Middle East latest: Israel intercepts Houthi missile fired from Yemen

Israel's military said it intercepted a missile fired toward the country by Yemen's Houthi rebels, setting off sirens late Monday in central areas including Tel Aviv.

The Houthis have been firing drones and missiles at Israel, as well as attacking shipping in the Red Sea corridor — attacks they say won't stop until Israel agrees to a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

Israel's war in Gaza has killed more than 45,500 people, over half of them women and children, according to the territory's Health Ministry. Its count does not differentiate between combatants and civilians. The Health Ministry said Monday that Israeli airstrikes and bombardments had killed at least 27 people over the past day alone. Israel says its forces only target militants.

In Syria, Ukraine is pledging support for the new government that ousted Bashar Assad, who had been a key Russian ally in the Mideast. The Ukrainian foreign minister met with Syria's de facto leader on Monday during a visit to Damascus.

Here's the latest:

UN gives updates on humanitarian situation in Gaza

UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations humanitarian agency said Monday that Israel allowed a U.N. and Palestinian Red Crescent team to deliver medical supplies, food and water to critical patients in northern Gaza a day earlier.

''Ten patients were evacuated from the (Indonesian) hospital, four of whom were arrested by Israeli forces at the checkpoint leaving the area,'' the U.N. humanitarian office known as OCHA said.

''Seven patients along with 15 caregivers and health workers remain at the facility, which is severely damaged and has no ability to provide medical care,'' it said.

The U.N. humanitarian office is warning that the Israeli onslaught on health care and humanitarian access in Gaza, combined with relentless strikes that kill and wound civilians daily, is dismantling the means for Palestinians to survive.

OCHA stressed that humanitarian access to Gaza remains hindered.

"In the past three days, over 60% of the 42 U.N.-coordinated movements were denied, interfered with or impeded on the ground'' across all of Gaza, it said.

TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel's military said it intercepted a missile fired toward the country by Yemen's Houthi rebels, setting off sirens late Monday in central Israel including Tel Aviv. There were no reports of injuries from Magen David Adom, Israel's rescue service.

The Houthis have been firing drones and missiles at Israel as well as attacking shipping in the Red Sea corridor — attacks they say won't stop until Israel agrees to a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

Israel has carried two waves of intense strikes in recent weeks in Yemen in response to the missile attacks. The latest launch raises the likelihood of further Israeli retaliation.

At a U.N. Security Council meeting on Monday, Israeli U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon vowed his country will respond decisively to Houthi attacks.

Wounded Palestinians describe harsh treatment by Israeli soldiers who expelled them from a hospital

''They surrounded the hospital at 4 a.m. and burned all the buildings around the hospital,'' said Wissam Warsh, a 45-year-old father of five who spent almost a week at Kamal Adwan Hospital receiving treatment. He said soldiers made the hospital director, Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, bring all the patients outside before detaining him.

''They told him over the loudspeaker that he had 10 minutes to evacuate them, and they began firing shells around the hospital as a pressure tactic,'' Warsh said. He and other patients were recuperating at Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, where he spoke to The Associated Press from a hospital bed on Sunday.

Israel's military says its troops entered the hospital because Hamas militants were using it as a base, and said over 240 militants were detained, including Abu Safiya. Hospital officials have denied those claims.

Other patients said the Israeli army refused to provide them with food or water.

''The most difficult thing was that we were in the cold and winter and we could not find clothes, in addition to the moments of insults. All the moments were difficult,'' said Ramadan al-Aswad, who was a patient at the hospital.

Syria's new rulers crack down on alleged Assad loyalist militias

ADRA, Syria — Syria's new government said it deployed dozens of soldiers in the Damascus suburb of Adra on Monday in search of alleged militiamen loyal to ousted President Bashar Assad, with military police vehicles seen transporting detainees.

''A security campaign was carried out in Adra town which led to the arrest of the militia leaders in the area,'' said Abu Yaarub, a security official who did not give his full name in accordance with regulations. He added that five top militiamen were detained.

Clashes erupted last week in several cities across Syria between Assad supporters and the new government, which is led by Islamist rebels.

Since Assad's fall, dozens of Syrians have been killed in acts of revenge, according to activists and monitors, the vast majority of them from the minority Alawite community, an offshoot of Shiite Islam to which Assad belongs.

By Leo Correa and Ghaith AlSayed.

Gaza hospital director's family pleads for his release

JERUSALEM — The family of a hospital director in northern Gaza is pleading with the international community and the Israeli military for his release, after soldiers detained Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya over the weekend.

Abu Safiya's family says he's being denied medical care and kept in the freezing cold in Sde Teiman, an Israeli detention center that been sharply criticized for its inhuman conditions.

Israeli military spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani said Abu Safiya ''is currently being questioned regarding his potential involvement in terrorist activity.''

Israel alleged that Hamas had been using the facility, which hospital officials have denied.

Israel's latest military offensive in northern Gaza has largely isolated the area, with little medical or other aid allowed to reach hospitals there.

On Monday, the International Committee of the Red Cross said Israeli operations have ''obliterated the health care system in northern Gaza,'' noting that Kamal Adwan and Indonesian hospitals are now ''completely inoperable.''

Ukraine's foreign chief pledges support for a new Syria on a trip to Damascus

DAMASCUS, Syria — Ukraine's foreign minister met with Syria's de facto leader Ahmad al-Sharaa in Damascus on Monday, days after Kyiv announced the delivery of a large shipment of wheat flour to the country following the ouster of Bashar Assad, Russia's ally.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine will send 500 tons of wheat flour to Syria through the U.N. World Food Program to help improve the country's food security and economic crisis. About 90% of Syrians live in poverty, while over half don't know where their next meal will come from, according to the U.N.

"The Ukrainian delegation held important talks with the Syrian administration, leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa and ministers. We support the Syrian people in overcoming decades of dictatorial rule and restoring stability, security, and normal life in Syria,'' Zelenskyy wrote on X.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said he hopes ''that a new Syria would become a country that respects international law." He said Ukraine is ready to share its experience in gathering evidence and conducting investigations to hold war criminals accountable.

"The Russian and Assad regimes supported each other because their foundation is violence and torture,'' he said.

Syria appoints first female interim Central Bank governor

Maysaa Sabreen is the second woman appointed in a leadership role under Ahmad al-Sharaa and his Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which led Assad's ouster in an offensive in early December.

Sabreen had served as the Central Bank's first deputy governor.

She inherits a dire financial crisis following a decade of civil war, mismanagement and sanctions, which has led to the Syrian pound drastically losing its value against the U.S. dollar. The United Nations estimates that some 90% of Syrians live in poverty.

Turkey ready to export electricity to Syria and Lebanon

ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey is prepared to export electricity to Syria and Lebanon to assist them in addressing power shortages, Turkey's energy minister said, adding that a Turkish delegation was already in Damascus to evaluate Syria's energy infrastructure.

''We can see the picture a little more clearly after seeing the situation of the transmission network,'' the state-run Anadolu Agency quoted Bayraktar as saying.

He said Syria's electricity capacity had dropped significantly due to the civil war.

''The vast majority of the people meet their electricity needs through generators,'' he said. ''There is a serious need for electricity.''