The UN Palestinian refugee agency said on Friday it had resumed delivering services in the West Bank after a months-long strike that affected thousands. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said its teams across the West Bank were preparing the agency's facilities to return to their regular activities as early as possible next week. It said resuming education and health services were its priority.
The International Support Group (ISG) regretted on Friday that Lebanon has once again failed to elect a new president, warning that the deadlock is “exacerbating the erosion of state institutions.” On Wednesday, neither Jihad Azour nor Sleiman Franjieh came close to winning the 86 votes needed to win in a first round vote at the Lebanese parliament. Azour won the support of 59 of 128 lawmakers. Franjieh secured 51.
The UN Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner (OHCRH) and the Baha'i International Community condemned the detention by the Houthi authorities in Sanaa of 16 followers of the minority Baha'i faith. The UN Human Rights spokesperson Jeremy Laurence expressed "serious concern" about the Houthis' detention of a group of followers of the Baha'i community and a subsequent sermon by the Houthi Mufti in Sanaa, Shamseddin Sharafeddin, inciting hatred against the Baha'is and other religious sects.
Airstrikes attributed to Israel over Syria's capital early Wednesday critically wounded one soldier, Syrian state media reported. Syria’s state news agency, SANA, citing military officials, said the strikes over southwest Damascus also caused “material damage” without giving further details. It reported that Syrian air defenses shot down some of the missiles. Israeli authorities did not comment immediately, The Associated Press said.