Belgian authorities have seized two shipments of military equipment sent from the United Kingdom to Israel, following a national ban on the use of Belgian airspace or stopovers by aircraft carrying arms to Israel. The seizures took place at Liège Airport on March 24, after warnings from several activist groups that weapons were being routed through Belgium. Tests revealed the shipments contained fire control systems and aircraft parts that were not properly declared, prompting a criminal investigation.

The Walloon regional government identified one company involved as Moog, a US aerospace and defense manufacturer with a UK facility producing parts for M-346 aircraft used in Israeli pilot training. According to Declassified, similar shipments had passed through Belgium before, with at least 17 consignments labeled as “aircraft components.” The UK Foreign Office stated it had no record of formal communication with Belgium regarding such transfers.

The UK government previously suspended 30 of 350 arms export licenses to Israel in September 2024, citing humanitarian law concerns in Gaza. Belgian officials said no transit license had been requested for the seized shipments and that any such application would have been rejected.

The United States has warned that its blockade of Iranian ports could continue indefinitely. White House adviser and senior Trump associate Stephen Miller issued the warning in an interview with Fox News. The statement followed the collapse of recent talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad, which ended without any agreement. In response, President Trump imposed a naval blockade on Iran’s ports.

Miller described Trump as a man of peace but emphasized that the US would not allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons or challenge American authority. He added that while a military operation could destroy Iran’s energy infrastructure for years, Washington preferred a diplomatic solution. However, Miller stressed that if Iran chose the wrong path, the US had the capacity to maintain the blockade indefinitely.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, highlights the growing tension between Washington and Tehran following the failed negotiations, with the blockade already affecting maritime operations in the region.

The United Nations reported in April 2026 that a catastrophic famine is unfolding in Gaza, where around 1.6 million people are in critical condition and 570,000 are on the brink of death. The report attributes the crisis to Israel’s ongoing blockade and restrictions since October 2023, which have drastically reduced food and aid deliveries. Gaza’s population has fallen by more than 250,000 in a year, with total deaths from starvation and violence estimated between 72,000 and 75,000.

Humanitarian organizations, including Save the Children and Oxfam, describe the situation as a deliberate deprivation strategy. Save the Children warns that half of the 1.6 million severely affected people are children, with 800,000 at extreme risk. Water access has dropped from 84 liters to just three liters per person. Former Israeli officials have defended the blockade, while rights groups accuse Israel of using food and medicine as weapons of war.

Analysts cited in the report say Israel’s policies aim to force Gazans into displacement through famine and deprivation. The UN’s food envoy called the official death figures “overly conservative,” warning that the humanitarian collapse in Gaza continues to deepen.

US President Donald Trump announced that the Strait of Hormuz will remain permanently open following secret discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump claimed Xi agreed to halt arms supplies to Iran and expressed optimism that the ongoing conflict with Iran is nearing its end. He made the declaration on Truth Social, adding that China was pleased with the decision and that the move served global interests.

Trump stated he is not considering extending the ceasefire with Iran, describing the war as almost over and a negotiated settlement as the best outcome. He said extremists in Iran had been removed and that a peace deal could allow the country to rebuild. Trump also revealed he had written to Xi urging him not to arm Iran, and Xi replied that China was not doing so.

Meanwhile, Pakistan continues mediating indirect communications between Tehran and Washington after failed talks in Islamabad. A Pakistani delegation led by Army Chief Asim Munir visited Tehran, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif began a regional tour to bolster peace efforts.

Iran’s senior military adviser Mohsen Rezaei has warned that the country will sink US ships if Washington continues to act as a ‘police force’ in the Strait of Hormuz. Rezaei, who serves as a military adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, made the remarks on state television, saying US vessels could be destroyed with Iran’s first missile strike. The warning comes amid a fragile ceasefire following more than six weeks of conflict in the region.

The United States imposed a military blockade in the Strait of Hormuz after Iran halted maritime traffic during the ongoing war. Rezaei questioned the legitimacy of US actions, asking whether policing the strait was truly America’s role. He described the presence of US ships as a major threat to American forces themselves.

