The Lebanese Army announced that one of its soldiers was killed in an Israeli airstrike on the Nabatieh–Kfar Tebnit road in South Lebanon.
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‘A service to Israel’: Lebanese president warns against internal division
(June 2, 2026)
In a post by the Lebanese presidency on X, Aoun said Lebanon is committed to preserving peace, adding “anyone who fuels [division] provides a service to Israel”.
Aoun highlighted that Lebanon has lost more than 3,000 people during the conflict, with about one million displaced and thousands of homes destroyed.
“There is no horizon for ending this situation,” he said, adding it’s the state’s duty to protect its citizens and “there is no other option but negotiation”.
Area members of Congress face another Iran ‘war powers’ vote
When Congress returns to work in June, both the House and Senate are expected to vote on resolutions that would force Trump to stop military strikes against Iran, what’s known as a “war powers” resolution.
House GOP leaders postponed a vote on that before Memorial Day — worried that Republicans would lose that vote for a first time.
Iran says ceasefire in Lebanon remains condition for US deal
Iran’s Foreign Ministry said on June 1 that a ceasefire in Lebanon remains a key condition for any deal with the US to end the Middle East war.
“We insist that a ceasefire in Lebanon is an essential condition for any deal aimed at ending the war,” the ministry’s spokesman, Esmaeil Baqaei, said at a weekly news briefing, as Israel expands its offensive in Lebanon.
Lebanon‘s president says country has ‚no other choice‘ but to continue negotiations
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said that negotiations are „safer than war“, adding that the country has „no other choice“.
„We have seen, and continue to see, the devastation and consequences of war. Negotiations will not solve the problem overnight, but they are a process that takes time, and we have no other choice,“ Aoun told reporters.
Report: Israel Pressing the US To Assassinate Iran’s Lead Negotiator
Israel is pressing the US to restart heavy airstrikes on Iran that would involve the targeted killing of Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, one of Tehran’s lead negotiators, and attacks on the country’s oil infrastructure, Capital & Empire reported on Thursday.
The report, which cited US sources familiar with a classified report circulating within the US intelligence community, said Israel is aggressively pushing for the US to abandon talks with Iran and insisting that destroying oil infrastructure in the country could bring about regime change while also downplaying the impact the renewed full-scale war will have on the global economy.
Red lines not red carpets: Why Italy & Germany must support suspending EU-Israel Agreement
(May 11, 2026)
Millions of people around the world are demanding that their leaders act to stop Israel’s violations. Humanity must win.
US, Iran close in on 60-day truce deal, but Trump says he is ‘not satisfied’ yet
But US Vice President JD Vance said Trump — who was notably silent throughout the day — had yet to sign on the dotted line. There was no immediate reaction from Iran.
Joint List Factions Ready to Form Alliance of Independent Parties Ahead of Elections.
According to Jabareen, “The dissolution of the Joint List in 2021 was a severe mistake that cost the Arab public political power and influence. Today, everyone understands this.” He added that despite ideological gaps with Ra’am, “The price of running separately will be unbearable—a drop in voter turnout and the continuation of the far-right rule.” He also emphasized that intensive talks are underway to reach agreements: “We are doing everything we can to bring hope back to our public.”
Representatives from Hadash and two Arab partiers, Balad, and Ta’al held a joint meeting last night to accelerate the reunification of the Joint List and remove obstacles toward an agreement. The three parties emphasized their consensus on core political issues and highlighted the importance of ongoing political and parliamentary coordination after the elections.
In a joint statement, the parties declared: “We would like Ra’am to be a partner in the political agreement, but we are aware of the significant gaps between our positions regarding the character and path of the Joint List. Nevertheless, recognizing the importance of unity against existential threats, the parties expressed willingness to reach an agreement with Ra’am based on a ‘technical joint list’ for the elections, aiming to raise voter turnout, strengthen Arab representation, and topple the far-right government.”
Senate Votes to Take Up Measure to Force Trump to End Iran War
The Senate on Tuesday agreed to take up a measure that would force President Trump to end the war in Iran or win authorization from Congress to continue it, after a handful of Republicans joined Democrats in pushing forward with a resolution the G.O.P. has managed to block for months.
