Middle East: Injuries in Israel's Eilat from Houthi drone

Italy has sent a naval frigate to a flotilla of boats attempting to bring aid to the Gaza Strip. 

Activists, lawmakers and journalists in the convoy said drones attacked some of their boats.

Read more here

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa addressed the UN General Assembly on Wednesday.

It's the first time in 60 years that a Syrian leader has addressed the chamber in New York City.

Al-Sharaa became president of Syria in January, months after the ouster of Bashar Assad, whose family ruled the country for decades. A revolution against Assad in 2011 sparked a civil war in Syria which lasted over 13 years. 

"I guarantee to bring to justice and hold everyone accountable who was responsible for the bloodshed," al-Sharaa told the chamber. He said "Syria is reclaiming its rightful place among the nations of the world."

At the same time, al-Sharaa said Israeli strikes and attacks against Syria continue, "contradicting the international support for Syria and threatening new crises."

Following Assad's ouster, Israel took control of more territory in Syria, prompting condemnation from al-Sharaa and the Syrian government.

Israel has also carried out airstrikes which it says are aiming to defend the Syrian Druze people. The Druze in Syria clashed with Bedouin groups in July, leading the Syrian government to deploy troops in southern Syria to restore calm.   

During his speech at the United Nations General Assembly, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian downplayed Iran's nuclear ambitions.

The speech came ahead of Saturday, when several European countries are expected to impose "snapback sanctions" on Iran for not complying with its international obligations. 

Read DW's blog for more on the UN General Assembly here. 

German Ambassador to Israel Steffen Seibert reacted to the drone attack on Eilat, a city in southern Israel, that injured at least 20 people. 

"A Houthi drone hits Eilat and injures several people — I wish them all a full recovery," Seibert wrote on X. "The world mustn't get used to the Houthis trying to kill Israeli citizens just because they say they act for the people of Gaza. Whom, of course, they do not help one bit." 

A drone launched from Yemen has hit the southern Israeli city of Eilat, leaving 20 people injured, according to medics in Israel. 

Israel's national ambulance service Magen David Adom said two people were seriously injured by the attack. 

No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. Drones from Yemen are typically fired by the Houthis, an Iran-backed Shia militant group that controls large swaths of the country. 

Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom reported that an initial probe found that air defense systems were unable to intercept the drone. 

Israel, and at times the US, have launched a bombing campaign against the Houthis to stop the attacks and end the Houthis blockades of ships in the Red Sea. The Houthis have attacked Israeli ships in what they say is a response to Israel's military campaign in Gaza.  

Welcome to DW's coverage of the latest events in the Middle East. 

Please keep up with our blog to read not just the latest news, but also analysis, on-the-ground correspondent insight and multimedia content about the region.

Today, we closely follow the latest escalation in the conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed Houthis, while also keeping an eye on Gaza, Syria and other corners of the Middle East.