Pak Deploys Thousands Of Troops, Jets In Saudi: Report
ISLAMABAD, May 18: Pakistan has deployed 8,000 troops, a squadron of fighter jets and an air defence system to Saudi Arabia under a mutual defence pact, ramping up military cooperation with Riyadh even as Islamabad serves as the main mediator in the Iran war.
The deployment, the full scale of which is reported here for the first time, was confirmed by three security officials and two government sources, all of whom described it as a substantial, combat-capable force intended to support Saudi Arabia's military if the kingdom comes under further attack.
Pakistan's military and foreign office and Saudi Arabia's government media office did not respond to requests for comment on the deployment.
The full terms of the defence agreement, signed last year, are confidential, but both sides have said it requires Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to come to each other's defence in the event of an attack. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has previously implied that it places Saudi Arabia under Pakistan's nuclear umbrella.
According to the sources, Pakistan has deployed a full squadron of around 16 aircraft, mostly JF-17 fighters made jointly with China, which were sent to Saudi Arabia in early April. Two of the security officials said Pakistan had also sent two squadrons of drones.
All five sources said the deployment includes around 8,000 troops, with a pledge to send more if needed, as well as a Chinese HQ-9 air defence system.
The equipment is operated by Pakistani personnel and financed by Saudi Arabia, they said.
The military and air force personnel deployed during the Iran conflict will primarily have an advisory and training role, according to two of the security officials, who said they had seen exchanges between the two countries and documents on the military assets' deployment.
The deployment adds to thousands of Pakistani troops with a combat role that were already stationed in the kingdom under previous agreements, all three security officials said.
One of the government sources, who has seen the text of the confidential defence pact, said it provides for the possibility of up to 80,000 Pakistani troops being deployed to Saudi Arabia, to help secure the kingdom's borders alongside Saudi forces.
Two of the security officials said the agreement also involved the deployment of Pakistani warships.
The scale and composition of the deployment - combat aircraft, air defences and thousands of troops - mean Pakistan has sent far more than a symbolic or advisory mission, the sources said.
Drone strike causes fire at UAE's Nuclear Power Plant in Abu Dhabi
ABU DHABI, May 17: The UAE defence ministry on Sunday said it dealt with three drones on Sunday, one of which hit near Barakah Nuclear Plant. It further said the drones were launched from the Western border and that the probe is on to find the source of the attacks.
A fire broke out outside the inner perimeter of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the Al Dhafra Region following a drone strike on an electrical generator, the Abu Dhabi Media Office said on Sunday.
No injuries were reported, radiological safety levels were unaffected and the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation confirmed the plant's essential systems are operating normally.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), UN's nuclear watchdog, said that it has been informed by the UAE authorities that there are no radiation risks following the drone attack. The IAEA also said they are following the situation closely and are ready to provide assistance if needed.
Tehran prepares mechanism to manage traffic through the Strait of Hormuz
TEHRAN, May 16: Iranian state television said on Saturday that European countries were in talks with Tehran regarding the passage of ships through Strait of Hormuz. “Following the passage of ships from East Asian countries notably China, Japan and Pakistan we received information today indicating that Europeans have also begun negotiations with the Revolutionary Guards navy” to obtain permission to transit, state television reported.
This comes after the head of the Iranian parliament's national security committee Ebrahim Azizi said that Tehran has prepared a mechanism to manage traffic through the Strait of Hormuz along a designated route which will be announced soon. Azizi added that Iran would also collect fees under the system.
Israel, Lebanon extend ceasefire
WASHINGTON, May 16: Lebanon and Israel on Friday extended a ceasefire for 45 days, despite a new flare-up in violence, the US State Department said after mediating talks.
"The April 16 cessation of hostilities will be extended by 45 days to enable further progress," State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said.
The department would hold negotiations aimed at reaching a permanent political agreement on June 2 and 3, he said, adding that the Pentagon would bring together delegations from the countries' militaries on May 29.
BRICS talks end without joint statement as divisions over Iran war deepen
NEW DELHI, May 15: The BRICS alliance of major developing economies has failed to issue a joint statement after their two-day meeting in India, amid internal divisions over the Iran war which is affecting several members.
India hosted the foreign ministers’ meeting in New Delhi and currently chairs the alliance. BRICS brings together core members Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, as well as newer members Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, Indonesia and the UAE.
India said on Friday that “there were differing views among some members” regarding the conflict in the Middle East.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday urged BRICS member states to condemn what he described as “violations of international law by the United States and Israel”.
The war has intensified tensions between Iran and its Gulf neighbours, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, a fellow BRICS+ member. Riyadh has yet to formally join the bloc.
