Pentagon Declines Comment on Unannounced Middle East Trip by Defense Secretary

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made an unannounced trip to the Middle East late Monday, stating on social media that he was visiting troops on an unspecified, "historic mission." The Pentagon declined to comment on the visit and earlier reports suggesting Hegseth was in Israel meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Meanwhile, in other developments across the region, Iran-backed Houthi rebels announced attacks in Yemen and across Saudi Arabia. Israeli police arrested 10 suspects following a wave of settler violence in the occupied West Bank that targeted a U.S. journalist and European diplomats. The World Food Program also announced a significant funding shortage impacting aid to Gaza and the West Bank.

Houthi Attacks and Regional Tensions

Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for ballistic missile strikes on a Yemeni military camp that killed at least 53 soldiers and wounded 200 recruits, marking one of the deadliest attacks on Saudi-backed government forces since a 2022 ceasefire was shattered. The rebels also claimed to have conducted six military operations targeting oil infrastructure, airports, and military sites across Saudi Arabia. Saudi authorities have reported that recent Houthi missile and drone attacks have killed 19 people and injured over 350.

In Gaza, three separate Israeli strikes hit Gaza City, killing at least two people, according to Shifa Hospital. Two 17-year-olds were killed in another strike on Khan Younis in southern Gaza, according to Nasser Hospital. The Israeli military stated it struck Hamas militants in the Gaza City attacks but did not comment on the other incident.

Settler Violence and Diplomatic Warnings

Israeli police announced the arrest of 10 suspects in connection with violent attacks by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank. The attacks occurred during the annual olive harvest and prompted criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine was reportedly beaten by settlers while documenting the scene, sustaining broken ribs and vertebrae. Masked settlers also attacked a group of European diplomats. Rights groups note a surge in attacks against Palestinians, with few resulting in arrests or punishment.

The United Kingdom's foreign secretary warned companies against violating international law by assisting in the construction of Israeli settlements in the West Bank. He stated that the approved E1 settlement project, which would divide the West Bank, poses a direct threat to a two-state solution. Israel's foreign minister responded by saying the country would not be intimidated by threats.

Humanitarian Crisis and Economic Disruptions

The World Food Program has been forced to deny food and cash assistance to 700,000 people in Gaza and the West Bank due to a money shortage. The acting director urged international donors to provide $450 million for aid over the next six months, describing life in Gaza as "absolutely brutal" and dangerous, with approximately 50 attacks per day recorded by U.N. teams. He also noted seeing burned olive fields, camps, and villages in the West Bank, with more settler attacks during the first two weeks of the olive harvest than throughout all of the previous year.

Israel's military announced it would resume coordinating the entry of commercial trucks into Gaza after a suspension that cut off the flow of goods. The military warned that future reports of merchants paying taxes to Hamas would lead to revoked licenses. The suspension had been attributed to disagreements between Hamas and merchants over taxes, though Gaza truckers claimed Israel was using the issue as a pretext.

International Diplomacy

Iran's top security official met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Tehran, calling for stronger cooperation on joint economic projects and transportation corridors. Lavrov condemned U.S.-Israeli military attacks on Iran as illegal. Iran also summoned Germany's ambassador over accusations of plotting to kill a Jewish organization leader in Germany, a claim Iran called baseless. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed willingness for dialogue to resolve tensions and blamed U.S. interference for regional divisions.