Israeli strike in south Lebanon wounds three people An Israeli air strike on the town of Mahrouna in southern Lebanon wounded three people, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency. Civil defence teams responded to the attack and transported the injured to hospitals in the Tyre district.
Some shipping industry professionals eye leaving Dubai for Greece Submitted by Sean Mathews on Wed, 05/20/2026 - 19:19 Western expats reassess their commitments to the city-state due to the US-Israeli war on Iran A man stands holding a smartphone in front of the Dubai skyline, with the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, seen from Creek Harbour, on 3 April 2026 (Fadel Senna/AFP) Off Some shipping industry workers based in Dubai are looking to relocate from the UAE as a result of the US-Israeli war on Iran , one ship owner and two industry sources familiar with the matter told Middle East Eye. Western expats working in the maritime industry are eyeing the Greek capital, Athens, and Cyprus as potential alternatives to Dubai, given those countries’ dominant positions in shipping and the favourable tax policies they offer the industry, the sources said. The search for alternatives to Dubai underscores how some expats, particularly westerners with easy access to Europe, do not expect the Gulf to return to its pre-war position anytime soon.
'Welcome to Israel': Ben Gvir's treatment of Gaza flotilla detainees sparks backlash Submitted by MEE staff on Wed, 05/20/2026 - 18:57 European leaders, Israeli officials and social media users criticised footage posted by Israel’s national security minister Israeli Minister Itamar Ben Gvir seen taunting flotilla activists in video posted online (screengrab/X) Off A video posted by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir showing detained Gaza flotilla activists kneeling in front of Israeli law enforcement officers with their hands restrained has triggered international condemnation and a wave of outrage online. Israeli forces intercepted all 77 ships participating in the latest flotilla mission, the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF ), organisers said on Tuesday, more than a day after the interceptions began. According to flotilla organisers, the Israeli navy deployed a “fully equipped naval fleet” to stop and board the vessels before detaining hundreds of international volunteers.
US Marines board Iranian-flagged oil tanker in Gulf of Oman US Central Command said US Marines boarded an Iranian-flagged commercial oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman that was suspected of attempting to violate the Trump administration’s blockade on Iranian ports. “American forces released the vessel after searching and directing the ship’s crew to alter course,” CENTCOM said in a statement. Iranian authorities did not immediately comment on the incident.
Lebanon says more than 3,000 killed since fighting resumed in March Lebanon’s Health Ministry said Israeli attacks have killed at least 3,073 people and wounded 9,362 others since fighting resumed on 2 March.
Israeli army says three soldiers wounded in Hezbollah drone attack The Israeli military said two officers and one soldier were wounded in a drone strike in southern Lebanon that it blamed on Hezbollah.
Israel kills over 3,000 in Lebanon since March Israel has killed at least 3,073 people and wounded another 9,362 in Lebanon since 2 March, the country's health ministry has reported.
Iran's parliament speaker: US 'seeking a new round of war' Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has warned that the US's "overt and covert movements show that it is seeking a new round of war". In comments carried by Iran's Tasmin news agency, he reassured Iranians that the country's military has "rebuilt its strength" over the course of the ceasefire. "We will make the enemy regret attacking Iran again," Ghalibaf pledged.
Exclusive: Trump postponed US attack in Iran after 'Hajj warning' Submitted by Shafik Mandhai on Wed, 05/20/2026 - 12:23 Sources tell Middle East Eye the US president was told of severe 'reputational damage' if he resumes war during the Muslim pilgrimage, as well as global air travel disruptions Muslim pilgrims pray at the Grand Mosque in Mecca during the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage in June (AFP) Off US President Donald Trump postponed a planned attack on Iran this week after being warned by Gulf allies and his own officials not to resume the war during the Hajj pilgrimage, Middle East Eye can reveal. According to two senior Gulf officials, Trump was told that attacking Iran during the Hajj piligrimage would lead to a crisis within Gulf states, as it would leave hundreds of thousands of pilgrims stranded. The sources also said that Trump was told that attacking during the holy period, which leads up to the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha, would further damage Washington's standing in the Muslim world.
Israeli minister says Turkey should be treated as 'enemy state' Submitted by Mera Aladam on Wed, 05/20/2026 - 11:39 Culture and sports minister threatens Ankara would 'pay a huge price' if it went to war with Israel Pro-Palestinian demonstrators take part in a protest against Israel's interception of aid ships bound for Gaza in international waters, outside the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, 30 April 2026 (Kemal Aslan/Reuters) Off The Israel i minister of culture and sports has said Turkey should be treated as an “enemy state”, warning it could become Israel’s next major adversary. Speaking to Israeli news outlet Srugim on Monday, Miki Zohar made the remarks during a discussion about the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla, which sailed earlier this week from the Turkish port city of Marmaris and was later raided by Israeli forces. “We must begin to treat Turkey as an enemy state,” Zohar said.