Without directly naming the UAE, Araghchi told a news conference that a BRICS member had blocked parts of India’s statement. Iran repeatedly targeted its Gulf neighbour following the outbreak of the war on February 28, reportedly striking the UAE more than any other country involved in the conflict, including Israel.
“We have no difficulty with that certain country, they have not been our target in the current war. We only hit American military bases and American military installations, which are unfortunately on their soil,” Araghchi said.
The UAE representative, Minister of State, Khalifa bin Shaheen Al Marar, rejected Araghchi’s remarks, accusing him of attempting to justify “terrorist attacks” against the UAE and other Gulf states. Al Marar said Iran had launched approximately 3,000 attacks on the UAE using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones.
India’s statement highlighted areas of consensus among BRICS members, including calls for reforms to global governance institutions, such as the United Nations and the Security Council. The bloc reiterated its longstanding demand for greater representation of Global South countries within international institutions, reflecting its broader push for a multipolar world order.
The foreign ministers also discussed Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. They agreed that Gaza was an “inseparable part” of any future independent Palestinian state, stressing the importance of unifying the enclave with the occupied West Bank under the governance of the Palestinian Authority. However, the statement noted that one unnamed country had expressed reservations about certain aspects of the section on Gaza.
India signs MoU on strategic petroleum reserves, LPG Supplies with UAE
ABU DHABI, May 15: During his two-hour stop over in UAE, Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed several key deals, including petroleum and LPG supply. India and the United Arab Emirates signed key pacts on energy security, defence partnership and trade.
In Abu Dhabi, Modi held talks with the President of the UAE, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on key areas of cooperation, including trade, investment, energy security, and people-to-people ties. Both leaders signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) on a framework for the bilateral strategic defence partnership, the supply of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and strategic petroleum reserves, and an investment to the tune of $5 billion in Indian infrastructure and RBL Bank and Samman Capital.
An agreement was also signed for setting up a ship repair cluster at Vadinar, in the Dwarka district of Gujarat. The pacts would further deepen strategic and economic engagement between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi, one of India's key partners in the Gulf region.
Speaking during delegation-level talks in Abu Dhabi, the Prime Minister said, "India stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the UAE in every situation, and it will continue to do so. For the restoration of peace and stability, India will extend all possible cooperation."
Modi also condemned the Iranian attacks on the UAE amid war with the United States and Israel. He said it was important that the Strait of Hormuz remain "free and open" and added that international laws must be respected.
The Prime Minister thanked UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for strengthening the India-UAE comprehensive strategic partnership and said bilateral cooperation had gained greater importance in the current global situation.
Modi said both sides had agreed during the UAE President's January visit to India to qualitatively upgrade relations and had already made significant progress in a short span.
"I extend heartfelt gratitude to you for taking our comprehensive strategic partnership to new heights. During your visit to India in January, we agreed to qualitatively upgrade our relations. Even in such a small duration, we have made significant progress in all matters. In the kind of situation we have at hand today, the importance of India-UAE strategic cooperation has vastly increased. In the time to come, we will go ahead together in every area," he observed.
Modi said the impact of the conflict in the Middle East was being felt globally and stressed that dialogue and diplomacy remain the best way to resolve issues.
By Deepak Arora
 NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay a three-dan official visit to the Netherlands from May 15. The visit is at the invitation of Prime Minister of the Netherlands Rob Jetten. This will be Prime Minister’s second visit to the Netherlands after his previous visit in 2017, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs. During the visit, Prime Minister will call on their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima, and hold talks with Prime Minister Rob Jetten....more
Hamas Forced Captives From Israel To Have Sex With Family Members: Report
TEL AVIV, May 13: An independent Israeli investigation has detailed what it describes as a campaign of "systematic, widespread" sexual violence carried out by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups during the October 7, 2023 attacks and throughout the hostage crisis that followed.
The 300-page report alleges that rape, sexual torture and humiliation were used intentionally "to maximise pain and suffering", targeting not only individuals but entire families and communities.
According to the BBC, the findings are based on more than 430 interviews with survivors, eyewitnesses and former hostages, alongside over 10,000 photographs and videos recovered from attack sites and footage filmed by the attackers themselves. The inquiry is considered one of the most extensive examinations yet into allegations of sexual violence during the assault in which around 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage.
According to the report, women were assaulted both alive and after death, with witnesses recounting scenes of rape, mutilation and public degradation. Several testimonies describe victims being executed during or after sexual assault while bodies were allegedly displayed as trophies.
Investigators described some of the crimes as "kinocidal sexual violence", acts intended to shatter family structures and inflict long-term psychological devastation. Among the allegations are cases in which captives were threatened with forced marriage to captors and instances where relatives held together were allegedly coerced into performing sexual acts on one another.
