President Trump has issued a warning to the international community, claiming a nuclear-armed Iran would strike Israel "very quickly" before targeting Europe and the United States.
Saturday closed with continued military escalation in Lebanon, mounting shipping disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, and intensifying diplomatic positioning over the Iran conflict.
Kuwait exported zero barrels of crude oil in April 2026 for the first time since the end of the Gulf War, according to shipping monitor TankerTrackers.com.
The outlet said Kuwait continues to produce oil, directing some volumes into storage and some into refined products for export, but no crude shipments left the country during the month because of the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported that Israeli aircraft launched strikes in the past few minutes on Mount Rihan, Basaliya, and the town of al-Sarira in the Jezzine area.
The agency also said an earlier strike hit near a mosque in the town of al-Samaiya.
The reports could not be independently verified, but they indicate continued Israeli operations across multiple areas of southern Lebanon despite the ceasefire.
The Israeli military said on Saturday that its forces damaged a “religious building” in southern Lebanon during operations in the village of Yaroun, prompting condemnation from a Catholic charity that identified the site as a convent and accused Israel of deliberately targeting a place of worship.
Military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said troops damaged a structure inside the compound while dismantling what Israel described as terrorist infrastructure, adding that there were initially no visible signs the building was religious.
He said forces later took steps to prevent further damage after identifying other marked structures in the compound.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called on citizens to exercise the highest degree of awareness and reject the language of hatred, warning against dragging the country into dangerous sectarian strife.
In a post on X, Salam said political disagreements must not descend into personal insults, defamation, bullying or accusations of treason, which he said only inflame tensions.
His appeal comes as pressure mounts on the government to address Hezbollah’s weapons while Israeli attacks continue in southern Lebanon.Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported that the Israeli army carried out an air attack on Burj Qalawiya in the Bint Jbeil district, alongside artillery shelling in the same area.
The agency also said Israeli forces set fire to a number of houses in the border village of Khiam.
The reports could not be independently verified.
Text Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi said Tehran has presented a plan to Pakistan as mediator aimed at permanently ending the war. He added that it is now up to the United States to choose diplomacy or continued confrontation.
Speaking at a gathering of ambassadors and foreign mission chiefs in Tehran, he said Iran remains ready for either path in order to protect its national interests and security.
Gharibabadi added that Iran continues to approach Washington with pessimism and distrust, while maintaining what he described as honesty in diplomacy.here.
Lebanese Armed Forces commander General Rudolf Haykal met U.S. General Joseph Clearfield in Beirut to discuss the security situation in Lebanon and wider regional developments, the army said in a statement on Saturday.
Clearfield heads the committee overseeing the U.S.-backed ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah.
Participants in the meeting stressed the importance of the Lebanese army’s role and the need to support it during the current phase as tensions persist in the south.
Hezbollah has released video footage that it says shows its fighters targeting Israeli soldiers with rocket fire and artillery rounds in the southern Lebanese town of al-Qantara.
The group also claimed separate strikes on Israeli troops in the town of Al-Bayada, saying one soldier was hit.
The claims could not be independently verified.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said 48 vessels have been redirected in the past 20 days to ensure compliance with the U.S. naval blockade, an increase from 44 reported earlier.
The blockade, enforced since 13 April shortly after a ceasefire was announced, is targeting Iranian maritime traffic amid continued tensions over restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz.
The measures come as shipping routes in the region remain heavily disrupted following the outbreak of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran on 28 February.
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi discussed bilateral relations, regional developments, and diplomatic initiatives aimed at ending the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, according to a statement published on Araghchi’s Telegram channel.
The two sides also exchanged views on broader regional dynamics, with both delegations emphasising continued dialogue.
The statement added that further details on the talks would be released later.
Qatar Airways said it will resume flights to Baghdad, Basra and Erbil from May 10, marking a further step in restoring regional aviation links disrupted by the Iran war.
The airline had suspended operations after Qatar temporarily closed its airspace on 28 February following US and Israeli strikes on Iran, citing precautionary measures and safety concerns.
The airspace was partially reopened on 6 March.
U.S. military officials have privately indicated that the decision to withdraw part of the US military presence from Germany is intended as a punitive response to Berlin’s position on the Iran war, The New York Times reported, citing sources.
According to the report, German reluctance to support U.S. military operations against Iran has frustrated Washington, despite earlier Pentagon discussions about reducing troop levels in Europe.
The Pentagon has previously announced plans to withdraw around 5,000 troops from Germany within the next 6-12 months, though officials now acknowledge the move is also linked to broader political tensions between the two allies.
Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy described Türkiye as an “island of stability” amid the Iran war, saying the country continues to operate in a volatile regional environment while maintaining security and resilience.
Speaking to CNN Türk, he said Türkiye is making significant efforts to support peace in the region and has strong experience in managing crises.
His comments come as Turkish authorities project continued growth in tourism, with targets of around 65 million visitors and $68 billion in tourism revenue for 2026.
Two activists who participated in the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla have been brought to Israel for questioning after vessels were intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry said Spaniard Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila are now in Israel and will be transferred to law enforcement authorities for questioning.
The ministry added that both are affiliated with the PCPA, an organisation sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department over alleged ties to Hamas, though no further details were provided on the allegations or the interception.
The UAE’s aviation authority said air traffic in the country has returned to normal, according to the state news agency on Saturday, after precautionary measures introduced on 28 February at the start of the Iran war were lifted.
The General Civil Aviation Authority said the decision followed a comprehensive assessment of operational and security conditions carried out in coordination with relevant entities.
Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) has announced it is resuming flights to Tel Aviv, according to a statement cited by the Trend news agency.
The airline said daily services on the route will restart from 3 May, with tickets now available through its website and mobile app.
