Washington DC [US], May 19 (ANI): US President Donald Trump on Monday (local time) said that he has put a 'planned attack' on Iran on hold after appeals from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE). The US president further mentioned that they are 'prepared to go forward with a full, large-scale assault' on Iran.
Pakistan deployed 8,000 troops, Chinese air defence system and warplanes to Saudi Arabia: Report Submitted by MEE staff on Mon, 05/18/2026 - 21:40 The US-Israeli war on Iran has put a spotlight on Saudi Arabia’s defence pact with Pakistan Pakistani fighter jets fly during a multinational naval exercise in the Arabian Sea near Pakistan's port city of Karachi, on 10 February 2025 (Asif Hassan/AFP) Off Pakistan has deployed 8,000 troops, a fighter jet squadron and a Chinese air defence system to Saudi Arabia as part of its mutual defence pact with the kingdom, Reuters reported on Monday. The deployments, which enhance the number of Pakistani troops and military assets in the kingdom, began in early April, Reuters reported. Pakistan has deployed a squadron of around 16 aircraft, mostly JF-17 warplanes, which it produces jointly with China.
President Trump has repeatedly threatened new military action against Iran, only to pull back from resuming major fighting in a deeply unpopular, expensive conflict.
Washington DC [US], May 19 (ANI): US President Donald Trump on Monday (local time) said that he has put a 'planned attack' on Iran on hold after appeals from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE). The US president further mentioned that they are 'prepared to go forward with a full, large-scale assault' on Iran.
US senator blames Trump’s Iran war for surge in fuel prices A Democratic lawmaker has condemned the US-Israeli war on Iran, linking the conflict to rising fuel costs across the United States. Senator Chris Murphy said prices in his home state of Connecticut have surged, placing pressure on households already facing economic strain. In a video posted on X, he said petrol is nearing $5 per gallon, while diesel is close to $6.
Trump says Gulf leaders urged delay to planned US strike on Iran The US president has said Gulf leaders urged Washington to delay a planned military strike on Iran, citing ongoing diplomatic efforts. In a post, he said Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan had intervened ahead of the operation. Trump said they asked him “to hold off on our planned Military attack” on Iran, “which was scheduled for tomorrow”.
Trump says Gulf leaders asked him to 'hold off' on resuming Iran war Submitted by MEE staff on Mon, 05/18/2026 - 20:11 A 'large scale assault' was 'scheduled' for Tuesday, the US president said US President Donald Trump returns to the White House in Washington, DC, after his trip to China, on 15 May 2026 (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) Off The US will no longer resume its "full, large scale" war on Iran on Tuesday, because Gulf leaders have requested Washington to hold off, President Donald Trump has said . "I have been asked by the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, and the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to hold off on our planned Military attack of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which was scheduled for tomorrow, in that serious negotiations are now taking place, and that, in their opinion, as Great Leaders and Allies, a Deal will be made," the US president wrote on his TruthSocial account on Monday. That prospective deal "will be very acceptable to the United States of America", and "will include, importantly, NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS FOR IRAN!
Washington DC [US], May 18 (ANI): Sharpening his rhetoric over the coverage of the war with Iran, US President Donald Trump on Monday once again lashed out at several US media outlets, particularly The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and CNN over their coverage of the ongoing situation with Iran, accusing them of misrepresenting Tehran's military position amid the escalating situation.
Activists raise alarm over 'flood' of military supplies from India to Israel Submitted by Azad Essa on Wed, 05/13/2026 - 14:39 Activists say six shipments of suspected military-grade steel were making their way to Israel aboard a Swiss vessel MSC Valeria, a containership from the Mediterranean Shipping Company SA of Geneva, prepares to dock at the Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone in Mundra, India, on 4 June 2013 (Sam Panthaky/AFP) Off Activists with the Boycott, Divestments and Sanctions (BDS) movement and No Harbour for Genocide (NHB) are raising the alarm over what they describe as a "flood" of military supplies from India to Israel, after six shipments of suspected military-grade steel were identified on multiple Swiss vessels en route to weapons factories in Israel. The shipments, activists said, amounted to around 806 tonnes of military-grade steel, and could produce up to 17,458 artillery (155mm) shells for the Israeli military. According to the movement, three of the shipments, carried by the Geneva-based Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), are currently being held in Italy - two in Gioia Tauro, in the region of Calabria, and one in Cagliari, Sardinia - where authorities are being pressed to conduct an inspection.
