Nikkei reports Japan is preparing for possible demands from Trump on defense policy and the yen ahead of U.S. midterm elections.

Houthi rebels said on the 18th they used multiple drones to attack an ARAMCO refinery in Saudi Arabia's Jazan region, the Houthi-controlled Saba news agency reported. The group described the strike as 'precise' and said it was in response to Saudi incursions into the airspace of Yemen's Saada and Hajjah provinces. No casualties or damage have been reported. Saudi authorities and ARAMCO have not commented.

Syria's foreign minister said the government will endeavor to provide the necessary conditions to process and securely store the materials.