Live Updates August 14, 2026Share to FacebookShare to XArticle printing is available to subscribers onlyPrint in a simple, ad-free formatSubscribeComments: Zen reading is available to subscribers onlyAd-free and in a comfortable reading formatSubscribeAugust 14, 2026Houthis say they targeted Aramco in Saudi Arabia's Najran with drone⁠Yemen's pro-Iran Houthis ‌said they ‌targeted an Aramco facility in ⁠the Saudi city ⁠of Najran with a drone, the group-run SABA news agency reported on ‌Friday, citing a ‌military source.The source said the attack was in response to what it described as Saudi military aircraft violating Yemen's sovereignty by entering ⁠airspace over the northeastern part of Saada ‌governorate.There was ⁠no immediate ‌confirmation from Saudi authorities or Aramco. It was ⁠not immediately clear from the report whether the facility was ‌hit.Hezbollah chief slams Beirut for yielding to Israel, calls to prepare for warLebanon's Hezbollah Chief Naim Qassem gives a televised speech from an unknown location, in 2025. Credit: Al-Manar TV/ReutersLebanon's Hezbollah Chief Naim Qassem gives a televised speech from an unknown location, in 2025. Credit: Al-Manar TV/ReutersHezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem on Friday evening criticized the Lebanese government's negotiations with Israel, in which he said Beirut "is signing Israeli-imposed terms with Israeli ink."According to Qassem, the Lebanese government is focusing on disarming Hezbollah instead of demanding that Israel fulfill its commitments under the cease-fire agreement. He also criticized the seven rounds of negotiations, demanding that the Beirut government "show us a single achievement they have produced."Qassem also criticized what he described as harm to the Lebanese army and the "continued humiliation" it has been forced to endure. He stressed that Hezbollah would not accept violations of Lebanese sovereignty, Israel's continued occupation of the country's south or "American patronage" over Lebanon.Addressing Hezbollah supporters, Qassem said the group "will die for you and fight to the last drop of blood," adding that it "will not abandon you." He urged the group's supporters to "store the anger in your hearts" and be prepared to use it "when the time comes."The Hezbollah leader said the group's anger could erupt against those who act against Hezbollah and its supporters, without specifying whether he was referring to Israel, the United States or the Lebanese government.RECAP: Iran says it downed U.S. drone; Israeli settler fires at activists, PalestiniansHere are Friday's latest updates:■ Iranian air defenses intercepted a U.S.-manufactured MQ-9 Reaper drone over Hormozgan Province, the semi-official Fars News Agency reported Friday.■ An Israeli settler was filmed opening fire near Israeli activists and Palestinian locals in the West Bank's Beit Sahour, near Bethlehem.■ A senior Lebanese security official said Israel is preparing an operation to seize the Ali al-Taher Ridge in southern Lebanon and is awaiting a signal from the United States, according to Lebanese newspaper Al-Joumhouria.■ U.S. and Israeli officials said Washington is pressuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to publicly condemn the settlers who have besieged Palestinians in their homes in the West Bank village of Qusra, near Nablus.■ U.S. officials told Reuters that U.S. intelligence could not verify Israel's warnings over the past year that Iran intended to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump, including before a secret Air Force One ruse in Turkey.■ President Donald Trump's son-in-law and negotiator Jared Kushner will travel to the Middle East next week to try to advance plans for an end to the Gaza war after a deal recently announced by the Trump administration ran into Israeli opposition.■ Israel's main Ben-Gurion Airport is experiencing flight delays, the Israel Airports Authority said, adding that high traffic and U.S. military tanker flights have caused a backlog of 90 flights.■ Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met the commander of U.S. Central Command, Brad Cooper, and discussed defense cooperation between the kingdom and the United States as well as efforts to reduce regional tensions, the Saudi state news agency said late on Thursday.U.S. wants Netanyahu to condemn settler siege in Palestinian village, officials sayThe United States wants Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to publicly condemn militant settlers who have besieged Palestinians in their homes in the occupied West Bank, U.S. and Israeli officials said on Friday, as settlers pressured residents by pitching a new tent before Israeli soldiers arrived and it ‌was taken down.Settlers have been encircling homes in Qusra for almost a week after cutting off water and electricity, trapping Palestinians in an area where rights groups say settlers are mounting a concerted effort to seize more land, further eating into territory where Palestinians aim to establish a state.A U.S. official and an Israeli official said White House officials are pressing Netanyahu to publicly condemn the settlers' actions. Washington began to protest after learning that the home of a Palestinian-American was among those targeted, said the two officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe sensitive discussions of which they ⁠had knowledge.On Thursday, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee called Israeli settlers who have been besieging two Palestinian families in the West Bank village of