War latest news. Lebanon, three children killed in Israeli raid. US: assets of Tehran "facilitators" blocked

Syrian President Ahmed al Sharaa met with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in Damascus in a visit that focused on issues including security, transport and energy.

A Syrian presidency communiqué emphasised that the leaders discussed 'strengthening economic and trade cooperation and enhancing security coordination to support stability and address challenges', as well as regional and international developments.

The US Central Command (Centcom) reported that since the start of the naval blockade imposed on Iranian ports on 13 April, US forces have turned back58 merchant ships and "disabled" four of them. "The US naval blockade against Iran continues to be fully enforced. To date, Centcom forces have repelled 58 merchant ships and disabled four since 13 April to prevent ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports," Centcom reported in a post on X.

Images of the conflict, 9 May 2026.

Sally Issa, wife of Saif Abukeshek, the Spanish citizen of Palestinian origin picked up by the Israeli navy off Crete and taken to Israel for interrogation, announces to the crowd in Barcelona the imminent release of her husband and activist Thiago Àvila, both illegally detained.

"I have just received word from (Spanish Foreign Minister, José Manuel) Albares that Israel will release the Spanish citizen of Palestinian origin detained in Israel in the coming hours," Sally Issa announced in the video released by the Global Sumud Flotilla.

US President Donald Trump, awaiting a response from Iran on his proposal to end the war, re-posted on Truth, accompanied by the caption 'Very Important. That's where our nation stands!!!", an article picked up by justthenews.com on the results of a poll showing that a majority of Americans believe preventing Iran from having nuclear weapons is more important than ending the war. "As Vice President JD Vance travels to Pakistan to negotiate a deal to end the war with Iran, polls suggest the public favours achieving America's main goals over a swift end to the conflict," the post reads. It goes on to say, "Vance is set to begin negotiations this weekend, alongside special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law." Iranian officials let the mediators know that they would most likely accept the memorandum, but with several modifications. Despite the exchanges of fire between the US and Iran during the week, Trump stated that the ceasefire with Tehran remains in force. Maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has slowed down sharply due to uncertainties: according to data from S&P Global Intelligence, no commercial ships operated by registered shipping companies have been crossing the strait for days. On Friday evening, back at the White House, the Tycoon did not respond to a question about the arrival of news from Tehran, despite having reported it as imminent.

The US State Department has sanctioned three China-based companies for providing satellite imagery that allowed Iran to launch attacks against US forces in the Middle East. The move comes just days before President Donald Trump is scheduled to leave for Beijing, where he will meet with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. The measures, according to a memo, aim to hold Chinese entities accountable for their support of Iran, said Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. Since the first US and Israeli strikes on 28 February, the availability of Chinese satellite imagery of the conflict zone has risen sharply, fuelling the Trump administration's fear of aid to Tehran and other US adversaries through strategic battlefield directions. The Chinese entities sanctioned are Meentropy Technology (Hangzhou), also known as MizarVision, The Earth Eye and Chang Guang Satellite Technology. Chang Guang had already been sanctioned in 2023 for supplying satellite images to Wagner, Russia's private military company. The State Department also sanctioned the export operations arm of the Ministry of Defence and Logistics of the Iranian Armed Forces.

Hezbollah announced that it hit northern Israel with a drone in response to repeated Israeli attacks against Lebanon, despite the ceasefire still formally in force between the two sides. In a statement, the Lebanese Shia movement said it had 'targeted a group of Israeli army soldiers near Misgav Am' using a drone, pointing out that the operation was conducted in response to 'the violations of the ceasefire by the Israeli enemy'.

At least 11 people died in Lebanon after three Israeli attacks. This was reported by the Lebanese daily L'Orient Le-Jour. Six people died and six were wounded in the bombing of a building where displaced people were living in Saksakiyé (Sidon); one person was killed while driving a car hit by an attack in Saadiyate, south of Beirut; and two other people were killed in an air raid in Habbouch (Nabatieh).

