Washington, DC [US], May 17 (ANI): In a development that has sent shockwaves through global geopolitical corridors, US President Donald Trump has shared a mysterious and highly charged message on his social media platform, Truth Social. On Sunday, President Trump uploaded an AI-generated image accompanied by a stark, single-sentence declaration: 'It Was The Calm Before The Storm.
Iraqi farmer killed to hide evidence of two Israeli bases in country: Report Submitted by MEE staff on Sun, 05/17/2026 - 11:57 Locals said shepherd Awad al-Shammari was killed by a helicopter after discovering an Israeli base Men gather around the wreckage of a car reportedly driven by a local shepherd who was struck by Israeli forces and later buried nearby in the Najaf desert in southwestern Iraq on 12 May 2026 (Qassem al-Kaabi/AFP) Off The presence of two secret Israeli bases in Iraq may have led to the death of a shepherd who discovered them, according to an investigation by The New York Times (NYT). The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Israel set up a covert outpost in Iraq’s western desert during the conflict with Iran. The site was reportedly used to support air operations and housed special forces units.
Four Israeli soldiers injured in southern Lebanon blast The Israeli military has said that four of its soldiers were wounded overnight when an explosive device detonated in southern Lebanon. The military said one soldier was seriously injured and another was moderately injured.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A deputy foreign minister said the recent US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran went beyond violations of international law, saying the onslaught also targeted the Iranian nation’s historical and civilizational memory through damage inflicted on cultural heritage sites.
Israeli attack kills three in Gaza community kitchen An Israeli drone strike killed three Palestinians at a community kitchen in the Deir al-Balah area of Gaza, near al-Aqsa hospital, according to Al Jazeera. The attack came hours after another Israeli strike killed one person in Khan Younis in southern Gaza earlier on Saturday.
(260517) -- VIENNA, May 17, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Protesters hold a concert during a rally against the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, May 15, 2026.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Abu Dhabi authorities responded to a fire that broke out in an external electrical generator outside the inner perimeter of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the Al Dhafra Region, following reported a drone strike on Sunday.
Drone strike causes fire at Abu Dhabi nuclear power plant A drone strike caused a fire to break out at a nuclear power plant in Abu Dhabi. The fire erupted at an electrical generator at the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in al-Dhafra. The Emirati government's media office said there were no injuries and no impact on radiological safety levels.
Tehran [Iran], May 17 (ANI): Iran said that it will no longer allow 'enemy' military equipment to transit through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, according to Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Pressure on Iran’s housing market is pushing a rise in shared living arrangements in small urban apartments, with landlords and tenants increasingly dividing limited space to cope with rising rents and mortgage costs, according to local media.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry Esmaeil Baqaei denounced a “new grand lie” being used to justify an “illegal war of choice,” saying the US and the Israeli regime are attempting to portray their actions as efforts to preserve stability in global energy markets.
The report comes amid mounting American war costs, depleted missile stockpiles and a reluctance among allies to get involved Some US officials are encouraging the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to seize one of Iran's islands in the Persian Gulf, The Telegraph has reported, citing sources.
The report comes amid mounting American war costs, depleted missile stockpiles and a reluctance among allies to get involved Some US officials are encouraging the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to seize one of Iran's islands in the Persian Gulf, The Telegraph has reported, citing sources.
Russia lures Yemenis with cash incentives to fight against Ukraine Submitted by MEE correspondent on Fri, 05/15/2026 - 15:31 While some Yemenis have been deceived into fighting on the front lines, many have knowingly joined up, drawn by high salaries and the promise of Russian citizenship In this photo shared with Middle East Eye a group of Yemeni men, whose faces have been blurred, are pictured in Russian military fatigues. They are said to be fighting in Ukraine (Supplied) Off Russia is luring Yemeni fighters into its war against Ukraine with large cash payments, monthly salaries and the promise of citizenship, Middle East Eye has learned. Multiple sources have told MEE that young men who once fought on the front lines in Taiz, Marib or along the Saudi border - either for Houthi forces, Yemeni government forces or UAE-backed militias - are being offered high salaries and bonuses that dwarf military pay in Yemen, turning Russia's war into a lucrative, and often deadly escape from poverty.
Israel booed at Eurovision final as Bulgaria wins competition Submitted by Alex MacDonald on Sun, 05/17/2026 - 09:36 Israel finished in second place in contest widely boycotted over Gaza genocide Winner Darina Nikolaeva Yotova, representing Bulgaria with the song Bangaranga, attends a press conference after winning the final of the Eurovision Song Contest at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, Austria, on 16 May 2026 (Georg Hochmuth/APA/AFP) Off Bulgaria won the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 on Saturday, while Israel faced boos after finishing in second place. This year's final was among the least attended and least watched in the contest's history after five countries - Spain, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands and Slovenia - withdrew over Israel's participation. A boycott campaign also led many viewers to avoid the event.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A senior Iranian military spokesman warned that any new act of “folly” by the US against Iran would result in “more crushing and severe blows,” saying Washington will face new offensive and surprise scenarios if it dares to carry out its threats.
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.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has been appointed as Iran’s special representative for China affairs following a proposal by President Masoud Pezeshkian and approval by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei, informed sources told Tasnim.
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.
UAE foreign minister treats Nigel Farage like prime-minister-in-waiting on UK trip Submitted by Imran Mulla on Sat, 05/16/2026 - 10:12 Abu Dhabi finds common ground with Reform UK over a shared opposition to political Islam UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan meets Reform UK leader Nigel Farage in London on 15 May 2026 (Screengrab/X) Off The United Arab Emirates ' foreign minister met with Nigel Farage, leader of the right-wing Reform UK party, during a visit to London. Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who also serves as the UAE’s deputy prime minister, was photographed sitting with Farage on Friday. The Emirati foreign affairs ministry said the pair discussed the "latest regional developments and the repercussions of the unprovoked Iranian terrorist attacks targeting the UAE", as well as strategic relations between the UAE and Britain.
