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World News Today Live Updates: Saudi Arabia intercepts Houthi drone, debris kills Yemeni citizen
Debris from the intercepted drone damaged vehicles and buildings in Taif province, Saudi civil defence officials said.
The Saudi Civil Defence on Thursday said that debris from an intercepted Iran-backed Houthi rebel drone killed a Yemeni citizen, while a Saudi citizen and a Pakistani were wounded in Taif province in the western part of the country, officials said. The debris also damaged vehicles and buildings, according to the civil defence, AP reported.
Iran’s Araghchi, Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir discuss regional developments amid stalled US talks
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir held a telephonic discussion on the latest regional developments during Araghchi’s visit to Beijing on Wednesday, Iranian media reported, as US-Iran negotiations remained stalled with no agreement in sight.
UAE strongly condemns Houthi missile attempt targeting Mecca
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) strongly condemned Yemen’s Houthis over the group’s attempt to target Mecca in Saudi Arabia using a drone. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) released a statement saying that the drone attempt was a violation of Saudi’s sovereignty and a threat to regional security and stability. The Gulf “reaffirms its legitimate right to take all necessary measures to defend the security of the two holy mosques, the pilgrims, and the entire Saudi territory, its citizens, and its residents,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Trump says US-Iran war ‘hopefully’ nearing end:
US President Donald Trump said that Washington is “hopefully toward the end” of its war with Tehran, claiming that the United States has been in direct contact with Tehran over a possible agreement. On being asked by a reporter whether he had heard from the Iranian side, Trump said that he had directly spoken with Iranian officials and reiterated that Tehran is eager to reach an agreement with Washington.
Follow the latest world news and major international developments here. This live blog is a rolling curation of the day’s key global stories, with updates added as events unfold and the news agenda changes. The headline, introduction and Top Developments section will be refreshed throughout the day to reflect the stories that matter most at that moment.
Buon compleanno al mio amico @narendramodi, a cui auguro salute, energia e successo.
Italia e India continuano a rafforzare il loro profondo legame di amicizia, costruendo insieme un futuro di cooperazione e prosperità per le nostre Nazioni.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wished Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his 76th birthday on September 17 and wrote, "Happy birthday to my friend Narendra Modi, to whom I wish health, energy, and success."
She further added, "Italy and India continue to strengthen their deep bond of friendship, building together a future of cooperation and prosperity for our nations."
Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Islamabad is fully prepared to fulfil its obligations under the Makkah agreement after Saudi Arabia reported an attempted drone attack near Makkah.
While speaking to Geo News on Wednesday, Asif said, "Makkah Agreement applies to us, and we will fulfil our duty," according to a report on the news channel's website.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in Mecca on August 7.
The agreement sets a framework for collective deterrence, stating that an armed attack on any one of the three countries would be treated as an attack on all.
A UN fact-finding mission on Iran said it had reasonable grounds to believe the United States was behind two February strikes on a school and sports facility that constituted war crimes.
It also noted that the Iranian authorities committed crimes against humanity during their crackdown on anti-government protests.
The United States is not planning direct military intervention to help Saudi Arabia fight Yemen’s Houthis for now, while continuing to provide Riyadh with intelligence and targeting assistance, news agency Reuters reported.
In the confidential meeting, the Iran-backed militant group reportedly assured the US officials that they had no intention of attacking American vessels and that they were committed to the 2025 ceasefire with the United States.
One Yemeni source told Reuters that the Houthis also said they would not attack Israeli ships or other commercial vessels, except those belonging to Saudi Arabia.
Iran-backed Houthi rebels said that the Saudi strikes in Yemen killed one person and targeted three telecommunications towers on Thursday, according to Houthi media reports.
“Saudi enemy warplanes targeted three telecommunications towers” in Taiz province, while one civilian was killed and another was wounded in strikes on the town of Abs, said Almasirah television.
The United States has decided not to back Saudi Arabia in its conflict with Yemen’s Houthis after talks between US officials and Houthi leaders in Oman, The Guardian reported.