"These acts weaponise the deepest human bonds to maximise pain and psychological devastation," the report read. "They exacerbate emotional distress and trauma beyond the initial acts and often create multigenerational trauma."
One section of the report details allegations involving two young relatives who were reportedly forced into sexual acts by their captors. Investigators said the case reflected what they called "a distinct pattern of violence targeting family members and exploiting familial relationships as instruments of terror".
Nova music festival survivor Raz Cohen described witnessing one of the attacks in testimony included in the report.
"The men pulled a woman from the vehicle ... forcibly removed her clothing, and raped her ... They repeatedly stabbed her, killing her ... They continued to rape her after her death," Cohen told i24 News.
Another survivor, Darin Komarov, recalled hearing the assaults unfold nearby.
"You hear it. It's right next to you. You hear the screams," he said. "And then you hear silence."
The report states that much of the alleged abuse took place during the massacres in Israeli communities and at the Nova music festival near the Gaza border, where more than 370 people were killed. However, investigators said sexual violence also continued during captivity inside Gaza, including in tunnels and safe houses where hostages were held for months.
Former hostage Agam Goldstein, who was held for more than a month before being released, described the psychological toll of captivity.
"It's these little things that break you. When you have no control over your body and no control over how to take care of your body," the 17-year-old said.
The commission also concluded that men, boys and elderly victims were subjected to sexual violence during the attacks and in captivity.
Witnesses cited in the report described seeing or hearing gang rapes at the Nova festival and in overrun kibbutzim and military bases. Multiple testimonies referred to bodies found partially unclothed or showing signs of genital mutilation. One male survivor alleged he had been treated like a "sex doll" by attackers.
The commission concluded that the acts documented in the investigation constituted war crimes, crimes against humanity and acts of genocide, according to the New York Post.
"The report reveals that sexual violence was a deliberate strategy, carried out with exceptional cruelty," said commission founder Dr. Cochav Elkayam-Levy.
"For two years, we have listened to survivors and witnesses, painstakingly examined the evidence, and confronted material that is often beyond comprehension."
Tehran will welcome India’s peace push, one BRICS member is stalling consensus on Iran war: Deputy FM
NEW DELHI, May 13: Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi on Wednesday said Tehran would welcome any peace initiative by India to help stabilise West Asia, while also claiming that a single BRICS member country was blocking consensus within the grouping over the ongoing regional conflict.
Speaking to journalists during his visit to New Delhi, Gharibabadi said India had maintained an “impartial” approach as the current chair of BRICS and expressed hope that New Delhi’s leadership of the bloc would be successful.
“We want India's BRICS chairship to be successful. It is not a good approach to send a signal to the world that the BRICS is divided. One country is insisting to condemn Iran,” he said, in an apparent reference to the United Arab Emirates.
“We have not attacked neighbouring countries. They handed their territories to the US to launch an attack on us. We never insisted that Arab countries should be condemned as they allowed their military bases to the US,” Gharibabadi added.
His comments came ahead of the BRICS foreign ministers’ conclave being hosted by India, where the conflict in West Asia and its impact on global energy supplies are expected to dominate discussions.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov are among the leaders attending the two-day meeting chaired by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
Sharp differences between Iran and the UAE had earlier prevented BRICS deputy foreign ministers and special envoys from reaching a common position on the US-Israel conflict with Iran during a meeting last month.
Gharibabadi said Tehran would support any effort by India aimed at restoring peace and stability in the region.
“India has always supported peace. It is in favour of peace and stability in the region. We will welcome whatever initiative India takes for peace,” he said.
Responding to a question about Pakistan’s role as a possible mediator between Iran and the United States, the Iranian deputy foreign minister said Tehran would welcome all diplomatic initiatives.
“Pakistan is only a facilitator. We will welcome all such initiatives,” he said.
The Iranian diplomat also spoke about the Strait of Hormuz, saying Tehran would reopen the critical shipping route if the United States lifted its blockade of Iranian ports, ended the war and released frozen Iranian assets.
Gharibabadi said Iran was working with Oman on a new framework for the movement of merchant vessels through the strait in line with international standards.
According to him, the proposed mechanism would involve Iran and Oman jointly providing navigational and logistical services to commercial ships, while charging fees depending on cargo volume and vessel size.
“The Strait of Hormuz will be better than before once peace returns. There will be transparency, and we will not allow any discrepancy,” he said.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most important maritime trade routes, handling roughly 20 per cent of global oil and LNG supplies. Global energy prices have surged after Iran effectively restricted passage through the waterway amid the conflict.
Gharibabadi also said Iran had allowed several Indian vessels to transit through the strait and indicated that more ships could be permitted to return home.
At the same time, he claimed that reopening the strait immediately could allow it to be used for military operations against Iran.
