Israelis voted Tuesday in a high-stakes election that will decide whether to extend Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's long right-wing tenure despite corruption allegations or to replace him with an ex-military chief new to politics.

The vote was expected to be close and likely lead to frantic negotiations to form a coalition once results are in, with opinion polls having shown Netanyahu best placed to do so.

The Syrian government condemned as irresponsible a U.S. decision on Monday to designate Iran's Revolutionary Guards a "terrorist group," calling it a "badge of honor" for the Islamic republic.

Arab countries met at the United Nations on Monday to discuss President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Israel's annexation of the Golan but no decision was taken on tabling a U.N. resolution condemning the U.S. move, diplomats said.

The U.N. envoy to Libya denounced an air strike Monday on Tripoli's only functioning airport which he blamed on strongman Khalifa Haftar's forces.

The United Nations called Monday for an investigation into the deaths of 11 civilians including students in Yemen's capital, where rebels accused a Saudi-led coalition of carrying out a deadly air strike.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which lead a military coalition against the Huthi rebels in Yemen, offered Monday $200 million in aid to the country for the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

Israelis vote in a closely fought general election on Tuesday in which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking a fifth term.

Fighting raged around Tripoli and an air strike closed its only functioning airport Monday, as Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar defied international calls to halt his advance on the capital.

Russia on Sunday blocked a U.N. Security Council statement that would have called on forces loyal to Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar to halt their advance on Tripoli, diplomats said.

The United States is "deeply concerned" by fighting near Libya's capital Tripoli and is seeking an "immediate halt" to an offensive by strongman Khalifa Haftar, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday.