The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said Saturday it had launched air strikes in support of pro-government forces battling a quickening Huthi rebel advance on the northern city of Marib.

The United States on Friday condemned the drone strike on a Saudi oil refinery claimed by Yemen's Huthi rebels, calling it an attempt to "disrupt global energy supplies."

The United States has warned Syrian President Bashar Assad that the Biden administration will not recognize the result of its upcoming presidential election unless the voting is free, fair, supervised by the United Nation and represents all of Syrian society.

The acting U.S. deputy ambassador to the United Nations, Jeffrey DeLaurentis, said that "it's clear that the regime will leverage the upcoming presidential elections in May to unfairly claim Assad's legitimacy."

The International Criminal Court has given Israel and the Palestinians one month to ask the tribunal to postpone its war crimes investigation, provided they can prove they are carrying out their own probes.

Campaigning in Israel neared an end Friday, with incumbent Benjamin Netanyahu seeking the majority that eluded him in three recent votes by highlighting the country's robust vaccination drive and his "real" right-wing credentials.

Turkey is urging Egypt's Istanbul-based opposition media to "tone down"  criticism of President Fattah al-Sisi as Ankara tries to mend ties with Cairo, the people involved said Friday.

A drone attack early Friday sparked a fire at a Riyadh oil refinery, the Saudi energy ministry said, in an assault claimed by Yemen's Huthi rebels.

A Palestinian was shot dead by Israeli soldiers during a demonstration in the West Bank on Friday, the Palestinian health ministry said.

Libya's new government includes five women, with two in key portfolios -- a first for the country nonetheless criticised by activists as insufficient and as not living up to a UN commitment.

Yemen's Huthi rebels have made major advances on Marib city, the government's final holdout in the country's north, after hours of clashes, government military sources said on Friday.