Home catches fire, as Israel shells Lebanon’s al-Mansouri Israeli forces have heavily shelled the southern Lebanese town of al-Mansouri, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported. The shelling set a house on fire, according to the agency.
Yemen’s Houthis claim attack on Marib hit Saudi-backed forces Yemen's Houthis attacked and hit Saudi-backed forces, depots and military equipment near the central city of Marib, the group's spokesman Yahya Saree said on Friday. In a post on Telegram, Saree said the Houthis will continue to “strike forcefully any Saudi mobilisation or forces brought by the Saudi enemy to maintain the siege imposed on our country”.
Lebanon, Israel agree shortlist of countries that could send troops to verify Hezbollah disarmament Lebanon and Israel have agreed on a shortlist of countries that could send troops to verify the disarmament of Hezbollah under a US-brokered agreement, a Lebanese official said on Friday, with the United States due to pick countries from the list. The official declined to identify any of the countries on the shortlist or say how many there were. Another Lebanese official and two foreign diplomats have previously told Reuters that Israel and the US had vetoed France.
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company says attacks significantly impacting its operations The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company said on Friday it continued to be significantly impacted by what it described as unprovoked attacks, but was taking measures to protect its people, assets and operations while meeting customer requirements as much as possible. The company said in a statement that 15 of its vessels had been attacked by missiles and drones while transiting the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the war, including three this week, leaving one crew member dead and 20 injured.
Saudi Arabia's last major oil route comes under Houthi pressure The Houthis said on Wednesday that they had fired ballistic missiles at the NCC Wafaa , a Saudi oil tanker, off the coast of Yanbu, a major Saudi port city in the northern Red Sea. It is the northernmost attack by the Yemeni group since it began a blockade on Saudi Arabia on 22 July, and analysts warn a shift north towards Egypt and the Suez Canal would lead to increasing economic pressure on the Gulf kingdom. Until now, the Houthis had mostly targeted ships off Yemen's coast, in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Saudi Arabia's last major oil route comes under Houthi pressure Submitted by Gaspard Rouffin on Thu, 08/06/2026 - 16:28 Attacks on Saudi ships have had a limited impact so far, but an escalation towards the north of the waterway could increase economic pressure on the kingdom Container ships are seen anchored near the Bab al-Mandab strait off Yemen's coast, in the Gulf of Aden, on 6 August 2026 (AFP) Off The Houthis said on Wednesday that they had fired ballistic missiles at the NCC Wafaa , a Saudi oil tanker, off the coast of Yanbu, a major Saudi port city in the northern Red Sea. It is the northernmost attack by the Yemeni group since it began a blockade on Saudi Arabia on 22 July, and analysts warn a shift north towards Egypt and the Suez Canal would lead to increasing economic pressure on the Gulf kingdom. Until now, the Houthis had mostly targeted ships off Yemen's coast, in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Qatar condemns Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia The Qatar ministry of foreign affairs has released a statement saying it rejects the targeting of civilians and affirms its solidarity with measures being taken by Saudi Arabia in response to a Houthi attack earlier this week. Statement | Qatar Condemns Houthi Attack on Najran Region in Saudi Arabia Doha | August 07, 2026 The State of Qatar condemns the Houthi attacks on the Najran region in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that injured several civilians, considering it a severe violation of sovereignty… pic. twitter.
UAE oil company says attacks are significantly impacting its operations The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) said it continued to be significantly impacted by what it described as "unprovoked attacks", but was taking measures to protect its people, assets and operations while meeting customer requirements as much as possible. Adnoc said in a statement that 15 of its vessels had been attacked by missiles and drones while transiting the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the Iran war, including three this week, leaving one crew member dead and 20 injured. The company added that freedom of navigation and safe uninterrupted passage of commercial shipping through international waterways must be respected and protected.
Video: Houthi strikes on Saudi-backed troops Yemen's Houthi movement killed more than 60 Saudi-backed troops belonging to the internationally recognised Yemeni government between Thursday and Friday, marking the deadliest toll since the civil war stalled under a 2022 truce. Yemen's Houthi movement killed more than 60 Saudi-backed troops belonging to the internationally recognised Yemeni government between Thursday and Friday, marking the deadliest toll since the civil war stalled under a 2022 truce. pic.
Exclusive: ICC judges order Taliban case split from Afghanistan probe that covers US troops Submitted by Sondos Asem on Fri, 08/07/2026 - 10:20 Decision by pre-trial chamber comes after the Trump administration threatened to 'dismantle' the ICC over the Afghanistan and Palestine investigations Judge Rosario Salvatore Aitala, vice-president of the ICC and president of pre-trial chamber II (ICC/file photo) Off Judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) have ordered prosecutors to open a standalone investigation into allegations of gender persecution by the Taliban, separating it from the court's long-running Afghanistan war crimes probe that covered US nationals, Middle East Eye can reveal. According to court documents obtained by MEE through independent sources, a three-judge panel in pre-trial chamber II issued the request to the Office of the Prosecutor in mid-July. If prosecutors proceed, the Taliban investigation will effectively be split from a broader Afghanistan inquiry looking into alleged war crimes committed since 2003 by Afghan National Security Forces, the US military and CIA personnel, in addition to the Taliban and the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (IS-K) group.