The deputy foreign minister, who was also part of Tehran’s negotiating team in talks with Washington, accused the United States of lacking seriousness in pursuing diplomacy to end the war.
He argued that Washington had suffered a strategic setback in the conflict.
Gharibabadi reiterated Iran’s commitment to the Chabahar Port project, while saying it was up to India to decide how it wanted to proceed given continuing US sanctions linked to the project.
After the escalation of the West Asia conflict, Iran had earlier urged India, as BRICS chair, to use its “independent role” to help stop US-Israel hostilities against Tehran.
Originally formed by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, BRICS expanded in 2024 to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the UAE, with Indonesia joining the grouping in 2025.
Iran releases prominent rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh on bail
TEHRAN, May 13: Iranian rights lawyer and Sakharov Prize winner Nasrin Sotoudeh has been released on bail after being arrested earlier this month, her daughter said.
She was detained on April 1 during a crackdown on civil society amid the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran. Sotoudeh, a prominent human rights defender and former Nobel-related award recipient, has been repeatedly arrested over her work.
Her release comes shortly after fellow activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi was also freed on bail for medical treatment. The charges against Sotoudeh remain unclear, and her husband remains in prison since late 2024.
India criticises China, raises 'reputation' question over support to Pakistan
NEW DELHI, May 12: India on Tuesday tacitly criticised China for supporting Pakistan during a brief but intense conflict last year, saying responsible nations should reflect on how their efforts to shield terrorist infrastructure affect their global standing.
The comments by external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal came days after China's state broadcaster CCTV aired an interview with a military aviation engineer, who said his firm provided technical support to Pakistan during the four-day conflict in May 2025.
Jaiswal told a media briefing that India had launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, as a targeted response to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam in April last year that killed 26 civilians.
India's military strikes on terrorist infrastructure at nine locations triggered hostilities that ended when Indian and Pakistani military officials reached an understanding on May 10, 2025.
“We have seen these reports that corroborate what was known earlier. Operation Sindoor was a precise, targeted and calibrated response to the terrorist attacks in Pahalgam, aimed at destroying state sponsored terrorist infrastructure operating out of Pakistan and at its behest,” Jaiswal said while responding to a question on the media report about China providing support to Pakistan during the conflict.
“It is for nations [which] consider themselves responsible to reflect whether supporting attempts to protect terrorist infrastructure affects their reputation and standing,” he said.
The report aired last week by CCTV was the first confirmation of China providing on-site support to Pakistan during the hostilities.
According to South China Morning Post, Zhang Heng, an engineer with the Aviation Industry Corporation of China’s (AVIC) Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute, told CCTV that he provided technical support to Pakistan during the conflict.
“At the support base, we frequently heard the roar of fighter jets taking off and the constant wail of air-raid sirens,” Zhang said.
He said his team was driven by the “desire to do an even better job with on‑site support” and to ensure their equipment could “truly perform at its full combat potential”.
“That wasn’t just a recognition of the J‑10CE, it was also a testament to the deep bond we formed through working side by side, day in and day out,” Zhang said.
The J-10CE is the export variant of China's J-10C combat jet. Pakistan is the only known operator of the aircraft outside China.
Xu Da, another employee of the Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute who too was involved in providing on-site support to Pakistan during the conflict, told CCTV about the jet’s performance during the hostilities. “As for the outstanding results the J-10CE achieved, we weren’t very surprised, and it didn’t feel sudden at all,” Xu said.
“The aircraft just needed the right opportunity. And when that moment came, it delivered exactly as we knew it would,” Xu said.
On May 7, Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, the deputy chief of Indian Army staff for strategy, had highlighted the "collusivity" between Pakistan and China in last year's conflict.
“The fact is that Pakistan and China, in their own words, have a relationship that is deeper than the seas, higher than the mountains – that's a given. The fact that Pakistan has 80% of its military equipment of Chinese origin is a given,” he told a media briefing.
Iran sends response to US peace proposal via Pakistan, says negotiations to focus on ending war
TEHRAN, May 10: Pakistan has received Iran’s response to the United States' proposal on the Iran war and the response has been sent to the US, a Pakistani government official involved in the talks told Reuters on Sunday.
The source did not provide further detail about the proposal.
Tehran's counter-proposal, according to Iranian state news agency ISNA, centres on two demands. One, an immediate and permanent end to hostilities. And two, restoration of maritime security in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian officials have been explicit that this phase of negotiations covers only the mechanics of ending the war. The nuclear questions, sanctions relief, and broader regional issues are deliberately deferred to a later stage.
Putin says he thinks Ukraine conflict 'coming to an end'
MOSCOW, May 10: Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested Russia's conflict with Ukraine could be drawing to a close.
