TEHRAN -- Iran's confirmed novel coronavirus cases rose to 235,429 on Friday after an overnight registration of 2,566 new infections, according to official IRNA news agency.

During her daily briefing, Sima Sadat Lari, the spokeswoman for Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education, said out of the new cases in the past 24 hours, 1,483 were hospitalized. (Iran-COVID-19-Cases)

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ISTANBUL -- Turkish police detained 17 people, including nine foreign nationals, in Turkey's biggest city of Istanbul over their suspected links to the Islamic State (IS), local media reported on Friday.

Police launched operations simultaneously in 14 locations across the city to capture the suspects, who were allegedly in contact with the members of the terrorist group in conflict zones, the state-run Anadolu agency said. (Turkey-IS-Arrest)

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SANAA -- Yemen's Houthi rebels on Friday claimed attacks on two border airports in southwestern Saudi Arabia, using bomb-laden drones.

The first attack targeted "operation room in Najran airport" in Najran region, while the other one hit "aircraft hangars in King Khaled Air Base in Khamis Mushait city" in Asir region, the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported, citing a statement by the group's military spokesman Yahya Sarea as saying. (Yemen-Houthi-Saudi-Airports)

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BAGHDAD -- As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, several UN and international organizations have issued a report on the impact of the crisis on food security in Iraq, and made joint recommendations in an attempt to support the war-torn country.

A statement by United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq obtained by Xinhua on Friday said that the Food and Agriculture Organization, International Fund for Agricultural Development, World Food Program and the World Bank have analyzed food availability and access, with a particular focus on vulnerable populations. (Iraq-UN-Food-COVID-19)