Trump’s Approval Sinks Amid Unpopular War, Darkening G.O.P. Prospects
Just 26 percent of voters said they were satisfied with the Democratic Party.
The discontent includes a significant number of Democrats who expressed reservations about their own party. Forty-four percent of Democrats described themselves as unsatisfied, while just 23 percent of Republicans said the same about their party.
“They’re just not fighting back hard enough in my eyes,” said Matthew Berryhill, 35, a recruiter from Marietta, Ga., a pivotal battleground area in the state’s key Senate race this year, who described himself as a progressive Democrat. “They come out with strong statements and strong words, and no action to back it up.”
Gulf States to Win NATO Summit Invites With Iran War on Agenda
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is planning to invite representative from four Gulf states to the summit in Ankara with the Iran war and the transatlantic rift likely to loom large over the talks, said people familiar with the matter.
The countries — Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates — are all members of the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, a partnership between NATO and non-members in the broader Middle East.
Test us again, you will repeat your failures: Iran FM to adversaries
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned the United States and the Israeli regime against attempting fresh military action against Iran, saying past confrontations had failed to achieve their objectives and any future attempt would yield the same outcome.
Trump’s talk of 51st US state met with near-silence in Venezuela
(May 14, 2026)
Twice this week, U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed interest in turning Venezuela into his country’s 51st state. The latest came via a Truth Social post Tuesday with a map showing the South American country filled with the U.S. flag.
Previous statements doubting Venezuela’s sovereignty over the past 25 years have been met with immediate derision from senior government officials, including the president.
CIA director John Ratcliffe meets with Venezuela‘s interim president Delcy Rodríguez in Caracas
(January 16, 2026)
CIA director John Ratcliffe met with Venezuela‘s interim President Delcy Rodríguez for two hours Thursday in Venezuela‘s capital, Caracas, to „deliver the message that the United States looks forward to an improved working relationship,“ a U.S. official told CBS News Friday.
The official described the trip as historic, noting that Ratcliffe was the first Cabinet-level official to visit Venezuela since the U.S. military operation to remove the country‘s autocratic leader Nicolás Maduro nearly two weeks ago.
CIA director meets with top officials in Havana, Cuban government says
A U.S. delegation led by CIA director John Ratcliffe met with his counterpart at Cuba‘s Interior Ministry in Havana on Thursday, the Cuban government said in a statement, as tensions worsen over a U.S. fuel blockade that has starved the island of fuel and power generation.
Pomp & circumstance: Xi welcomes Trump before bilateral talks
Xi Jinping told President Trump their countries should be “partners rather than opponents” as they began a high-stakes summit in Beijing. Over two days of meetings, they are expected to discuss a range of thorny issues, including tech, trade and Taiwan.
Cuba Calls On US To Lift Blockade Following Aid Offer
In a post on X, Diaz-Canel urged the United States to instead lift its blockade.
„The damage could be eased in a much simpler and faster way by lifting or relaxing the blockade, since it is known that the humanitarian situation is coldly calculated and induced,“ he said.
But, if Washington showed „true willingness“ to provide aid, he added, „it will encounter no obstacles or ingratitude from Cuba.“
Trump dragged America into a war—an illegal, costly war without any goals or without any endgame—and has the nerve to call it a “mini-war” The best way to lower costs and end this chaos is to end this illegal war: Democrats are forcing a seventh vote on our War Powers Resolution this week to withdraw U.S. troops from hostilities with Iran
If Republicans vote against our resolution, they will continue to bear the blame for Trump’s war
Potential strike on Iran by June: UK, France gather 40 nations to discuss reopening Strait of Hormuz
In the “Potential Strike on Iran by June” market, the likelihood of a strike by the UK, France, or Germany is currently priced at 4.3% YES, showing minimal change from previous days. In parallel, the “Warships Through Strait of Hormuz by May 31” market reflects a 12% YES probability for UK warships passing through, maintaining the same level as 24 hours ago.
