Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa insisted at the U.N. Wednesday that the Golan Heights region will remain Syrian after Colombia last month recognized Israeli sovereignty over the strategically important territory.

"Any attempts that violate our sovereignty, violate international law, will be stopped. Golan will remain Syrian territories. Any other attempts will be thwarted according to Security Council Resolution 497," al-Sharaa said at the U.N. meeting of world leaders in New York.

Yemeni factions fighting the Iran-backed Houthis are united mainly in one thing — their opposition to the rebels who control the country's north and have recently advanced along its Red Sea coastline.

But beyond that, the groups fighting under the banner of Yemen's internationally recognized government are divided by geography, foreign patronage and competing visions for what their country should look like if the Houthis are pushed back.

Netanyahu’s office called Macron’s remarks at the United Nations a "grotesque absurdity," objecting to his claim about the Palestinian militant group Hamas' activity in the West Bank.

Macron decried the situation in Gaza. He also criticized the escalating Israeli settler violence in the West Bank, saying Israel could not invoke Hamas to justify its actions in the territory. He used terminology in his French-language remarks that could mean Hamas has either never governed or operated in the West Bank.

An Israeli strike on a vehicle in Khan Younis killed two people Wednesday morning, Gaza’s Health Ministry said.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said one of those killed was Mohammad Abu Alwan, whom he identified as the head of Hamas’ finance department. He also said Israel would keep going after militants on its target list.

A spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday Iran had maintained its negotiating stance in talks with U.S. officials, demanding the United States end its blockade on Iranian ports and release Iran's frozen assets.

Esmail Baghaei said the indirect talks took place via Qatari mediators on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly.

Revolutionary Guards spokesman Hossein Mohebi said on Tuesday that Iran had hardened its conditions for ending the war with the United States following the collapse of a June deal, adding Washington now had "no choice" but to accept its demands.

Iran had previously agreed with the United States to a memorandum of understanding laying out a pathway to a permanent settlement of the conflict, only for the deal to later unravel as each side accused the other of violating it.

Fighting in Yemen between the Iran-backed Houthis and government forces supported by Saudi Arabia has killed 154 people in the past two days, military sources from both sides told AFP on Tuesday.

The king of Saudi Arabia denounced Yemen's Houthis as a "terrorist militia" in a rare statement Tuesday reacting to an attack that authorities said targeted the holy city of Mecca last week.

King Salman, 90, praised the armed forces and security services for defending the country, and condemned the recent Houthi attempt "to target Mecca", calling it "a provocation to Muslims around the world", according to the official Saudi news agency.

Several Iraqi travel agencies said on Tuesday the U.S. ban on Iranian airlines could severely disrupt their business, forcing them to explore alternatives, such as hours-long land routes to Iran.

The Delegation of the European Union to Lebanon and the Samir Kassir Foundation have announced the results of the 21st edition of the Samir Kassir Award for Freedom of the Press, at a ceremony held at the Sursock Palace Gardens in Beirut.

Established with funding from the European Union, the Award is internationally recognized as a flagship prize for press freedom and the most prestigious journalism award in the Middle East, North Africa and Gulf region. Since 2006, the ceremony has been held annually to commemorate the assassination of Lebanese journalist Samir Kassir on 2 June 2005 in Beirut, and to celebrate his life, values, and intellectual and professional struggle.