Speaking after Saturday's scaled-back Victory Day military parade in Moscow, he said: "I think that the matter is coming to an end" - referring to the "special military operation" in Ukraine - while condemning Western support for Kyiv.
The parade - marking the Soviet victory in World War Two - lacked the usual display of tanks and missiles, as authorities feared Ukraine might target Red Square.
A US-brokered ceasefire reduced the danger of attacks and the parade passed off without incident. However Ukraine and Russia later accused each other of violating the three-day truce.
Putin's comments came just hours after he used his annual Victory Day speech to justify the war.
In that speech he said Russia was fighting a "just" war and called Ukraine an "aggressive force" that was being "armed and supported by the whole bloc of Nato".
Later, when asked at a news conference about the West helping Ukraine, Putin said: "They (West) promised assistance and then began fuelling a confrontation with Russia that continues to this day. I think that the matter is coming to an end, but it is a serious matter."
Russian forces seized Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine in 2014, then launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Putin said he would only meet Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky once a lasting peace deal was agreed to.
"A meeting in a third country is also possible, but only once final agreements have been reached on a peace treaty for a long‑term historical perspective, to take part in this event and sign (treaty), but it must be a final step," he continued.
Putin said he had heard that Zelensky was ready to hold a personal meeting but added "this is not the first time we have heard such statements".
Putin said he would be willing to negotiate new security arrangements for Europe, and that his preferred negotiating partner would be Germany's former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder.
The ex-chancellor is a longstanding friend of Putin, and controversial because of his work for Russian state-owned energy firms.
Last week European Council President António Costa said he believed there was "potential" for the EU to negotiate with Russia, and that Zelensky favoured such a move. Quoted by the Financial Times, Costa said he was consulting EU leaders on "what we need effectively to discuss with Russia when it comes to the right moment to do this".
As part of the US-led ceasefire deal over the weekend, Kyiv and Moscow agreed to a swap of 1,000 prisoners from each country. But Putin said on Saturday that Russia had not yet heard from Ukraine about any exchanges.
China admits supporting Pakistan during four-day war with India in 2025
BEINJING, May 8: Beijing sent technical support teams to Pakistan during its war with India last year, China’s official media said.
Zhang Heng, an engineer from state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC)’s Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute, revealed that Chinese personnel were deployed on-site during the four-day war following Operation Sindoor.
Pakistan’s air force operated a Chinese-made Chengdu J-10CE fighter jet, developed by AVIC subsidiaries, according to reports cited by the South China Morning Post.
“It felt inevitable. The aircraft just needed the right opportunity. And when that moment came, it delivered exactly as we knew it would,” Zhang said.
“At the support base, we frequently heard the roar of fighter jets taking off and the constant wail of air-raid sirens,” Zhang said. “By late morning, in May, the temperature was already approaching 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit). It was a real ordeal for us, both mentally and physically.”
What drove his team was the “desire to do an even better job with on site support” and to ensure their equipment could “truly perform at its full combat potential”, Zhang told CCTV.
Another engineer, Xu Da from the same institute, compared the fighter aircraft to a “child”. “We nurtured it, cared for it, and finally handed it over to the user. And now, it was facing a major test,” Xu said.
Reports earlier claimed that a Chinese-origin fighter jet operated by Pakistan downed at least one French-made Indian aircraft, the Dassault Rafale. The J-10CE is the export variant of China’s J-10C 4.5-generation fighter, equipped with an AESA radar and advanced air-to-air missile systems.
Pakistan is the only known foreign operator, having ordered 36 aircraft along with 250 PL-15 missiles in 2020.
Israel kills Hezbollah commander in Beirut strike
JERUSALEM/BEIRUT, May 7: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday there was no "immunity" for Israel's enemies, a day after the Israeli military targeted a Hezbollah commander in its first strike on Beirut's southern suburbs since a ceasefire declared last month.
Israel said the attack killed the commander of the Iran-backed group’s elite Radwan force.
Hezbollah, which controls Beirut's southern suburbs, has yet to issue any statement on the strike or the commander's status.
"He likely read in the press that he had immunity in Beirut. Well, he read it and it is no longer the case," Netanyahu said in a statement.
Hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah reignited on March 2 when the group opened fire at Israel after Tehran came under U.S.-Israeli attack.
Wednesday's strike raises pressure on the Lebanon ceasefire that emerged in parallel to a truce in the wider Middle East war, with a halt to Israeli strikes in Lebanon being a key Iranian demand in Tehran's negotiations with Washington.
Announced on April 16 by U.S. President Donald Trump, the Lebanon ceasefire has led to a reduction in hostilities: the Beirut area was not struck by Israel for weeks before Wednesday's attack.
But the sides have continued to trade blows in the south, where Israel has carved out a self-declared security zone.
