{
  "id": 15360142,
  "title": "Morning update",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/morning-update",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-18T06:13:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Middle East Eye",
    "slug": "middle-east-eye",
    "url": "https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/morning-update-644"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Good Morning Middle East Eye readers,\n\nThe United States is urging Israel to take stronger action against settler attacks in the West Bank, according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Washington is also seeking a \"long-term\" and \"verifiable\" commitment from Iran not to rebuild its nuclear program.\n\nIn a separate incident off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, a southbound tugboat was hit by two unidentified projectiles in the early hours of Sunday. Additionally, an LNG tanker off the Yemeni city of Al Mukalla was attacked by individuals on a skiff.\n\nThe International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported that Houthi authorities have released 159 people detained in connection with the ongoing conflict in Yemen. Meanwhile, the Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine, who was brutally assaulted by Israeli settlers in the West Bank, has had surgery on her injured finger.\n\nThe Israeli military reportedly delayed responding to distress calls from activists warning of settler threats in the occupied West Bank, taking no action until after an attack on diplomats and others had concluded, as reported by Haaretz. In the southern province of Lahj, Yemen's government forces announced the deaths of eight of their soldiers during a battle.\n\nIranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that Tehran has presented a concrete seven-day plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Israeli soldiers conducted searches of homes in the West Bank town of Yasouf, while the Saudi-led coalition claimed to have intercepted and destroyed two drones and a missile in its region.\n\nIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused settlers of a \"smear campaign\" following the brutal attack on a French mayor in the West Bank. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot called for Israel to take action against \"criminal violence\" in the wake of the incident. In other news, Lebanon plans to send a military delegation to a US-backed trilateral meeting with Israel in Tampa, Florida, on Tuesday.",
  "summary": "Morning update Good Morning Middle East Eye readers, If you are just joining us, here are key developments from across the region and beyond: *The United States wants Israel to do more to deter attacks committed by settlers in the West Bank, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday. * US Vice President JD Vance said Washington was focused on securing Iran’s “long-term” and “verifiable…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Middle East Eye",
        "title": "Morning update",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/morning-update",
        "published": "2026-10-17T06:56:49.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}