Israel deepens operation in Lebanon as ceasefire falters
Israel is deepening its operation in Lebanon, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday, in a sign that the fragile ceasefire around the conflict is under further strain. The statement points to a fresh escalation in a confrontation that has already spread across parts of Lebanon and drawn in repeated cross-border attacks. The supplied material does not give details of new strikes or casualties, but it confirms a further intensification of Israeli military activity.Netanyahu's comment was made on 26 May 2026, according to the supplied row. The wording suggests a deliberate widening or continuation of the campaign rather than a... [Continue Reading]
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Trump demands Iran surrender amid claims its navy and air force are destroyed
President Donald Trump made multiple posts on Truth Social in the last hour: - "If Iran surrenders, admits their Navy is gone and resting at the bottom of the sea, and their Air Force is no longer with us, and if their entire Military walks out of Tehran, weapons dropped and hands held high, each shouting "I surrender, I surrender" while wildly waving the representative White Flag, and if their entire remaining Leadership signs all necessary "Documents of Surrender, " and admit their defeat to the great power and force of the magnificent U. A., The Failing New York Times,... [Continue Reading]
Israeli forces kill Palestinian man in Jenin refugee camp
Israeli forces have killed a Palestinian man inside the Jenin refugee camp in the northern West Bank, according to the Israeli military and the Palestinian health ministry. The incident took place during an arrest procedure in the camp, which lies adjacent to the city of Jenin. The victim was identified by a hospital director as Nasser al-Saadi.The Israeli military said its troops shot a man who had thrown stones at soldiers inside the camp. It said the soldiers had initiated a suspect arrest procedure and fired at what it described as a threat. The Ramallah-based health ministry said a citizen... [Continue Reading]
HRW alleges UAE was transit point for Colombian mercenaries heading to Sudan
Human Rights Watch has alleged that Colombian mercenaries were recruited by a United Arab Emirates-based company and moved through Emirati military bases on their way to support Rapid Support Forces fighters in Sudan. The rights group said the men were then deployed to the Darfur region, where the RSF now holds much of the territory. The UAE has denied allowing its territory to be used for the recruitment, training, financing or transit of foreign fighters to any conflict, including Sudan.The allegations were published on 26 May and are based on interviews with Colombian mercenaries carried out between March and September... [Continue Reading]
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Israel steps up strikes in Lebanon as Hezbollah keeps up attacks
Israel has stepped up strikes in Lebanon as Hezbollah continues rocket and drone attacks on Israeli troops, according to the latest report on the cross-border fighting. The escalation adds to an already active confrontation along the Israel-Lebanon frontier. It also raises the risk that the violence could widen further.The report says Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group, has kept up its attacks on Israeli forces while the Israeli side intensifies its own military action. No casualty figures were given in the supplied material, and there was no detailed breakdown of the locations hit. The timing of the latest developments suggests the... [Continue Reading]
Libyan forces detain Gaza aid convoy activists at Sirte checkpoint
Forces loyal to Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar have detained members of a land convoy trying to bring aid to Gaza at a checkpoint in Sirte. The incident involved activists travelling as part of a convoy intended to deliver assistance by road. After the detention, activists from Europe and the United States released pre-recorded video appeals.The confirmed details available so far indicate that the detention took place at a checkpoint in Sirte on 26 May 2026. The forces involved were described as loyal to Haftar, who commands a powerful armed faction in eastern Libya. No further information has been given on... [Continue Reading]
Iran warns regional states over US bases amid ceasefire tensions
Iran's supreme leader has warned that regional countries will no longer act as shields for US bases, in a written statement carried by state television. The remarks by Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei were issued in a message marking the Eid al-Adha holiday and come as Iran and the United States continue exchanges aimed at reaching a deal to end the war that began on 28 February. A fragile ceasefire has been in place since 8 April, but both sides have continued to accuse each other of violations.In the statement, Khamenei said the region's nations and lands would no longer serve as... [Continue Reading]
Tokyo and Asia-Pacific Close Sharply Higher as Nikkei Surges, Oil Slides and Risk Appetite Broadens
Executive summary: Tokyo led a powerful Asia-Pacific session, with the Nikkei 225 jumping +8.7% and the Kospi rising +7.3%, while the ASX 200 added +0.6%. The move came alongside a steep drop in WTI crude, a firmer yen only marginally changing, and a softer USD/CNY, pointing to a broad risk-on tone across equities, commodities and FX. [Continue Reading]
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Hajj begins in Saudi Arabia as pilgrims face regional war fears