Netanyahu said the Hezbollah commander, identified as Ahmed Ali Balout by the Israeli military, "thought he could continue to direct attacks against our forces and our communities from his secret terrorist headquarters in Beirut".
"I say to our enemies in the clearest possible way: No terrorist has immunity," he said.
While Israel and Hezbollah wage war, the United States has hosted two rounds of talks between the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to Washington, the highest-level contacts between Lebanese and Israeli government representatives in decades.
A U.S. State Department official said representatives of Israel and Lebanon would hold a third round of talks in Washington on May 14 and 15.
The Lebanon ceasefire was announced for an initial 10 days and then extended for an additional three weeks during the second meeting between the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to Washington, hosted by Trump at the Oval Office.
Hezbollah strongly objects to the Lebanese government's contacts with Israel, which reflect deep differences between the group and its critics in Lebanon.
India Condemns Iran Attack On UAE Largest Oil Port; Injures 3 Indians
NEW DELHI, May 5: India has condemned Iran's attack on the Fujairah Petroleum Industries Zone in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that left three Indian nationals injured, amid escalating US-Iran tensions.
In a statement, the Foreign Affairs Ministry termed the attack "unacceptable". The remarks came after the UAE, a key American ally, said it had come under attack from Iran for the first time since a fragile ceasefire took hold in early April.
"The attack on Fujairah that resulted in injury to three Indian nationals is unacceptable. We call for immediate cessation of these hostilities and the targeting of civilian infrastructure and innocent civilians," Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X.
The ministry said that New Delhi continues to stand for dialogue and diplomacy to deal with the situation so that peace and stability may be restored across the Middle East.
"We also call for free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through the Strait of Hormuz in keeping with international law. India stands ready to support all efforts for a peaceful resolution of issues," the post added.
The Emirati Defence Ministry said its air defences had engaged 15 missiles and four drones fired by Iran. Authorities in the eastern emirate of Fujairah said one drone sparked a fire at its largest oil facility, wounding three Indian nationals working there.
The British military reported two cargo vessels ablaze off the Emirates.
Tehran did not outright confirm or deny the attacks, but early on Tuesday, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on X that both the US and the UAE “should be wary of being dragged back into a quagmire."
In similarly vague terms, Iranian state television earlier quoted an anonymous military official as saying Tehran had had “no plan” to target the UAE or one of its oil fields.
"The incident resulted from U.S. military adventurism to create an illegal passage,” the official said about the oil facility attack, apparently referring to US President Donald Trump's latest efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global energy.
UAE comes under attack from Iranian missiles and drones despite ceasefire
DUBAI, May 4: The United Arab Emirates said Monday that Iran launched missile and drone attacks against the country, putting at risk the already shaky ceasefire between the United States and Tehran.
The White House did not immediately respond when asked whether the reported attacks, which led the UAE to activate its missile alert system for the first time since the ceasefire began on April 8, would violate that truce.
Stock market indices fell, and oil prices rose on news of the attack, raising investors’ fears that the war’s impact on the global economy could be exacerbated or prolonged.
“The UAE’s air defenses are currently dealing with missile attacks and incoming drones from Iran,” Abu Dhabi’s Defence Ministry said in a translated post on its official X account.
The ministry said that “the sounds heard in various parts of the country are the result of the UAE air defense systems intercepting ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones.”
In an earlier post, the ministry said that three “loitering munitions” were “intercepted over the country’s territorial waters,” while a fourth missile “fell into the sea.”
The UAE is located on the southern rim of the Persian Gulf, a major chokepoint for the shipment of oil.
Iran’s state media did not immediately confirm the attacks.
An alert issued to phones in Dubai and Abu Dhabi on Monday evening local time warned people, “Due to the current situation, potential missile threats, immediately seek a safe place in the closest secure building.”
Netherlands Becomes 1st European Nation to Join U.S. CCA Program
WASHINGTON, May 3: The Netherlands quietly became the first European country to formally join the American CCA (Collaborative Combat Aircraft) program and to fund the purchase of two of the first CCA, even as the European continent stares at a fractured relationship with the US.
The US Air Combat Command announced a landmark agreement with the Netherlands last month. “The Department of the Air Force and the Netherlands Ministry of Defense have formalized a partnership to acquire prototype Collaborative Combat Aircraft, advancing a shared strategy to bring greater affordable mass to deter, and if necessary, defeat adversaries,” it said in a press statement.
The statement noted that the partnership will focus on jointly developing autonomous, open-architecture, platform-agnostic technologies that facilitate seamless data exchange and interoperability across joint operations. Additionally, it emphasized that the Department of the Air Force (DAF) is fast-tracking cooperation with international partners in multiple areas of CCA capabilities development.