IRGC: 26 ships crossed Strait of Hormuz in last 24 hours Iran's IRGC says it has permitted 26 ships to cross the Strait of Hormuz in the last 24 hours. It said that the ships included oil tankers, container ships and other commercial vessels.
Israeli air strike on southern Lebanon kills one Emergency teams have recovered the body of a man killed in an Israeli strike on the southern Lebanese town of Shebaa, the country's National News Agency is reporting. It added that another person critically wounded in the samae attack was transferred to Rachaya Governmental Hospital for treatment.
Gaza death toll rises to 72,773 The death toll of Palestinians killed by Israel in Gaza since October 2023 has risen to at least 72,773, with another 172,732 wounded, the enclave's health ministry reported. It added that at least one person has been killed and 16 wounded people have been brought to hospitals in the last 24 hours.
Hezbollah drones limiting 80 percent of Israeli troop assaults in Lebanon Submitted by MEE staff on Wed, 05/20/2026 - 12:26 Kan reports Lebanese group's drone capabilities becoming an increasing problem for Israeli military in southern Lebanon Israeli tanks and military vehicles on a road between destroyed houses in southern Lebanon near the border with northern Israel, on 29 April 2026 (Jalaa Marey/AFP) Off Hezbollah’s drone capabilities are limiting 80 percent of Israeli assaults on southern Lebanon , according to a report by Israel’s public broadcaster Kan. On Monday, Kan reported that the Israeli military had estimated that drones fired by Hezbollah had severely restricted Israeli troop movements in Lebanon, and contributed to battlefield losses. The report stated that anti-drone systems were being distributed to only a limited number of Israeli troops due to supply shortages, and that some military operations were not being carried out in daylight hours over fears of drone attacks.
Israeli curbs causing ‘alarming’ drop in Gaza aid deliveries, official warns Submitted by Mera Aladam on Wed, 05/20/2026 - 07:54 Meanwhile, Israeli media reports a new US-backed aid plan mirroring last year’s controversial militarised distribution system, in which thousands of Palestinians were killed A Palestinian woman stands at the site of an Israeli strike in the Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza, 19 May 2026 (Ebrahim Hajjaj/Reuters) Off Israeli restrictions are causing a “severe and alarming” drop in the number of aid trucks entering Gaza, a Palestinian official warned on Tuesday. Ismail al-Thawabta, director general of Gaza’s Government Media Office, said the restrictions were inflicting “catastrophic harm to civilians”. He explained that since the ceasefire came into effect in October, Israel has allowed only 48,636 aid trucks into Gaza out of the 131,400 stipulated under the agreement, meaning more than 63 percent of humanitarian supplies have been blocked from entering the enclave.
Iran promises war beyond the Middle East if Trump decides to attack Iran vowed to extend the war "beyond the region" of the Middle East if the US attacks it again, following threats from Donald Trump to resume hostilities if peace negotiations fail to produce a breakthrough. "If the aggression against Iran is repeated, the promised regional war will this time extend far beyond the region, and our devastating blows will crush you," declared the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Wednesday.
How the Iran war broke the ambitions of 'Little Sparta' Submitted by Andreas Krieg on Tue, 05/19/2026 - 20:04 The UAE must abandon the illusion of strategic exceptionalism, and rebuild its autonomy through a collective Gulf security order UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed is pictured in Moscow on 29 January 2026 (Maxim Shipenkov/AFP) On The United Arab Emirates has spent two decades trying to escape the ordinary fate of small states through the network power of hyper-connectivity. It built ports, bought influence, cultivated militias, courted Washington, hedged with Moscow and Beijing, and projected the image of a country too nimble, too wealthy and too useful to be cornered by geography. The “ Little Sparta ” brand sounded less like a nickname than a doctrine: a small federation with middle-power ambitions, relative military excellence and enough networked leverage to shape its strategic environment on its own terms.
Israel considered installing Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as ruler during war Israel considered installing former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as ruler during the early days of the US-Israeli war on the country. US officials told the New York Times that the former president, previously known for his staunchly anti-US and anti-Israel views, was directly consulted on the issue. They said Ahmadinejad was injured on the war’s first day by an Israeli strike at his home in Tehran that had been designed to free him from house arrest.
Israeli authorities transferring 430 Gaza flotilla activists to Israel Israeli authorities are transferring to Israel all 430 activists involved in the the latest flotilla attempting to break the siege of Gaza. "Another PR flotilla has come to an end," a spokesman from Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said late Tuesday. "All 430 activists have been transferred to Israeli vessels and are making their way to Israel, where they will be able to meet with their consular representatives.
Morning update Good morning Middle East Eye readers, Diplomatic and military pressure around Iran is intensifying as Donald Trump gives Tehran a deadline of “two or three days” to reach an agreement, while Iran warns that any return to war would bring “many more surprises”. Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin are meeting in Beijing for talks expected to focus heavily on the Iran conflict, energy security and shifting global alliances. Fighting and maritime tensions also continue across Lebanon and the Strait of Hormuz.
