Despite a ceasefire that has been in place for several weeks, Israeli forces have continued air and artillery attacks across Lebanon. More than 30 strikes were reported in various areas, including multiple air raids near Al-Mansouri and Tyre in the southwest. Additional shelling occurred in the towns of Khalilah, Hanin, and Majdal Zoun, while the Nabatieh region in the east also experienced bombardments in locations such as Yahmor and Arnoun.

The report indicates that the frequency of such attacks has been increasing over time, even though the ceasefire period has been extended. The continuation of Israeli military actions suggests that the truce has not effectively halted hostilities, and there are no visible signs of the situation improving soon.

Thousands of residents have fled southern Lebanon following Israeli evacuation orders. Highways from Sidon toward Beirut have become crowded with people escaping the ongoing assaults, reflecting growing fear and instability in the region.

Lebanon’s health ministry reported that Israeli attacks since March have killed 2,969 people and injured 9,112 others across the country. The latest update, released on Saturday, covers incidents from March 2 to May 16, during which continuous strikes targeted multiple areas.

According to the report, Israeli bombardments have hit border regions and residential zones, intensifying Lebanon’s humanitarian crisis. Local health officials warned that the death toll could rise further as many of the injured remain in critical condition.

Despite repeated calls from the international community to end the ongoing conflict, the situation has shown little improvement, the report noted.

An Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon’s Haboush city killed a married couple, according to the country’s National News Agency (NNA). The attack occurred in the Al-Saha area, where Israeli warplanes targeted a residential house, completely destroying it. The victims were identified as Mohammad Hassan Jammoul and his wife, Sakina Mohammad Abbas Makki.

Following the strike, panic spread across the area as residents rushed to rescue people trapped under the debris. Local efforts to recover victims continued, but no further details on casualties or damage were immediately available. The report cited Al Jazeera as its source.

Authorities have not yet released additional information about the scale of the attack or potential follow-up actions in the region.

Hamas has confirmed that Izz al-Din al-Haddad, a commander of its military wing, the Qassam Brigades, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on the Gaza Strip on Friday evening. The group said al-Haddad’s wife, daughter, and several other Palestinian civilians also died in the attack.

In a statement, Hamas described the incident as a treacherous and cowardly assassination, accusing Israel of repeatedly violating the ongoing ceasefire by targeting civilians in Gaza. The group said the killing of al-Haddad represented the latest example of Israel’s continued aggression and breach of the truce agreement.

Israeli authorities have not issued any immediate comment on the incident, according to the report sourced from Al Jazeera.

Iranian media and hardline political circles are highlighting the submarine internet cables running beneath the Strait of Hormuz as a potential tool of strategic pressure. The discussion has gained traction amid rising military tensions involving Iran, the United States, and Gulf nations. Reports from outlets close to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including Fars News Agency and Mashregh News, describe these cables as vital to global data, communication, and financial networks linking Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

According to Fars News, networks such as Falcon, Gulf Bridge International, and TGN-Gulf connect Gulf states to global infrastructure, supporting major technology companies and financial systems like SWIFT. Iranian lawmaker Ehsan Ghazizadeh Hashemi told state media that legislators are drafting an action plan to regulate submarine cable activities in the Hormuz region, potentially requiring government approval and service charges for installation or maintenance.

Analysts cited in the report note that enforcing such control would face legal and technical challenges under international maritime law. However, Iran’s focus on digital infrastructure signals a shift toward integrating data networks into its broader geopolitical strategy.

China has reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with Bangladesh for regional peace, stability, and development. Speaking at a banquet honoring a visiting Bangladeshi media delegation, Jiang Yan, Deputy Director General of Xinjiang’s Foreign Affairs Office, described Bangladesh as a tested friend and a key development partner. He emphasized expanding cooperation in trade, infrastructure, agriculture, tourism, and education, noting that stability is essential for sustainable progress.

Jiang highlighted Xinjiang’s transformation into a major commercial hub bordering eight countries and invited Bangladesh to benefit from the province’s development experience. He said Xinjiang is now secure, with no separatist incidents since 2022, and welcomed over 30 million foreign tourists in 2025. Addressing questions on religious freedom, he rejected Western media criticism, asserting that Muslims in Xinjiang enjoy full freedom of worship.

The Bangladeshi delegation also visited the Xinjiang Islamic Institute, where administrators described its role in combining traditional Islamic scholarship with modern education. The institute, supported by significant state investment, trains imams and scholars through a rigorous curriculum balancing theology and contemporary social needs.

An Indian restaurant owner living in Japan for three decades has been ordered to leave the country after his business visa renewal was denied under new immigration policies. Manish Kumar, who has run his restaurant in Saitama Prefecture for 18 years, shared his distress at a protest in Tokyo, saying he and his family, who have grown up in Japan, now face forced return to India.

The case has become a symbol of growing anxiety among small foreign entrepreneurs in Japan following major changes to the country’s business visa regulations. Since the new rules took effect in October 2025, applications for business manager visas have dropped by about 96 percent, from around 1,700 per month to just 70.

Japanese authorities say the stricter requirements aim to prevent misuse of long-term residence by non-operational businesses. Critics argue that genuine small business owners are being disproportionately affected. The minimum investment requirement for visa eligibility has also been raised from 5 million yen to 30 million yen.