Settlers allegedly forced the inhabitants of a Palestinian community in the West Bank to exhume the body of one of their relatives who had been buried shortly before, in an incident that caused strong tensions among those involved. This was reported by Israeli media such as Haaretz and Times of Israel. According to these sources, the incident occurred yesterday in Sa-Nur, in the north of the West Bank, when some people buried the body of a man in agreement with the Israeli forces, as confirmed by the IDF itself. At that point, settlers with shovels intervened, claiming that the body had been buried too close to one of their settlements. These people started digging and then ordered the Palestinians present to move the body elsewhere. According to videos circulated on social media, the corpse was indeed removed. "The IDF condemns any attempt to act in a manner that violates public order, the rule of law and the dignity of the living and the dead. No military authority has given any instructions to remove the body," says an Israeli army note quoted by Haaretz. The Palestinian news agency Wafa reports that the incident was condemned by the head of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (Ohchr) in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Ajith Sunghay. "This is shocking and emblematic of the dehumanisation of Palestinians that we see unfolding throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory. No one is spared, neither the dead nor the living," he commented.

Two raids hit the area south of Beirut, despite the ceasefire in effect for three weeks between Israel and the Iranian-backed Shiite Hezbollah movement. "The Israeli enemy launched two attacks on the Saadiyat highway," the Lebanese state-run National News Agency reported, pointing to an area located about 20 kilometres from the Lebanese capital and outside Hezbollah's traditional strongholds. An Afp journalist on the scene reported seeing two cars hit and emergency vehicles responding along the highway linking Beirut to southern Lebanon. No information on any casualties or targets of the raids has been released at the moment.

"Italia was not there when we needed her. AndI have always been there for Italia, and so has my country". This was saidDonald Trump in an interview with Corriere della Sera the day after his secretary of state, Marco Rubio, travelled to Rome. To the remark that Italia could provide minesweepers after the ceasefire in Iran, Trump repeated once again: 'Italia was not there when we needed them'.

Il presidente degli Stati Uniti Donald J. Trump rilascia alcune dichiarazioni alla stampa mentre lascia la Casa Bianca per recarsi a Sterling, in Virginia, a Washington, DC, USA, l'8 maggio 2026. EPA/Aaron Schwartz / POOL

Britain will send the cruiser HMS 'Dragon' to the Persian Gulf area, with a view to a possible joint operation to secure the Strait of Hormuz: this was announced by the Ministry of Defence in London.

"The pre-positioning of HMS 'Dragon' is part of a prudent planning that will ensure that the United Kingdom is ready, as part of a multinational coalition led jointly by the United Kingdom and France, to secure the Strait when conditions permit," reads the statement released by the Ministry.

Yesterday, after 3 years of stop due to Israel's war in Gaza, the Palestine Marathon was run. The event is open to people from other parts of the world running in solidarity with the Palestinians. Another, shorter race was held at the same time in the Gaza Strip.

Iran has for the first time provided public details of the wounds suffered by Mojtaba Khamenei following the air raids that killed his father, then Supreme Guide Ali Khamenei, at the start of the conflict. According to a video released by the Nour Agency, linked to Iran's Supreme National Security Council and quoted by the Wall Street Journal, an official confirmed that Khamenei was wounded but would be in good health. In the video, Mazaher Hosseini - listed as the coordinator of high-level government meetings - pointed out that the injuries to the kneecap and back of the Supreme Leader's son would heal quickly and that the back problem had already resolved. Hosseini also added that Mojtaba Khamenei also has a small cut behind his ear, which has already been treated and is not visible because it is covered by his turban. Iranian authorities say his condition isimproving, while US sources continue to describe the injuries as serious.

