The US secretary of war has said America needs partners, not protectorates, amid a dispute over the military blocs burden sharing The US will no longer "subsidize" the defense of "wealthy" allies, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has said, reviving a long-running dispute between Washington and NATO's European members over military spending.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Army announced that its air defense units have successfully intercepted and destroyed an enemy Orbiter drone over Qeshm Island in the early hours of Saturday.
From Iran to Gaza, Eid al-Adha celebrations were muted as war dragged on and shortages of food and fuel roiled the region.
Wasington DC [US], May 30 (ANI): Retired US Army Colonel and geopolitical risk advisor Douglas Macgregor argued that US President Donald Trump faces a major political dilemma over continued US involvement in West Asia, claiming that influential pro-Israel interests in the United States could turn against him if he seeks to halt military operations in the Persian Gulf.
Israel kills three and wounds others in strikes on southern Lebanon Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon killed three people and wounded more than a dozen early on Saturday morning, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported. Two of those killed were identified as a father and son: Zuhair Ahmad Hashim and his son Ali. They were killed by an Israeli strike on their home in the al-Marj neighbourhood of Ansar, near Tyre.
The Iran war left the Islamic Republic weaker than it had been in years. The question now is whether Washington will turn that weakness into leverage – or give Tehran room to recover through a new deal.
Hezbollah says fired rockets at north Israel town Hezbollah said on Saturday it fired rockets at the northern Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona. In at least two statements, the group said it launched a "rocket barrage" at the town "in defence of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the Israeli enemy's violation of the ceasefire".
Washington DC [US], May 30 (ANI): The United States is yet to firmly commit to an end to the conflict in West Asia with President Trump's meeting on the latest round of negotiations not producing a firm okay from him. The conflict has resulted in deep economic stress not just for the world but also the United States. A recent Reuters report stated that U.
Israel orders forced displacement to north of Lebanon’s Zahrani River The Israeli military has issued a new forced displacement order for residents of the towns and villages of Mayfadoun, Choukine and Zebdine in Lebanon’s Nabatieh district. In a post on X, the Israeli military instructed residents to “evacuate your homes immediately and move north of the Zahrani River”, which lies about 40 kilometres from the Lebanese-Israeli border. The order comes as Israeli artillery and air strikes continue across southern Lebanon and Israeli ground forces advance further into the country beyond the Litani River.
President Pezeshkian says Iran ready for ‘dignified framework’ to end war Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the Islamic Republic is ready to achieve a “dignified framework” to end the ongoing war and reduce regional tensions, state media reported. During a phone call with Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Pezeshkian stressed that Tehran has consistently demonstrated its commitment to dialogue and diplomacy, the IRNA report said. The Iranian president said the other side must also show “genuine political will” and adhere to its international obligations in order to move the process forward.
Video: Israel attacks children’s playground in Gaza, reports of deaths and injuries A children’s playground in Gaza was attacked by Israeli air strikes, with video showing destruction, damaged play equipment, and blood on the ground. Reports from locals indicate deaths and multiple injuries following the attack. The attack is part of ongoing Israeli attacks across Gaza that have repeatedly hit civilian infrastructure, including areas used by children and families, amid widespread atrocities committed during Israel's genocide in the enclave.
Some Iranians hoped foreign intervention would unseat the regime but instead the US-Israel war has damaged livelihoods and strengthened those in power As Donald Trump swung this week between threats of new military action against Iran and predictions that a lasting ceasefire deal was imminent, many Iranians were left exhausted and gripped by uncertainty. Despite the partial lifting of an internet shutdown that began when the war started on 28 February, fears of worsening repression at home have also fuelled pessimism about the future among some of those to whom the Guardian spoke. Continue reading...
Hegseth: US is ‘more than capable’ of resuming war with Iran Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the United States has sufficient weapons stockpiles and remains ready to resume military operations against Iran if required. “Our ability to recommence if necessary is [that] we are more than capable; our stockpiles are more than suited for that, both there and around the globe, because of how we balance exquisite and more plentiful munitions,” Hegseth said, according to AFP. The Pentagon chief’s remarks come as Washington continues diplomatic efforts with Tehran while maintaining military forces and assets across the Middle East.
Pentagon chief also tells Singapore defence summit of ‘alarm’ at China’s military buildup but says US does not seek ‘needless confrontation’ The US has more than sufficient stockpiles of weapons and is “more than capable” of resuming the war with Iran, Pete Hegseth told a defence summit hours after a meeting in Washington failed to produce a deal to end the conflict. “Our ability to recommence if necessary is we are more than capable,” the US defence secretary told the Shangri-La Dialogue, a defence summit held in Singapore on Saturday. “Our stockpiles are more than suited for that, both there and around the globe because of how we balance exquisite and more plentiful munitions.
Israeli forces demolish homes in southern Lebanon Israeli forces have demolished residential homes in the town of Dibbine in Lebanon’s Marjayoun district, according to reports from Al Jazeera Arabic. The demolitions came as the Israeli military said it had intercepted a “launch” that crossed into northern Israel from Lebanon. The military did not specify whether the projectile was a rocket or a drone and provided no information about damage or casualties.
Netanyahu says Israeli troops have crossed north of Litani River Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a surprise visit to the Lebanese border, where he confirmed that Israeli troops had crossed north of the Litani River and advanced south of the city of Nabatieh. The announcement comes after more than a week of intensified Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon, including air strikes, drone attacks and artillery bombardments aimed at securing strategic high ground near Nabatieh. According to the announcement, military operations will continue in southern Lebanon and could include sustained strikes on Beirut and the western Bekaa Valley.
Hegseth unveils $1. 5 trillion defence push, cites Iran nuclear threat Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said President Donald Trump is set to make a “generational investment of $1. 5 trillion on defence this year” as part of what he described as an “historic national manufacturing mobilisation of its defence industrial base”.
Centcom says US forces remain ‘present and vigilant’ across Middle East The United States Central Command (Centcom), which oversees US military operations across the Middle East, said that “US forces remain present and vigilant across the region” in a post on X. The command also shared a photograph of a US Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon, saying the aircraft was flying “over the Middle East during a patrol”. The post comes amid continued regional tensions and ongoing US military activity linked to the conflict involving Iran.
IMF, World Bank, WTO and IEA discuss impact of Iran war The heads of the International Energy Agency, International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group and World Trade Organisation met on Thursday to discuss their institutions’ response to the economic and energy impacts of the war in the Middle East, according to a joint statement released on Friday. The organisations warned that “if shipping flows do not return to normal, continued rapid depletion of global oil inventories ahead of peak summer oil demand in the Northern Hemisphere would present increasing risks for fuel security, market conditions, and broader economic resilience. ” Referring to disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz, the institutions said they also explored options to “further enhance collective support through multilateral and bilateral actions” to help address the crisis and mitigate its wider economic consequences.
Secretary of state says Hezbollah is ‘entirely responsible’ for conflict US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Lebanese President Joseph Aoun that Hezbollah was “entirely responsible” for the ongoing fighting and must immediately halt its attacks to allow for de-escalation with Israel. According to the US Department of State, Rubio also praised Aoun for his “courage and vision” in pursuing direct negotiations with Israel. He said Hezbollah was attempting to derail efforts to seize what he described as a historic opportunity to advance peace and stability, while reiterating Washington’s support for diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions along the Lebanese-Israeli border.
