Israel shells southern Lebanon as Yemen combat escalates

The Israeli military shelled the southern Lebanese towns of Mansouri, Beit Yahoun and Aita al-Jabal despite a ceasefire with Iran-allied Hezbollah.
Saudi Arabia says a drone launched by the Houthis towards Mecca was intercepted, while the Yemeni group denies targeting the holy site, calling the accusation a “nauseating lie”.
Israeli forces carry out attacks in three southern Lebanese towns: state media
The Israeli military has conducted an explosion in the southern Lebanese town of Kfar Tebnit and shelled the towns of Majdal Zoun and al-Mansouri, Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported.

Al-Mansouri has been hit by several Israeli attacks today, including some targeting residential houses.
UNICEF says nine children killed, 104,000 people displaced in Yemen in two weeks
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says that at least nine children have been killed in Yemen in the last two weeks of fighting, while more than 104,000 people have been displaced, including 57,000 children.

“Renewed hostilities across Yemen are forcing families from their homes, killing and injuring children and disrupting access to health care and education, deepening an already severe humanitarian crisis,” UNICEF said in a statement.

The UN agency said that 26 UNICEF-supported health facilities have had services disrupted and 243 schools have closed or have suspended learning, affecting more than 137,000 students.
Turkiye, Lebanon condemn Houthi drone attack targeting Mecca
Turkiye and Lebanon have condemned a drone attack by the Houthis targeting the holy city of Mecca, even as the Iran-allied Yemeni armed group has denied any involvement in the attack.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry reaffirmed its support for “the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security of Saudi Arabia” in a statement, underscoring Ankara’s solidarity with Riyadh. It called for the “immediate cessation” of such attacks, warning they threaten regional stability and security, and urged all sides to refrain from actions that would further escalate tensions.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has also strongly condemned the attack, affirming Lebanon’s “full solidarity” with Saudi Arabia, upon his arrival in France earlier today.

Aoun called the attack a targeting not only of Saudi Arabia but of “the sanctity of holy sites that hold profound religious significance” for two billion Muslims worldwide. He commended the “vigilance” of Saudi armed forces in confronting the threat and averting harm to pilgrims and residents near the Two Holy Mosques.