Houthi missile and drone attacks kill dozens of Yemeni government troops Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 08/07/2026 - 10:46 Military officials describe the attacks as the deadliest since 2022 as conflict intensifies Yemeni government forces deployed in the southern port city of Mukalla, Hadramawt province, 20 January 2026 (Fadel Senna/AFP) Off At least 38 members of Yemen 's government forces were killed and 29 others were wounded in missile and drone attacks carried out by Houthis on Thursday, according to AFP. The attack marked the deadliest assault on forces of Yemen's internationally recognised government since the 2022 United Nations-brokered truce, military officials have said. The Houthis said the attacks were in retaliation for the "Saudi-backed military buildup", as Yemen's long-running conflict shows signs of intensifying alongside the broader US - Iran confrontation.
War on Iran: Saudi Arabia warns of imminent attacks by Iraqi groups and Yemen's Houthis Submitted by Elis Gjevori on Fri, 08/07/2026 - 11:28 The warning follows deadly Saudi and US strikes on Popular Mobilisation Forces positions in Iraq last month A Yemeni soldier affiliated with the Houthi administration in Sanaa keeps watch during a gathering on 2 April in the country's capital (AFP/Mohammed Huwais) Off Saudi Arabia has warned that Iraqi armed groups and Yemen’s Houthis could soon launch coordinated attacks against the kingdom under the supervision of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. A senior Saudi official, speaking anonymously to Reuters late on Thursday, said intelligence gathered by Saudi Arabia, the United States and other countries in the region indicated that civilian and economic sites could be targeted. The potential targets include energy infrastructure, ports and airports.
Turkey, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia sign "Mecca Joint Defence Agreement" Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey signed a defence agreement on Friday, Pakistan's foreign ministry and Saudi broadcasters said. The pact, which was called the "Mecca Joint Defence Agreement", ties together the three countries amid the backdrop of war on Iran and a revived conflict with Houthis in Saudi Arabia's southern neighbour Yemen. A Turkish spokesperson said the deal was purely defensive in nature, and not against any actor in particular.
Saudi army won't 'stand idly by' amid Houthi attacks in Yemen, source says A source close to the Saudi military said on Friday that the Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen's government since 2015 would not "stand idly by" as the Houthi rebels escalated their attacks on Yemeni troops. "The coalition does not seek escalation, but we will not allow the current balance of power on the ground to be changed," the source added.
Israeli drones sighted over Beirut, Lebanese media report Israeli drones have been sighted flying above Beirut and its suburbs, Lebanese national media report. The Israeli military has also bombed Wadi Houjeir and Meiss el-Jabal in south Lebanon on Friday, and there are reports that the Chacra water pumping station has been set on fire by Israel.
Three Yemeni soldiers killed in Houthi attack, says military source A Houthi drone attack on Yemen's Marib province killed three members of government forces on Friday and wounded another four, a Yemeni military source told AFP. "Three killed and four wounded in a preliminary toll from the Houthi drone attack on the Harib area, in the south of Marib," the source said.
Turkey's Fidan says Israel 'has no intention or plan for peace' in Gaza Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told reporters on Wednesday that Hamas has "fulfilled many of the responsibilities" to implement the US-backed Gaza peace plan while Israel continues to undermine the process. Fidan warned that Israel is using negotiations to advance its own policies rather than achieve a settlement, adding that Israel’s expansionist policies could lead to a global crisis. "Israel has no intention or plan for peace," he said.
Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan to sign defense pact on Friday, sources say Submitted by Ragip Soylu on Fri, 08/07/2026 - 07:48 "A first in kind," the agreement may include a mutual defense clause, sources add A Handout picture taken and released on June 22, 2022 by Turkish Presidential press office, shows Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) welcoming Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman (L) during an official ceremony at the Presidential Complex in Ankara. (Turkish Presidency / AFP) Off Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan will sign a joint defence agreement later on Friday, sources in Ankara told Middle East Eye. The deal, which has been under negotiation since last year, marks a significant new trilateral framework amid a deepening regional crisis following Israeli-US attacks on Iran.
Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan to 'sign defence pact' on Friday Submitted by Ragip Soylu on Fri, 08/07/2026 - 07:48 The 'first in kind' agreement may include a mutual defence clause, sources said Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (right) welcomes Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Presidential Complex in Ankara in June 2022 (AFP/Turkish President) Off Turkey , Saudi Arabia and Pakistan will sign a joint defence agreement later on Friday, sources in Ankara told Middle East Eye. The deal, which has been under negotiation since last year, marks a significant new trilateral framework amid a deepening regional crisis following Israeli and US attacks on Iran . Saudi analysts have previously said that Riyadh could activate the defence pact it currently has with Pakistan should it enter the Iran war.
Morning update Good morning Middle East Eye readers, Here are the latest developments from across the region: At least 58 people have been killed in attacks from the Houthis on Yemen's Saudi-backed forces, a military source told AFP on Thursday. Yemen's Houthis earlier said that they conducted attacks on "Saudi military deployments" in Marib and Hadramout in response to Saudi Arabia's "large military buildup" in Yemen. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit Saudi Arabia on Friday for talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif, Erdogan's office announced on Thursday.