Muslims have begun the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia as the region remains unsettled by the Iran war. Saudi authorities said last week that 1.51 million pilgrims had arrived from outside the kingdom, a figure that is 11,000 higher than last year. The pilgrimage is taking place amid concerns about renewed conflict, air traffic disruption and higher travel costs.The row of pilgrims began the first day of Hajj in Mecca, where they gathered at the Grand Mosque and performed tawaf around the Kaaba. They then travelled to Mina, about 5km away, where they are due to spend the night... [Continue Reading]
Russia threatens fresh systematic strikes on Kyiv and urges foreign nationals to leave
Russia has threatened a fresh wave of what it called "systematic strikes" against Kyiv, days after one of the largest attacks on the Ukrainian capital since the start of the war. In a statement, Russia's foreign ministry said the new strikes would target "decision-making centres and command posts" as well as drone manufacturing facilities in the city. It also urged foreign nationals and diplomats to leave Kyiv "as soon as possible" and warned people to stay away from administrative and military buildings.The warning came after large-scale Russian strikes on Saturday night that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said killed four people... [Continue Reading]
Russian overnight strike hits Kyiv with missiles and drones
Russian forces carried out an overnight attack on Ukraine that centred on the capital, Kyiv, the source said. The strike reportedly involved some 90 missiles and 60 drones. The text says the attack included a powerful hypersonic ballistic missile. No casualty count, damage total, or specific target list is provided in the source. A senior United Nations official in Ukraine responded by calling for an end to civilian harm. The source does not attribute any further operational details, assessment of impact, or immediate follow-up actions. The report remains limited to the overnight strike description and the UN appeal. No additional... [Continue Reading]
More than 30 killed in suicide bombing targeting train carrying military personnel in Pakistan
More than 30 people have been killed after a suicide bombing targeted a train carrying military personnel in Pakistan, according to the supplied report. The attack took place on 24 May and was described as a suicide bombing, with the train carrying military personnel at the time. The incident is a fresh national-security event with immediate implications for rail security and military transport.The confirmed death toll in the supplied material is more than 30, which is higher than the earlier figure of at least 24 in the existing article. The row identifies the attack as a suicide bombing and says... [Continue Reading]
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Abandoned Gaza aid flotilla boat washes ashore in Egypt
A small boat believed to be part of the Global Sumud Flotilla has washed ashore in Alexandria, Egypt, after a week in which activists on the wider convoy were intercepted at sea. The vessel was reported to have been carrying aid for Gaza. Its appearance on Egypt's Mediterranean coast adds a new maritime development to an already sensitive aid operation.The confirmed details are limited, but the boat is described as abandoned and linked to the flotilla. Activists were intercepted and detained by Israeli forces in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea last week, according to the available report. No further... [Continue Reading]
Kyiv reels after Russian drone and missile strike as military death toll remains unclear
Kyiv was hit by a Russian drone and missile strike on 24 May, with the Ukrainian capital described as reeling from the attack. The incident is the latest deadly strike reported against Ukraine in the ongoing war, and it again placed the city at the centre of the conflict's long-range air campaign. The supplied material does not give a full damage assessment, but it confirms that the attack was severe enough to be described as deadly.The report from Kyiv says there is still uncertainty over the death toll among military personnel. No exact casualty figure is provided in the supplied... [Continue Reading]
Britain prepares mine-clearing mission linked to Strait of Hormuz
British forces in Gibraltar are ready to deploy autonomous mine-hunting equipment for a possible mission connected to the Strait of Hormuz. The preparation is described as contingent on a peace agreement being reached. The reported staging point is Gibraltar, at the tip of Spain, where the equipment is being readied.The only confirmed detail is that the forces are preparing autonomous mine-hunting equipment rather than carrying out an active operation. The mission would be tied to clearing the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic maritime chokepoint. No timing for deployment has been given beyond the condition that a peace agreement would need... [Continue Reading]
White House locked down after reported gunfire near checkpoint
Police and security forces locked down the White House on Saturday evening after shots were reported in the area near a checkpoint. A US law enforcement official said a suspect approached the checkpoint and fired at officers. The suspect was later taken to hospital, and no law enforcement personnel were injured.Journalists inside the White House complex reported hearing a series of gunshots and were told to shelter in the press briefing room. Security officers prevented them from leaving while the response unfolded. The incident took place while President Donald Trump was at the White House.The reported shooting prompted an immediate... [Continue Reading]
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Reports of shots fired near White House prompt police and FBI response in Washington