Russia is reportedly using the Caspian Sea to confidentially transfer military and commercial supplies to Iran, helping Tehran evade US pressure and sanctions. This was reported by the New York Times, according to which the basin has become a strategic corridor for supplies as Iran seeks alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz in the context of continuing tensions with Washington and the US naval blockade. According to sources quoted by the newspaper, Moscow is reported to have sent goods and drone components across the Caspian Sea to Iran, helping to rebuild Iranian military capabilities after losses suffered in the fighting. US officials report that supplies would include drone parts, while Iranian sources report increased imports of foodstuffs such as wheat, corn, and seed oil through Caspian ports. The Caspian Sea, accessible only to the five riparian countries and thus out of the direct military reach of the US, is described as one of the most effective routes to circumvent sanctions and controls.

Bahrain's Interior Ministry said it had arrested 41 people it claimed were part of a group affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. He added that investigations are underway to take further action against anyone affiliated with the group. Bahrain is led by a Sunni Muslim monarchy but, like Iran, its population is predominantly Shia. Human rights groups have claimed that the kingdom has used the war between Iran and the US as an excuse to suppress internal dissent.

The news spread by Iranian media and re-launched by Cnn according to which they were missing after attacks attributed to the United States "against Iranian fishing boats and merchant ships" in the Persian Gulf has been denied. Reporting the new developments is the same American network that had relaunched the news on the Iranian side and which points out that the information on what was described as an alleged attack by "American planes" was spread by the Iranian agency Mehr citing the governor of Bandar-e-Lengeh, Fawad Moradzadeh. Moradzadeh himself, reconstructs CNN, was later quoted by another Iranian agency, Tasnim, which issued a denial. "What has been published by some press organs, which quote me, is false and there is no official and confirmed data or information released by the competent authorities regarding such an attack," is the statement quoted by Tasnim.

Israel plans to release "later today" Thiago Avila and Saif Abukeshek, the two activists of the Global Sumud Flotilla who were arrested in international waters and remained in detention for more than a week, the Israeli human rights NGO Adalah announced. "They will be handed over to Israeli immigration authorities later today and will remain in custody pending their deportation," a statement said.

The Iranian Football Federation has stated that the national team will only take part in the World Cup if the conditions set by Iran are accepted by the host countries,the United States, Canada and Mexico. According to state television, the statement released by the federation specifies that Iran will not renounce its ideals, culture, and beliefs. Tehran has set ten conditions for participation in the World Cup, including the issuance of visas for all players and technical staff, particularly those who have been members or served in the Revolutionary Guards, such as Mehdi Taremi and Ehsan Hajisafi; heightened security protocols at airports, hotels and along roads leading to stadiums; the requirement for fans to display only the official Iranian flag, banning any other flag; the playing of the Iranian national anthem during matches; and thelimitation of journalists' questions to technical matters. Canada recently banned the president of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, because of his links to the Revolutionary Guards.

Iran denounces attacks attributed to US forces against "Iranian fishing and merchant vessels" in the Persian Gulf and speaks of six missing. Attacks by "American planes" struck near the Omanite port of Khasab, at the southern end of the Strait of Hormuz, according to the governor of the Iranian region of Bandar-e-Lengeh, Fawad Moradzadeh, in a news report relayed by CNN. According to the governor, several people were transported to the hospital. Yesterday, Centcom confirmed an intervention against two Iranian-flagged oil tankers that were trying to circumvent the naval blockade.

The spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Esmail Baghaei, said that the country's leadership is focused on finally ending the war with the US and Israel.

"The European Union is deeply alarmed by reports of the serious health condition of human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi, who is currently detained in Iran. We urge the Iranian authorities to immediately take all necessary measures to ensure that Narges Mohammadi is finally and urgently provided with adequate medical care. We recall that the charges against Narges Mohammadi are based solely on her legitimate and peaceful human rights activities and continue to call for her immediate and unconditional release." This was stated by a spokesperson for the EU External Action Service. "We also call on the Iranian authorities to release all persons unjustly arrested in the legitimate exercise of their freedom of expression, including during the recent protests, and to respect Iran's obligations under international law, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a party," it adds.

The network that gathers priests against the genocide in Gaza launches an appeal for their release: "Saif Abukeshek and Thiago Ávila, two activists of Spanish and Brazilian nationality respectively, who were taking part in the flotilla of solidarity with Palestine promoted by the Global Sumud Flotilla and sailed from the coast of Sicily to Gaza, were kidnapped by the Israeli army on orders from their country's government.

