Morning update

Good Morning Middle East Eye readers, If you are just joining us, here are key developments from across the region and beyond: * US President Donald Trump has said he is weighing fresh strikes on Iran without nuclear weapons or ground troops, while insisting negotiations with Tehran were under way. * Saudi Arabia's Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Elkhereiji has said Houthi attacks on civilian, economic and airport facilities in the kingdom “constitute full-fledged war crimes”. * At least five people were killed in Houthi missile strikes near the al-Maashiq presidential palace in Aden on Thursday. The prime minister and other officials were safe but two of his bodyguards were killed. * Houthis have claimed responsibility for the attack on the government headquarters in Aden, with its spokesperson, Yahya Saree, describing the building as housing "Saudi war operations room". * The UN Security Council has condemned the "escalatory" attacks by Iran-backed Houthis on Saudi Arabia, including "reckless strikes" on Riyadh's airport. * Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Israeli President Isaac Herzog that Israel should stop and reverse its "forced establishment" of West Bank settlements, China's foreign ministry said in a statement on Friday. * Israeli settlers torched vehicles owned by Palestinians during an attack on olive harvesters on Friday morning near the town of Turmus Ayya, north of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, Quds News Network reported. * An Israeli settlement group has said that it has established a new settlement facing Gaza City, and urged the Israeli government to immediately authorise its transfer into the northern part of the Strip. * Several displaced Gazans were injuries on Thursday evening following an Israeli strike west of Gaza City, Wafa reported. * Saudi Arabia has said preparations for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, due to begin on 7 January in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar, remain on schedule despite escalating Houthi attacks on the kingdom. * Iraq’s parliament has approved Laith al-Khazali, a senior figure from the Iran-backed Asaib Ahl al-Haq movement, as a deputy prime minister. * Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree has said the group shot down a Saudi Wing Loong II armed reconnaissance drone over Marib governorate. * A drone launched towards Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province was intercepted and destroyed, Saudi-led coalition spokesperson Major General Turki al-Maliki said. * The Trump administration has issued fresh Iran-related sanctions targeting 16 individuals and 10 entities, according to a notice posted on the US Treasury Department’s website on Thursday, Reuters reported. * Two air strikes have targeted Houthi positions in the Dhi al-Barih and Jaba areas of al-Misrakh district, south of Taiz city, Al Jazeera reported, citing a Yemeni military source in the Taiz military command. * The threat to merchant shipping in the Strait of Hormuz remains "severe", the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre says, warning further attacks in the waterway were "highly likely" under current conditions.