Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported that at least 39 people were killed in intensified Israeli airstrikes, including seven in the southern city of Saksakiyeh. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said the attacks targeted Hezbollah positions and acknowledged awareness of civilian casualties. The strikes occurred despite a ceasefire announced on April 16, 2026, by U.S. President Donald Trump between Israel and Lebanon.

According to the ministry, Israeli attacks have killed more than 120 people across Lebanon in the past week, including women and children. The IDF stated that its operations aimed to eliminate Hezbollah-linked infrastructure and personnel, while Hezbollah continued launching drone and rocket attacks into northern Israel. Human rights groups warned that some incidents could amount to war crimes.

Lebanese officials said Israel has occupied about 10 kilometers of southern Lebanese territory, seeking to create a “Hezbollah-free security zone.” Since March 2, 2026, a total of 2,795 people have been killed in Lebanon, while Israel reported 17 soldiers and three civilians dead on its side.

France and the United Kingdom are deploying warships to the Middle East as part of preparations for a multinational mission aimed at ensuring the safety of commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The UK has announced the deployment of its warship HMS Dragon, while France has decided to station its aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in the Red Sea.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that many countries are ready to contribute resources and equipment to this joint effort led by the UK and France. However, he clarified that the initiative will begin only after the ongoing conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran comes to an end. The move follows criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump over Washington’s allies’ reluctance to join the war against Iran.

French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized that reopening the Strait of Hormuz can only be achieved through dialogue with Iran, underscoring France’s preference for diplomatic engagement over military escalation.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has warned that any attack on Iranian tankers or commercial vessels in the Persian Gulf or beyond will face a strong response. In a statement issued on Saturday evening, the IRGC said that if Iran’s ships are targeted, U.S. military bases and enemy vessels in the Middle East will be struck in retaliation.

The statement emphasized Iran’s commitment to protecting its maritime interests and ensuring the safe passage of its legitimate commercial fleet amid what it described as increasing provocations by foreign powers in the strategic waters of the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC Navy Command reiterated that the Islamic Republic would not tolerate any threat to its ships or disruption to its vital oil exports and trade routes.

The warning comes amid heightened tensions in regional waters, underscoring Iran’s resolve to defend its maritime operations and deter potential attacks on its vessels.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has warned that any attack on its oil tankers or commercial ships will be met with a strong response. Major General Majid Mousavi, commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force, said that Iranian forces have drones and missiles aimed at US military targets in the Middle East and are awaiting orders to strike if necessary.

Speaking to Iran’s state television, Mousavi stated that IRGC’s missile and drone units are positioned toward US targets and hostile ships in the region. The warning comes amid heightened regional tensions involving Iran and Western powers over maritime security and military presence in the Gulf.

In a related development, Syria expressed full solidarity with Bahrain after the arrest of 41 individuals accused of links to the IRGC. According to Syria’s state news agency SANA, Damascus pledged full support for Bahrain’s efforts to maintain its security and stability.

An analysis cited by Al Jazeera indicates that the United States may ultimately withdraw from the ongoing war against Iran. The report argues that continuing the conflict could lead to disastrous consequences that Washington would be unable to sustain.

According to the analysis, renewed escalation could destroy vital oil, gas, and water refinery infrastructure across the region, triggering a prolonged global crisis. It claims Iran possesses the capability to inflict damage beyond what the United States or the world could tolerate. The report also notes that the original U.S.-Israeli war plan aimed to eliminate Iran’s top leadership through a “decapitation strike.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Mossad Director David Barnea reportedly assured U.S. President Donald Trump that such joint strikes would cripple Iran’s government, nuclear program, and senior Revolutionary Guard leadership, paving the way for a pro-Western administration in Tehran.

However, the analysis concludes that current circumstances point toward a U.S. retreat from the conflict.

The United Kingdom has deployed a Royal Navy warship to the Middle East as part of preparations for a potential operation to ensure safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. The Ministry of Defence announced on Saturday that HMS Dragon will assist in mine clearance and provide protection to vessels as part of a defensive plan.

