By the end of 2025, a total of 352,000 Russian soldiers had been killed in the war in Ukraine, according to figures released on Saturday by Russian media outlets Meduza and Mediazona. The conflict has become Europe’s deadliest since the Second World War.

The report noted that the figure does not include those killed in 2026, nor does it cover foreign fighters or members of militia groups formed in occupied Ukrainian territories who fought on Russia’s side. Earlier, the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies estimated that by the end of 2025, about 325,000 Russian and 140,000 Ukrainian soldiers had died in the conflict.

The report also stated that Russia is continuing efforts to maintain troop levels on the battlefield, including recruiting fighters from Africa and other regions and enlisting university students to strengthen its expanding drone forces.

According to US media reports, Washington has sent a new 14-point proposal to Iran this week. The proposal requires Iran to commit to not developing nuclear weapons and to halt uranium enrichment activities for at least 12 years. It also includes a condition for Iran to hand over about 440 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60 percent to the United States.

In exchange, the United States would gradually lift sanctions imposed on Iran, release several billion dollars of frozen Iranian assets, and remove the naval blockade surrounding Iranian ports. The proposal comes amid ongoing maritime tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route.

The plan further states that both sides would reopen the strategic waterway within 30 days of signing the agreement, signaling a potential step toward easing regional tensions if accepted.

More than 30 ships and vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla, carrying humanitarian aid bound for Gaza, arrived at Turkey’s Marmaris coast after a 24-day sea journey. Videos shared on social media Saturday evening showed the ships anchored in open waters as Turkish officials and human rights activists welcomed the fleet. Activist Alex Colston said on social media platform X that Turkey’s coast guard and local Global Sumud Fleet members went out to greet the convoy.

According to activists, the flotilla made stopovers in Sicily, Italy, and Crete, Greece, during its voyage. Israeli forces reportedly detained 22 vessels and two senior activists along the route, though the two detained activists were later returned from Israel. The Global Sumud Flotilla stated that while in Marmaris, the ships will undergo technical maintenance, safety checks, and resupply operations.

The organization added that details of the next stages of the Gaza-bound humanitarian mission will be announced in the coming days.

Israel reportedly established a secret military base in Iraq’s desert to support air operations against Iran, according to a Wall Street Journal report published on Saturday. The base was allegedly built before the joint U.S.-Israeli offensive on Iran on February 28. The report stated that Washington was aware of the facility, which served as a logistics hub for Israeli special forces and air units, including search and rescue teams for downed pilots.

The report added that in early March, a local shepherd alerted authorities after spotting suspicious helicopter movements in the remote area. Iraqi troops sent to investigate were attacked by Israeli aircraft, forcing them to retreat. This prevented the exposure of Israel’s covert activities on Iraqi soil. Later in March, Iraq filed a complaint with the United Nations, accusing foreign forces of involvement and blaming the United States. However, the Wall Street Journal cited a source saying the U.S. had no role in the attack.

The revelations, sourced from Press TV, highlight ongoing regional tensions and covert military operations involving Iraq, Israel, and Iran.

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.