Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations has warned that countries co-sponsoring a US-drafted resolution on the Strait of Hormuz will face consequences. The statement, issued on social media platform X on May 16, 2026, said that if Washington provokes new military tensions, the supporting nations will share international responsibility for the results.

According to Iran, the United States is using the list of co-sponsoring countries to create a false image of international support for its illegal actions and military adventurism. The Iranian mission emphasized that no political excuse or diplomatic shield can absolve those countries from accountability.

The US draft resolution, backed by Bahrain and several other Gulf states, calls for an end to Iranian attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and the restoration of free navigation in the Gulf’s maritime zones.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to visit China on May 19 for a two-day trip, according to a Kremlin statement. During the visit, Putin will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss strengthening what Moscow describes as their “comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation.” The announcement comes shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump completed his own visit to Beijing.

Analysts cited in the report view Putin’s trip as part of an effort to deepen ties between Russia and China at a time of heightened geopolitical tension and strained U.S.-China relations. The Kremlin emphasized that the discussions will focus on expanding collaboration between Moscow and Beijing across multiple strategic areas.

The visit underscores the growing alignment between the two countries as they navigate shifting global power dynamics and respond to evolving international challenges.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned of further counterattacks against Russia after a missile strike on Kyiv killed 24 people, including three children. In a post on X on Friday, Zelensky said Ukraine would not leave any Russian assault unanswered. He described Ukraine’s response against Russia’s oil industry, military production, and those involved in war crimes as justified. Earlier that morning, he visited the residential building destroyed in the attack.

Ukrainian officials reported that rescue operations lasted over 28 hours, saving 30 people. Kyiv’s mayor said about two dozen victims remain hospitalized. The youngest victim, 12-year-old Liubava Yakovleva, had lost her father earlier in the war. Meanwhile, Russian authorities said a Ukrainian drone strike on Ryazan killed four people, including a child, and damaged a multi-story building. Ukraine’s military confirmed it targeted a Russian oil refinery.

Amid the violence, both sides conducted a prisoner exchange, freeing 205 soldiers each. The released Ukrainians included fighters from Mariupol’s Azovstal plant. Peace talks mediated by the United States remain stalled, with Moscow refusing a ceasefire or full negotiations.

Palestine has called on the international community to recognize the 1948 violence and displacement of Palestinians, known as the Nakba, as a crime of ethnic cleansing. The appeal came in a statement from the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday, marking Nakba Day. The ministry emphasized the need to acknowledge the lasting impact of the event and urged global support for Palestinians’ legitimate and inalienable rights.

The statement reaffirmed Palestinians’ right to return to their homeland, establish an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital, and end the prolonged Israeli occupation. It accused Israeli forces of continuing the Nakba through ongoing aggression in Gaza and violence in the West Bank. The ministry urged the international community to move beyond verbal support and take effective measures to protect Palestinians from such crimes.

According to the Wafa news agency, Israeli attacks in Gaza and the West Bank have continued despite a formal ceasefire. Recent strikes killed several people, with thousands reported dead or injured since the escalation began in October 2023.

China’s ambassador to the United Nations, Fu Cong, has strongly criticized a Bahrain-sponsored and US-backed draft resolution on the Strait of Hormuz at the UN Security Council. He stated that both the content and timing of the proposal were inappropriate and that passing such a resolution would not be helpful. The draft calls on Iran to halt attacks and the laying of mines in the strategic waterway.

Diplomats indicated that if the proposal is formally tabled, both China and Russia may again exercise their veto powers. The two countries had vetoed a similar US-supported resolution last month, citing claims of bias against Iran. In a short interview clip published by the UN-focused news portal PassBlue, Fu Cong emphasized the need for sincere and serious dialogue between all parties instead of adopting resolutions.

Fu concluded that passing a resolution at this stage would not contribute to resolving the issue, signaling continued opposition from Beijing and Moscow to unilateral measures targeting Iran.

Israel has claimed responsibility for killing Hamas military commander Izz al-Din al-Haddad in an airstrike on a residential building in central Gaza City. The strike, which witnesses said involved three missiles fired from two directions, also targeted a car that attempted to flee the scene. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a joint statement that Haddad was responsible for killings, kidnappings, and injuries of Israeli civilians and soldiers, describing him as one of the planners of the October 7 attacks.

Eyewitnesses reported a major fire following the strike and difficulties rescuing the injured. Local sources said Haddad was severely wounded in the first attack and was being transported in the car hit in the second strike, killing three people. Hamas has neither confirmed nor denied Haddad’s death.

The incident occurred despite a ceasefire in place since October 10. Israel continues to justify operations as targeting Hamas members, while Hamas accuses Israel of violating the truce and attacking civilians. The U.S.-led peace plan for Gaza remains stalled, with disarmament talks unresolved and Hamas reasserting control in the territory.

US officials accompanying former President Donald Trump discarded all gifts received from Chinese officials before departing Beijing on May 16, 2026, citing security concerns. According to reports from India Today and The Economic Times, the White House team threw away the items, including burner phones, identification cards, badges, press invitations, and souvenirs, in airport dustbins before boarding Air Force One.

White House correspondent Emily Goodin of the New York Post stated that no Chinese-origin items were allowed on the aircraft due to strict security enforcement by the White House security division and the Secret Service. She confirmed on social media that all items from Chinese officials were collected and disposed of before takeoff.

US media outlets reported that the move aimed to prevent potential surveillance or tracking. The incident reflects ongoing tensions between the United States and China over espionage and cybersecurity issues, which have remained a source of friction between the two nations.

A group of 190 former Canadian diplomats has called on Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government to impose strict sanctions against Israel. The appeal, reported by The Canadian Press, was made through a signed letter citing Israel’s actions in the occupied Palestinian territories and Lebanon. The diplomats warned that without strong international sanctions, Israel would continue to disregard international law and human rights while expanding settlements.