Rezaei, a veteran and influential figure who led Iran’s Revolutionary Guard from 1981 to 1997, issued the warning as tensions remain high despite the temporary ceasefire.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a phone conversation with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, according to Iran’s ISNA news agency. During the call, Araghchi warned that the United States’ “provocative activities” in the Gulf region and the Strait of Hormuz could lead to dangerous consequences. He stated that the U.S. presence in this vital waterway would further complicate the situation and pose a direct threat to regional stability.

ISNA reported that Wang Yi praised the “resilience” of the Iranian people amid the ongoing crisis. The Chinese foreign minister also expressed Beijing’s readiness to assist in advancing diplomatic efforts and achieving a final resolution to the conflict.

The exchange highlights continued coordination between Tehran and Beijing as tensions rise in the Gulf, with both sides emphasizing diplomacy and regional stability.

Iran has proposed a new arrangement for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, allowing vessels to pass through the Omani section of the waterway without facing Iranian attacks. The proposal, however, would only take effect if Washington agrees to Tehran’s demands. The announcement comes amid heightened regional tensions following the outbreak of war between Iran, the United States, and Israel on February 28.

Since the conflict began, Iran has imposed a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route that normally sees 120 to 140 ships pass daily. The blockade has forced oil tankers to take longer alternative routes, disrupting global energy supply chains and driving up fuel prices in many countries.

According to international maritime monitoring organizations, hundreds of ships and more than 2,000 crew members remain stranded in the strait due to the ongoing blockade, underscoring the severe impact on global trade and energy markets.

Erika Guevara Rosas, Senior Director of Research, Advocacy, Policy and Campaigns at Amnesty International, has called for an immediate end to all forms of military cooperation with Israel. In a post on social media platform X on April 16, 2026, she alleged that Israel continues to commit serious human rights violations in multiple regions in breach of international law.

According to Rosas, these violations include genocide in the Gaza Strip, violence and illegal settlement expansion in the West Bank, apartheid and occupation policies, as well as attacks and mass displacement in Lebanon. She warned that any military cooperation with Israel could risk complicity in international crimes.

Rosas specifically urged the Italian government to take a firm stance in favor of suspending the European Union–Israel Association Agreement. She emphasized that statements alone are insufficient and that concrete and decisive actions are urgently needed to stop human rights violations and genocide.

A high-level meeting between the United States and Iran in Islamabad failed to produce a lasting ceasefire, but Pakistan’s role as mediator drew global attention. The talks, led by US Vice President J.D. Vance and Iranian Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, marked the first such engagement between the two rival nations in nearly five decades. Despite the lack of a breakthrough, Pakistan’s diplomatic initiative was widely praised by major powers, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Japan.

The article argues that Pakistan’s growing diplomatic influence contrasts sharply with India’s diminishing role in global geopolitics. Indian media’s portrayal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “world guru” has been undermined by Pakistan’s recent successes, including its coordination with China and Saudi Arabia. India’s foreign minister reacted angrily in parliament when opposition members highlighted Pakistan’s achievements, calling it a US proxy. The piece suggests that India’s overt support for Israel and opportunistic foreign policy have weakened its credibility.

While the Islamabad talks did not end hostilities, Pakistan’s continued mediation between Washington and Tehran may keep diplomatic channels open amid renewed tensions.

Iran’s top military adviser to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, Mohsen Rezaei, has issued a strong warning to the United States regarding its naval presence in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Al Jazeera. Citing AFP, the report says Rezaei warned that if the US attempts to control the strategically vital waterway, Iran could sink its ships. In a televised address, he questioned whether former US President Donald Trump intended to act as the “police” of the Strait of Hormuz and said American vessels could be destroyed by Iranian missiles.

The warning comes as tensions between Iran and the United States continue to escalate. The US has reportedly imposed a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran has been obstructing the passage of ships through the same critical route. Rezaei, a former commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) who served from 1981 to 1997, remains an influential military figure in the country.