“The future fight will be fought [in collaboration] with allies and partners,” Air Force Secretary Troy Meink was quoted as saying. “By aligning our approaches early, we ensure interoperability and shared advantage in the era of human-machine teaming.”
Notably, the formalization of the partnership comes months after the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) signed a letter of intent (LoI) to join the CCA program in October 2025. “By signing the letter of intent, the Netherlands is demonstrating its desire to make progress with innovation and cooperation in the field of unmanned systems,” the Dutch Defense Ministry had said at the time.
The USAF’s CCA program, launched by former USAF Secretary Frank Kendall in 2023, envisions deploying a significant number of modular, reasonably priced, and operationally useful unmanned aircraft that can fly alongside manned aircraft. These drones, known as “loyal wingmen,” are designed to enhance air superiority in contested environments by serving as potent force multipliers.
The CCA program is part of the larger “affordable mass” concept, which emphasizes the procurement of cheap platforms, such as drones, to overwhelm the enemy in combat. For instance, the CCA drones the USAF is developing are estimated to cost between US$25 million and US$35 million each, which is one-third the cost of an F-35 Lightning II aircraft, which ranges from US$80 million to US$115 million, depending on the variant.
The concept is that using inexpensive, attritable drones to accompany costly, manned aircraft will improve both the survivability of the manned platform and mission success, particularly when facing a near-peer foe in a contested environment.
Previous reports indicate that during its initial deployment, these CCAs will primarily operate as airborne “missile trucks,” flying in formation with crewed jets to deliver additional firepower. However, discussions are underway to expand their mission profile to include intelligence gathering, electronic warfare, surveillance, reconnaissance, and, in the future, fully autonomous missions.
Iran says US has responded to Tehran's 14-point plan through Pakistan
TEHRAN, May 3: Iran said on Sunday that the United States had responded to its 14-point proposal through Pakistan and that it is reviewing the response, according to state media.
A foreign ministry spokesperson added that there are no nuclear negotiations underway at this stage.
Iran has put forward a proposal to resolve its disputes with the United States within 30 days, aiming for a complete end to the war instead of an extension of the ceasefire, according to state-linked media.
Israel approves multi-billion deal for new F-35, F-15IA fighter jets
TEL AVIV, May 3: Israel has approved a plan to acquire two new combat squadrons of F-35 Lightning II and F-15IA aircraft from Lockheed Martin and Boeing in a deal worth tens of billions of dollars, the defence ministry said on Sunday, with deliveries expected to run from 2026 into the early to mid-2030s.
The defence ministry said on Sunday that the deal, worth tens of billions of dollars, involves aircraft from Lockheed Martin and Boeing, and was approved by Israel’s Ministerial Committee on Procurement as part of a wider 350 billion shekel ($119 billion) plan to bolster military capabilities and “strengthen readiness ahead of a demanding decade for Israeli security.”
Under the agreement, Israel will purchase a fourth F-35 squadron and a second F-15IA squadron, with the new aircraft expected to serve as a cornerstone of long-term force development aimed at countering regional threats and maintaining strategic air superiority.
“Alongside immediate wartime procurement needs, we have a responsibility to act now to secure the IDF’s military edge ten years from now and beyond,” said ministry director general Amir Baram, referring to the Israel Defense Forces.
He added that the recent war with Iran “reinforced just how critical the US-Israel strategic relationship is, and how essential advanced air power remains.”
Defence Minister Israel Katz said the Iran conflict demonstrated the air force’s decisive role in national security. “The lessons of that campaign require us to keep pressing forward on force buildup, to ensure air superiority for decades to come,” he said.
He added that the new aircraft would mark a technological leap, enabling integration of autonomous flight capabilities, next-generation defence systems and expanded operational reach.
The long-term plan envisages a future fleet of roughly 100 F-35s, more than 100 upgraded F-16s and at least 50 F-15IA fighters, with some older F-15s potentially remaining in service if deemed operational.
Israel currently operates around 50 F-35s, with deliveries ongoing. In mid-January, three F-35I aircraft arrived at Nevatim Air Force Base, bringing the fleet to 48 of the 50 jets already purchased.
These aircraft were part of a long-term programme to expand the fleet from 25 to 50, though they were delayed from an original late-2025 schedule, with the final two still expected in 2026.
Further expansion is already underway. In 2023, Israel, the US government and Lockheed Martin signed a deal for 25 additional F-35s, raising the total to 75 and forming a third squadron, with deliveries expected to begin in 2027 following additional steps taken in mid-2024.
By early 2025, the F-35 fleet had logged over 15,000 operational flight hours across multiple fronts, from Iran to Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and Gaza.