A Bangladeshi expatriate named Nurul Alam from Eidgaon upazila in Cox’s Bazar was killed in a road accident in Saudi Arabia. The incident occurred early Saturday morning, Bangladesh time, while he was traveling toward Makkah. Family sources confirmed that he died at the scene. News of his death has cast a shadow of grief over his family and community in Eidgaon.

Nurul Alam, son of Altaaz Ahmed from Uttar Maizpara area of Eidgaon Union, had been living in Saudi Arabia for many years as the sole breadwinner for his family. He had gone abroad to support his wife, two daughters, and one son. On the day of the accident, his vehicle reportedly lost control, leading to the fatal crash.

His brother, Jane Alam, said that the necessary paperwork and formalities to bring the body home are underway, and the family has sought assistance from relevant authorities. Local representatives, expatriate communities, and social organizations have expressed deep condolences to the bereaved family.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has repeatedly accused the United States of pressuring countries to stop buying Russian oil, calling such actions unfair. He argued that more nations should import energy from Russia. Meanwhile, Ajay Srivastava, former Indian trade official and head of the Global Trade Research Initiative, voiced concern over India’s energy security, noting that the country imports about 90 percent of its oil, much of it from the Gulf region, which faces uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz.

Srivastava said roughly 30 percent of India’s oil imports from Russia last year faced complications due to US pressure, describing the situation as an emergency. He added that while the US is increasing its own oil exports and India has imported more from America, the US still lacks sufficient capacity to meet global demand. He urged India to secure a long-term deal with Russia and not yield to Washington’s pressure.

Journalist and diplomatic analyst Smita Sharma offered a different view, saying India cannot openly oppose the US given trade and investment pressures. She noted that India may continue importing Russian oil quietly while leaning closer to the US and Israel within global alliances.

Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) armored vehicles and tanks entered Syria’s southern Quneitra province near the occupied Golan Heights, conducting a sudden search operation, according to Syria’s state news agency SANA. The incursion occurred on May 16, 2026, and has sparked renewed local tension and concern in the strategic border region.

Government and local media sources reported two separate incidents. In the first, four Israeli military vehicles entered the rural village of Saida al-Hanout, surrounding several homes but making no arrests. Shortly afterward, three Israeli tanks crossed the border near Tel al-Dreiat, close to the village of al-Muallaka, before returning to their previous positions without any clashes or gunfire. The IDF has not issued an official statement on the operations.

Analysts noted that the Golan-adjacent border area remains highly sensitive, and any military movement there poses regional security risks. Syrian state media described the incursion as a violation of sovereignty, prompting tighter border surveillance.

The Gaza Health Ministry reported that at least 13 people were killed and 57 others injured in Israeli attacks over the past 24 hours. Among the dead was one person who succumbed to earlier injuries, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa. The report was published on May 16, 2026.

The ministry stated that despite a ceasefire that took effect on October 11 of the previous year, violence and attacks have continued. Since then, a total of 870 people have been killed and 2,543 injured, while 771 bodies have been recovered from the rubble. Medical officials said many people remain trapped under debris or on roads, and rescue teams and ambulance workers are struggling to reach them due to various obstacles.

Additionally, one more Palestinian died in a building collapse, bringing the total number of such deaths to 30, according to the report.

Hundreds of people marched through the streets of Manhattan, New York, on Friday to mark the 78th anniversary of the Nakba. The demonstration was organized by a group called Within Our Lifetime. The event coincided with a new proposal introduced by U.S. Congress member Rashida Tlaib calling for recognition of Palestinian refugees’ rights.

Participants at the rally described the Nakba as a continuing tragedy comparable to the Holocaust and called for global recognition of its history. They demanded an end to what they termed genocide and occupation in Palestine, urging the return of displaced Palestinians and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Demonstrators expressed solidarity with Palestinians and vowed to continue their advocacy until freedom is achieved within their lifetime.

The Nakba Day commemorates events beginning on May 15, 1948, following Israel’s declaration of independence the previous day, when many Arabs were expelled or fled from the area. The day is marked annually by protests and heightened tensions between Israelis and Palestinians.

Iran has reiterated that it will not relinquish control over the Strait of Hormuz and maintains that the waterway does not constitute international waters. According to Iranian authorities, the strait falls solely within the territorial waters of Iran and Oman, and therefore should be managed exclusively by these two countries. Tehran has emphasized that its stance on this issue remains unchanged.

The report notes that two rounds of technical discussions have already taken place between Tehran and Muscat regarding the matter. However, Oman continues to recognize the Strait of Hormuz as an international maritime route, while Iran remains firm in its position that it is not. Iranian officials have also stated that even in the event of a peace agreement or settlement, control of the strait will remain in Iran’s hands.

The dispute has become a major source of tension among warring parties in the region, highlighting the strategic and political sensitivity surrounding the control of this vital maritime passage.

Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar announced that Iranian and Pakistani sailors detained by the United States have returned home. According to Dar, 20 Iranian and 11 Pakistani sailors who were stranded in waters near Singapore were successfully repatriated. Before boarding a flight to Islamabad on Friday, the sailors were flown from Singapore to Bangkok.

In a statement shared on social media, Dar expressed gratitude and confirmed that the sailors had been detained aboard a ship held by the United States in deep sea. He emphasized that all the sailors were in good health and mentally sound. Dar reiterated that the welfare of Pakistanis abroad, especially those facing hardship, remains a top priority for his government.

The report, citing Middle East Eye, did not specify the circumstances of the sailors’ detention or the reasons for their release.

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.