Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed Israel's "grave concerns" Tuesday over Moscow's decision to lift a ban on supplying Iran with sophisticated S-300 air defense missile systems.

In a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he warned that such a step "would only increase Iran's aggressiveness in the region and would undermine the security of the Middle East," his office said.

The Change and Reform parliamentary bloc on Tuesday called for an immediate halt to “unlawful” military appointments, condemning what it described as attempts to “isolate” the bloc in these designations.

“Their extensions are selective, dangerous and in violation of the defense law and the law regulating the Internal Security Forces,” said the bloc in a statement recited by ex-minister Salim Jreissati after its weekly meeting in Rabieh.

World powers imposed an arms embargo Tuesday on Yemeni rebels and demanded they relinquish territory seized in a sweeping offensive that forced U.N.-backed President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi to flee overseas.

The U.N. Security Council vote came soon after Iran, a key ally of the Huthi Shiite rebels, proposed a peace plan for Yemen calling for a ceasefire followed by foreign-mediated talks by all sides.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Monday insisted his country wants a "nuclear-free world," days after Tehran's leadership cast doubt on an outline deal to curb its nuclear program. 

Zarif made the comment during a visit to ex-Soviet Kazakhstan as he praised the Central Asian nation for giving up its nuclear weapons after the collapse of the USSR.

An Israeli soldier was indicted on Monday for allegedly tipping off far-right Jewish settlers that they were about to be arrested, the Shin Bet domestic security agency said.

A Shin Bet statement said Elad Sela, a resident of Bat Ayin settlement between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, was arrested on March 10 and charged with "aggravated espionage."

The case of the servicemen held hostage by extremist groups in Arsal's outskirts will go through a “decisive week,” media reports said on Monday, amid the presence in Turkey of General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim, Lebanon's top negotiator.

“Positive developments prompted Ibrahim to head to Turkey where he has spent a day and a night, during which he held talks with Turkish and Qatari officials on the case of the abductees,” al-Manar television reported.

Senator Marco Rubio announced to donors Monday that he is launching a U.S. presidential campaign, becoming the latest -- and youngest -- Republican in the race to succeed Barack Obama in the White House.

U.S. media reported that Rubio told major donors on a conference call about his plans, hours ahead of a glitzy launch event in Miami where he is expected to present himself as the next-generation candidate in the candidate.

A verdict in the case of three Syrian activists accused of "promoting terrorist acts", including leading dissident Mazen Darwish, has been set for April 15, their lawyer said on Monday.

"The head of the terrorism court set a verdict date for the cases of Mazen Darwish and his colleagues Hani Zaitani and Hussein Ghreir for April 15, after it was delayed a number of times," Michel Shammas told AFP.

Hillary Clinton launched her bid Sunday to become the first woman to win the White House, and announced a campaign tour to showcase her support for "everyday Americans."

"I'm running for president," Clinton, a former secretary of state and U.S. first lady, said in a video on her campaign website that went live at about 3:00 pm (1900 GMT) Sunday.

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Sunday issued a decree making the digging or use of illegal tunnels in border areas punishable by life in jail.

The army has intensified efforts to destroy such underground tunnels connecting the restive Sinai Peninsula to the Palestinian Gaza Strip, since the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013.