Police and security forces responded on Thursday evening after reports of shots fired near the White House in Washington, DC. The incident was reported near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, close to the White House grounds. President Donald Trump was at the White House at the time, according to the supplied report.FBI Director Kash Patel said FBI agents were on scene and supporting Secret Service members in response to the reports. He said he would update the public "as we're able". The US Secret Service said it was aware of the reports and that the location was near the... [Continue Reading]
Thousands rally in Taipei for higher defence spending amid China tensions
Thousands of people have rallied in Taipei in support of higher defence spending, in a public show of concern over Taiwan's security situation. The demonstration came after a US military official said Washington was pausing a $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan. Organisers and participants linked the call for more spending to the island's need for stronger deterrence as pressure from China continues.The reported pause was said to be tied to conserving munitions for the war on Iran. That detail has added a wider international dimension to an issue that is already central to Taiwan's defence planning. The rally took... [Continue Reading]
Spanish police clash with Gaza flotilla activists at Bilbao Airport
Spanish police clashed with members of the Global Sumud Flotilla and their supporters at Bilbao Airport after the activists returned from Israeli detention. Videos from the scene showed officers beating and dragging people during the confrontation. Four people were reportedly detained on allegations of civil disobedience.The incident took place after the last of the Gaza-bound aid boats in the flotilla were seized by Israeli forces earlier this week. The activists involved had already been held in Israeli detention before returning to Spain. The reported detentions at the airport came as supporters gathered around the returning group.The clash adds a new... [Continue Reading]
Israeli forces arrest two children during raid in occupied West Bank village of al-Mughayyir
Israeli forces arrested two children during a raid on the occupied West Bank village of al-Mughayyir, according to video footage described in the supplied material. The images show two siblings being made to sit on the ground beside a military jeep with their hands behind their heads. One of the children is then blindfolded before both are taken away.The incident was reported on 23 May 2026 and is linked to a raid in al-Mughayyir, a village in the occupied West Bank. The supplied material does not give the ages of the children or say why they were detained. It also... [Continue Reading]
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France bans Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir after flotilla detainee video
France has announced a ban on Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from entering French territory after a video showed him mocking activists detained from a Gaza-bound aid flotilla. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the move took effect immediately and was linked to what he described as Ben-Gvir's "reprehensible actions" towards French and European citizens involved in the humanitarian mission. The decision adds a new diplomatic layer to an already tense dispute over the treatment of the activists and Israel's interception of the convoy.According to the French statement, the ban follows a video published by Ben-Gvir on Wednesday showing... [Continue Reading]
Eleven Irish Gaza flotilla detainees due to arrive in Dublin after deportation via Turkey
Eleven Irish citizens detained after Israeli forces intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla are due to arrive at Dublin Airport this lunchtime. The group is expected to land on a Pegasus flight from Istanbul at about 1pm, after being deported from Israel via Turkey. Supporters and family members are expected to meet them on arrival.The Department of Foreign Affairs says it is providing all appropriate consular assistance. The Irish citizens were among 14 from Ireland and 430 people in total detained when the flotilla was boarded in international waters. The activists had been part of a convoy seeking to break the... [Continue Reading]
Moscow residents shaken by recent Ukrainian drone attacks
Residents in Moscow have described recent drone attacks as a major shock, after the conflict reached the Russian capital region in recent days. The incident has drawn attention because it brought the war closer to the seat of the Kremlin's power. The supplied material says people who experienced the attacks were deeply shaken by what they saw as the conflict coming home.The confirmed detail available is limited, but it places the attacks in recent days and links them to the wider Russia-Ukraine war. The account does not give a casualty figure, damage total or a precise strike location within the... [Continue Reading]
Fear the Shia, Arm the Sunnis: The Uncomfortable Numbers Behind America’s War Narrative
“When fear is managed carefully enough, a nation can be taught to look away from the blood on the floor and stare instead at the shadow on the wall.” A friend of mine, whose name I will not reveal because he asked me not to, sat across from me over dinner and placed a question on the table that would not leave me alone. He was born into a Muslim Shia background, and for the angle of this article, that detail matters, not because I wish to reduce a man to a sect, but because sect has become one of... [Continue Reading]
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Israeli strike hits central Gaza camps despite ceasefire agreement
Israeli forces struck the Nuseirat and Bureij refugee camps in central Gaza on 23 May, injuring dozens, according to the supplied report. The attack took place despite an ongoing ceasefire agreement, making it a fresh escalation in the conflict. The incident was reported from central Gaza and described as a strike on two densely populated refugee camps.The available material says video footage showed the moment the camps were hit. It does not give a precise casualty count beyond saying dozens were injured. No further details were provided on the timing within the day, the type of weapon used, or whether... [Continue Reading]