UAE and Israel established fund for joint defence acquisition, sources say Submitted by Sean Mathews on Mon, 05/18/2026 - 17:33 The emerging partnership between Israel and the UAE puts the Gulf state at odds with its neighbours A visitor looks through the scope of a sniper rifle during the International Defence Exhibition at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, on 20 February 2023 (Ryan Lim/AFP) Off The UAE and Israel have established a fund to jointly acquire and develop new weapons systems, in the latest sign that the war on Iran is bringing the countries closer together, one current and one former US official briefed on the matter told Middle East Eye. The current US official told MEE the two countries would pursue “joint acquisitions” of weapons systems as part of the new defence partnership. The UAE could also fund technological developments in Israeli air defence systems, the person added.
Tehran is said to have made or reiterated some concessions but source in mediator Pakistan appears pessimistic Middle East crisis – live updates Iran has made a new proposal for a deal to definitively end the war in the Middle East, officials in the region said on Monday, though there was no sign of any immediate breakthrough in the stalled peace negotiations. A ceasefire has paused most violence after six weeks of US-Israeli airstrikes and Iranian retaliation, but there has been little progress since Donald Trump said the ceasefire was “on life support” , and reports in Israeli media suggest a resumption of hostilities is imminent. Continue reading...
Israeli air strike kills child in southern Gaza An Israeli air strike has killed a child in eastern Khan Younis in southern Gaza, after he was wounded in an earlier attack. Doctors at Nasser Hospital confirmed the child died from his injuries after being brought in following the strike.
It marks a grim milestone in the conflict between Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah since March, despite a nominal ceasefire.
Iran warns unauthorised Strait of Hormuz passage will be 'illegal' Iran has escalated control over the Strait of Hormuz, warning that any vessel passing through the strategic waterway without approval will face consequences. The newly-formed Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA), established to oversee the strait, announced the move in a statement published on its official X account, signalling tighter enforcement in one of the world’s most critical shipping routes. The authority said all navigation must now align with directives issued by Iran’s armed forces and state institutions.
Israeli attacks kill more than 3,020 in Lebanon since March Israeli attacks across Lebanon have killed at least 3,020 people since early March, according to the latest figures released by the Lebanese Ministry of Health. The ministry reported that a further 9,273 people have been wounded since 2 March.
'Like madmen': Palestinian family attacked in their sleep by Israeli settlers Submitted by Sari Jaradat on Mon, 05/18/2026 - 13:51 Dozens of Israelis stormed a West Bank home overnight and beat members of the Shalalda family Israeli soldiers stand guard during a weekly settlers' tour in Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, 2 May 2026 (Reuters/Mussa Qawasma) Off Mohammed Shalalda leaned on a cane to walk after a bloody night of Israeli settler violence that shattered his family's sense of safety in their own home. At dawn on Sunday, a group of settlers, numbering in the dozens, attacked the Shalalda family home in the al-Daraja area near the town of Sair, east of Hebron, wounding Mohammed, his elderly mother, his sister, and his brother. Mohammed was sleeping on the roof of his old house when he awoke to the sound of voices around 3am.
Companies throughout the world have faced supply shocks linked to the Hormuz blockade, the outlet has said The US-Israeli war on Iran has already cost businesses throughout the world at least $25 billion, with losses continuing to mount, Reuters reported on Monday, citing an analysis of corporate di
Companies throughout the world have faced supply shocks linked to the Hormuz blockade, the outlet has said The US-Israeli war on Iran has already cost businesses throughout the world at least $25 billion, with losses continuing to mount, Reuters reported on Monday, citing an analysis of corporate disclosures from companies listed in the US, Europe and Asia.
Companies throughout the world have faced supply shocks linked to the Hormuz blockade, the outlet has said The US-Israeli war on Iran has already cost businesses throughout the world at least $25 billion, with losses continuing to mount, Reuters reported on Monday, citing an analysis of corporate disclosures from companies listed in the US, Europe and Asia.
Companies throughout the world have faced supply shocks linked to the Hormuz blockade, the outlet has said The US-Israeli war on Iran has already cost businesses throughout the world at least $25 billion, with losses continuing to mount, Reuters reported on Monday, citing an analysis of corporate di