A ministry spokesperson said the deployment is under a multinational coalition jointly led by the UK and France to secure the strait. The two countries have taken the lead in forming this coalition and are encouraging other international partners to join the effort.

The move reflects ongoing efforts by the UK and France to strengthen maritime security in a region critical for global shipping and energy transport, though further operational details were not disclosed in the announcement.

The United Arab Emirates is experiencing worsening relations with several neighboring and regional states due to its involvement in multiple conflicts and shifting alliances. Tensions have risen with Saudi Arabia over Yemen, where Riyadh accused Abu Dhabi of supporting separatists and smuggling weapons, and with Somalia, which canceled security and port agreements citing violations of sovereignty. Sudan has also accused the UAE of aiding the Rapid Support Forces in the Darfur conflict, though the International Court of Justice dismissed the case for lack of jurisdiction.

Relations with Algeria have deteriorated after Algiers accused the UAE of interference and supporting separatist groups, while disputes over Libya and the Sahel region have added strain. Despite these frictions, the UAE maintains strong economic ties with Iran and Israel, expanding trade even amid regional wars. Abu Dhabi’s normalization with Israel under the Abraham Accords and its outreach to Syria’s Bashar al-Assad have further reshaped its regional posture.

The report highlights how the UAE’s foreign policy has shifted from Sheikh Zayed’s conciliatory diplomacy to assertive engagement since the Arab Spring, prioritizing counter-Islamist and security-driven strategies across the Middle East and North Africa.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced in Moscow that Russia is prepared to transport and store Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium. Speaking at a press conference, he recalled that Moscow had previously removed enriched uranium from Iran in 2015 and stated that Russia is ready to repeat that experience.

Putin explained that all parties involved in the conflict had initially agreed to move the uranium outside Iran. However, the United States later hardened its stance, insisting that the uranium be transferred only to U.S. territory. In response, Iran also adopted a tougher position. Putin added that Moscow will continue to maintain communication with both Washington and Tehran.

He expressed hope that the conflict would end as soon as possible. There was no immediate comment from Iran regarding Putin’s statement, according to the report sourced from Al Jazeera.

A Palestinian family in Jenin was forced by Israeli settlers to exhume and relocate their father’s body only hours after his burial. The settlers claimed that the cemetery land was part of the nearby Sa-Nur settlement and compelled the family to remove the remains from the grave.

According to the report, the family complied under pressure from the settlers, who asserted ownership of the burial site. The incident has drawn condemnation from the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, which described it as part of the ongoing inhumane treatment faced by Palestinians.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, highlights continuing tensions in the occupied territories, where disputes over land and burial rights remain a source of conflict between settlers and Palestinian residents.

Israeli air and artillery attacks have sharply escalated across southern Lebanon, affecting an area spanning about 10 kilometers. The strikes followed evacuation orders issued by Israeli forces for residents of nine towns and villages in the region. Over the past 48 hours, casualties have continued to rise as Israeli aircraft, drones, and artillery targeted multiple sites within what Israel has designated as the 'Yellow Zone' inside Lebanese territory, reportedly demolishing homes and structures.

The escalation comes just days before a scheduled round of limited diplomatic talks between Lebanon and Israel in Washington next week. The renewed violence has emerged at a time when there was faint hope of extending the current ceasefire. In response, the Lebanese government is preparing to present several demands to Israel, including assistance for rebuilding destroyed villages, the release of detainees, and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon.

Both sides are now looking toward the upcoming diplomatic discussions amid heightened regional tension and uncertainty over the ceasefire’s future.

Nahida Sultana Brishti, a Bangladeshi student who was killed in Florida, was laid to rest on Saturday at her family home in Char Gobindapur village, Madaripur. Her body arrived by ambulance at 1:20 p.m., and hundreds of villagers gathered to pay their last respects. The funeral prayer was held at the Char Gobindapur High School field after Asr prayer, followed by burial beside her grandparents’ graves.

Brishti had completed her undergraduate studies in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Noakhali Science and Technology University and later enrolled in a master’s program at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. Before completing it, she received a full scholarship to pursue a PhD at the University of South Florida, where she went on August 25, 2025. The university has decided to award posthumous doctoral degrees to Brishti and fellow student Jamil Ahmed Limon, who were both found dead after going missing on April 17.

Local officials expressed condolences, calling her death an irreparable loss for the country and assuring continued administrative support to her family.

The Caspian Sea has become a crucial strategic trade route for Iran and Russia, according to international sources cited on May 9, 2026. Amid Western sanctions, the Ukraine war, and Middle East instability, the two countries are increasingly using this inland waterway to exchange goods ranging from military equipment to food supplies. The route’s importance rose further after an Israeli airstrike targeted Iran’s naval command center in Bandar Anzali, reportedly destroying several vessels.

Analysts describe the Caspian as a safer and less monitored alternative to the Persian Gulf. U.S. officials claim Russia is sending drone components to Iran through this route to help rebuild its drone capacity. Iranian officials said imports of wheat, corn, animal feed, and sunflower oil through Caspian ports have surged, with four Iranian ports operating around the clock. Russian trade data also show a sharp rise in shipments, including millions of tons of wheat redirected from the Black Sea due to security risks.

Experts note that the Caspian’s enclosed geography limits Western naval surveillance, making it ideal for sanctions evasion. However, long-term plans for a 7,200-kilometer trade corridor linking the Baltic to the Indian Ocean remain incomplete due to war and infrastructure challenges.

Russia is reportedly transporting drone manufacturing components to Iran through the Caspian Sea, avoiding the risks and monitoring associated with the Strait of Hormuz, according to U.S. officials cited by The New York Times. The report describes the Caspian Sea as an increasingly vital corridor for both open and covert trade between the two countries.

Unnamed U.S. officials said the route is helping Iran rebuild its military capacity after recent U.S. and Israeli strikes. They warned that continued supplies from Russia could soon restore Tehran’s drone capabilities. Military analysts estimated that Iran may have lost up to 60 percent of its drones in recent conflicts, a claim Tehran denied. An Iranian military official stated that the number of drones used in battle was small compared to total reserves and asserted that Iran could sustain warfare for several more months if needed.

Experts noted that the Caspian route allows Russia and Iran to move goods and military equipment more safely, evading sanctions and oversight. Analysts described the region as geopolitically neglected, enabling both nations to exploit its strategic advantages.

The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) handed over the bodies of two Bangladeshi nationals 18 hours after they were shot dead along the Kshirnal border in Kasba upazila of Brahmanbaria. The handover took place on Saturday afternoon through a flag meeting between the two border forces. The deceased were identified as Md. Mursalin, 20, son of Hebju Mia of Dhajanagar village, and Nabi Hossain, son of Mokrom Ali of Madhupur village. Several others were reportedly injured during the incident that occurred late Friday night.

According to a press release from the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), around 15 Bangladeshis had entered Indian territory with the help of Indian smugglers when BSF members opened fire. The flag meeting was led by BGB Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel S M Shariful Islam and Kasba Police Station Officer-in-Charge Naznin Sultana on the Bangladeshi side, while BSF’s 49 Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Ajit Kumar Singh and officers from Vishalghar Police Station represented India.

BGB stated that a protest note was issued to BSF regarding the incident and that the border situation is currently normal.

A young man from Majhirkona village in Jafrabad Union of Karimganj upazila, Kishoreganj, has reportedly been killed in a Ukrainian drone attack amid the Russia-Ukraine war. The deceased, identified as 28-year-old Riad Rashid, was the son of former teacher Abdur Rashid. His family learned of his death on Friday evening through a Facebook Messenger message from his friend Limon Dutta, who is currently hospitalized after losing a leg in the same attack.

According to the message, the drone strike occurred on May 2 in a Russian border area, killing Riad, another Bangladeshi, and a Nigerian national, while injuring three others. Family members said Riad and Limon had joined the Russian army on April 7, though the family was unaware of his enlistment. Riad had gone to Russia in October of the previous year for a company job.

Local police confirmed the death after visiting Riad’s home but said no official information had yet been received. The family has requested government assistance to bring his body back to Bangladesh.