The letter acknowledged Israel’s legitimate security concerns regarding Hezbollah but condemned the destruction of entire cities and the deaths of large numbers of civilians as serious violations of international law. The appeal comes amid growing domestic pressure on Canada to respond to Israel’s operations in Gaza and the occupied territories.

The diplomats’ collective stance highlights a rising internal debate in Canada over its foreign policy toward the Middle East, particularly in light of ongoing violence in Gaza and Lebanon.

US President Donald Trump has claimed that the Islamic State’s global second-in-command, Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, was killed in a joint operation by American and Nigerian forces in Africa. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Friday, Trump said the mission was carried out under his direction and described it as a highly precise and well-planned operation to eliminate one of the world’s most active terrorists.

Trump stated that al-Minuki believed he could hide in Africa but was tracked through intelligence monitoring his every move. The United States had imposed sanctions on al-Minuki in 2023 for his involvement with ISIS. According to Trump, his death would significantly reduce the group’s global operations and prevent further attacks targeting Americans or Africans.

The US president also thanked the Nigerian government for its partnership and praised the bravery of both nations’ armed forces for successfully completing the mission.

U.S. President Donald Trump has declared that the Strait of Hormuz will remain open and warned that Iran will not be allowed to use the strategic waterway as a weapon. In an interview with Fox News, Trump said his administration would ensure that Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons and that global stability is maintained.

Trump noted that China depends on the Strait of Hormuz for about 40 percent of its oil supply. He accused Tehran of previously closing the strait as a pressure tactic and reiterated that such actions would not be tolerated under his leadership.

According to Trump, Iran had used the strait as a weapon in the past, but he emphasized that Tehran would not be able to do so against him. The remarks highlight ongoing U.S. concerns about Iran’s influence over one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints.

At least 24 people were killed in Russian attacks on Ukraine, which caused a residential building in Kyiv to collapse. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a strong warning following the assault, vowing that Russia’s actions would not go unanswered. The attacks occurred on Friday, according to the report.

Zelensky said he had discussed long-range strikes with senior military, security, and intelligence officials. He warned that Russia was preparing to target more than 20 key sites across Ukraine, including government residences, administrative buildings, and military command posts. The Ukrainian president emphasized that his country would respond decisively to the escalating aggression.

In retaliation, Ukraine launched extensive long-range drone strikes on various Russian regions, focusing on energy and military infrastructure. The exchange marks another escalation in the ongoing conflict between the two countries, with both sides intensifying their offensive operations.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Taiwan not to formally declare independence from China, following his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Speaking to Fox News on Friday, Trump said he had no intention of granting independence to anyone and emphasized that the United States’ policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged. He added that he wants both sides to remain calm and avoid conflict.

Xi Jinping reportedly told Trump that the Taiwan issue is the most important aspect of China-U.S. relations and warned that mishandling it could lead to confrontation. Trump declined to say whether the U.S. would defend Taiwan militarily but noted that Xi is firm in opposing any independence movement. The U.S. maintains unofficial ties with Taiwan while recognizing only one Chinese government.

Tensions have risen as China expanded military exercises around Taiwan, and Washington’s $11 billion arms sale to Taipei drew Beijing’s condemnation. Taiwan’s foreign minister said his government is closely monitoring developments and remains committed to peace and stability in the region.

Israel has claimed that more than 220 Hezbollah fighters were killed in southern Lebanon within a week, alongside strikes on over 440 Hezbollah targets in the region. The report comes amid ongoing hostilities despite a ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Lebanon on April 17.

According to the source, both sides have continued to accuse each other of violating the ceasefire, with hundreds reportedly killed in the fighting. The conflict intensified after Hezbollah launched rockets toward Israel on March 2, described as retaliation for the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The violence has drawn regional concern as the situation remains volatile.

Lebanon and Israel have since extended the ceasefire by an additional 45 days, confirmed by U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott, though it remains unclear whether the extension will reduce hostilities on the ground.

Oman has come under geopolitical pressure after Iran claimed it was coordinating with Muscat on the future management of the Strait of Hormuz and the imposition of shipping tolls. The disputed waterway, through which about one-fifth of global seaborne oil passes, has been blocked for ten weeks following a U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran in February. Washington has rejected any permanent solution that involves paying tolls to Iran, asserting that Oman shares the same stance.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi recently described the strait as a shared waterway between Iran and Oman, denying the existence of international waters there. Western diplomats have criticized Tehran’s proposals as illegal, arguing they would allow Iran to discriminate among vessels and violate UN sanctions. Meanwhile, France and the United Kingdom have presented Oman with an alternative plan emphasizing freedom of navigation, supported by most Gulf states.

The deadlock centers on whether coastal states can legally impose tolls. Iran has not ratified the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and insists it is governed by customary law. Tehran’s new Persian Gulf Strait Authority expects to generate revenue through registration fees, while uncertainty remains over China’s compliance with Iranian conditions.

At least seven Palestinians were killed and dozens injured in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City on Nakba Day, according to reports from Al Jazeera and Anadolu. The attacks targeted a residential building in the Rimal area and a civilian vehicle, leaving three people dead in the vehicle strike and four in the building strike. Among the dead were three women and a child, while about 45 others were reported injured, several critically.

Eyewitnesses told Al Jazeera that at least four missiles were fired, causing a massive fire in the residential building and widespread panic among residents. Gaza Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal said hundreds of people lived in the targeted building and that the strikes came without prior warning. Many families were affected, with entire households among the casualties.

The attacks occurred on the 78th anniversary of Nakba Day, which marks the 1948 displacement of approximately 750,000 Palestinians following the creation of Israel.