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Nine Palestinians, including children, were injured in an attack in Khan Younis, while a pregnant woman died from wounds sustained after being shot by Israeli forces south of the city. The developments coincided with an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City's Al-Sabra neighborhood and the continuation of military operations despite a ceasefire agreement.
Israeli forces entered agricultural land belonging to the town of Beit Jann in the western Damascus countryside with more than 10 military vehicles and two tanks, while artillery shelling hit the area on Saturday morning. A shell fell near Ain al-Shaara without causing injuries, amid other movements that included searches of homes in the Quneitra countryside.
BRICS countries called for the utmost restraint and urged the avoidance of any actions that could further escalate tensions in the Middle East during their summit in New Delhi on Saturday. The statement came as the war between the United States and Iran continued and shipping traffic declined in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the main routes for global energy supplies.
Iraqi authorities announced on Saturday the closure of several border crossings as part of administrative and security arrangements, alongside investigations and audits into breaches and violations recorded there. The Security Media Cell confirmed that travellers would continue to be received through the Zurbatiya and Mundhiriyah crossings.
Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt and Oman condemned attacks targeting the East-West pipeline in the Riyadh and Medina regions, affirming their solidarity with Saudi Arabia. In Iraq, the commander of Maysan Operations was dismissed and an investigation began into the attacks’ launch from the province, as three border crossings with Iran were fully closed.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said its forces carried out strikes with precision weapons and drones overnight from Friday into Saturday against industrial, military and transport facilities in several Ukrainian regions. Meanwhile, the governor of Kursk said 92 Ukrainian drones had been shot down and evacuated areas had been shelled 50 times in 24 hours.
Moscow said it intercepted 230 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions, while Kyiv said it shot down 102 drones and 8 Russian missiles. According to Russian authorities, the attacks killed a female civilian and wounded 14 people in Belgorod, while industrial facilities in Samara were targeted.
The Tunisian League for Human Rights documented 23 deaths among prisoners during the summer amid heatwaves and overcrowding in prisons. The World Organisation Against Torture called for independent and transparent investigations, while the prison administration rejected allegations of negligence and inadequate care.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said during a surprise visit to the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh on Saturday that there are currently no negotiations with Israel. Aoun inspected the damage and heard residents’ complaints, stressing the government’s commitment to withdrawal, the return of prisoners and displaced people, and reconstruction, as Israeli raids intensified in recent days.
U.S. officials said Iran obtained high-resolution satellite imagery of Muwaffaq Salti Air Base from Chinese entities before a July attack that killed three U.S. soldiers. The officials did not accuse the Chinese government of direct involvement, while a White House official denied that foreign assistance had enhanced Tehran’s ability to attack the United States.
A regional train carrying 180 passengers derailed near the town of Cléon in Normandy on Friday evening, injuring 44 people, one critically. Authorities and France’s national railway company have opened an investigation, while train services on several lines in the region were disrupted.
The next round of negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, scheduled to take place in Rome next week, has been postponed to October. A US official said the two countries’ ambassadors would meet in Washington to follow up on implementing the framework agreement, while a source familiar with the matter attributed the delay to factors that prevented key figures from participating.
Reciprocal drone attacks killed three people in Russia’s Tula and Kursk regions and two in Kyiv, while oil and logistics facilities were targeted. On the political front, Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated Moscow’s opposition to NATO’s eastward expansion, saying Russia has no reason to conflict with Europe.
The US State Department headquarters will host a meeting between the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors next week, while talks scheduled in Rome have been postponed until October. Discussions focus on Israeli withdrawals from southern Lebanon, the deployment of the Lebanese army and a mechanism for monitoring the areas under negotiation.
Syrian Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh announced a plan to resolve the camp issue by September 2027, while around 141,000 families still live in them. He said voluntary return convoys continue daily and that more than 200 camps have closed since a ministerial committee was formed to implement the plan.
Lebanese security forces detained Suleiman Hilal al-Assad and several companions near Baalbek Castle on Friday evening after finding hashish in the group’s possession. Al-Assad is subject to a Syrian request for his extradition over allegations of murder and drug trafficking, while the next steps remain subject to Lebanese judicial and security procedures.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it targeted two US warships and two oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz with ballistic missiles, claiming the warships were damaged. Washington denied that any of its naval vessels were hit, amid US reports of concerns that Tehran may possess missiles capable of maneuvering and tracking moving targets.
The foreign ministers of South Korea and Iran discussed the situation in the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz by phone after Tehran warned of consequences if South Korea took part in military operations in the Gulf. Seoul said a team it sent to the region was assessing security conditions, but that no decision had been made on deploying troops.
The Israeli army released footage it said documented the destruction of a tunnel network in the Ali al-Taher Heights near Nabatieh, using more than 1100 tons of explosives. Amid the escalation, Washington said daily consultations between Lebanon and Israel were continuing and confirmed that the next round of talks would be held in Rome soon.
Two Yemeni government sources said the Houthis had reached the city of Dhubab in Taiz governorate, directly overlooking the Bab al-Mandab Strait, after advancing along the western coast and taking control of the city of Mokha and its port. The move places the group near a shipping route linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Ken McCallum, director general of Britain’s domestic intelligence service, warned on the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks that the next strategic threat could emerge beyond the security services’ surveillance. He called for improved preparedness and stronger cooperation among governments, the private sector, universities and research institutions.
A European diplomatic source said the European Union is prioritizing the strengthening of state institutions and the Lebanese army over deploying a new European force in the south, as the future of the international presence is being discussed ahead of UNIFIL’s mandate expiry at the end of December 2026. An aid programme covering equipment, training and border monitoring is being prepared.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said it had detected 11 sorties by Chinese military aircraft, eight warships and two official vessels around the island by Friday morning. It said 10 of the sorties entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone southwest and east of the island, continuing Chinese activities recorded in recent days.
US President Donald Trump rejected a request from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for direct strikes on the Houthis, according to US officials. Washington instead plans to provide Riyadh with intelligence and targeting data while keeping US forces out of direct confrontation for now.
Moscow said it intercepted 230 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions, while Kyiv said it shot down 102 drones and 8 Russian missiles. According to Russian authorities, the attacks killed a female civilian and wounded 14 people in Belgorod, while industrial facilities in Samara were targeted.