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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on Tehran and Washington to exercise restraint and resume substantive consultations during a meeting with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, in Beijing. He urged measures to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and affirmed China’s readiness to strengthen cooperation with Iran and defend its legitimate rights and interests.

Six people were killed and 20 others injured in separate Russian attacks on Ukrainian regions, according to Ukrainian officials, while Moscow and Kyiv traded claims of downing dozens of drones. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said his country was ready for serious negotiations, while maintaining its conditions and continuing military operations during any talks.

Gaza Civil Defence announced that the death toll from the collapse of a structurally damaged building west of Gaza City had risen to 20, including five children, while 16 others were injured. Rescue teams and volunteers continue searching for dozens of missing people under the rubble amid a shortage of equipment needed for search and rescue operations.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said his country is seeking a security agreement with Israel to end the state of hostility, which could serve as a possible prelude to a later peace agreement. He linked progress to Israel’s withdrawal, the deployment of the Lebanese army, and the return of residents and prisoners, stressing that weapons would be brought under state control without internal clashes.

Rescuers recovered 60 bodies after the collapse of the Al-Zara mine near the city of Al-Nuhud in Sudan’s West Kordofan state, while search operations continued for workers still trapped. A survivor said the number of people inside the mine was unknown after miners took part in rescue efforts that continued throughout the night.

Eleven people were injured in a limited ammonia gas leak during maintenance of an old pump in the industrial zone south of Aqaba, with 7 remaining under medical observation. Authorities said the incident was quickly brought under control and caused no environmental pollution, while a lawmaker from the governorate called for the causes of recurring leaks to be addressed and the safety system updated.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced his country's solidarity with Saudi Arabia and support for its efforts to protect the security of the Two Holy Mosques after the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen said Saudi air defenses had intercepted and destroyed a drone launched by the Houthis south of Mecca before it entered prohibited airspace.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said drones tried to target his presidential plane twice in recent weeks while it was in Moldova and passing through Chisinau, saying the incidents were part of a Russian policy aimed at intimidating him and other foreign leaders.

US and regional officials said Iran diversified the missiles, trajectories and warheads used against US forces, increasing pressure on interceptor systems. They said dozens of Patriot missiles and more than 12 THAAD missiles were launched to counter a single attack, while the Pentagon denied reports that US munitions had run out.

Lebanon's Interior Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar said his country had chosen direct negotiations with Israel, under US sponsorship, to secure the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the south, the deployment of the army and the return of residents. He made the remarks during a visit to Pakistan that included signing an agreement on prisoner exchanges and discussing security cooperation.

The Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen said it had intercepted and destroyed a drone launched by the Houthis before it entered Makkah’s restricted airspace, confirming the operation took place south of the city. An Ansar Allah official, meanwhile, described claims that Makkah was targeted as a previously used allegation.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation declared its solidarity with Saudi Arabia after a drone launched by the Houthi group was intercepted south of Mecca on Tuesday evening. The organisation described targeting holy sites and civilian objects as an act incompatible with Islamic values and international law, affirming its support for Saudi measures to protect the kingdom’s security and sovereignty.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen plans to call for the creation of a security council bringing together EU countries and partners including Ukraine, Britain, Norway and Canada. The proposal would allow consultations when a country faces a direct threat, through a mechanism similar to Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty.

Al-Shabaab has recaptured most of the territory it lost to the Somali army during the 2022 and 2023 campaign, as the African Union mission’s withdrawal approaches and US logistical support is set to end. The group’s expansion, including its courts and tax collection in areas under its control, is raising concerns about the Somali forces’ ability to fill the security vacuum.

Hamas announced the death of Nail Abu Obeid, commander of the al-Qassam Brigades’ Rafah Brigade, in an Israeli strike in the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday evening. Palestinian sources said the strike targeted tents housing displaced people in the al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis, killing a girl and injuring more than 14 people.

The UN Security Council held an emergency session to discuss developments in Bab al-Mandab and the Red Sea, amid growing concerns over international navigation and the humanitarian situation in Yemen. Participants called for protecting maritime routes and reducing tensions, while supporting a political settlement to the Yemeni crisis.

Several explosions were heard on Qeshm Island in southern Iran overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, while local sources said the sounds came from the sea. The incident follows similar events on the island in recent days, amid regional tensions and a sharp decline in ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

Yemeni Prime Minister Shaia al-Zindani warned that Houthi escalation now threatens regional security and international interests, calling for stronger cohesion among state institutions. Amid fighting on the western coast, Hodeidah Governor Hassan Taher described recent developments as the result of “a major deception and conspiracy,” without naming the parties he accused of financing and facilitating them.

Shipping data showed the number of vessels tracked in the Strait of Hormuz falling to three on September 15, 2026, amid reports of maritime incidents. Meanwhile, traffic through Bab el-Mandeb continued without a significant change after the Houthis took control of Mayyun Island, with 159 vessels passing through in five days.

The US administration is planning an arms deal with Israel involving 40,000 bombs, each weighing 2,000 pounds, along with 20,000 bunker-busting warheads. If approved, the deal would be larger than previous transfers of these bombs, amid warnings about their use in densely populated areas.

The Congressional Budget Office estimated that rebuilding the US interceptor missile stockpile could take at least five years even with increased production, warning that depleted Patriot, THAAD, SM-3 and SM-6 missiles could limit Washington’s capabilities in a potential military confrontation with China.

A Yemeni military source said the Houthi group had laid naval mines and dug trenches in mountains overlooking the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The development comes as the UN Security Council holds an emergency session to discuss regional developments, amid growing concerns over navigation and the displacement of more than 100,000 people since fighting resumed.

Paris will host a meeting on Thursday bringing together the leaders of France, Jordan and Lebanon to discuss a clear and realistic plan to strengthen the Lebanese army’s deployment in the south and support state institutions. The meeting comes ahead of an international conference to support the army, amid continuing security tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border.