On the F-15 side, the $8.6 billion Boeing contract signed in December includes 25 F-15IA jets with an option for 25 more, meaning Israel could eventually field 50 of the aircraft. Deliveries could extend into the early or mid-2030s as the air force replaces its aging fleet.
The expansion comes as Israel continues to rely on a mix of older and newer aircraft. According to public data, it operates around 70 aging F-15s - many dating back to the 1970s - and more than 100 F-16 Fighting Falcon jets. Rather than replacing the F-16s, the defence ministry said in January it would upgrade them with an NIS 80 million package to enhance self-protection systems.
Iran military official says war with US ‘likely’ to restart as Trump 'not satisfied' with Tehran's proposal
TEHRAN, May 2: A senior Iranian military official warned that renewed fighting with the US was “likely” after US President Donald Trump rejected Tehran's proposal.
The draft proposal was delivered to the US via mediator Pakistan on Thursday evening, the state media reported, without elaborating on its contests. Mohammad Jafar Asadi, a senior figure in Iran military's central command, said a “renewed conflict between Iran and the United States is likely”, according to Fars news agency.
Trump earlier said he was “not satisfied” with Iran's proposal. “At this moment I'm not satisfied with what they're offering,” the US President had said. The conflict, which began after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, has been on hold since April 8 after a temporary ceasefire was announced.
Asadi posed uncertainty on the fragile truce, saying, “Evidence has shown that the United States is not committed to any promises or agreements.”
Israeli air strikes on Lebanon kill 41 people in 24-hours
TEL AVIV, May 2: Israel has launched multiple strikes across southern Lebanon, killing at least 10 people in further violations of the “ceasefire” declared two weeks ago.
Lebanon’s Ministry of Health said the latest wave of attacks on Saturday increased the total recorded over the previous 24 hours to 41. The overall death toll since March 2 is 2,659, with 8,183 injured.
Quoting the health ministry, Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) said three people were killed in an Israeli attack on the town of Shoukine in Nabatieh district.
An earlier attack on a car in the village of Kfar Dajjal killed two people. Three others were killed when a home was hit in the village of Lwaizeh. A strike on the village of Shoukin killed two people, NNA reported.
Israeli forces carried out an air strike near al-Quds roundabout in the city of Nabatieh, and warplanes attacked the town of Siddiqine in Tyre district.
Israel Sent UAE Laser Weapon Called 'Iron Beam' That Can Vapourise Iranian Drones
TEL AVIV, May 1: Israel had not just sent its iconic Iron Dome air defence system to the United Arab Emirates when Iran was attacking the Gulf country. According to a report by the Financial Times, Israel also sent an advanced laser to the UAE for it to defend itself from Iranian missiles and drones.
The deployment of the advanced laser would be one of the first examples of major defence co-operation between Israel and the UAE. The two countries did not have diplomatic relations until US President Donald Trump brokered the 2020 Abraham Accords.
A regional official told the publication that the laser system was a display of "the value of being Israel's friend".
Israel also sent over an advanced surveillance system known as 'Spectro' to the UAE for it to defend itself against incoming drones from as far as 20 kilometres away, especially the Shaheds.
The report stated that the offensive and defensive systems sent to the UAE were mostly prototypes and had not even been fully integrated into Israel's weapon systems.
Tel Aviv sent a version of its Iron Beam laser defence system to the UAE, which vaporises short-range rockets and drones. It was first used by Israel against Hezbollah projectiles from Lebanon.
Apart from the Iron Dome air defence system, "several dozen" Israeli military personnel have been sent to the UAE. "It's not a small number of boots on the ground," said the source.
Iran had launched more than 500 ballistic missiles and 2,000 drones at the UAE. Along with the weapons systems, Israel had also shared intelligence with the Gulf state, informing it about short-range missile launch preparations in Iran.
Aung San Suu Kyi Moved From Prison To House Arrest In Myanmar
Naypyitaw, May 1: Former Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been moved from prison to house arrest and her sentence has been reduced as part of a prisoner amnesty for a Buddhist holiday.
Accompanying the announcement was a photo of the 80-year-old leader dressed in a traditional white blouse and skirt and sitting on a wooden bench behind a low table facing two unidentified men, one in a police uniform and the other in military uniform. Myanmar's military information office and state television disclosed the move and shared the photo of her Thursday night, but when and where the photo was taken was not clear.
Suu Kyi was detained Feb. 1, 2021, when the army seized power from her elected government. She has not been seen publicly since then, and the last official photo of her was from a court appearance on May 24, 2021.
Earlier Thursday, authorities had announced Suu Kyi's sentence was being reduced as part of a prisoner amnesty marking a Buddhist holiday, the Full Moon Day of Kason honoring Buddha's birthday. The amnesty covered 1,519 prisoners and cut the sentences for those still in prison by one-sixth. |