The situation underscores the growing risk of confrontation in one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints, with both nations maintaining assertive postures in the region.

The United States has rejected a Russian proposal to transfer Iran’s enriched uranium to Russian territory, according to the Kremlin. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia had been ready to take control of Iran’s entire uranium stockpile to help ease ongoing tensions in the Middle East. He described the plan as a potentially good decision that could have contributed to conflict resolution, but noted that Washington declined the offer.

According to Russian news agency RIA, Peskov stated that Russia had first made the proposal in June of the previous year, but no action followed. Reuters reported that Moscow renewed the offer this week. Peskov added that President Vladimir Putin remains open to revisiting the initiative if the involved countries wish to reconsider it.

The Kremlin’s remarks highlight continuing diplomatic friction over Iran’s nuclear materials and the broader geopolitical struggle among major powers in the region.

The United States Navy has claimed that it successfully turned back an Iranian cargo ship attempting to bypass a maritime blockade, marking the tenth such incident. According to the US Central Command, the operation involved the USS Spruance, an Aegis guided missile destroyer. The Iranian-flagged vessel reportedly departed from Bandar Abbas and tried to cross the Strait of Hormuz before being redirected by the US warship.

A statement posted on social media platform X said that since the blockade began on Monday, a total of ten ships have been forced to return, and none have managed to breach the blockade. The US authorities confirmed that the blockade has now entered its third day.

The report did not specify the broader context or objectives of the blockade, nor did it mention any official Iranian response to the US claim.

Lebanon’s armed group Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for a series of attacks targeting Israeli military positions and installations. According to statements released over several hours, the group said it launched rocket strikes on the northern Israeli city of Kiryat Shmona. It also reported an attack on an Israeli military bulldozer in the southern Lebanese area of Bint Jbeil, where intense clashes were said to be continuing.

Hezbollah further claimed to have targeted two Israeli tanks in the center of the Lebanese border town of Mays al-Jabal. The group stated that rockets and shells were fired at Israeli troops and vehicles in the Bint Jbeil area. As of the latest reports, Israel has not issued any official comment on these alleged attacks.

The developments come amid heightened tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border, with both sides reporting intermittent exchanges of fire in recent days.

International donors have pledged 1.3 billion euros ($1.5bn) in humanitarian aid for Sudan as global leaders met in Berlin on the third anniversary of the country’s civil war. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the conflict a “tragic milestone” and urged an end to the violence, warning that its consequences are destabilising the wider region. Nearly 34 million people in Sudan now need humanitarian assistance, and more than 4.5 million have been displaced since fighting erupted in April 2023 between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The Berlin conference brought together about a dozen foreign ministers and over 60 delegations, aiming both to raise funds and to revive stalled peace negotiations, though the warring parties were not invited. Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the meeting as a “colonial tutelage approach,” accusing Western nations of imposing their agenda without consulting Khartoum. The African Union’s chairman, Mahmoud Ali Youssou, called for an immediate ceasefire and greater unity among Sudan’s civilian groups.

Germany, the host nation, pledged 212 million euros ($250m) as part of the total aid package, with Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul saying the funds would help alleviate suffering and save lives.

Five Israeli soldiers were injured in a rocket attack in southern Lebanon, according to the Israeli military. In a statement posted on social media platform X, the army said one soldier was seriously wounded while four others sustained minor injuries. The incident occurred amid ongoing hostilities in the Bint Jbeil area, where fierce fighting continues between Hezbollah and Israeli forces.

Israeli Army Radio reported that the soldiers were hurt in the same area where clashes remain active. The violence follows days of heavy fighting in southern Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video message on X that the Israeli army is moving to take control of the southern Lebanese town where the battles have been concentrated. He added that he has instructed the military to strengthen security measures.

Netanyahu also mentioned that Israel is being kept informed by its American allies regarding contacts with Iran and stated that Israel is prepared for any possible escalation as fighting risks resuming.