Qusra "Israeli terrorists," saying the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem had asked Israeli security forces to remove them.France urges Israel to arrest, charge settlers after West Bank raidsIsraeli settlers and Israel Border Police forces in Qusra, near Nablus in the northern West Bank, Wednesday. Credit: Itai RonIsraeli settlers and Israel Border Police forces in Qusra, near Nablus in the northern West Bank, Wednesday. Credit: Itai RonFrance urged the Israeli government to take legal action against settlers who raided and took over Palestinian houses in the West Bank.In a statement posted in Hebrew online, the French Embassy in Israel said authorities must "take all necessary measures to protect the Palestinian civilian population, as required of them under international law" and condemned Israel's settlement policy.The embassy added that France "strongly condemns" settler attacks and their takeover of several houses in the Palestinian village of Qusra, near Nablus in the northern West Bank. France "calls on the Israeli authorities to arrest the perpetrators of these acts and bring them to justice," the embassy said.Rights group: Israel must charge, not detain, Gaza doctor it suspects is Hamas operativeDr. Hussam Abu Safiya, handcuffed during a video-link High Court hearing, last month. Credit: Reuters TV via ReutersDr. Hussam Abu Safiya, handcuffed during a video-link High Court hearing, last month. Credit: Reuters TV via ReutersThe head of Physicians for Human Rights Israel criticized the Israeli Supreme Court's said intelligence supports claims that a Gaza hospital director is a Hamas operative, saying that if that is true, he must be charged rather than detained."The reasoning in the court's decision, which was issued two months ago, contains an inherent contradiction," the NGO's executive director, Tirza Leibowitz, said after the court had determined that intelligence it was given supports the claim that Kamal Adwan Hospital director Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya was a Hamas operative. The court authorized publication of its decision on Thursday following a request by Haaretz."If intelligence material 'strongly supports' the allegations against Dr. Abu Safiya, the state should put him on trial," Leibowitz said. "Detaining him for nearly two years without an indictment renders the court's own reasoning meaningless."U.S. tankers, air traffic delay flights at Ben-Gurion Airport, officials sayU.S. military tankers parked at Ben-Gurion Airport during the war with Iran. Credit: Tomer AppelbaumU.S. military tankers parked at Ben-Gurion Airport during the war with Iran. Credit: Tomer AppelbaumIsrael's main Ben-Gurion Airport is experiencing flight delays, the Israel Airports Authority said, adding that high traffic and U.S. military tanker flights have caused a backlog of 90 flights.According to the authority, the high air traffic and the U.S. refueling tankers' departures have led to flights scheduled to arrive throughout the day being concentrated into shorter time windows, creating congestion.The authority added that particularly heavy congestion is expected on Friday, with some 90,000 passengers expected to pass through Ben-Gurion Airport on arriving and departing flights. It stressed, however, that contrary to reports, there is no staff shortage.Settler opens fire near Israeli activists, Palestinians in West Bank, footage showsAn Israeli settler fired at Israeli activists and Palestinian locals in the West Bank's Beit Sahour, near Bethlehem, an Israeli human rights nonprofit said in a statement, adding that there were no injuries.According to Combatants for Peace, an armed settler opened fire from the direction of a nearby outpost, forcing them to take cover as they heard bullets striking or ricocheting nearby. The group added that IDF soldiers arrived about 30 minutes later.Footage of the incident in Beit Sahour, Friday.Combatants for Peace"We came to Beit Sahour for a joint, nonviolent initiative by Israelis and Palestinians and found ourselves lying on the ground as live fire was being fired around us," the activists said, adding that they "have footage of a settler firing into the air and pointing his weapon toward the participants."Responding to Haaretz's request for comment, the IDF said its force "dispersed the gathering and restored order," confirming that "an Israeli civilian fired shots into the air." According to the military, "Authorities are working to identify the individual."Iran says it intercepted a drone in the country's south Iranian air defenses intercepted an MQ-9 Reaper drone over Hormozgan Province, the semi-official Fars News Agency reported Friday. According to the report, the U.S.-manufactured drone was intercepted using novel, advanced methods developed by Iran's Revolutionary Guards. Report: Israel preparing operation to seize strategic ridge in southern LebanonIsrael is preparing an operation to seize the Ali al-Taher Ridge in southern Lebanon and is awaiting a signal from the United States, the Lebanese newspaper Al-Joumhouria reported Friday, citing a senior Lebanese security official.According to the report, the United States had told Lebanese officials it could not completely prevent Israel from taking military action, but had urged that any operation be as limited and focused as possible, minimizing civilian casualties and avoiding the collapse of the existing agreement.The key question, the official told the newspaper, is how Hezbollah would respond. 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