During their secret meeting, the Iran-backed militant group reportedly assured the US officials that they had no intention of attacking American vessels and that they were committed to the 2025 ceasefire with the United States.
The Houthis, according to Reuters, also said that they would not attack any Israeli ships or any commercial vessels, except those belonging to Saudi Arabia.
US officials met the representatives of Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi militant group over the weekend, news agency Reuters reported citing sources, days after the Iran-backed group seized a strategic stretch of the Red Sea coast in an offensive against Saudi-backed forces.
The undisclosed meeting was held at the US Embassy in Muscat, with Oman helping organise the talks, according to Reuters.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was named among 64 victims of a Ponzi scheme that took more than $35 million from investors. The creator of the Texas-based investment firm, Siddharth Jawahar, was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison and ordered to pay $31.35 million in restitution.
Malaysia, Maldives and Bangladesh have condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, calling for dialogue, an immediate halt to hostilities and protection of Islam’s holy sites.
Yemen’s Houthi group said it had shot down a Saudi fighter jet with a locally made air-to-air missile while it was conducting what the group called "hostile operations".
"The Yemeni Armed Forces, with Allah's aid and grace, succeeded in shooting down a Saudi F15 fighter jet while it was carrying out hostile operations in support of its military mobilisations in the airspace of Marib province," Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said.
مشاهد نوعية لإسقاط طائرة مقاتلة سعودية من نوع F15 وحطامها في محافظة مأرب - 16 سبتمبر 2026م pic.twitter.com/rk0suliePT
— الإعلام الحربي اليمني (@MMY1444) September 16, 2026
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged de-escalation and diplomacy as fighting intensifies in Yemen and tensions rise between Iran-backed Houthis and Saudi Arabia.
“At this critical moment in the Middle East, de-escalation must be a priority. Any actions that harm civilians must stop. Humanitarian operations must proceed safely & without obstruction. Navigational rights & freedoms must be fully restored & respected The only path forward is de-escalation, diplomacy & dialogue.,” Guterres said in a post on X.
At this critical moment in the Middle East, de-escalation must be a priority.
Any actions that harm civilians must stop.
Humanitarian operations must proceed safely & without obstruction.
Navigational rights & freedoms must be fully restored & respected
Top US diplomat for Yemen, Neil Hop, reaffirmed Washington’s strong support for Yemen’s internationally recognised government in a call with Foreign Minister Afrah al-Zouba, according to the US embassy.
"Chargé d’Affaires Hop had a valuable conversation today with FM Afrah Al-Zouba. He reiterated strong support for the Republic of Yemen Government. The United States of America stands in solidarity with the Yemen government and its people against Iran-backed Houthi aggression," the embassy said in a post on X.
Chargé d’Affaires Hop had a valuable conversation today with FM Afrah Al-Zouba. He reiterated strong support for the Republic of Yemen Government. The United States of America stands in solidarity with the Yemen government and its people against Iran-backed Houthi aggression. pic.twitter.com/ijV7BKPp1I
— U.S. Embassy Yemen السفارة الأمريكية لدى اليمن (@USEmbassyYemen) September 16, 2026
US President Donald Trump said that Washington is “hopefully toward the end” of its war with Tehran, claiming that the United States has been in direct contact with Tehran over a possible agreement. When asked by a reporter whether he had heard from the Iranian side, Trump said that he had spoken "directly" with Iranian officials and reiterated that Tehran is eager to reach an agreement with Washington.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) strongly condemned the Yemen's Houthis over the group's attempt to target Mecca in Saudi Arabia using a drone. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) released a statement saying that the drone attempt was a violation of Saudi's sovereignty and a threat to regional security and stability.
The Gulf "reaffirms its legitimate right to take all necessary measures to defend the security of the two holy mosques, the pilgrims, and the entire Saudi territory, its citizens, and its residents," the foreign ministry said in a statement.
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