real Madrid players celebrate with Federico Valverde after he scored his side's third goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between AEK Athens and Real Madrid in Athens, Greece, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Manchester City's manager Enzo Maresca speakes during a team's press conference in Leipzig, Germany, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, ahead of the Champions League soccer match against RB Leipzig. (Robert Michael/dpa via AP)
Liverpool's manager Andoni Iraola smiles before the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Arsenal in Liverpool, England, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Racing de Santander and Real Madrid in Santander, Spain, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
Real Madrid's head coach Jose Mourinho watches during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Racing de Santander and Real Madrid in Santander, Spain, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