The abduction took place in international waters, about 1,200 km from the Gaza Strip, in clear violation of international law. Both were transferred to Israel, where they were detained and brought before a court that accused them of belonging to or collaborating with Palestinian terrorist groups, prolonging their detention without legal guarantees. Some sources also claim that they have been subjected to mistreatment and even torture'. "Meanwhile, while Thiago Ávila was detained by the Israeli authorities after the interception of the Gaza-bound flotilla, he received news of his mother's death.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged European allies to go beyond rhetoric and take concrete measures against Iran. Speaking on Friday, 8 May after meetings in Rome with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, Rubio warned that Tehran is attempting to assert its control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, calling the move "unacceptable" and a threat to global security. The secretary of state complained about the lack of help from allies, including the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Three people were killed in an Israeli raid on southern Lebanon today. The Lebanese news agency NNA reports that it was a car travelling between Burj Rahal and Aabbasiyyeh that was hit. The Israeli Defence Forces had previously issued an evacuation order for the two towns, as well as 7 others. The Lebanese Agency reports several other raids near Nabatieh, Kafra, Haris and Mansouri.

According to Al Jazeera Arabic, Israeli air raids hit the outskirts of Nabatieh in southern Lebanon. Meanwhile, Israeli drones hit the towns of al-Mansouri, Burj Rahhal and Nabatieh al-Fawqa.

"Italia-USA rift? there was never any concern. There are no rifts. There are times when nations may have different ideas or make different judgments about events. But the long-term vision and the alliance, an alliance that has lasted for decades, the same vision of the world, that cannot change. It does not depend on governments, it does not depend on people, it continues our relationship with the United States that has never broken down'. These were the words of Defence Minister Guido Crosetto, at the microphones of Sky, on board the Amerigo Vespucci ship on the day of the ceremony for the departure of the Vespucci for the North American tour. The minister also took stock of the ultimatum to Iran. "I hope that Hormuz can resume a normal life. Tehran's behaviour in recent decades, but also in this phase of negotiations, is unacceptable,' Crosetto added. Just as the cold attack like the one the other day was unacceptable. It seems to me that there is a part of Iran, especially the Pasdaran, the guardians of the revolution as they are called, who have the intention not to end the war but to increase the chaos. We all hope that the more reasonable side will prevail within Iran." "Even at the worst time," the minister concluded, referring to the Italians still in the country, "there are people who have not left those countries and have been in safety.

The US war with Iran is 'nothing but rubbish'. Former US Vice President Kamala Harris said this at a Dem event in Las Vegas. "When you look at this war with Iran, which the American people don't want, which was not authorised by Congress and should not have been started... it's nothing but filth!" said Harris from the stage, collecting applause from the audience. After uttering the vulgar expression, the former Dem candidate - defeated by Donald Trump in 2024 - smiled and joked with those in attendance: 'You made me say that!'

Fawad Moradzadeh, governor of Bandar Lengeh, says six people are missing following the US attack on Iranian ships near the port of Khasab, Oman. The attack took place on Thursday, 7 May and, according to the governor of Bandar Lengeh, 'Iranian merchant and fishing ships' were attacked near the port of Khasab, Oman. 'In this incident, six boats belonging to the inhabitants of Bandar-e-Moalem, a district in the central part of Bandar-e-Lengeh, were targeted, with a total of 20 people on board,' Moradzadeh said, as reported by BBC Persian. Six people were injured.

