Israeli strike kills one and injures two in Khan Younis An Israeli drone strike on Gaza's Khan Younis area killed one person and wounded two others in Nasser hospital, according to a hospital spokesperson.
Israel spent over a year preparing a covert site in Iraq for its operations against Iran, regional officials say. Iraqi officials later confirmed the existence of a second base.
Three people have been reported dead as Russia's Moscow region faced the largest Ukrainian assault in over a year on May 17. Another person reportedly died in the Belgorod region bordering Ukraine, with the Russian Defense Ministry reporting 556 drones had been downed over the country overnight and this morning in at least a dozen regions.
New posts 09:27 US Lets Russian Oil Waiver Linked To Iran War Expire, Reimposing Sanctions WASHINGTON -- The Trump administration has allowed a controversial waiver on sanctions targeting Russian seaborne oil to expire, reimposing restrictions that had temporarily enabled countries such as India to continue purchasing Russian crude despite Western efforts to curb Moscow's wartime revenues.
Israeli shelling strikes Khan Younis and Bureij refugee camp, Wafa reports Israeli forces launched attacks across the Gaza Strip, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa. The agency, citing local sources, said artillery fire struck eastern and southern parts of Khan Younis amid heavy gunfire from Israeli military vehicles positioned near the city. Wafa also reported intense shelling in the eastern areas of the Bureij Refugee Camp, causing panic among residents.
Morning update Good morning Middle East Eye readers, Tensions around the Strait of Hormuz are rising again after Iran announced plans to introduce tolls for shipping through the strategic waterway, while Donald Trump warned Tehran it faces a “very bad time” if a peace deal is not reached soon. Despite renewed diplomatic efforts and mediation attempts led by Pakistan, military activity continues across Lebanon and the Gulf, with fears growing that the region could move closer to another major escalation.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the Israeli regime’s terrorist assassination of Qassam Brigades Commander Izz al-Din al-Haddad in Gaza, saying the crime reflected the regime’s “desperation and helplessness” in the face of Palestinian resistance.
Israel reports drone and rocket attacks from Hezbollah The Israeli military said a “suspicious aerial target” was identified after sirens sounded in the Misgav Am area of northern Israel. In a statement posted on X, the military said the aircraft fell near Israeli troops operating in southern Lebanon and that no casualties were reported. The military also said Hezbollah launched rockets and explosive drones overnight toward Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.
Washington DC [US], May 17 (ANI): The United States has rolled out a nearly one-billion-dollar upgrade programme for its fifth-generation stealth fighter F-35 Lightning 2 fleet, primarily centred on electronic warfare modernisation and advanced combat capability enhancements across hundreds of aircraft operated by both the US military and other foreign operators of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).
Hezbollah reports rocket attack on Israeli troops near Hadatha Hezbollah said its fighters detonated explosive devices targeting Israeli military bulldozers advancing between the southern Lebanese towns of Rashaf and Hadatha. The group said one booby trap struck a third Israeli bulldozer attempting to move toward Hadatha, while another explosive device targeted a fourth bulldozer on the same route. Hezbollah also said its fighters launched rockets at a gathering of Israeli soldiers and military vehicles on the outskirts of Hadatha in southern Lebanon.
Russian envoy warns US and Israel against renewed strikes on Iran Russian envoy Mikhail Ulyanov criticised reports that the United States and Israel are preparing for a possible resumption of strikes on Iran. Responding to a New York Times report on X, Ulyanov said that if the reports were accurate, it would suggest Washington and Israel “have not learned lessons from their past strategic mistakes”. The newspaper reported that US President Donald Trump has not made a final decision, although several military options have reportedly been discussed.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A massive explosion echoed across the Beit Shemesh region west of occupied al-Quds on Saturday night, shattering windows and causing panic among settlers.
Israel says military at highest readiness level for possible Iran war Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Israeli officials believe the military is at its highest level of readiness for a possible resumption of fighting with Iran. According to the report, Israeli and United States officials are continuing coordination at senior levels as both sides prepare for the possibility of renewed conflict. The report said Israeli assessments suggest Iran has restored part of its missile capabilities and remains unwilling to abandon its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief demanded by US President Donald Trump.
Iran warns it is ready for renewed war if talks fail Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran remains prepared to resume direct military confrontation with the United States if negotiations fail to produce what Tehran considers acceptable outcomes. In comments posted amid continued diplomatic tensions, Araghchi also argued that the war involving the US and Israel was having growing economic consequences inside the United States. Writing on X alongside an image showing rising US Treasury yields, Araghchi said: “Americans are told that they must absorb rocketing costs of war of choice on Iran.
New York [US], May 17 (ANI): India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Parvathaneni Harish outlined India's approach towards tackling the ongoing energy and fertiliser crisis amid the conflict in West Asia, stressing the need for a combination of short-term and long-term measures backed
New York [US], May 17 (ANI): India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Parvathaneni Harish outlined India's approach towards tackling the ongoing energy and fertiliser crisis amid the conflict in West Asia, stressing the need for a combination of short-term and long-term measures backed
Israeli strikes intensify across southern Lebanon despite ceasefire More than 30 Israeli attacks were reported across southern Lebanon, including air strikes near the coastal city of Tyre and artillery shelling in several border towns. Strikes were reported in Al-Mansouri, while shelling also targeted Qlailah, Hanine and Majdal Zoun. Further east in the Nabatieh region, additional strikes and artillery fire were reported in Yohmor and Arnoun.
UK deploys anti-drone system on RAF jets in Middle East The United Kingdom said it has deployed a new “low-cost anti-drone system” on Royal Air Force fighter jets operating in the Middle East. In a statement, the British government said the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System, or APKWS, would be fitted to RAF Eurofighter Typhoon jets to destroy targets “precisely and at a fraction of the price of missiles currently used”. The deployment comes after months of regional attacks in which Iran launched drones and missiles at Gulf countries, targeting energy infrastructure and military sites as part of the broader conflict in the region.
Hezbollah launches drone swarm at Israeli military target Hezbollah said it launched a “swarm of attack drones” targeting an Israeli military site in northern Israel and carried out more than a dozen additional attacks against Israeli forces. There were no immediate reports of casualties from the drone strike. Earlier, the Israeli military said an officer was killed in southern Lebanon after an explosive-laden Hezbollah drone detonated near troops.
Iran condemns Israeli killing of Hamas commander and his family in Gaza Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran condemned Israel’s killing of Izz al-Din al-Haddad, a commander in Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, describing the attack as a “terrorist act”. The statement followed an Israeli strike on the Remal neighbourhood of Gaza City on Friday that Hamas said killed al-Haddad along with civilians, including his wife and daughter. Iran’s foreign ministry said the attack reflected Israel’s “desperation” and continuing violations in the Gaza Strip, adding that such actions would not weaken Palestinian resistance.