AZAL had suspended flights to Tel Aviv on 28 February amid heightened tensions in the Middle East and restrictions on airspace.
European countries must take greater responsibility for their own security, Germany’s defence minister Boris Pistorius has said, following an announcement that the United States plans to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany.
Speaking on Saturday, Mr Pistorius said Germany was “on the right track”, citing efforts to expand the Bundeswehr, speed up the procurement of military equipment and invest in new infrastructure. He added that future military missions would be closely coordinated with allies, including within a group involving the UK, France, Poland and Italy.
The minister said a partial U.S. troop withdrawal from Europe, including Germany, had been foreseeable. However, he stressed that the presence of American forces in Europe and particularly in Germany remained in the interests of both Europe and the United States.
Budget carrier Spirit Airlines has ceased operations after failing to secure creditor backing for a proposed U.S. government rescue plan, becoming the first airline casualty linked to the surge in fuel prices during the Iran war.
The bankrupt airline said all flights had been cancelled and advised passengers not to travel to airports, citing a sharp rise in oil prices that severely weakened its financial outlook. Spirit had been struggling even before fuel costs nearly doubled and a last‑ditch $500m bailout backed by President Donald Trump failed to gain support.
The closure is expected to cost thousands of jobs and is likely to benefit rival low‑cost carriers, which have moved quickly to offer discounted fares to stranded passengers.
Iran has executed two men accused of spying for Israel, including carrying out intelligence‑gathering activities near the Natanz nuclear facility, according to state media.
The report said the pair had been convicted of collaborating with Israel’s intelligence services and passing on sensitive information related to key sites inside the country.
Iran, which does not recognise Israel, has repeatedly announced arrests and executions linked to alleged espionage, particularly involving its nuclear programme, amid heightened tensions between the two long‑standing adversaries.
The U.S. State Department said it has approved a possible foreign military sale to Israel of Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems valued at $992.4 million, clearing the way for a deal pending congressional review and final agreements.
Washington has warned several European allies, including the UK, Poland, Lithuania and Estonia, to expect delays in deliveries of U.S. weapons as the war with Iran continues to drain American stockpiles, the Financial Times reported on Friday. U.S. officials have previously told European counterparts that some agreed arms shipments are likely to be postponed as military resources are redirected to the conflict.
President Donald Trump said on Friday that the U.S. Navy was acting “like pirates” while enforcing Washington’s naval blockade of Iranian ports during the U.S.–Israeli war with Iran.
Speaking about the recent seizure of a ship, Trump said U.S. forces had taken control of the vessel, its cargo and its oil, calling the operation “very profitable”. Several Iranian‑linked vessels, including sanctioned tankers and container ships, have been seized by U.S. forces after leaving Iranian ports or while transiting Asian waters.
President Trump addressed the escalating tensions with Iran, describing the nation's leadership as "quite brutal" while insisting that the U.S. is currently "doing very well" in the ongoing standoff. The President emphasised that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remains his top priority, warning that such a development would pose an immediate existential threat to Israel and quickly destabilise the Middle East, Europe, and eventually the United States.
Despite the "brutal" nature of the regime, Trump sought to reassure the public that his administration had the situation under control. He firmly pledged that a nuclear-armed Iran "is not going to happen," telling citizens not to worry about the threat as the May 1 War Powers deadline looms over his administration's military strategy
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A Turkish court has effectively removed the main opposition leader, Özgür Özel, in a ruling that has deepened political tensions and rattled financial markets.
The Great Pyramid of Giza has survived for more than 4,600 years, outlasting empires, invasions and natural disasters. Now, researchers believe they have identified one of the key reasons why the ancient structure has endured for so long.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said he was pessimistic that an agreement would be reached before Friday’s deadline regarding Hungarian oil company MOL group's bid to acquire a majority stake in Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS), the operator of Serbia’s only oil refinery.
SpaceX stopped the launch of its 12th Starship rocket from Texas on Thursday and said it will attempt the high-stakes test flight again on Friday, as Elon Musk's space company nears a record-breaking public listing.
Asian stocks surged on Thursday as some vessels resumed passage through the Strait of Hormuz, while forecast-beating results at Nvidia and a suspended workers' strike at Samsung Electronics lifted shares of chipmakers.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said Belarus will not be dragged into the war in Ukraine, while also stressing that Minsk and Moscow would jointly respond to any aggression against them.
The penultimate day of the World Urban Forum 13 in Baku will see Azerbaijan's Pavilion highlight post-construction efforts in Garabagh and East Zangezur, as well as host events on the future of Baku and architectural education.
NATO fighter jets were activated on Thursday (21 May) after at least one drone entered Latvian airspace, according to Latvia’s armed forces, marking the latest in a series of security incidents across the Baltic region linked to the war in Ukraine.
A French appeals court has found Airbus and Air France guilty of corporate manslaughter over the 2009 Rio–Paris crash, marking a major development in a case that has stretched on for 17 years.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said he was pessimistic that an agreement would be reached before Friday’s deadline regarding Hungarian oil company MOL group's bid to acquire a majority stake in Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS), the operator of Serbia’s only oil refinery.
U.S. President Donald Trump surprised NATO allies by announcing plans to deploy an additional 5,000 American troops to Poland, just hours before Secretary of State Marco Rubio was due to meet alliance ministers in Sweden on Friday against the backdrop of growing divisions over the Iran war.
SpaceX stopped the launch of its 12th Starship rocket from Texas on Thursday and said it will attempt the high-stakes test flight again on Friday, as Elon Musk's space company nears a record-breaking public listing.
The U.S. has arrested Adys Lastres Morera, the sister of the head of GAESA, a military-run business group which owns Cuba’s most profitable enterprises, including the island’s five-star hotels, and its largest port.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 22nd May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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