The US Department of State is imposing sanctions on Tzav 9, a violent extremist Israeli group that has been blocking, harassing, and damaging convoys carrying lifesaving humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza.
"For months, individuals from Tzav 9 have repeatedly sought to thwart the delivery of humanitarian aid, including by blockading roads, sometimes violently, along their route from Jordan to Gaza, including in the West Bank. They also have damaged aid trucks and dumped life-saving humanitarian aid onto the road. On May 13, 2024, Tzav 9 members looted and then set fire to two trucks near Hebron in the West Bank carrying humanitarian aid destined for men, women, and children in Gaza,'' said Matthew Miller, the Spokesperson for the US Department of State, in a statement.
"The provision of humanitarian assistance is vital to prevent the humanitarian crisis in Gaza from worsening and mitigate the risk of famine,'' he emphasised.
"The Government of Israel has a responsibility to ensure the safety and security of humanitarian convoys transiting Israel and the West Bank en route to Gaza. We will not tolerate acts of sabotage and violence targeting this essential humanitarian assistance. We will continue to use all tools at our disposal to promote accountability for those who attempt or undertake such heinous acts, and we expect and urge that Israeli authorities do the same.''
Lebanon's Hezbollah warned Israeli residents to evacuate towns within 5 km of the border between the countries in a message posted on its Telegram channel in Hebrew early on Friday.
The US House of Representatives rejected an effort on Thursday to stop President Donald Trump's air war on Iran and require that any hostilities against Iran be authorized by Congress, backing the Republican president's military campaign.
Multiple Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait, have announced their successful interception of several drones targeting their territories and airbases.
Foreign ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the European Union have strongly condemned the Iranian attacks targeting GCC states, calling them a direct threat to regional and global security.
The southern Indian state of Karnataka, home to the tech hub of Bengaluru, has banned the use of social media by those under the age of 16, state Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Friday, becoming the first in India to do so.
Dubai's Emirates Airline has reported it anticipates returning to 100 per cent of its network in the coming days subject to "airspace availability" and "operational requirements".
Dubai Airports has announced on Friday that over 1,140 flights have been facilitated at Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) in the past 84 hours to help travellers return home.
UAE Attorney-General Dr. Hamad Saif Al Shamsi has reminded the public against photographing incident sites or fallen debris from missile interceptions in the country, or sharing AI-generated images and videos, noting that violators face legal action.