Israeli airstrikes hit a Lebanese village, killing 9, and other Mideast developments

Lebanon ’s Health Ministry says Israeli airstrikes on a southern village have killed nine people, including a child.

Meanwhile, Iran-backed Houthi rebels claim to have shot down a Saudi reconnaissance plane. A senior official from the United Arab Emirates says “no single state” should control the Strait of Hormuz.

Here’s a look at the latest news in the Middle East. Full coverage can be found here.

Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon kill at least 9

Israel carried out two airstrikes early Monday on the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Rumman, killing at least nine people, including women and children, the Health Ministry said.

The strikes came during a new round of escalation between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah.

The ministry said one strike hit a building and killed eight people, including a child and two women. It said 11 others were wounded, including four children and two women.

The ministry said another strike on a car in the village killed a paramedic with the Lebanese Islamic Risala Scout Association and wounded two others.

Houthis claim downing Saudi reconnaissance plane

Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed early Monday they downed a Saudi armed reconnaissance aircraft in the northern part of Yemen as the escalation with Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces continues.

Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said in a statement that the aircraft was detected in Jawf province’s airspace. He said the aircraft belonged to neighboring Saudi Arabia and was seeking to carry out “hostile actions.” The Associated Press couldn’t independently verify that claim. There was no immediate Saudi comment.

Saree added that over the past 24 hours, a total of three reconnaissance drones belonging to Saudi Arabia were downed, including one that was spotted Monday morning in Bayda province.

The Yemeni government armed forces said on X that they targeted Houthi gatherings in Dahle province and launched 13 airstrikes targeting Houthi positions and a missile launch base in Bayda province. Other airstrikes targeted Houthi fronts in Marib province. The Houthi military didn’t address those claims.

UAE says ‘no single state’ should control Hormuz

A senior official with the United Arab Emirates says “no single state” should control the Strait of Hormuz, after Iran said it plans to announce a new “exclusion zone” near the waterway aimed at vessels intending to transit.

“Our energy exports will not be held hostage, nor will our trade and economic activity,” Anwar Gargash, a diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, said at a forum of world leaders in Abu Dhabi.

Gargash said Iran should face consequences for threatening oil tankers and commercial vessels in the strait with mines, drones or missiles. “Using an international waterway as an instrument of coercion is unacceptable,” he added.

The UAE, a close U.S. ally, has repeatedly come under Iranian missile and drone fire throughout the war. Rebuilding trust between Iran and the Gulf countries could take decades, Gargash warned, because by targeting its neighbors, Tehran has “demolished” any presumption of good faith.