It amounts to almost 29 billion euro the bill that Italian families and businesses will have to bear this year in order to cope with the increases in electricity, gas and fuel prices due to the energy shock caused by the war in the Middle East. This is the estimate of the Cgia Studies Office. The heaviest slice concerns petrol and diesel, with 13.6 billion in extra costs (+20.4 per cent compared to 2015), followed by 10.2 billion for electricity (+12.9 per cent) and 5 billion for gas (+14.6 per cent). At a territorial level, the households and businesses most affected will be those in Lombardy, where energy price increases will weigh in at €5.4 billion, equal to an increase of 15.1 per cent compared to 2025. Emilia-Romagna follows with +3 billion (+16.1 per cent) and Veneto with +2.9 billion (+15.8 per cent). The regions that will pay the heaviest bill will therefore be the most populous and those with the highest concentration of manufacturing and commercial activities, i.e. the country's main production engines.

The Israel Defence Forces have issued an evacuation order for nine villages in southern Lebanon ahead of air raids against the terrorist group Hezbollah. Inhabitants of Tayr Debba, Aabbasiyyeh, Burj Rahal, Maaroub, Barish, Arzoun, Jannata, Zrariyeh and Ain Baal were ordered to move at least one kilometre away from the settlements. "In light of the violations of the ceasefire agreement by the Hezbollah terrorist organisation, the IDF is forced to act with force against it and does not intend to cause harm to the population," warned army spokesman Colonel Avichay Adraee, quoted by the Times of Israel.

A few days after President Donald Trump's visit to China, the US administration announced sanctions against Chinese companies allegedly linked to Iran, CNN reports. The State Department has in fact sanctioned four companies, three of them based in China, accused of providing satellite images that, according to the authorities, would have allowed the Iranians to carry out attacks against US forces in the Middle East.

The Treasury Department, for its part, sanctioned ten other individuals and companies, including several based in China, who allegedly helped Tehran secure weapons and materials needed to build ballistic missiles and drones.

An Iranian MP has rejected allegations that Tehran dumped oil into the sea near Kharg Island, after satellite images showed large oil slicks around this major export hub. Jafar Pourkabgani, a member of parliament representing Bushehr province, said in a post on social X that the oil slicks were caused by 'oil residue and waste ballast water from European oil tankers' discharged into the sea. Referring to the allegations reported by Fox News that Iran released oil because the storage tanks were full, he added: 'This claim is false and part of the enemy's psychological operation.

In April, despite rising inflation and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the gas price for vulnerable users fell by 7.6 per cent compared to March, standing at 121.05 cents per cubic metre. This was announced by Arera, the regulatory authority for energy, networks and environment. The drop came after a sharp rise of 19.2 per cent in March, which followed a 49.6 per cent increase in raw material.

To understand why the gas costs have fallen despite the unstable international environment and the difficulties in supply, according to Alessandro Lanza - executive director of Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei and professor of Energy and Environmental Policy at Luiss - it is necessary to keep in mind that "the prices published by Arera and those of the wholesale market, such as Ttf, are not directly comparable because they represent different things, constructed in a different way and referred to different moments of the gas chain".

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres expressed concern over the alleged firefight between Iran and the United States in the Strait of Hormuz. "He stresses that this is a critical time to de-escalate tensions and urges all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid further escalation," his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. Guterres calls on all parties to refrain from actions "that could lead to a new escalation or undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts," Dujarric added.

The Israeli army claims to have hit over 85 Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon in the last 24 hours, including an underground weapons production site in the Bekaa Valley. The Times of Israel writes this. According to the army, the targets in southern Lebanon included weapons depots, rocket launchers, and buildings used by Hezbollah to plan attacks. Members of the terrorist group who were planning attacks against troops stationed in southern Lebanon were also targeted, the IDF says.

If even in 1945 the United States, at the height of its power, needed to win friends and influence people to build the American order, according to historian Harold James America today should certainly do the same.

Instead, Donald Trump has transformed the United States from the 'insurer' of the world into a 'lace collector' - in the words of Adam Posen, president of the Peterson Institute - thereby dispersing a wealth of alliances built up over decades.

