Saudi Arabia's top religious leader, Grand Mufti Sheikh Saleh al-Fawzan, has called on the military to defend the country from attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. This is a rare public statement from the kingdom’s highest religious authority, emphasizing the duty to protect national borders and punish those who threaten the nation. The remarks were published by the Saudi Press Agency and cited religious texts to justify the call for defense. The statement comes amid a series of attacks on Saudi oil facilities, cities, and ships in the Red Sea, raising concerns about regional security. In Gaza, Israeli military officials confirmed that two soldiers were killed on Thursday during an inspection of an unexploded drone near a military outpost. The soldiers, Ofek Moalem and Nadav Kali, were declared dead after the drone detonated. This marks the first Israeli soldier deaths in Gaza in several months. The Israeli military labeled the incident a "serious safety incident" and said it was under investigation. Since a ceasefire agreement in October, five Israeli soldiers have been killed in the region, highlighting the ongoing risks for military personnel. The United Nations General Assembly has become a focal point for international discussions on the conflicts in Gaza and Iran. Leaders from Iraq, Lebanon, and Egypt were scheduled to speak at the U.N. on Friday, underscoring the global attention these conflicts have drawn. The wars have intensified regional tensions and raised humanitarian concerns, with millions of people affected by the ongoing violence and displacement. Former head of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, stated that Palestinian officials want to continue working with UNRWA, despite a new U.S.-created board that claims the agency will have no role in future Gaza governance. Lazzarini warned that removing UNRWA could severely impact the Palestinian population, especially in areas like Gaza where the agency provides critical aid. Israel has accused UNRWA of being infiltrated by Hamas militants, but the International Court of Justice has not confirmed these claims.