Gaza flotilla activists allege abuse after deportation from Israel
Hundreds of activists from the Global Sumud Gaza flotilla have arrived in Turkey after being deported from Israel, with some appearing bruised and others travelling in wheelchairs or on stretchers. On arrival, several of the returnees alleged they had been beaten and sexually assaulted by Israeli forces. The claims add a new layer to an already sensitive dispute over the interception of the Gaza-bound flotilla at sea.The latest arrivals were reported on Thursday, following the deportation process that began after the vessels were intercepted earlier in the week. The supplied report says more than 430 activists were detained after the... [Continue Reading]
Ukraine tightens border security with Belarus over attack fears
Ukraine said on Thursday that it is ramping up security in regions bordering Belarus amid warnings that Russia could use Belarusian territory to launch a fresh attack. The move comes after weeks of alerts from Kyiv about the risk of a new offensive from the north. Officials have said such an attack could include a push towards the capital, Kyiv.The confirmed announcement was made on 22 May 2026, according to the supplied material. It says Ukraine is increasing security along the border with Belarus, which Kyiv describes as a possible launch point for renewed military action. The warning is tied... [Continue Reading]
Trump says 5,000 US troops will be sent to Poland
President Donald Trump has said the United States will send 5,000 troops to Poland, in a move that comes after Washington said an earlier planned deployment had been called off. The announcement adds to uncertainty over the US military posture in Europe and places fresh attention on NATO's eastern flank. It also links a force decision directly to Trump's relationship with Poland's president, Karol Nawrocki.Trump said the move was based on his relationship with Nawrocki, whom he described as a nationalist ally and said he was proud to endorse in elections that Nawrocki won last year. The pledge was made... [Continue Reading]
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U.S. used more advanced interceptors than Israel in defence against Iran attacks, Pentagon data show
The American military expended far more advanced interceptors than Israeli forces while helping defend Israel during hostilities with Iran, according to Defence Department data. The assessment points to a significant role for U.S. air and missile defence assets in the current confrontation. It also underlines the scale of the burden carried by Washington as the conflict has intensified.The data cited by the Defence Department indicate that U.S. systems were used more heavily than Israel's own forces in intercepting incoming threats. The row does not give a precise number of interceptors fired, nor does it specify the exact timing of each... [Continue Reading]
Iranian MP says Tehran is restraining military from striking US fleet amid Gulf tensions
Political leaders in Tehran are holding back the military from launching high-intensity attacks on US naval assets in the Persian Gulf, according to an Iranian member of parliament on a key national security committee. The comments point to internal friction inside Iran's decision-making structure at a time of heightened tension over a US blockade and the risk of a naval confrontation. The lawmaker said the restraint was being applied by political authorities and traditional decision-making bodies rather than by the armed forces themselves.Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani, who sits on the parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, said Iran had so... [Continue Reading]
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Ukraine says it struck Syzran oil refinery in Russia's Samara region
Ukraine says it carried out a long-range drone strike on the Syzran oil refinery in Russia's Samara region, causing a large fire at the site. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the facility had been hit and shared video showing flames and black smoke rising from what appeared to be the refinery. The attack was reported on Thursday and is the latest in a series of Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure.Zelenskyy said he thanked the Unmanned Systems Forces and the Special Operations Forces for what he described as a precise operation. The Special Operations Forces said they had worked with... [Continue Reading]
Gaza ceasefire phase two stalled as Board of Peace blames Hamas
A report from the Board of Peace says Hamas is the main obstacle to moving the Gaza ceasefire into its second phase. The report, prepared for the UN Security Council, says repeated violations have continued despite the truce and that the next steps remain stalled. Nickolay Mladenov, the board's high representative for Gaza, is due to present the findings to the council on Thursday.The report says Hamas is refusing verified decommissioning, relinquishing coercive control and allowing a genuine civilian transition in Gaza. It also says institutions, resources and plans are already in place to take the next steps, but that... [Continue Reading]
Iran warns of strikes beyond the Middle East if US attacks resume
Iran has warned that it could strike beyond the Middle East if the United States resumes attacks, sharpening the threat of further escalation in the confrontation between the two countries. The warning came as President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance said progress was being made toward a deal, while keeping open the possibility of renewed strikes. The latest exchange adds to a fragile and fast-moving standoff in which diplomacy and deterrence are being pursued at the same time.The immediate trigger was a statement reported on 20 May, in which Iran said any renewed US attack would be met... [Continue Reading]