Iran's representative to the United Nations, Saeed Iravani, warned the UN Security Council that "continued US military actions in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz could produce catastrophic consequences that would extend far beyond the region and threaten international peace and security." Iravani made this statement in a letter addressed to the United Nations and the Security Council, condemning the US attacks on two Iranian oil tankers and other locations along the Iranian coast in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday night. According to Mehr, Iravani emphasised that 'the US act of piracy, through the attack on merchant ships and the naval blockade, constitutes a clear violation of the ceasefire'.

US President Donald Trump returned to the White House late Friday evening after attending the LIV Golf Tournament dinner in Sterling, Virginia. Upon disembarking from Marine One, the tycoon, in the reporters' pool report, greeted the press and raised his fist, not answering shouted questions about whether he had 'received word from Iran' on his peace plan to end the conflict. Trump, on Friday afternoon, said he expected "tonight" an Iranian rebuttal on his latest proposal to reach a lasting peace deal.

US intelligence believes that Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran's new supreme leader, is playing a crucial role in defining war strategy, alongside senior officials in Tehran. This is reported by CNN, based on several sources familiar with the matter, according to which the exact scope of his authority within a now-fragmented regime remains unclear. However, it is likely that Khamenei is helping to direct Iran's handling of negotiations with the United States to end the conflict, despite not appearing in public since he sustained serious injuries during an attack that claimed the lives of his father Ali Khamenei and several of the country's top military brass at the start of the war, fuelling speculation about his health and role within Iran's leadership structure. The Trump administration continues to pursue a diplomatic solution to the conflict, while the ceasefire has now been in place for over a month: according to sources, US intelligence estimates that Iran is still trying to regroup in the aftermath of the US bombing campaign that left Tehran's significant military capabilities intact, preserving the country's ability to withstand a US blockade for further months.

Washington has revised its draft resolution at the United Nations calling on Iran to stop attacks and the laying of mines in the Strait of Hormuz, but it would be insufficient to avert a veto by China and Russia, the permanent members of the Security Council at the UN Headquarters. A formal rejection by Beijing, in particular, would be an embarrassment in view of the tycoon's visit next week to China, to President Xi Jinping, with the war on Iran still unresolved and set to be among the main topics on the agenda. The updated draft, US media reported, removed the clause invoking Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which allows the Council to impose measures ranging from sanctions to military action, while maintaining tough language against Tehran. Although the text does not explicitly authorise the use of force, it does not exclude it and 'reaffirms the right of UN member states to defend their vessels against attacks and threats, including those that undermine rights and freedoms of navigation'. An earlier US-backed resolution, which seemed to pave the way for the legitimisation of US military action against Iran, failed in April after Russia and China exercised their veto rights.

The US Treasury Department, as part of Operation Economic Fury, has decided, through the Office of Foreign Assets Control (Ofac), to sanction 10 individuals and companies based in various jurisdictions in the Middle East, Asia, and Eastern Europe that are responsible for facilitating the Iranian military's efforts in the procurement of armaments, as well as raw materials that can be used in the Shahed series drones and Iran's ballistic missile programme. Ofac, reads a note, "continues to dismantle these networks in a manner they seek," while the US State Department is targeting four entities in connection with Iran's conventional weapons activities. "While the surviving leaders of the Pasdaran are trapped like rats on a sinking ship, the Treasury Department continues its Economic Fury' campaign with relentless determination," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent commented. "Under President Donald Trump's decisive leadership, we will continue to take action to ensure America's security and to target foreign individuals and companies that supply Iran's armed forces with weapons for use against US forces," Bessent added.

US President Donald Trump said he expects "tonight" an answer from Iran on its latest proposed peace deal. Speaking to the media in the evening, Trump replied "we'll find out very soon", responding to the question of whether Iran is intentionally slowing down the process of talks to reach a final end to hostilities. "I'm supposed to get a letter from Iran tonight, so we'll see how it turns out," the tycoon noted.

The US president also said that the US could return to 'Project Freedom' if the current arrangements are not reached. "We're going to go a different route if everything is not signed and settled," Trump said, at the White House under his helicopter. "We could go back to Project Freedom if things don't happen, but it's going to be Project Freedom Plus, meaning Project Freedom plus other things."