US Energy Secretary Chris Wright acknowledged on Wednesday in an interview with Fox News that the Iran war has “taken some energy resources out of the marketplace”, forcing US consumers to make what he called a “short-term sacrifice”, but added that “this is to end Iran’s ability to forever drive up energy prices”. Asked to provide a timeline on when energy prices would drop, Wright said he “can’t predict Iranian behaviour” but claimed the amount of oil flowing out of the Gulf had risen significantly. “About 18 million barrels ⁠flowed out yesterday, ⁠basically pre-conflict ⁠levels,” Wright said. Israeli shelling on the Tuffah neighbourhood in Gaza City has killed one Palestinian and injured several others, according to Wafa news agency on Wednesday. Wafa reported that an Israeli strike hit a building on al-Skikka Street in Tuffah, killing one Palestinian and injuring several others. Meanwhile, a young man succumbed to wounds sustained a day earlier from Israeli attacks on al-Jawazat, west of Gaza City, Wafa reported. Another strike targeted the western entrance to al-Zawaida town in central Gaza, critically injuring a Palestinian. Two pumping stations serving Saudi Arabia's East-West Pipeline were damaged in an attack last week, with a repair timeline unclear, according to assessments from three oil and security sources. Saudi Aramco, which operates the 1,200km-long pipeline running across the Arabian Peninsula, and Saudi Arabia's government media office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The pipeline, which has helped relieve the traffic caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, temporarily shut down on Friday after a drone attack coming from Iraq, Saudi officials have said. Reporting by Reuters Lebanon’s National News Agency reported on Wednesday that the Israeli army targeted al-Mansouri in the Tyre district in south Lebanon with artillery shelling, hitting the town centre. Israeli artillery also struck the towns of Beit Yahoun and Aita al-Jabal in the Bint Jbeil district, the agency added. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Lebanon wants to negotiate a security agreement with Israel once Israeli troops withdraw from Lebanese territory, describing it as a possible step towards a future peace agreement. Speaking ahead of a visit to France, Aoun said Lebanon had “no choice” but negotiations, warning that the alternative would be a costly war. He said the immediate goal was to end the state of hostility and establish security along the border, rather than move directly to a peace treaty. Aoun also reiterated Lebanon’s determination to disarm Hezbollah, saying the decision was “neither negotiable nor open to discussion”. However, he stressed that Beirut wanted to resolve the issue peacefully and avoid confrontation or another civil war. “The objective is not a confrontation,” Aoun said. “We are determined to resolve this issue peacefully.” Aoun is due in Paris for a meeting hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and attended by Jordan’s King Abdullah II, aimed at securing international support for the Lebanese army. With the UN peacekeeping mission UNIFIL scheduled to end its mandate on 31 December 2026, Aoun said Lebanon wanted an interim international force to prevent a security vacuum in the south while the army expands its deployment. “The best and most optimal option remains extending UNIFIL’s mandate,” he said, while saying Lebanon would accept a temporary European, Arab, Asian, US or UN-backed force if necessary. Aoun also said Lebanon had no objection to relations with Iran but insisted they must be based on mutual respect and non-interference in Lebanese affairs. Asked about Israel’s upcoming elections, Aoun said the key issue for Lebanon was whether future Israeli governments wanted “stability, security and no wars” along their border. (Reported by AFP) China encourages Iran and the US to remain rational, exercise ​restraint, return to the Islamabad memorandum and "engage in substantive consultations", ‌Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Iranian counterpart in Beijing on Wednesday. "We urge all parties to take effective measures to reopen the Strait of Hormuz ​at an early date" to safeguard the stability of international energy ​transport and supply chains, Wang said, according to China's ⁠foreign ministry. Tehran and Washington ​should "rebuild the negotiation mechanism based on the consensus reached so far", Wang told Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who is on a one-day visit to Beijing. The talks between ​the two diplomats came a week ahead of an expected meeting ​between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump in Washington. Saudi Arabia's air defences intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca on Tuesday before it entered prohibited airspace over the holy city, said a spokesman for the Saudi-led military coalition fighting Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis. The security of Islam's two holiest sites and of pilgrims was a "red line", coalition spokesperson Turki al-Malki said early on Wednesday, adding that the coalition would take necessary deterrent measures against the Houthis. Mecca, home to shrines sacred to Muslims worldwide, is Islam's holiest city and the focal point of the annual hajj pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, which millions of Muslims undertake each year. Malki described the incident as the second Houthi attempt to target Mecca, following what the coalition said was a ballistic missile launch in July 2017. Saudi Arabia issued security alerts across parts of the country on Tuesday, including in Mecca and other cities, following a week of attacks by Iran-aligned fighters that have drawn the kingdom deeper into the Middle East war. A Houthi military source denied the group posed any threat to Mecca or other holy sites, in comments carried by the Houthi-run Saba news agency on Tuesday. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said on Wednesday that the group had attacked an airbase in Khamis Mushait as well as Aramco facilities in Yanbu.