Pentagon says U.S. will cut thousands of troops from Europe
The Pentagon is planning to reduce the number of U.S. troops stationed in Europe by thousands, according to the supplied report. The move would mark a significant change in American force posture across the continent. It comes as Poland is specifically mentioned in connection with forces whose deployment was abruptly halted last week.The only confirmed detail in the supplied material is that Poland had been set to receive troops before that deployment was stopped. The report does not give a final number for the reduction, nor does it identify which units would be affected. It also does not say when... [Continue Reading]
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Lebanon says 19 killed in Israeli air strikes in the south
Israeli air strikes have killed at least 19 people in southern Lebanon, according to the country's health ministry. The ministry said the dead included civilians, with ten people killed in a single strike on a house in Deir Qanoun. It said the attack also wounded three people, including a young girl.The ministry said three children and three women were among those killed in Deir Qanoun. It added that a further nine people were killed and 29 injured in strikes in the Nabatieh and Tyre districts. The latest deaths came less than a week after the United States said Lebanon and... [Continue Reading]
CENTCOM chief clashes with lawmakers at Iran hearing in Washington
Adm. Brad Cooper, the head of U.S. Central Command, faced sharp questioning from House Democrats during a hearing in Washington focused on the conflict with Iran.The exchange drew attention after Cooper accused one lawmaker of making an inappropriate remark. The hearing centred on questions about the conflict and the posture of U.S. forces. The only confirmed detail from the hearing is that Cooper appeared frustrated as lawmakers pressed him on a range of issues linked to the Iran conflict.The row involved House Democrats, but the supplied material does not identify the specific questions raised beyond that broad subject. It also... [Continue Reading]
GAS, GOD, AND GUNS: The Secret Agenda Behind the Washington Talks and the Death of the Maritime Border
The mahogany tables of the U.S. State Department are hosting a ghost today. As official delegations from Israel and Lebanon convene for a third round of high-stakes negotiations this Friday, May 8, 2026, the air in Washington is thick with the scent of a "peace" that looks increasingly like a strategic ambush. While the world watches the diplomatic theatre, the reality on the ground in Southern Lebanon tells a story of a predatory recalibration. Prime Minister Netanyahu isn’t just looking for a ceasefire; he is aiming to hit three birds with one single, devastating stone: the annexation of land, the... [Continue Reading]
The Mirage of the Umbrella: The Shifting Sands of the U.S.-Israel-GCC Alliance
As I sat in a recent debate at the historic Carlton Club in London, listening to Faisal Abbas, the Editor-in-Chief of Arab News, I felt a tangible shift in the room, not because a new fact had been revealed, but because an old illusion had finally lost its last breath. The old-world order has not merely changed, it has evaporated, leaving the Gulf to realize it is no longer watching a distant fire from the safety of marble towers and air-conditioned ministries, but is instead standing directly inside the smoke. The GCC today is caught in a lethal crossfire between... [Continue Reading]
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The Madness of Power, From Balfour to the Edge of World War Three
A Voice in the Wilderness of War: Who Still Dares to Speak Truth While Empires March There are moments in history when the world suddenly accelerates toward disaster, moments when anyone who has studied history can feel the temperature rising even before the explosions reach their peak. The current escalation in the Middle East is one of those moments. According to the facts we now see unfolding, the United States and Israel made the unilateral decision to attack Iran without the approval of the United Nations, without a global coalition mandate, and without the support of most of the international... [Continue Reading]
The Proving Ground, When “Decent” Reporting Meets High-Tech Warfare
For two decades I have watched wars unfold not only on battlefields, but on screens. Today’s incident over Kuwait, involving the downing of a U.S. F-15 Strike Eagle, is not just another headline in the Iran conflict. It may be a signal that something larger is unfolding behind the noise. Iranian state outlets rapidly circulated imagery of an ejected pilot. Washington responded cautiously. But beneath the spectacle lies a deeper question, whose technology was truly being tested? The Gulf as a live-fire laboratory For years, China has refined export-ready variants of its air defense systems, particularly the HQ-9 family and... [Continue Reading]
There Is Good in Every Bad
Power, Greed, Oil, and the Theater of Modern Geopolitics The Business Model of Power Donald Trump does not govern like a traditional politician. He governs like a negotiator who believes every geopolitical crisis is leverage, every war threat is a bargaining chip, and every market panic is an opportunity. When markets tremble, someone profits. The question is, who? Global markets react instantly to political tension. Gold rises when conflict looms. Oil spikes when instability threatens production. Stock markets collapse on fear, then rebound on reassurance. Volatility is not chaos, it is opportunity. Historically, gold has surged during major geopolitical crises,... [Continue Reading]




