NewzA building housing displaced Palestinian families collapsed in Gaza City on Wednesday, killing at least 21 people, and Saudi Arabia said it intercepted a drone headed toward the holy city of Mecca.A United Nations health official warned about disease as thousands of Yemenis are displaced because of armed conflict there.Here’s a look at the latest news in the Middle East on Wednesday. Full coverage can be found here.Rescuers search through rubble for survivorsThe Gaza City building that collapsed had been partially destroyed in an Israeli strike earlier in the war. At least 21 people, including 11 children, died Wednesday, said Zaher al-Wahidi, a spokesperson for the Gaza Health Ministry.It was not immediately clear what caused the collapse.
At least 14 were injured, al-Wahidi said.Such incidents have become a major hazard in Gaza, where the majority of buildings have been damaged or destroyed. There’s been no reconstruction work since the ceasefire from nearly a year ago. Israel has said that it won’t allow any rebuilding until Hamas disarms.Saudi Arabia says drone shot down near MeccaSaudi Arabia said the kingdom's defenses intercepted and destroyed a drone Tuesday evening before it entered the airspace over Mecca, Islam’s holiest city and a focal point for followers of the faith.Mecca's security is “a red line,” military spokesperson Maj.
Turki al-Malki said, adding that Saudi forces will not hesitate to act against “hostile and terrorist behavior.”Saudi Arabia blamed the Iran-backed Houthis in neighboring Yemen for the drone. But the allegation drew condemnations of the armed group from throughout the Islamic world.Mecca is the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad and the location of the Kaaba, the black cube-shaped structure that Muslims around the world turn to five times a day when praying.UN official warns of a health crisis in YemenThe head of the World Health Organization is warning about the risks of malnutrition and infectious disease outbreaks as more than 100,000 Yemenis relocate to crowded areas.The displacement, especially on the west coast, is a result of fighting between Yemen’s internationally recognized government and the Houthis. Saudi Arabia is also entangled in the conflict, on the side of the government.“Humanitarian access remains severely constrained, and funding shortfalls threaten our ability to sustain a…
forces.Estimates vary because the ships turn off their location systems, but range from 5 million to 7 million barrels per day on average, compared with 15 million barrels per day before the U.S.-Iran war began on Feb. 28.Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline — another key oil route — was hit by a drone attack last week. The damage is expected to take weeks to repair, potentially cutting Saudi exports from the Red Sea port of Yanbu by 2.5 million to 2.7 million barrels…
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