Saudi Arabia did not confirm either of the attacks. Good morning Middle East Eye readers, Here are the latest developments: At least 50 children are among over 100 Palestinians still stuck beneath a collapsed building in Gaza City, Aljazeera reported citing a civil defence team. So far, 11 bodies have been recovered while 12 other people were rescued alive. At least 50 children are among over 100 Palestinians still stuck beneath a collapsed building in Gaza City, Aljazeera reported citing a civil defence team. So far, 11 bodies have been recovered while 12 other people were rescued alive. Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree said a Saudi F-15 fighter jet was downed over the Marib governorate in Yemen. "In the face of this brutal aggression against our country and people, the Yemeni armed forces – with God’s help and grace – were able to shoot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet while it was conducting hostile operations in support of its military buildup in the airspace of Marib governorate," he said in a statement. Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree said a Saudi F-15 fighter jet was downed over the Marib governorate in Yemen. "In the face of this brutal aggression against our country and people, the Yemeni armed forces – with God’s help and grace – were able to shoot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet while it was conducting hostile operations in support of its military buildup in the airspace of Marib governorate," he said in a statement. The US has changed its travel advisory for Saudi Arabia to Level 3 amid the kingdom's escalating conflict with Yemen. The US State Department’s international travel website warned of several risks under the "reconsider travel" advisory, including armed conflict, missile and drone attacks from Iran and threats from Houthis in Yemen. The US has changed its travel advisory for Saudi Arabia to Level 3 amid the kingdom's escalating conflict with Yemen. The US State Department’s international travel website warned of several risks under the "reconsider travel" advisory, including armed conflict, missile and drone attacks from Iran and threats from Houthis in Yemen. The spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition forces in Yemen said that Saudi Royal Air Defence Forces have intercepted a drone launched by the Houthis south of Mecca. Houthi official Hezam al-Asad denied the allegations, saying that "claims about targeting Mecca are a worn-out lie that has been used before and no longer fools anyone". The spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition forces in Yemen said that Saudi Royal Air Defence Forces have intercepted a drone launched by the Houthis south of Mecca. Houthi official Hezam al-Asad denied the allegations, saying that "claims about targeting Mecca are a worn-out lie that has been used before and no longer fools anyone". US Vice President JD Vance said that Washington has completed its objectives for the first phase of the war on Iran, adding that the conflict will enter a new one in the coming months. "We can’t predict the future, but I think the president is right to say that this thing will enter a much different phase in a couple of months," he told the New York Post. US Vice President JD Vance said that Washington has completed its objectives for the first phase of the war on Iran, adding that the conflict will enter a new one in the coming months. "We can’t predict the future, but I think the president is right to say that this thing will enter a much different phase in a couple of months," he told the New York Post. At least 50 children are among over 100 Palestinians still stuck beneath a collapsed building in Gaza City, Aljazeera reported citing a civil defence team. So far, 11 bodies have been recovered while 12 other people were rescued alive. Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree said a Saudi F-15 fighter jet was downed over the Marib governorate in Yemen. "In the face of this brutal aggression against our country and people, the Yemeni armed forces – with God’s help and grace – were able to shoot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet while it was conducting hostile operations in support of its military buildup in the airspace of Marib governorate," he said in a statement. "The downing was achieved using a locally manufactured surface-to-air missile," Saree added. The bodies of at least 11 Palestinians have been recovered after a building sheltering displaced families collapsed west of Gaza City, with dozens remain missing. The building, housing nearly 70 people, had been previously damaged by Israeli shelling and strikes during the genocidal war on Gaza. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said that its advanced air defence system has intercepted and destroyed a US MQ-9 drone over Qeshm Island. The US has changed its travel advisory for Saudi Arabia to Level 3 amid the kingdom's escalating conflict with Yemen. The US State Department’s international travel website warned of several risks under the "reconsider travel" advisory, including armed conflict, missile and drone attacks from Iran and threats from Houthis in Yemen. It added that some areas in the Gulf country have increased risk, wiht a Level 4 "do not travel" advisory for neighbouring Yemen. The artist Finneas and three other supporting acts quit Ed Sheeran's tour on Tuesday, after the US rapper Macklemore was removed for his pro-Palestine comments on stage. Finneas, Irish acts Aaron Rowe and Beoga, and Lukas Graham of Denmark all posted statements announcing they were quitting Sheeran's "Loop Tour" in solidarity with the rapper and Palestinian people. "Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed,” Finneas said in a statement on social media. His statement came after Irish singer Aaron Rowe published a statement, announcing that he had decided to withdraw as a support act for the British singer. The Irish band Beoga echoed a similar sentiment in a social media post, as they announced departing the tour ın response to what they called "silencing of Macklemore by zionist lobbies”. The Danish pop band Lukas Graham also announced their departure from the remaining acts. Read more: All supporting acts quit Ed Sheeran tour in protest of Macklemore’s removal