Treffen der Verteidigungsminister zu Hormuz-Einsatz
Großbritannien und Frankreich veranstalten am Dienstag eine Videokonferenz zur Absicherung der Schifffahrt in der Straße von Hormuz. Über 40 Staaten sollen an dem Treffen teilnehmen. Dabei werden militärische Beiträge zur Wiedereröffnung und Sicherung der Straße von Hormuz besprochen, sobald die Umstände dies zulassen. Verteidigungsministerin Claudia Tanner (ÖVP) ist nicht unter den Teilnehmenden.
US and UK discuss reopening Strait of Hormuz
Talks between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz ahead of a meeting involving defence ministers from around 40 countries, according to the United States Department of State.
The discussions come amid continued disruption to global shipping and energy flows linked to the conflict involving Iran.
British Defence Secretary John Healey and French counterpart Catherine Vautrin are expected to co-chair the coalition meeting later on Tuesday.
Red lines not red carpets: Why Italy & Germany must support suspending EU-Israel Agreement
Millions of people around the world are demanding that their leaders act to stop Israel’s violations. Humanity must win.
Arab parties meeting to discuss reuniting into Joint List bloc
Last month, the Hadash party announced that it would promote direct dialogue with other Arab parties to explore the revival of the Joint List, which at its peak in 2015 and 2020 became the third-largest bloc in the Knesset and briefly held kingmaker influence.
The Hadash source said that several discussions have since taken place but that Monday’s was the first to be publicized, signaling “momentum.”
The bloc split due to internal fighting in 2021 when Mansour Abbas’s Islamist United Arab List (Ra’am) broke away and it collapsed the following year ahead of the 2022 election.
Occupation Soldiers Detained Solidarity Delegations Supporting Palestinian Victims of Settlers Terror
he delegations to Bethlehem and the Jordan Valley, were stopped by soldiers and police officers, and activists held protests on the scene. In other areas, activities proceeded as planned. “While settler terror gangs operated across the West Bank unhindered, the police and army blocked hundreds of activists this morning who came to demonstrate solidarity with the victims,” one of the participants told Zo Haderekh.
Hundreds of activists from a wide range of organizations took part in the protest, including Partnership for Peace, Rabbis for Human Rights, Peace Now, Hadash, Zazim, The Parents Circle-Families Forum, Standing Together, Jordan Valley Activists, Looking the Occupation in the Eye, Women Wage Peace, A Land for All, Combatants for Peace, Breaking the Silence, and Mothers Against Violence.
Partnership for Peace stated: “Hundreds of Israelis who set out to oppose terror and demand the state enforce the law in the occupied territories were detained at all checkpoints. It was proven that when the army wants to, it can act efficiently. We expect authorities to show the same determination in protecting innocent people who undergo daily violent pogrom attacks. We will not stop striving for peace, justice, and equality for all residents of the region.” “We will continue the struggle against the occupation and ethnic cleansing! They will not succeed in stopping us!” they emphasized.
Trump’s abrupt U-turn on a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz came after backlash from allies
(May 6, 2026)
Trump surprised Gulf allies by announcing “Project Freedom” on social media Sunday afternoon, the officials said, angering leadership in Saudi Arabia. In response, the Kingdom informed the U.S. it would not allow the U.S. military to fly aircraft from Prince Sultan Airbase southeast of Riyadh or fly through Saudi airspace to support the effort, the officials said.
A call between Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman did not resolve the issue, the two U.S. officials said, forcing the president to pause Project Freedom in order to restore U.S. military access to the critical airspace.
Herzog met secretly with pro-Netanyahu journalist Bardugo to discuss pardon — report
President Isaac Herzog secretly met with journalist Jacob Bardugo, a confidante of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in late March to discuss the premier’s request for a pardon, Channel 12 news reports.
The nighttime meeting at an apartment in Shoham, which was not revealed to the public, took place shortly before Herzog urged dialogue between the sides on a plea bargain. It also came about after bitter criticism of Herzog by Bardugo on the pro-Netanyahu Channel 14 for not pardoning the prime minister, who has refused to admit wrongdoing despite High Court precedent indicating he must do so for a pardon.