The US president has put his Project Freedom operation on hold after just two days President Donald Trump has temporarily paused a US military operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, but said the blockade of Iranian ports would "remain in full force and effect" until a final agreement with Tehran is reached.
Washington DC [US], May 6 (ANI): US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday (local time) described the ongoing US military activity linked to the Strait of Hormuz as a 'defensive operation' amid its continued naval blockade of Iranian ports in the strategically vital waterway.
Hezbollah says it struck Israeli vehicles as raids hit south Lebanon Hezbollah said it targeted Israeli military vehicles with artillery fire in the Wadi al-Jamal area between Meiss el-Jabal and Hula, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency. Israeli attacks continued overnight in southern Lebanon, with at least two people killed and others wounded in a strike on Deir Kifa, the report added.
Washington DC [US], May 5 (ANI): In an escalating war of words paired with a tightening naval stranglehold, US President Donald Trump declared on Tuesday that Iran's military infrastructure has been effectively dismantled, claiming the regime's leadership has been 'wiped out' despite their public defiance.
Rubio says US military campaign in Iran ‘done’ US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington’s military campaign in Iran, known as “Operation Epic Fury”, is now complete following the ceasefire. Rubio said Iran has a “high pain threshold”, but not an “unlimited pain threshold”. He also criticised the War Powers Act, saying it is “100 percent unconstitutional… Nonetheless, we complied with elements of it to preserve good relations with Congress”.
Israeli strike kills one in southern Lebanon town of Adshit An Israeli air strike has killed one person in the town of Adshit in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency. The attack follows earlier reports of a deadly Israeli raid in Deir Kifa, also in the south.
ABU DHABI, 5th May, 2026 (WAM) -- President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received phone calls from a number of leaders, who expressed their condemnation of the Iranian terrorist attacks targeting civilians and civilian sites and facilities in the United Arab Emirates, describing them as a violation of the country's sovereignty and a threat to its security and stability.
Iran denies UAE attack claims, says actions targeted US only Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson has rejected accusations from the UAE that Tehran launched missile and drone attacks against it, saying the claims are unfounded. The spokesperson said Iran’s military actions were directed “exclusively” at the US, amid escalating tensions in the US-Israeli war on Iran. In a statement, the ministry added that Iran would not “spare any action in taking the necessary and appropriate measures to defend its interests and national security”.
'A big pact': How the US plans to unite Libya through two ruling families Submitted by Sean Mathews on Tue, 05/05/2026 - 21:19 Russia is in retreat and energy prices are skyrocketing. Both developments have energised the US bid to unify Libya without popular consent General Saddam Haftar attends a military parade in Benghazi, Libya, on 13 June 2024 (Media office of Khalifa Haftar/AFP) Off The US is crafting an agreement to unify oil-rich Libya around the country’s two most powerful families, as the US-Israeli war on Iran chokes global energy flows, current and former western officials, Arab sources briefed on the matter, and analysts, told Middle East Eye. The power-sharing agreement seeks to unify Libya through the Dbeibeh family in western Libya and the Haftar family in the east, while replacing each family’s leaders with a new generation.
The American effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping is still on course, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said, even as Iran’s state broadcaster dismissed it as a failure.
The bombs started falling at 14:15 in the afternoon - bringing chaos and destruction across the country.
CAIRO, 5th May, 2026 (WAM) -- Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, under the leadership of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, condemned the unjustified Iranian aggression targeting the United Arab Emirates, affirming its firm rejection of all forms of attacks against civilians and economic and civil facilities, and stressing the need to respect the sovereignty of states.
The president seems to be searching for a silver bullet to end the war. There might not be one.
A hypersonic missile would be used without hesitation if needed, Defense Minister Yasar Guler has said Türkiye has unveiled its first intercontinental ballistic missile, which officials say will significantly boost the country's longrange strike capability.
ABU DHABI, 5th May, 2026 (WAM) -- H. H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, discussed during phone calls with a number of officials and foreign ministers of brotherly countries the implications of the blatant Iranian terrorist attacks that targeted civilian sites and facilities in the United Arab Emirates using missiles and drones.
Israel military chief says forces ready to respond to Gulf developments Israeli army chief of staff Eyal Zamir said the military is closely monitoring developments in the Gulf and is prepared to act against any potential threat. “We are ready to respond forcefully against any attempt to harm Israel,” Zamir said in remarks reported by Ynet.
Washington DC [US], May 5 (ANI): United States Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, on Tuesday attacked Iran in a sharply worded statement and said that global supply chains are being weaponised as the IRGC holds the global economy hostage. He made the remarks during a press conference along with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
Germany urges more Gaza aid, warns against West Bank annexation German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said aid access to Gaza must be urgently increased, while reiterating Berlin’s opposition to any further de facto annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank by Israel. Speaking at a news conference in Berlin alongside Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, Wadephul said the humanitarian situation in Gaza should not be sidelined by developments linked to the US-Israeli war on Iran. “The plight of the more than 2 million people whose situation has not improved must not be overlooked amidst the conflict in Iran,” Wadephul said.
NEW YORK, 5th May, 2026 (WAM) -- The United Nations has expressed deep concern over the missile and drone attacks launched by Iran against the United Arab Emirates yesterday, Monday, which resulted in at least three injuries and caused a fire at an oil facility in the Fujairah oil industrial zone.
Washington DC [US], May 5 (ANI): In a stern warning to Tehran, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth officially defined the parameters of Project Freedom on Tuesday, characterising the mission as a temporary but 'locked and loaded' defensive measure to end Iranian interference in global shipping.
